The Good Spell Book: Love Charms, Magical Cures, and Other Practical Sorcery

by Gillian Kemp

Take control of your life with this essential handbook of everyday spells for the modern witch, filled with beautiful illustrations and helpful tips.

The world's most popular fortune-telling techniques—crystal balls, tarot cards, and palm reading—originated with the Romany, whose belief in magic, spell-casting, and prophecy has endured for nine centuries.

Now, in this beautifully illustrated book, Gillian Kemp reveals time-honored secrets of the supreme practitioners of divination and the mystic arts. She has compiled a practical collection of good spells, drawn from time spent with some of Europe's dwindling Romany groups, which are easy to follow and use everyday ingredients such as candles, flowers, ribbons and string.

From love charms to spells for money, health and happiness, this fun and attractive spell book keeps alive the colorful traditions of the Romany people and promises great luck in the future for true believers. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Wicca, Reference, Paganism, Spirituality, Magic

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 1999

Reviews

[Renetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend's cat ran away. It was quite a big deal, his mother was a mess. They were calling me every day for days because I had been at their house when the cat went missing. I didn't know what to do! They had me all stressed out. I think they thought I was somehow responsible. I remembered this book had a spell to return a missing pet. I followed the spell, lit the candle and asked my roommate not to blow the candle out when I left for work. I came home and my roommate told me she happened to walk past my room right as the candle burned out. I didn't think anything of it. The next day my friend called me and told me the cat came home the night before and looked a fright! She had clearly been though an ordeal. They were so glad to have her back safe and sound. I asked what time the cat returned and I called my roommate to ask what time the candle had burned out. It was the same time!

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purchased during my Wicca phase in high school, this book is actually very nice, and I still refer to it occasionally. The spells are all taken from traditional Romany lore and remedies, and even if you don't believe in them the extra information about Romany culture and beliefs is still very interesting.
All of the spells are simple and not at all creepy - the most exotic ingredient you'll find here is essential oils and incense. The spells are divided into five groups: love, health, pets, wealth, and happiness. I recently tried one of them, under the "health" chapter, to get rid of two little warts on the bottom of my big toe. The book offers several methods, and here's the one I used: "To charm warts away, use a piece of string: tie as many knots as there are warts, then bury the string. The warts will decay along with the string."

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past 5 years, this is the only spell book that has ever been 100% consistent and accurate with me. Each spell I've used has worked every time. The "job spell" has been really helpful, and has gotten me out of many a rough situation! Only use them for good...or else beware! Incredible havoc can be wreaked in your life....

[joy’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I actually really liked this book, i think a lot of the spells are quite useful and i really enjoyed learning about the gypsies and their beliefs

[Nav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't speak to how effective the spells are, but the ingredients weren't too exotic and the instruction didn't seem too onerous to give one or two a try yourself. Most seemed to operate under the idea that what you put into the world will come back to you - the power of positive thinking or karma. I actually found the bits about Romany culture most interesting.

[DJ Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is primarily a book for people who are just looking to have fun or purchase a novelty for a friend. It isn't really meant to be taken too seriously. It is small, light, and compact therefore ideal for travel and very easy to conceal in a purse or large pocket. If you are a serious practitioner I would let this one get away.



If you are a newbie, and/or just curious, this books redeeming quality is that it is fantastic as a practice manual. Most everything in the book is bogus anyhow, so you can't do any damage and it will get you used to the steps needed to perform simple spells and incantations.

Excerpt:

"Pet Safety Spell

When your pet is away at a kennel or at the vet's, you can strengthen your psychic link with it and ensure its safe and happy return. Place a blue ribbon or cord in a circle around its bed, favorite chair, or toys, and tie a knot to form a circle. Unknot the cord only when your pet is back in your safekeeping."

I lOvE any spell that assists pets. I'm not sure if this one really works or just plays into my O.C.D., but I admit that I do indulge in this one myself. Everyone is sure to find at least a laugh out of the book.



Review provided by:

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first spell book I ever read at age 10 when I was first starting my journey as a pagan. For a beginner it was relatively easy to follow and doesn't require a lot of complicated or hard to find ingredients. The book is divided into spell type and has several spells in each section. This was also a great jumping off point and inspiration for writing my own spells. I would recommend it.

