I'm not great at guided practices or guided journaling, so I was slightly nervous going in to Basile's 'The Magical Writing Grimoire'. But I was quickly relieved because I loved what she described as 'word magic'. I'm such a literate person, in the sense that if I don't have words for something there is no way for me to understand something. To consider magic int he same way, to make writing and words elemental to the practice was a really interesting concept to me. For that realization, in and of itself, I'm grateful to Basile.

For me magic is something that is meant to excavate the self, make yourself clearer to yourself and thereby calm the storm. With self-awareness and self-knowledge comes a certain calm that provides a foundation from which to face everything in life. I enjoyed how Basile structured her writing prompts and guidance around this principle. Because of this the book is not just interesting to those with a love for magic but also for those hoping to connect more with themselves.

This book is useful for putting your thoughts together and how you want create your own book for spelks or thoughts, or ideas.

"Find what resonates with you and write it. Write it into being. Write your name and your demands. Write your vision and yo0ur story. Rewrite your story and be born again. Write what's dead and burn it. Cast it. Cast it out. Conjure it. Within you, there exists a mirror for truth, a salve for the wound, a lantern in the fog."

The Magical Writing Grimoire is a lovely, holistic journey through the practice of writing down the sacred of your own life and learning to be whole with it. Even less "woo-woo" inclined readers will find themes of empathy, compassion, and thought provoking journaling prompts to connect with. The test is also enriched by the author's own wide and varied readings and quotations.

"The Shadow is not a bad thing. It's a dark thing. There's a difference."

Gorgeous and inspiring! I love this beautiful book. It’s gorgeous on the outside and most definitely the inside. It touches on a lot of information and various topics. I think believers and non-believers will both find this book enjoyable.

I love Lisa Marie Basile's writing and her approach to ritual, magick, and what she describes as word witchery.

I devoured the book on first read, but have been bought a physical copy and have been slowly re-reading and setting time aside to work through the writing prompts and rituals that grab my attention.

Like Basile's previous book Light Magic For Dark Times, The Magical Writing Grimoire is also beautifully produced. From the end papers to the illustrations by Ada Keesler, this book would make the perfect gift for the writer/witch enthusiast in your life.

Clear writing, and easy to follow as it goes.
Lisa Marie Basile clearly has a hang on what she wants us to know throught the book, and I enjoyed myself and learned a lot while reading.

I'm still very new to this world, and I just enjoy reading throught different authors to see what fits my own very box, and Basile's helped me a bit while reading it!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a bit repetitive but as a new witch, I found a lot of useful tips. I plan to work on my own grimoire soon and the information here will really help me along the way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is full of helpful information and inspiration. I have always loved to write so I have a lot of journals. I just started writing in my grimoire so I am going to practice the things I learned <3

Welcome to my newest review, focused on The Magical Writing Grimoire, by Lisa M. Basile. Writing has always been important to me in a magical sense, but would this book lead me deeper into these practices?

Turns out, the answer is yes. I consider myself a nonfiction writer primarily, but the fiction and poetic exercises in Basile’s work transported me.

One charming aspect of this book? You can read most of it in any order you please! You can read whatever chapter interests you first. The book is written in a way such that each is accessible from first glance.
I was drawn to the chapter about bibliomancy first. It’s something I’d practiced a bit in the past. Basile enriches her take on it with references to history, mythology, and more.

With this and most other chapters, she provides very simple yet powerful exercises, spells, and other rituals.

The author seems to know (and impart) a great deal of information about crystals, astrology, even Tarot. These aren’t the focus of the book, but she ties them all in beautifully with the concept of writing.
Without a doubt, this book will inspire a lot of written soul searches. Many of the workings veer deep into the Shadows, while remaining accessible for someone just starting that sort of work.

The author does a great job of connecting self-focused Shadow work with similar workings involving broader concepts in society. It’s always great when a witchcraft author tackles issues like that.
Basile writes on social issues affecting us in a way that’s temporally-contextualized while also timeless. Her words about justice would be a welcome sentiment in any era, and especially today.

This book pairs well with more conventional (even non-mystical) books about journaling. The chapters which focus on poetry, might even inspire a reader to delve more into the theory and technique of poetry, too.
While this book could be interesting for the beginning willworker, I recommend it mostly to intermediately-experienced practitioners.

Overall, this book gets four of five stars. It could be more detailed, but other than that, it's great. It would've been awesome to cover things like bibliomancy in even more depth!

There are many topics that can be comprehended on multiple levels, but most of this book would be suited to someone with existing knowledge of the topics (especially Shadow work).
I strongly recommend this for other witches who write, either fiction or nonfiction. This book will help you hone both your Craft (of magic) and your craft (of writing)!

Sometimes it's hard for my spiritual self to figure out what I want to write or what's the best of way putting words to paper. This is where the book comes in. A real strategic guide on crafting a better life.

…. In The Magical Writing Grimoire I wanted to be able to make space for others to write their truth, to invest in their stories, to write for others’…and to turn a writing practice (one that you have or not) into a sacred, healing, magical act where writing is elevated into transformative ritual. Because when we tap into that power, we find, in many ways, freedom, beauty, light. The only way out is through…Lisa Basile

I am an author, ritualist and Witch and love to write and express my magick through the vibration and power of using words. So, I jumped at the opportunity to review The Magical Writing Grimoire: Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual by Lisa Marie Basile. It did not disappoint in offering a fresh perspective on the power of words and the engagement of magic inherently held in their issuance.

The Magical Writing Grimoire: Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual is separated into six (6) chapters, beginning with an introduction to the power of words and moving through the various ways in which writing can be used to become a “word witch”. Chapter 1: Magical Writing opens with the statement…

… At the intersection of ritual and writing, TMG is an exploration of the inherent magic of language…It encourages you to peek beyond the veil to where your voice lives. It is made for writers and non-writers, witches and non-witches, alike…It was written to help us create better, more magical and empowered lives….

Immediately following this statement is the question, “Is Magical Writing For You?”. As the author takes the reader through a litany of experiences, self-identifiers and more, it becomes apparent that the magical writing that Lisa speaks of reaches a broad and far reaching expanse of use and users beyond what our first conception may be. We are reminded that when we write for magical intention we become the embodiment and expression of that magic.

Chapter 2: Conjuring Your Voice guides the reader through the process of creating spells and establishing a writing practice that becomes as sacred as any ritual act. We begin by exploring the why’s of ritual and the potency of their energy in both spiritual and academic setting….

… A review in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that ritual helps us…” contain intense emotions and compartmentalize the review of the trauma (and) provide symbolic enactments of transformation..”

I appreciated the addition of this consideration for ritual affirmation as we often tend to avoid the underpinnings of why a particular ritual may or may not trigger the memories and emotions of past experience, both negative and positive. The author also reminds us that as we begin to write rituals, we are tapping into our personal energy and reserves of reference, making that ritual all the more relevant and transformative in its use. This chapter focuses on “learning how to integrate writing rituals into your life and why they are important”. This chapter is very comprehensive in its discussion of spell writing, creating sigils, automatic writing for information and a brief section on graphology as a tool to decode what deeper information about your inner state is displayed in what is being written.

Chapter 3: Healing Magic explores the use of magical writing for Shadow work and trauma recovery. There is a beautiful Waning Moon practice included in this chapter that encourages the reader to use that phase of release and involves the writing of a “Goodbye Letter”. This is only one of several rituals that have goal of healing, self-awareness and transformation employing writing and ritual as companions for efficacy of the work. I especially liked this chapter largely because it covered such an expanse of day-to-day experiences that limit or incorrectly define us. Those experiences for which we seek reconciliation and understanding and the power of giving words to these in a non-judgmental way and its effect in creating wholeness.

Chapter 4: Manifestation Magic flows beautifully following the intensity of the previous chapter. After all what use is becoming self-aware if we do not then take the next steps towards bringing it into the reality of manifestation. This chapter interweaves several of the core disciplines of magical working such as tarot, the cycle of the seasons and the alchemical elements with a magical writing practice. The manifest products of this self-work are then brought into the scope of drawing and sharing those gifts you have crafted into the larger community. This was definitely a lovely way to conclude writings of manifestation.

Chapter 5:Mindfulness Magic explores the use of ritual for being more present and receptive to what is intuitively moving through you. Writing prompts for this chapter are directed towards cultivating stillness and awareness at a level of deepening the state of “knowingness”.

The Magical Writing Grimoire concludes with Chapter 6: Grimoire Poetica. This chapter brings together all of the practices the reader has developed in previous chapters and now offers the means of empowering and enlivening these as sustainable and diverse tools of word witchery…

… These exercises may be stored in your grimoire, or grimoire poetica, as I call it. It’s a creative, poetic, less structured collection of your magical workings and creative writings, part magical-recipe collection, part literary exploration of you: It’s the sacred book of self…

I don’t want to provide the spoiler for this book and chapter so I will leave it to say, that what emerges from its reading, and of course-writing, will set you on the path of never looking at magic, or writing in the same way.

Would I recommend?

I feel that I cannot remain unbiased in my opinion of The Magical Writing Grimoire: Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual. Having been a word witch for most of my life and understanding the power of writing as a synthesis of magic and manifestation, I am thrilled to see this topic given such loving attention and care. Lisa has also managed to pull the ideas and templates of what a magical writing practice could be into an organic and authentic flow of building idea upon idea and thus gently opening the reader to a deeper level of what is possible. Each chapter makes sense in its design and leads the reader through the steps of claiming his/her power in a way that seems neither controlling nor rigid in what “could be”. The Resources section provides the reader with more to explore, and I appreciated the Index for quick reference. This title will definitely be a recommended read.
From the Author-Lisa Marie Basile:

What Inspired Me To Write This Book:

This is going to get dark (but I promise there’s a silver lining!), so brace yourselves. It was the summer of 2014 — I remember because I was blasting Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence — when I started writing about my personal experiences with family addiction, separation & my eventual move into foster care. It’s wild to think, but before then, I managed to write poetry and essays that rarely if ever touched on it, which meant my voice and my self and my expression was always half-real, half-honest, untouched by the very thing that made me. That trauma was such a big part of my foundation and the lens through which I saw the world.

So one day in 2014 I wrote a piece about how foster kids belonged to no one & everyone, how we existed in a liminal space legally and physically. The thought of sharing this essay made me shook me to my core. Because then the world would know my past. It would reveal me as the traumatized thing I was before I wore a new era over my wounds. Yes, this essay said, I came from somewhere very real.

After finishing it, it was as though a spell were cast. I felt like the weight of a hundred galaxies came off my back. Because some of what I wrote were words I’d never even uttered to myself. And when I did write it, the words fell out of me like rain.

The ability to write is a privilege for many of us, but it’s also a free tool that can help save us. I’ve seen writing help women in domestic shelters, college students move through self-esteem issues, and incarcerated individuals tell their story. It is something sacred in itself because with our words we are taking nothing and making it into something. So I wanted to design a gentle but effective book that people — especially any marginalized community — could use to tap into their truth and self, in a way that felt right for them. It’s guided, but it allows space for reinterpretation and individuality so that anyone can tap in.”



My Ideas On Writing As Magic:

In a recent chat with The Witchhassle Podcast, I discussed how writing is itself a magical act. This book isn’t *solely* a look at magical or occult practices that will encourage creativity (although of course it explores that); it is a book that places the act of writing firmly in the center of the magic itself. When you write, you are already engaged in ritual and conversation with your deeper self. With the divine. With nature. We write to make magic. When we write, we are casting a spell. We are making change. And so, your words (whether you plan on sharing your poetry with the world or keeping a box of journals under your bed!) are your power -Your wand!

-Review by Robin Fennelly of PaganPages.org
https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2020/04/15/book-review-the-magical-writing-grimoire-by-lisa-marie-basile/

This book is full of very helpful information & inspiration. I'm a lightweight, casual writer but this book & the information provided encourages me to dive deeper. The author provides a lot of rituals, prompts, examples, etc. into writing. Its very eye opening into how mindful writing can be applied to so many facets of life. I also love how the author provided some personal info to see into her background. This is a great book that I would recommend to anyone.

