Basic Witches How to Summon Success Banish Drama and Raise Hell with Your Coven by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman

209 Pages
Publisher: Quick Books
Release Date: August 29, 2017

Nonfiction (Adult), Self-Help, Feminism, Empowerment, Magic

The book is divided into the following chapters.

Chapter 1 - Self-Initiation: An Induction into Basic Witchery
Chapter 2 - Glamours: The Power to Change How You Look
Chapter 3 - Healing: The Power to Care for Yourself
Chapter 4 - Summoning: The Power to Care for Others (and Have Them Care for You)
Chapter 5 - Enchantment: The Power to Make Choices about Love and Sex
Chapter 6 - Banishment: The Power to Avoid What Brings You Down
Chapter 7 - Divination: The Power to Decide Your Destiny

This book is not so much about witchcraft as it is about empowerment. There are discussions about witches in popular culture, unfeminine haircuts, and wearing black. There is information on preparing your own make-up and exercises. There are some spells including ones for protection and banishment. I enjoyed reading this book because it was different than other witch books.

This was a fun read! A great gift suggestion for customers looking for a bit of magic in the every day. Both fun and accessible.

5 Words: Magic, well-being, feminism, empowerment, humour.

I loved this.

This is a fun look at witchcraft for self-care and self-love.

Basic Witches is an absolutely wonderful guide for a current generation who is looking to practice mindfulness and help bring that spark of magic back into their life. For folks who are skeptical of magic or not open to the lifestyles of others, this would not be a good gift. This is a great book for your loving family members who are LGBT friendly and trying to bring a spark of something good back into a world that is a bit crazy-making at the moment.

Ok let me start by saying I have been studying and learning witchcraft for more years then I care to say. This book is a joke to anyone who is even the least bit schooled in the real thing. On top of that if you take this as your first book and try some of the junk in this book you can and will be opening yourself to some not so fun things in your life. The book does not give any warnings on how some spells can turn on you so to speak. Also there is not enough information given in the book to make these spells plausible. When using tarot cards you really need to know what the meaning of the card is, you don't just pick the pretty one. You also need ore then 1 paragraph to understand and be able to read tea leaves. These things need full chapters if not more then a single paragraph.

As a fun book this has humor, to me it was more making fun of witchcraft then being serious. This book was not for me and honestly I doubt it is for anyone else who is serious about witchcraft in any way.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It definitely allows you to take what you need and build your own habits and affirmations. Sure, it's not for everyone, but it's perfect for someone that is into the idea of witchiness while still a bit skeptical. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think it would have been really powerful for me when I was in high school or college.

This is a great book for anyone to read. Male, female, Wiccan, not Wiccan... you get the idea. This book definitely has some strong feminine messages and that is a great thing.

I liked that this book was deemed "modern day witchcraft" and how it's not really witchcraft at all, but tips and tricks disguised as it to help the millennial hipster female become more confident. I could have done without the anti-patriarchy bits, but this book was pretty neat, along with very aesthetically pleasing.

I'm a bit older than the target audience for this book (actually, quite a bit older) (all right, a lot older), but the note in the description about exorcising a toxic friendship was made the decision to request it. I was curious. I've always had an interest in how people integrate spirituality of whatever flavor into their lives – and I ended up being deeply impressed by this book. It's not a deep and in-depth guide to how to practice wicca, not a hardcore spellbook or grimoire or whathaveyou, as such; the prevailing opinion I've always encountered is that it's flat-out dangerous to mess around with something like that on your own, especially when very young and inexperienced. (I mean, it's the sort of thing which, even if you don't believe in any of it, still – a bit of common sense never hurts. Never go jogging wearing earphones that render you deaf to your surroundings (especially if you're a woman alone), be aware of your surroundings, never <I>ever</i> play with a Ouija board, and never mess around with spells when you don't know what you're doing. The demon you prevent from entering this dimension may be your own.

What this actually is is a positive, warm, funny guide to how to handle situations that are bound to come up in everyone's life. For example, that note that got my attention about toxic friends? I've got two, people I work with who used to be friends who knifed me when I wasn't looking, and whom I can't avoid. Will the section on what to do about it make it all better? Nope. But it serves as proof that I'm not alone – I'm not the only one who is going through something like this. And it does serve as a pretty good guideline of how to manage the way I think about it.