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, interesting, and beautiful, Kemp's line of books such as this one are great for anyone into magic or fantasy, even if you don't believe any of the stuff in it. The illustrated pages and classy ribbons are a nice touch--definitely a book to own and not simply borrow.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love halloween and all that comes with it....love all of gillian kemps books....cool texture on outter cover and ribbon book marks...each book is a different color and look nice on your shelf...this was my first of her works

[McKelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a charming collection of gypsy spells and folklore! Whether you believe in magic, or not, a good read!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the only spell book that I have and the only one I would recommend. I have other books that include spells, but I prefer this book.

[Tabz Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming little book was a treasured part of my bookshelf for years. I lost my original copy in a house fire and I have been trying to find a new copy off and on ever since. I recently found another copy of the original red hardcover online and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival.
I always loved the attention to detail (the little ribbon bookmark is a wonderful "old world" touch) and the spells are easy to follow and great for all magickal skill levels. It feels like a family heirloom and should be treated as such.

[Chris Kasior · Rating 3 out of 5]

While some of the material is heavily recycled from a myriad of sources this is still a good book for being in a pinch to do a working. Wouldn't recommend for a beginner, but intermediate that understands the mechanics and symbolism of the material within. As the title suggests they're "good", but prior knowledge would be advantageous in order for them to work.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have owned this book for many years. Not only is the book beautiful and pleasant to read, the spells have always worked beautifully and accurately.

[Lizzy Seitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars out of 5

Some good spells and rituals in here that I’ll try out soon

[LadyInamorata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I refer to this now and again. I have had it for years. It is one of my favorites. It is very special to me and close to me wherever I am. I simply adore this little charmer.

[KIM · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so cool to read

[Loren Badam · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my first spell books. Cute short spells.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun short and easy read but since I read this while travelling it's kind of hard to practice any of the spells.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not helpful, but an interesting read.

[Sara Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well put together in regards to attention to aesthetic detail. A special little book.

[QueenDee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decent book for anyone who's interested in the Romany aspects of charms and spells.

[Natalie Pietro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a teenager. One sunmer my friends and I must have watched the craft to many times cause we were hypnotized by this movie. We found this book and would sit all day picking out the right spells and thinking of just how we would go about getting all the objects to make the spell work. As the summer ended I think we never really completed a spell. Just mostly sitting with lit candles, meditating, and trying to connect with the dead. Much fun and good memories but hey, does witch craft really work?
The book is delightfully cute It's small easy to carry around in your bag of items to do the spells. The chapters were very charming. Such as love, health, wealth, happiness, and even pets. Quick read, but you have to read it over and over just to make sure your doing the spells just right. Best part the woven binding has stitched in ribbon bookmarks to make the book more loveable. Helping you mark your favorite spells for easy referance.
I do love this book. Maybe one day I will flip back through it and see if maybe I can make one of these spells work for good.

[S. Policar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The spells are all Romany, some dating as far back as the 1600's. Personally, I've always been fascinated by the Gypsies and Gilliam Kemp's series on their spells is just amazing.

I found the spells fairly simple. I don't even the most thrifty of witches having a problem obtaining the small amount of things needed throughout the book. Some of the spells don't require anything other a candle, a campfire, paper, or a bay leaf.

This book has a collection of spells for just about any purpose. From love spells, to spells to get rid of an old lover, even spells to make siblings get along, spells for weather, home protections, and even your pets!

I recommend this book to any witch who interested in simple spell casting. While some spells have to be cast repeated over several days, they are still easy to follow and an asset to any spell book collection.

I give this book 4 of 5 paws

[Sam Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually my very first ever introduction to spell books and magic outside of fairytales, way back in around 1998 that sparked a long-standing fascination with folklore and the occult. Reading through it now, many many years later, I can acknowledge that's it's not a great read or an insight into Romani workings but it's a nice way to start on the path of research into cultures and their lore, and a good introduction to things like colour and ingredient associations, candles, and crystals.

[Nicole Zele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely gorgeous. I’m obsessed with the way it feels in your hands! The texture, the illustrations, and the whole vibe are just perfect. I tried a few of the spells and they actually worked for me. I wasn’t expecting that, but it made the experience feel so magical.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had spells and remedies for health, wealth, happiness, and love. It was so great!

[Mawgojzeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of good physical quality; quite pleasant to look at and to hold. Contains a brief overview of the Romani people, spells, and various holiday descriptions.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

not only cute but a little info tossed in.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute and functional...would have liked a little more info and a little less frill.