Cunning Words: a Grimoire of Tales and Magic

by Marshall W.S.L.

Cunning Words: a Grimoire of Tales and Magic is a book of witchcraft in three parts. Part I is a collection of stories that connect the seeker to folklore and tales inspired by witchery and lessons written within. Part II is a collection of rhymes that teach specific acts of witchcraft as well as recipes and petitions. Part III is a working guide on using the information provided to build upon your own personal practice as well as charms, rites, and curses extrapolated from the cunning tales.

This book is for the most cunning and has been written for the beginner and adept alike. The tales within will introduce you to spirits old and new, the Three Mothers, the Three Wise Healers, The Seven Holy Siblings, and so much more.

Genres: Witchcraft, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paganism

356 pages, Hardcover

Published March 19, 2023

Reviews

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of a modern Grimoire that will stand the test of time and become a classic. It contains beautiful, intertwining tales, gritty spells and rituals, cunning magic and chaos woven throughout. A must read for any folkloric witch.

[Victoria Hollinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book. I literally finished it the same day that it came in. I was just going to read a little as a preview to the vibe, since I was already reading another book - BUT it pulled me in almost immediately. This isn’t like other occult books or grimoires. This book is important and everyone should read it. It resonated with me in a way I didn’t expect.

If you’ve been hesitating about reading it, this is your sign to do it - because it’s fucking beautiful.

There are 3 different sections to this book:
1. Cunning Tales : (my favorite section)
This section includes multiple short stories (within the same “world”) that reveal valuable lessons in the craft, introduce you to several character archetypes that can be worked with, and gets you emotionally involved and tugs majorly at your heart strings.
Realizing how exactly each character and story fits together and interacts with each other (the midwife IYKYK), and the stories of Una and Tessa just made me fall in love with this book before I was even halfway through it. It was so beautiful seeing my beliefs reflected back to me so clearly in stories. Part of me wishes I could’ve read them when I was younger. ALSO- the trans/non-binary representation within the stories was so so refreshing and beautiful to see.
My favorite part of this section was the knowledge and lessons hidden within each story and throughout the narrative of all the stories (you MUST read them in order). Some lessons are stated very clearly and are difficult to miss and much of the knowledge shared is written in between the lines with the intention of only the most cunning deciphering them. I already plan to do a re-read with a lot of highlighting and note-taking.

2. Cunning Rhymes :
This section contains a multitude of poems/verses (with yes lots of rhymes) covering a wide variety of information from luck charms to sigil making to using sex in magic to baneful magic, working with specific spirits/archetypes and much more.
These poems tell stories of their own to present the information -it isn’t just direct instructions. In fact, many of the rhymes are purposefully vague or indirect so we can rely on our own cunning and adaptability to carry them out.
Side Note: I read almost the entire book out loud to myself and this section was particularly fun to read out (highly recommend).

3. Cunning Compendium :
This section was a compilation of information regarding specific sigils within the book, as well as spells and rites created by the author as well. I like that the author included spells related to the archetypes you meet in the Cunning Tales section for you to work with those archetypes and work with spells/rites that fall under their dome of influence. (I am a mighty big fan of Our Mother in Black)
This section was definitely more practical/for direct reference and included various things such as, return to sender spells, have the day you deserve spoken charms (i will be using this), and more.

The only issue I had with the book was there were multiple errors that I noticed as I was reading but as this is a self-published book and editing is a difficult feat of it’s own, it really wasn’t that big of a deal. This book is still a complete five star for me even with the errors, and the errors DO NOT affect the ease of reading this book. I say this mainly for those who tend to DNF a book if it has more than a couple grammatical errors, this book is worth it. It was written extremely well and holds such valuable content.

This is honestly my favorite witchy/occult book that I’ve read so far. I think the style of writing and the stories within just resonated with me in a very unique way. As I was reading, I found myself genuinely enjoying the content and experiencing emotional reactions to the stories and characters while also uncovering the magical knowledge presented instead of just forcing myself to read for the sake of gaining the information.

I will be honest and say that I did not expect to like this book, let alone love it. I didn’t completely understand what the book was at first and, although I thought the cover was beautiful, I was off put by it being a collection of stories instead of information being directly given to me. Funny that the stories were what made me fall in love with the book (forgive me for not being more open minded - I won’t make this mistake again).

Thank you, Marshall, for writing a book that resonated with me in a way no other occult book has before. Your book is truly beautiful. I’m excited for the re-read where I get to annotate, and I deeply regret not buying the hardcover version.

<3

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has something special to it. It's the perfect example of why stories are so powerful. Yes, the spells are amazing, but more than anything, it's the stories that I appreciate. Marshall crafts these tales that have one foot in folklore and tradition and the other in his personal gnosis and creativity, melding them both into something that can't be replicated. His connection to the spirits of the land has inspired me to see the street corners of my neighborhood in new ways (and The Mother in Red and The Seven Holy Siblings now have an inextricable place in my own craft). Whether you are a fledgling witch or a more advanced practitioner, this book has a story for you.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a first read I loved the characters, the stories, the illustrations and the author's voice. It's a book of depth and I think there will be many new things to discover each time I read it.

I bought the Kindle version, which shows the illustrations well but I might just need to get the hardback to see the gorgeousness in real life!

[Kitsune Cappuccino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

THIS BOOK! OH!

So, little backstory.
I first found Marshall on his podcast Southern Bramble: a podcast of Crooked Ways who he co-hosts with Austin a.k.a banexbramble. Marshall is very present on Instagram and Twitter, under witchofsouthernlight which you can find his work, a link to his art, and classes.
During COVID-19, (sidenote) I became obsessed with Bailey Sarian, Murder, Mystery and Makeup and somehow in my late 20s discovered that podcasts suddenly existed which then led me to searching the app; I wanted connection in 2021.
Being a solitary practitioner, (not by choice, but lack of community in my area) I searched keyword "Witchcraft" and Abracadabra!
A brand new podcast called Southern Bramble: a podcast of Crooked Ways !
I have listened to every episode and it has enriched my quiet time, continued to further my knowledge of the craft, and has helped me not feel so alone.
I love that I can relate to Marshall so well. Being a gay man, who does hair, and practices witchcraft AND who lives in the south, bless our hearts. From what I have learned, Marshall is adept in Sigil magic and well as follows a Trad-craft way. But this doesn't stop him from being geninuinly open to learning other methodology, which I love.
So often, especially in my age group (millennial) you just find all sorts.
Marshall's appreciation for the witch in modern media, really resounds with me. During that time, (I'm not a math gay) we really had to rely on seeing how the emergence of the witch and witchcraft was present in film. Having that "Big Blue Book" and seemingly unknowst narrative magic (Charmed) is all we had. Slowly, with Wicca becoming popular, and Witchvox being active at the time, it began to shine a light on how many of us there really were.
Flash forward to today, where it is more open, and more authors are being published, I find it so nostalgic that today's generation won't know what it was like to not being able to walk into Barnes and Noble and have a VAST selection of how to practice your craft.

Which brings me to this book!
I have read my fair share. Something that always bothers me is how, well, good everything is in witchcraft books. I really had to discern where the material was coming from. Background searching the author and how it all began for them. (Which, I suggest everyone do, by the way.) Witchcraft isn't just all, "love and light" maybe Wicca, but in the period of "manifesters, love and lighters and star seeds" I can easily recognize a true witch and their practice.
Marshall, is just that.
One of his quotes, (I forget if he quotes it as well from a source) is "Bane and Blessing grow on the same stalk."
That, is witchcraft.
It's light AND it's dark.
Marshall doesn't shy away from what a lot do and that's defensive and offensive magics. Yes everyone loves a good prosperity, love, cleansing. But even though it's 2023, we are STILL targets of some institutions. We aren't out the clear yet, especially if another practitioner has their baleful gaze on us.
Many today forget that witchcraft, at least early colonial, early New England witchcraft, grew out of being oppressed. Many early witches were midwives, who didn't just deliver babies but were basically what we call "Nurse Practitioners" today. This knowledge, along with the topic of witchcraft finally being present in spaces, has caught the eyes of capitalism. Which brings me to my second thing I love about this book.
It's very anti-capitalism. Yes, you need ingredients but Marshall brings it back to the basics, which is what it all started out of to begin with.
You, the witch, are the power. Not the $200 capital shopping spree you just went on.
You can feel the old way of doing things really come through in the imagery of what Marshall conjures.
You can feel the spell.
You can smell the spell.
You can taste the spell.
But that is just the second half of the book!
There is something very beautiful in the first half, a narrative magic, that pulls me in that Dark forest. Something so practical, something so powerful as storytelling is captured very well in these pages.
Marshall is a true witch!
This book has a little something for everyone, and it's not just a copy and paste, as stated that I find so many are. These are his spells, his work and his time that he has put into gaining knowledge to becoming so adept. He has both personalized yet highlighted inspiration from his journey and we are lucky enough to access it.

Thank you Marshall! I look very forward to reading anything you conjure. Your words are magic! <3

[Hana the Suburban Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read “Cunning Words: A Grimoire of Tales and Magic” by Marshall W.S.L and I am so very glad that I did. I went into this, with no preconceived idea on what I would find and funnily enough, even if I did there's no way I could have guessed what would be within it's pages. This book is unlike any others that I've come across in my witchy readings.

Marshall is a master wordsmith. The stories he spins within this Grimoire will leave you wanting more (always a good sign in a book) and I'm not kidding when I say that I could FEEL the magick coming through the words.

What I liked
From the very first story I was drawn in. It felt like I was reading an old folk fairy tale from hundreds of years ago, think brothers Grimm or A Silver Bullet, and I was instantly in love. Marshall has managed to capture the magic that sits between saying too much, and not saying enough. Personally I believe that stories are the best way to teach, and that's exactly what Marshall has done. The wisdom within each story and the pupose behind each detail was phenomenally executed.

Marshall has included authors notes throughout, which were helpful and appreciated as they grounded the reader in Marshalls intent for each story, and reiterated safety and consent concerns where necessary.

I also appreciated the double spacing between paragraphs. It made it very easy to read and far less overwhelming in comaparison to most other books on the market. As a neurodivergent person, this was very helpful and meant I flew through the pages within 2 days.

Another thing I loved was the deliberate, but not forced, inclusion of gender diversity and of a trans story too! These are SO needed in this space.

Since it's a grimoire, I can imagine people expecting it to be filled spells from front to cover but the first part is filled with short folk stories that have inspired the spells found at the back of the book.


What I disliked
There isn’t much at all that I didn’t like in this book, except maybe that I had to read it as a PDF but because I loved it so much, I've just purchased the hard copy to be sent to me too!

If there was any criticism it would be that I wanted more and could have easily read double the amount of stories. When I get my own copy I will likely colour code and tab the stories that correlate with certain spells for ease of use too.


Do I recommend it?
Yes absolutely.


P.S. Stay tuned for Marshalls episode on the Witch Talks Podcast coming August 16 where we chatted deeply about this topic.

[Elhoim Leafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Important Piece of Magic You Need to Have.

"A Perfect blend between Rhymes, Folk, and Magic, And the new You-Need-To-Have Compendium of Witchcraft and Folk Cunning Magic for all practitioners. So easy to understand and more profound in personal practice.

CUNNING WORDS is a new favorite acquisition for the modern traditional witch. The author - Marshall WSL - doesn't waste words to explain and teach magic to each modern practitioner but also invites old-school witches to see with new and fresh eyes practice and find the final inspiration to enhance their approach to the next level.

The exercises are delightful, and the spells are marvelous, from the reading to the final execution. The omens appearing and surrounding your daily reading are more than enough to know you're going deeper into practice, clearly calling you for a longer time than expected.

Spells, archetypes, poems, sigils, and the introduction of magical characters and spirits as Our Mother in Black, and all kinds of suggestions to explore and nurture your practice, enrich your tradition, and find more spiritual support during your rituals."

― Elhoim Leafar. Dowser. Tarotist. Author of Dream Witchery.

[MerenwenNumesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way this book is written and it was very joyful to read. The only thing I would have wished for is a more detailed content list. For example the red book contains several spells that are not included in the list and there is no keywords section either. So if I am looking for a specific working through several of my books for inspiration I am probably going to overlook something that might be very useful.
Some of this book is purposefully written that way (referring to part 1 here) that's ok. The stuff is hidden in stories for the cunning, but the later parts I would have wished for an easier way to reference back to.

[Rae McEwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very, very good. Easy to read and well-written, Marshall lays out easy to understand and very engaging stories to explain British cosmological ideas that lay behind folk magic from that tiny and yet extremely diverse island. It does not focus specifically on English, Scottish, or Welsh folk magic in particular, but rather, it explains some of the unifying ideas found within the three different traditions. This book has been monumentally helpful to me in understanding my own practice on a deeper level. I highly recommend to anyone interested in folk magic.

[Anne Lydolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit, this book does use a different and refreshing way of presenting witchcraft. The author also seems to have a clear understanding of the subject and of respectful practice. The compendium at the back will be of great use to many people, I am sure.
I did however also find a lot of the stories and allegories at times frustratingly repetitive and a waste of time.
Kudos to the author for self publishing, that's a big feat. I do think the book could benefit from a pass through by an editor, but as it is, it is still an impressive book.

[Lauren Michele Rossell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cunning Words: A Grimoire of Takes and Magic proved to be an engaging read, maintaining my interest throughout. Marshall showcases exceptional writing talent, crafting a narrative that is both intriguing and inspiring. With well-developed characters and a captivating storyline, I highly recommend this book to those interested in esoteric knowledge. The author provides valuable insight into their practice and perspectives. I eagerly anticipate Marshall's forthcoming book, The Red Mother, expecting it to be equally impressive.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I listen to Southern Bramble podcast and heard about it there. Really great grimoire written in plain language. Sometimes the stories feel a little youth fiction-y but that also makes it easy to read and the points are made well. This was actually one of the first books I've made it all the way through (started many) in a couple years so that felt good. Also love the spells, I feel they are very practical for modern times and able to be adapted. Great work Marshall.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There once were 3 wise healers.
One with hair as red as blood
One as black as a raven
And one as fair as flax.
The first healed your wound,
The second took your pain
And the third made you whole again"

Absolutely love this book. I first discovered Marshall on TikTok as a Witchcraft creator and have been following him since then. I love the way he mixes tales and spells together in prose form.

My fav tales are:
Damned Devil's Berries
The Three Wise Healers
Our Mother in Black

[Megan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marshall did such an incredible job with this book! The weaving of the tales throughout was incredible, and I loved all of the thought, effort, and CUNNING that went into the creation of this gorgeous work of art.

Highly recommend this one if you are someone who practices witchcraft, and has a deep and abiding love of folklore, fairy tales, and ancient legends.

[Sabrina Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this, the narrative tales with the modern considerations were well put together and very imaginative. One of my new favorite magic books.

My only criticism is the first edition has a lot of editing mistakes, a couple that did make a few small sections hard to read at first (rereading made it clear, but it did cause an initial hiccup).

Can't wait to buy and read the next one!!

[Shannon Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is unlike any other book of spells or magic that I have ever read. I am a keen listener of their podcast Southern Bramble, which truly inspires me. This book offers an enchanting framework for magic unlike any other, the tales within evoke such strong emotions. A blessing to the world of witchcraft!

[Maria Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iba buscando un libro de cuentos cortos con la vibra de los que cuenta el árbol de "Un monstruo viene a verme" pero enfocado algo más gótico y de brujería para Halloween. Es literalmente todo lo que necesitaba. Cuentos cortos con lecciones de vida y que luego están todos conectados entre sí. Es perfecto.

[Keita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really nice read, I loved the connections between the stories, language, how things are explained - everything. To be honest inspired to dwell more into the practice as well.

I can see not only why it is hyped but also why people talk about it A LOT.

[Anaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for this. Thank you so very much.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new favorite witchcraft books that I know I'll be revisiting over and over again.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely magical. I loved the storytelling and cunning way of world building and sharing spells.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Marshall for your Cunning Words. A very different form of witchcraft to add to my journey. I will always have it in my library for future reference.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling magical book, weaving a mix of narratives and ritual directions in near perfect balance and harmony.

[Ben Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the stories within. A fantastic perspective on modern practice and a great inspiration for the beginner.

[Efren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book you should read

The first book you should read
I’ve read many of these kind of books and this by far the nicest with practical magic

[Semi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!! It’s and enthralling read, not only beautiful stories but also very useful 😉
I will definitely be reading more about this author.

[coco savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folklore that teaches you how to practice. My favorite type of grimoire.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book has so much heart <3

I read it in one sitting, and I can't wait to read The Red Mother.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable and magical

I appreciate the imaginative folktales mixed with useful incantations. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author
Thank you 🖤🖤🖤

[Margian Ghadimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever in love with the three foxes. 🦊🦊🦊🖤