I'm not entirely thrilled with the light tone with which demons <I>are</i> discussed, but maybe I've been listening to too many funky podcasts lately. And nothing in here seems at all dangerous - quite the opposite.

In a lot of ways this is more therapy or counsel than Magick. Well, maybe it comes to the same thing, in the end.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

I was recommended this book at YALC by the lovely lady at the publisher's table, for use in the school library I work in. However I feel like it is aimed more at women in their twenties and thirties, and am not sure whether to shelf it in the library or not... perhaps the sixth form section (students age 16-18). This is due to various reasons, some being: references to pop culture that teens would not be familiar with (before their time), and some of the subject matter perhaps being better read as an adult. I felt like it was aimed more at me, a female in her late twenties rather than at a school student. But hey we can see if it appeals to perhaps the sixth formers, as I mentioned.

Viewing this book as a female adult, I can see the appeal. It is beautifully illustrated in the hard back copy I purchased at YALC, but this doesn't show through so well in the ebook Galley, that I received kindly from the publisher, so I'd advise going for the hardback if you can.

There is a mix of real life advice, and 'magic' themed activities to help one through certain events in their life. But, it didn't really appeal to me hugely, despite being a fan of the concept of witchcraft, the film 'The Craft', and the Wizarding World of J.K.Rowling etc. But it might appeal to those who like the quick fire magazine article style self help book, with bit of a Buzzfeed humour thrown in.

I was so excited about this book when I first saw it on Net Galley, but I almost wish I hadn’t requested it. As someone who’s been a practicing witch for over 15 years, this book was not intended for people like me, and it says so in the first few pages of the book. So, if you’re already a witch and have been for some time, this might not be a great choice for you.

On the flip side of that, if you’re mildly interested in witchcraft and how to use it to help yourself in all sorts of different situations (choosing your clothing/cosmetics to put you in a certain mood, super simple home remedies, giving yourself permission for self-care, making a list to help you find love, and many more), this might be for you. Or, if you are already a practicing witch, but you’ve only recently become interested in spells with minimal ingredients and steps, you might also like this.

I’m having a love/hate relationship with this book because I am a witch, even though I try not to take things too seriously (unless seriousness is called for). I’ve done more than one spell involving toilet paper (there’s a spell in this book that uses it, too) and other items that might make other people scratch their heads and wonder what the heck I’m thinking. But…this book basically uses the word “witch” to mean “modern woman” or “feminist.” I don’t have a big problem with that, but I do feel like this book was a little misleading.

So, I didn’t get as much out of this book as I would have liked, and if it had been around when I was in middle school or high school, I would have found it more useful. Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve changed a lot. I realized I didn’t need tons of props and ingredients for spells, and I let my creativity reign in designing them. It’s mentioned in this book, but many witches have been saying something like this for years, so this isn’t a quote: you don’t need stuff for a spell to work, you just need you, and your intentions.

Most of the spells and rituals in this book require only a couple of items (the purpose of which, as with any spell or ritual, is to give you something physical to focus on), like a candle, some paper, a bathtub, your phone, etc. They’re simple, but simple can be just as effective, sometimes even more so, than complex spells. If you’re interested in the more complex types of witchcraft, or anything formal, you should skip this book. But, if you want spells you can throw together easily (without a long list of difficult to obtain ingredients) and use to inspire you to create your own, this might be a good way to dip your toe in and see what you think.

I was very pleased with the inclusiveness and lack of judgment in this book about so many topics, from darker fashion choices (you don’t have to be goth to be a witch, or vice versa, but some of us happen to identify as both), to gender identity, to sexual orientation, to a brief discussion about midwives, to safe sex and your birth control choices, and more. This book is full of things that can help you take control of your life and figure out what’s important to you. I think this book will appeal more to those who identify as women, but I think anyone could find some things in it useful, or relate to many topics discussed.

