An informative book for those that are interested in learning more about this subject. Easy to read and gives a great starting base.

"The Little Book of the Occult" by Astrid Carvel

...is an amazingly practical guide to every magick-enthusiast, witch or even just fans of fantasy who want to dip their toes in a little magick of their own. The first half of the book is dedicated to the history of magick itself and some of its more significant users. The back half explains more about hands on magick use and there are even recipes and instructions for ritual to find.

There are chapters about how practising magick can benefit your mental healtch an can be seen as a tool for self-development, about the material tools you need for different types of magick (like candles, crytals,...) and so on. The chapters are kept enticingly short, so that they can also be enjoyed in a 5min coffee break and still convey a good quantity of information.

I personally love to learn about the history of the occult and even though I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a witch, I do like to read tarot from time to time (there are also instructions for that in here) so this was a very enjoyable read for me.

You are like me a fantasy lover and/or fascinated by magick? Then you might want to give this little handbook a try!

This book is just a quick intro into the occult. It gives just a very slight description of occult practices. It's a very quick read.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to be a witch, or perhaps just how to use manifestation to better your life, but have not known where to start? Luckily, practicing white witch and author Astrid Carvel is here to help you get started on your own magical journey. Carvel, working with Andrew McMeel Publishing, released The Little Book of the Occult in March 2023 to better help those curious about witchcraft understand it.

This slim volume, only 130 pages, covers a wide-range of topics in its seven chapters. It begins with the pertinent question of, “just what is the occult?”. While defining the occult is no easy task, Carvel does a fine job of summarizing that it is the study of what is hidden. This explanation continues through the next chapter, which goes into moderate detail about the history of the study of magic.

But The Little Book of the Occult is not all history. It contains a number of helpful suggestions for a person to get started with their own study and find what works best for them. There is a section of tools that a person might need, along with alternatives to some of the more common items so that the barrier for entry remains low. If you don’t have a small cauldron, you could just use a bowl for the water on your altar. If you don’t have the money to buy a dowsing rod, a forked stick will do - just don’t cut it from a tree! There is also a handy section on Tarot that goes through basic card meanings, as well as another section for getting started with automatic writing and other such trance work.

The book contains helpful resources for finding others to work with as well. There are many options for finding a local coven, and the book covers most of them. And there is no shaming potential solo practitioners, either. Carvel is extremely welcoming, and readers will come away from this book knowing there is no wrong way to practice - only different roads to take to the same destination.

The Little Book of the Occult is a wonderful resource for anyone curious if witchcraft might be right for them. There are ample ways to use this book to get started in learning - whether one wants to know more about the history, try their hand at a spell, or know how to best use a ouija board to get an answer. As witchcraft continues to gain popularity and be more readily accepted by the masses, it is good to have a book like this to help people start their studies off right.

This book was very interesting. I learned a lot about the occult, and I think this could be very helpful for anyone trying to get into the occult. I do wish it had gone a little more in-depth in some places.

I requested this book from Netgalley because I like the strange, witchy and occult so I figured it would be a fun one. This short (130 page) book is a good overview of the history of magick and provides snippets on tarot, talking to spirits, crystals, and other magick related information.

I read through this pretty fast, there are a number of full-page quotes and images throughout making it even shorter than expected. I found the writing to be just ok, nothing spectacularly done, just enough to be to the point. While there was a lot of interesting and useful information, I really wanted some references and footnotes that were not there. There is a further reading/ recommendations section at the end, but a few were more of this author’s works versus where they found their details.

I think if you are just starting out on your witchy journey this would be a good starting place for you. Or if you want something cute on the coffee table this could be a fun book to grab.

Thank you Netgalley and Astrid Carvel for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like this is the kind of book that you would get as a little gift from a family member that knows little about the subject and heard you were interested in all that "witchy" stuff. I did enjoy the subject and I have been exploring the topic more in depth so when I saw the cover, my interest was piqued. The cover is absolutely stunning.
I do think that this had quite a bit of historical information in it, but I feel like it has barely scratched the surface. This feels like a book intended to get someone's attention more than anything and act as the first footstep down the path of researching deeper into occultism.
The brief history on different topics was great and I wish that this book had focused on just this and expanded more. I think targeting the history of occultism would have been the best route to go. Once it started to drift into "how-tos" and tools for the practice, my interest in the writing wavered as it felt like this was too large a topic to summarize into so few pages. Especially without discussing cultural connections and safety measures when doing so.
Overall, I enjoyed the read. I would recommend this for beginners who are just getting interested in the topic and want a quick snippet of the history before they do more research on their own. I did enjoy Carvel's writing style and delivery of the information as it kept me interested. It was well written and able to deliver history in a way that didn't bore me (which is difficult because I'm not usually a historical/non-fiction fan, so well done!)

