The book provides detailed descriptions of the tradition, stories and simple spells, which help you better understand these beloved magic practices. In addition, the book explains why popular magic works and shares deep knowledge about magic in terms of its opportunity, symbols, handicrafts, tools and much more.
You will also learn what it feels like to work with spirits of nature, fairies, deities and energy beings, as well as with herbs, crystals, guessing and other magical practices.
In short, this book provides a window into the popular magic traditions of the British Isles, including Cornwall, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and northern France. It is a valuable resource for both those who are curious and those who want to improve their own magic practice.

The book was chock full of information. Unfortunately, it came off as long-winded and in a voice that I didn't resonate with. Every book on magick is really only for the people it resonates with. This one didn't resonate with me, but I think for the audience it is it is a very good book.

This book describes the lore, stories, and simple spells of the British Isles. The Ebook is very difficult to read. Scans go over two pages so I really struggled flipping back and forth for every page. It is very basic, definitly for beginners. It says tha tit is about the traditions of the British Isles, but there is a lot of information that is modern Wicca or Ancient Greece. Some of the information I read was surprising to me, because I had read the opposite from previous sources. For example, it talked about Spirit Animals and Smudging. I have always heard that those were Native American traditions and while the Celts did something similiar, it was called different things. I also have always heard the color green at a wedding was bad luck, not good like the book claims. There is also an entire section about ethics, but the author still includes love spells. It isn't badly written and practice is so personal for every person, but this book was not for me.

3 stars.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I want to see what folk magick and healing would be like in this book. I also know this book would come with warnings. It goes thought the most basic of magick and how to get started. It was easy to follow and understand. That made me enjoying reading through it. I have read a few of these over the years. Each book has their spin on this bit of knowledge. This one did make me think that I need go back now and again refresh my grasp of the information.

Common Magick by A,C, Fisher Aldag is an excellent overview on the basics of British Folk magic as viewed through the lens of Paganism.

What I Liked
1. Bibliography including a few well known authors on British magical history shows that this author has done their research.
2. Concepts and practices are explained on a level that is approachable of the novice while still be useful to an adept practitioner.
3. on page citation in the form of foot notes

What didn't Sit With me quite as well
.1. The author comes off as rather distant from the material at times perhaps stemming from the heavy use of an academic rather than practical use perspective on several topics.
2.. The Sword and its use to represent two different elements is glossed over with no diving into the controversy surrounding why it can be used as such. The Scourge got a similar treatment being mentioned very brefly as though the writer did not think a modern audience could appreciate its use.
'
.3. When explaining superstitions about black cats, there was no mention that a black cat crossing your path is considered lucky in the UK.

Who this book is recommended for

Common Magick iby A.C. Fisher Aldag is an excellent read for those just diving into the topic of British fold magick or for those who may need a refresher on the basics of its lore and practices..

This is a treasure of Brythonic (British) folklore and culture. Yes, magick is the theme, but the author emphasizes its origins and meanings as a living tradition practiced by “everyday” people. She addresses: attunement with nature, indigenous spirits (genius loci), fairy faith, and even more –– a fascinating excursion into the world of oral history that continues to live in the present.
In a chapter devoted to spells, workings are provided for the plethora of human needs: healing, love, home, money, prosperity, luck, weather, travel and cooking. But rather than detail the standard recipes, Fisher-Aldag outlines the lore and logic behind the many categories of spell-casting, encouraging readers to devise their own methods.
The content reads at times as a folkloric encyclopedia, but lively comments and good organization save this work from the dull repetition of many compendiums with similar intent.

This is a very good beginner book. I was drawn to the title because of my heritage. I wasn’t disappointed. Gives a good look into British Magic and would recommend it.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's a well researched and interesting book but it doesn't add anything new if you already read books about British Magic.
I recommend it to anyone who is starting the path and want to learn about this type of magic.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It took me no more than a couple of pages to spot this was written by an American author. That doesn't make any of the information 'wrong' per se, but Americans have a different view of British Magick than Brits do. It comes over as textbook and historic, based on what happens at Renaissance Faires in the U.S. rather than as recognisable by members of British magical groups.

The target audience appears to be absolute beginners. A lot of space is given to explaining the most basic terms and concepts, though the section on symbols and Altar implements is interestingly extensive and includes a lot of items I've never seen on an Altar before.

I did find some definitions a bit light. For example, the author suggests the sword represents both Air and Fire rather than explaining the controversy or the history of A.E. Waite intentionally reversing the correspondences of sword and wand, and the scourge is hardly touched on at all with no explanation of how to use it in ritual or for altering states.

The Bibliography included a couple of well-known authors on British magical history; Prudence Jones & Nigel Pennick plus Robert Graves, yet left out some key authorities including Professor Ronald Hutton and Phil Hestleton. There was no mention at all of authors like Vivianne Crowley, Jaq D. Hawkins, Pete Jennings or even Gerald Gardner whose books provide a picture of actual practice of magic(k) in Britain in the 20th-21st centuries.

A few Welsh words I've never heard before are explained as well as the term, 'priordination' which this author seems to feel is important but with my best efforts the only use of it I could find anywhere was on a political commentary. The concept, however, of things that have gone before does have some relevance.

A long chapter on beliefs that covered gods, fairies and other forms of spirits could have been left out. One of the references, Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries by Evans-Wentz, can be found on any good Pagan reading list and covers that part of the subject very thoroughly, rather than skimming over a few examples.

Part of me can see a need for a book that starts at the basic definitions, yet at times I felt the author was talking down to the reader and making as assumption that they hadn't made any effort whatsoever to look into the subject before reading this book. There was a lot of old folklore and superstitions, but it was very light on the ground when it came to actually explaining how to do magic.

There were also occasional inaccuracies, like suggesting the number 13 was unlucky because Judas was the 13th apostle (he was one of the 12) rather than because of the 13 lunar months, which is widely known. Also, when explaining superstitions about black cats, there was no mention that a black cat crossing your path is considered lucky in the UK.

There is some potentially useful information in the book and unquestionably a lot of research, but the perspective is what we call 'very American' and it's at such a basic level that there would be little to add to the existing literature.

What I found really odd was the occasional statement that people doing 'common magic' did this or that. Some practices I've seen done by some people, but none of it is universal. I can only assume that the author uses the term like Marion Green uses the phrase 'natural magic' to refer to her personal system, though the same phrase might be used by other people completely differently.

Thank you to the author and to Net Galley for the opportunity for review. My review opinions are my own.

This is a very well researched book about British and Celtic folk magick traditions. I enjoyed learning more of the history behind the various types of magick . The author has included many spells, charms and traditional magick types here for any beginner or experienced witch. This is a fascinating look at the long held traditions behind magick and the origins of many types of magick we use today. A highly recommend read that I found fascinating and very educational.

Common Magick by A. C. Fisher Aldag

9780738763132

408 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Release Date: December 8, 2020

Nonfiction (Adult), Religion & Spirituality, Magic

Chapter 1: Introduction to Common Magick
Chapter 2: Magickal Principles and Energy Basics
Chapter 3: Ethics
Chapter 4: Ritual Tools of Common Magick
Chapter 5: Gods, Fairies, Ancestors, and Energy Beings
Chapter 6: Preparing to do Magick
Chapter 7: Significant Times for Magick
Chapter 8: The Sun and Solar Holidays
Chapter 9: Magick and Nature
Chapter 10: Common Magick Spells and Workings
Chapter 11: Divination, Attunement, and Trancework
Chapter 12: Folk Magick Rituals – Folkplays, Dances, and Avataring

The term common magick was new to me and I was glad the author provided a definition for it. The book is mainly based on British-based folklore traditions. I was glad to see ethics included in this book since it is a very important subject and should be considered when performing any type of magic. I love the magical checklist included in Chapter 6.

The book is written in an easy-to-understand format. The author does an excellent job presenting the material so that the reader, no matter the skill level, will find knowledge in every section. This book is so complete and covers so many topics. If you like Buckland’s big blue book, you will enjoy this as another valuable resource.

I was really excited about this book and thank goodness I was not disappointed.

I loved learning more about Celtic history and associated magick. I am not a huge history fan though so some of that did not keep my attention. I love the traditional correspondences such as color or day of the week. There is a lot of information to be had here and it is easily digested.

A great addition to anyone's reference section!

My request to view this book was accepted on the same day it was archived - I was unable to download this book so I will not be leaving feedback.

A.C. Fisher Aldag’s new book, Common Magick, focuses on folkloric traditions of magic in the British Isles. Born and raised in Ohio, I had only cursory knowledge of these practices prior to reading this book.

Without a doubt, the native magical traditions of the British Isles influence the modern Craft in myriad ways. In Common Magick, Aldag dives directly into the history of these traditions, how they may have developed, and why many are still practiced today.

She traces the lineage of British folk magic from pagan times, through the Christian Era, and into the revival of paganism in the 20th century.
There’s something interesting on almost every page. Some of the best parts focus on how pagan traditions were syncretized with Christianity and thus kept alive for centuries.

The book also discusses the societal perception of magic throughout time in the British Isles. Willworkers are almost always seen as a sort of “other” within societies, both pagan and Christian. Aldag explores why, despite this, magic survived. There’s clearly a perennial need for sorcerers in any society, but the way we’re regarded by society is subject to change.

For example, Aldag writes about cunning men and women, sorcerers and other willworkers who plied their magic in Britain, noting that few if any would’ve used the term witch. Witch, back then, carried very negative, malevolent connotations.

This, and other examples of linguistic differences over time help the reader to understand the context of these older practices, how they were viewed, and why they persisted. It’s all very fascinating!

As someone speaking from a ceremonial magic background (in some respects), I would’ve loved more information about the interlacing of folk traditions with grimoire magic and other “high magic” traditions.

The author, for example, references traditional color correspondences for the days of the week, but doesn’t say much about where they originated.

I do understand, though, that other books cover that sort of thing, and perhaps this one doesn’t have room for it amidst all the other information.

Common Magick warns readers against curses, referencing a law of return. I myself tend to be condone cursing in many cases, and I’ve never been a strong believer in the notion of a law of return.

I wish the author had here included more information about the traditional ethical parameters amongst willworkers in the British Isles throughout history. I doubt all such people, or even most, would’ve been averse to cursing, but we all choose our own morals..
So much of the rest of the book stands firmly on well-cited historical information. At times, though, tradition seems to take a backseat to the author’s thoroughly-modern ethical perspective.

I can understand this, even if I disagree with the admonitions themselves.I mean, if you strongly believe cursing is wrong, you’ll warn against it, regardless of what people in the past might’ve believed.

The wealth of information overwhelms these little flaws, though. A lot of what Aldag writes about, I’ve seen absolutely nowhere else outside of very specific academic texts on folklore.This book has been my introduction to them as living traditions, outside of those folkloric texts.

Accessible, fascinating, and well-researched, I give Common Magick four out of five stars. It’s not perfect, but any witch can learn a lot from reading it. If you’ve any kind of curiosity about British traditions, read this book!
Much thanks to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this excellent book!

This is a great book to keep in your reference section. There were some things I already knew, but there was new information too. It was well written and was really quite useful.

This is the perfect book for beginners. It explains the history and origins of Folk Magick so well. I really enjoyed reading the stories that were included in the history. This is such a comprehensive book that covers everything from the origins of magick, to ritual tools, gods, fairies, and other magickal beings, holidays, time to do magick, and common spells and workings. I found the spells and rituals so easy to follow that I plan on trying a few of them in some of my practices. This is a must-read for anyone interested in British Folk Magick

While esoteric and 'high' influences have shaped many aspects of the modern pagan movements, it has been argued that less attention is often paid to the 'low' magic, that of the cunning folk and townspeople; the traditional rituals of the hearth, the river and the woodland. Independent of religion, these practises were used by ordinary people to lighten life's loads in spheres such as travel, the harvest, love and sickness, as well as by professional practitioners whose charms and tools were used for divination, to find lost items or to repel malevolent energies.

"Common Magick" strives to blend archaeological discovery, historical record and magical practise in one place, forming an introductory text for new practitioners to folk magic, but an interesting ting read for those already well on their path. The book excels in its focus on one's own locality, on items in your own home and attuning with nature in your area. A valuable point, especially given the recent concerns of environmental costs of importing herbs from afar, as well as encouragement to purchase items instead of a focus on the craft. There is a detailed guide to finding local herbs, trees, stones and plants, as well as fungi and hallucinogenic for the braver and more knowledgeable. There are explorations of magical tools and their history, and yet this is not solely a historical text. Ritual, spellwork, timing and ethics are discussed also; they are plainly of the neo-pagan and Gardnerian-influenced movements, but it does mean readers have access to an understanding of folk magic that they can incorporate into contemporary practise. Returning to 'low' tradition, divinatory practises such as scrying, pendulums and tea leaves are favoured over explanations of European traditions such as tarot.

Refreshingly, the multiple Celtic cultures are clearly differentiated, with equivalents given where necessary, so there is no suggestion of a monoculture. There are a number of well-respected sources used for historical claims, and both theories and scientific conclusions from folklorists and archaeologists are labelled clearly as such. It is correctly recorded that events such as local festivals, fairs and dances may have no magical or pre-Christian origins, but their imagery is valuable to study all the same.

A gem of a book for both modern practitioners and folklorists alike, or for anyone keener to delve into the cunning arts.

The book is well researched and written, the author’s dedication to the lore and spirituality is evident in the text. The material is laid out well, moving from background to practical application in a very useful way. The book is rich with spells and rituals, complete with all the information you need to adapt these as needed for your own practice. As a guide for regional magic, it checks all the boxes.

Personally, however, it just didn't bring anything new to the table. It felt very reminiscent of the 1990s-era popular magic resurgence. That makes it a classic Llewellyn text, and these have their place and may be very useful to those who practice this way, but it just wasn't my jam. That doesn’t make it a bad book, in fact it is a great book, just not for me. However, I would still recommend it as an informative read on the cultures and customs of the region even if it isn't your style of practice.

From the first page, this book grabbed my attention. The way the author sets the stage pulls you in so you feel like you're standing there, experiencing what she's saying, in that moment. I found her explanation of common magick to be both witty and informative. I loved the way took historical folkloric practices and compared it with life as we live it today, allowing the reader to learn about the original practice and take it at face value, or adapt it to fit their own practices.

This is a book I'll definitely be adding to my shelf once it's available!

If one wants to learn more great insight about magical arts (folk and some kinds of ritual magic) the he/she should read this book. In later part of book we have one "tour de force" collection of different spells, charms and superstitions for many puproses, and although they are presented in short manner right information how to perform them can be fond in the first part of the book which is really excellent exploration of magic and how it works. There are few insights into occult workings that are outstanding, for ex. text is giving advices how to act in some puzzling situations during magic, Forex. how to summon particular god-form, but only aspects desirable of it for ritual and so on... some superstitions mentioned in the book I don't like, but okay, I am not supposed to like all material! In general this is an excellent book about magic, I recommend! Thanks.