There’s a lot of really good, practical advice in this book that would lead me to recommend it to people who aren’t interested in witchcraft at all. Like how to deal with toxic or draining people in your life, having important conversations about your needs and wants with a sexual partner, helping yourself heal after being in an abusive relationship (with a romantic partner, parent, friend, etc.), the parts about self-care, and a lot more. I liked a lot of those parts, even though some of it doesn’t apply to me at all at this point (like finding love, because I’m happily married). There’s also some good little historical bits about witches, people who were accused of being witches, wise women/healers, etc., if you’re into that.

I could honestly talk about this book for much longer, because there’s a lot crammed into just over 200 pages (I have 5 pages of notes, too), but I think I’ll wrap this up because it’s already quite long.

Basically, this book wasn’t perfect for me, but I enjoyed it (for the most part), and I will definitely recommend it to other people for a lot of different reasons. It doesn’t read like a self-help book, but it kind of is one, and I think a lot of people could get something meaningful and helpful out of reading it. It isn’t too serious, but it doesn’t shy away from serious topics, either. It is practical, sometimes a little silly and fun, and has some super cute illustrations here and there (which isn’t very important, but I liked them).

Will I buy a copy, now that it’s been released? Maybe. I do know that I will absolutely look at it next time I’m in a bookstore, and I might buy a copy for myself or a friend.

This is another case of "it's not me, it's you." While I was excited to read it at first (witches as modern woman? why not!) it quickly becomes boring and the topic is just not what I'm interested in. The only interesting thing for me is the history of witches and pop culture references written in this book.

I loved this fresh take ^_^ being a witch myself for a few years some of the info covered I already knew, but it was a really down to earth look at what being a witch is in this modern age and their way of engaging readers was amazing! Fully recommend.

From the very first pages, Basic Witches by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman felt like a book written just for me, and that feeling remained throughout almost the entire book.

Goodreads synopsis: Capitalizing on the rising trend of hipster witchcraft, BASIC WITCHES is a lighthearted and empowering book of spells and lifestyle tips for feisty millennial women.

In Basic Witches, readers will discover how to tap into their inner sorceress and channel the dark arts for everything from cluttered apartments to dating disasters. Want to enhance your attractiveness? Pick the right power color of eyeshadow and project otherworldly glamour. Need to exorcise a toxic friendship? Say the right symbolic curse and banish it from your life. Need to boost your self-confidence? Whip up a tasty herbal “potion” to strengthen your inner resolve. Plus historical and pop culture sidebars that situate the new witchcraft trend within a broader context. With humor, heart, and a hip modern sensibility, journalists Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman dispense witchy wisdom for the curious, the cynical, and anyone who could use a magical boost to get through the day. This ain’t your grandma’s grimoire!

My rating: 4 stars.

Review

I’ve never read a self-help book before, so I can’t say whether this book is typical for the genre (somehow, I expect not), but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I loved this book the moment I saw the cover. I was able to read this because I received an e-ARC through Netgally, but I’m definitely getting myself a physical copy! It looks beautiful, inside and out. This book is my aesthetic.


Now, as I said, this book felt like it was written for me. I’ve always wanted to be a witch. At least after reading Harry Potter, and probably before. (I can’t be sure as I was very young when I first read Harry Potter – or rather, it was read to me.) I incorporated witchy clothes into my wardrobe – a pink and purple shirt with mushroom print; a coat that was several sizes too big so it looked like a cloak. I read witchy magazines – well, one magazine: W.I.T.C.H. I created a secret magical organisation to vanquish evil with my best friends. As a child, witchcraft was serious business!

I don’t really believe in magic any more the way I did then (and even then it was more like I was trying my best to fool myself, because I knew it wasn’t real, but I really, really wanted it to be). But this book made me realise I don’t need to want to be a witch. I already am one, and always have been. This book isn’t about teaching you to do magic, not in the way you usually think of it. I’ve found it hard to explain what this book is about – bringing out your inner witch? Perhaps it’s best if I just quote from the book:

Our witchcraft is a cultural ethos. Our witchcraft is about rebellion – not for rebellion’s sake, but with the purpose of living true to ourselves.

There is a whole introduction telling you exactly what and who this book is for, so if you’re unsure after reading this review, you should probably find the book at a bookstore and read the first pages.

