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An Apostate's Guide to Witchcraft: Finding Freedom Through Magic
Join Moss Matthey as he recounts his uplifting journey from the confines of a fundamentalist Christian cult to an empowering Pagan coven. Weaving his lived experiences with a gentle introduction to Witchcraft, Moss explores what differentiates Paganism from cults and high-control religions, inviting you to shed oppressive spiritual experiences and find support.
Through his story of self-searching and religious liberation, Moss teaches that spiritual pursuits should be freeing and presents Paganism as one such path. He invites you to dip your toe in the waters of Witchcraft with a sampling of exercises and journal prompts inspired by Welsh and German traditions. A celebration of culture, authenticity, and spiritual recovery, this book will inspire you to question restrictive ideologies and develop a healthy practice of your own.
Through his story of self-searching and religious liberation, Moss teaches that spiritual pursuits should be freeing and presents Paganism as one such path. He invites you to dip your toe in the waters of Witchcraft with a sampling of exercises and journal prompts inspired by Welsh and German traditions. A celebration of culture, authenticity, and spiritual recovery, this book will inspire you to question restrictive ideologies and develop a healthy practice of your own.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 4, 2024
Such a Wonderful Book . Very inspiring as a Former Jehovahs Witness Turned Pagan . Very Timely! Thank you 😊
December 8, 2024
Once upon a time, Christendom labelled the Emperor Julian “the Apostate” because he reverted to Paganism. Nowadays, the title is applied to people who leave the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Moss Matthey left the JWs in order to live his truth as a gay man—as many others have left high control religious groups for the same reason.
Not long after he left, he discovered witchcraft, as well as a loving relationship and a community of Pagans and witches and occultists.
This joyous and life-affirming book is the account of his journey from fear and despair to the joy of living as his authentic self, as a gay man and as a witch.
It would make an excellent companion volume to my own book, “Changing Paths”.
“An Apostate’s Guide to Witchcraft” goes through different aspects of Paganism and witchcraft — Nature, community, coven, embodiment, the queerness of witchcraft, the nature of spirits and gods, and much more. Each chapter briefly unpacks and refutes what he was taught about the topic, and then explores Pagan and witches perspectives on it. “Finding freedom through magic” is an excellent subtitle for the book, as it is clear that the author has found freedom and joy in witchcraft.
The narrative is interspersed with gentle exercises designed to help the reader to discover the witch within. These were excellent and could benefit witches at any level of experience from beginner to advanced.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s so joyful. The exercises are great, the discussion of the differences between the fundamentalist worldview and witchcraft is great. I look forward to more of Moss’s books.
Moss Matthey left the JWs in order to live his truth as a gay man—as many others have left high control religious groups for the same reason.
Not long after he left, he discovered witchcraft, as well as a loving relationship and a community of Pagans and witches and occultists.
This joyous and life-affirming book is the account of his journey from fear and despair to the joy of living as his authentic self, as a gay man and as a witch.
It would make an excellent companion volume to my own book, “Changing Paths”.
“An Apostate’s Guide to Witchcraft” goes through different aspects of Paganism and witchcraft — Nature, community, coven, embodiment, the queerness of witchcraft, the nature of spirits and gods, and much more. Each chapter briefly unpacks and refutes what he was taught about the topic, and then explores Pagan and witches perspectives on it. “Finding freedom through magic” is an excellent subtitle for the book, as it is clear that the author has found freedom and joy in witchcraft.
The narrative is interspersed with gentle exercises designed to help the reader to discover the witch within. These were excellent and could benefit witches at any level of experience from beginner to advanced.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s so joyful. The exercises are great, the discussion of the differences between the fundamentalist worldview and witchcraft is great. I look forward to more of Moss’s books.
February 1, 2025
An inspiring and hopeful book for anyone leaving high-control religion and looking for a more magical path.
November 19, 2024
An absolute must read for anyone embarking on the often lonely road leading out of high-control religious groups. I also appreciate that the author doesn’t try to push witchcraft on the reader, but rather encourages the reader to try many different paths. This is exactly how survivors of high-control groups should encourage others, to freedom and exploration and joy, not to more doctrines and figurative chains. A truly lovely and loving read.
November 14, 2024
Apostasy. The abandonment of a religious belief. An antiquated but provocative word. Moss Matthey is a proud apostate; someone who has renounced a faith. In his case, a Christian cult that dominated his childhood, and risked alienating him from friends and family. Despite this, he writes about his experiences with generosity and forgiveness. His book, An Apostate’s Guide to Witchcraft, is a compassionate reflection on the ways that cults oppress their members, and a celebration of the liberating power of contemporary Witchcraft. No individuals are accused or blamed; he discusses the dangers of cultic thought, and advocates for Witchcraft as a solution.
As I was reading, I was struck by how beautiful and succinct his writing style is. It’s hardly surprising. Matthey is now a practitioner of Bardic Witchcraft, a pathway that draws inspiration from the Welsh Bardic tradition and its literature. He quotes the work of Mhara Starling (the High Priestess of his coven, who wrote the book’s forward), and also that of Kristoffer Hughes, who has researched and reflected upon the early Welsh bardic tradition, and its contribution to neopagan worldviews. Matthey takes his inspiration from them throughout, as he guides the recovering cultist through the process of liberation from rigid dogma.
For Matthey, witchcraft was the pathway to reclaiming his sense of self, and his sense of joy. The book provides a series of exercises that the reader can explore to access this freedom and happiness for themselves. They are deceptively simple, and as is often the way with Witchcraft, they work both within and without: while the recovering cultist will find much rich material to explore, the more casual reader will also find value in the reflective and personal journey undertaken.
I found the exploration of the social impact of Witchcraft particularly refreshing; there is a whole chapter on “Coven and Community”. Given the high value placed on self-determination in modern pagan practices it can be easy to overlook how strong the community has become. Contemporary pagans are gathering more and more, whether in the growing frequency of private groups, groves and covens, or in increasingly larger numbers at the various festivals, camps and conferences that take place in different parts of the world. Matthey talks about the importance of these gatherings for the larger community, but also a route to healing the escape a cult environment can find community once more.
“The found family of the Craft can be as powerful as any magic you might work.” P. 198
Matthey also devotes several chapters to unpicking the strands of indoctrination thread at a time. Most notably in his chapters on The Queerness of Witchcraft and Reclaiming the Devil he examines how cults demonise concepts in order to control them.
“Witchcraft was the thing others accused you of. The historic Witch lived at the end of a pointed finger.”
He deconstruction of these cult tactics, and the reclamation of the concept of the Devil and the status of the LGBTQIA+ community makes an important statement about the value of Witchcraft as an active, political (as well as spiritual) force in the world today.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Matthey has a warmth and good humour in his writing, and he has an ability to speak about complex topics in an engaging way.
As I was reading, I was struck by how beautiful and succinct his writing style is. It’s hardly surprising. Matthey is now a practitioner of Bardic Witchcraft, a pathway that draws inspiration from the Welsh Bardic tradition and its literature. He quotes the work of Mhara Starling (the High Priestess of his coven, who wrote the book’s forward), and also that of Kristoffer Hughes, who has researched and reflected upon the early Welsh bardic tradition, and its contribution to neopagan worldviews. Matthey takes his inspiration from them throughout, as he guides the recovering cultist through the process of liberation from rigid dogma.
For Matthey, witchcraft was the pathway to reclaiming his sense of self, and his sense of joy. The book provides a series of exercises that the reader can explore to access this freedom and happiness for themselves. They are deceptively simple, and as is often the way with Witchcraft, they work both within and without: while the recovering cultist will find much rich material to explore, the more casual reader will also find value in the reflective and personal journey undertaken.
I found the exploration of the social impact of Witchcraft particularly refreshing; there is a whole chapter on “Coven and Community”. Given the high value placed on self-determination in modern pagan practices it can be easy to overlook how strong the community has become. Contemporary pagans are gathering more and more, whether in the growing frequency of private groups, groves and covens, or in increasingly larger numbers at the various festivals, camps and conferences that take place in different parts of the world. Matthey talks about the importance of these gatherings for the larger community, but also a route to healing the escape a cult environment can find community once more.
“The found family of the Craft can be as powerful as any magic you might work.” P. 198
Matthey also devotes several chapters to unpicking the strands of indoctrination thread at a time. Most notably in his chapters on The Queerness of Witchcraft and Reclaiming the Devil he examines how cults demonise concepts in order to control them.
“Witchcraft was the thing others accused you of. The historic Witch lived at the end of a pointed finger.”
He deconstruction of these cult tactics, and the reclamation of the concept of the Devil and the status of the LGBTQIA+ community makes an important statement about the value of Witchcraft as an active, political (as well as spiritual) force in the world today.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Matthey has a warmth and good humour in his writing, and he has an ability to speak about complex topics in an engaging way.
September 3, 2026
I wasn't quite sure what I was going to make of An Apostate's Guide to Witchcraft, and that uncertainty turned out to be part of what I enjoyed about it. Moss Matthey isn't interested in handing the reader another ready-made witchcraft tradition and asking them to adopt it wholesale. The emphasis is on examining what you've inherited, deciding what still belongs in your life, and consciously building a magical practice that reflects who you actually are. After watching witchcraft spend decades arguing about the correct way to practice, I found that wonderfully refreshing.
What particularly interested me was the idea of apostasy itself as something potentially magical. Leaving a religion or inherited worldview can create an empty space, and Matthey treats that space as somewhere new things can be planted rather than merely as a wound left behind. The discussions of religious baggage, deconstruction, personal authority and reclaiming spiritual practices gave the magical material more weight than I expected. There are exercises and rituals throughout, but they aren't presented as another set of rules to replace the ones you've discarded. They are tools for figuring out what you believe, what you want your practice to accomplish, and what freedom might actually look like for you.
I've watched generations of witches define themselves against whatever came before them, so I appreciated that this book understands rejection isn't necessarily the end of spiritual development. Sometimes it's the beginning of doing the difficult work of choosing for yourself. My own path into witchcraft was formed in a very different time and under different circumstances, yet I still found myself thinking about old assumptions I've carried longer than I realized. I love when a younger writer can make me examine something from an angle I wouldn't naturally have chosen for myself. Moss Matthey managed that more than once.
What particularly interested me was the idea of apostasy itself as something potentially magical. Leaving a religion or inherited worldview can create an empty space, and Matthey treats that space as somewhere new things can be planted rather than merely as a wound left behind. The discussions of religious baggage, deconstruction, personal authority and reclaiming spiritual practices gave the magical material more weight than I expected. There are exercises and rituals throughout, but they aren't presented as another set of rules to replace the ones you've discarded. They are tools for figuring out what you believe, what you want your practice to accomplish, and what freedom might actually look like for you.
I've watched generations of witches define themselves against whatever came before them, so I appreciated that this book understands rejection isn't necessarily the end of spiritual development. Sometimes it's the beginning of doing the difficult work of choosing for yourself. My own path into witchcraft was formed in a very different time and under different circumstances, yet I still found myself thinking about old assumptions I've carried longer than I realized. I love when a younger writer can make me examine something from an angle I wouldn't naturally have chosen for myself. Moss Matthey managed that more than once.
November 27, 2024
As someone who left the church in the 1990s to study an eclectic variety of world philosophies and practices in an effort to learn how to discern my own beliefs apart from those that had been spoon-fed to me under shame and fear, I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw it.
Well done, Mr. Matthey.
You offer plenty of contrast between the fundamentalist experience as a child through young adult life and an exploration of the pagan path as an adult with just the right amount of emphasis on freedom of choice, simple introductory explanations, history and culture, and practical examples. There is an excellent bibliography for follow-up reading and resources. And there were more than a few lines and pages highlighted in my copy that were perfectly worded so as to become future references themselves.
Thank you for having the courage to share your story.
This book is good for those new to or curious about an occult, pagan, or esoteric spiritual practice, witchcraft in particular, with a focus on Welsh traditions, bardic witchcraft, recovery from spiritual trauma due to cult abuses, and queer perspective.
Well done, Mr. Matthey.
You offer plenty of contrast between the fundamentalist experience as a child through young adult life and an exploration of the pagan path as an adult with just the right amount of emphasis on freedom of choice, simple introductory explanations, history and culture, and practical examples. There is an excellent bibliography for follow-up reading and resources. And there were more than a few lines and pages highlighted in my copy that were perfectly worded so as to become future references themselves.
Thank you for having the courage to share your story.
This book is good for those new to or curious about an occult, pagan, or esoteric spiritual practice, witchcraft in particular, with a focus on Welsh traditions, bardic witchcraft, recovery from spiritual trauma due to cult abuses, and queer perspective.
September 27, 2024
Moss Matthey skillfully shares his experience leaving a high-control fundamentalist Christian cult and finding freedom in witchcraft in this book. He discusses the things that drew him to witchcraft and how they differed from his religious upbringing, often bringing healing to past religious trauma in the process.
Matthey's discussion of witchcraft is approachable and he offers a series of exercises for readers who are interested in exploring whether witchcraft might provide a new spiritual home for themselves. This book is well worth the read.
Matthey's discussion of witchcraft is approachable and he offers a series of exercises for readers who are interested in exploring whether witchcraft might provide a new spiritual home for themselves. This book is well worth the read.
October 19, 2024
This was such a touching, joyful read. Following the author's journey from fundamentalist cult to witchcraft made the whole introduction to the latter very much an honest, personal experience. I could relate to everything he said about the ethics of magic, the culture and the community, and I especially loved the parts about the spirit of narrative. Much worth the read.
November 24, 2024
Excellent book by Moss Matthey, describing his experience with a fundamentalist Christian cult, and how he managed to break free. He offers readers suggestions on how they may also escape these oppressive groups. Evangelical, fundamentalist Christianity is rife with oppressive tactics and cult behavior, and this book is a must have for those seeking to escape.
March 29, 2025
Good exercises, and an interesting switch in terms of religion. I felt like there were parts that he could have expanded on, like more about the way he interacted with people and non witchcraft things after leaving. The last few sections were my favorite, the beginning felt like it was dedicated to justifying its existence.
August 5, 2026
It was a slow and thoughtful read. There are still some questions I have regarding certain parts. (Inscriptions with no translation, and not in any language I could find.) A footnote explaining a meaning would suffice.
Overall I feel like I learned more about the author and their path. I do not yet know who I will hand this book off to, but I will keep it until I find the right person.
Overall I feel like I learned more about the author and their path. I do not yet know who I will hand this book off to, but I will keep it until I find the right person.
March 9, 2025
A very relatable perspective for anyone who is or has been in systems of control or unable to be fully and authentically themselves for any reason. The author is compassionate, honest, and vulnerable with their own lived experiences.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews