Book Review | Enchantments: A Modern Witch's Guide to Self-Possession by Mya Spalter

Enchantments: A Modern Witch's Guide to Self-Possession by Mya Spalter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Netgalley provided me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Enchantments is a really refreshing take on witchcraft. Mya Spalter uses approachable, modern language and symbolism to explain things. It makes it so much easier to absorb the information and relate it to my own life, rather than trying to parse meaning from the many Neopagan/witchy books that rely on old-fashioned language and iconography in an attempt to sound more "spiritual" or "occulty," but just end up coming across as outdated and inaccessible. I also appreciate that she shies away from outdated ways of viewing the world (read: gender binaries, sexist & ableist forms, etc.), while still acknowledging that other books may still rely on those ways of thinking. Overall I found that Spalter's writing style made the book extremely readable and easy to absorb, and it made me much more interested in trying out some of the magickal techniques.

The approach to spellcraft is refreshing. She gives you ideas for how things might be done, how to choose substitute ingredients, etc., all in a very low key manner. She never says "you must do it this way or it won't work." I was also pleasantly surprised that this book taught me about new techniques for spells, like uncrossing work - this is basically one way of removing blockages from your path - as well as new ways of looking at/using techniques I'm already familiar with.

In one chapter, she explores how different items on your altar can have meaning, and how to find that meaning for yourself. I really appreciate that she keeps reminding you "Don't burn the house down!" when talking about burning candles and such.

I really liked her chapter on candle magick, and all the tricks you can use to get your magkical juju flowing when using candles, like using sigils and incense smoke, and different ways you can dress candles to fit your purposes (including with glitter! Be still my witchy heart). I actually ended up using some of these techniques to dress and burn a candle for a spell and it worked really well. Her suggestions for charging the candle by playing music that fits your intention also really jived with me.

I found the chapter on divination very interesting and it renewed my interest in trying out palmistry, and was a good reminder that tarot is a skill that needs practice because there are so many dang cards. But the chapter on astrology reminded me why I just don't believe in astrology and never will.

Overall, this is a must read for modern witches!

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New camera

Last May, my trusty Olympus subcompact camera went missing at a party - it's likely that someone walked off with it, though it's anyone's guess if it was accidental or intentional. So I asked my parents to help out with the cost of a new, better camera as my birthday and Yule gift.

I tested out my new camera by taking photos of my altar, newly set up for the winter sabbats. The lit candle in the center is my Yule candle from last winter. As you can see from what little is left of it, it's been a rough year.

Yes, my crystals asked to be arranged in the shape of a wave. Perhaps I was channeling the god of radio signals?

Also on my altar are (clockwise from bottom) 2 pieces of sacred jewelry, candles dedicated to the Goddess of Reflections and Mama Cocha, my tools, a stuffed tiger "fetish" of sorts protecting my chant journal and several tarot decks, and a flute gifted to me recently by a coven mate.

Hope everyone is having a good December. The solstice will be here in just a week, and then the days will start getting lighter again - hurray!

Self care

As you can imagine I've been doing a lot of self care over the last couple of weeks, what with being so sick, twice. Lots of clear fluids, resting in bed w/ my old friend Hulu, applesauce, resting on the couch in front of the tv, pills, resting in my boyfriend's bed in front of his tv, oh and did i mention resting?

Also, letting Jack take care of me, too. He's such a sweetheart. He's been giving me lots of hugs and snuggles, kept checking on my temperature, fetched food and water for me when i was too tired to get off the couch. He even drove me to the urgent care center in Beltsville and then the pharmacy afterwards last night.

I've been thinking a lot about self care, and what techniques work (and don't work) for me, mostly in the context of my emotional health. Obviously, focusing on repeating, negative visions doesn't work. Fighting with my boyfriend doesn't work.

Sometimes I light a candle on my altar and pray to my gods to get me through.

One of my primary coping strategies has been similar to what i do when i'm sick - rest in front of the tv or Hulu to take my mind off things, comfort foods, tea. Chamomile is particularly calming to my nerves. If I want company, snuggling with Jack and letting him play with my hair or rub my feet are also soothing.

...Oh cheesus. I just realized that last paragraph reads too much like the reports I write for work. So with that, I think it's time to wrap up and go watch another episode of Hell's Kitchen. Maybe finally Elise will get kicked off and the drama will end..

Would you light my candle?

It's been a very rainy weekend here in Maryland. It's been downpouring on and off all morning. We certainly need it, though, because it's been a pretty dry summer. I'm sure the earth and its flora are rejoicing at the much-needed moisture. I don't mind the rain much, though. Something about the sound of rain falling lends itself to a quiet, reflective morning spent with a cuppa tea. Or two.

 

Last night was a full moon. I wasn't able to return to Philly for my coven's full moon ritual, so I used elements from the ritual to do something for myself for the full moon. I lit the candle dedicated to light goddess I work with, and read the Charge of the Goddess aloud to myself. I chose Starhawk's version because I tend to jibe with her way of wording things, and also for its use of vernacular English (no thee's and thou's). Then I pulled a card from the Goddess Tarot, which was a gift from one of my coven-mates. The card I pulled was the 7 of cups. I reflected on the image and got the impression that whatever progress I make in my personal work right now, there will also be darkness or sacrifices of some kind.

I left the candle burning until I went to sleep, and I decided to light it again this morning.

Candles have become really important to me in dealing with depression. Candles represent a light in the dark, the spark of the god's love and light that resides within us all. Even in my darkest times I've felt that spark within me, and held onto it with all my might, even when I was unable to breathe any more life into that spark. I burn candles to remind me of that spark. I also burn candles as a form of magick, to create more light within me. I usually like to light my Yule candle or my light goddess candle for this purpose, especially when I'm feeling particularly down.

 

Image by David NiBlack / Creative Commons Attribution License

Ah look - it seems the storm has passed, and the sunlight is returning to my little patch of the world. But first, maybe I'll have one more cuppa...