SpellCrafting: Spells & Rituals
Book Review:“The Big Book of Practical Spells by Judika Illes
Merry meet.
Some books stand the test of time and I find myself returning to them time and time again. “The Big Book of Practical Spells” is one of those books, in part because it’s in its third incarnation. In 2001, it was published as “Earth Mother Magic” and again in 2007 as “Pure Magic.” It was Judika Illes’ first published book.
Into it, she poured all her working knowledge of magic, making it a comprehensive reference book for those new to the path as well as for those with experience. The first part covers working with the earth, a glossary of magical vocabulary, a primer on the elements, supplies and more. Part Two discusses magic allies such as animal totems, ancestors, crystals, botanicals, altars and dreams. The last section has spells for 16 different situations including protection, psychic enhancement, fertility, money and healing.
The book serves as a basic reference with solid, accurate, practical information, making magic accessible to everyone.
It has been around longer than I’ve consciously been a witch, and I’ve referred to it along the way. Like many others, I learned much of what I know about paganism and witchcraft through books. Starting out, their quality is especially important because you have no other frame of reference. I appreciated the introduction this book gave to many aspects of magic. It was also important to me to learn early on that there was no one right way to practice magic, and that its most important elements were the desire and focused energy I brought to it.
Illes explains that magic in its purest form is a dialogue between you and the earth. “Magic is your birthright,” she states. Then she offers straightforward, easy steps to working with energies and magical allies.
Can’t decide which psychic enhancement spell or which luck spell is most suited or most powerful? Illes’ sound advice, given in the introduction to the section on spells is, “Read through them and see which ones call to you.”
Looking through the latest book, published in June 2106, I found it still had things to teach me. For instance, I did not know that copper is a purely positive metal, that it’s sacred in some cultures, or that it stimulates romance and healing.
On Amazon, Illes’ page reads, “When I was six, my older sister brought home a deck of tarot cards. I took one look at them and fell in love. Around the same time, I heard (and loved) the Rolling Stones’ version of Benny Spellman’s song, ‘Fortune Teller.’ Either or both of those experiences may have been what started my career. I have been a student of metaphysics and the magical arts ever since.”
“The Big Book of Practical Spells” is available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
Her other books include, “Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells,” “Encyclopedia of Spirits,” “Encyclopedia of Witch Craft,” “The Fantastic and Forgotten,” and “Magic When You Need It.”
Merry part.
And merry meet again.