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Before You Cast a Spell: Understanding the Power of Magic: Understanding Power Before You Use It by Carl McColman (15-Oct-2003) Paperback
This book provides a user-friendly introduction to the spirituality of magic. Written for the person newly interested in magic, as well as the veteran Witch, it helps the reader discover the power and beauty of magic through eternal values such as love, compassion, hope, trust, and practicality. This is not a book full of spells or lists of magical ingredients. Rather, it reveals the principles of magical energy and power, helping the reader to understand what makes magic work and why. After mastering the spiritual principle, the reader will be empowered not only to work effective spells, but to also find happiness and joy-with or without a spell. With a warm, friendly, and positive tone, Before You Cast a Spell invites readers to think carefully and make their own thoughtful decisions about the role of magic in their lives.
Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
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About the author
Carl McColman
37 books112 followersCarl McColman writes about the spiritual life, covering topics like mysticism (The Big Book of Christian Mysticism), contemplative prayer (Answering the Contemplative Call), monastic spirituality (Befriending Silence), Celtic traditions (An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom), Paganism (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism), and Wicca (When Someone You Love is Wiccan).
He is also a blogger (www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman) and podcaster(www.encounteringsilence.com) .
Why did Carl McColman, a Catholic author, write books about Paganism? Read the answer here: www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/20...
He is also a blogger (www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman) and podcaster(www.encounteringsilence.com) .
Why did Carl McColman, a Catholic author, write books about Paganism? Read the answer here: www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/20...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 5, 2019
This book was very highly recommended by a YouTube witch I'm fond of. She couldn't seem to say enough good things about it, so I decided to get it. I'm sorry I did...
Said YouTube witch does not consider herself Wiccan and has even said she doesn't know much about Wicca. This was part of why I'd thought she'd be recommending this book as a general pagan witch. Thing is, this book is written by a Wiccan. He doesn't straight up tell you as much, but by the time you're about 100 pages in, he's made it pretty obvious that he's Wiccan and a very strict one. I'm a little confused why she liked it so much.
This book seems to imply that you can't truly be successful unless you're in a coven or at least have a physical teacher. I've found that other books that have made such implications also have authors that are super preachy like this one.
I'm also pretty sure the "name brand witch" he snarks off about was Silver Ravenwolf. Seems really petty to mention her like that if he didn't have the guts to say her name. If he felt that way, he could've found a way to work a similar story into his book without the whole "calling out" but also being too chicken to name names thing. I have a neutral attitude about SRW, so don't misunderstand and think I'm defending her. Even if I disliked her I'd still think that was petty.
Way to go on for 200 or so pages and not actually say anything, too. This book is about Wiccan dogma and not actually about "teaching a man to fish" at all.
I wasted my money.
Said YouTube witch does not consider herself Wiccan and has even said she doesn't know much about Wicca. This was part of why I'd thought she'd be recommending this book as a general pagan witch. Thing is, this book is written by a Wiccan. He doesn't straight up tell you as much, but by the time you're about 100 pages in, he's made it pretty obvious that he's Wiccan and a very strict one. I'm a little confused why she liked it so much.
This book seems to imply that you can't truly be successful unless you're in a coven or at least have a physical teacher. I've found that other books that have made such implications also have authors that are super preachy like this one.
I'm also pretty sure the "name brand witch" he snarks off about was Silver Ravenwolf. Seems really petty to mention her like that if he didn't have the guts to say her name. If he felt that way, he could've found a way to work a similar story into his book without the whole "calling out" but also being too chicken to name names thing. I have a neutral attitude about SRW, so don't misunderstand and think I'm defending her. Even if I disliked her I'd still think that was petty.
Way to go on for 200 or so pages and not actually say anything, too. This book is about Wiccan dogma and not actually about "teaching a man to fish" at all.
I wasted my money.
April 25, 2021
Firstly, this is written from a completely Wiccan view. If you don't particularly care for the religion maybe you should skip this one. Nonetheless there are still good things to take from this book.
There's a whole question of ethics in magical work that should be useful for most beginners but when you reach around the middle of the book it starts turning into a judgemental rant.
This author clearly despises everything that is considered "left path" work, ranting about its uselessness much like a Catholic priest rambling on about sin.
Overall: I do recommend reading it until the end of chapter 4 if you're not interested in the overly preachy or wiccan side of things, and especially if you're a secular practitioner.
The book has some good points that one should consider when starting their magickal practices.
There's a whole question of ethics in magical work that should be useful for most beginners but when you reach around the middle of the book it starts turning into a judgemental rant.
This author clearly despises everything that is considered "left path" work, ranting about its uselessness much like a Catholic priest rambling on about sin.
Overall: I do recommend reading it until the end of chapter 4 if you're not interested in the overly preachy or wiccan side of things, and especially if you're a secular practitioner.
The book has some good points that one should consider when starting their magickal practices.
August 16, 2019
The only time I would pick this book up, is when I want to talk myself out of casting a spell. Because literally that is the only message of this book, it goes on and on in this holier then thou manner, telling you that there is essentially never any possible justification for you to work magic of any kind ever. And if you will, by some miracle find a proper justification for your work, then we’ll, too bad, because you will never be trained enough to achieve any results anyway (unless you will train under a watchful eye of many different teachers for many many many years).
If you like to be moralised on every page, then by all means go for it. If not, don’t waste your time.
If you like to be moralised on every page, then by all means go for it. If not, don’t waste your time.
December 20, 2014
This is the third time I've read this book and each time I get more out of it. It's more about spirituality and being authentic than "casting spells." The most important thing is to know yourself, your motives, your strengths, morality, and right and wrong. It's about honoring the earth, others, and yourself. Above all, its about living an ethical life, harming no one, and bettering yourself on a spiritual level. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2024
I'd give this 0 stars, if I could.
I absolutely hated this book. Thankfully, it's twenty years old and I don't think it's very popular anymore. The reason I read it? It was recommended by a YouTuber as being influential for her practice and a good book for beginners. I am not a beginner, by any stretch, but it's always helpful to have titles on hand to recommend to people who are.
So, I bought the book. And I regret wasting a single cent and my precious time on this nonsense. I knew, going in, that the author took a Wiccan slant. I was fully prepared to ignore those parts. Except, "those parts" equaled the entire book! I thought I was getting a book on prepping for spellwork and learning about grounding and centering and actual meditation techniques, a little like Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn. Nope. Nothing. He's quite clear about why he hates spellbooks and that his book isn't going to teach you how to do magic. For that, he insists that you find a teacher because you can't learn how to do magic from a book.
If he's not teaching you about spellwork or meditation, what is it about, you may ask? "It has been my goal to give you a solid foundation in the ethics and values of magic and spirituality before you cast a spell." And for 190 pages all he does is regurgitate the Wiccan Rede and Threefold Law and criticize anyone who doesn't operate within that magical thinking. And then, toward the end, he throws in a chapter about chakra work. There's also a heavy emphasis on karma. I'm impressed he managed to hit all of the New Age spiritual buzzwords in one book.
He also ranted for ten pages about a well-known Wiccan priestess (whom he refused to name) who cracked a joke about a potato and using it as part of a revenge spell on an ex-boyfriend. Ten pages! He went over the various reasons why she would make such a joke in the first place (I would also like to point out that he wasn't even at the conference where the joke was made—he heard about it AFTER the fact and was still offended enough to bitch for ten pages!) and it boiled down to "baneful magic is BAD! BAD WITCH!" and that he's afraid jokes like that are going to a) make people not take magic seriously or b) that the mindless townsfolk will take it TOO seriously and they're going to start burning witches again in the town square. Give me a break.
Not everyone is comfortable with baneful magic. I get it. He was coming at this from a Wiccan perspective, I get that too. But he literally contradicted himself within the pages, which undermines everything else he had to say. On page 76, he writes that there are "two hard-core, no-exceptions rules that govern spellcraft" — the Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law. Ten pages later, on page 86, he backtracks and says, "this is not meant to be 'The One Ultimate Truth of Magical Ethics'" and that "I do not presume to speak for every tradition of Wicca or Witchcraft, or every possible lineage or tradition of Paganism." And yet, he spent the entire book shitting on anyone whose values don't align with his, anyone who is remotely interested in baneful magic, or anyone who doesn't feel like working with a deity.
Oh, and as of 2024, on his own website, he says he's a "practicing Christian." He mentioned in the book that he was brought up in the Christian faith before he presumably wandered off onto a Wiccan path for a while. Normally, someone's religious/spiritual beliefs don't interest me but considering the fact he was SO self-righteous throughout the book, to find he's abandoned his beloved Wiccan ways that he spent 190 pages telling you you needed to join/adhere to? If there had been anything beneficial to this book, that would have undone it. I believe in practicing what you preach, and yes, people can change and interests can change. But maybe don't shit all over people outside of your tradition? Because now he looks like even more of a hypocrite.
I absolutely hated this book. Thankfully, it's twenty years old and I don't think it's very popular anymore. The reason I read it? It was recommended by a YouTuber as being influential for her practice and a good book for beginners. I am not a beginner, by any stretch, but it's always helpful to have titles on hand to recommend to people who are.
So, I bought the book. And I regret wasting a single cent and my precious time on this nonsense. I knew, going in, that the author took a Wiccan slant. I was fully prepared to ignore those parts. Except, "those parts" equaled the entire book! I thought I was getting a book on prepping for spellwork and learning about grounding and centering and actual meditation techniques, a little like Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn. Nope. Nothing. He's quite clear about why he hates spellbooks and that his book isn't going to teach you how to do magic. For that, he insists that you find a teacher because you can't learn how to do magic from a book.
If he's not teaching you about spellwork or meditation, what is it about, you may ask? "It has been my goal to give you a solid foundation in the ethics and values of magic and spirituality before you cast a spell." And for 190 pages all he does is regurgitate the Wiccan Rede and Threefold Law and criticize anyone who doesn't operate within that magical thinking. And then, toward the end, he throws in a chapter about chakra work. There's also a heavy emphasis on karma. I'm impressed he managed to hit all of the New Age spiritual buzzwords in one book.
He also ranted for ten pages about a well-known Wiccan priestess (whom he refused to name) who cracked a joke about a potato and using it as part of a revenge spell on an ex-boyfriend. Ten pages! He went over the various reasons why she would make such a joke in the first place (I would also like to point out that he wasn't even at the conference where the joke was made—he heard about it AFTER the fact and was still offended enough to bitch for ten pages!) and it boiled down to "baneful magic is BAD! BAD WITCH!" and that he's afraid jokes like that are going to a) make people not take magic seriously or b) that the mindless townsfolk will take it TOO seriously and they're going to start burning witches again in the town square. Give me a break.
Not everyone is comfortable with baneful magic. I get it. He was coming at this from a Wiccan perspective, I get that too. But he literally contradicted himself within the pages, which undermines everything else he had to say. On page 76, he writes that there are "two hard-core, no-exceptions rules that govern spellcraft" — the Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law. Ten pages later, on page 86, he backtracks and says, "this is not meant to be 'The One Ultimate Truth of Magical Ethics'" and that "I do not presume to speak for every tradition of Wicca or Witchcraft, or every possible lineage or tradition of Paganism." And yet, he spent the entire book shitting on anyone whose values don't align with his, anyone who is remotely interested in baneful magic, or anyone who doesn't feel like working with a deity.
Oh, and as of 2024, on his own website, he says he's a "practicing Christian." He mentioned in the book that he was brought up in the Christian faith before he presumably wandered off onto a Wiccan path for a while. Normally, someone's religious/spiritual beliefs don't interest me but considering the fact he was SO self-righteous throughout the book, to find he's abandoned his beloved Wiccan ways that he spent 190 pages telling you you needed to join/adhere to? If there had been anything beneficial to this book, that would have undone it. I believe in practicing what you preach, and yes, people can change and interests can change. But maybe don't shit all over people outside of your tradition? Because now he looks like even more of a hypocrite.
October 31, 2025
A great book for beginners in Witchcraft!
In this book, the author doesn't teach you how to cast a spell or how to create your own spells, or how to do magic, nor he doesn't share with you a bunch of spells for beginners.
Instead, he teaches you what magic really is and what it isn't, and also about the importance of ethics when it comes to practice Witchcraft and use magical power, and so on.
A must-read for all beginners in Witchcraft. And if you're not a beginner, still it's a book worth reading as well.
In this book, the author doesn't teach you how to cast a spell or how to create your own spells, or how to do magic, nor he doesn't share with you a bunch of spells for beginners.
Instead, he teaches you what magic really is and what it isn't, and also about the importance of ethics when it comes to practice Witchcraft and use magical power, and so on.
A must-read for all beginners in Witchcraft. And if you're not a beginner, still it's a book worth reading as well.
January 10, 2021
half baked discussion of ethics of magickal workings that /really/ doesn’t want you to cast any sort of spell. as usual, is focused on Wicca and takes Wiccan teachings as the only legitimate practice while also incorporating a shallow understanding of chakras? the further i got in the more unbearable it was because it veers into some major victim blaming territory.
2 stars because the ethics section isn’t bad — i disagree, but that doesn’t make it bad
2 stars because the ethics section isn’t bad — i disagree, but that doesn’t make it bad
May 2, 2023
A rather pointless read unless you like evangelising wiccans. Not written by a witch or someone who practices the craft at all. I considered throwing the book out after stumbling across several spelling mistakes, obviously the editor and proof reader couldn't be bothered with the book either. I shall however, keep it on my shelf for when I need a laugh.
September 24, 2022
This is a great book for beginner witches; however, this is very heavily influenced by Wiccan religion and is very one sided. It’s a great reminder of the repercussions one can/may receive if you don’t take accountability for the choices/spells that are done. Overall it was a very interesting read.
June 8, 2021
Great book
It has a wonderful message. It has a habit of over-explaining at times, but it is a wonderful advocate for ethics and personal growth in magical practice.
It has a wonderful message. It has a habit of over-explaining at times, but it is a wonderful advocate for ethics and personal growth in magical practice.
April 2, 2025
I’m glad I got this free because it was terrible.
May 11, 2019
McColeman is on point with all his statements and teachings in regards to ethics in witchcraft. Which I agree with 110% . However his writing can get a bit tedious, where he repeats certain points overrrr and overrrrr again. He is aware of this and apologises (???)...he makes the reader feel like he's talking to a child. On one hand it makes the book REALLLLYYYY easy and quick to read and understand, while providing fundamental key points before venturing into the world of witchcraft. On the other hand his tone/writing is so basic that I found myself feeling like I'm reading a childs book. All in all the information in INVALUABLE!!!! I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! so when you read this book, and this should be the FRIST BOOK ON WITCHCRAFT you ever read. Keep in mind that even though his tone is a bit juvenile, the information and wisdom he provides is truely the foundation of all foundations in witchcraft! So please don't stop reading! Get through it as the basics you learn here will determine if you succeeded or fail on your journey! Not even exaggerating!!!...once you read it you'll understand.
Ps: Alot of people keep saying its only for beginners, I beg to differ as when you look around the witches community you have people doing all sorts of dodgy stuff and calling it part of the craft (hexes, curses, revenge etc) and that's probably because they didn't read this book or something similar to break it down that actually....things/spells/intentions that harm someone else are not part of the true, good power magick provides and it will come back threefold. Just because someones done you wrong and you go to take revenge, doesnt mean the threefold rule doesn't apply!
Ps: Alot of people keep saying its only for beginners, I beg to differ as when you look around the witches community you have people doing all sorts of dodgy stuff and calling it part of the craft (hexes, curses, revenge etc) and that's probably because they didn't read this book or something similar to break it down that actually....things/spells/intentions that harm someone else are not part of the true, good power magick provides and it will come back threefold. Just because someones done you wrong and you go to take revenge, doesnt mean the threefold rule doesn't apply!
June 8, 2023
It’s been a few months since I read this and I can safely say that it didn’t leave me anything.
Nothing worth remembering when it comes to witchcraft and just a lot of Wiccan rhetoric, which is not inherently bad, just not the path I’m interested in.
I don’t like books that consider the three-fold-law as universal, for example. Also I remember that it spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to talk you out of doing spells but... isn’t it the point of witchcraft? Using your own energy to modify the energy around you to produce benefits?
I thought this was going to be an introduction to witchcraft, everything you need to consider and learn before you start spellwork, but I think there’s a lot more valid books out there that do the job better.
I kinda want to lower the rating down to 2 stars because I honestly don’t think it left me any kind of teaching. However if I gave it 3 stars at the time, right after finishing it, I guess I had a reason for it.
UPDATE 2023
Nah whatever I’ll lower the rate to two stars. It’s pointless to keep it to three when I literally remember nothing from this book.
Nothing worth remembering when it comes to witchcraft and just a lot of Wiccan rhetoric, which is not inherently bad, just not the path I’m interested in.
I don’t like books that consider the three-fold-law as universal, for example. Also I remember that it spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to talk you out of doing spells but... isn’t it the point of witchcraft? Using your own energy to modify the energy around you to produce benefits?
I thought this was going to be an introduction to witchcraft, everything you need to consider and learn before you start spellwork, but I think there’s a lot more valid books out there that do the job better.
I kinda want to lower the rating down to 2 stars because I honestly don’t think it left me any kind of teaching. However if I gave it 3 stars at the time, right after finishing it, I guess I had a reason for it.
UPDATE 2023
Nah whatever I’ll lower the rate to two stars. It’s pointless to keep it to three when I literally remember nothing from this book.
January 4, 2012
This is a good book to read if you are just starting to learn about magic. It is even good as a reminder for those who have been following The Craft for a while, and need a reminder of the "first steps" that should be undertaken when beginning.
The author does push for someone to find a teacher, rather than going at the Craft solo, but also provides a concise list of books to look into before going after the "ready-made" spell books.
The author does push for someone to find a teacher, rather than going at the Craft solo, but also provides a concise list of books to look into before going after the "ready-made" spell books.
May 20, 2023
Nah
Wow. I really didn’t like this book. There was too much discussion about what other writers and practitioners do that this author dislikes—how did that teach me anything? Read two chapters of Matt Auryn’s book Psychic Witch and you’ll learn oodles more. Don’t waste your money like I did.
Wow. I really didn’t like this book. There was too much discussion about what other writers and practitioners do that this author dislikes—how did that teach me anything? Read two chapters of Matt Auryn’s book Psychic Witch and you’ll learn oodles more. Don’t waste your money like I did.
looks-interesting-spirituality
July 19, 2011Found through review at Magickware's Book Reviews.
August 14, 2013
A good study in ethics.
February 8, 2008
Only for beginners.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews