Elements of Magic is a compilation of essays by practitioners of the Reclaiming Tradition. It's more the individuals feelings and experiences in the Reclaiming Tradition than a primer on it. Still an interesting read.

Elements of Magic is a great introduction to the Reclaiming Tradition, and even those who are familiar with the tradition will find useful insights. Filled with poetic writing by passionate and knowledgeable authors, Elements of Magic is a welcomed addition to any Witch's shelf. The Reclaiming Tradition is all about healing, magic, and activism and each of these shines brightly throughout the book. As someone with over thirty years experience as a Witch in various traditions as well as solitary work, I found Elements of Magic to be a great in-depth look into one of the most recognizable traditions to date as well as a good introduction for anyone starting their spiritual path.

I always love a book that helps me learn more about my craft and perfect my practices. This book was no exception, definitely one to buy and have on my shelf for reference.

Very informative book. Full of a lot of useful information. This book will also be very useful for future reference

A simple introduction to the Reclaiming movement. It is mainly composed of members exploring their own experiences rather than a deeper understanding. Does include some practice activities to try in relation to the elements. The writings is highly accessible making it perfect for the novice .

An introduction to the reclaiming movement. Essays, perspectives, and some work for the reader. An interesting read.

A simple introduction to the Reclaiming movement. It is mainly composed of members exploring their own experiences rather than a deeper understanding. The writings is highly accessible making it perfect for the novice or those about to attend witch camp held in Qld Australia.

I really enjoyed this book written by individuals in the Reclaiming path of witchcraft. It was a good basis of how the path started and the branches that lined out from it. .I think it can give someone a solid foundation basis on getting in touch with yourself and metaphysics. It was written well and palatable making an easy read and comprehension of elements of thought and magic. I lucked out on reading material with this and another book I was reading at the same time. I can see adding this to my library just to pull out from time to time & look at as well as show and recommend to others to give them some insight and food for thought. This book is an excellent primer for elements and how to get in touch with them inside yourself and incorporated in your daily practices. While I actually was honored to meet Cora Anderson and was around some groups that practiced their form of reclaiming it wasn't until a couple of core members, Copper & Karen, teaching an elements class that I was able to gain a much deeper understanding of the transformative practices. I fully embrace the desire of working on social reform on all levels .through conscious activism. Now more than ever that is needed to heal the earth, the creatures on it and societies as a whole

This was an interesting book. The title and the book cover caught my eye and made me want to read it. I liked that the book was very informational and had things written by individuals that were reclaiming their path of witchcraft. It explained how the path was started and how everything branched out. Good read.

I’m a major fan of Gede Parma. When I saw that they had contributed to a new anthology book, Elements of Magic, I decided I needed to read it. From the title, I surmised it to be mostly about elemental magic. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was much more than that!

Now, I’ve read a bit of elemental-centric literature before (namely Deborah Lipp’s work). While I’m more of a celestial kind of girl, I believe a working knowledge of the four elements to be foundational for witchcraft in the West. The book’s introduction describes it as, essentially, a written version of an elemental training program of sorts, usually hosted by the Reclaiming Tradition of witches.

I knew very little about the Reclaiming Tradition of witchcraft prior to reading this book. Frankly, I still cannot claim to know much about it - it isn’t my tradition. Certain aspects of this book are very Reclaiming-centric. If you’re amenable to learning from other traditions, you’ll find this book to be a good snapshot of what Reclaiming witches do and believe.

The focus on the elements goes far beyond listing correspondences - the authors actually cover how the essential force of each element manifests in the life of the witch. Some of the stories and anecdotes are heartwarming, others are harsh, but all drive home the point that the elements are much more than physical. They exist within us all, and around us all, constantly.

I recommend close attention paid to the sections referencing the Reclaiming principles of Unity. The discussion (in the Air chapter) of how these have evolved over time was delightfully enriching. This evolutionary approach will appeal to many, and is something we can all take home to whatever tradition we might call our own.

I found the progressive and egalitarian perspective very refreshing. Many books focus only on the technical aspects of magick, or at very least only the spiritual parts. This is all well and good, but I was happy that Elements of Magic goes further, striving to make the reader aware of how spirituality intersects with social issues in meaningful ways.

Magically, the most interesting part of this book was how easily the authors integrated the magical and the mundane. It really brought to mind the old adage “Magick is not what you do; magick is what you are.”

The aforementioned social activism parts are seamlessly interwoven in both a magical and mundane context. It drives home the point that witchcraft is about connection and weaving the web of life, and that we’re all part of the same universe. The authors took this farther than most do, making the impetus for social activism explicit.

I give this book five out of five stars. Highly recommended, mostly for intermediate to advanced witches, and anyone interested in the intersection between elemental magick and daily life. If you’re going to read this book, don’t just read it - actually do some of the exercises. As someone who can get a little unbalanced elementally, I found them very helping. The book wouldn’t be complete without them!

With a title like “Elements of Magic” I had to request it. I found this title to be very interesting. I loved the insight into the reclaiming tradition a lot more than I thought I would. Overall, I thought I knew a lot of that tradition from Starhawk’s materials and the woman herself. However, this book still surprised me. As to the elements themselves I like the understanding of them and their techniques. As an adult I really liked this book and am glad I read it. I would recommend it to some but if I had someone that is either new to witchcraft or is looking to not dive into a tradition and really just after the “element” part of it I would recommend Ellen Dugan’s Elements of Witchcraft: Natural Magick for Teens (regardless of age). Overall, still a great new addition to the world.

Lots of good information laid out in a easy to read fashion. I like that this started with earth. The constant comments on Australia grew old pretty quickly, though which detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

I absolutely adored this book. The writing was impeccable; both incredibly informative and down-to-earth, making the book easy to read and totally relatable. It was literally everything that I was needing in this moment; I'm fairly certain I highlighted and bookmarked every other page. I am so thankful to the author for putting this book out there. A new favorite on my bookshelf, a definite recommend, and one that I will reach for again and again.

Even if I'm not into Reclaiming tradition I found this book engaging and full of interesting ideas.
It one of those books that can help you to get new ideas for your path and your craft.
I liked how the essay were divided for elements and I liked the content of each essay.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide and Netgalley for this ARC

Elements of Magic is a compilation of essays, spell workings, and meditations by Reclaiming community members from around the world. The Reclaiming tradition is often cited as beginning in 1979 when a young woman named Starhawk published her book, The Spiral Dance, which combined occult lore and witchcraft with the feminine counterculture movement of the time.

The work is divided into sections for each of the five elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, each integrating a particular element with Reclaiming’s activism and political stance.

It is said that the Reclaiming tradition is a cauldron that stands on three legs, known as magic, healing and activism. And that combination shines through in this book.

I found the introduction to each section overly wordy and repetitive. However, the rest of the book is full of helpful and effective exercises, guided meditations, and ritual descriptions, all thoroughly grounded in natural magic. Many of the exercises and practices are taught in Reclaiming’s foundational class, Elements of Magic, at week-long Witchcamps around the world.

The authors of the essays are clearly knowledgeable, and much of the writing was poetic and filled with passion. As you read each essay, you feel you know that author a little better, and better understand their personal journey into witchcraft.

Earth may be the element that many people think they know the best. In Reclaiming tradition, this element represents both nature and activism, as well as silence and listening. That is because the earth has a spirit that is both within and beyond its physical self, and that spirit weaves an energetic web that connects all life on earth. Embodied presence helps witches—all humans, in fact—stay in intimate connection with our earthly home.

The “Council of All Beings” essay in the Earth chapter reminds us that our planet may call upon us to perform intentional magic, to rectify damage done to Earth and its living creatures, as well as to prevent future damage.
On the other end of the Earth spectrum, the “Rotting Body” guided meditation by Susanne Ray helps us gain a deeper understanding of death, and our ongoing relationship with the earth.

The element of Air is associated with breath, sound, communication, history and lore. In this section, Phoenix LaFae’s ritual, “Wish Birds,” has us creating an energetic bird that carries our wish or desire out into the world to help it manifest. And I was still mulling over the points in Gerri Ravyn Stanfield’s essay, “Communication and Conflict,” when I woke up the morning after reading it.

The element of Fire brings to mind power and transformation. Pandora O’Mallory’s essay, “Transformation by Fire,” was one of the best articles I’ve ever read on how to use fire in effective spellwork for those big changes in your life. Copper Persephone’s article, “Fire of Sensual Living,” shows how this amazing woman has kept both her creative and sensual spark alive.

Everything in the Water section was amazing, and I recommend you read it straight through. Jane Meredith’s essay, “Ocean of Emotion, and her “Deep Check-in” exercise were both deeply moving. In fact, I have the exercise flagged to do over the holidays with my best friend.

The Spirit section is my absolute favorite, including, in this case, the introduction. “Spirit is Sacred,” by Dawn Isidora, will get you thinking about the connections in your life. I’ve started doing her five-point gratitude practice every day, and can’t wait to try Jane Meredith’s path working, “Divine Purpose.”

Regardless of your experience in witchcraft, trance work and meditation, you will find suggestions and exercises in this book to deepen your personal practice. And if you’re just starting to explore the path, the last section on how to create and conduct a ritual is much more useful than you will find in a Wicca 101 book. Pick up a beginner’s book also if you like. But read this one when you’re ready to write your first ritual.

One caveat: If you, like me, tend to read the first few pages of a book to make your buying decision—don’t do that with Elements of Magic. Instead, skip forward and read an essay, or a spellwork exercise, for each of the Elements. That’s where you’ll find the heart of the magic.

This is a in-depth Magic book that is founded in the ideas and principles of the Reclaiming community. I had not ever heard of this community https://reclaiming.org/ although I have read books by Starhawk - so the flavour of this book and its ideas were not completely unfamiliar. The book is a collection of essays written by Reclaiming community members but I found it still quite useful and interesting. The ideas are quite grounded in natural magic and there were many helpful inspiring ideas and exercises provided . I felt the book would be useful for anyone wishing to deepen their practice in natural magic as well as provides a useful guide for those interested in Goddess work by Starhawk and the Reclaiming community. I had a notepad and pencil in hand as I read and will return to the book for further reference and ideas. Thank you!

This book includes a number of essays by the Reclaiming community members from around the world, which uses five elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit. The magical tools associated with each element are also explored. Reclaiming attributes the wand to Air and the Athamé to Fire. I expected the book to delve into the elements -- it did that and more, in ways I had not anticipated! In addition to diving deeply into the each element’s properties, the book thoroughly explores how the Reclaiming tradition exemplifies each element.
Reclaiming is noted for group involvement in their rituals, and this book is refreshingly written in that spirit. Its foundation includes coursework given during Reclaiming Witch Camp, an introduction to the tradition. Essays written by Reclaiming members from around the world are included, each integrating a particular element with Reclaiming’s activism and political stance. For instance, one essay discussing Air is “Writing and Singing Chants” and personal boundaries are explored while discussing Fire in “Playing with Your Energy Boundaries.”
Other great sections included are “The Tree of Life Grounding” practice, “Ecstatic Breathwork with Plants,” “Rotting Body” guided meditation (Earth), and “Burning Herbs for Purification” (Fire) – it is full of helpful and effective exercises, guided meditations, and practices.

I love this book! I love how the elements are broken down and there are enchantments and workings for each element. This book is a very helpful tool for those on a magical path. I highly recommend! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Is informational, but more through topics and events by those contributing to it. For those who are interested in the Reclaiming Tradition. How the elements are related to this. the readers get information, spells, exercises, and practices. So this is not a book totally for me. Yes, I can get some information from it, but there is the Reclaiming perspective within the book.

The authors are clearly knowledgeable, and the book is full of information that would be useful to those interested in the Reclaiming tradition. It was an interesting read, and not at all dry. There is a beauty to the writing that goes beyond sharing information and paints the world well in terms of their beliefs. It is instructional while allowing for a a fluidity in each reader’s experience.