The Little Book of Curses and Maledictions for Everyday Use

by Dawn Rae Downton

Gas prices, traffic. “Fresh” produce, “wholesome” food. Your boss. Your former boss. Your coworkers. Your crush. Doctors. Customer service. Who can you call to get that monkey off your back? You can’t call anyone because they won’t return your calls. Isn’t it time to have a little ammo of your own? Here you fifty custom maledictions for situations you run into every day, and for people you know and wish you didn’t. In step-by-step, user-friendly detail, The Little Book of Curses puts the power back in your hands. Learn how to place spells, incantations, hexes, and more. Authentic, ancient curses from around the world are tweaked for easy, contemporary use. The book covers the four essentials to practicing any kind of what to do and say, what materials to use, what frame of mind to be in, and what limits to set. In some cases it even matters where you are when you set your curse, what time of day it is, and who’s around. All that is here, too. It’s foolproof!

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Humor, Occult

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Theophanea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Source: Scribd
type: ebook
Rating: 1/5

This was a hard DNF once I realized a few things:

1. she's a white author
2. she's using curses/hexes adapted from other cultures

At first the book was fine, it actually gave a little interesting tidbit about some "well-known" curses... but then it started getting into some oddly specific things I've NEVER heard used with cursing. As someone who is at least proficient in curse lore, this was a red flag.

Then she started giving out the curses... and not more than two in she was using Egyptian spirits and adaptations from other countries without giving them the respect, history, and credit they deserved. She didn't explain who the spirit was, where it was from or how to respect it. There was no information acknowledging that she was taking this information from cultures not her own.

I was definitely not ok with that, so, unfortunately, a rare DNF on my end for cherry-picking from other cultures.

[Nightshade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute and short read, but many of the spells in here are not to my taste as I am very much a create-your-own-spells-and-curses kinda gal. I read it on a whim as it was listed as a suggested read on one of the blogs I follow. This is a short and easy enough read to get through when you have nothing else to do. Don't expect anything truly maleficent or eye-opening from it.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "secret" behind this type of Magick or any, really, is hidden in plain sight. Some of these rituals seem hokey, but substitution for some of the really easy to obtain 'ingredients' is somewhat encouraged. As of yet, I have not had any reason to try any of these and the warning is put forth to NOT perform a malediction just to see what happens....advice that should be heeded, whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a fresh 'Chaos Magician', use only when all other routes have failed.
Then be prepared.

[Stephanie Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

This book is by no means based on real historical contexts and even the basic tenets of magic seem to be overlooked here. Please take the "curses" in this book as a grain of salt. I gave this book 3 stars simply because I found it extremely entertaining, especially as a practicing witch of over 20 years. From that standpoint (and that standpoint alone) it does not disappoint!

[Acacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutesy, humorous, and believing in karma. I recently took an interest in curses because everyone seems so afraid to use them and afraid that they are cursed at the same time. I felt like there was a good deal of repetition in here, especially with cautioning people not to throw out hexes on a whim. I found that a little annoying since the author devoted a portion of the beginning of the text to that, and didn't see a need for the disclaimer throughout the book as well.

[Dolores Greco · Rating 1 out of 5]

Little useful spells

After warning us not to curse for little things, spells included are for little thins. I'm not going to entirely hate on this book however. The introduction to spell work and cursing in general was informative and concise.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting simple spells. It has one i really like for separation from a person. "My mind is gold, My body is silver"

[Abe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is: The Little Book of Curses and Maledictions for Everyday Use by Dawn Rae Downton

Rating: 2/10

I really don't know what I expected going into this, but yet again this proves making up your own spellwork instead of following a spellbook is your best friend. Especially with hexing/left handed work.

Pros: The information about reversing/cancelling a hex is pretty spot on I think? I like the way the author explains what should warrant some cursing and what shouldn’t. To exhaust all options first. Which I 100% agree with. The author also uses poppets, which I do as well. Her method of making them is simple and easy to do. A good portion of the book seems hand-crafted/not stolen, which is a major plus for me, even if she does appropriate more towards the end of the book.

Cons: There is no sources listed. Absolutely none at all. Even for a book from 2009 this is an absolute sin in writing an informational text. There is NO excuse, especially when the author mentions numerous spirits that even with a good google produces little to no results.

The author's wording is also a bit suspect, which 2009 I know the g-slur, white and black magic talk, etc was super common then so I'm not holding that against her, but the bits about “Get his head examined and get unseated from his job” kinda…weirded me out? Maybe it’s because I’m neurodivergent myself but it feels like mental health is kinda damned in this book. Her lack of explaining things really sticks out. She does not explain why you use what you use.

For example:

Some of the spells don’t make a lot of sense, like “The Promise Keeper” on page 60. Who are you summoning? The person’s soul who betrayed you? Is it really so easy to rip the soul out of someone and bring it to you directly? Then the one invoking Rae and Skogsraet for being in collateral damage between two parties?? What is THAT going to do? There’s no rhyme or reason for the spell at all. (And this is a folkloric piece which I do use folklore in my work but not like this, not so...literally.)

She also misuses symbols a few examples...a Christian punk symbol is used as a summon symbol for a spirit. And the Gemini symbol is one of 4 used to summon one of the demons mentioned in the Lesser Key of Solomon.

Her information is also pretty dubious at best, claiming that Iwo is a deity/spirit when it's more of a...Greek ideology. The Celtic curse she mentions in the book isn't one I could find any information on despite her calling it an ancient Celtic one. Same for the Pollard curse she mentions, I cannot for the life of me find any information about a famous Blackguard named Pollard in British history. She appropriates from Jewish Mysticism, Hinduism, and actively blends in Thelema into the rest of the book as well. The part appropriating Jewish Mysticism calls it an "ancient egyptian summoning of angels" when the angels mentioned are...definitely not something from Egypt. I recognized some as Christian archangels, but the rest were all strictly Jewish angels.

I also understand my moral code is going to be different from an author's, that's alright. But the wording on some of the spells is...laughable. Love spells are one thing, spells to isolate your significant other are another and this book has a bit of both.

In short: Can't recommend this book, did give me a few laughs and a couple days worth of googling.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't exactly what I was looking for when I ordered it. I had been searching for book thief curses, which I found hilarious(!), and some how ordered this. They seem to be real curses fo various situation. I don't do curses. As a hedge witch, I KNOW curses are bad news and come backfire threefold. It's an interesting addition to my collection, but not I'll ever use. But others might find it useful, as the blurb on the back of Ms. Downton's book says, it's "user-friendly." Gah! I hope the universe ignores the ignorant....

[TIPHANIE · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a quick read. I didn't feel the content was "real" I felt it was more for entertainment purposes. It was only one curse that I actually liked out of the entire book.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book I love it. Good to have on hand, you never know what might come up.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book about cursing those who deserve it. Don't take curses lightly.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little informational book, some of the information is now obviously outdated, such as the author saying black candles aren't readily available (which obviously they are nowadays)

[Honey · Rating 3 out of 5]

ehh

im not finished but its an ok book, i wasn’t wow over it but its not 100% boring

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession, I didn't read this and I do not believe in magic or spell casting. I'm giving it five stars for the cover and because I would love to have it in my kitchen next to my recipe books. Would also make a lovely Halloween prop. Sadly, I can't justify the purchase.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes a great conversation piece ;)

[Carolina Dean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Strange little book full of odd spells that make no sense.