Happy mid-week everyone! Welcome back to Witchy Wednesday, the day of the week where I openly talk about anything witchy. I admit I love this day of the week, though it is no longer the only day of the week I discuss anything witch or Pagan related.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Mine has been busy leading up to it so I have not been able to find time to post. None the less, here we are!! I had a wonderful time spending the holiday with my mom who drove here from Michigan. We all had a great time and ate so much wonderful food. But let’s talk less about food and more about what you are all here for…right?
As we talked about in the last Witchy Wednesday post, it is often difficult to find resources that we can learn from locally. Thus, we are often pushed to look at books online and find ourselves overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. Today we will be talking about another wonderful beginner book!
Again, this is not an average “beginner” book when it comes to witchcraft. Thorp has created a very in-depth resource that has a lot of wonderful information.
Becoming the Witch, The Art of Magick 
Author: Danae Moon Thorp
Published: September 8th, 2021
Publisher: Llewellyn
Book Length: 388 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Reference, Pagan, Witchcraft
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥
Buy the book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository (Use my referral ID: Bibliophagist20)
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my review.
Embrace the Art of Magick & the Power that Has Always Been Inside You. Providing a unique look at what witchcraft means in the 21st century, this lyrical book empowers you to become a divine weaver of life, be at one with nature’s heartbeat, and connect to all things. With practical guidance and poetic encouragement, Danae Moon Thorp teaches you what every witch must know, including the elements, spells, tools, deities, rituals, and more.
Becoming the Witch explains the complexities of witchcraft in a clear and creative way, giving you a richer understanding of how it all works. Learn to imbue every action, word, and ingredient of a spell with powerful energy that connects your heart, body, and mind to extraordinary possibilities. You’ll also explore divine realms, delve into the history of magick, and find spiritual fulfillment in ordinary life. This book is your key to not just holding a wand, but also turning that wand into an extension of yourself.
To begin with, I enjoyed this book for the most part. There were a few things that did not sit right with me though and I will discuss those as well.
I really enjoyed that each element has its own chapter. With this being said, I would like to mention that with no matter what resource you read, take that and apply it to your practice…find what really works for you and do more research. When something resonates with you great! Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you have to do or not do. I liked that Thorp mentioned that in this book.
There is no doctrine involved, no one tells you what to believe in
I did find that she contradicted herself in that statement later on in the book. I have seen other reviews mentioning this as well but I think rather than trying to tell people they have to believe in one thing, she was stating what she practiced and followed. Thus, I have to say this is more Wiccan based than just general witchcraft. I, myself, am not Wiccan and did find that many ideas presented aligned more with those beliefs rather than general witchcraft ideals. However, this is a beginner book so this is a good start until those reading choose to branch out. Many do begin as Wiccans.
Thorp also claims that casting a circle is a must before you do anything. This, I do not agree with. I feel that it is what feels right to you. If you feel you need that added protection, go for it. If casting circles never feels right, then don’t feel obligated to do that.
Salting the Earth…this is another thing that is common practice yet I do not agree with. This can kill the insects and other living things around the area you salt. I use cascarilla (crushed egg shells) instead. It has the same protective qualities yet does not harm the Earth. There were just so many things that I really did not agree with but that does not make them wrong for everyone.
I did enjoy the lyrical writing style in the book and overall it flowed really well. Full of encouragement for those starting, this book has folklore, history, spells, and even what things like the witch’s purpose are. There are some great ideas for spells, etc that I may put in my practice but overall it was not a book that I felt best suited me but it might be perfect for you! If you are Wiccan or follow that path, this is a wonderful tool packed with a lot of information. However, if you do not follow the Wiccan spiritual path, this is not a book you will find much in to relate to.
Thank you again to so much Llewellyn for sending me this book. I am happy to be able to offer my honest opinions.
Have you ever found a book that offered useful information but not in the way you practiced? Did you change it and adapt it?
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