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Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies
Throughout history, humans have sought power and knowledge from spirits. Learning how to conjure, communicate, and negotiate with these unseen powers is one of the keys to success in magic.
This book will teach you different ways of interacting with spirits, from offerings and invitations to forceful conjurations. With these tools in hand, you can work with your spirit allies to achieve any goal, from protection, to wealth, to vast knowledge.
Consorting with Spirits proper training necessary for calling and conversing with spirits; how to evaluate the messages you receive; a full view of different modes of contact and what situations each mode lends itself to; why the best sorcery is local; the tools to establish and maintain a long-term relationship with spirits (consorting); the six different manifestations of spirits and their corresponding magical operations, qualities, benefits, and drawbacks; the four methods of interacting with prayer, conjuring, compelling, and evocation.
This book will teach you different ways of interacting with spirits, from offerings and invitations to forceful conjurations. With these tools in hand, you can work with your spirit allies to achieve any goal, from protection, to wealth, to vast knowledge.
Consorting with Spirits proper training necessary for calling and conversing with spirits; how to evaluate the messages you receive; a full view of different modes of contact and what situations each mode lends itself to; why the best sorcery is local; the tools to establish and maintain a long-term relationship with spirits (consorting); the six different manifestations of spirits and their corresponding magical operations, qualities, benefits, and drawbacks; the four methods of interacting with prayer, conjuring, compelling, and evocation.
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Published May 10, 2022
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About the author
Jason Miller
10 books252 followersJason G. Miller, who also works as Inominandum, has devoted over 20 years to the study of witchcraft and magick in its many forms. He is a Sovereign of the Chthonic Ouranian Temple, and initiate of Ordo Templi Orientis, and a member of the Terra Sancta Sangreal Sodality, as well as an initiated Tantrika of the Nyingma and Bön lineages of Tibet. He writes regularly for the journal
Behutet
, and a frequent contributor to Witchvox, and Voice of the Old Ways.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 3, 2022
I’ve had a growing interest in spirit work, so when I came across this book, I was very interested in seeing what it had to say. I realized later that the author, Jason Miller, gives famous classes on Hekatean magic, which added to my curiosity.
That said, I was more concerned than informed by what I read in the book itself. My understanding is that Miller has undergone Buddhist training. Despite this training, I found (as someone more or less Buddhist as well) that his treatment of Buddhist teachings flattened their significance. Tibetan Buddhist rites and knowledge are treated as a sort of add-on to Western magic, instead of an entirely separate, rich tradition. I was extremely concerned by his rendering of a Luciferian version of a Buddhist prayer of taking refuge. While I don’t doubt he respects and knows about Tibetan Buddhism, his inability to keep things separate recurs throughout the book, and gives me a strong feeling of a culture vulture.
His lack of ability to maintain entirely separate practices when necessary is perhaps highlighted by Miller’s description of his encounter with Hekate at Pashupatinath in Nepal (p.191). As someone who both engages in Hellenic Polytheism, Shinto, and Buddhism, it is always of absolute necessity that I am able to correctly keep my practices separate when appropriate. This isn’t to say you can’t ever practice syncretism — Shinto and Buddhism very naturally go together — but you can’t claim you saw an Ancient Greek goddess in a sacred site in Nepal and expect no pushback from Buddhists, or even just Asian occultists in general.
His treatment of the historical reality of the witch trials is disappointing as well. On p. 337 he acknowledges that the “confessions” were given under torture, but stubbornly continues believing the stories they were forced to tell anyway. He also genders the victims as predominantly female in this passage (though at least he acknowledges male priests later), when witch trial accusations were not that consistently gendered and often antisemitic in nature.
Even with the historical background, I find it highly colonialist to refer to Astaroth as ruler of the Americas (and Lucifer of Asia, etc.) when Astaroth and Lucifer and so on are all settler-brought spirits. I’ve noticed demonolatry has an ongoing problem with this sort of thing, but I was very startled how Miller repeatedly referred to Astaroth as ruler of the Americas, as if the peoples living here haven’t been colonized religiously and physically enough.
There are also some statements he made with troubling larger implications that he either does not care to consider, or has never felt concerned about as a white man whose culture is not continually exploited. One is his condescension towards tradition. He is mercifully of neither the “instructions must always be followed to the letter” nor “intent is all that matters” school, but at the same time, I find myself insulted on behalf of multiple traditions that “To think that we must do things as they have always been done just for the sake of doing it that way is silly. We don’t do this with science, with medicine, with art, or even with religion, so we don’t need to do it with magic (p.245-6).” I can speak from my own experience and point to multiple lowercase-i indigenous traditions to say this is false. Plenty of religions have done it that way, not because older is better, necessarily, but for reasons like honoring what ancestors did, or preserving dying cultural artforms. This level of callousness is a really big turn-off for me.
Finally, in the Q&A at the end, he claims that “…some [traditions] that claim to be closed can be opened from the outside (p.397).” While he immediately follows this with the statement that some traditions are completely closed, I see more harm than good in implying a closed tradition could be ‘forced’ open by way of spirits (and possible imposter spirits, at that).
In the end, this book ended up being more of the author’s thoughts on how the world works, with a few rituals thrown in of questionable value. His taste for Othered cultures overpowers the content in a way that makes the book racialized in a very uncomfortable way for non-white people like myself.
That said, I was more concerned than informed by what I read in the book itself. My understanding is that Miller has undergone Buddhist training. Despite this training, I found (as someone more or less Buddhist as well) that his treatment of Buddhist teachings flattened their significance. Tibetan Buddhist rites and knowledge are treated as a sort of add-on to Western magic, instead of an entirely separate, rich tradition. I was extremely concerned by his rendering of a Luciferian version of a Buddhist prayer of taking refuge. While I don’t doubt he respects and knows about Tibetan Buddhism, his inability to keep things separate recurs throughout the book, and gives me a strong feeling of a culture vulture.
His lack of ability to maintain entirely separate practices when necessary is perhaps highlighted by Miller’s description of his encounter with Hekate at Pashupatinath in Nepal (p.191). As someone who both engages in Hellenic Polytheism, Shinto, and Buddhism, it is always of absolute necessity that I am able to correctly keep my practices separate when appropriate. This isn’t to say you can’t ever practice syncretism — Shinto and Buddhism very naturally go together — but you can’t claim you saw an Ancient Greek goddess in a sacred site in Nepal and expect no pushback from Buddhists, or even just Asian occultists in general.
His treatment of the historical reality of the witch trials is disappointing as well. On p. 337 he acknowledges that the “confessions” were given under torture, but stubbornly continues believing the stories they were forced to tell anyway. He also genders the victims as predominantly female in this passage (though at least he acknowledges male priests later), when witch trial accusations were not that consistently gendered and often antisemitic in nature.
Even with the historical background, I find it highly colonialist to refer to Astaroth as ruler of the Americas (and Lucifer of Asia, etc.) when Astaroth and Lucifer and so on are all settler-brought spirits. I’ve noticed demonolatry has an ongoing problem with this sort of thing, but I was very startled how Miller repeatedly referred to Astaroth as ruler of the Americas, as if the peoples living here haven’t been colonized religiously and physically enough.
There are also some statements he made with troubling larger implications that he either does not care to consider, or has never felt concerned about as a white man whose culture is not continually exploited. One is his condescension towards tradition. He is mercifully of neither the “instructions must always be followed to the letter” nor “intent is all that matters” school, but at the same time, I find myself insulted on behalf of multiple traditions that “To think that we must do things as they have always been done just for the sake of doing it that way is silly. We don’t do this with science, with medicine, with art, or even with religion, so we don’t need to do it with magic (p.245-6).” I can speak from my own experience and point to multiple lowercase-i indigenous traditions to say this is false. Plenty of religions have done it that way, not because older is better, necessarily, but for reasons like honoring what ancestors did, or preserving dying cultural artforms. This level of callousness is a really big turn-off for me.
Finally, in the Q&A at the end, he claims that “…some [traditions] that claim to be closed can be opened from the outside (p.397).” While he immediately follows this with the statement that some traditions are completely closed, I see more harm than good in implying a closed tradition could be ‘forced’ open by way of spirits (and possible imposter spirits, at that).
In the end, this book ended up being more of the author’s thoughts on how the world works, with a few rituals thrown in of questionable value. His taste for Othered cultures overpowers the content in a way that makes the book racialized in a very uncomfortable way for non-white people like myself.
May 3, 2022
Okay, so, before anybody gets butthurt, I want to be perfectly clear that my review is my opinion and I have nothing against the author. As a matter of fact, I find his writing to be quite good and I enjoy his sense of humor. That said, here's my take on this book:
It's good, but could've been better. This is not necessarily the author's fault. He mentions at the end of the book that the publisher gave a due date and a **word count limit**. If that's true, I think it's awful of the publisher because it means less useful information is able to be given due to a weird limit. In fact, I get suspicious of books under 250 pages. So there's that.
The summary on the back doesn't give a very accurate idea of what this book is about, either. Not really. While it does talk about conjuring and conversing with various spirits and how to form relationships with them on the back, the spirits it talks mostly about in the book itself are demons. I have no issues with spirits that are considered to be demons, but they do come from a culture I'm not part of and a belief system I'm openly hostile toward, so unfortunately that means this isn't all that useful to me. Sure, I can adjust the rituals to work with spirits and gods I'm more comfortable with. I have experience with that kind of thing. But the summary doesn't say this, so I think it's useful to pass that on to the potential reader on case they feel the same as I do.
The author also says this should not be your first book of this nature and he's not wrong. You need a basic understanding of magic and spirits before you get into this.
While this book hasn't really helped me all that much, like I said, I enjoy this author's writing style and his humor. For that alone I'm interested in his other books, which for all I know, might be of better use to me.
Do I recommend this book? Um... yes and no. Yes if you're an all purpose magician that doesn't care which types of gods or spirits you work with. No if you're like me and want nothing to do with beings associated with the Abrahamic religions.
It's good, but could've been better. This is not necessarily the author's fault. He mentions at the end of the book that the publisher gave a due date and a **word count limit**. If that's true, I think it's awful of the publisher because it means less useful information is able to be given due to a weird limit. In fact, I get suspicious of books under 250 pages. So there's that.
The summary on the back doesn't give a very accurate idea of what this book is about, either. Not really. While it does talk about conjuring and conversing with various spirits and how to form relationships with them on the back, the spirits it talks mostly about in the book itself are demons. I have no issues with spirits that are considered to be demons, but they do come from a culture I'm not part of and a belief system I'm openly hostile toward, so unfortunately that means this isn't all that useful to me. Sure, I can adjust the rituals to work with spirits and gods I'm more comfortable with. I have experience with that kind of thing. But the summary doesn't say this, so I think it's useful to pass that on to the potential reader on case they feel the same as I do.
The author also says this should not be your first book of this nature and he's not wrong. You need a basic understanding of magic and spirits before you get into this.
While this book hasn't really helped me all that much, like I said, I enjoy this author's writing style and his humor. For that alone I'm interested in his other books, which for all I know, might be of better use to me.
Do I recommend this book? Um... yes and no. Yes if you're an all purpose magician that doesn't care which types of gods or spirits you work with. No if you're like me and want nothing to do with beings associated with the Abrahamic religions.
March 14, 2023
Contains mostly self-aggrandizing name drops from the author and little useful information.
This book is one I saw recommended with shocking enthusiasm by assorted "pagan" spaces on social media and I'm now convinced that people only recommend it because the cover looks like someone's "witchsona" circa 2015. This art is very nice and it definitely gives strong cosplay vibes. Instagram would LOVE it.
This dude's other books are all "use magic to get rich quick" prosperity gospel horse shit.
There is an interlude early on in the text describing how some badass demon lord or other, who typically appears as a male dragon, appeared as a smokin' hot, naked serpent lady just for the author when he was a teenager doing rituals in his bedroom because he was just so super special and powerful and then they totally had sex. He drew fanart of this sexy demon lord-turned-lady and included it in his book. I wish this was a joke.
This author asserts with confidence that spirits and the gods Themselves are tools for humanity's advancement and that we must approach the Holy Powers with attitudes of utter dominance over and entitlement to Their Selves. He advocates for stealing from the Dead, including encouraging readers to attempt to conjure up dead criminals (to whom they are in no way related) to do their bidding (because that's totally how that works).
This man is so high on his own farts it's a miracle he hasn't spontaneously combusted or suffocated to death yet. This jackass is going to get someone killed, assuming any of the nonsense in his book even works.
Most of his citations are either directly from the New Thought and Spiritualist movements of the 1900's, or else are gross misinterpretations and appropriations of assorted Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Catholic practices.
Don't read this book, the author is full of shit.
This book is one I saw recommended with shocking enthusiasm by assorted "pagan" spaces on social media and I'm now convinced that people only recommend it because the cover looks like someone's "witchsona" circa 2015. This art is very nice and it definitely gives strong cosplay vibes. Instagram would LOVE it.
This dude's other books are all "use magic to get rich quick" prosperity gospel horse shit.
There is an interlude early on in the text describing how some badass demon lord or other, who typically appears as a male dragon, appeared as a smokin' hot, naked serpent lady just for the author when he was a teenager doing rituals in his bedroom because he was just so super special and powerful and then they totally had sex. He drew fanart of this sexy demon lord-turned-lady and included it in his book. I wish this was a joke.
This author asserts with confidence that spirits and the gods Themselves are tools for humanity's advancement and that we must approach the Holy Powers with attitudes of utter dominance over and entitlement to Their Selves. He advocates for stealing from the Dead, including encouraging readers to attempt to conjure up dead criminals (to whom they are in no way related) to do their bidding (because that's totally how that works).
This man is so high on his own farts it's a miracle he hasn't spontaneously combusted or suffocated to death yet. This jackass is going to get someone killed, assuming any of the nonsense in his book even works.
Most of his citations are either directly from the New Thought and Spiritualist movements of the 1900's, or else are gross misinterpretations and appropriations of assorted Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Catholic practices.
Don't read this book, the author is full of shit.
August 18, 2022
There is so much I appreciate about this book, but especially it's emphasis on:
- meditation and understanding your own nature before working with spirits
- doing the work
- examples of different kinds of invocation of different styles (Hekatean, Luciferian, traditional Solomonic) which helps the reader identify their own preference and approach
- intermediary spirits
- land spirits
I think it's a valuable book in a particular niche - summoning spirits as someone who identifies as a Witch and who straddles the Witchcraft and Ceremonial Magicks worlds.
I'm not sure if all contemporary practitioners understand just how much of contemporary magic has been influenced by ceremonial systems that come from Christianity, and how much those systems worked with so-called demons as earthly forces. Miller moved quickly with the material but included some very significant statements - it's like they're there for the people who need them.
- meditation and understanding your own nature before working with spirits
- doing the work
- examples of different kinds of invocation of different styles (Hekatean, Luciferian, traditional Solomonic) which helps the reader identify their own preference and approach
- intermediary spirits
- land spirits
I think it's a valuable book in a particular niche - summoning spirits as someone who identifies as a Witch and who straddles the Witchcraft and Ceremonial Magicks worlds.
I'm not sure if all contemporary practitioners understand just how much of contemporary magic has been influenced by ceremonial systems that come from Christianity, and how much those systems worked with so-called demons as earthly forces. Miller moved quickly with the material but included some very significant statements - it's like they're there for the people who need them.
May 5, 2023
This has been a hard one to get through. It is ubber ***HEAVY*** on Christian mixed with small amounts of Wicca UPG. Summoning archangels and demons. The author’s summoning ceremonies and what parts of the book of Solomon talk of what demons and how to call them in circles, etc, etc, etc… my least favorite was how the author summons Hekate to get out of a speeding ticket. 😶 *FFS*
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying demons and angels don’t exist outside Christianity, however this author talks about protecting yourself with the holy word of the Christian god. Even states is it possible to do these ceremonies without invoking the Abrahamic god, ehh not this way, because all of the ramblings of ceremonies are using Abrahamic text.
It’s not until chapter 9, well over halfway through the book, does the author state he’s an animist.
If I heard *”amen”* one more time I was gonna SCREAM
Now. All that said, it’s not absolutely terrible. But you do need to read/listen carefully and form your own opinions. I definitely would not recommend this as a how to guide unless you’re a Christian Witch. Which I am not. Sadly the cover art of this book is horribly misleading.
Overall I’d give it ⭐️⭐️ and that’s being generous.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying demons and angels don’t exist outside Christianity, however this author talks about protecting yourself with the holy word of the Christian god. Even states is it possible to do these ceremonies without invoking the Abrahamic god, ehh not this way, because all of the ramblings of ceremonies are using Abrahamic text.
It’s not until chapter 9, well over halfway through the book, does the author state he’s an animist.
If I heard *”amen”* one more time I was gonna SCREAM
Now. All that said, it’s not absolutely terrible. But you do need to read/listen carefully and form your own opinions. I definitely would not recommend this as a how to guide unless you’re a Christian Witch. Which I am not. Sadly the cover art of this book is horribly misleading.
Overall I’d give it ⭐️⭐️ and that’s being generous.
October 5, 2022
A Great Guide - Refreshingly non-Beginner
So many books on witchcraft are for beginners, or they strive to not neglect beginner readers. It was refreshing to find a book that told you upfront it was going to target people who have already been familiar with the Craft, whether as an active practitioner or at least a reader of other beginner focused books. This book removes a lot of the fears and insecurities people might have around calling out to deity, Spirit, or guardian angels/spirit guides. Miller has a fun, easy-going tone and references lots of popular films and TV shows, often depunking the sources of many people's fears. He also also doesn't conform to any one religious practice, not witchcraft or paganism, nor Christianity or Buudhism, each of which he references most throughout. There are solid, complete rituals and spells as well as room to use his guides as templates. His personal stories were fun as well This book is an accessible and a valuable resource for any practitioner who wants to work with spirits.
So many books on witchcraft are for beginners, or they strive to not neglect beginner readers. It was refreshing to find a book that told you upfront it was going to target people who have already been familiar with the Craft, whether as an active practitioner or at least a reader of other beginner focused books. This book removes a lot of the fears and insecurities people might have around calling out to deity, Spirit, or guardian angels/spirit guides. Miller has a fun, easy-going tone and references lots of popular films and TV shows, often depunking the sources of many people's fears. He also also doesn't conform to any one religious practice, not witchcraft or paganism, nor Christianity or Buudhism, each of which he references most throughout. There are solid, complete rituals and spells as well as room to use his guides as templates. His personal stories were fun as well This book is an accessible and a valuable resource for any practitioner who wants to work with spirits.
June 12, 2022
Much like Jason Miller's other books, Consorting with Spirits is a straight-to-the-point book on how to cultivate lasting, meaningful connections with the spirits around us. Much like the spirits I work with, Miller goes into working with astral beings such as demons and nature spirits more than those of the dead.
I would say, that at this point in my life, I'm a reasonably experienced spirit worker, and I still found Miller's insights and guidance to be helpful, in that it was informative on how we view spirit work and some ways to cultivate a lasting relationship with spirits.
I will admit that I am not the most practiced ceremonialist, so I found his examples of conjuration circles extremely helpful in figuring out how I'd like to go about doing my own. I would easily recommend this book to anybody who is interested in starting spirit work (though not a beginner occultist/witch/practitioner).
As Miller states at the beginning of this book, "This should probably not be your first book magic." I would class this as a more intermediate to advanced book, just as spirit work from an occultist perspective, like Millers, often requires a foundation of knowing some magic already.
Would I recommend this book? Yes (as long as you aren't a complete beginner)
How would I rate it? 9.5/10
I would say, that at this point in my life, I'm a reasonably experienced spirit worker, and I still found Miller's insights and guidance to be helpful, in that it was informative on how we view spirit work and some ways to cultivate a lasting relationship with spirits.
I will admit that I am not the most practiced ceremonialist, so I found his examples of conjuration circles extremely helpful in figuring out how I'd like to go about doing my own. I would easily recommend this book to anybody who is interested in starting spirit work (though not a beginner occultist/witch/practitioner).
As Miller states at the beginning of this book, "This should probably not be your first book magic." I would class this as a more intermediate to advanced book, just as spirit work from an occultist perspective, like Millers, often requires a foundation of knowing some magic already.
Would I recommend this book? Yes (as long as you aren't a complete beginner)
How would I rate it? 9.5/10
November 11, 2025
Somewhat disappointing. Doesn’t cover any new ground on the magical arte of consorting with spirits and just rambles over the same old information included elsewhere online, for free. It’s not particularly well written but I guess it could work as a reasonable albeit very basic introduction if you are completely new to magic with spirits, however if you have any degree of experience you will most likely find nothing useful here. Also most of the book is presented from a heavily Christian lens that is likely to be frustrating to most practitioners that don’t resonate with the Christian tradition and dogma.
November 4, 2023
2,5⭐️
Jason seems like a genuinely nice guy, but the book just wasn't for me. It was a pain to get through, 90% of the book ended up being rather irrelevant to me.
Very heavily based on Christianity - to be fair, he did mention that a few times himself and did say "Take what resonates, leave what doesn't"... it just... there did not end up being a lot to resonate with.
There are some parts in the book that I'm not sure if it's cultural appropriation, but it sure does sound like it.
Jason seems like a genuinely nice guy, but the book just wasn't for me. It was a pain to get through, 90% of the book ended up being rather irrelevant to me.
Very heavily based on Christianity - to be fair, he did mention that a few times himself and did say "Take what resonates, leave what doesn't"... it just... there did not end up being a lot to resonate with.
There are some parts in the book that I'm not sure if it's cultural appropriation, but it sure does sound like it.
February 5, 2023
WAY too much of the book is "I don't have the room in this book to cover that...." The rest has some useful information, and then a bunch of name droppings of his other books.
August 14, 2024
Una maravilla de libro. Híper práctico, para practicar, para poner en práctica. ¿Fui lo suficientemente clara? Para prac-ti-car.
Definitivamente un autor para seguir.
Definitivamente un autor para seguir.
September 16, 2025
3/5 ★ there's definitely some solid advice and information in this book. i'm personally not a witch who works with demons, so a lot of the info in here was redundant (for me). though it can be applied to my relationships with other spirits, of course. i'm also a psychic medium so conjuring spirits isn't usually something i'm ritualistic about, but i can appreciate and respect Miller's practices and perspective.
after reading this I feel inspired to connect with some local spirits beyond my front door (literally), and I think that will take me to some interesting places. the concepts of Familiars and Intermediary Spirits I also found interesting, since I have experience with both, though would like to explore those further. this book gives a solid base for doing so!
my only criticisms of this book is the setup / way it's told can be slightly out of order at times (likely because there is so much information, and a lot of extra stuff he didn't want to get into in this one). and the purification chapter felt very ... Christian-core. I think like 40% of this book felt very Christian-suffering-for-the-spiritual-relationship-core, which didn't resonate with me fully. I do like that Miller recognizes that view is probably not for everyone and that's ok.
Overall much to chew on with this one!
after reading this I feel inspired to connect with some local spirits beyond my front door (literally), and I think that will take me to some interesting places. the concepts of Familiars and Intermediary Spirits I also found interesting, since I have experience with both, though would like to explore those further. this book gives a solid base for doing so!
my only criticisms of this book is the setup / way it's told can be slightly out of order at times (likely because there is so much information, and a lot of extra stuff he didn't want to get into in this one). and the purification chapter felt very ... Christian-core. I think like 40% of this book felt very Christian-suffering-for-the-spiritual-relationship-core, which didn't resonate with me fully. I do like that Miller recognizes that view is probably not for everyone and that's ok.
Overall much to chew on with this one!
February 17, 2025
I love Jason Miller, but this book had a heavy leaning towards Christianity.
September 27, 2024
Jason Miller’s Consorting with Spirits is a groundbreaking guide that sets a new standard for modern spirit work. Unlike many books that skim over the complexities of spirit contact, Miller’s approach is both methodical and refreshingly honest, offering a nuanced understanding of how to effectively communicate and build long-term relationships with spirits. This book is an essential resource for anyone serious about expanding their magical practice beyond spells and rituals into the often unpredictable, yet deeply rewarding, terrain of spirit interactions.
