Very informative and interesting book. I highly write recommend it. Very educational. Very enjoyable

For a newbie to this world, this is a good book to pick up. It is well written and the author takes you along on her journey - you learn from her experiences - which I feel is so valuable. Many books may teach you tools and spells, but one where you can learn from another's experiences is priceless.

“A Box of Magick” by Jamie Della is an interesting mix between an introduction to modern witchcraft and a practical textbook on magick, intertwined with episodes from the author’s life.

It took me quite a lot to review this book mainly because I didn’t know how to do that.
On one hand, I found extremely fascinating and captivating the parts that were more theoretical, those about the full moons, the witch holidays and the tarots. However, on the other hand, I found the more practical parts, those about the rituals, as well as some biographical parts, weak and boring.
It’s a weird feeling, being able to appreciate one part but feeling completely disinterested in the other, especially considering that, in this case, the two are strongly linked.

Still, despite all this, I found that the relationship between Jamie and her mentor Connie was such a wonderful bond, especially the way they could understand each other without even uttering a word, as if their connection went beyond that medium. Also, while I know what was coming, I kept on hoping for a miracle, on the hope of having misunderstood the signs; then, when that chapter came, I couldn’t help but tear up a bit.

In conclusion, while I found this book a good introduction to magick and modern witchcraft, it wasn’t really my cup of tea, a fact for which I’m truly sorry.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

❥ 1 star ☆

This book alternates between conversations between the author and her mentor + information about rituals, spells, astrology, tarot etc.

I don’t think the conversations were that interesting, and there wasn’t really any new information or it just wasn’t interesting to me. So the information seemed to be for beginners, but I wouldn’t recommend this book for beginners because there are many other books with better and more information.

I would only recommend this book for people who know what to expect from it and who are specifically interested in reading the conversations in the book, and maybe people who are interested in reading wicca information.
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I was thoroughly excited to read this one, and had very high hopes going into it. Since I had overlooked the NetGalley expiration date, I wound up checking out the audiobook from my library, which was narrated by the author.

She was very high energy in her narration, and I could tell that she was very passionate about the subject. But I found myself starting to get a little nervous with the repeated mention of using menstrual blood and the discussion about placentas, and just chalked it up to the usual New Age strangeness. I found it even stranger when she mentioned washing her floors with urine and brown sugar, and didn't have to make a mental note never to use that spell because it seemed like a recipe for stinky and sticky floors.

There were some other spells mentioned, but all of them called for ingredients that I don't have on hand, even with my burgeoning supply of crystals and herbs and essential oils. But I figured it couldn't hurt to continue listening anyway.

But I hit my breaking point when Della blatantly appropriates tradition from a closed practice. She inserts Kabbalistic practice from "the Hebrews." Seriously? Who even calls Jewish people "Hebrews" anymore? I thought we left that behind. That wasn't the worst part though. She then spouts off "Hebrew words" which were a bunch of gibberish followed by two actual Hebrew words, and then proceeds to give a "definition" for them which was incredibly inaccurate (at least for the two Hebrew words), attempting to get them to fit closely to the Lord's prayer without even doing basic research. I'm incredibly disappointed at the author for failing to do the absolute minimum in first respecting a closed practice and not appropriating our traditions, and secondly in writing literal gibberish and saying it was Hebrew, and thirdly, for trying to force a translation to fit into her predetermined translation. For the record, the only recognizable words translate as "to the world, amen." I'm even more disappointed in her editing team for not catching this at all.

I think that either the description of this book or my understanding of what the book was about was a little off. I thought that it would be more like a spell book, but instead it was a story of how the author learned her craft from her mentor. Which is fine, but it was a bit slow going and very wordy, especially considering what I thought I was going to be reading.

Overall a good reference book good with information. This book is heavily Wicca based so it may not be the best book for everyone. It does have good tips for weaving magic into mundane everyday life.

I wasn't a fan of the layout of this, it was confusing because it was described as being more of a factual book and then was filled with just personal stories.

A useful, informative and well written book that can be useful if you are starting the Path or you want to learn something new or a good reference.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Sometimes in life we stumble upon a book that seems like it was written just for you. That’s how this book made me feel. Many times throughout this book the author would ask a question or describe a place they were in life and it mirrored my own questions and place in life. I wish I had my own Connie to help guide me. But in a way I guess I did for a short time while reading.
This book is a wonderful blend of the authors personal story while also having so much useful information and knowledge. I loved it! I hope you all get just as much as I have from this wonderful “Box of Magick”!

I wasn't really impressed with this book. I was extremely bored while reading. In a space where there is an abundance of titles on the topic of witchcraft, it's important to make your book stand out. This title fell a little flat for me and didn't really bring anything new to the table. I also didn't really care for the layout. Every witch and their practice is different so this may be the perfect book for you, especially if you are a beginner but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wonderful beginner witchcraft related book. It is well written, and enjoyable to read. I really liked how the author weaved in the stories about her teacher, and how it was almost like a memoir of her.

This book is truly a witchy starter book packed with fun information on tarot, spells, and gorgeous illustrations. I enjoyed reading about all of the different tips and prose that Della has to share. I found myself feeling more mindful just based on trying to practice some of these tips. The guides on when to start trying new things based on moon cycles and when/how to practice rituals was also fantastic. I learned about new Gods and Goddesses to honor based on what you are calling for help with and hope that others find wisdom in "A Box of Magick" just as I did.

Great Reference Material

Jamie Della discusses what magick is and how it works, stating that magick is created by aligning your will with a conscious world and universal influences. Further stating that all of nature, from the wind to the crystals on an altar to the herbs in a kitchen cabinet, is trying to help us experience great joy and satisfaction through continual conversation. She states that supernatural aids are always available because the law of attraction, the belief that you attract what you focus on, is a two-way one street.

The author, also, acknowledge that the law of attraction is real; we will attract whatever we focus on. However, it is important to take a moment here to reject feelings of guilt, shame, or blame for “attracting” bad things or living a life of oppressive social situations and status.

One of the things the author provides is anointing yourself using the Abhyanga method. She describes it as an Ayurvedic therapy that involves massaging. I found this to be very beneficial. Additionally, she discusses many of the tools and practices as with other forms of craft work.

This is a great book filled with much information and it is a great resource or reference book. Highly recommend.

This book was well-written and a call for self-reflection and a captive read. This is an eclectic book that doesn’t push the reader in any one direction, but rather calls to many different ways of approaching the craft. I found this book to be interesting, but I had a hard time staying truly engaged in the book. I really appreciated how this book is a basic call for newbies, and that the author included her mentor in so much of it.

My one true issue with this book is in the very beginning, the author pushes for the law of attraction without calling out that systemic barriers are not going to work for marginalized people attempting to “attract” these things, and this took me out of the book when I was first reading it. 3.5/5

A Box of Magick: A Guided Journey to Crafting a Magical Life Through Witchcraft, Ritual Herbalism, and Spellcrafting" by Jamie Della, accomplishes beautifully what captivates most individuals within the realm of the mystical. It entices readers from the very start, gradually building intrigue that is simply irresistible. This book is an absolute necessity for those seeking to illuminate their lives and embark on a magical adventure.

This book is so helpful rather you are a beginner in magick or an expert. You will find tons of useful information in this book.

I don't often find a witchcraft book that teaches me "new" knowledge. I've been following and honing my craft for about 15 years now so I'm far from a beginner. I was impressed that this book actually brought some new, insightful information that I can add to my personal craft. I particularly enjoyed the little spells and meditation the author included in every chapter. This book also makes me want my own mentor, so I'm going to follow the spell provided and hope for the best. I can't wait to read more of the author's published work. Excellent guide for beginners and seasoned crones like myself.

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

A Box of Magick by Jamie Della, is a foundational guide for those interested in pursuing witchcraft as a spiritual practice. Della discusses how someone can use seemingly simple traditions to bring magic into their lives, from herbalism, to different divination techniques, to spell crafting tools and meditating styles. Unlike most other 101 books, Della takes an eclectic approach to teaching witchcraft, and encourages being inclusive with the traditions, in spite of what others may believe.

I appreciate Della including her mentor in the book, even more so when she has her writing the epilogue. It shows how important our elders are to our practice, which, surprisingly enough, there’s a lack of in foundational books. I also enjoyed how inclusive Della is, referring to either God, or Goddess, or Spirit, or the Universe as a main source of higher energetic power. It emphasizes the fact that witchcraft can involve worship of anyone. It’s there reason why there’s a growing number of witches who are atheists, who practice Abrahamic faiths, ect. You don’t necessarily have to be pagan, or even Wiccan, for that matter, to be a witch. It’s a lifestyle choice. There are also times I see the influences of other authors from Dr. Clarissa Estés and Danielle Dulsky, to Salicrow’s and, at times, even Raven Silverwolf.

Although I do wish Della included more references in regards to crystals and various herbs, I feel like this is a good general book for any witch who wants to start building their library. While I’d recommend them getting different compendiums and compiling your own book of shadows, I can see the value in a witch having this book. As such, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

A bit of a memoir, a bit of a how to, a bit of a spell book. All interesting but it just didn't call to me.