This is a great general guide to all the key points of occultism. Ranging from magick to manifestation, this has brief introductions to all of these topics. It's enjoyable, easy to follow and is nicely illustrated.

A cute little beginners guide to occultism. I would recommend this book for those seeking an introduction to the occult. The design of the book is quite beautiful from the cover to the illustrations on the pages. I particularly enjoyed the pages between chapters dedicated to quotes. Overall this book did a good job of summarizing and providing information on various subject matters from herbs, crystals, tarot cards and sigils.

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I actually loved this book cover, and that's what initially caught my eye.
This was a quick, easy and informative read. Please keep in mind that this is more of an introductional book and not meant for those who are educated in this field. It will likely be very boring for those who are informed in this topic.

It took me a short time to read, but it was super interesting and so very easy to stay engaged!

Definitely worth the read!

A perfect quick read guide to everything occult. Astrid Carvel offers insight into the history, symbolism, adaptations and key elements of occult practices in this pocket guidebook.

I loved the interspersed history, while also introducing modern adaptations to emphasize the fluidity of the craft, as well as its accessibility.

Thank you #NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

My perspective is a little different from some of the other reviewers, in that I think I am more of the target audience. I have no occult or witchcraft experience and just was interested in learning more about the practice: the why, the how, the who.

First of all, since it was an ebook I didn't realize how true it was that it is the "little" book of the occult. It took me less than two hours to read, including doing some chores. So this truly is a surface-level introduction. Having said that, I liked that it was a quick introduction. I wasn't looking for instructions. I was just looking to learn a little bit.

I really enjoyed the historical perspectives, and it has convinced me to research more deeply into some of the historical practices. Also learning why some symbols are used, about sigils etc was interesting. Most of the information was new to me.

They book does include some "spell recipes" towards the end. The instructions are straight-forward and basic, though, and I thought they seemed easy to follow. That wasn't really what I was looking for in a book, but I could see it being a nice inclusion for some readers.

Overall well-written and easy to read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

okay, im very conflicted with this one tbh,.. I feel like that while its a “little book” it gives the reader a LOT of information, most of it is very useful as well!

However, I feel like there are some very important and major things missing like protection magic, baby witched need to know how to protect themselves and writing an entire book telling them what they can do without offering ways to teach them to protect themselves can be damaging.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Andrew McNeel Publishing for an advance copy of this gift book on the occult for those who are just starting out.

People have a want, and sometimes a need to know more. And to believe in something, sometimes just themselves, sometimes something that explains the world, and sometimes things that are unknown to most of the world. Even today with knowledge at the tip of our IPhones finding information, truthful information is a difficult task. For as many truthsayers, even soothsayers that one comes across, many are just deceivers, out of ignorance, out of malice, or just out for a buck. Sometimes on has to do their own research, everyone has to start somewhere walking from ignorance into the light of knowledge. Sometimes it is good to start small. The Little Book of the Occult by Astrid Carvel is a good place to start on a journey that may be short, may be long, rewarding or disappointing, maybe all of this.

The book begins with a brief description of the arcane arts, the good, the bad, and the work that is involved and the time one should put into it. From there the book is broken down into sections, describing magick and its the origins, and the importance of doing magick justly and not for unjust or malicious reasons. The usual names are mentioned Aleister Crowley and the rest of the ilk, but not to in depth. Candles, crystals, Ouija boards and other scyring methods are looked into and their uses shared. There is a few pages on Tarot and other forms of visualization for helping one achieve goals and be happy. The author discusses the pros and cons of practicing by oneself, and with others, detailing the experiences that both offer, and how the world wide net has had an effect on magick and people's interest.

This is a primer for people who would like to know more, but either want to know enough to not get in trouble, or be able to talk to friends or loved one's who are interested in the occult. A lot of various subjects are discussed, but few last more than two or three pages. People who want more of in-depth study or deeper occult knowledge will find this lacking, but for people just becoming interested, this would be a good start. The writing is good, and well presented. There are no jokes, or snide comments, everything is taken very seriously with both an interest in sharing and teaching. Carvel is very good at keeping the pace moving, while covering a lot of different subject matters, and covering them well.

Recommended for beginners who are carefully entering the occult world, are not sure where to start or even how to start. Also a good gift to share with others who share your life, this way they can have a bit of understanding about your interests and maybe will be more supportive or even accompany you on the path of learning more about the world.

The Little Book of the Occult is simply what the publisher's description states: "a quick dive into the world of occult magick." With only 128 pages, one cannot expect to have all the mysteries of the occult revealed. However, one can expect to have at least some of the mystery taken away, but Astrid Carvel seems to leave more questions unanswered than answered as if trusting the reader to continue researching the subject on their own. (Personally, I have no problem with research. I love nothing better than a deep dive into a subject that interests me. But it's not something everyone enjoys, I know.)

Most of the topics in this book are covered in the span of one or two pages. Again, this is not a book that's meant to be an exhaustive resource. It's meant to be more a means to pique the curiosity. Could Carvel perhaps spend a little more time on certain topics? Yes, absolutely. Does Carvel include every topic related to the occult? No, definitely not. Does Carvel at least cover the basics? Meh, I leave that up to the reader to decide.

Overall, The Little Book of the Occult is a very basic, Cliff Notes-version of an introduction to occult magick and history. If you're interested in the topic, chances are you'll continue on with your own research. If you're not that interested but are at least a little curious, then it will probably satisfy that curiosity. If you're looking for an exhaustive, authoritative treatise on the subject, this is definitely not the book for you.

I’m left feeling conflicted after reading. Beginner style book that feels best read by the more experienced. I wish I could review as two separate books and that it was written as such. With so many aspects, practices and belief systems that fall within the occult, reviews and perceptions are guaranteed to vary and get critical.

The first portion of the book read more as what I was expecting. A brief history and synopsis on varying topics. The writing is both engaging and to the point without much fluff or romanticizing. I would have loved for the book to continue on with additional topics and systems as sort of an “intro” to expand understanding.

Once the book starts touching on practices, tools and takes a dive into the “how to”, my interest began to waver and brought the occasional head bow and exasperated exhale. While I’m in no place to gatekeep, I feel some of the tools and topics can’t safely be delivered in such bite sized snippets. I would have liked to see more of disclaimer approach and a greater respect for closed practices. Ideally, if mentioning the tools and practices, the information would have been delivered in more of a clarification of cultural roots.

The social media references paired with the “how to” presentation bring the now commonly used term “baby witch” to mind. Personally, I’m not a fan of the term nor the context it’s used in, however these portions of the book bring it to mind as the target audience. Personally, I don’t take issue with the spells chosen with the exception of one or two, but I would have preferred they just be in a separate book altogether with more elaboration. It also feels a bit inconsistent to have so many social media nods, yet not acknowledge the heavily discussed controversies and address appropriation.

Some things that stood out:

The Ouija board portion(s): I’d have liked to see more history and disclosure in the beginning at first mention. In fairness, the book does touch on using it safely though much further on and let’s be real, if someone is curious and just starting out, they’re likely not reading the full book without dabbling along the way. I’d have also liked to see the practice portion address how to properly prepare, rather than summed up as others having issues and just recommending a doctor visit should you have any.

Crowley mentions: While I appreciate the neutral approach of such a controversial figure, I’ve never seen him so passively mentioned. Again, if this was broken into separate books with more topics on history, I may feel differently here. With the verbose portion of the book being so brief before diving into practices, there’s not much room for things to resonate and it be to choose their path. This starts to feel more like a handbook of “this is who is relevant and how I recommend you practice”.

Hecate: While it may not seem like Hecate needs elaboration, if the book is meant to be consumed as a reference, it’s likely that beginners or those with curiosities are who it will appeal to most. The description felt to brief before just throwing out to “call on Hecate by…”. I’d have liked to see more on paying respects, when/what/why, etc. Sure that’s a bit much for a “Little Book of…”, but further iterates my point of keeping it to reference and having an entirely separate volume on practices.

The author does in fact address some portions of my concerns as the book wraps up, however I know this bite-sized life we’re in. A new reality where mere seconds on Tik Tok spark a practice or belief, the disclaimers feel a bit “too late” at that point. We’re in an age of searching for key words and getting to the point.

This is the first book of Astrid Carvel’s that I’ve read. While it wasn’t a home run for me, I did feel it was well written and off to a great start, I will be purchasing additional titles and exploring more of Carvel’s work as I enjoyed the delivery of information and am always eager to learn the perspectives of others, taking what resonates with me.

There’s so much potential in this style and the book has it’s place, but the practice portion reminds me of something that would accompany a Home Goods, budget priced “Spell Kit” that contains unethically sourced herbs and stones. Carvel has a gift in providing knowledge and history that isn’t met with a yawn, I genuinely hope to see these skills expanded upon with a more historical and “basics of” approach.

Very quick read. Informative read. I just wanted a little more in-depth information. What was presented was well laid out and the organization was very easy to follow.

This book left something lacking. This was a very basic book for beginners, Being somewhat familiar with the genre I didn't find this interesting.

I do not recommend this book for people interested in occultism or magical practice. This is the exact book your aunt gets you for a holiday when she finds out you bought a tarot deck. It’s both too basic in its instruction to introduce a user to a decent amount of information, and too advanced to begin a safe and healthy practice.
For example it briefly provides definitive definitions for Tarot cards without mentioning The Fool’s Journey, an important part of the interpretation of this system, even putting the title in as a search term to further educate the reader would have been helpful. You’re provided an explanation for a 2 card spread, and a 12 card spread, one overly simplistic, and one overly complicated. Ignoring arguably the most popular beginner spread- the past/present/future 3 card spread.

Protection magic is incredibly important for beginners, but isn’t introduced, even as a concept until 2/3rds of the way through the book. There are 4 spells detailed in the book with no mention that spells can backfire, what to look for if they do, or even begin to undo them.
The only time it’s recommended to seek a doctor's help is in the case of lingering negative side effects from a Ouija board. Being able to question and identify mundane happenings is so important for beginners that the lack of emphasis on the subject makes me question all of the information in the book.
Before chapter 3 there's a pretty page inviting the reader to reach out the Hecete, the goddess. Again, there's no warning for protection, or even questions to assist in identifying a spirit a beginner may talk to. It's incredibly optimistic to assume that straight out of the gate someone would have the forethought and ability to identify a spirit., before the book even provides instruction on how to find a coven. It's almost feels silly that speaking to a deity is addressed before the book recommends the user go to reddit and find other like-minded and more advanced practioners.

There are interesting historical details on magic, you learn a little about a lot of people. However one quick run through the book it’s easy to see where large milestones were left out in the historical facts. For example, you learn about the Fox sisters, popular American Mediums- it’s left out that one later explained how they were able to swindle money out of people using touches and knocks during seances. A book that doesn’t both explain the magic and the mundane shouldn’t be trusted to teach history.

Perhaps the most insidious part of the book I’ve found is while clarifying that not all occultism is religious, or part of a religious practice, it introduces specifically Wiccan ideas (the rule of 3, ignoring baneful magic, dances good and evil magic qualifiers). Wicca is a religion, and the book should 1) Identify it as such, so when things are called Wiccan concepts, it also identifies religious concepts, 2) Identify all the Wiccan concepts it mentions. For the most part it does, but specifically, when discussing The rule of 3, it refers to it a an “eternal” rule. While I cannot argue the concept didn’t exist before, the rule itself was first established in 1953 and is very much not apart of general western esotericism.

Moving beyond the concerns of the magic mentioned within the book, there are questionable editorial choices made-
The cover includes the 12 signs of the zodiac when astrology, or any practice utilizing the signs within it is not mentioned.
Grouping up all of the instructional spellwork, but leaving one to the very end of the book, in an unrelated chapter is incredibly odd, particularly when the rest of the book opts to put related topics together with instructions on which page to visit for more information.
Multiple times we see “studies show” or “research shows” with no footnotes, or even bibliography sourcing this research is provided. While the pages look very clean and accessible the content is severely lacking.

All of this adds up to not trusting the book or the author to provide even basic instruction. In the back we are given 9 books for “further reading”, including 2 more “Little books of” by the same author. A beginner's guide should be easy to follow, and find further things on the subject. Due to the information provided, and how it's provided, the author has not achieved either of these goals.

On a final note, the book does clarify early on that it is written from the perspective of Western based occultism, but does include sage “To cleanse bad energy and for repulsion spells” in its section of herbs. Given the broad discussion of white sage being used in western practices, it is a disservice to the reader to not introduce the idea that more in depth research is needed by a practitioner, and Indigenous American voices brought to the front of the conversation before including the popular herb with multiple variants in the book. This could have been entirely avoided by listing a specific type of sage that is native to the U.K. (i.e. wild clary, or clary sage) rather than the Central/North American continent.

This book is definitely an ‘occult’ book for beginners. I didn’t find the book much different than any other intro to magic book that I’ve read. Since the book is more introductory, it only touches on subjects like tarot, crystals, spells, etc. One aspect of this book that really stood out is how vague its descriptions were. In one section the book talks about Aleister Crowley. While it does touch on Crowley’s sex magick , it completely avoids the more extreme work of Crowley. While I understand that a lot of Crowley’s work would not be suitable for such a beginner’s book , I find it a little pointless to include such a sugar coated description of such a prominent figure to the occult. Overall I really didn’t find that this book included anything different than any other intro spiritual/witch/magic book. If someone is truly interested in learning about the occult they would not get any significant occult understanding from this resource.