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Discovering Christian Witchcraft: A Beginner's Guide for Everyday Practice
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live may be one of the most frequently quoted verses against the budding community of a group that calls themselves Christian witches. But what if there was more to the verse than meets the eye?
In the age of deconstruction and new methods of discovering one’s personal spirituality, Christians dissatisfied with the current state of their religion are looking to make a change, whether from within or without the church. In the words of Jurgen Moltmann in his work, The Crucified God, these believers face a crisis of identity and relevance, struggling to understand how they can hold onto their faith, their God, in a way that doesn’t further damage society per the archaic values of many of their religious institutions.
Sara Raztresen and Emyle D. Prata proposes a new method of understanding public faith and personal spirituality with a deep dive into the world of Christian witchcraft—everything from folk traditions and spellwork basics to critical looks at the Bible, its history, and its leading figures that show the powerful magic hidden within. This book aims to give readers the tools to unite Christian religion with personal witchcraft practice, with a defense of the craft within Christian contexts, a guide to discovering one’s own personal walk with God, and plenty of interactive pages to work through their newfound magical style.
In the age of deconstruction and new methods of discovering one’s personal spirituality, Christians dissatisfied with the current state of their religion are looking to make a change, whether from within or without the church. In the words of Jurgen Moltmann in his work, The Crucified God, these believers face a crisis of identity and relevance, struggling to understand how they can hold onto their faith, their God, in a way that doesn’t further damage society per the archaic values of many of their religious institutions.
Sara Raztresen and Emyle D. Prata proposes a new method of understanding public faith and personal spirituality with a deep dive into the world of Christian witchcraft—everything from folk traditions and spellwork basics to critical looks at the Bible, its history, and its leading figures that show the powerful magic hidden within. This book aims to give readers the tools to unite Christian religion with personal witchcraft practice, with a defense of the craft within Christian contexts, a guide to discovering one’s own personal walk with God, and plenty of interactive pages to work through their newfound magical style.
297 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2024
120 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Sara Raztresen
11 books73 followersSara Raztresen is a Slovenian-American author dealing in the surreal--from magical realism to high fantasy, with a little dusting of magical topics in her nonfiction, as well. Themes of religion, romance, and the horrors of everyday life especially interest her, and she believes genre lines were meant to be bent and broken. She draws on the culture and folklore of her heritage and reimagines them in her works.
She's a graduate of the Popular Fiction and Publishing in Emerson's MFA program (Class of 2020), and her published works include "The Gray Mile" in Waxing & Waning: A Literary Magazine, "Čarovnica" in The Paragon Echo: A Journal of Literary Nonfiction, several short works in Rhode Island College's Shoreline, and her first novel, Quarantined, which she published as a high school graduation project.
She's a graduate of the Popular Fiction and Publishing in Emerson's MFA program (Class of 2020), and her published works include "The Gray Mile" in Waxing & Waning: A Literary Magazine, "Čarovnica" in The Paragon Echo: A Journal of Literary Nonfiction, several short works in Rhode Island College's Shoreline, and her first novel, Quarantined, which she published as a high school graduation project.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 18, 2024
This was a pretty great introduction into the world of Christian Witchcraft.
As someone who identifies as a Christian but is totally against Evangelicalism, I have been sort of floating through my spiritual life without any sense of purpose or direction. I wanted to be able to have a spiritual connection, but I didn't want a connection with anyone (or anything) that went against my morals.
This book, however, is definitely an eye opener. Everything felt so truthful and honest. Like I had finally found that perfect balance between what I believe spiritually and what I believe physically. I found that I already do a lot of the witchy practices mentioned in the book, and I was introduced to many more things that I can do to strengthen my relationship with the Divine.
More than anything, this book introduced me to the idea that there are other non-Evangelical Christians out there like me who just want to be able to have a relationship with God without all of the political upheaval that is rampant in many churches. This book was truly like a breath of fresh, divine air.
As someone who identifies as a Christian but is totally against Evangelicalism, I have been sort of floating through my spiritual life without any sense of purpose or direction. I wanted to be able to have a spiritual connection, but I didn't want a connection with anyone (or anything) that went against my morals.
