Book Review-The Languages of Magic: Transform Reality through Words, Magical Symbols & Sigils by Toby Chappell

Book Review

The Languages of Magic: Transform Reality through Words, Magical Symbols & Sigils

By Toby Chappell

Publisher: Inner Traditions

338 page E-Book

Release Date: April 8th, 2025

The Languages of Magic was on my “must-read” list and it did not disappoint! Toby Chappell delivers an examination into the magical world of language, semantics, sound, symbol and word. Magic, spells and incantations are have their root in the power of words; words change our perception, impact our reality, and most importantly, for purposes of this book, on our magick, too. Spells of the spoken kind are often incorporated into other ritual actions, which complete an objective. If we take the approach of an occultist and chaos magician, then a spell, say for wealth, would need items such as crystals, herbs, colors, scents, and the like corresponding to that intention. To add a punch to that, a powerful statement of intent, such as an affirmation, or a literal spell incantation, adds power to it by shaping our reality, changing it in thought and word, so that we obtain more wealth. The magick of speech, and what we say, even about ourselves, really is important to think about as a magickal person. This is the topic that Chappell so artfully explores in this work.

I really appreciated that Chappell devoted entire sections to the study and examination of magick throughout history, and its different models and ways of being applied. This sheds a lot of light on the methodology that’s needed to understand the later sections which cover specific practices, such as the Runes, symbols, sigils and the like. This is a book for the more experienced occultists, magi, witches and spiritual folks out there, but even beginners could benefit from perusing the early sections of the book, as it’s a short history of magick as a practice and the different modes it’s taken on. I truly appreciated this book, despite it not being exactly what I thought it was. Instead of focusing on symbols, sigils and the like to use for magick, this book instead implores the reader to create their own through the powerful magick of language through sight, symbol, sound, and even art and writing.

Magick is a form of communication-with the universe, all that is, God, Goddess, the Gods, whatever you want to call it. The Languages of  Magic is the text that finally examines magick as a tool and form of communication. How many of our now ancient artifacts from different ancient cultures, such as Egypt, were considered magickal, enchanted, or otherwise, unbeknownst to us, as we put our face further into the social media pit? Our languages, our letters, even our sacred texts, are magical, simply by communicating. The Languages of Magic has brought me to view my own magickal practice as a form of communication to shape my reality; ultimately, this has been empowering, and has shown to produce quicker, more effective results. Of course, everyone is different, so maybe it’s just me; I certainly make no guarantees there. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. As such, I give it a 5/5 Pentagram rating!

Toby Chappell is a musician, writer, and lecturer on the intersection of language and magic. An independent researcher and practicing magician, his interests include runes, semiotics, weird tales, and the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. He is the author of Infernal Geometry of the Left Hand Path. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

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Author Bio:

The Modern Merlin is a Polytheist, Pagan, Animist, Witch, Sorcerer, Necromancer and Occultist. He embarked on his spiritual and magickal journey over 15 years ago! As such, he has extensive knowledge of The Occult, Ceremonial Magick, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and both modern and ancient world religions and folklore. He is a practicing Sorcerer, blending ceremonial high magick and witchcraft, as well as plant medicine, poisonous plants and entheogens, shamanic techniques, and mysticism. He believes that magick can be as simple or as complex as one needs it to be, and rejects dogma, instead trusting his intuition, and encourages other magickal and spiritual folks to do the same! He venerates and casts magick with a wide array of spirits and deities, and works with both the Left and Right Hand Paths, having experience in both. He is an Astrologer and Tarot reader with 15 years’ experience in both, and actively studies and practices many other forms of divination including Runes, Ogham, Palmistry and Scrying. An animal lover, he sees divinity in nature-the trees, plants, animals and sky.  Also an avid reader, you’re hard pressed to not find him nose deep in a book, most likely on an occult, mystical, religious or magickal subject. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and the author of multiple columns, including The Modern Merlin’s Corner, Entheogens for the New Gen, Stellium, and Scary, Strange and Mythical Encounters. He gives readings and other spiritual services through his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see! You can reach him on Facebook, or e-mail him at [email protected]