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Of Witchcraft and Whimsy: A Beginner's Guide to Basic Witchcraft
Witchcraft is one of those things it’s a bit hard to find advice on, as it is a bit strange in our times to go around asking people if they are witches. Even google is not helpful if you don’t know the questions to ask, which can often be the case when stumbling upon something new where everyone else seems to already be in the know. So here are a few questions and answers in case you needed either of them. This is a basic overview of witchcraft, what it is, the techniques and methods commonly used in it, as well as some simple spells, intended for the beginner witch.
93 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2017
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346 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 1, 2018
Of Witchcraft and Whimsy: A Beginner's Guide to Basic Witchcraft
Orriculum Rose
I have just finished reading 'Of Witchcraft and Whimsy: A Beginner's Guide to Basic Witchcraft' by Orriculum Rose, and I must say I quite enjoyed it and intend on keeping it downloaded on my Kindle to reference in my own practices.
This book is, as you can tell from the long title, a book aimed at beginners to witchcraft. The author claims that this book will be simple to follow and explain the practice, what it is and what it isn't and provide some spells to help you start out.
I personally feel she achieved those things. She explained the basics of what her book is about and that it's not a Wicca book, which was honestly the main thing that helped me decide to give this book a try since I was finding it difficult to find books that weren't written by and for those practising Wicca as I myself am not Wicca. I was very happy to see that she makes an effort to warn about the potential homophobia, transphobia and sexism within the magic community as there are members who believe you can only be a witch if you are straight, white, born and identify as female, but that you don't have to fit any of those to be a witch. She covers many tools and terms commonly used, but more importantly, and I can't give her enough props for this, she explains more than once that magic is NOT a replacement for medication or medical treatment and urges you to go to a doctor and not try to treat yourself with spells and potions, which is so good to see, especially in a beginner's book. She has a very large selection of spells and potions in the book covering all sorts of magic, she even touches on how baking cookies can be included as a magic practice which is certainly something that interests me as I live for baking.
I found the book very easy to read even with my dyslexia, though there were a handful of spelling mistakes and the use of 'an' in place of 'a' made some sentences a little awkward to read. But other than that I honestly can't think of anything I disliked or had a problem with.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in getting involved in witchcraft, I would even recommend it to a witch who isn't a beginner just for the large amount of spells and such and have already recommended it to a few of my friends that I know are interested.
Orriculum Rose
I have just finished reading 'Of Witchcraft and Whimsy: A Beginner's Guide to Basic Witchcraft' by Orriculum Rose, and I must say I quite enjoyed it and intend on keeping it downloaded on my Kindle to reference in my own practices.
This book is, as you can tell from the long title, a book aimed at beginners to witchcraft. The author claims that this book will be simple to follow and explain the practice, what it is and what it isn't and provide some spells to help you start out.
I personally feel she achieved those things. She explained the basics of what her book is about and that it's not a Wicca book, which was honestly the main thing that helped me decide to give this book a try since I was finding it difficult to find books that weren't written by and for those practising Wicca as I myself am not Wicca. I was very happy to see that she makes an effort to warn about the potential homophobia, transphobia and sexism within the magic community as there are members who believe you can only be a witch if you are straight, white, born and identify as female, but that you don't have to fit any of those to be a witch. She covers many tools and terms commonly used, but more importantly, and I can't give her enough props for this, she explains more than once that magic is NOT a replacement for medication or medical treatment and urges you to go to a doctor and not try to treat yourself with spells and potions, which is so good to see, especially in a beginner's book. She has a very large selection of spells and potions in the book covering all sorts of magic, she even touches on how baking cookies can be included as a magic practice which is certainly something that interests me as I live for baking.
I found the book very easy to read even with my dyslexia, though there were a handful of spelling mistakes and the use of 'an' in place of 'a' made some sentences a little awkward to read. But other than that I honestly can't think of anything I disliked or had a problem with.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in getting involved in witchcraft, I would even recommend it to a witch who isn't a beginner just for the large amount of spells and such and have already recommended it to a few of my friends that I know are interested.
May 25, 2017
I really loved this book so much! It gave a unique perspective on witchcraft that many authors in the community fail to mention. It is very accessible to secular witches, which is something one rarely sees. This was a great refresher book for me and would be a very valuable addition to a beginner witch's library.
On a more negative note, the typos in this novel were a bit overwhelming and distracted from the content a bit. It definitely should have been edited further before release. Also it was a bit random in its organization. This wasn't a problem for me as I bought the kindle version and could navigate it using the 'search text' tool but for those with the print copy, I could see navigation being a bit of a pain. In addition, some of the spells invoked deities of the Hellenic pantheon which made them pretty useless to me as a secular witch, though still very interesting to read.
On a more negative note, the typos in this novel were a bit overwhelming and distracted from the content a bit. It definitely should have been edited further before release. Also it was a bit random in its organization. This wasn't a problem for me as I bought the kindle version and could navigate it using the 'search text' tool but for those with the print copy, I could see navigation being a bit of a pain. In addition, some of the spells invoked deities of the Hellenic pantheon which made them pretty useless to me as a secular witch, though still very interesting to read.
February 16, 2018
So lovely! It’s very informative and wonderful for the beginner witch just as the subtitle states. I’m so grateful to have picked it up! Definitely recommend 💭
January 2, 2019
This is probably my least favorite witchcraft book I’ve ever read. I can tell it’s been self published with no team of editors or designers at all, for one. Just an observation I had. I’ve read some bomb ass indie books in my day, but this is not one of them. It was very low quality.
In addition to that, it added nothing to the conversation. If you are a beginner witch, I would recommend about thirty or forty other beginner books I’ve come across before I would recommend this one. The few spells in here are incredibly generic, the information is generic, a lot of it wasn’t explained very well, there was an unnecessary question and answer section, and it just was very generic in general. It basically read like one witchy YouTube video that was way too long, and I in fact would recommend a lot of YouTube video on the beginnings of witchcraft over this book.
I just was really underwhelmed by this book and the quality of it, unfortunately.
In addition to that, it added nothing to the conversation. If you are a beginner witch, I would recommend about thirty or forty other beginner books I’ve come across before I would recommend this one. The few spells in here are incredibly generic, the information is generic, a lot of it wasn’t explained very well, there was an unnecessary question and answer section, and it just was very generic in general. It basically read like one witchy YouTube video that was way too long, and I in fact would recommend a lot of YouTube video on the beginnings of witchcraft over this book.
I just was really underwhelmed by this book and the quality of it, unfortunately.
April 1, 2018
I enjoy supporting indie writers when I can. Orriculum is another tumblr user who's blog I enjoy. This is a pretty good witchcraft 101 primer, especially for non-Wiccans, but Wiccans are more than welcome to read this book too. This book would benefit from some more editing since there were plenty of typos.
April 27, 2017
Witchcraft and Whimsy is a fantastic witchcraft 101 book. It gives a great introduction to many of the foundational basics of the practice, defines many terms not always covered in similar texts, and addresses many common misconceptions found in the more easily accessible publications out there. I will absolutely be recommending this book to many looking for a basic introduction of witchcraft along with my usual suggestions. Not only was the information sound, but the author repeatedly used inclusive language to shut down many discrimitory arguments found within the community while also reminding the reader to be respectful of closed traditions and of their local laws.
There were a handful of times I felt the author could`ve taken more time to go more in depth on certain topics. I think these same topics could have been better supported with sources or a "further reading list" to present why some of the misinformation often addressed and argued over within the community is incorrect. I also feel that a disclaimer should have been included at the beginning of this book outlining that when reading any occult book, including this one, the reader should always be critical and discerning.
Finally a note on being self-published and in e-book format. This book did not escape the basic self-publishing grammatical errors. There were several incorrect words such as "or" instead of "of", missed capitilizations for new sentences, and a few sentences that need some editing to clarify the meaning and/or create better flow. I'm also very unsure how I feel about the use of links. If the reader is reading while connected to the internet this makes a much more interactive and informative experience, but an Internet connection is required and if the author changers their Tumblr URL or deletes their blog the book suddenly finds itself lacking where it depending on links to detail a topic.
There were a handful of times I felt the author could`ve taken more time to go more in depth on certain topics. I think these same topics could have been better supported with sources or a "further reading list" to present why some of the misinformation often addressed and argued over within the community is incorrect. I also feel that a disclaimer should have been included at the beginning of this book outlining that when reading any occult book, including this one, the reader should always be critical and discerning.
Finally a note on being self-published and in e-book format. This book did not escape the basic self-publishing grammatical errors. There were several incorrect words such as "or" instead of "of", missed capitilizations for new sentences, and a few sentences that need some editing to clarify the meaning and/or create better flow. I'm also very unsure how I feel about the use of links. If the reader is reading while connected to the internet this makes a much more interactive and informative experience, but an Internet connection is required and if the author changers their Tumblr URL or deletes their blog the book suddenly finds itself lacking where it depending on links to detail a topic.
October 4, 2017
I get the feeling that this was self-published, and of course there's nothing wrong with that! But there were numerous grammatical and syntax errors and even entire parts of sentences entirely left out, as if the author had deleted parts intending to go back and revise them, but then forgot to. I'm not a grammar nazi by any means but this kind of error wouldn't have gotten past an editor, and shouldn't have gotten past the author if it was indeed self-published. I found the typos extremely distracting and intrusive to the writing, which is the main reason I only rated this book 2 stars.
That being said, the book DID what it set out to do. It was a beginner's guide to witchcraft. I found the definitions and explanations of things very helpful. I do wish it went into a little more detail on certain topics but like I said--it works as a complete beginner's guide made for an audience that is interested in witchcraft but has zero background knowledge of the subject. In that regard, it was good and pretty informative. However, the errors did make it difficult to read, because I had to try to guess at what it was that was accidentally left out.
That being said, the book DID what it set out to do. It was a beginner's guide to witchcraft. I found the definitions and explanations of things very helpful. I do wish it went into a little more detail on certain topics but like I said--it works as a complete beginner's guide made for an audience that is interested in witchcraft but has zero background knowledge of the subject. In that regard, it was good and pretty informative. However, the errors did make it difficult to read, because I had to try to guess at what it was that was accidentally left out.
October 26, 2017
Too badly riddled with grammatical mistakes, typos and formatting errors to read. Also advocates curses and blood magic which warns me to stay the hell away from this book. Reading through some of the book, it quickly became clear that the author is incredibly naive.
December 19, 2018
Formatting isn't great but it's a good little glimpse into eclectic witchcraft.
June 6, 2018
This is the first book I've read on the subject of witchcraft. I think it was a good introduction to what it's all about!
July 6, 2018
I originally ordered this book from Amazon because the synopsis and title drew me in immediately. However, it let me down in every way that counts.
It was hard to take it seriously when there was a typo almost every paragraph, especially within the first ten pages. I understand that it's self published, but these mistakes could easily be fixed if the author had someone go over and re-read their work before publication.
There was also a lot of passages that I did not agree with. Not only did I not agree with them, but they were also unnecessary. In the beginning there is a section titled 'Witchcraft Basics' where the author delves into misconceptions about witchcraft. She mentions that you do not have to have a black cat, you don't have to dress "like a witch", or have a mysterious attitude. Those things are obvious. Yes, in movies they portray witches in a similar fashion, but most people understand that movies are false.
The spells in the last half of the book were spells that would not work with my practice. I can't say the same for anyone else, as everyone has their own beliefs and traditions. But the spells that I read were childish and felt almost... Mocking, if that makes sense. Like the author didn't think them through and wrote them down just to add more pages.
All in all, this book is not something I would recommend to any witch.
It was hard to take it seriously when there was a typo almost every paragraph, especially within the first ten pages. I understand that it's self published, but these mistakes could easily be fixed if the author had someone go over and re-read their work before publication.
There was also a lot of passages that I did not agree with. Not only did I not agree with them, but they were also unnecessary. In the beginning there is a section titled 'Witchcraft Basics' where the author delves into misconceptions about witchcraft. She mentions that you do not have to have a black cat, you don't have to dress "like a witch", or have a mysterious attitude. Those things are obvious. Yes, in movies they portray witches in a similar fashion, but most people understand that movies are false.
The spells in the last half of the book were spells that would not work with my practice. I can't say the same for anyone else, as everyone has their own beliefs and traditions. But the spells that I read were childish and felt almost... Mocking, if that makes sense. Like the author didn't think them through and wrote them down just to add more pages.
All in all, this book is not something I would recommend to any witch.
September 1, 2019
Incredibly helpful, easy to follow, non-judgmental narrative
Rose Orriculum’s guide to basic witchcraft is a great primer for anyone who has decided to look at witchcraft for the first time and isn’t sure where to step first. Her descriptions are clear and easy to follow, she doesn’t spend a ton of time on history (there are other books that do that): she just gets you going. The one thing that I do wish she covered in more and greater detail is cultural appropriation. She has a bulleted list of items to stay away from/practices to avoid (like smudging), but without an explanation, this doesn’t do much good when nearly every witchcraft shop in Salem, MA is selling white sage smudge sticks without ethical hesitation... please explain what the hesitation should be (namely, that this is the practice of an exploited group for their spiritual ceremonies, and it’s just as offensive/clueless as wearing a feathered headdress to Coachella when non-Native American people employ this practice to freshen up their living room). It’s quite valid and it’s good for new practitioners to know what to avoid, but to also know why to avoid it. Otherwise, great read!
Rose Orriculum’s guide to basic witchcraft is a great primer for anyone who has decided to look at witchcraft for the first time and isn’t sure where to step first. Her descriptions are clear and easy to follow, she doesn’t spend a ton of time on history (there are other books that do that): she just gets you going. The one thing that I do wish she covered in more and greater detail is cultural appropriation. She has a bulleted list of items to stay away from/practices to avoid (like smudging), but without an explanation, this doesn’t do much good when nearly every witchcraft shop in Salem, MA is selling white sage smudge sticks without ethical hesitation... please explain what the hesitation should be (namely, that this is the practice of an exploited group for their spiritual ceremonies, and it’s just as offensive/clueless as wearing a feathered headdress to Coachella when non-Native American people employ this practice to freshen up their living room). It’s quite valid and it’s good for new practitioners to know what to avoid, but to also know why to avoid it. Otherwise, great read!
March 7, 2019
This book has handfuls of spelling errors and grammatical issues that should have been fixed with a few more rounds of editing. This is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, it's a great, quick, easy, and small resource for beginners who don't know up from down or left from right in the magic world yet. She places great emphasis on equality and inclusion (which I LOVE) and also on the fact that YOU are in control of your practice and beliefs. There is no wrong way to practice witchcraft unless you are harming yourself/others and/or appropriating from other cultures. Those are the two big ones, but I think there might be a couple more. Overall, definitely something I will keep with me for reference!
January 1, 2022
Io amo chi ha scritto questo libro e Pastel Spells. Nonostante sia un po' della nuova guardia per la mia personale pratica, trovo Of Witchcraft and Whimsy un ottimo libro per iniziare a farsi domande sul proprio percorso e schiarirsi le idee (attenzione: non per studiare). Anzi, mi ha dato l'ispirazione per fare una serie di video per babywitch, quindi grazie 💜
Fa tutti i warning del caso e non ti lascia praticare qualcosa di pericoloso manco per sbaglio, non capisco tutto questo accanimento nelle recensioni. Credo inoltre che ci sia stata una ristampa perchè ci sono errori di formattazione, ma di rado ho notato errori grammaticali.
Fa tutti i warning del caso e non ti lascia praticare qualcosa di pericoloso manco per sbaglio, non capisco tutto questo accanimento nelle recensioni. Credo inoltre che ci sia stata una ristampa perchè ci sono errori di formattazione, ma di rado ho notato errori grammaticali.
March 12, 2025
a great little primer on beginner witchcraft! i really liked that it wasn't wicca-specific as there are already so many books about wicca out there. it got bonus points too for being secular-friendly. my only complaint is all of the grammar/spelling mistakes. they weren't frequent enough to ruin the read for me, but they were distracting, and i saw a couple places where it looked like the author meant to expand on something but stopped midsentence? unfortunately, i felt like i had to dock it a star for that.
June 21, 2018
While somewhat insightful, this book read like it was hastily put together with very little thought or revision. There was a lot of grammatical errors, misspelled words and forgotten words. I’m aware this is supposed to be like a beginners guide, but it felt as though the author was being very condescending and not giving the reader enough credit. It felt very dumbed down. Usually, I can read a book fairly fast, but it took me several attempts to get back into reading it so I could finish.
July 31, 2018
This is a very slight book, and I think all of the information is available on the author's tumblr. As other reviews have pointed out, it could also benefit from some serious copy editing.
On the other hand, it's not a bad guide for beginners, and unlike the beginner books I was reading when I was a middle school witch, it puts major emphasis on safety, ethics, and not using witchcraft as a substitute for medical help or legal advice.
On the other hand, it's not a bad guide for beginners, and unlike the beginner books I was reading when I was a middle school witch, it puts major emphasis on safety, ethics, and not using witchcraft as a substitute for medical help or legal advice.
September 24, 2019
Some of the information is inaccurate in my opinion. Especially regarding "kitchen witches" or "herbalists". I know it's not a requirement as a witch but to say that it's not related or "dangerous" is a little ridiculous. Yes, you should know what you are making with certainty if you are going to ingest anything, but some things are ceremonial only and aren't for consumption. Good stater book for someone with little to no knowledge of witchcraft.
November 10, 2017
I enjoyed this light, quick read, a chance to learn more about witches. While I'm interested in witches in history, this contemporary look at witches was helpful. I skimmed through the spells, but the other information was interesting, by and large. (The typos were a little distracting at times, though.)
June 5, 2018
A delightful little book for beginners. It mentions some topics that most books don't touch - like using common sense and avoid cultural appropriation. There are a number of typos but nothing that really detracts from the book overall.
My only wish is that the cover is appropriately sized so it doesn't look like a blurry jpg (or just resize/remake the image when printing)
My only wish is that the cover is appropriately sized so it doesn't look like a blurry jpg (or just resize/remake the image when printing)
March 28, 2019
I don't have much to compare this to because it is my first book of this kind. It was informational and I liked some of the spells it provided at the end. Not that I'll use any of them but still interesting.
April 20, 2019
This is a decent beginners book of witchcraft. It is very easy to read, and covers the basics and safety tips before getting into spells. It's definitely a good read for those just starting out. The spells included don't require a lot of ingredients, and seem pretty straight forward.
October 24, 2020
A compendium of knowledge
This is such a great source for references, definitions, correlations and so much more. I highly recommend this to any witch as a tool for them to have in their collection. Please enjoy.
This is such a great source for references, definitions, correlations and so much more. I highly recommend this to any witch as a tool for them to have in their collection. Please enjoy.
November 10, 2017
Short and sweet with great information. A must-read!
January 16, 2018
Good
I think its a good book for beginners. I recently started reading about witchcraft & this helped so much. Simple yet extraordinary.
I think its a good book for beginners. I recently started reading about witchcraft & this helped so much. Simple yet extraordinary.
March 1, 2018
A good book with lots of helpful information. Very clearly self published with lots of editing mistakes though.
September 2, 2019
This is such an amazing book I ended up gifting a copy to a friend who needed a good solid beginners resource!
February 24, 2020
Super comprehensive fundamentals for beginners, plus it's inclusive!!!
August 22, 2020
Honestly, this would be a really good primer if it weren’t RIDDLED with typos, spelling errors, grammatical mishaps, and missing words. Make of that what you will.
December 24, 2020
It was okay. Very basic yet felt like it was still missing a lot of information. Much better as a spellbook than really getting into witchcraft.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews