{"id":17769,"date":"2018-08-01T01:10:09","date_gmt":"2018-08-01T06:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=18806"},"modified":"2018-07-30T19:33:15","modified_gmt":"2018-07-31T00:33:15","slug":"book-review-love-magic-a-handbook-of-spells-charms-and-potions-by-anastasia-greywolf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2018\/08\/01\/book-review-love-magic-a-handbook-of-spells-charms-and-potions-by-anastasia-greywolf\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review \u2013 Love Magic: A Handbook of Spells, Charms, and Potions by Anastasia Greywolf"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book <\/span>R<\/span>eview<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLove Magic: A Handbook of Spells, Charms, and Potions\u201d<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

by Anastasia Greywolf<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Published by Wellfleet Press<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Copyright May 29, 2018 <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pages: 256<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This book is marketed to \u201chelp readers navigate through their amorous adventures,\u201d such as people hoping to \u201ccatch that person you\u2019ve been secretly in love with for the past five months\u201d and to help when \u201can unrequited crush is not getting your subtle hints.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In her introduction, <\/span>Anastasia Greywolf, a practicing witch and herbalist and a founding member of the Coven of the Moonbeam Ravine, states, \u201cWhether you want to find \u2018the one\u2019 or simply make your pets love each other, get rid of a bad date or set yourself free from a bad energy of a relationship from the past, you\u2019ll find the magic to make it happen in these pages (check the back for a full index of spells). From more than a dozen contributors, they draw from a variety of traditions and spiritualities.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the magic is traditional while most is modern.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I agree with Greywolf that \u201cof all the mysterious forces in the universe, love may be the most powerful\u201d and \u201clove is hard to control.\u201d I don\u2019t agree that all the incantations, concoctions and charms offered to harness it are necessarily proper. Yes, love spells have been around \u201cforever.\u201d However, if something interferes with a person\u2019s freewill, warning bells go off in my head.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, there is a \u201cSisterhood Spell for Female Friends\u201d contributed by Susan Adcox. Noting you \u201ccan never have too many sisters of the heart,\u201d she offers a spell to make a relationship with a casual friend or acquaintance grow into something more. It involves burning a white candle and saying, \u201cBound by choice and not by blood, Be for me a sister good. Share the joy, halve the pain,<\/span>
\nOur love will ever wax, not wane.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While it seems harmless, my ethics would keep me from doing it because it\u2019s trying to get someone to be a good sister. Rather, I would find another way to address the situation. If I was shy or too intimidated to approach the person, I would do some magic to bolster my self-confidence and courage. I would also recognize that this woman may not choose to be a close friend for any number of reasons that may very well have nothing to do with me. Not knowing the person well, there could be something about her behavior that would make not being close to her actually be for my highest good and greatest joy. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is much to consider when doing a spell, and those involving others require the most thought and experience, which is why I caution people not to just pick up a book and follow some instructions without thinking through every detail and possibility.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A traditional spell Greywolf offers is \u201cTo Marry Whomever You Choose.\u201d It reads, \u201cTo make the person you love want to marry you and ensure a union, the solution is simple. Obtain the heart of a chicken and swallow it whole.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Other than being extremely squeamish about swallowing a chicken heart whole, I am also extremely squeamish about making a person love me. There are at least half a dozen ways I can see this go sideways. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The same goes for the spell \u201cTo Get a Marriage Proposal\u201d contributed by Luna Eternal. Among other steps, it has the reader repeat three times,\u201dWith the love that is ours \/ I call upon this ancient power \/ Engagement is what I seek \/ Proposal is what you offer to me \/ By the power of three times three \/ As I will it, so mote it be!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I see this as a form or manipulation. I also recognize my bias comes from how I practice and I acknowledge not everyone walks the same path the same way. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Spells can be found in the book that do not reach into someone else\u2019s space. The \u201cPre-wedding Bath,\u201d submitted by Jill Robi, is one of those. It calls for lighting pillar candles on each corner of the bathtub, adding certain essential oils to the water and floating rose petal upon it while envisioning \u201cthe best version of your special day, pulling positive energy into yourself, and projecting that into the universe.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robi\u2019s \u201cWedding Sachet,\u201d and Greywolf\u2019s spells \u201cTo Cure Pre-Wedding Jitters\u201d and \u201cFor Bandaging Past Wounds\u201d are but three more examples. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I appreciated that along with steps to take \u201cFor Courage to Break Up With Your Lover,\u201d contributor Aoife Witt wrote, \u201cImportant note: Most of us dread breaking up with a significant other. If the reason you are nervous about initiating a breakup is because your significant other may become violent, you may do this spell but please do not rely on it. Go to a safe place, and call the proper authorities.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Among the more interesting spells I found in the book was this one to love yourself.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Narcissa\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

by Hollen Pockets<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a spell to fall in love with yourself. Perform in times of need. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Take a rock and break your mirrors. You don\u2019t need them right now. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Keep the rock and break your scales.<\/i><\/span>
\nTake some scissors and snip your measuring tape. Keep the scissors and cut your hair, no mirrors needed. Speak the words: It doesn\u2019t matter. It will grow. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Go for a long walk or get out of the house in whatever way you can. Use your body. Count the beats of your great heart. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Find a reflective pool. If needed, fill your favorite bathtub and look into that. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Speak the words: I have all I need. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Smile at your reflection, blurry and imperfect in the reflecting water. Smile and smile and smile. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For readers who want to craft their own spells, or modify one from \u201cLove Magic,\u201d the lists of colors, stones, herbs, essential oils and flowers found at the back of the book are helpful. There is also a section on love omens \u2013 from apples to wishbones \u2013 along with the meaning of various birds, a list of lucky days, and information about how each phase of the moon relates to love magic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As with everything in life, it is wise to take what you need and leave the rest. I hope you will do so with this book as well as all others that show up on your path. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Love Magic: A Handbook of Spells, Charms, and Potions<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

About the Author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Lynn Woike<\/span><\/strong><\/b>\u00a0was 50 \u2013 divorced and living on her own for the first time \u2013 before she consciously began practicing as a self taught solitary witch. She draws on an eclectic mix of old ways she has studied \u2013 from her Sicilian and Germanic heritage to Zen and astrology, the fae, Buddhism, Celtic, the Kabbalah, Norse and Native American \u2013 pulling from each as she is guided. She practices yoga, reads Tarot and uses Reiki. From the time she was little, she has loved stories, making her job as the editor of two monthly newspapers seem less than the work it is because of the stories she gets to tell. She lives with her large white cat, Pyewacket, in central Connecticut. You can follow her boards on\u00a0<\/span>Pinterest<\/span><\/a>, and write to her at woikelynn\u00a0at gmail\u00a0dot com.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Book Review \u201cLove Magic: A Handbook of Spells, Charms, and Potions\u201d by Anastasia Greywolf Published by Wellfleet Press Copyright May 29, 2018 Pages: 256 This book is marketed to \u201chelp readers navigate through their amorous adventures,\u201d such as people hoping to \u201ccatch that person you\u2019ve been secretly in love with for the past five months\u201d and to help when \u201can unrequited crush is not getting your subtle hints.\u201d In her introduction, Anastasia Greywolf, a practicing witch and herbalist and a founding member of the Coven of the Moonbeam Ravine, states, \u201cWhether you want to find \u2018the one\u2019 or simply make your pets love each other, get rid of a bad date or set yourself free from a bad energy of a relationship from the past, you\u2019ll find the magic to make it happen in these pages (check the back for a full index of spells). From more than a dozen contributors, they draw from a variety of traditions and spiritualities.\u201d Some of the magic is traditional while most is modern. I agree with Greywolf that \u201cof all the mysterious forces in the universe, love may be the most powerful\u201d and \u201clove is hard to control.\u201d I don\u2019t agree that all the incantations, concoctions and charms offered to harness it are necessarily proper. Yes, love spells have been around \u201cforever.\u201d However, if something interferes with a person\u2019s freewill, warning bells go off in my head. For instance, there is a \u201cSisterhood Spell for Female Friends\u201d contributed by Susan Adcox. Noting you \u201ccan never have too many sisters of the heart,\u201d she offers a spell to make a relationship with a casual friend or acquaintance grow into something more. It involves burning a white candle and saying, \u201cBound by choice and not by blood, Be for me a sister good. Share the joy, halve the pain, Our love will ever wax, not wane.\u201d While it seems harmless, my ethics would keep me from doing it because it\u2019s trying to get someone to be a good sister. Rather, I would find another way to address the situation. If I was shy or too intimidated to approach the person, I would do some magic to bolster my self-confidence and courage. I would also recognize that this woman may not choose to be a close friend for any number of reasons that may very well have nothing to do with me. Not knowing the person well, there could be something about her behavior that would make not being close to her actually be for my highest good and greatest joy. There is much to consider when doing a spell, and those involving others require the most thought and experience, which is why I caution people not to just pick up a book and follow some instructions without thinking through every detail and possibility. A traditional spell Greywolf offers is \u201cTo Marry Whomever You Choose.\u201d It reads, \u201cTo make the person you love want to marry you and ensure a union, the solution is simple. Obtain the heart of a chicken and swallow it whole.\u201d Other than being extremely squeamish about swallowing a chicken heart whole, I am also extremely squeamish about making a person love me. There are at least half a dozen ways I can see this go sideways. The same goes for the spell \u201cTo Get a Marriage Proposal\u201d contributed by Luna Eternal. Among other steps, it has the reader repeat three times,\u201dWith the love that is ours \/ I call upon this ancient power \/ Engagement is what I seek \/ Proposal is what you offer to me \/ By the power of three times three \/ As I will it, so mote it be!\u201d I see this as a form or manipulation. I also recognize my bias comes from how I practice and I acknowledge not everyone walks the same path the same way. Spells can be found in the book that do not reach into someone else\u2019s space. The \u201cPre-wedding Bath,\u201d submitted by Jill Robi, is one of those. It calls for lighting pillar candles on each corner of the bathtub, adding certain essential oils to the water and floating rose petal upon it while envisioning \u201cthe best version of your special day, pulling positive energy into yourself, and projecting that into the universe.\u201d Robi\u2019s \u201cWedding Sachet,\u201d and Greywolf\u2019s spells \u201cTo Cure Pre-Wedding Jitters\u201d and \u201cFor Bandaging Past Wounds\u201d are but three more examples. I appreciated that along with steps to take \u201cFor Courage to Break Up With Your Lover,\u201d contributor Aoife Witt wrote, \u201cImportant note: Most of us dread breaking up with a significant other. If the reason you are nervous about initiating a breakup is because your significant other may become violent, you may do this spell but please do not rely on it. Go to a safe place, and call the proper authorities.\u201d Among the more interesting spells I found in the book was this one to love yourself.   \u201cThe Narcissa\u201d by Hollen Pockets This is a spell to fall in love with yourself. Perform in times of need. Take a rock and break your mirrors. You don\u2019t need them right now. Keep the rock and break your scales. Take some scissors and snip your measuring tape. Keep the scissors and cut your hair, no mirrors needed. Speak the words: It doesn\u2019t matter. It will grow. Go for a long walk or get out of the house in whatever way you can. Use your body. Count the beats of your great heart. Find a reflective pool. If needed, fill your favorite bathtub and look into that. Speak the words: I have all I need. Smile at your reflection, blurry and imperfect in the reflecting water. Smile and smile and smile.   For readers who want to craft their own spells, or modify one from \u201cLove Magic,\u201d the lists of colors, stones, herbs, essential oils and flowers found at the back of the book are helpful. There is also a section on love omens \u2013 from apples to wishbones \u2013 along with the meaning of various birds, a list of lucky days, and information about how each phase of the moon relates to love magic. As with everything in life, it is wise to take what you need and leave the rest. I hope you will do so with this book as well as all others that show up on your path. Love Magic: A Handbook of Spells, Charms, and Potions   *** About the Author: Lynn Woike\u00a0was 50 \u2013 divorced and living on her own for the first time \u2013 before she consciously began practicing as a self taught solitary witch. She draws on an eclectic mix of old ways she has studied \u2013 from her Sicilian and Germanic heritage to Zen and astrology, the fae, Buddhism, Celtic, the Kabbalah, Norse and Native American \u2013 pulling from each as she is guided. She practices yoga, reads Tarot and uses Reiki. From the time she was little, she has loved stories, making her job as the editor of two monthly newspapers seem less than the work it is because of the stories she gets to tell. She lives with her large white cat, Pyewacket, in central Connecticut. You can follow her boards on\u00a0Pinterest, and write to her at woikelynn\u00a0at gmail\u00a0dot com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17769"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17769\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}