Alive with Spirits: The Path and Practice of Animistic Witchcraft

by Althaea Sebastiani

A richly rewarding guide into a world filled with spirits, communion with the land, and a greater sense of belonging in the world.  

At the root of most spiritual traditions is the aspiration to realize one's the intimate connection with the land and the spiritual energies that inhabit it. This connection with the land and its spirits is perhaps nowhere more powerfully felt than in the various traditions of paganism and witchcraft. But the conditions of modern society strain that relationship, leaving us feeling disconnected to our craft and unable to feel that deep and vital connection.

In Alive with Spirits,  which is based on Althaea Sebastiani's popular online course, you’ll discover a path to fully embrace a world filled with spirits, communion with the land, and a greater sense of belonging in the world—a worldview known as animism. You’ll explore animism in a hands-on way that teaches through firsthand direct experiences. Through embodied exercises based in wholeness, you’ll learn to see the world more fully for what it is and to better understand your place in it. You’ll be invited
Alive with Spirits will provide you with a firm foundation from which to transform your witchcraft practice, rooting it into the land and in strong, respectful relationships with the spirits around you.

Genres: Witchcraft, Spirituality, Magick, Magic, Paganism, Witches, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2024

About the author

Althaea Sebastiani is a full-time spiritworker and religious educator whose work focuses on helping people navigate the realities of deep spiritual practice. Their work is punctuated by strong emphasis on doing the work and encourages learning through direct experience. A spirit-led witch with 25+ years’ experience, their personal practice is land-based and devotional, focused on being responsive to the spirits of the land wherever their travels take them and doing right by the Gods Who have called them into Their service.

Please visit their website to see all currently available witchcraft courses (many self-paced): https://www.ladyalthaea.com

For exclusive workshops, peer support groups, and private community of animist and polytheist witches check out The Winding Way: https://www.patreon.com/Althaea

Reviews

[Sarah Mericle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid foundation in Animism and very inclusive

This is the best book I’ve read on animism yet. It’s well written and incredibly inclusive of people from all different backgrounds, physical, and mental abilities. I burned through it because of how gripping it was. Having said that, I can’t wait to read it again and take it slower. It’s built like a course with lessons and exercises, exercises that I can’t wait to start incorporating into my practice more fully.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Liked

The first chapter of this book talks about what animism is. While the author uses information from Sir Edward Burnett Tylor's "Primitive Culture," she also points out the incredibly eurocentric issues of the book itself and how these issues continue to influence academic circles today which then get perpetuated within the witchcraft and pagan communities. I was very appreciative that Sebastiani thought to cover this aspect and that she made a point to stress that not all animism is the same. The animism of Native Americans will look different from the animism found in the Shinto of Japan or the Dreaming of Aboriginal Australians, though they may look similar from the casual observer.

The author and I have similar views on modern day witchcraft and the differences between it and folk magic. I very much appreciate that Sebastiani takes the time to talk about how the moniker of "witch" was used to oppress certain cultures and drive them out. Thus making it inappropriate to call every magical system witchcraft. It's definitely a title that you have to take on yourself and not put onto others.

Much of the book is about building the skill of witchcraft to be able to communicate with the spirits. Emphasizing that this is not a work one is born with, the same as being able to sing or paint. Even if you tend to be pretty good out the gate at these skills you still need to practice them to build familiarity and technique. In this way, there is a lot of emphasis put on building the skill of discernment, not only in, as the author says, "[pitting] the knowledge of courses and books (like this one!) against your personal experiences to find the truth they may-or may not-hold" but also in whether it really is a communication with a spirit or simply your imagination wanting to help you have an experience.

The first few chapters are about building your energy work skills which then go on to help you build to spirit communication and journeying. Sebastiani does not talk about energy in terms of masculine and feminine as many beginner books do, instead she talks about energy as pushing, pulling, or holding. She also talks about how energy and trance work is used in magical practice, whether you realize you're using them or not. Especially trance as we go in and out of different brain wave states (aka trance states) through out the day.

The rest of the book talks about spirits and being in community while continuing to encourage the practice of energy work and learning about your landscape. Community is a big aspect of animism, we are all connected in our actions whether we know each other or not. We are also individuals with our own wants and needs. The same goes for spirits. But spirits are everything, they have personhood, and the oak tree I talk to will not be the same as the oak tree you talk to. Just like when I talk with my co-worker from Mexico and my Sister-in-Law from Mexico, I am not talking to the same person. They both have the same cultural background, but different wants and needs and thoughts on different issues as well as different skills of their own. This is important to remember when connecting with more-than-human people. The importance of community is brought up throughout the book and how it's important to support your community; Sebastiani also makes mention of how this means allowing yourself to be supported and cared for as well.

She goes on to talk about three different kinds of spirits: those of the Land, house and building spirits, and man-made objects. Sebastiani is very big on "intention without actions means nothing in witchcraft nor in life." And I tend to agree. Here she is talking about actually being present physically to make a connection with the land, the river, the tree, etc. rather than trying to get them to choose a tarot card when they're thousands of miles away. Try as I may I won't be able to talk to the Nile river without actually going to Egypt. You need to physically connect to the land before you can spiritually connect to it. She gives easy to follow instructions on how to do that for those with and without physical limitations. The exercises are also written in several ways to give those of us with ADHD options.

I really enjoyed that the author made a point to say that the spirits are not here for us living humans. They are their own beings as I tried to iterate earlier. She talks about the guardian spirits of certain places, and how some areas have more spirits than others (with great tips on navigating these areas) depending on what has happened to that area. If I keep going I'm just going to end up rewriting the book. For the house and building spirits there's a lot of the same though due to their closer proximity there are other ways to connect with them. And man-made objects are given a stand as they are made of materials taken from the earth, so why wouldn't they have a spirit as well? Though new and harder to discern than those who have been around longer.

The chapter on journeying was very good in getting people started. Sebastiani talks about the why and how of it, what it has to do with communicating with spirits, as well as how the foundations set up earlier are built up to get you to the point of actually being able to journey forth yourself.

At the end of the book, the ongoing exercises have great conversation starting ideas for when you finally are able to get in touch with an amicable spirit as well as other exercises to continue working on or ones that can help you observe more of your environment. I also liked the tips on working with invasive plants.

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What I Didn’t Like

The take on the history of witchcraft, while good, wasn't as nuanced as I would have liked. There are many factors that went into the witch trials of the Early Modern Period in Europe and it's colonies. She just focuses on one of them, and while it's not the usual ones you see trying to victimize all women, it is still a narrow field of vision.

I also wasn't the biggest fan of Sebastiani claiming the spirits of deceased humans tend to be parasitic though she perhaps just meant when found in the "wilderness." The other aspects of her talking about deceased human spirits I did agree with

Unfortunately this book has no bibliography or cited sources. She talks about evidence showing connection to the natural world is better for our health, and while I have found scientific studies and whole researched books dedicated to this subject, she cites none. I would have also liked to see citations for the evidence of when we enter trance states, which again I know is out there. The book is meant to go off of her own lived experience, but these still need citations or it just feels like we're making up what should be scientific information. A librarian would have been happy to help with this I'm sure.

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Overall Thoughts

I think this would be a good book for anyone who wants to a walk their talk when it comes to living an animistic world view. It would also be good for beginners into spirit work. The vast majority of the book fit into my own practice and worldview to the point it felt as though she may have been spying on me. While the book is specifically on animism within a witchcraft practice, there is still room here for deities if you would so wish to continue working with them.

The exercises may feel unnecessary at first, or even too basic, but I would highly encourage working through them as you go through the book as the exercises after do build on these foundational skills. The author really wants you to have experiences and decide for yourself what works and what doesn't.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, practical, realistic, and helpful.

[Helen Blake · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alive with Spirits: The Path and Practice of Animistic Witchcraft by Althaea Sebastiani is an utter disappointment. Far from the profound and insightful guide it claims to be, this book is nothing but a shallow mishmash of clichéd ideas and poorly executed concepts. The author desperately tries to present herself as a deep thinker, but instead, she regurgitates dogmatic nonsense that borders on delusion.

One glaring issue is the author's blatant misunderstanding of fundamental occult principles. Take, for example, her confusing treatment of "will" versus "Will"—a basic and essential concept in occult studies that she mangles beyond recognition. This isn't just a minor oversight; it's a fundamental flaw that undermines the entire premise of her work. It's evident that Sebastiani has not only failed to grasp these concepts but may also be plagiarizing others' work without any genuine comprehension, further diminishing her credibility.

My decision to give this book a chance was influenced by prior negative experiences with the author on social media, where her arrogance and dismissive attitude were on full display. She’s often complaining on there about life as an endless series of crises and chaos. It's astonishing how someone who seemingly struggles to master their own magick expects to teach others effectively. Her portrayal of magick is not only ineffective but also misleading, leaving readers more confused and frustrated. Some people should have imposter syndrom to prevent them from publishing such embarassing drivel, but she seems to be more of a grifter than an actual teacher. Speaking of which, she’s often tearing down other teachers and authors to make herself look better. I thought perhaps this book would help me see another side of her or give me something useful that would redeem her in my eyes.

I was wrong, unfortunately. The book had as many red flags as her social media.

The content is repetitive, offering nothing new or valuable to those familiar with animistic witchcraft. Instead of providing practical guidance, Sebastiani recycles tired concepts without any original thought or meaningful application or depth. Finishing this book was a struggle, as each page felt like a step further away from any semblance of useful knowledge.

[C.J. Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book as a GoodReads giveaway, I was intrigued and couldn't help but enter. I was pleasantly surprised when I won and anxiously awaited my beautiful book. I loved this cover, so getting a print version was a treat.

The author does a fantastic job of being very thorough in explaining concepts that I've long wondered about and have searched many books for.

I loved how the book isn't one-sided and has definitions for many things so you can figure them out for yourself. It does not push one side on you but merely informs you so you can be sure you want to follow what feels right for you.

There is a line in the book that shocked me because it spoke to me, and I can tell you it's on page 38. "Or, perhaps you finally have words to describe your worldview." It was as if the author was saying how I've felt much of my life, and I don't know how she knew that, but it's true.

I've felt a certain way but couldn't explain it, but I found explanations in this book that felt whole to me. This book brought about acceptance and peace that I very much appreciated, and I encourage many to read regardless of their belief system because it will allow them to understand much more than they thought they could comprehend.

It is well-researched, very well-practiced, and an author with an incredible body of work.

I also took the time to seek out the author to validate the authority of what she wrote. I felt my research into the author was thorough, and she definitely has the authority to write this book and many others within this realm.

Bravo, I can't wait to read more and learn more.

[Jessica Nightshade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alive with Spirits by Althaea Sebastiani sets out to deepen our relationship with the land and spirits around us, yet it struggles to reach the depth one might expect from such an ambitious aim. Sebastiani introduces readers to the concepts of animistic witchcraft, with practical exercises intended to foster a sense of connection. The writing, however, often feels repetitive, as if stretched to fill the pages without fully developing new insights.

While Sebastiani’s approach could be valuable for beginners looking for basic introductions to animism, seasoned practitioners may find the content too simplistic, with many exercises lacking nuance. The book’s origins as an online course are also noticeable, as the material reads like a series of lessons without quite managing to translate into a cohesive book format.

For readers hoping for a more profound or detailed exploration of spirit work, Alive with Spirits may feel a bit thin. The intent behind Sebastiani’s work is clear, but the execution leaves much to be desired for those already familiar with animistic practices or who are looking for a deeper dive.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished listening all the way through once just so I know the contents. The narration is very smooth. It's a guidebook, meant to be experienced little by little. I found my mind wandering on tangents very often during the short reading. The hard copy will be useful for notation and quick reference. It's written pretty well although a little vague at times. I do like the presentation of this worldview and how we can live as part of this world while respecting it and the other inhabitants. The exercises include journaling, meditation, breathwork and visualization among others. Although the topic is serious there are lighthearted blurbs. I especially loved this line as I completely agree that it's a good reason to maintain focus.
"Focus is important so that only your ancestors show up, and not random deceased humans."

[Felicia Steenhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book as a whole is about animism as a worldview, but it connects the dots to a witches every day life in beautiful ways. The author does a great job of creating space for the reader to enter the work where they are and acknowledges how our culture and background influence our worldviews.

Each chapter has exercises to practice that build on each other as you continue through the book. I've completed the book but I've only made it through a little over half of the exercises as they increase in complexity. They are so thoughtful you really want to spend time on each one, and so practical spending that time is super easy to do.

I highly recommend this to anyone new to witchcraft, interested in animism, or just looking to inject some spirituality into their practice.

[Sylvia Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was a letdown. I couldn’t even finish it. The writing is vague, repetitive, and poorly structured, making it difficult to grasp her ideas on animistic witchcraft. The book jumps around without ever diving into anything meaningful, and the “embodied exercises” are either too basic or so vaguely described that they’re useless. There’s no real depth, no solid guidance, and it all felt more theoretical than based on experience. I wanted practical advice and inspiring insights, but instead, it came across as hollow and unconvincing. Save your time for something better.

[Notink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some copy paste notes as a comment to the author of how to the point this book is.
1."the concept of ghosts is largely embedded in a worldview dependent upon separation and maintaining so much of the pain that we try to dissolve and heal as animists."
2."there is encouragement from every angle of the dominant overculture to not make that progress, to choose oneself over community."
I'm currently reading it, so I'm sure there are more to it. Thank you 🙏

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a brilliant introduction to animism. It talks about the different areas and practices.

It is a gentle, soothing read. I listened to the audio version of this book and found the narrators voice to be a perfect fit for it.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an alright foundational book but there’s little unique to it and a lot of it feels very surface level.

[Cassandra Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! A great read for anyone looking into animism. The practices are very effective. Such a cool perspective.