Member Reviews
Thanks to Quarto and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have read quite a few introductory books to magic and witchraft, even those that focus on Wicca, which isn't really my thing. Many of those, however, didn't really push me to actually do something with the knowledge I was gathering. 'House Magic' felt a little different to me. It covers a wide array of topics and themes but somehow didn't feel like a textbook I needed to take notes from. It read very easily and felt like something that could inspire, rather than something I had to memorise and learn. Part of this comes, I think, from the fact that 'House Magic' doesn't restrict itself to one particular practice but rather borrows inspiration from a whole array of different religions and cultures. Because of that some of it can maybe feel a little loose, but as it all centres around the home there is a larger connection. I also really like the way this book was designed, from the layout to the illustrations. While the spells didn't really work for me, just because I'm not big on learning or using rhymes etc, I did overall enjoy the approach of this book.
House Magic by Aurora Kane was the perfect book for me. I love books about magic and I am excited to be adding it to my collection of magical books. If you are looking to learn more about how to make your home a space where you can recharge and reenergize yourself, this is a perfect book for you!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC ebook, all opinions are my own.
An excellent book, a good reference for improving the energies of your house and creating sacred spaces.
I liked the style of writing and the clarity of the explanations.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Really good read, i read this bc i thought it would be a good gift for someone tho not for myself so tho i wouldn't use it, it was cool
We all need a little magical space to rest and recharge after the stresses of the day. House Magic is a thoughtful, imaginative, and beautifully illustrated book on how to create your own fortress of magical wonderment and solitude.
The author provides many ways to create, renovate, and reinvigorate your own home to have the overall feeling you wish to create and harbor in your own home.
Great resource. Definitely recommend.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This book gave a great overview about incorporating magic into your home and everyday life. It looked at general witchy practices, feng shui, astrology, crystals, herbs and more.
I loved some of the practical recipes/spells it offered and all of the beautiful illustrations.
This was a book that would be very comfortable for beginners to use and is accessible to people who aren't familiar with magical practices.
Some good starting information for home-related things to do. Some meditations, rituals, and spells. Things to decorate your home and setting it up and more.
House Magic is a holistic guide for bringing some homely spirituality into your home. It would make a perfect gift for homemakers especially in these pandemic times when the comfort of home is vital for wellbeing. All sorts of things are included from rituals and instructions for using essential oils, crystals, herbs and so much more. It is a book to settle down with by the fire with a cup of tea and a big snuggly blanket.
There has been a trend lately of "witchy" books and this one really didn't rise to the top. I enjoyed the section on crystals and focus on nature.
I'll stop in and out for reference occasionally
Magical!
House Magic is a great guidebook that has been beautifully put together, the design and layout are perfect. From Feng Shui to essential oils, flowers, crystals, spells, rituals and many more.. it covers them all wonderfully.
I’m so impressed with this book I’ll be buying a physical copy to add to my collection, not only will it be put to use (a lot). It will look great on my shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Very interesting handbook.
I was surprised that I actually enjoyed it. This is one I will be looking at again in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity .
I really enjoyed this beautifully crafted informative book. In this day of quarantine this is a excellent read to outfit your home with spiritual practices , crystals,oils, comfort and spell protection. The author expanded my knowledge of essential oils, spells and how to make a home more comfortable . The illustrations are beautiful and the spells are easy to follow and sensible. Very well done to the author.
Great guidebook! This is definitely a book you are going to want to have around the house to reference. Aurora Kane does a great job of taking all magic we've all been learning about and showcasing how to use it "house" style. From herbs, to crystals, to oils, she gives you approaches for how to clear your energy, build your energy or even just have it flow. She successfully taps into each area without overloading you on the information. I adore the end as she has intentions after each action item to help you start.
Thank you Aurora Kane, Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to snag a physical copy!
I loved the esthetics and the illustrations of House Magic: it really is beautiful, inspiring and uplifting! The pages in between chapters are gorgeous and the colorful depictions of birds - for instance - are superb! It really is a jewel of a book, no mistakes there!
I also loved the part about crystals: that was really interesting and made me look for some of the stones mentioned!
Moreover, this book advocate thanking Nature for what it gives us and remembering what's good in our lives: that was great, as was the part about Feng-shui.
But I think it was too much for me. It deals with spells, prayers and conjuring spirits, and I was a bit ill-at-ease with that. I wasn't convinced either by the part about birds - even though I loved the illustrations, once more!
Overall, I really think I wasn't ready to read this book. But it's really beautiful and would be a great gift for a would-be witch!
I adore the design of this book. It is absolutely wonderful, and I think it would make a perfect gift for all the women who need a little magic in their house. It was a delight reading this book; learning about crystals and oils helped me a lot, and I'll definitely care about colours and symbols from now on. As a person who likes spending time at home, I found this book helpful, well-thought and fun to read. Great job!
'House Magic' was a great informative reference novel that far exceeded my expectations. It didn’t feel like a textbook nor an instruction manual (Example: Step one: Grab white sage) because for all of that, I would much rather use Google. This featured well collected data on how to transform any space into a sacred sanctuary using the power of crystals, herbs, flowers, cleansing, energy, spellwork, zodiacs, household deities, etc. Additionally, the author included clear explanations and the meanings behind all items used.
The only downside—I had to read this on the Netgalley app which I absolutely hated and I am not a fan of because the PDF file refused to work on any other of my other Kindle apps/devices. It prevented me from being able to highlight key pieces that I wanted to reference/further look into in the future. Screenshots just don’t do it for me but nonetheless, I will corporate many key components of this reference piece for years to come.
This book basically uses supernatural sorts of practices from all different cultures regarding the home. There's feng shui, crystals, dream catchers, color meanings, spells, smudging, bells, essential oils, plant meanings, you name it. It reminded me a lot of a generic kindle book, as there's a lot of stuff compiled from elsewhere with stock images. There are lots of spells, but I wasn't a fan of those so much (firstly, I don't do spells, and secondly, the poor rhyme scheme of some of them drove me batty). It is not for a specific religion or practice but rather "magical" in a universal sort of way. There are two-tone drawings and really vibrant blue and gold chapter break pages, but no photographs.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
How magical is your home?
The place where we live should be a sanctuary from the world with its Ali gs and arrows, though perhaps it may not always be easy to know how to create that kind of ambience and to imbue it with a magical atmosphere. This book was written to create a few ideas in that direction.
There is of course the use of sage snudgi g and salt spilling, window opening and cleaning to keep negativity and unwelcome vibes at bay. Cleaning and a enting a home is certainly magical and mood-altering. More orthodox religions recognise that too, with the saying 'cleanliness I'd next to godliness.' Again the sentiment that our personal dwelling should be sacrosanct.
This book so draws upon the the wisdom of feng shui. With this way of thinking, the relationship to all other rooms to the main door and where in which direction the main door faces are important for planning colour, design and decor for the purpose and function of each room.
The writer also recommends colour scheme for each astrological sign, though this seemed to me to be a little simplistic, though there is nothing to stop an aspiring practitioner of kitchen magic or the Craft to draw upon and adapt ideas suggested here as they see fit. This would also relate to choice of crystals or plants brought into the house, for example.
Birds are seen as harbingers of messages, and there are interpretations given for each winged messenger thus aspired. Personally, netting over the balcony is one way preferred to keep messengers from pigeons at bay....
The book is lavishly and beautifully illustrated with blue and gold moons and mandalas throughout, as well as with drawings of cauldrons and so on, so would make a superb present for anyone with leanings towards the magical.
There is so much to this book. So many different elements to make 'every home a sacred sanctuary' - it looks at feng sui, crystals, colours, gods and goddesses, zodiac, smells, so much!!
I think this book is great to dip in and out of. I also love how it covers so many different spiritual elements, religions, faiths and cultures. This book would make a great pressie for someone moving into a new home. Would be a great xmas pressie.
Definitely recommend!
Absolutely magical!!
A handbook for the new and experienced in magic and spirituality, this book is absolutely enthralling from it's first to last pages- which are filled with really beautiful and informative illustrations about various crystals, sigils and paraphernalia you can use to keep your house a safe sanctuary.
There is a lot of really great stuff: encompassing the paths of the moon- and what the phases can be harnessed for, colours and their uses, meditation, altars, bells, brooms and a myriad of other such things specific to how to protect your house and home.
The only thing I might mention is the book did talk about smudging with sage. I am not informed of the authors ethnicity, but I know that the use of especially white sage is part of a closed practice that are some Native American/first people cultures. As it is not only endangered (notably from its sudden popularity in non-native practices) but specific to their history and the horrible assimilation that made up the 19th and 20th centuries. I wasn't particularly comfortable with how it although did tell you to make sure to purchase from a native owned business, it didn't talk about how many tribes actually do not feel it is right for people outside of their culture to use it.
That however was the only caution I might exercise, as otherwise this was a masterwork and perfect for the beginner or new home owner looking to enchant their space.