Dark Mirror: The Inner Work of Witchcraft

by Yvonne Aburrow

Inner work is a name commonly given to the inner processes that happen in ritual. It can also mean the transformation of the psyche that comes about through engaging in religious ritual. However, the best kind of inner work also has an effect outside the individual and outside the circle. When rituals are focused only on self-development, they tend to be a bit too introspective. Ritual is about creating and maintaining relationships and connections - between body, mind, and spirit; with the Earth, Nature, the land, the spirit world, the community, and friends. It is about making meaning, weaving a web of symbolism, story, mythology, meaning, community, and love. Creating a community that welcomes and celebrates diversity. Creating strong and authentic identity to resist the pressures of consumerism and commercialism and capitalism. Weaving relationship with other beings: humans, animals, birds, spirits, deities.

Genres: Wicca, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Nonfiction

410 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2018

About the author

Yvonne Aburrow has been a Pagan since 1985 and a Wiccan since 1991. They have an MA in Contemporary Religions and Spiritualities from Bath Spa University (UK), and live in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. They have written four books on the mythology and folklore of trees, birds, and animals, and two anthologies of poetry. They have written three books on inclusive Wicca and the inner work: "All acts of love and pleasure: inclsuive Wicca", "Dark Mirror: the inner work of witchcraft (2nd edition)" and "The Night Journey: witchcraft as transformation (2nd edition)". Their latest book is "Changing Paths", a guide for people changing or leaving religions. They blog at Dowsing for Divinity.

Reviews

[Lucya Starza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about how to do witchcraft, but not like any other I have read. Most of them concentrate on what words to use, what actions to perform or when you should be doing something. This book is about how it feels when you get the magic right - and how to ensure you get that feeling.

For example, it is one thing to learn the words of an invocation; but learning words by rote won't necessarily mean you successfully do the invocation. You need to know how to channel the energy and make the connection. That is what this book teaches - and a lot more.

I kept finding myself nodding in agreement all the way through it and I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What can I say! A great book that I seriously could have done with over 20 years ago when I was starting out in the craft – I had no real idea what to ‘think’ back then – how to ‘visualise’ my intent . Everyone - beginners and experienced - could do with this book on their shelf, as it will cater for everyone out there, no matter your skills in witchcraft. As a Wiccan myself, I would say that this is a good one for seekers of Wicca to indulge in, along with any other books that Wiccan teachers prescribe to their students. A concise look at the inner workings of witchcraft (as the title says) where it teaches you how to look inside yourself and not just physically cast spells, but know what to think and visualise.

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2018, Aburrow released Dark Mirror: The Inner Work of Witchcraft and The Night Journey: Witchcraft as Transformation. Between them, these two books comprise something quite special: two of the best simultaneously introductory and advanced works on Wiccan witchcraft to be found. If your interests lie within a standard deviation of Wicca, you owe it to yourself to pick up Aburrow’s treatises.

Dark Mirror is an exploration of the ‘inner work’ of witchcraft, the internal processes which ritual sets in motion to initiate change and transformation, both within the ritualist and in the world around them. Over and beyond that central goal, though, the book is an outline of Aburrow’s conception of Wicca as an inherently inclusive practice: anti-racist, queer-positive, sex-positive, and body-positive. The scope of what they cover is impressive, from basic techniques of ritual work to discussions of theological principles, all presented in a clear, pleasant writing voice reminiscent of Doreen Valiente, equal parts ‘straightforward instruction’ and ‘chatting over tea and biscuits.’ As an academically trained feminist nerd with a taste for systems analysis, this approach makes me positively giddy with delight.

The second half of the book, however, is where Aburrow dives into the real meat of the “inner work,” and where the book truly shines. They offer intriguing and, at times, challenging perspectives on the practices and traditions of Wicca, along with a host of exercises, rituals, meditations, discussion prompts, and suggestions for further exploration and inquiry, all intended to guide the interested reader into a deeper understanding of the mysteries at the heart of Wiccan practice. This material doesn’t come across as prescriptive, but rather as guidelines offered to the reader for engaging with Wiccan witchcraft in a fashion which is both inclusive and profound.

[Elyse Welles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for witches who want to grow. To blend their magickal and mundane lives. To explore the expressions of divinity all around them. To get philosophical. It’s a book for witches who are ready to look within.

My favorite parts were Aburrow’s examinations of genii loci, the spirits of place, as I am sacred travel guide to sites in Greece with my company Seeking Numina. Spirit of place isn’t always talked about in witchcraft books from any walk of life, I was really thrilled to see it focused on here.

I highly recommend it, especially for teachers and students of Wicca. I myself am not Wiccan but I really enjoyed the different perspectives on aspects of the Craft I don’t usually think about: skyclad practice, eroticism, and polarity (opposites like male-female, morning persons vs. night owls, etc) to name a few.

My practice is very different from the author and yet we had so much in common. ‘Dark Mirror’ presents perspective on consent in the Craft beautifully in these areas and others which every witch can learn from.

Their book ‘Inclusive Wicca’ is on my list as well after enjoying this one so immensely.

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Witch’s Road Bookclub pick! Really excited to learn more about how to connect to the practice.

What I enjoyed: There’s a lot of perspective and alternate viewpoints to ponder as ritual is explained. I really loved the question prompts and exercises at the end of each chapter. The practical application to seal in the information makes this a standout. I especially loved the chapter on discerning if your coven is inclusive and how to create polarity outside of the gender binary. Having actual advice to use in the real world grounds the spirituality and magic philosophy of the book.

What I didn’t love: This book needed a more stringent editor. It meanders away from any kind of main point often, and I’m not quite sure how most of it is relevant to developing an inner connection to witchcraft. Some of the chapters feel more like side tangents. And there are several moments that a paragraph repeats itself near exactly a half page later. It was distracting to the otherwise really helpful guidance on ritual.

Bottom line: I really, really wanted to love this one! But I don’t know if I’d recommend it.

[Leora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give it such a low rating, but it just wasn't the book for me. Based on the summary in the back cover, I though the book would be more enlightening, dig a little deeper on the psychological/spiritual side of things. In reality, it covers quite a lot of topics (sacred space, magical tools, common symbols, relationships with others in a coven, etc.) and because of that, I think, it ends up being superficial. In the end, the book seems no different from the hundreds of books catered to beginners.

[Alexandria Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to learn the inner work of witchcraft, I have read both this and the Cunningham book and can honestly recommend Dark Mirror over it. This will be the new book I will recommend to anyone looking to learn about the craft.

[Moorlandthistle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hugely informative insightful and knowledgeable book covering a vast array of topics issues basics and fundamentals which I am truly grateful and appreciative to the author for sharing with us

It is one of the most important books on witchcraft I will ever read - no nonsense - realist - inclusive and then some

Quite simply a masterpiece which I will refer to and use for many years to come

Thank you Yvonne ❤️