This book is essentially basic magic for dabblers. Written in a fun tongue in cheek manner it is an easy read. It isery elementary although some decent resources are provided. It covers the basics from altars, to astrology to spells. The author has a free wheleing approach and incorporates many traditions. Purists may objecdt to both but this is more about boosting empowerment thaan it is about dherence to rules. The author's own story is engaging and it is a fun book obout addingzing to living.

This is a wonderful guide to everything pagan. It shows you how to set up altars and cast spells. It is great for the beginner and those more experienced.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Mya Spalter created an entertaining and budget-friendly look on modern witchcraft. She also laid things bare about working at Enchantments, the oldest witch shop in New York City. She talked about some creepy customers; and was totally honest about why the staff might come off as cold or moody on certain days. Her advice is none other than practical.

This doesn’t mean that only newbies to the craft should read Enchantments. I thoroughly loved every page of this book and I’ve been a practicing witch (basically since I was a kid, but hid it) openly since for over 20 years. I’ve studied with the best like staff at Mystickal Tymes in New Hope, PA and Laurie Cabot from Salem, MA.

What I loved about Spalter was that the reading experience felt like a conversation where we were friends hanging out. By the end, I truly wished we were. She's a dynamo. I have so many passages of Enchantments highlighted.

She presents ideas for spells and the background of complex studies at an introductory level. When it comes to subjects like astrology, I’ve never been one to excel. I still need the basics. I appreciate that she went into the science of all this! Spalter admits that despite her scholarly basis, sometimes there still aren’t concrete ways to talk about the how’s and why’s of witchcraft. She periodically refers to “vibes” and plainly explains that’s the best way she knows how to describe that thing. Plus, I love a woman that still acknowledges Pluto as a planetary body:

“Each of the nine planets (witches still fux with Pluto), plus the moon and the sun, has a certain personality.”

Why now?
Spalter answered the question, why you should respect feminism and witchcraft:

“Because at a moment when the rights of women and gender-nonconforming people are under increased and constant attack from institutions of power, a non-hierarchical, goddess-centered style of spirituality has a markedly increased appeal. Because we’re in a moment in which a lot of people are feeling a greater urgency toward practices that can offer some way toward meaning, peace, and self-possession.”

Frugality/Thrifty Witching
Spalter presents inexpensive options for finding tools and supplies. Hit up yard sales, dollar stores, and simply work with what is already in your possession. Recycle, upcycle, repurpose. She gives several reminders about fire safety which I can appreciate as a witch with cats who just love to knock things over.

“You’ve heard this from me before, but the first step in any uncrossing spell is to clean your filthy apartment.”

Cross-cultural
Spalter’s approach is refreshing because here’s this author and longtime witch to the community (through retail) who gives you permission to use an à la carte approach. She tried to come up a label for her style of witchcraft and I love it. I love that there’s no one singular way that anyone should feel pressured into following. “Wicca-ria-pop-magic-Jewish-Hoodoo,” is what she calls her religion.

Yoga and chakras are brought up a few times. Spalter is an avid yogi which she says is a grounding ritual for her.

From Hoodoo to Vodou to Voodoo to Christianity; Samhain to Día de los Muertos; to the myths of flying — Spalter’s overview has a lot of illuminating nuggets of information.

“Ancestor worship is a powerful sort of magic. It’s a gratitude practice, not a transaction; it involves no wishing or willing because all of that already happened.”

Spalter does not shy away from the 2016-2018 political climate in the United States. There’s a brief reference to the #BindTrump or mass hexing that goes on around the world. For this, Spalter does not believe in manipulating anyone else’s free will (same with love spells); instead she comes up with creative solutions to using reversing spells.

“If you use the ‘wrong’ color candle during the ‘wrong’ phase of the moon, nothing bad will happen to you. Bad things happen because you’re a mortal human on Earth, like the rest of us, and such is the shit of life.”


What Spalter means by “self-possession” in the full title of the book is the multiple connotations of the term “possession.” She mostly means for the reader/practitioner to embrace their own inner power; although, there is a brief lesson on respecting the religions who do allow living human bodies to be possessed by spirits.

Pop Culture
Grant Morrison, comics and occult author, was Spalter’s primary influence for writing her story about Enchantments. Personally, I find Morrison’s non-comic side way more appealing. He’s intelligent and gifted; I just don’t get into his takes on superheroes from what I’ve read of them. Spalter recommends his essay “Pop Magic!” for learning about sigils.

Morrison isn’t the only pop culture figure mentioned. Beyoncé and her brilliant representation of Yemaja get distinguished props.

The illustrations by Caroline Paquita add the flavor of folk art and creation/creative energy bringing the chapters to life. To summarize, if you have any interest at all in how witches today practice, read this book.

I received this book from RandomHouse in exchange for a voluntary review.

A teen walks into a grungy storefront on the Upper East Side and is greeted by a billow of smoke coming from a cauldron. After the smoke clears and about 15 years later, that girl, author Mya Spalter, is still working at Enchantments, New York City's oldest witchcraft store.

Disclosure: I am not pagan or Wiccan and this book did not change anything for me. The closest I have come to witchcraft was playing Ouija at a sleepover when I was 10 years old. I read this book with an open mind, curious about the history, religion, and practices of witchcraft and this book did not disappoint. Talking about the uses of shrines, herbs, spirits, and rituals and how they intertwine to reach self-possession, the book is an extremely informative, written in a charming (no pun intended) conversation voice. It is a helpful guide for people who want to participate in or just curious about the practice or witchcraft.

https://www.instagram.com/thejourneyofmybooks/?hl=en (will publish review on September 4th, a week before publication)

I'm a bit beyond this book as a pagan, but new pagans will enjoy this work and free them up to not worry so much about making mistakes. One really can't you know. This book is full of info that will guide you if you are new. Simple, easy read.

When you hear the words “witch”, “spells”, “potions”, “Wicca”, “Wiccan” or “witchcraft”, what comes to your mind? If you haven’t researched these topics before, or are not a Wiccan, these words might conjure images of strange people doing mysterious, and dark, things. Magic, potions, spells, etc. sound like nonsense at best, and evil, demon work at worst.

In Enchantments, Mya Spalter de-mystifies the world of witchcraft by explaining in simple, clear, and humorous language exactly what goes on in this, and similar, practices. Using herself and her personal practice of Wicca as her starting point, Spalter takes witchcraft out of the realm of the dark and spooky, and into the realm of the every day. When it comes to things like rituals, altars, intentions, and spells, Spalter breaks down the rules, practices, and symbols, (and the rationales behind each), while simultaneously saying that one can do things in whatever way works for them. Ultimately, for Spalter, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do things. It’s what feels right and works for you that is most important.

Fundamental to Spalter’s philosophy is that “magic” really boils down to just being in touch with yourself and the world around you, trusting your instincts, being open to possibilities, and believing in yourself and your ability to effect change: “A magical person embraces the presupposition that you can materially impact the condition of your life by setting a goal or intention, ritualizing that intention, visualizing the outcome of your desire, and letting it happen… One of the principles of magic that I appreciate the most is the notion that you have what you need all around you. You just have to see it.”

Enchantments has 12 chapters, each one addressing the various aspects of Wiccan practice:

Chapter 1 discusses “witchy implements”: altars & shrines – what they are, how to make one, and what should be on them.

Chapter 2 discusses colors: “Colors are like a physical manifestation of a mood.” Spalter describes what each color represents, and how to use color to effect change.

Chapter 3 discusses candles and their use in spell casting.

Chapter 4 discusses herbs – the various kinds of herbs and their uses.

Chapter 5 discusses the stars, planets, the moon, and the sun – their significance, and what each represents, and each of them plays a role in our lives.

Chapter 6 discusses the Wiccan calendar: holidays, festivals, etc

Chapter 7 discusses “magical collaboration” – practicing your craft with other people.

Chapter 8 talks about protection and banishing: “Witchcraft is about noticing and engaging with the forces that are always operating in the world around us.” This chapter talks about how to protect yourself by setting boundaries to prevent negative or unwanted energies clinging to you.

Chapter 9 discusses the different types of “love” magic/spells

Chapter 10 discusses the different types of “money” magic/spells

Chapter 11 discusses divination – ways to gain insight, or a new perspective, and

Chapter 12 discusses astrology

Spalter is a big fan of writer Grant Morrison, best known for his work in comic books. She quotes him often, and she sites his essay, “Pop Magic“, as being the inspiration for her writing Enchantments. Throughout Enchantments, Spalter wants to encourage readers to pay attention to the world around them – notice things, and see the divine in them. Practicing witchcraft is really just a way to bring the divine into your every day consciousness via awareness and ritual. As she says in her conclusion to the book, “My dear hope is that you use some of these suggestions to enchant your daily life.”

My review has been posted to Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

This book was well ...Enchanting. A breath of fresh air explaining rituals, spells and magic in clear precise terms that if you can read, you can do. I loved the way she talks about setting up an alter. Using what she finds or has as opposed to taking a huge list and getting everything exactly as some books recommend or you can't be a real witch ( I do the same thing). She covers Wicca and Neo-pagan beliefs and what she goes over can be used no matter who and what you worship. The moon signs, colors and just anything else you are interested in are in this book. It is long overdue . Thank you Mya Spalter for a book well done. I received this book from Net Galley and Random Publishing House for an honest review and no compensation. The views and opinions are my own. 5+ stars.

I found this book to be incredibly comprehensive, truly unique, and well-written. It's obvious that a great deal of Mya's heart and soul was put into this book along with all kinds of interesting and practical witchcraft lore/spells/etc. - she knows her subject well. "Enchantments" meets the extensive criteria I think any excellent book should have. I believe "Enchantments" deserves to have a wide audience. The illustrations were charming, creative, and they definitely added to the content. I hope that "Enchantments" is a major success and I have a feeling it will be!