If you are a fan of journaling and connecting to your inner self you will love this book. Covering topics like self discovery, mindfulness, manifestation, astrology and spellcrafting Lisa Marie Basile offers readers a way to connect to their inner self through writing exercises. Although it does cover magical topics, it isn't a traditional witchcraft book, so it is accessible to many readers. The Magical Writing Grimoire is a great way to connect to your creativity and work on yourself at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for offering me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book. It was really repetitive and lacked substance.

4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The cover really sucked me in. I'm not gonna lie. I am a huge lover of aesthetically pleasing things, books are no exception.

We all have our strong points and our weaknesses and I have to say that the whole writing aspect to my daily (erm, sometimes weekly, or monthly) devotionals/practices is sorely... nonexistent. So when I got the chance to review this book... I leaped at the chance.

The Magical Writing Grimoire was filled with varied and many simple to more involved examples as to how to integrate magical writing into your life. This does not have to be specific to and pagan type of practice... even if you follow more of the Science of Mind, writing things into existence sort of following or even just intuitive practices, this would still work.

"Language is magic. What we speak becomes poems are spells, and you are a word witch."

"Together, we write our truths, our beauty, and our wildness while calling our shadows by their names. We will fully embrace the rebellion, power, and authenticity in the archetype of the witch, and we will conjure empathy, kindness, and power."

This was a beautifully put together tome and had tons of experiential and practical activities to develop a more personalized magical writing based practice into your life. I definitely recommend for those looking to add magical writing into their daily spiritual practice.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

The Magical Writing Grimoire is a sweet and accessible guide to using writing as both a healing and a magical practice. As well as providing a good starting point for understanding and writing your own rituals, the author offers exercises around unpacking your emotions and self-healing. This book is beautifully presented and encourages keeping a journal as a method of self-reflection and personal growth.

Despite the title and focus of the book, I feel this could be used by witches and non-witches alike, as the content would be applicable to anyone wanting to manifest a healthier emotional state, anyone interested in starting or continuing a journaling practice, or anyone fascinated by the power of words. Quotes and inspiration are sprinkled throughout this book and writers and poets in particular will enjoy prompts.

While this book invites exploration and creation of your own rituals for writing and witchery, it also provides a safe place for you to look towards processing and healing anything that is troubling you. It would be a gentle yet profound companion on a healing journey, empowering and encouraging in equal measure.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Fair Winds Press, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is interesting and I found it very much helpful for me and I know it will be helpful for many people as well.

I do very well recommend .

I like that there is a lot of ressources and citations, it feels very educated and you can look into those deeper if you want to go further into the subject. I am thankful for discovering Word Magic, it's very interesting.
I like that the book insists on you appropriate yourself the practice and mentions eclectic witchcraft ! I also think it's beginer frendly, though even though it is made for everyone, even non-witch people, I think that isn't really true. The reason is the author uses some lingo without explaining it or defining it very vaguely, like shadow work for instance. Maybe they cna relate in chapter 3 when the author explains she was doing magic without knowing it by journaling and visualizing a better situation ? Basically I think it doesn't introduce how a non witch can relate and use this book enough before diving right into the witchy terminology and practices, I feel like they would be lost and maybe scared of ?

I'm very bummed that it doesn't really explain how to write a spell, I was looking forward to it so much ! It just tells you what the spell must be composed of... And the rest is also kind of vague and not clear.

The intro was sooo long ! (15 pages out of 90 in my e-book format !)

So, the book was full of promises for me but didn't meet my expectations by not fullfilling them.

I struggled to open this book due to its sent format; however, once I was able to download it I instantly fell in love with it! I loved its focus on the magic and manifestation power of words! I will be using this again and again!

Unfortunately, I could not get this book to open on my i-pad and therefore was unable to review it. I do really like the idea of a grimoire and journal combined. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to read the book in the future.