The Witch's Book of Spirits

by Devin Hunter

Discover the Ways of the Spirits And Master the Art of Command and Influence Profound spiritual insights and powers await beyond the material world. In The Witch's Book of Spirits , Devin Hunter invites you to perform rituals and magic with spirit guides, familiars, angels, the deceased, faeries, and demons. Develop and enhance your relationships to your allies in spirit through soul flight, mediumship, and conjuration. Explore the inner workings of the Witch's Tree as well as the planes and peoples who dwell in its many layers. Expand the scope of your magic with the 33 Spirits, a system transmitted to the author by a special priesthood of spirits, his familiar, Malach, and the goddess Hecate. Working with spirits is the cornerstone of the witch's art. This book shows you how to stay in control as you increase your witch power and deepen your connection to forces seen and unseen. "Devin covers in depth an elusive side of witchcraft that few have explored in great practical detail...Devin presents the material in a very grounded, no-nonsense approach paired with an inherent sense of responsibility. His understanding of mediumship, conjuring, flying, and working with the spirit world displays the truth that he not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk."―Laura Tempest Zakroff, author of Sigil Witchery " The Witch's Book of Spirits is the most complete book on working with the dead ever written for Witches, but it's more than a manual for communicating with souls of the departed. It's also a guide to the worlds which generally lay just outside of our grasp and a thorough look at the beings that live there. I'd also like to add that it's just a damn fine book about witchcraft, filled with advice and some much-needed common sense."―Jason Mankey, author of The Witch's Book of Shadows "Teaching an art requires a delicate brew of guidance, cautions, and encouragement; Devin Hunter's book hits the right recipe. The Witch's Book of Spirits is a book that captures the author's personal vision and process while providing systems and frameworks that can serve the reader in developing their own way with the spirits."―Ivo Dominguez, Jr., author of Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans "In this book Devin gives not just the rituals necessary to conjure and communicate with spirits, but the tools for building life with them. He uses a method of teaching that alternates between supplying theory and principals that can be applied by almost anyone, with very specific rituals that he has received from the spirits himself. The result is a text that you will return to over and over again whether you are working his rites or developing your own."―Jason Miller, author of The Sorcerer's Secrets

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Occult, Spirituality, Magic, Paganism, Ebooks

336 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2017

About the author

Devin Hunter is a professional Psychic Medium and modern witch and is the resident House Medium at The Mystic Dream in Walnut Creek, Ca. He holds third-degree initiations in both the Northern Star Tradition of Wicca as well as the Dianic Tradition of Witchcraft (the Cult of Diana) and is the founder of his own tradition, Sacred Fires. His AV Club favorited podcast, the Modern Witch, has helped thousands of people from all over the world discover and develop their magical abilities. He is a blogger for Witches & Pagans magazine and is the creator of Modern Witch Magazine. Devin is currently teaching with the Black Rose School of Witchcraft and is the reigning Master of Ceremonies at the New Orleans Witches’ Ball. His first book, The Witch’s Book of Power releases from Llewellyn World Wide in July of 2016!

Reviews

[Elizabeth Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains so much information, it took me 2,000 words to review it on my website, http://www.amberunmasked.com/review-w...

I received the ARC from NetGalley which was unfortunately devoid of images. The book is in three parts.

Part 1: You’ll get a lot of meat out of this section of The Witch’s Book of Spirits. It provides a massive amount of information on proper terminology and processes. Flying, conjuring, keeping yourself safe, mediumship, and the planes of existence are all covered in detail. He identified three separate types of mediums: psychic medium, mental medium, and physical medium. Those are defined early on so readers understand what they may have personally experienced.

Part 2: Hunter names four most common types of spirits: angels, the dead, faeries, and demons. Again, there’s so much information in this that each of these parts of the book could stand on their own. Classifications and races of these four types of spirits are broken down.

Part 3: There is a faster pace to this final part of the book. Like holy scriptures, the author says he received this information after his familiar Malach told him to write it as part of their working contract. Hunter kicks off this section with humorous personal reflection about the message he received from Malach and then the messages that came through afterward from the 33 Spirits.

The Witch’s Book of Spirits is a must-have if you are interested in broadening your understanding of the spirit world beyond Theosophy or television psychics. There’s so much information presented, readers basically earn a Bachelor’s Degree in the Spirit Arts after digesting all of it. It took me a month to read, but it was worth it.

[Indigo Crow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give this a 2.5 rating, but even at that, I found this book left me feeling uneasy about any sort of star rating.

While at first I was very intrigued by the material in the book, as it progressed, I started feeling more and more apprehensive.

This guy claims his familiar spirit is named Malack, or some similar spelling. That's not an uncommon name in the occult world. In fact, I spelled it on my phone for this review and the spelling I used and a couple alternative spellings were suggested. Something about that left me feeling very skeptical.

He also seems to have extensive knowledge of various spirits but usually doesn't cite any references as to how he came by that knowledge. He might claim his familiar told him, but something inside me said he made a lot of it up.

Maybe this fella is a superior medium. But my own intuition is saying he's not and that he's making a lot of this up and is actually more of a good story teller than a medium.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid primer but a lot of it is UPG. Nothing wrong with that and I’m eager to compare my experiences to what Hunter encountered but I wish it was a bit clearer on how much was UPG.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me first say this book is packed with a lot of material, and would serve as a good reference book.

I read this more just out of curiosity. I do have a natural, and I think well-deserved, respect for contacting spirits. Hunter does a good job of explaining spirits, and their hierarchy. And Hunter makes a very good point saying that whatever religious predilection you have, all the spirits are connected, they just have different names. I thought that was important, and makes it a little easier for me to read. For some reason, maybe because I was raised in a cult-ish branch of Christianity, but I don't really connect with the terms of angles and demons. This has a weird vibe with me, and thinking of calling upon angles (or demons) to be my spiritual helpers doesn't sit well. Long rant, I know.

Each chapter is Hunter's book is well organized, but sometimes it is a little over my head. Hunter refers back to his previous work, so that may be a better place to start than picking this book up right away. There are plenty of journal prompts to get you thinking, if you are into that sort of thing. Sometimes I am, and sometimes I'm not. I didn't do the prompts for this book, but I read through them, and I thought they did have merit if you were going to do a full study of spirit conjuring.

Hunter also provides lots of exercises. How to meet your spirit guides, activating the etheric body, going to different planes, and much more. Lots of stuff on Sigils, tools of spiritual communication, rituals, Like I said, there is a lot of information in this book.

I recommend for the beginner and intermediate, as this has so much stuff in it, I'm sure just about anyone interested in this work would find this useful. Honestly, it would take a long while to delve deep into this book, so be prepared to put some work in.

I received a copy of this e-book from NetGalley for my honest review.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Witchs Book of Spirits by Devin Hunter

9780738751948

292 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, Llewellyn Worldwide
Release Date:

Nonfiction (Adult), Religion, Spirituality, Spirit Communication

The book is divided into the following sections

Part 1: The Familiar Craft
Chapter 1: Witches, Spirits, and the Familiar Craft
Chapter 2: Staying on Top
Chapter 3: The Art of Mediumship
Chapter 4: Spirit Guides and Familiars
Chapter 5: Preparing for Takeoff
Chapter 6: The Art of Flying
Chapter 7: Conjuration at a Glance
Chapter 8: Conjuration in Three Parts
Chapter 9: The Keys of Hecate

Part 2: The Spirits of the Familiar Craft
Chapter Ten: Angels
Chapter 11: The Dead
Chapter 12: Faeries
Chapter 13: Demons

Part 3: The Grimoire of 33 Spirits or the Book of the VEXNA-KARI
Chapter 14: The VEXNA_KARI
Chapter 15: The Others

I was pleased to read the forward written by Judith Illes. The author describes Familiar Craft as magical and psychic working with spirits. He also states that this book is a work to Hecate. I love the author’s statement about no religion can stake claim to a spirit type.

There is a great list of prohibitions and boundaries to consider when working with spirits. I never considered divination as a part of mediumship. That was very interesting to read. The section on flying refers to astral travel, or journeying, which is something I am always interested in doing. The author also provides recipes for oils, ointments, and incense.

The chapter on Hecate’s keys is amazing. He goes into detail about each key, the description, what it does, and how to activate it. I really enjoyed the section on Faeries. I work them a lot, especially as a follower of the Faerie Faith, and the book gave me tips and hints while working with them. If you are interested in working with spirits, this is definitely a book worth considering.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about an interesting reading! Devin Hunter makes it all look so simple in the first pages that you cannot stop reading, but when things get more complicated is that you understand that there is more than meets the eye with this book.
This book acts as a guide for those who wish to start working and developind mediumship-related abilities and that don’t know where to start. With simple ideas, information that is easily understandable and many, many exercises that will help on that.
After a juicy introduction on the subject, Hunter provides enough teachings for the witch to start working with her/his mediumship side, developing them on an almost daily basis, although it should be expected to do a lot of work to achieve this.
Along with it, with guest texts from other authors, that act as a window for further references and research, speak on specific and interesting topics to feed the boom with more useful tips and guidance.
What I do have to say doesn’t look that good is that it looks like a dark fantasy novel intended for teenagers and some won’t take it seriously, being me one of those. Some parts are so high into the subject I’m not sure they could work, although provide a base, a “skeleton,” to do something more in accordance with the witch's principels and ideals.
I’d be really interested in reading more about this author and his experiences, including his previous book, “The Witch’s Book of Power,” who seems to be a kind of prequel to the content on this one.

[Bimpe Hasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding work

This book took me on a journey way beyond my expectations; it's well written and very informative. Thank you for writing this book.

[Thomas Pinneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working with spirits is one of the most powerful, yet often misunderstood, aspects of witchcraft. In The Witch’s Book of Spirits, Devin Hunter tackles this elusive subject with clarity, depth, and a sense of grounded practicality that is both refreshing and much needed. This is not just a guide to spirit work; it’s a comprehensive system that expands the scope of what witchcraft can be, offering readers a blend of traditional spirit conjuration techniques and modern witchcraft practices to engage with beings that dwell beyond the material plane.

The core strength of Hunter’s book is his ability to distill complex esoteric concepts into accessible, structured teachings. He doesn’t shy away from the darker, more challenging aspects of spirit work—working with the deceased, summoning familiars, and communicating with faeries, demons, and angels are all covered here—but he does so with a steady hand, guiding the reader through the necessary precautions and ethical considerations. His understanding of the risks and rewards involved lends a depth to the material, showing that he speaks from a place of real experience rather than theoretical knowledge.

One of the standout sections is Hunter’s system for working with the 33 Spirits, a unique framework he developed in collaboration with his familiar, Malach, and the goddess Hecate. These spirits, each with their own domains and specialties, form a spiritual hierarchy that Hunter presents in meticulous detail, offering a pathway for witches to deepen their magical power and form lasting relationships with these entities. The rituals and conjurations provided are robust enough to be used as written, but Hunter also encourages readers to adapt and build upon them—making this book as much a toolkit as it is a formal system.

Hunter’s exploration of the Witch’s Tree—a metaphorical construct that maps out the various realms and layers of spirit worlds—is another highlight. This concept serves as a guidepost for understanding how different spirits interact and how witches can navigate the intricate web of spiritual connections. It’s a sophisticated framework that bridges the gap between abstract spiritual theory and practical application, making it easier to locate and work with specific spirits based on their resonance and position within this cosmology.

The tone throughout is accessible without sacrificing depth. Hunter writes with an authority that is tempered by humility, encouraging readers to engage with the material thoughtfully and to develop their own relationships with the spirits they encounter. His approach is neither dogmatic nor overly prescriptive; instead, he provides the foundation and structure needed for readers to safely explore these realms and make the practice their own.

But perhaps the most compelling aspect of The Witch’s Book of Spirits is its sense of purpose. Hunter isn’t content to simply teach the mechanics of summoning and banishing—he challenges witches to build a true partnership with the spirits they work with, to move beyond basic communication and enter into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the unseen. This is a book for witches who want to go beyond surface-level spirit work and engage fully with the beings who influence our world, both for personal growth and for expanding their magical repertoire.

Ultimately, The Witch’s Book of Spirits is a landmark work in modern witchcraft, offering a clear, coherent system that blends theory, practice, and personal insight. Whether you are new to spirit work or a seasoned practitioner looking to refine your methods, Hunter’s book will serve as a trusted guide, filled with wisdom, practical tools, and a deep respect for the spirit world.

[Mr.Keleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

👍🏻Good things: The Keys of Hecate and the Seals of the Realms is enough for you to have this book on your shelf. It will greatly improve your contact with new spirits and also give you more power to do evocations. It also have good advices and recipes for soul flight (astral travel) and has a good form of banishment and "Middle Pillar Ritual"

👎🏻Things I don't like: It seems I'm reading a Medieval Grimoire rant with all the "God Herself" preaching (why not just call it God? It really have to be "God Himself" or "God Herself"? Such a unlimited being confined by genre, really?).

Again it seems a very Grimoire rant, which is not a bad thing as long the spells and advices are useful, but it's kinda hypocrite for people that 'hate Christianity' because of Yahweh and patriarchy but do the same thing. It's kinda confusing because the author recognizes the Left Hand and Right Hand path, but still continues to use words like "Karma" that do not fit the Left Hand philosophy, and all the things about Angels VS Demons (I do believe that some Daemons from Goetia don't like some Archangel's, like Paimon who don't like Raphael, but they seem to not care about the Shem Angels much or even like the guidance of the Shem Angels)


The 33 Legions seem they're servitors created by the author (he even acknowledge that some of them are in fact servitors or "familiars" of past magicians), and it's not a bad thing I've seen some people saying that E.A Koetting also created servitors but I had good experiences with his Grimoires, but the difference is that some of the 33 Legions of Vexna-Kark really give me off vibes like King Shadow that requires more and more offerings which is a red flag 🚩 for imposter spirits.

I like the first three though, the Vexna-Kara, Vexna-Karo and Vexna-Karu give me cool vibes (maybe because I'm also ally of Hecate then they seem more inviting and better to contact).
==============================================

In general, the good things speak louder than the bad but they definitely hinder the reading. I advice to advanced magicians to pick only the things that resonates with you and your belief system.

[Ava · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I was disappointed. This book functions more as a personal grimoire of Hunter's rather than an informative text. There is a large bias towards ceremonial witchcraft (Wicca/Golden Dawn) but with Hunter's own interpretation. A majority of the sigils provided related to Hecate which is impractical for those outside of the Hellenistic practice.

As a whole, there is an intense amount of theoretics for a single text. There's the provision of 33 spirits the author was informed to provide to witches because of their intense need to work with other practitioners. There's discussion of Nephilim, half-human half-angel hybrids which is a bold belief to bring into an neo-spiritual text. There is discussion on angel, fae, and demon ethics, personalities, and physicality that is extremely unique and almost out of a YA novel or Lord of the Rings. These concepts are not only based on Hunter's accounts alone but also impractical for many practitioners. There is an aura of grandiose ideas and it's an overload of theory for the reader.

Of course, there are historical concerns. Hunter regards the flood as a "near extinction event" but the flood myth is not a universal concept across spiritual cultures. There is no definite, historical consensus that the flood was a world wide event, which should be considered in an accepting and open practice like witchcraft (p. 224). Also, it's apparent that Hunter's practice is materialistic which is unhelpful for impoverished practitioners. From p. 226, "Ceremonial magic was difficult and expensive and labor intensive, and it had—and still has—an air of exclusivity about it. I don't think exclusivity is a bad thing, but in this case it shaped the way this magic would develop in later centuries." We know better in the modern era. Exclusivity has not saved us from extremist ideas and classism does the everyday practitioner little favors. This quote follows discussion on John Dee (p. 225), which is fascinating considering he died in poverty.

I found value in the methods proposed for astral projection practice which can be accessible alternatives compared to other, vague methods I've read. The most helpful concepts end at p. 130.

[Jessica Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devin Hunter’s The Witch’s Book of Spirits is hands down one of the most comprehensive guides on spirit work I’ve ever read. Hunter covers everything from communicating with the deceased and familiars to navigating the various layers of the Witch’s Tree, which is a unique system that adds depth to spirit magic. What really stands out is the balance between practical how-to information and Hunter’s personal experiences and insights, making it feel like you’re learning directly from someone who walks this path daily. The 33 Spirits system, which he introduces here, feels fresh and unique. You can tell that these are real, lived techniques rather than just theory, which is a rare quality in books on spirit conjuring.

I’ve found myself going back to this book repeatedly, not just to reference Hunter’s methods but also to gain new perspectives on my own practice. His approach is structured and grounded, making even the more advanced techniques accessible, without losing that sense of wonder and respect for working with powerful entities. I appreciate how he doesn’t just lay out rituals and leave it at that—he explains the underlying principles and the precautions, making this a perfect guide whether you’re just beginning to work with spirits or looking to deepen your relationships with the unseen. It’s the kind of book that will grow with you as your practice evolves, and that’s what makes it such a valuable addition to any witch’s library.

[Celea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Hunter's writing waxes and wanes with his level of mastery over the topic being discussed. It is clear when he is putting on airs, and when he's comfortable with his subject matter. Just write what you know, the best way you would have it told to yourself when you started. Stop trying to fit into a silhouette that will never be you. Your readers can smell the inauthenticity, and it makes us wary of your work.

As for the work itself...Something smells off with some of these spirits. While Mr. Hunter vouches for the authenticity of these spirits that they have been heavily vetted, and encourages the reader to vet the spirits as well, I would have much preferred to read more on the relationship Mr. Hunter has with these spirits, how they manifest, and other recorded UPG other than "trust me, and Big Bad Bamma Mamma Hecate is the strongest ever, actually." I would have liked to see some more robust personal sources, and older sources for some of the mythological and historical claims. For dealing with gods like Hecate and Diana, I would have expected primary sources older than the united states, at least.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Witch's Book of Spirits by Devin Hunter


I have always been fascinated with witchcraft and have studied it for years. I wish I had of had this book years ago. This is not a read it and pass it on type of book. As a matter of fact it is not a story at all. This is one of those books you will want to add to your reference library and pull it out quite often. This book will teach you many different aspects of witchcraft. It will teach you spells, rituals, and so much more. No it is not a book of spells. It is kind of like a text book of witchcraft and all that is involved. If you have ever wanted to learn the craft or just brush up this is a great book. It is not a cheesy made up fascination it is very indepth. You can learn so much from this book. It will also teach the right way to go about the craft so you do not suffer in the end with mistakes made in spells that can haunt you in the end run. You may even want to have a notebook handy as you read this book, I did.

[Claudia Loureiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative and well written and is for people of all levels. I really love the exercises Devin includes in book such as meeting your spirit guides and activating your third eye. He also includes how to spiritually cleanse your home and recipes such as spiritual baths.
This book has great info on mediumship that I can really relate too!
I highly recommend this book to all witches of all levels!

[Kevin Worcester · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely amazing. the witch’s book of spirits is hands down one of the best books on working with spirits i’ve ever read. devin hunter really knows his stuff and breaks down complex topics like conjuration and mediumship in a way that’s easy to understand but still powerful. loved how he introduces the 33 Spirits — a totally unique system that’s super practical and doesn’t feel like fluff. plus, his advice on staying in control and building real relationships with spirits is top-notch.

[Julie McCord · Rating 3 out of 5]

In brief...this was an interesting experience in that I liked his personal stories and found value in his recipes and praxis, and yet when he talks about theory I never, ever agree with him.

[Aetherea Raziel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Books of Witchcraft, Full with brand new Awesome Magickal Technic to Bonding with Magic and Spirits, if this book a novel could be on thriller genre hehe

[Amy Vaccaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! So many uses for the keys I cannot wait to get started using them. The amount of annotations I made in this book… wow! So useful and will come back to it again and again!

[Antoinette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know how much this book is going to be as useful to me as The Witch's Book of Power. I think the material gave me a lot to think about, though I will probably have to do wider research into spirits (and what my own tradition has to say about the subject) on my own to see if this actually works for me. And as I don't really have interest in working with Hekate, I would need to figure out a way around that if I wanted to use the information in this book.