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You Are Magical
Answer the Call... Since you were a child, you've heard the ancient, mesmerizing siren song of your inherent spiritual power. When you grew up, you never dismissed the idea that there's power at your fingertips―power you can use for crafting your world to match your desires. You've always felt that because you are magical . With dozens of spells for every major purpose, You Are Magical shows you how to fully embrace your spirituality and create positive change in yourself and the world. You'll discover the legacy of your magic, how it's uniquely yours, and exactly what ingredients and steps you need to craft a truly magnificent life. This practical and profoundly inspiring guide empowers you to become the person you were born to a magical agent of change who is connected with nature, the cosmos, and All That Is. "Every time I sit down with a book by Tess Whitehurst, I know I'm in for something special and You Are Magical does not disappoint! Tess shows us how to kick things up and find our own magic! Her deep knowledge and radiant love for magic is contagious!"―Jodi Livon, author of The Happy Medium ® book series "For all who seek to unlock the very real magic within, Tess Whitehurst offers not just one key, but an entire golden key ring that opens the sacred mysteries of life and love. A generous and perceptive book!"―Sara Wiseman, author of Messages from the Divine and The Intuitive Path "I've been working on incorporating a little more magic and ritual into my life since I finished grad school, so I was excited to see this book. It has a little bit of everything, from brief touches on the history of Earth-based spiritual practices to ways to make the everyday a little more magical."― Book Riot
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2018
44 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Tess Whitehurst
56 books153 followersTess Whitehurst (Central California) is a spiritual teacher who focuses on magical practices, mindfulness, and self-love. She has appeared on the Bravo TV show Flipping Out and her writing has been featured such places as Writer's Digest, Llewellyn's annuals, and Spirit and Destiny magazine. In addition to authoring many books and oracle decks, she is the founder and facilitator of Wisdom Circle, an online magical community and learning hub.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 28, 2018
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
This was such an inspiring and informative non-fiction, covering a disparate variety of topics all centred around the theme of spirituality. The first portion gave an overview on differing cultural beliefs, spiritual practises, alter creation, elemental magic, moon phases, zodiac signs, and how to begin your journey with witchcraft whilst the second portion provided the reader with a variety of spells to attract a large variety of chosen desires.
I found each section a fascinating instructional guide for a beginner, such as myself, but found myself also yearning for a more in-depth analysis to the areas. This was not the nature of this book, however, and so there is no fault in its creation. This has given me both a broader area of knowledge as well as refined list of subjects of personal areas of interest for me to take away and explore.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Tess Whiteurst, and the publisher, Llewellyn Publications, for this opportunity.
This was such an inspiring and informative non-fiction, covering a disparate variety of topics all centred around the theme of spirituality. The first portion gave an overview on differing cultural beliefs, spiritual practises, alter creation, elemental magic, moon phases, zodiac signs, and how to begin your journey with witchcraft whilst the second portion provided the reader with a variety of spells to attract a large variety of chosen desires.
I found each section a fascinating instructional guide for a beginner, such as myself, but found myself also yearning for a more in-depth analysis to the areas. This was not the nature of this book, however, and so there is no fault in its creation. This has given me both a broader area of knowledge as well as refined list of subjects of personal areas of interest for me to take away and explore.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Tess Whiteurst, and the publisher, Llewellyn Publications, for this opportunity.
August 9, 2018
[I was given a copy from NetGalley for an honest review]
So I finally finished this book and took several notes so I could review it properly. A review in Portuguese will also be available on my Blog Sob o Luar next week.
"What's more, you feel a pulsating power and presence emanating from the natural world. It speaks to you - not necessarily through words, but through the beauty of a butterfly, the fragrance of fresh rain on dry ground, the sound of winds in the trees, the vast expanse of glittering stars or the moment when the sun shines through rain to broadcast a rainbow"
The book is a very light and easy read, the writing is very clear and concise. The author speaks of several topics throughout the book and focus mostly on "Magic". Magic as the Law of Attraction and the power to change things in your life. I love how the author shows her feelings and mentions how it is to feel magic, to recognise magic and also, how she shows, that magic is everywhere not just in "magical acts". Magic is all around us and the author shows that clearly.
She speaks of several cultures which is not bad (much for the contrary!) but I wish she would have made a bigger division. I, for one, I'm not fan of mixing cultures. I don't feel comfortable invoking Greek Gods in the same ritual as Native American, for example. So, in my personal opinion and for my personal path, this was a no-no for me.
The book has several tips for everyday magic, natural magic and how to connect to Nature and to the energies around you, to chakras, astrology, tables of correspondence and the second part is a compilation of several spells for several different purposes. It is also a bit of Wiccan-oriented and the point of view of the Gods and Goddesses is very Wiccan. There is also the presence ot Angels entities which, for me, is not compatible with Paganism. But this is a personal view and it depends on each practitioner.
At a certain point the author mentions Heritage and how to try and contact our Ancestors and she says "What do you know about where you ancestors came from, and what ancient spiritualties they may have practiced? If you're not sure, give it your best guess". For me this is just... unreal. Why would you guess it? Magic is not to be guessed, there needs to be a method and you need to KNOW why you're doing it the way you're doing it. Go with the flow? Yes. Guess stuff? No. I don't agree at all with this method.
I do like, though, how the author explains magic and how magic manifests and what you can do to manifest stuff in your life. She talks about outfits and dresses and how the dress doesn't make you feel good for itself but it does help, just like instruments, incense, location, etc. help at the magical work. This is an important key for those beginning the magical path! She also speaks that "Everything is Magic" and that is so true because magic is the control of energy and everything is energy. So everything is magic. This is a beautiful sentence that I really liked!
Another interesting topic that the author mentioned were "Ego Desires" and "Authenthic Desires". When you want something for egotistical reasons and when you genuinely want something. This is the difference between wanting *this* job and *wanting a good and adequate for myself* job. What flows and what doesn't.
The book overall is good and I enjoyed reading it. There were only two things that really stood out in negative perspective:
First the author talks about self-initiation spell. This is an automatic no-no for me. The book does not provide enough information and resources for someone to be qualified for an initiation (also initiation into what? Magic does not require initiation and only structured and initiatory paths require it and, usually, an initiation is provided in a group or coven, such as Wicca). The term self-initiation is terrible in this situation, it would be much more proper to call it a "dedication spell" or something similar. As in the practitioner dedicates themselves to study magic and so-on.
The second, for me, is the worst part of the entire book. It might seen like a simple thing but I don't consider it to be. The author talks about past life regression and how to do it. THIS IS DANGEROUS! Past life regression should be done with a professional (whether licensed or experienced). When you regress to a past life you have no idea what you're going to find out. Imagine that you were burned at the stake or were a slave or murdered and you end up regressing to that moment. Can you imagine the shock? The horror? The panic? And the probable PSTD and other emotional damage it could cause? It's not a thing to be taken lightly and IT IS dangerous. Please be careful with this, don't rush into things. Everything will come to you when it needs to come, knowledge flows, don't try to force it.
Overall, besides these two aspects, the book is not bad and the writing and way the author speaks to the reader is pretty good. I'm giving it 3 stars since the book is not bad but these two last points, especially the last one, really had an impact on my view of the book.
So I finally finished this book and took several notes so I could review it properly. A review in Portuguese will also be available on my Blog Sob o Luar next week.
"What's more, you feel a pulsating power and presence emanating from the natural world. It speaks to you - not necessarily through words, but through the beauty of a butterfly, the fragrance of fresh rain on dry ground, the sound of winds in the trees, the vast expanse of glittering stars or the moment when the sun shines through rain to broadcast a rainbow"
The book is a very light and easy read, the writing is very clear and concise. The author speaks of several topics throughout the book and focus mostly on "Magic". Magic as the Law of Attraction and the power to change things in your life. I love how the author shows her feelings and mentions how it is to feel magic, to recognise magic and also, how she shows, that magic is everywhere not just in "magical acts". Magic is all around us and the author shows that clearly.
She speaks of several cultures which is not bad (much for the contrary!) but I wish she would have made a bigger division. I, for one, I'm not fan of mixing cultures. I don't feel comfortable invoking Greek Gods in the same ritual as Native American, for example. So, in my personal opinion and for my personal path, this was a no-no for me.
The book has several tips for everyday magic, natural magic and how to connect to Nature and to the energies around you, to chakras, astrology, tables of correspondence and the second part is a compilation of several spells for several different purposes. It is also a bit of Wiccan-oriented and the point of view of the Gods and Goddesses is very Wiccan. There is also the presence ot Angels entities which, for me, is not compatible with Paganism. But this is a personal view and it depends on each practitioner.
At a certain point the author mentions Heritage and how to try and contact our Ancestors and she says "What do you know about where you ancestors came from, and what ancient spiritualties they may have practiced? If you're not sure, give it your best guess". For me this is just... unreal. Why would you guess it? Magic is not to be guessed, there needs to be a method and you need to KNOW why you're doing it the way you're doing it. Go with the flow? Yes. Guess stuff? No. I don't agree at all with this method.
I do like, though, how the author explains magic and how magic manifests and what you can do to manifest stuff in your life. She talks about outfits and dresses and how the dress doesn't make you feel good for itself but it does help, just like instruments, incense, location, etc. help at the magical work. This is an important key for those beginning the magical path! She also speaks that "Everything is Magic" and that is so true because magic is the control of energy and everything is energy. So everything is magic. This is a beautiful sentence that I really liked!
Another interesting topic that the author mentioned were "Ego Desires" and "Authenthic Desires". When you want something for egotistical reasons and when you genuinely want something. This is the difference between wanting *this* job and *wanting a good and adequate for myself* job. What flows and what doesn't.
The book overall is good and I enjoyed reading it. There were only two things that really stood out in negative perspective:
First the author talks about self-initiation spell. This is an automatic no-no for me. The book does not provide enough information and resources for someone to be qualified for an initiation (also initiation into what? Magic does not require initiation and only structured and initiatory paths require it and, usually, an initiation is provided in a group or coven, such as Wicca). The term self-initiation is terrible in this situation, it would be much more proper to call it a "dedication spell" or something similar. As in the practitioner dedicates themselves to study magic and so-on.
The second, for me, is the worst part of the entire book. It might seen like a simple thing but I don't consider it to be. The author talks about past life regression and how to do it. THIS IS DANGEROUS! Past life regression should be done with a professional (whether licensed or experienced). When you regress to a past life you have no idea what you're going to find out. Imagine that you were burned at the stake or were a slave or murdered and you end up regressing to that moment. Can you imagine the shock? The horror? The panic? And the probable PSTD and other emotional damage it could cause? It's not a thing to be taken lightly and IT IS dangerous. Please be careful with this, don't rush into things. Everything will come to you when it needs to come, knowledge flows, don't try to force it.
Overall, besides these two aspects, the book is not bad and the writing and way the author speaks to the reader is pretty good. I'm giving it 3 stars since the book is not bad but these two last points, especially the last one, really had an impact on my view of the book.
September 29, 2018
This is an absolute gem of a book! It is excellent for a beginning spiritual seeker, but it is wonderful for those who have been on the magical path for a long time, as well. I always appreciate the positive, open, life-affirming perspective Tess offers in her books. There is something for everyone, and we could all benefit from embracing a more magical life!
October 14, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars.
May 17, 2018
Tess Whitehurst has become quite the celebrated author in the New Age world. I mean who hasn’t read her first book Magical Housekeeping, or turned to Magic of Flowers come gardening season? I know I have, and when I heard that Tess was publishing a new book, I knew had to get my hands on it.
You Are Magical takes all of the new agey information out there and brings it back down to the basics……you. It’s a Me, Myself, & Magic book where you come to understand that YOU are the source of magic. It doesn’t always have to be about tarot cards and crystals (although these are both discussed in this book) but we have reached a point in the spiritual communities where WE don’t really seem to matter anymore. It’s become about the latest pretty deck and Mercury Retrograde cycle more than it is about our own role to play in it.
You Are Magical reminds you that your magical power lies within. The book begins with a heartfelt preface that sets the mood for the entire book. Tess describes magic as an inherent feeling, that special something that we all possess, but have been conditioned to forget. The following chapters delve deeper into this, teaching you how to reconnect with that sacred part of yourself. Reconnecting allows you to live a life of wonder and purpose creating an incredible self awareness that empowers you to live life on your own terms.
Each chapter contains assignments to help you develop this self- awareness. Some are as simple as sitting in nature and noticing how it makes you feel, while others are more complex such as pondering why you are drawn to certain objects. The assignments in this book might seem easy at first but these are important first steps that everyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey, should do. This book will help you to take responsibility for your spiritual practice as opposed to partaking in quick fix witchy schemes. You will learn about ego desires versus authentic desires, societal conditioning, and how to personalize your craft. The end of the book contains a series of spells that will put to the test all of your previous assignments in this book. The quality and success of your spell work is largely dependent on the health of your magic-are you disconnected from the universe, or are you anchored in your own power? This book will help you answer those questions and more.
You Are Magical weaves luminous threads of authenticity, inspiration, and self empowerment throughout leaving you with a deeper sense of who you are…and I couldn’t think of anything more magical than that.
You Are Magical takes all of the new agey information out there and brings it back down to the basics……you. It’s a Me, Myself, & Magic book where you come to understand that YOU are the source of magic. It doesn’t always have to be about tarot cards and crystals (although these are both discussed in this book) but we have reached a point in the spiritual communities where WE don’t really seem to matter anymore. It’s become about the latest pretty deck and Mercury Retrograde cycle more than it is about our own role to play in it.
You Are Magical reminds you that your magical power lies within. The book begins with a heartfelt preface that sets the mood for the entire book. Tess describes magic as an inherent feeling, that special something that we all possess, but have been conditioned to forget. The following chapters delve deeper into this, teaching you how to reconnect with that sacred part of yourself. Reconnecting allows you to live a life of wonder and purpose creating an incredible self awareness that empowers you to live life on your own terms.
Each chapter contains assignments to help you develop this self- awareness. Some are as simple as sitting in nature and noticing how it makes you feel, while others are more complex such as pondering why you are drawn to certain objects. The assignments in this book might seem easy at first but these are important first steps that everyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey, should do. This book will help you to take responsibility for your spiritual practice as opposed to partaking in quick fix witchy schemes. You will learn about ego desires versus authentic desires, societal conditioning, and how to personalize your craft. The end of the book contains a series of spells that will put to the test all of your previous assignments in this book. The quality and success of your spell work is largely dependent on the health of your magic-are you disconnected from the universe, or are you anchored in your own power? This book will help you answer those questions and more.
You Are Magical weaves luminous threads of authenticity, inspiration, and self empowerment throughout leaving you with a deeper sense of who you are…and I couldn’t think of anything more magical than that.
July 16, 2019
You Are Magical is a reminder that magic doesn't come from tarot cards or crystals - it's within you. You are its source. It's that special something we all possessed, but that we've forgotten about as we grew up and became adults. The book teaches you how to reconnect with this specula part of yourself, so you can live your life with awareness and purpose.
Each chapter has exercises to help you develop your intuition and self-awareness. They can seem simple at first (for example, she asks you to sit in nature and notice how it makes you feel), but go ahead and do them. They're all designed to help you on your spiritual journey.
I highly recommend to New Age newbies or spiritual seekers.
Each chapter has exercises to help you develop your intuition and self-awareness. They can seem simple at first (for example, she asks you to sit in nature and notice how it makes you feel), but go ahead and do them. They're all designed to help you on your spiritual journey.
I highly recommend to New Age newbies or spiritual seekers.
November 27, 2018
There are many far better beginner's books out there. Like.... FAR better. This book was intensely frustrating.
January 2, 2020
There is a lot about this book I like. The thing I don’t is that it aligns with certain phrases and concepts that I can’t get behind. Vibrations, angels, and heaven just aren’t my cup of tea.
October 3, 2021
This was the first book by Tess Whitehurst that I read and I enjoyed it tremendously. Since reading this book, she has quickly become my favorite “new age” author and teacher. Using a positive and cheerful style of writing, Ms. Whitehurst makes a strong case for how a magical lifestyle can provide a satisfying sense of spiritual fulfilment. I found the book both convincing and informative. I would recommend it highly it to anyone interested in “new age” spirituality.
December 8, 2018
This marvelous little book is a great primer on discovering your intuitive and understanding the power you hold if you hone your spiritual skills.
I loved the conversation about creating a sacred space. It really resonated with a workshop we had lately on creating sacred space in your home.
This treasure celebrates the power of feminity and reminds me of the gift that inherently born in me.
I loved the conversation about creating a sacred space. It really resonated with a workshop we had lately on creating sacred space in your home.
This treasure celebrates the power of feminity and reminds me of the gift that inherently born in me.
June 13, 2018
This book is a bit of everything: energy cleansing, tarot reading, working with angels , crystal healing , good vibes spells and maybe a little bit of shamanism. If you are a beginner and you're interested in all of the above, the I woul recommend you to start with this book!
October 16, 2019
I have quite a few of this authors books and this one is a great addition to her series. I love the way that Tess writes in such a friendly way, and she makes the craft accessible to all. A book I’ll dip into often.
October 19, 2020
I was gifted this little treasure by a dear friend who shares my passion for the metaphysical. A good intro for simple spells and wishes for those of us who are interested in incorporating a little magic into our lives. I plan to try a couple very soon.
March 2, 2022
I've read a lot of introductory type magick books and this one has a really nice combination of essential beginner material. I like that it gives you assignments to do that are achievable, beginner friendly, and adaptable.
August 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! The one issue I had with it was that all of the spells in it required me to buy something at a metaphysical shop, which is not available in my town, or online.
May 3, 2020
Another good beginner book. Covers a little more than some of the basic books.
May 28, 2023
If one is new to magic, this will be helpful.
December 24, 2025
There are many far better beginner's books out there. Like.... FAR better. This book was intensely frustrating.
June 19, 2023
You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurt
240 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd
Release Date: September 8, 2018
Nonfiction (Adult), Religion, Spirituality, Magic, Energy Work, Healing
The book is divided into the following parts.
Part 1: Finding Your Magic
Part 2: Knowing the Legacy
Part 3: Understanding the Dynamics
Part 4: Connecting with Power
Part 5: Aligning with Time
Part 6: Working with Energy
Part 7: Reading the Signs
Part 8: Casting. Spell
Part 9: Living Magically Every Day
Part 10: Manifesting Abundance
Part 11: Activating Success
Part 12: Enchanting Your Love Life
Part 13: Beautifying and Harmonizing
Part 14: Blessing and Protecting
Part 15: Binding and Banishing
Part 16: Breaking Hexes and Transmuting
Part 17: Healing Yourself and Others
Part 18: Enhancing Your Magical Power
The author has a short six question quiz about the reader’s favorite flower, tree, and animal. I was not surprised by my answers, but the next three questions really made me think. This book is written to make the reader dig deep into their inborn magic that we all have. Although many people do not feel they have magical abilities, the author helps us tap into our natural magical talents. This is an excellent book especially for people beginning their magical path. If you are interested in learning more about tapping into your magic, this is a great book to read.
240 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd
Release Date: September 8, 2018
Nonfiction (Adult), Religion, Spirituality, Magic, Energy Work, Healing
The book is divided into the following parts.
Part 1: Finding Your Magic
Part 2: Knowing the Legacy
Part 3: Understanding the Dynamics
Part 4: Connecting with Power
Part 5: Aligning with Time
Part 6: Working with Energy
Part 7: Reading the Signs
Part 8: Casting. Spell
Part 9: Living Magically Every Day
Part 10: Manifesting Abundance
Part 11: Activating Success
Part 12: Enchanting Your Love Life
Part 13: Beautifying and Harmonizing
Part 14: Blessing and Protecting
Part 15: Binding and Banishing
Part 16: Breaking Hexes and Transmuting
Part 17: Healing Yourself and Others
Part 18: Enhancing Your Magical Power
The author has a short six question quiz about the reader’s favorite flower, tree, and animal. I was not surprised by my answers, but the next three questions really made me think. This book is written to make the reader dig deep into their inborn magic that we all have. Although many people do not feel they have magical abilities, the author helps us tap into our natural magical talents. This is an excellent book especially for people beginning their magical path. If you are interested in learning more about tapping into your magic, this is a great book to read.
May 8, 2018
This book is fascinating. Most of us believe in magic as a child but that gets lost as we grow up and become adults with responsibilities. This book teaches you how to reach out and take your magic back. There is a Rediscover Your Magic ritual that makes perfect sense and is not too complicated that anyone can and should do for your own personal health. It is a take time for yourself , to teach you to love yourself. This book is easy to understand and I am so glad I was able to read it I do have a Llewellyn Witches calendar on my wall as mentioned in this book. I use it to look and see what phrase the moon is in. I received this book from Llewellyn and Net Galley for an honest review.
May 10, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. I'm always interested in more knowledgeable aspects of spiritual books, and this one is by far the best I have come across so far. The author not only references other cultures specific spiritual beliefs, as well as talks about the ancient Gods across different Countries/Cultures, but lays them out in such a way that it is all easy to understand for a beginner. She doesn't let you flounder in the explanation, but takes the time to break it down to simplicity. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.
June 22, 2018
Wow..wow...wow! This book teaches you how to be truly magical. And I truly enjoyed every moment of the ride this book took me on. Fun as well as practical. A must read when learning about the magical life. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 21, 2018
“There is an infinite number of types of magic, and now there is even one more: your magic.”
Whitehurst opens her ninth book by sharing a letter her mother wrote to her before she was born, reminding the future author, “Don’t be forgetting the magic.” The opening chapters read as if Whitehurst herself were attempting to write a similar letter to her readers, telling us that “Every musician’s music has its own expression and aesthetic signature. Your magic is no different.” She then ends the chapter with a series of journaling prompts designed to help the reader connect with their sense of magic and mystery in the world. Subsequent chapters have other assignments – some written, some applied – for a new practitioner of magic to ease into the craft.
This book has a lot of features that I really like. It is extremely positive, with an upbeat, encouraging, and conversational tone that makes the topic very approachable, especially for new and exploring witches/other magical practitioners. Indeed, the author never calls the readers witches, except to say that some people identify as such – so it feels safer for someone who isn’t ready to label themselves as anything. The author also emphasizes the idea that we are all connected to everything else, including the force or energy that causes magic to work. She refers to this force throughout the book as “All That Is,” and the fact that we are all connected to it means that we all have the potential to be and to work magic – in other words, there is no lineage or ‘special something’ that anyone needs to be able to do magic, beyond the desire to tap into that energy. There’s no gate-keeping here. Finally, the author reminds the reader throughout that things may look different for them than the way she is explaining it, and the spells and rituals include reminders that they can be adapted or used for alternate purposes, as the practitioner feels is appropriate. The spells include a self-initiation rite, which includes just a few “ingredients” and is a lovely idea for self-validation. I am one of those witches who, early on, didn’t know the difference between Wicca and other forms of witchcraft, and was quite hung up on the idea that “It takes a Wiccan to make a Wiccan,” so the idea of self-initiation feels very refreshing and empowering to me.
I do, of course, have some critiques as well. Beyond the token mention of other cultural practices (and what seems to be an emphasis on ancient cultures over living ones), the overall flavor is a sort of generic New Age vibe – until you get to the spells section. One spell invokes the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, with little explanation of her place in the tradition, why the author chose to invoke her instead of a different deity of prosperity, or really any wider context. This feels uncomfortable and potentially appropriative to me, though since I am not from the Indian subcontinent nor am I culturally or religiously Hindu, I don’t know the ins and outs of who can or should call on those deities. Overall the way deities are handled in the book feels superficial and uncomfortable to me, without any emphasis on knowing who the deities are in their cultural context or what kind of privilege the practitioner in question might have while borrowing from various cultures. I don’t know that I would necessarily label it appropriative across the board, but it did feel like the author might not have examined her social position before borrowing bits and pieces from other cultures. This is a problem in the pagan community at large, and this book is clearly a product of that (sub)cultural milieu, so I simultaneously want to hold the author to a higher standard (because she has a bigger platform than most of us) and also not target her more than any other authors or big names in the witch world who are equally or more problematic.
The other particular critique I had was the emphasis put on the so-called “polarities” of masculine and feminine. I do not believe that masculine and feminine are opposites, for one, and the particular traits assigned to each feel superficial and frankly old fashioned. Whitehurst writes that “All is one at its core, and it manifests in the world as divine masculine and feminine polarities…the divine masculine, the cosmos, and the unmanifest potentiality… the divine feminine, the earth, and all that we perceive through our senses.” The divine masculine is further defined as the active principle and the feminine as receptive. That just feels very archaic to me and I was a little disappointed to see it further reified in this book.
A final piece that I was unimpressed with was the statement that curses and hexes are always wrong. The author pretty specifically says that curses are always unethical and that if someone feels the need to do magic that doesn’t “align with the highest and truest good of all” then it’s their ego speaking. This, to me, is the same as saying that violence is never ok, even in self defense. There is no black and white in life, much less in magic, so I was a little disappointed in that lack of nuance. Fair enough to say that you don’t believe in curses and so aren’t sharing any in this book without saying the only reason to do so is “because you were so convinced of your own separation and smallness.”
In sum, I’d say that this book may be a nice place to start for someone who is very new to magic but has a good critical lens through which to read. I haven’t found many books on witchcraft or magic that I would recommend without reservation, so this one isn’t particularly notable in that sense. Honestly, the feeling I was left with overall is that this book was fine with some problematic places, but mostly just unoriginal. There didn’t seem to be much that was said that hasn’t been published in several other books before, and it made me wonder why the author chose to write this particular book at this particular time. I haven’t read any of her other work so can’t compare, but it seems curious that a well-published author would come out with something this, well, basic this late in their career.
Final assessment - 3/5 stars. Wait til it’s at the public library before you invest.
Whitehurst opens her ninth book by sharing a letter her mother wrote to her before she was born, reminding the future author, “Don’t be forgetting the magic.” The opening chapters read as if Whitehurst herself were attempting to write a similar letter to her readers, telling us that “Every musician’s music has its own expression and aesthetic signature. Your magic is no different.” She then ends the chapter with a series of journaling prompts designed to help the reader connect with their sense of magic and mystery in the world. Subsequent chapters have other assignments – some written, some applied – for a new practitioner of magic to ease into the craft.
This book has a lot of features that I really like. It is extremely positive, with an upbeat, encouraging, and conversational tone that makes the topic very approachable, especially for new and exploring witches/other magical practitioners. Indeed, the author never calls the readers witches, except to say that some people identify as such – so it feels safer for someone who isn’t ready to label themselves as anything. The author also emphasizes the idea that we are all connected to everything else, including the force or energy that causes magic to work. She refers to this force throughout the book as “All That Is,” and the fact that we are all connected to it means that we all have the potential to be and to work magic – in other words, there is no lineage or ‘special something’ that anyone needs to be able to do magic, beyond the desire to tap into that energy. There’s no gate-keeping here. Finally, the author reminds the reader throughout that things may look different for them than the way she is explaining it, and the spells and rituals include reminders that they can be adapted or used for alternate purposes, as the practitioner feels is appropriate. The spells include a self-initiation rite, which includes just a few “ingredients” and is a lovely idea for self-validation. I am one of those witches who, early on, didn’t know the difference between Wicca and other forms of witchcraft, and was quite hung up on the idea that “It takes a Wiccan to make a Wiccan,” so the idea of self-initiation feels very refreshing and empowering to me.
I do, of course, have some critiques as well. Beyond the token mention of other cultural practices (and what seems to be an emphasis on ancient cultures over living ones), the overall flavor is a sort of generic New Age vibe – until you get to the spells section. One spell invokes the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, with little explanation of her place in the tradition, why the author chose to invoke her instead of a different deity of prosperity, or really any wider context. This feels uncomfortable and potentially appropriative to me, though since I am not from the Indian subcontinent nor am I culturally or religiously Hindu, I don’t know the ins and outs of who can or should call on those deities. Overall the way deities are handled in the book feels superficial and uncomfortable to me, without any emphasis on knowing who the deities are in their cultural context or what kind of privilege the practitioner in question might have while borrowing from various cultures. I don’t know that I would necessarily label it appropriative across the board, but it did feel like the author might not have examined her social position before borrowing bits and pieces from other cultures. This is a problem in the pagan community at large, and this book is clearly a product of that (sub)cultural milieu, so I simultaneously want to hold the author to a higher standard (because she has a bigger platform than most of us) and also not target her more than any other authors or big names in the witch world who are equally or more problematic.
The other particular critique I had was the emphasis put on the so-called “polarities” of masculine and feminine. I do not believe that masculine and feminine are opposites, for one, and the particular traits assigned to each feel superficial and frankly old fashioned. Whitehurst writes that “All is one at its core, and it manifests in the world as divine masculine and feminine polarities…the divine masculine, the cosmos, and the unmanifest potentiality… the divine feminine, the earth, and all that we perceive through our senses.” The divine masculine is further defined as the active principle and the feminine as receptive. That just feels very archaic to me and I was a little disappointed to see it further reified in this book.
A final piece that I was unimpressed with was the statement that curses and hexes are always wrong. The author pretty specifically says that curses are always unethical and that if someone feels the need to do magic that doesn’t “align with the highest and truest good of all” then it’s their ego speaking. This, to me, is the same as saying that violence is never ok, even in self defense. There is no black and white in life, much less in magic, so I was a little disappointed in that lack of nuance. Fair enough to say that you don’t believe in curses and so aren’t sharing any in this book without saying the only reason to do so is “because you were so convinced of your own separation and smallness.”
In sum, I’d say that this book may be a nice place to start for someone who is very new to magic but has a good critical lens through which to read. I haven’t found many books on witchcraft or magic that I would recommend without reservation, so this one isn’t particularly notable in that sense. Honestly, the feeling I was left with overall is that this book was fine with some problematic places, but mostly just unoriginal. There didn’t seem to be much that was said that hasn’t been published in several other books before, and it made me wonder why the author chose to write this particular book at this particular time. I haven’t read any of her other work so can’t compare, but it seems curious that a well-published author would come out with something this, well, basic this late in their career.
Final assessment - 3/5 stars. Wait til it’s at the public library before you invest.
August 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It has a little bit of everything in it. The energy cleansing is really helpful information. I Highly recommend this book. I received this book through NetGalley and really enjoyed it.
August 22, 2018
You Are Magical is a remarkable book. I am impressed by the coverage of all aspect of being a magic user that is covered in this book. It is truly a book that teaches one how to use all of the possible abilities they have with practical exercise that help the reader practice the different skill that is explained in each chapter. Despite the enormous amount of information in this book, it is still light and easy to read.
The books offer information on everyday magic, how to connect with your energy, how to do a thorough clearing of your energy fields. How to work with your chakras, see auras and use your primary intuitive gifts. There is information on the various forms of divination and how to use each. In order to be proficient in the use of any form of divination more study of the chosen form would be helpful.
The book has extensive spells some of which include deities from pantheon other than the Greek and Roman pantheon.
I find the book very informative and a good guide to introduce magic to one who is just starting to learn. I enjoyed reading it and even though I have practiced magick for many years I would find it useful to have as part of my library.
The books offer information on everyday magic, how to connect with your energy, how to do a thorough clearing of your energy fields. How to work with your chakras, see auras and use your primary intuitive gifts. There is information on the various forms of divination and how to use each. In order to be proficient in the use of any form of divination more study of the chosen form would be helpful.
The book has extensive spells some of which include deities from pantheon other than the Greek and Roman pantheon.
I find the book very informative and a good guide to introduce magic to one who is just starting to learn. I enjoyed reading it and even though I have practiced magick for many years I would find it useful to have as part of my library.
August 28, 2018
A beginner's book that covers basic foundation points for starting a magical practice, and prods the reader to start thinking about what they believe and why. That said, there was an underlying current similar to various tantric schools running through the book (god and goddess as energy and form, etc. and so forth), so I don't know how much value it might offer to someone who doesn't see the world in such a way.
September 5, 2018
I love Tess Whitehurst's books and I liked this one. It's full of interesting insights and exercises and, even if it's at beginner level, it can be useful to everybody.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide and Netgalley for this ARC
Recommended!
Many thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide and Netgalley for this ARC
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