Miller addresses a crucial gap in occult literature by emphasizing not just how to summon spirits, but how to cultivate the skills needed to truly interact with them. His focus on refining three core abilities—the capacity to sense, engage, and deepen the connection—moves the reader from basic contact to more sophisticated and meaningful exchanges. This systematic approach demystifies what is often seen as an inaccessible or advanced practice, making spirit work achievable for anyone willing to put in the effort.
What elevates Consorting with Spirits is Miller’s pragmatic focus on developing discernment. He does not shy away from discussing the potential challenges and pitfalls of spirit work, providing concrete strategies for evaluating the information spirits provide and navigating potentially misleading messages. This realism is rare in books on the subject, where interactions are often romanticized or oversimplified. Miller gives readers a clear-eyed view of the benefits and drawbacks of various methods, allowing them to make informed decisions in their own practice.
The book’s strongest sections are where Miller outlines the six different manifestations of spirits and their corresponding magical operations. This categorization, paired with his explanation of the four methods of interaction—prayer, conjuring, compelling, and evocation—adds layers of context that are seldom covered in other texts. By differentiating between these modes of contact and showing how each can be tailored to specific situations, he provides a comprehensive framework that practitioners can apply to a wide range of goals.
Miller’s attention to detail extends to every aspect of spirit work, from building a local network of spirit allies to maintaining these relationships over time. His insistence on the value of local spirits is a welcome reminder that the most effective magick is often found close to home, and his strategies for cultivating these relationships are as practical as they are insightful. This emphasis on a grounded, place-based practice gives the book a unique perspective that sets it apart from more generalized spirit work manuals.
Consorting with Spirits is a masterclass in how to approach spirit work with both respect and skill. It fills a long-standing gap in the field by focusing not just on summoning spirits, but on truly consorting with them—building connections that are clear, sustainable, and mutually beneficial. Miller’s approach combines depth, practicality, and a deep respect for the unseen allies he writes about, making this book indispensable for anyone ready to take their practice to the next level.
Miller addresses a crucial gap in occult literature by emphasizing not just how to summon spirits, but how to cultivate the skills needed to truly interact with them. His focus on refining three core abilities—the capacity to sense, engage, and deepen the connection—moves the reader from basic contact to more sophisticated and meaningful exchanges. This systematic approach demystifies what is often seen as an inaccessible or advanced practice, making spirit work achievable for anyone willing to put in the effort.
What elevates Consorting with Spirits is Miller’s pragmatic focus on developing discernment. He does not shy away from discussing the potential challenges and pitfalls of spirit work, providing concrete strategies for evaluating the information spirits provide and navigating potentially misleading messages. This realism is rare in books on the subject, where interactions are often romanticized or oversimplified. Miller gives readers a clear-eyed view of the benefits and drawbacks of various methods, allowing them to make informed decisions in their own practice.
The book’s strongest sections are where Miller outlines the six different manifestations of spirits and their corresponding magical operations. This categorization, paired with his explanation of the four methods of interaction—prayer, conjuring, compelling, and evocation—adds layers of context that are seldom covered in other texts. By differentiating between these modes of contact and showing how each can be tailored to specific situations, he provides a comprehensive framework that practitioners can apply to a wide range of goals.
Miller’s attention to detail extends to every aspect of spirit work, from building a local network of spirit allies to maintaining these relationships over time. His insistence on the value of local spirits is a welcome reminder that the most effective magick is often found close to home, and his strategies for cultivating these relationships are as practical as they are insightful. This emphasis on a grounded, place-based practice gives the book a unique perspective that sets it apart from more generalized spirit work manuals.
Consorting with Spirits is a masterclass in how to approach spirit work with both respect and skill. It fills a long-standing gap in the field by focusing not just on summoning spirits, but on truly consorting with them—building connections that are clear, sustainable, and mutually beneficial. Miller’s approach combines depth, practicality, and a deep respect for the unseen allies he writes about, making this book indispensable for anyone ready to take their practice to the next level.
August 21, 2022
There are so many things wrong with this author's approach that a whole book could be written just about how problematic it is.
From the idea that spirits are just like people, that they exist in a state of permanent availability to human beings, that somehow giving them wine and incense is the only thing they want back from people for whom they so readily do every single thing they ask, to absolutely questionable approach to mixing different cultural traditions (at one point the author recounts somehow encountering the goddess Hekate, with whom he has a personal relationship with, in a temple in Nepal?! Yet encourages readers to use a lot of discernment when having experiences with spirits...). In tune with that, the author's stances are frequently paradoxical, writing one thing in one chapter, and an entirely different thing in another.
The book is written in a very informal way, which was supposedly the author's way of making magick more "approachable", but the final effect is as if one is reading someone's train of thought rather than a piece of educational material on a rather important and serious topic for every practitioner.
This book, written from overall extremely subjective stances doesn't seem like it came from someone who claims to be an initiate of multiple streams, although he likes pointing it out frequently, as well as the fact that he's been holding different courses on magick. I'm not exactly sure why those facts are so important to the author that he doesn't let the readers forget it by mentioning it at least once in each chapter.
The book is most definitely not worth the hype. I'm giving it two stars for some nice storytelling and a few well-written invocations here and there.
From the idea that spirits are just like people, that they exist in a state of permanent availability to human beings, that somehow giving them wine and incense is the only thing they want back from people for whom they so readily do every single thing they ask, to absolutely questionable approach to mixing different cultural traditions (at one point the author recounts somehow encountering the goddess Hekate, with whom he has a personal relationship with, in a temple in Nepal?! Yet encourages readers to use a lot of discernment when having experiences with spirits...). In tune with that, the author's stances are frequently paradoxical, writing one thing in one chapter, and an entirely different thing in another.
The book is written in a very informal way, which was supposedly the author's way of making magick more "approachable", but the final effect is as if one is reading someone's train of thought rather than a piece of educational material on a rather important and serious topic for every practitioner.
This book, written from overall extremely subjective stances doesn't seem like it came from someone who claims to be an initiate of multiple streams, although he likes pointing it out frequently, as well as the fact that he's been holding different courses on magick. I'm not exactly sure why those facts are so important to the author that he doesn't let the readers forget it by mentioning it at least once in each chapter.
The book is most definitely not worth the hype. I'm giving it two stars for some nice storytelling and a few well-written invocations here and there.
June 11, 2023
I have been reading Jason Miller's work for some time and, honestly, the way he constructs all of his books is quite refreshing. He gets straight to the point, doesn't waste time apologizing for his opinions and gives useful information and sound advice. And "Consorting with spirits" is no different - it presents a great foundation on interacting with different types of spirits and then sets the reader on his own journey.
Although some might think that the intertwining of different traditions and beliefs might be a downside of the book, I believe it is quite the opposite. Of course cultural exchange is not something new, but the best part of this spiritual inclusivity is that it gives a great example for practitioners how to adapt and explore magic on their own. A spell becomes a guideline, a prayer becomes a suggestion. The reader is not told what to do, but how to develop their own, personal practice.
Of course, a demanding reader might think there is more information to be shared, more practices to outline and more knowledge to be passed on. Even I was kind of disappointed that there was so little information on the vast topic of local spirits. But, as he always does, Miller breaks the idea that occult knowledge is something you're given - you need to, you must explore it on your own.
The book can be read by beginners, who will find it tremendously useful, if they take the time and research things they don't understand (as with every other book, actually). It is also a great book for the more experienced practitioners, who might find even more than they hoped for if they manage to fully embrace the practice of consorting with spirits.
Although some might think that the intertwining of different traditions and beliefs might be a downside of the book, I believe it is quite the opposite. Of course cultural exchange is not something new, but the best part of this spiritual inclusivity is that it gives a great example for practitioners how to adapt and explore magic on their own. A spell becomes a guideline, a prayer becomes a suggestion. The reader is not told what to do, but how to develop their own, personal practice.
Of course, a demanding reader might think there is more information to be shared, more practices to outline and more knowledge to be passed on. Even I was kind of disappointed that there was so little information on the vast topic of local spirits. But, as he always does, Miller breaks the idea that occult knowledge is something you're given - you need to, you must explore it on your own.
The book can be read by beginners, who will find it tremendously useful, if they take the time and research things they don't understand (as with every other book, actually). It is also a great book for the more experienced practitioners, who might find even more than they hoped for if they manage to fully embrace the practice of consorting with spirits.
January 3, 2025
This book is great for beginners. Being that I already knew everything that was mentioned in the book & have already done it, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I do agree with what he said though. If you're just starting out, this is a great book to use as a resource.
October 22, 2024
A lot of biblical rambling about angels and demons. The actual useful information I gained from this book was limited.
Not really what I was expecting from this book.
Not really what I was expecting from this book.
May 14, 2025
Title: Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies
Author: Jason Miller
Rating: 4/5
Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller is an in-depth guide to working and forming a bond with different types of spirits. Since I work solely with my ancestors, I thought it would be beneficial for me to pick this book up. This book was a fantastic resource, but it is definitely geared towards advanced practitioners. I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of books I have read this year. After drowning in a sea of beginner and mediocre books, I have found more insightful and intermediate books being published that enlighten and expand the boundaries of my craft. I feel that CS is more on the advanced side of the spectrum, which is surprising since I have yet to encounter a book that I would label as such. Perhaps since witchcraft has become more mainstream, the acceptance from big publishing houses and bookstores is becoming more welcoming to our craft as more than a taboo hobby.
In the first chapter, 'What is a spirit?' Miller takes us on a scholarly journey into the history of a spirit, from its earliest notion as a separate individual entity to the belief that spirits are energies or thought projections and back to the original individual. This section reads very academically, but this useful information forms the parameters of what we view as a 'spirit.' When discussing categories and organizations, I like that Miller poses questions about spirits as a sentient consciousness I had never thought of before. For example, Hecate is a commonly known and researched spirit, but is our knowledge of her all there is? Does she not change and have thoughts and behaviors that are all her own that we, as mortals, are not privy to?
In Chapter 2, the reader is introduced to the different layers of the world: physical, etheric, astral, symbol, mental, causal, and perfection. I'm not going to lie; this is where I started getting a bit of a headache. I'm college-educated, but I hit a block when it came to mental and beyond. Don't give up on the book if you are frustrated like me. Skip ahead and read the rest of the chapter. When you've given yourself time, return to that section with fresh eyes and give it another go. Some high-level concepts in this book take some time to absorb.
Where I run into doubt is his use of force in summoning spirits in Chapter 3. I understand his reasoning: how can you force them to leave if you can't force them to appear? But that still chafes me as heavy-handed. I work with my ancestor's spirits. I would never force them to do my bidding against their will. Perhaps this is more important if you plan on working with demons, but I feel that this is a great way to make a horrible start. The spirit you summon will already hate you. The moment your bidding is done, what is to keep that spirit or demon from hunting you down and wreaking havoc on your life? Spirits don't have the same limits as humans. They are one group of people that I would never want to piss off. Then, the author continues by discussing conferred authority, where one is encouraged to evoke a powerful deity or saint's name to protect oneself. That only works if you have that deity's permission. Otherwise, you can call yourself Diddlyboo working with the powerful BooBookins, which will make no difference to the summoning spirit. Thankfully, Miller goes on to say that working with a spirit is preferable; however, I believe it should be the only way.
Consorting with Spirits was a challenging read for an intermediate witch like me. It felt like I was delving into literature for a college-level psychology class: doable but not entirely pleasant. This is not a criticism of the book, but a testament to its intellectual depth. I learned a lot, but I also grappled with new and unfamiliar concepts. The pursuit of knowledge should always push you into new realms, and this book certainly did that. If you're like me and want to deepen your craft, I highly recommend this book. It's not an easy read, but it's incredibly informative. Take your time with the concepts; I'm sure you'll find this book as rewarding as I did. Consorting with Spirits will remain on my bookshelf as a valuable resource for many years to come.
Author: Jason Miller
Rating: 4/5
Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller is an in-depth guide to working and forming a bond with different types of spirits. Since I work solely with my ancestors, I thought it would be beneficial for me to pick this book up. This book was a fantastic resource, but it is definitely geared towards advanced practitioners. I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of books I have read this year. After drowning in a sea of beginner and mediocre books, I have found more insightful and intermediate books being published that enlighten and expand the boundaries of my craft. I feel that CS is more on the advanced side of the spectrum, which is surprising since I have yet to encounter a book that I would label as such. Perhaps since witchcraft has become more mainstream, the acceptance from big publishing houses and bookstores is becoming more welcoming to our craft as more than a taboo hobby.
In the first chapter, 'What is a spirit?' Miller takes us on a scholarly journey into the history of a spirit, from its earliest notion as a separate individual entity to the belief that spirits are energies or thought projections and back to the original individual. This section reads very academically, but this useful information forms the parameters of what we view as a 'spirit.' When discussing categories and organizations, I like that Miller poses questions about spirits as a sentient consciousness I had never thought of before. For example, Hecate is a commonly known and researched spirit, but is our knowledge of her all there is? Does she not change and have thoughts and behaviors that are all her own that we, as mortals, are not privy to?
In Chapter 2, the reader is introduced to the different layers of the world: physical, etheric, astral, symbol, mental, causal, and perfection. I'm not going to lie; this is where I started getting a bit of a headache. I'm college-educated, but I hit a block when it came to mental and beyond. Don't give up on the book if you are frustrated like me. Skip ahead and read the rest of the chapter. When you've given yourself time, return to that section with fresh eyes and give it another go. Some high-level concepts in this book take some time to absorb.
Where I run into doubt is his use of force in summoning spirits in Chapter 3. I understand his reasoning: how can you force them to leave if you can't force them to appear? But that still chafes me as heavy-handed. I work with my ancestor's spirits. I would never force them to do my bidding against their will. Perhaps this is more important if you plan on working with demons, but I feel that this is a great way to make a horrible start. The spirit you summon will already hate you. The moment your bidding is done, what is to keep that spirit or demon from hunting you down and wreaking havoc on your life? Spirits don't have the same limits as humans. They are one group of people that I would never want to piss off. Then, the author continues by discussing conferred authority, where one is encouraged to evoke a powerful deity or saint's name to protect oneself. That only works if you have that deity's permission. Otherwise, you can call yourself Diddlyboo working with the powerful BooBookins, which will make no difference to the summoning spirit. Thankfully, Miller goes on to say that working with a spirit is preferable; however, I believe it should be the only way.
Consorting with Spirits was a challenging read for an intermediate witch like me. It felt like I was delving into literature for a college-level psychology class: doable but not entirely pleasant. This is not a criticism of the book, but a testament to its intellectual depth. I learned a lot, but I also grappled with new and unfamiliar concepts. The pursuit of knowledge should always push you into new realms, and this book certainly did that. If you're like me and want to deepen your craft, I highly recommend this book. It's not an easy read, but it's incredibly informative. Take your time with the concepts; I'm sure you'll find this book as rewarding as I did. Consorting with Spirits will remain on my bookshelf as a valuable resource for many years to come.
May 5, 2025
Book Review: Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies by Jason Miller
(A Woman’s Perspective on Spirit Work, Agency, and the Sacred Feminine)
Jason Miller’s Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies presents a pragmatic yet esoteric manual for engaging with spiritual entities—a topic often marginalized in academic discourse but deeply resonant with women’s historical and contemporary roles as mediators of the unseen. While framed as a universal guide, the book inadvertently reveals gendered tensions in spirit work: the duality of women as both revered conduits of mystical knowledge and dismissed as “irrational” practitioners. Miller’s approach, though not explicitly feminist, offers tools that women might reclaim to navigate spiritual authority in a patriarchal occult landscape.
Key Themes and Strengths
Reclaiming the Witch as Scholar-Practitioner: Miller’s systematized methods (e.g., sigils, offerings, trance techniques) echo women’s clandestine traditions of folk magic and hedge witchcraft. The book’s emphasis on practical results over dogma subverts the stereotype of female spirituality as passive or purely intuitive, reframing it as disciplined and strategic.
Spirits as Allies in Gendered Struggle: The text’s focus on alliances with spirits—rather than domination—mirrors feminist relational ethics. Women readers may recognize parallels between cultivating spirit relationships and building matriarchal networks of support, particularly when societal structures exclude them.
The Body as Ritual Tool: Miller’s techniques often involve embodied practices (breathwork, sensory engagement), affirming the female body as a site of sacred power rather than a vessel for patriarchal projection. This contrasts with historical demonizations of women’s corporeal spirituality.
Angels, Demons, and the Shadow Feminine: While the book covers a broad spectrum of entities, its treatment of darker spirits (e.g., demons as transgressive forces) invites reflection on women’s repressed rage and the reclamation of “forbidden” spiritual agency.
Accessibility vs. Elitism: The manual’s straightforward language democratizes spirit work, challenging the male-dominated hierarchies of occult knowledge. Yet, its brevity on cultural appropriation risks glossing over the colonial histories of extracting Indigenous and femme-coded wisdom.
Critique
Miller’s lens remains largely heteronormative and cis-masculine, lacking intersectional analysis of how race, class, or queerness shape spirit work. The book’s occasional reliance on adversarial magic (e.g., binding spells) also overlooks feminist critiques of power dynamics in occult practice. A deeper engagement with figures like mediumistic suffragettes or Afro-diasporic priestesses would have enriched its perspective.
Conclusion
Consorting with Spirits is a compelling but incomplete resource for women seeking to formalize their intuitive or inherited spiritual practices. Its greatest value lies in validating pragmatic spirit work as a legitimate discipline—one that women have long mastered in private. By adapting Miller’s frameworks through a feminist lens, readers can resist the gendered binary of the “hysterical mystic” versus the “rational magician,” forging their own sacred alliances.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
A useful primer, though its silences speak louder than its spells. Pair with feminist occult texts (e.g., Caliban and the Witch) to fill its gaps.
(A Woman’s Perspective on Spirit Work, Agency, and the Sacred Feminine)
Jason Miller’s Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies presents a pragmatic yet esoteric manual for engaging with spiritual entities—a topic often marginalized in academic discourse but deeply resonant with women’s historical and contemporary roles as mediators of the unseen. While framed as a universal guide, the book inadvertently reveals gendered tensions in spirit work: the duality of women as both revered conduits of mystical knowledge and dismissed as “irrational” practitioners. Miller’s approach, though not explicitly feminist, offers tools that women might reclaim to navigate spiritual authority in a patriarchal occult landscape.
Key Themes and Strengths
Reclaiming the Witch as Scholar-Practitioner: Miller’s systematized methods (e.g., sigils, offerings, trance techniques) echo women’s clandestine traditions of folk magic and hedge witchcraft. The book’s emphasis on practical results over dogma subverts the stereotype of female spirituality as passive or purely intuitive, reframing it as disciplined and strategic.
Spirits as Allies in Gendered Struggle: The text’s focus on alliances with spirits—rather than domination—mirrors feminist relational ethics. Women readers may recognize parallels between cultivating spirit relationships and building matriarchal networks of support, particularly when societal structures exclude them.
The Body as Ritual Tool: Miller’s techniques often involve embodied practices (breathwork, sensory engagement), affirming the female body as a site of sacred power rather than a vessel for patriarchal projection. This contrasts with historical demonizations of women’s corporeal spirituality.
Angels, Demons, and the Shadow Feminine: While the book covers a broad spectrum of entities, its treatment of darker spirits (e.g., demons as transgressive forces) invites reflection on women’s repressed rage and the reclamation of “forbidden” spiritual agency.
Accessibility vs. Elitism: The manual’s straightforward language democratizes spirit work, challenging the male-dominated hierarchies of occult knowledge. Yet, its brevity on cultural appropriation risks glossing over the colonial histories of extracting Indigenous and femme-coded wisdom.
Critique
Miller’s lens remains largely heteronormative and cis-masculine, lacking intersectional analysis of how race, class, or queerness shape spirit work. The book’s occasional reliance on adversarial magic (e.g., binding spells) also overlooks feminist critiques of power dynamics in occult practice. A deeper engagement with figures like mediumistic suffragettes or Afro-diasporic priestesses would have enriched its perspective.
Conclusion
Consorting with Spirits is a compelling but incomplete resource for women seeking to formalize their intuitive or inherited spiritual practices. Its greatest value lies in validating pragmatic spirit work as a legitimate discipline—one that women have long mastered in private. By adapting Miller’s frameworks through a feminist lens, readers can resist the gendered binary of the “hysterical mystic” versus the “rational magician,” forging their own sacred alliances.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
A useful primer, though its silences speak louder than its spells. Pair with feminist occult texts (e.g., Caliban and the Witch) to fill its gaps.
May 26, 2025
I was recommended this book by someone who knew that I was a long-time practitioner of spirit work and spirit-based magic. Only after getting it and bringing it home did I realise that Miller was also the author of two books sitting on my "to donate pile". Not to say that I have anything against him or his work, but I haven't found it useful or relevant to my practice in the past.
That being said, I did my best to finish this book before ultimately casting it into the donation pile as well. There are many issues with the book ranging from the actual content to the organisation of information and sections. The "crash course" in magic theory is incomplete at best, especially when it comes to actually explaining what the spirit model of magic is or how magic based on that framework works. The author claims to be "more or less" a lot of things, but practices and beliefs are so intwined and conflated in the text that it is d*mn near impossible to discern where one influence ends and another begins. To be fair, he does mention that he is an initiated member of many traditions and that his writing is influenced by all of them, and he encourages readers to make the magic work for them and their traditions. But without clear explanations of where the influence of other traditions plays a part, it would be very difficult for even a more advanced practitioner to approach that task. Information is poorly organised and section titles do more to convey a sense of smarmy humour than they do to help you understand what the author is talking about.
Some of my biggest issues with this book are the author's tone and the lack of effective citation. Through a lot of the book, it's difficult to tell whether Miller is celebrating spirit-based magic or spitting on it. Most of the book has a similar energy to wild, self-aggrandised fishing stories. There are also many claims about historical texts and grimoires that should be accompanied by clear citations which just aren't. You won't find any notes about what grimoires and Cunning manuals Miller based his research on...though you will find an assertion that he's been using the term "mirror realm" for many years before the Doctor Strange movie made it cool.
Additionally, although the book takes its title from the name of a crime associated with the societal targeting and persecution of marginalised women (mostly, with few male exceptions), almost none of the texts that are mentioned are actually linked to that kind of historical belief, folk lore, or spirit practice. Most of the workings and viewpoints discussed take their inspiration from classical grimoires. It also does feel as thought, despite the title's link to witch trials and historical witch lore, Miller makes a very intentional and clear distinction between himself and witches, which does leave a sour taste.
If one knows what they're getting into before picking up the book, I can see how an experienced practitioner could make it useful to them. But the target audience for this book is, unfortunately, not the type of practitioner that the title (or even the cover blurbs) is going to draw in.
That being said, I did my best to finish this book before ultimately casting it into the donation pile as well. There are many issues with the book ranging from the actual content to the organisation of information and sections. The "crash course" in magic theory is incomplete at best, especially when it comes to actually explaining what the spirit model of magic is or how magic based on that framework works. The author claims to be "more or less" a lot of things, but practices and beliefs are so intwined and conflated in the text that it is d*mn near impossible to discern where one influence ends and another begins. To be fair, he does mention that he is an initiated member of many traditions and that his writing is influenced by all of them, and he encourages readers to make the magic work for them and their traditions. But without clear explanations of where the influence of other traditions plays a part, it would be very difficult for even a more advanced practitioner to approach that task. Information is poorly organised and section titles do more to convey a sense of smarmy humour than they do to help you understand what the author is talking about.
Some of my biggest issues with this book are the author's tone and the lack of effective citation. Through a lot of the book, it's difficult to tell whether Miller is celebrating spirit-based magic or spitting on it. Most of the book has a similar energy to wild, self-aggrandised fishing stories. There are also many claims about historical texts and grimoires that should be accompanied by clear citations which just aren't. You won't find any notes about what grimoires and Cunning manuals Miller based his research on...though you will find an assertion that he's been using the term "mirror realm" for many years before the Doctor Strange movie made it cool.
Additionally, although the book takes its title from the name of a crime associated with the societal targeting and persecution of marginalised women (mostly, with few male exceptions), almost none of the texts that are mentioned are actually linked to that kind of historical belief, folk lore, or spirit practice. Most of the workings and viewpoints discussed take their inspiration from classical grimoires. It also does feel as thought, despite the title's link to witch trials and historical witch lore, Miller makes a very intentional and clear distinction between himself and witches, which does leave a sour taste.
If one knows what they're getting into before picking up the book, I can see how an experienced practitioner could make it useful to them. But the target audience for this book is, unfortunately, not the type of practitioner that the title (or even the cover blurbs) is going to draw in.
October 24, 2025
I was super excited to read this book, because I hard heard so much about it from witchy influencers online. And that is exactly what this book is. It’s a witchy influence book with no real substance and a very good marketing team behind it.
Firstly, the sources in this book are laughable. The author doesn’t bother to site where he gets most of his information. And in fact, he claims to write rituals, which are clearly stolen from ceremonial magic traditions, such as the golden dawn. He changes a bit of the information and waters it down and claims that this is something that he wrote. It’s super messed up because he’s giving away information that’s intended for initiates. It’s not like you can’t find that information out there and other sources, but to not even explain where it’s from is offensive.
He jumps into working with super dark demons right off the bat without even explaining the basics.
I feel most of his rituals won’t work at all because in order to do them, you have to have a basic understanding of ceremonial magic and he doesn’t bother to let people know where to find them or give an overview them on his own.
It feels like this author rambled on into a a voice recorder and had AI write the book. It’s gobbledygook and it is not going to really teach you anything.
There are some things that I do like, such as his approach to meditation, discernment, and looking at various approaches (though he doesn’t say what those are the majority of the time) so you can find what works best for you. I also liked his approach to working with local spirits.
This book isn’t even really about working with spirits, which I thought that it would be. It’s really more about various ceremonial magic techniques that are watered down in a way that isn’t gonna work if you’re not in those practices deeply.
The book is also full of contradictions. He will explain something one way and then later on in the chapter or in future chapter, he basically contradicts all of that. I understand we have to find balance between two extremes, but he doesn’t actually explicitly say that. He just talks in circles.
This is such a disappointing book, and really opened my eyes to the massive marketing scams that are currently going on in the witchcraft community.
I don’t see any credibility in this author. This is the first time I’ve read any of his books and I absolutely will not be reading anymore in the future.
Firstly, the sources in this book are laughable. The author doesn’t bother to site where he gets most of his information. And in fact, he claims to write rituals, which are clearly stolen from ceremonial magic traditions, such as the golden dawn. He changes a bit of the information and waters it down and claims that this is something that he wrote. It’s super messed up because he’s giving away information that’s intended for initiates. It’s not like you can’t find that information out there and other sources, but to not even explain where it’s from is offensive.
He jumps into working with super dark demons right off the bat without even explaining the basics.
I feel most of his rituals won’t work at all because in order to do them, you have to have a basic understanding of ceremonial magic and he doesn’t bother to let people know where to find them or give an overview them on his own.
It feels like this author rambled on into a a voice recorder and had AI write the book. It’s gobbledygook and it is not going to really teach you anything.
There are some things that I do like, such as his approach to meditation, discernment, and looking at various approaches (though he doesn’t say what those are the majority of the time) so you can find what works best for you. I also liked his approach to working with local spirits.
This book isn’t even really about working with spirits, which I thought that it would be. It’s really more about various ceremonial magic techniques that are watered down in a way that isn’t gonna work if you’re not in those practices deeply.
The book is also full of contradictions. He will explain something one way and then later on in the chapter or in future chapter, he basically contradicts all of that. I understand we have to find balance between two extremes, but he doesn’t actually explicitly say that. He just talks in circles.
This is such a disappointing book, and really opened my eyes to the massive marketing scams that are currently going on in the witchcraft community.
I don’t see any credibility in this author. This is the first time I’ve read any of his books and I absolutely will not be reading anymore in the future.
October 19, 2025
Jason Miller is well educated in his studies, and has alot to offer his reader. I read these books because I am occult and I love to learn about things that we are not supposed to know. Knowledge is power, in my opinion. Jason is like many witches, wizards, and amongst other titles, that believe they can conjure spirits and use them and be protected from their wrath. He offers sections on how to get rid of them, and even though he openly admits that spirits have attacked him, but then have calmed down, there is methods to this madness that can help someone. I don't believe in it, demons control the spirit realm, along with archangels and they are not impressed with the idea of using someone who is dead as a slave so you can publish a book, or accomplish something in your life, or even try to attack and hurt someone because you are in an argument with them.
I don't believe in these ideas of cleansing, and purification and protection. There is no such thing in my books. I believe there's an idea down here on earth that humans can do something extraordinary or become something like hercules - born human but comes from the celestial skies, heavens, or Olympus, and do things that only the gods and devils can do. I think people have a hard time being human here, and are in a race to prove that they aren't and have something very unique and special about them, or else they are just like everybody else and how are they supposed to get the really hot girl or guy (that they probably don't genuinely want in the first place.) by being someone ordinary. I really love psychology and I use it on everything that I read. Analyzing people and even God himself is my favorite thing to do.
I don't believe in these ideas of cleansing, and purification and protection. There is no such thing in my books. I believe there's an idea down here on earth that humans can do something extraordinary or become something like hercules - born human but comes from the celestial skies, heavens, or Olympus, and do things that only the gods and devils can do. I think people have a hard time being human here, and are in a race to prove that they aren't and have something very unique and special about them, or else they are just like everybody else and how are they supposed to get the really hot girl or guy (that they probably don't genuinely want in the first place.) by being someone ordinary. I really love psychology and I use it on everything that I read. Analyzing people and even God himself is my favorite thing to do.
January 2, 2023
Consorting with Spirits ranks among the top books I read in 2022. It does what every good book of its genre should do: it challenged my preconceived notions, expanded my thinking, and taught me new skills that I have been able to utilize in my practice. What more could you want in a book about magic?
I do want to note that as an animistic folk witch, there are definitely skills taught in this book that do not align with my practice or beliefs. Much of the source material referenced is very ceremonial in nature, and while I incorporate those kinds of rituals and practices very occasionally into my craft, I have no interest in forcibly controlling spirits in the manner described in old grimoires. This book also focuses heavily on working with demons and saints; as a pagan, neither are really part of my practice.
So why is this one of my favorite books of the year? Because it deepened my understanding of spirit work in a way I truly was not prepared for. It opened my mind to new ways of thinking about spirits, how they can present, and why certain methods of consorting with spirits are particularly effective while others are not.
With this deeper understanding, I am better equipped to take the practices from this book (or any other) and adapt them to my own beliefs and practices in a way that yields more effective rituals and magic — and that is such a valuable takeaway.
In short: I highly, highly, highly recommend this one.
I do want to note that as an animistic folk witch, there are definitely skills taught in this book that do not align with my practice or beliefs. Much of the source material referenced is very ceremonial in nature, and while I incorporate those kinds of rituals and practices very occasionally into my craft, I have no interest in forcibly controlling spirits in the manner described in old grimoires. This book also focuses heavily on working with demons and saints; as a pagan, neither are really part of my practice.
So why is this one of my favorite books of the year? Because it deepened my understanding of spirit work in a way I truly was not prepared for. It opened my mind to new ways of thinking about spirits, how they can present, and why certain methods of consorting with spirits are particularly effective while others are not.
With this deeper understanding, I am better equipped to take the practices from this book (or any other) and adapt them to my own beliefs and practices in a way that yields more effective rituals and magic — and that is such a valuable takeaway.
In short: I highly, highly, highly recommend this one.
May 7, 2024
We read this for bookclub, and I'll admit, I wasn't a fan of Millers writing style before getting into this after reading Protection Magick and would've not picked this up if it wasn't for bookclub. I would say it's better than Protection Magick, but the bar was literally on the floor for that to happen. I wouldn't say this is useless at all, but good gods, you could sum up the helpful bits in probably 10% of the pages used to print this book. He states going into necromancy in a future book, yet this was exactly the book where I expected to find a discussion on necromancy. The first half is more general spirit work with spirits of place, while the second half of the book focuses pretty much on consorting with Demons of the Ars Goetia in a couple different ways. If you've read other books that touch on spirit work in any capacity, you've probably seen the actual helpful advice given in this book. Also, I didn't expect the hot take on DIY in craft. It wasn't a popular opinion with me or my community. Miller also likes to share a lot of his own experiences, and I agree that can be very helpful, but overall, I found his style of doing so to be very much like he wants to be part of the "cool kids".
I read this kindle and audio in conjunction. The audible version was only really bearable at 1.8x speed to make it go from slow and monotonous to upbeat and dramatic, a funny observation.
I read this kindle and audio in conjunction. The audible version was only really bearable at 1.8x speed to make it go from slow and monotonous to upbeat and dramatic, a funny observation.
February 16, 2024
It's definitely a tome for those wishing to deepen both spiritual ability and relationships one has with the spirits one works with. As mentioned, this is not a 101 text, but intermediate-level consideration.
Highly useful in broadening one's approach. In particular, I found Miller's assertion that resonance "accounts for probably 80 percent of magic" to be quite accurate. It was good to read that from someone who has been practicing for 3+ decades, as resonance is exactly what I rely on (primarily but NOT exclusively) in my dealings with the Spirit Realm.
Things that I have experienced but have been unsure of were unexpectedly validated by what I read in this book.
Also useful to me is the idea of regarding the spirits as being very alike to living people.
And although it may be redundant for myself specifically, it was also good to see emphasis laid on meditation, and learning the contours of one's own mind, as being vital to communing, and communicating, with Spirits.
This book is engaging, nonpretentious, and remarkably down-to-earth, given the subject matter. No "darque fluffe", no edge, and no proselytizing.
This was written by a practitioner who is at once experienced and humble - and HONEST.
The three make for an excellent combination.
Can (and do) recommend.
Highly useful in broadening one's approach. In particular, I found Miller's assertion that resonance "accounts for probably 80 percent of magic" to be quite accurate. It was good to read that from someone who has been practicing for 3+ decades, as resonance is exactly what I rely on (primarily but NOT exclusively) in my dealings with the Spirit Realm.
Things that I have experienced but have been unsure of were unexpectedly validated by what I read in this book.
Also useful to me is the idea of regarding the spirits as being very alike to living people.
And although it may be redundant for myself specifically, it was also good to see emphasis laid on meditation, and learning the contours of one's own mind, as being vital to communing, and communicating, with Spirits.
This book is engaging, nonpretentious, and remarkably down-to-earth, given the subject matter. No "darque fluffe", no edge, and no proselytizing.
This was written by a practitioner who is at once experienced and humble - and HONEST.
The three make for an excellent combination.
Can (and do) recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2024
Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller is a brilliant and comprehensive guide for anyone serious about working with spirits. What impressed me most is how Miller breaks down the process of sensing, communicating, and forming relationships with spirits in a clear and accessible way. He goes beyond simply summoning entities by focusing on deepening your interactions with them, which is a refreshing and much-needed perspective in modern magickal literature. The practical techniques and insights into evaluating the messages from spirits have already transformed how I approach spirit work, making it more focused and reliable.
Miller’s emphasis on local sorcery and long-term relationships with spirits is something that sets this book apart. He explores the different methods of interacting with spirits—prayer, conjuring, compelling, and evocation—and explains when each is appropriate, offering both beginners and advanced practitioners a solid foundation. The way he outlines the various types of spirits and their magickal operations is incredibly detailed and enlightening, giving readers a deep understanding of how to work with them effectively. Whether you're just starting to explore spirit work or looking to refine your practice, this book is a must-have. It’s packed with valuable wisdom and practical tools, making it a five-star read.
Miller’s emphasis on local sorcery and long-term relationships with spirits is something that sets this book apart. He explores the different methods of interacting with spirits—prayer, conjuring, compelling, and evocation—and explains when each is appropriate, offering both beginners and advanced practitioners a solid foundation. The way he outlines the various types of spirits and their magickal operations is incredibly detailed and enlightening, giving readers a deep understanding of how to work with them effectively. Whether you're just starting to explore spirit work or looking to refine your practice, this book is a must-have. It’s packed with valuable wisdom and practical tools, making it a five-star read.
May 13, 2024
I really like this book - it's not an overview, nor a beginners guide (something the aithor is very clear on right from the start), and it doesn't hesitate to get down into the practical details of conjurings and the like.
Sure, there's a lot of name-dropping (in a spiritual sense, of course), and the dismissal of Eastern occultism could rankle if not taken in context, but overall, this is a solid addition to any occultists library.
Was it perfect? Not by a long-shot! The author's practicies are very Western Ambrahmic, with a heavy dose of Ancient Greek, which leaves more than half the world almost totally excluded from not only the book, but seemingly his practices. However the basis is provided for a number of different summonings that can be (and have been) adapted for other practices and systems.
All-in, a very good book, and one I can see me using as a reference going forward.
Sure, there's a lot of name-dropping (in a spiritual sense, of course), and the dismissal of Eastern occultism could rankle if not taken in context, but overall, this is a solid addition to any occultists library.
Was it perfect? Not by a long-shot! The author's practicies are very Western Ambrahmic, with a heavy dose of Ancient Greek, which leaves more than half the world almost totally excluded from not only the book, but seemingly his practices. However the basis is provided for a number of different summonings that can be (and have been) adapted for other practices and systems.
All-in, a very good book, and one I can see me using as a reference going forward.
July 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
Consorting with Spirits by Jason G. Miller is a thoughtful and well-structured guide for those looking to deepen their practice in spirit work. The author clearly knows his material and offers a grounded, experience-based perspective that avoids sensationalism. I appreciated the practical exercises and the way he emphasized discernment, preparation, and safety when working with spirits.
That said, the book leaned a bit too much into repetition for my taste, and at times it felt like certain concepts were stretched out more than necessary. Readers already familiar with basic occult or magical practices might find parts of the book a bit slow or overly familiar. It also had a more instructional tone than engaging narrative flow, which made it harder to stay connected in longer reading sessions.
Overall, it's a solid introduction for serious practitioners, but not quite the compelling or transformative read I was hoping for.
Consorting with Spirits by Jason G. Miller is a thoughtful and well-structured guide for those looking to deepen their practice in spirit work. The author clearly knows his material and offers a grounded, experience-based perspective that avoids sensationalism. I appreciated the practical exercises and the way he emphasized discernment, preparation, and safety when working with spirits.
That said, the book leaned a bit too much into repetition for my taste, and at times it felt like certain concepts were stretched out more than necessary. Readers already familiar with basic occult or magical practices might find parts of the book a bit slow or overly familiar. It also had a more instructional tone than engaging narrative flow, which made it harder to stay connected in longer reading sessions.
Overall, it's a solid introduction for serious practitioners, but not quite the compelling or transformative read I was hoping for.
February 19, 2025
Informative and straightforward.
I don't practice magic, sorcery or witchcraft of any kind and I don't plan on ever doing so. Regardless, I have had the burden and the honor of "consorting with spirits" throughout my life, (not through intention on my part, I've just been able to perceive them.) Although this book is primarily written for an audience concerned with purposefully consorting with spirits, within it I found loads of valuable wisdom. This useful information answered several of my own questions and confirmed speculations I've had regarding spirits in general. Although I skipped over most of the conjuring instructions, etc. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interaction with spirit, regardless of whether they are seeking them out or not.
I don't practice magic, sorcery or witchcraft of any kind and I don't plan on ever doing so. Regardless, I have had the burden and the honor of "consorting with spirits" throughout my life, (not through intention on my part, I've just been able to perceive them.) Although this book is primarily written for an audience concerned with purposefully consorting with spirits, within it I found loads of valuable wisdom. This useful information answered several of my own questions and confirmed speculations I've had regarding spirits in general. Although I skipped over most of the conjuring instructions, etc. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interaction with spirit, regardless of whether they are seeking them out or not.
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