The book is divided in several chapters covering various topics mostly related to self-care, interspersed with interesting information about historical witches and spells you can try at home. There’s even a guide to creating your own spells! These spells are rituals using symbolism to help you let go, clear your mind, focus on something, etc. I must admit I was a little sceptic about them, but there were a few that seemed interesting. I might try a few and review them here. These things are very personal and would probably work better for some than for others, but I do think they’re worth a try! As the authors say: “human brains are weird”.

I’ve kind of strayed away from what I was initially talking about: why this book felt like it was meant for me. Well, first of all, it’s inclusive. This was something I was initially wary about, as this is a book meant primarily for women, for feminists. I’m definitely a feminist, but I don’t feel like I am 100% a woman (I currently identify as a demigirl) and I was afraid this book might not be inclusive of people outside the gender binary. Luckily I had no need to be afraid.

You probably identify as a woman, but maybe you don’t – maybe you’re outside the gender binary, or maybe you’re a man who’s committed to justice for all. We are going to talk mainly about women in this book, because a lot of historical and cultural crap surrounding witches has been directed at women specifically. But we’re also going to talk a lot about how societal notions of masculine and feminine – who can be which, and what they’re worth – are total bullshit.

I was completely happy with this. It makes sense for a book about witches and witchcraft to be focused on women, and paragraphs like this one made me feel included. And this kept happening. Not just when it comes to gender – they include hijabs in a list of fashion items, the illustrations include witches of various skin colours and body types, and the chapter on sex is inclusive of people who don’t want any!

This last one, again, is important to me personally, because I’m asexual. The whole chapter wasn’t particularly interesting to me, but I still read it because 1) this was an ARC and I better read the whole book so I can review it properly, 2) I needed to know whether this was going to be ace-inclusive. Asexuality isn’t specifically mentioned, but neither is any other sexual orientation, or any romantic one for that matter. Gender neutral terms are used to describe partners, and the tips are aimed at what different people might want in a relationship, rather than their orientation. Because of this, there’s quite a lot of good stuff in there even for people who don’t want sex. (And if you’re really not interested, you can just skip the chapter.)

Making sexual choices for yourself, not to conform to or rebel against anyone else’s ideas, is what creates power. In turn, the beneficial white magic comes from acting on what you want, whether that’s freely accepting who you’re attracted to or finally admitting that you’re not at all interested in sex. Whatever the answer, you’re no less magic.



I think this book can be useful for a lot of people. It obviously won’t solve all your problems, but it can definitely be of comfort. I even saw a few things used in spells that I recognise from therapy (thinking about the worst case scenario, the best case scenario, and the most likely scenario for a situation you’re worrying about, for instance). That’s not to say this book can replace therapy – please go to therapy if you want/need it – but, as I said, it can be a comfort. I’m going to buy a physical copy not just because it looks beautiful, but also to put some notes and tabs and highlights in it, to pick and choose the bits I like, and might be able to use. This book also contained a lot of things I already did or already knew, but had never looked at in this way. That’s another thing I liked – it made me realise that the little things I do can be special, can be witchy, and that, really, I already am a witch.

The idea and history of witchcraft has always fascinated me enough so that it lead me to picking up Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman’s
Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven. With the exception of the various “spells” and “rituals” Basic Witches at its core reads like any other self-help book. Empowering and female positive, I adored the beautiful illustrations and the straightforward and non-judgemental voice of the book. And while I wasn’t all that into the “spells” I loved learning about the feminist history that surrounds most of the stereotypical witchcraft beliefs and practices. Additionally, the “spells” are relatively easy to do and some of them do seem fairly reasonable as well as practical. For instance, I truly enjoyed the information on smellomancy as well as the cooking magic suggestions as I definitely agree that warm milk and honey are perfect for when you want to relax. A fun, light-hearted and unique read that’s perfect for the modern young woman who needs a little extra “boost” in life.

I don't know how often I have said this but it bears repeating: I love magic and witchcraft and will read anything and everything about it, no matter how weird or dry. I'm even attempting the Malleus Maleficarum, despite the fact its blatant misogyny makes me want to die. Anyways, one of the latest books that crossed my path was Basic Witches: How to Summon Success,Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with your Coven. And few witchy books I have read have struck as true as Saxena and Zimmerman's handbook does. Thanks to Quirk Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are many 'How to Witch'-guidebooks out there, many of which unfortunately require a major leap of faith from the first page. There is a sense you have to immediately believe in greater powers, Gods and Goddesses and that if you don't you maybe shouldn't read further than the first page. Someone like me, who is still salty about not getting a Hogwarts letter, would love to wholeheartedly believe in magic but my rational self won't quite let me jump off that cliff. So I find myself reading those books with too much scepticism to embrace what they're telling me. So I was incredibly pleased to see Basic Witches not only acknowledge those hurdles, but also cast them aside. For Saxena and Zimmerman there is no need to believe in a greater power, only faith in the greatest power: yourself. Yes, this sounds cliche. But Basic Witches is as much a guidebook on how to love and accept yourself as it is on how to be magical. And what could be more magical than recognising your innate power and using it for good?

Basic Witches is a great mix of historical anecdotes, useful "spells", funny asides and an understanding of 21st century life. Basic Witches is very inclusive, doing its best to highlight racial and gender issues. The lack of judgement coming from Saxena and Zimmerman feels genuine, rather than coming across as a marketing ploy. The true power of Basic Witches lies in how it allows a beginner witch to truly base their magic of their own life. Saxena and Zimmerman recognise the magic and power in daily basic acts like applying make up, showering, cooking, cleaning, convincing yourself to actually go through with a doctor's appointment, etc. You want to invest yourself with some extra power to ace an interview? Use your magic to find a colour that screams power to you and wear it. Will it automatically make you more qualified for the job? No. But it will make you feel more confident. It is this kind of magic I adore because it works intrinsically with what you have, rather than rely on something otherworldly to come save you. I don't like being in need of help, especially if I'm supposed to be the powerful one.

Saxena and Zimmerman have created a great book with Basic Witches. Their writing is full of tongue-in-cheek jokes and references and clear instructions and tips. Basic Witches is meant to work for you, rather than the other way around. I tend to intensely dislike self help books because they feel generic and make everything a problem you need someone else's help for. Basic Witches manages to avoid most of that by suggesting rather than prescribing. Saxena and Zimmerman share some of their personal experiences and consistently emphasise the importance of finding what works for you, rather than what the magical community may prescribe. I'd love to read more of Saxena and Zimmerman's writing on magic... there is another book coming out right? Like tomorrow, maybe? That would be great. Also, Basic Witches has some great illustrations which are both hilarious and inspirational. I have to say my favourite was of the demon Frank who is simply an asshole and should not be listened to. I think we all suffer under his possession once in a while.

I'd genuinely recommend this to anyone interested in magic, witchcraft or self-improvement. Do you want to read a funny take on how to accept yourself? Basic Witches is it. Do you want to read an interesting collection of spells that seem realistic? Basic Witches is it. Do you want your history of witches interspersed with 21st century awareness and inclusiveness? Basic Witches is it.

This book really made me think and explore various aspects of my life. It encouraged me to be thoughtful.

I feel like this book doesn't add much value to the current genre.

This book is a great resource for people just starting out in witchcraft. Unlike most of these 101 guides, this book focuses on a modern take of witchcraft and how it is connected to feminism. Though it focuses more on female readers and in turn spells, it's great for all genders and even has a section for male-presenting witches. It explains history of witches that aren't as well known, gives you great examples of fictional witches to look up to, spells that anyone can sit down and do, and even throws jokes in there when you're caught up on the reading just to throw you and make you laugh.

I admit, I took a lot of notes from this book myself. I'm still new to being a witch and I've been nervous to read most of the books out there because they're too 'self-help' or old in their way of viewing the world. This book on the other hand wasn't. It was light and modern and sucks you in. It explains this in detail and well with wonderful artwork thrown in. It's about challenging the norm and helps you find comfort in who you are. It's weird, fun, and well written to the point it's hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to those considering witching or even just for fun. I mean, it even tells you how to save your black clothes from getting ruined from wear, which is something I've needed for YEARS.

A well-written and enjoyable book, I am glad I requested this title and will be more than happy to pass the title along to my fellow library purchasers.