This book, however, is definitely an eye opener. Everything felt so truthful and honest. Like I had finally found that perfect balance between what I believe spiritually and what I believe physically. I found that I already do a lot of the witchy practices mentioned in the book, and I was introduced to many more things that I can do to strengthen my relationship with the Divine.
More than anything, this book introduced me to the idea that there are other non-Evangelical Christians out there like me who just want to be able to have a relationship with God without all of the political upheaval that is rampant in many churches. This book was truly like a breath of fresh, divine air.
March 22, 2024
sara & mimi… two women changing the community with this amazing book! 💕
nothing bad to say about this. an excellent resource for those deconstructing, witches and pagans who want to get a glimpse into how christianity *actually* interracts with spirituality, and everyone in between.
detailed, well researched, and entertaining enough to keep you turning the pages. the sections are divided and organized so cohesively and i love the way that sara and mimi divided up their writing voice.
nothing bad to say about this. an excellent resource for those deconstructing, witches and pagans who want to get a glimpse into how christianity *actually* interracts with spirituality, and everyone in between.
detailed, well researched, and entertaining enough to keep you turning the pages. the sections are divided and organized so cohesively and i love the way that sara and mimi divided up their writing voice.
September 20, 2024
They almost had me but then at the mention of their inclusion of Asherah in their alter, I did a hard stop. I wish I could actually espouse Christian Witchood, but I’ll never be able to simply because of the addition of other gods and use of objects. Why use objects when we have direct access to God himself? I dno.
The writing is well-researched but definitely there’s bias. However, it can be easily overlooked. I still appreciate how informative this was and the research behind it.
The writing is well-researched but definitely there’s bias. However, it can be easily overlooked. I still appreciate how informative this was and the research behind it.
February 17, 2025
Extremely healing!! A wonderful start to my return to spirituality — now on my terms. Couldn’t put it down.
March 5, 2024
Couldn't put it down, yet again a fantastic read I love learning about people's different thoughts
April 7, 2024
Excellent and educational read. A must read for Christian’s and witches a like. Christian witches will feel seen and validated while learning more about their faith and practice. Sara and Mimi are amazing writers I was never bored while reading. Which says a lot from me I am terrible with reading non fiction. 5/5 ⭐️ Go and support the community and our lovely indie authors.
September 30, 2025
MAN this book is good.
To contextualize my analysis, I am a Christian (actually seeking to go into seminary) and have a long history of practices that would set many Christians' hair on fire. I do tarot cards, energy work, and so on. This book was a breath of fresh air because it felt like someone took my thoughts and put them on the page in a way that had me going, "YES!" throughout most of the work.
The beginning of this book holds an incredibly dense Biblical analysis that is worth reading. While it's a little challenging to get through if you aren't familiar with the Bible in an a scholarly sense, it's worth sitting with, thinking about, and evaluating. The authors dive deep into the concept of an egregore and how the church has deviated from what was written to become something far different.
The practical side of things was less revelatory because I've been doing this a long time, but all the advice given regarding casting circles, basic tools and information, and where to find more about things like stones and herbs and such was excellent. I really appreciated the emphasis on personalizing your practices to fit your style and nature. It really hits all the notes that I'd want in an early instructional book for that.
Overall, if you are a person who is deconstructing your faith, exploring faith practices of a more "witchy" type, and or just trying to expand your horizons regarding your own faith, I strongly recommend this book. It not only confronts a lot of the problems in the church, it also offers comfort and kindness to anyone who has felt on the outside.
To contextualize my analysis, I am a Christian (actually seeking to go into seminary) and have a long history of practices that would set many Christians' hair on fire. I do tarot cards, energy work, and so on. This book was a breath of fresh air because it felt like someone took my thoughts and put them on the page in a way that had me going, "YES!" throughout most of the work.
The beginning of this book holds an incredibly dense Biblical analysis that is worth reading. While it's a little challenging to get through if you aren't familiar with the Bible in an a scholarly sense, it's worth sitting with, thinking about, and evaluating. The authors dive deep into the concept of an egregore and how the church has deviated from what was written to become something far different.
The practical side of things was less revelatory because I've been doing this a long time, but all the advice given regarding casting circles, basic tools and information, and where to find more about things like stones and herbs and such was excellent. I really appreciated the emphasis on personalizing your practices to fit your style and nature. It really hits all the notes that I'd want in an early instructional book for that.
Overall, if you are a person who is deconstructing your faith, exploring faith practices of a more "witchy" type, and or just trying to expand your horizons regarding your own faith, I strongly recommend this book. It not only confronts a lot of the problems in the church, it also offers comfort and kindness to anyone who has felt on the outside.
April 23, 2024
Title: Discovering Christian Witchcraft: A Beginner's Guide for Everyday Practice
Creator: Sara Raztresen, Emyle D. Prata
Publisher, Publication Year: Sveta Lisica, 2024
Language(s): English
Access/Purchasing Info: Purchased the E-book off of https://www.sararaztresen.com/
Baba Yaga Rating (# of Baba Yaga's out of 5): 4 Baba Yagas
Pros:
- well cited, accessible, a genuinely comforting read, it definitely feels more like I'm listening in on a conversation rather than reading, LOVED THAT!!!
Cons:
- Leans into divine femininity a little more than I *personally* go for in my own practice, but there's reasoning for it that isn't rooted in exclusion or anything, so there's nothing wrong with it, just isn't for me
Comments:
This is a really good primer for getting into Christian Witchcraft. It's accessible while still being well-cited and covers all of your necessary bases for getting into Christian witchcraft! I appreciated how you could feel both authors' voices and understand their differing perspectives (tbh I'd love to see an expansion on this via presenting topics/questions to a panel of Christian practitioners, just for funsies and to see how broad perspectives can get) and the inside of this book is just plain pretty. I have mixed feelings on the Husk of God theory, though I do find the suggestion interesting. Overall, a solid and easily accessible starting point for anyone wanting to delve into Christian Witchcraft!
June 26, 2024
This is a really excellent book! It is well written and very well researched; the other books of a similar subject that I've read have been a bit less grounded and more focused on broader concepts. This book takes a different approach, directly addressing Christians who are either experiencing trepidation with their faith and are looking for an avenue to deconstruct it, or those drawn to spiritual interests that don't necessarily align with 'traditional' Christian values. I've never been more certain that the authors understood exactly who their audience was and what that target audience was really hoping to find when they picked up this book, and it makes for a very thoughtful, deliberate read as a result.
This isn't a spell book, but a careful analysis of the different arguments and hesitations against Christian witchcraft, and any hangups that a burgeoning Christian witch will have to overcome. It also avoids being overly apologetic about Christianity itself, very directly addressing the harm that has been done and the productive work those of the faith still needed to do, which helped the authors come across as very sincere about this topic.
Overall, I learned a lot, and they were able to explain and re-frame quite a bit for me, which I really liked! I feel like this is a book I'll come back to in the future, and I'm glad to have added it to my metaphysical book collection!
This isn't a spell book, but a careful analysis of the different arguments and hesitations against Christian witchcraft, and any hangups that a burgeoning Christian witch will have to overcome. It also avoids being overly apologetic about Christianity itself, very directly addressing the harm that has been done and the productive work those of the faith still needed to do, which helped the authors come across as very sincere about this topic.
Overall, I learned a lot, and they were able to explain and re-frame quite a bit for me, which I really liked! I feel like this is a book I'll come back to in the future, and I'm glad to have added it to my metaphysical book collection!
December 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s well researched while also being rather easy to read. As a catholic theologian and as someone who‘s been tiptoeing around Christian witchcraft for over a decade it’s a great summary of many things I always felt to be right and true. Now it only takes a Little Courage to finally become a practitioner…
March 24, 2024
A foundational book in a growing spiritual movement. If you resonate with this book look up the Jesus Witch Church on discord and find your new online church 😀
April 1, 2024
This is an incredibly well written and researched book!
Even if you’re just looking to learn more about the Christian faith, and/or how to practice it in a more personal way, this is still a very worthwhile read.
Well done, Sara and Mimi!
Even if you’re just looking to learn more about the Christian faith, and/or how to practice it in a more personal way, this is still a very worthwhile read.
Well done, Sara and Mimi!
February 25, 2025
I enjoyed the material and just how well researched this book was. It was easy for me to follow along and it really helped me learn more about what it means to be a Christian Witch.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews