I want to thank NetGalley, Publishers Arcturus Publishing, and the author Marie Bruce for providing this e-ARC. Witch, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.

This has the title shows, is a Magical Way to Take Care of Yourself, and the chapters bring us reflective words.
as someone who suffers from self-sabotage this chapter, in particular, helps us step by step to process identifying our negative patterns, listing causes and solutions, for the reader to help understand and overcome them.
Allow the word Wiccan, might be a word that might stop people from buying this book or simply reading it, i recommend it for the pure self-healing side and the psychological information and understanding we can gain from it.
Wicca is simply respecting nature and people with no harm.

Felt the Wiccan part of this book sadly lacking - Wiccan practices are mentioned almost in passing, with the focus on the psychotherapy aspect of the issues dealt with in the book. I really hoped it would be more Wiccan and less regular therapy as the self-care aspect was also almost taking a back seat throughout. Good book for anyone trying to deal with their issues in a holistic way, but the focus was not on Wiccan self-care here

Upset I never got chance to read this - my friend told me some bits about it and it sounds amazing!

I will be purchasing this book in order to read it now

A really lovely book about self care from a different perspective to other self care books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this- I found it informative, easy to read and loved opening my mind to a different approach to how I do things.
I use crystals already so I loved learning more about them.
My mum and also my nail tech/friend are both tarot reading, rune reading, sage burning moon lovers so I have also recommended this book to them and I enjoyed discussing it with them.
I have started journal writing and have found that I enjoy doing this.

Highly recommend this book for anyone who has an open mind and wants a different approach to self care.

This is a helpful book written by a psychologist who is also Wiccan, so the author has good experience in both aspects. I found it surprisingly thorough and well done.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this. This book was well written. It had a lot of advice on self-care. This advice would be good for those who practice Wicca as well as those who don't. While there are Wiccan rituals, someone not comfortable with those could easily overlook them. Just following the various techniques that are non-Wiccan would be beneficial. I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book in order to easily move between different sections as needed. And also to write notes in the margins.

I consider myself more of a pagan than wiccan due to my eclectic path but like most people in their early thirties I often sacrifice my self-care or rather ignore it. I can honestly say this book is a gem. I will be getting a physical copy and have already recommended it to fellow practitioners and those curious as well. It is full to the brim with helpful insights, rituals and healing practices. Best of all these are at varying levels of effort and time so if, like so many of us are, you are busy Bruce shows ways we can still practice self-care and the importance of doing so.

The writing is engaging and easy to follow. The tone is warm and it is clear that Bruce knows how to talk and deal with people. While reading I felt as if I was in the room with her rather than reading a book which I found enjoyable and unique. As already mentioned the offerings in the book are varied and will be something for everyone, it is also nice to be able to tie this into the craft or path you follow. I personally found the information on loss and bereavement helpful and insightful. I also loved how Bruce stresses that we must overcome guilt of taking time be it long or short for ourselves and our own self-care. This is honestly a wonderful book that I feel even those who practice self-care will benefit from.

This has so much helpful information for Wiccans and non-wiccans alike (very little, in fact, is solely Wiccan and what is can be easily adapted), and both beginner and advanced practitioners of witchcraft. A newbie could easily get started with this book. I appreciate how many simple tips are included, because complicated and long rituals just aren't always feasible. Especially when you've been lacking in self-care or are purely in survival mode. This is not just manicures and a movie night book of self care (though similar ideas are included!) It's true psychology and mental health, covering a range of potential traumatic life events and methods of healing. I plan on getting the physical version because I want to mark it up and keep it close!

An Awesome Read

Marie Bruce states that a long time ago, before the arrival of modern medicine, the wise woman was one of the most important and respected figures in any town or village. Her responsibilities were many and varied, including things like mixing up herbal brews and birth control remedies, working as a midwife and a shepherd of souls, laying out the dead. She stated that the wise woman, also, acted as a confidante, offering advice and wise counsel to those who sought her help. She knew everyone in the village, including all their family secrets, which made her a powerful figure.

The author states that the old country term for the Wise Woman was none other than "Witch".

She states that she likes to protect the space in which she works, whether she is seeing clients or simply sitting in her study writing, therefore, she always cast a circle before getting started. I think this is a great ideal.

She discusses how to use this book, different ways of self-care, and some magical correspondences using colors, crystals, herbs, incenses, and oils, for:
1. Love and self-care
2. Prosperity and success
3. Protection and resilience
4. Personal power

The author discusses noblesse oblige, proving its meaning in terms of witchcraft, stating that it means that anyone with any kind of privilege should extend kindness, compassion and consideration to those who are less privileged. Noblesse oblige means that when someone without self-awareness is acting out their pain in a dramatic manner, we make certain allowances and show them compassion. This is not about being condescending, or accepting aggressive or threatening behaviour. It is about being kind to people who, for whatever reason, do not have the same mental resilience and forbearance that you have. It is about demonstrating honourable conduct, even in challenging situations. Noblesse oblige means that you navigate areas of potential conflict with compassion, keeping yourself out of the drama as much as possible and above the fray. She, also, provides a Noblesse Oblige Ritual to perform, if there is any type of drama in your life.

This book is awesome. The author provides several rituals for your journey in self-care, affirmations, and many other tools for your overall wellbeing.

The author stated in the beginning of this book that this book will be the readers' therapeutic space, where you are safe to share and let go of whatever you need to, and this book is exactly that. I felt that the information she provides is so soothing to the soul, causing me to really evaluate my self-care habits. As the author states, self-care is one of the greatest acts of kindness you can offer yourself. That it is a set of tools that keep you healthy, happy, motivated and achieving, that it is a daily practice that becomes a habit, and the habit becomes a more positive lifestyle.

I truly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it for anyone desiring to iimprove their life and overall wellbeing.

The Wiccan Guide to Self-Care offers a comprehensive exploration of self-care practices within the context of Wiccan spirituality. This book is brimming with self-care tasks, skills, and innovative ideas to enhance well-being. From daily self-care rituals to more profound healing practices, the book provides a wide variety of options to cater to various needs and preferences. Some of the little gems, such as the anti-fatigue peppermint bath, stand out as practical and delightful touches to the book.

The section dedicated to loss and bereavement is particularly well-crafted, delving deep into the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing. The guidance offered here is compassionate and insightful, making it an invaluable resource for those navigating difficult times. Another part of the book that I personally enjoyed is its exploration of social media's impact on daily life. It discusses the pros and cons of social media use, urging readers to reflect on their digital interactions and their effects on wellbeing.

The one thing that would have enhanced the reading experience for me, would have been the inclusion of illustrations or visual aids to break up the text, I feel that this would make the information more engaging and accessible, and most likely an easier and more enjoyable read.

I found this book very helpful and beneficial.I will certainly buy a copy to have on hand for future reference. A new approach on Well Being for me and I will definitely be trying some of the techniques mentioned.

This is a brilliant book about lots of different aspects of self-care, including resilience, rest, self-soothing, grief, perfectionism, being assertive, and so much more!

It includes simple spells, rituals and other Wiccan practices, but these are a supplement to the practical and psychology-based advice.

It also includes suggestions for different ways to rest, time blocking, telling yourself a different story, engaging in creative activities, self-parenting yourself, risk assessing confrontation, developing financial intelligence, responding rather than reacting, de-escalating conflict, finding different sources of support, tallying small moments of joy, and lots more.

You could read this without the Wiccan aspect and it would still be extremely helpful for getting through the 'dark nights of the soul'. Just reading this book made me feel more hopeful.

“The Wiccan Guide to Self-care” by Marie Bruce highlights a comprehensive approach to self-improvement. It touches on various elements such as self-care, deeper healing methods, addressing self-sabotage, self-soothing, rebooting one's life and mindset, dealing with self-image issues, navigating social media complexities, exploring emotions, and delving into spirituality to create a foundation for a better life.

The book incorporates spells and rituals that are accessible to beginners and non-Wiccans. The book has value as a self-help resource for Wiccans and for individuals who do not follow the Wiccan belief system. 4 out of 5 stars.

NetGalley Arc app review

Love this…. Brilliant, so much info packed in these pages. I feel like the author really touches on things we as practitioners tend to forget, or some are never taught. So much is lost in ancestral teaching now a days. I feel like this book is such a great foundation for someone to have to start really incorporating self care.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. The author stresses the differences between performative and transformative self-care and I enjoyed the simple versus deep self-care exercises in the book. 4.5/5

Yes at this book and everything about it! It was brilliant and written so well. It was perfectly balanced in its advice, actions you can take, things you implement and reassuring little tidbits. The more you read, the more you start to understand yourself and what you can bring in to your life.

I loves the psychology element to this book and the perspective the author, who is a psychotherapist, can give us. It’s written without everything witchy woo-woo (I love it but it’s not for everyone) and it can be read without any of the Wiccan element. Everyone is welcome here! There is some fab ‘witchy tips’ for you though and I loved how you could take exactly what you wanted from it.

It has some really great advice and information and I not only learnt a lot and took on board a whole lot of different things, but I learnt a lot about how I might help others and identify struggles in others. I’ve always been one who has been ‘on it’ with my self care and I’m in tune with what I need to do to bring myself back to myself and there was still plenty for me to learn! I couldn’t relate to a lot of things in this book, as it turns out I’m a lot more well balanced than I thought I was! but it’s also a book you can read to help you understand the people around you and those you love.

I can’t express how greatly written the book was and it’s one you can read in every format. I read the ebook alongside the audiobook and it was easy to ‘tune in’ and flick in and out of. A great book to come back to and one to have on your shelf if self help books are for you!

I like that this book discusses the difference between performative self-care and transformative self-care. I also liked the lists of different correspondences such as colors, crystals, herbs, and oils to various types of rituals or spellwork. The author includes levels of self-care including survival, awakening, and emerging. There are small meditations in this book to help stave off negative patterns and destructive self-sabotage, as well as small self-care opportunities to relieve stressful moments or chaotic environments. I would definitely recommend this read to a beginner, but also a seasoned practitioner.