Review: Living Folk Magic

Title: Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life
Author:  Mary-Grace Fahrun
Publisher:  Weiser Books
Date:  November 3, 2025
Pages:  224 

Mary-Grace Fahrun explains the how’s and why’s of folk magic so readers can build an entire folk magic practice. She shares personal experiences and wisdom gained from her Italian family, as well as sharing customs from other cultures and religions. 

Folk magic is a way of life rooted in ancestral traditions practiced throughout time in all cultures as people sought to understand, connect with, and control their world, especially when other options failed. It blends superstitions, religious beliefs, customs, folklore, and magic. This magic is not separate from mundane life, rather it is the countless small actions that blend practical wisdom with profound spirituality that gives meaning and purpose to life. 

Tools, deities, and rituals differ based on geography and culture, but folk witches everywhere share a strong sense of responsibility, respect for their ancestors, and connections to both the natural and spirit worlds. They all have workings for protection, blessing, healing, and divination that are not considered magical – they are just seen as “how you do things.” 

This book details how to build relationships with spirits “seen or unseen, living or nonliving,” and ways to form a connection with ancestors – be they “blood, spirit, or land.” A collection of remedies, spells, charms and rites passed down through generations of magical traditions from around the world give readers the tools for solving everyday problems including healing, attracting love, and attracting financial abundance.

In the introduction, Mary-Grace shares her path to practicing folk magic that began with a tarot reading in 1985. In the first chapter, she introduces readers to the foundation of her practice “which is rooted in ancestral folk magic but adapted to modern life” – these four pillars of folk magic: cleansing, blessing, protection, and defense.    

Characteristics of a successful witch, the evil eye, curses, tools, divination, keeping a magical practice secret, and magical practices from different religions are among the topics covered in-depth. I found the alternative strategies, based on the author’s trials and experiences, for many aspects of the craft such as visualization and burning incense to be valuable.

The book ends with a practical guide to finding information and a list of recommended reading on a variety of subjects. 

I am Italian and have been diving deeper into ancestral ways, so I found this book extremely helpful. Like her, I am drawn to a quick, simpler way of doing magic anywhere with minimal supplies. “It’s elegant in its simplicity,” she states. I was happy to learn more ways to incorporate it into my own practice. I also appreciated being reminded of, among other concepts, the importance of cleansing and that “magic comes with a price.” 

The book is easy to follow and understand. While it focuses on Italian folk magic, the spells and rituals – some from her own grimoire – readers are given the practical knowledge they need to adapt these traditions to their own practice.  

About the Author:
Mary-Grace Fahrun was born into an Italian family where superstition and religion overlapped. She is the author of “Italian Folk Magic: Rue’s Kitchen Witchery” and the creatrix of Rue’s Kitchen,” Her website, Rue’s Kitchen, is dedicated to preserving Italian folk practices. Mary-Grace lives in British Colombia. Visit her at rueskitchen.com, on Instagram @rueskitchen, and on YouTube @MaryGraceFahrun.

About the Reviewer:
As an eclectic solitary practitioner, I travel the country in a converted school bus and share magick with those I meet. Find me at https://thewitchonwheels.com/ and on Facebook.