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Slavic Witchcraft: Old World Conjuring Spells and Folklore
A practical guide to the ancient magical tradition of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites
• Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, amulets, and practical rituals for love, career success, protection, healing, divination, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and other challenges and situations
• Reveals specific places of magical power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells
• Explores the folk history of this ancient magical tradition, including how the pagan gods gained new life as Eastern Orthodox saints, and shares folktales of magical beings, including sorceresses shapeshifting into animals and household objects
Passed down through generations, the Slavic practice of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery is still alive and well in Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as the Balkans and the Baltic states. There are still witches who whisper upon tied knots to curse or heal, sorceresses who shapeshift into animals or household objects, magicians who cast spells for love or good fortune, and common folk who seek their aid for daily problems big and small.
Sharing the extensive knowledge she inherited from her mother and grandmother, including spells of the “Old Believers” previously unknown to outsiders, Natasha Helvin explores in detail the folk history and practice of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites, offering a rich compendium of more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, and practical rituals for love, relationships, career success, protection, healing, divination, averting the evil eye, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and a host of other life challenges and daily situations, with complete step-by-step instructions to ensure your magical goals are realized. She explains how this tradition has only a thin Christian veneer over its pagan origins and how the Slavic pagan gods and goddesses acquired new lives as the saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church. She details how the magical energy for these spells and rituals is drawn from the forces of nature, revealing specific places of power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells. She explores the creation of amulets and talismans, the importance of icons, and the proper recital of magical language and actions during spells, as well as how one becomes a witch or sorceress.
Offering a close examination of these two-thousand-year-old occult practices, Helvin also includes Slavic folk advice, adapted for the modern era. Revealing what it means to be a Slavic witch or sorceress, and how this vocation pervades all aspects of life, she shows that each of us has magic within that we can use to take control of our own destiny.
• Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, amulets, and practical rituals for love, career success, protection, healing, divination, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and other challenges and situations
• Reveals specific places of magical power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells
• Explores the folk history of this ancient magical tradition, including how the pagan gods gained new life as Eastern Orthodox saints, and shares folktales of magical beings, including sorceresses shapeshifting into animals and household objects
Passed down through generations, the Slavic practice of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery is still alive and well in Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as the Balkans and the Baltic states. There are still witches who whisper upon tied knots to curse or heal, sorceresses who shapeshift into animals or household objects, magicians who cast spells for love or good fortune, and common folk who seek their aid for daily problems big and small.
Sharing the extensive knowledge she inherited from her mother and grandmother, including spells of the “Old Believers” previously unknown to outsiders, Natasha Helvin explores in detail the folk history and practice of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites, offering a rich compendium of more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, and practical rituals for love, relationships, career success, protection, healing, divination, averting the evil eye, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and a host of other life challenges and daily situations, with complete step-by-step instructions to ensure your magical goals are realized. She explains how this tradition has only a thin Christian veneer over its pagan origins and how the Slavic pagan gods and goddesses acquired new lives as the saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church. She details how the magical energy for these spells and rituals is drawn from the forces of nature, revealing specific places of power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells. She explores the creation of amulets and talismans, the importance of icons, and the proper recital of magical language and actions during spells, as well as how one becomes a witch or sorceress.
Offering a close examination of these two-thousand-year-old occult practices, Helvin also includes Slavic folk advice, adapted for the modern era. Revealing what it means to be a Slavic witch or sorceress, and how this vocation pervades all aspects of life, she shows that each of us has magic within that we can use to take control of our own destiny.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
108 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 15, 2020
Utter garbage. Honestly, I was expecting sooo much more from a book on Slavic witchcraft. As somebody with a Slavic background, I was expecting the author to go a lot deeper into the mythology and folkloric beliefs.
Honestly, it just feels like a bunch of questionable opinions wrapped together in a book under the guise of "ancient wisdom". It's very hard to look past those and take the rest seriously when you read something like this.
“God created the first humans as androgynous, universal, and ideally happy creatures containing both sexes, but later still divided them into two halves—and this is where we get men and women. And since then, to gain lost happiness and integrity of being, these two halves of one whole are looking for each other. And in the whole, vast, sublunar world there is only one half who is the other half of you. Finding this other half is the goal of life for everyone.”
Excerpt From: Natasha Helvin. “Slavic Witchcraft”. Apple Books.
Helvin provides some contradictory opinions throughout the book, one the one page claiming that "ordinary" people who juggle their daily life, family and jobs should not do magic and leave to the professionals because they are not "enlightened enough". In the same passage, she goes on to claim that "true witches" are given their powers at birth. I can't believe people still buy into the idea of "hereditary witches" to this day.
And then, several pages later, Helvin goes 180 degrees and says that actually you CAN become a sorceress (why is she excluding half of the population?) if you teach yourself? This is just one of many many examples of contradictions in this book.
Don't waste your time. If you want to learn more about mythology and Slavic folklore, maybe start with some proper academic sources.
Honestly, it just feels like a bunch of questionable opinions wrapped together in a book under the guise of "ancient wisdom". It's very hard to look past those and take the rest seriously when you read something like this.
“God created the first humans as androgynous, universal, and ideally happy creatures containing both sexes, but later still divided them into two halves—and this is where we get men and women. And since then, to gain lost happiness and integrity of being, these two halves of one whole are looking for each other. And in the whole, vast, sublunar world there is only one half who is the other half of you. Finding this other half is the goal of life for everyone.”
Excerpt From: Natasha Helvin. “Slavic Witchcraft”. Apple Books.
Helvin provides some contradictory opinions throughout the book, one the one page claiming that "ordinary" people who juggle their daily life, family and jobs should not do magic and leave to the professionals because they are not "enlightened enough". In the same passage, she goes on to claim that "true witches" are given their powers at birth. I can't believe people still buy into the idea of "hereditary witches" to this day.
And then, several pages later, Helvin goes 180 degrees and says that actually you CAN become a sorceress (why is she excluding half of the population?) if you teach yourself? This is just one of many many examples of contradictions in this book.
Don't waste your time. If you want to learn more about mythology and Slavic folklore, maybe start with some proper academic sources.
May 2, 2021
What did I just read???
The Author mention at the beginning of the book her Nostalgia and this is sadly all this is - Nostalgia and nothing else. Russian Witchcraft is not the entirety of Slavic Witchcraft. As well as a Soviet-style nostalgia is not an excuse to equate a soviet-era mashup (deeply affected by constant persecution of EVERYTHING religious) to an authentic Witchcraft tradition.
Described in the book are a mix of Christo-paganism and superstitious folk tales connected to the Soviet era. Not an authentic tradition in any way...
I feel dirty after reading this, very disappointed!
The Author mention at the beginning of the book her Nostalgia and this is sadly all this is - Nostalgia and nothing else. Russian Witchcraft is not the entirety of Slavic Witchcraft. As well as a Soviet-style nostalgia is not an excuse to equate a soviet-era mashup (deeply affected by constant persecution of EVERYTHING religious) to an authentic Witchcraft tradition.
Described in the book are a mix of Christo-paganism and superstitious folk tales connected to the Soviet era. Not an authentic tradition in any way...
I feel dirty after reading this, very disappointed!
March 21, 2022
First of all, I didn't read the spells, so I won't talk about that.
Secondly, this book pissed me of!
Finding a book about Slavic folklore and mythology is hard, and it's even harder to find an audiobook. This was the only one, and I'll admit I had high hopes for it. Hopes that were shattered.
This book doesn't really contain any info about the folklore. I've learned more about the Slavic gods by a comic!
This book is more a collection of traditions and ''stories'' about how folklore/mythology affected Christianity. But it all seems like the author jumping to conclusions rather than any of it having historical roots.
I saw another review talk about how the author said that what she remembered best about growing up was the nostalgia of being a hereditary witch, and that's how this book reads. Someone telling us memories about growing up, but claiming it to be fact.
While that was one of the things that pissed me of, another was the language used.
''Everyone knows'' and ''x can't'' was everywhere in the retelling of traditions, leaving no room for personal autonomy. The author basically said that anyone who didn't know these things and didn't follow them, was a stupid fool.
Another thing that really rubbed me the wrong way, was the talk about sorcerers/sorceresses.
The author started out saying that they were wise women and men, then turned completely around and talked about how they were evil and how to keep them controlled and contained. Not to mention the descriptions of them! Apparently, anyone with a form of disability - mental or physical - were magic users, and so to be feared and ostracized, and ''make sure to do X and Y to their graves''.
It just... this book really didn't read well, and I hope I've been able to explain why I didn't like it, for it's really hard to put my finger on just the right thing to explain this. It's just a general feeling the book and its words gives of...
Secondly, this book pissed me of!
Finding a book about Slavic folklore and mythology is hard, and it's even harder to find an audiobook. This was the only one, and I'll admit I had high hopes for it. Hopes that were shattered.
This book doesn't really contain any info about the folklore. I've learned more about the Slavic gods by a comic!
This book is more a collection of traditions and ''stories'' about how folklore/mythology affected Christianity. But it all seems like the author jumping to conclusions rather than any of it having historical roots.
I saw another review talk about how the author said that what she remembered best about growing up was the nostalgia of being a hereditary witch, and that's how this book reads. Someone telling us memories about growing up, but claiming it to be fact.
While that was one of the things that pissed me of, another was the language used.
''Everyone knows'' and ''x can't'' was everywhere in the retelling of traditions, leaving no room for personal autonomy. The author basically said that anyone who didn't know these things and didn't follow them, was a stupid fool.
Another thing that really rubbed me the wrong way, was the talk about sorcerers/sorceresses.
The author started out saying that they were wise women and men, then turned completely around and talked about how they were evil and how to keep them controlled and contained. Not to mention the descriptions of them! Apparently, anyone with a form of disability - mental or physical - were magic users, and so to be feared and ostracized, and ''make sure to do X and Y to their graves''.
It just... this book really didn't read well, and I hope I've been able to explain why I didn't like it, for it's really hard to put my finger on just the right thing to explain this. It's just a general feeling the book and its words gives of...
May 4, 2022
1.5
This book….. is mostly superstition (steeped in racism, ableism, and sexism) and baneful magic based mostly in Christianity.
Extremely anti-LGBTQ+
I…have been looking for a book on Slavic folklore and witchcraft and I am so disappointed in this.
There were 32 pages in the beginning that were instructional and had, what seems to be, some decent incite into the culture. The rest 200+ pages are spells (minus 5 or 6 pages on death traditions.) it’s poorly written, poorly organized and lacks explanation of the why behind pretty much everything.
The only reason this isn’t a lower rating is because there are good ideas regarding the make up of a spell as well as some curse removal and few protection and healing spells that I think are actually useful.
But most of the spells are all about taking away someone else’s free will or punishing them.
ALSO! IF YOU ARE A WITCH or a non-Christian in any way, this book probably isn’t for you. Because anything that isn’t Jesus is the devil and demons in here.
This book promises to show the blending of Christian and Pagan traditions that are supposedly prevenalt in Slavic culture. But I had to squint to see it.
Very disappointing, absolutely NOT for beginners.
This book….. is mostly superstition (steeped in racism, ableism, and sexism) and baneful magic based mostly in Christianity.
Extremely anti-LGBTQ+
I…have been looking for a book on Slavic folklore and witchcraft and I am so disappointed in this.
There were 32 pages in the beginning that were instructional and had, what seems to be, some decent incite into the culture. The rest 200+ pages are spells (minus 5 or 6 pages on death traditions.) it’s poorly written, poorly organized and lacks explanation of the why behind pretty much everything.
The only reason this isn’t a lower rating is because there are good ideas regarding the make up of a spell as well as some curse removal and few protection and healing spells that I think are actually useful.
But most of the spells are all about taking away someone else’s free will or punishing them.
ALSO! IF YOU ARE A WITCH or a non-Christian in any way, this book probably isn’t for you. Because anything that isn’t Jesus is the devil and demons in here.
This book promises to show the blending of Christian and Pagan traditions that are supposedly prevenalt in Slavic culture. But I had to squint to see it.
Very disappointing, absolutely NOT for beginners.
February 18, 2021
As someone who has been around Slavic magic since I was a child, this book is far from the traditional Slavic magic I was expecting to see. Surely, spells and traditions vary from village to village so most of these will probably work. But some of them are just pure BS. A lot of the spells have a basis in actual spells I’ve encountered since childhood but I can’t say for sure if the author’s take on them will render the same result.
July 9, 2022
I understand the overall rating now, hoooooo boy. Nope. Not what I was looking for and not what's on the tin either.
February 1, 2020
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From this book I was expecting more, much more and, instead, I found a boring and very generic reading. We can say that the book is divided in two parts, the second one is about spells, rituals and such, but the first part is a general introduction to the Slavic Witchcraft. And this was the part that I founded highly disappointing. As far as introductions go, this one does its job, in a sense, but it's too much general, too much just that, an introduction, and nothing else. I was hoping to know more about the Slavic part, and you won't find a lot in here. Also, Slavic means way more than Ukrainian and Russian, but we don't see it there, either. This was the main reason I was so disappointed in that, but, on the minor side, I have to add that I didn't enjoy the writing, too plain and... Superficial. I was hoping for an interesting reading but I get only boredom out of it.
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From this book I was expecting more, much more and, instead, I found a boring and very generic reading. We can say that the book is divided in two parts, the second one is about spells, rituals and such, but the first part is a general introduction to the Slavic Witchcraft. And this was the part that I founded highly disappointing. As far as introductions go, this one does its job, in a sense, but it's too much general, too much just that, an introduction, and nothing else. I was hoping to know more about the Slavic part, and you won't find a lot in here. Also, Slavic means way more than Ukrainian and Russian, but we don't see it there, either. This was the main reason I was so disappointed in that, but, on the minor side, I have to add that I didn't enjoy the writing, too plain and... Superficial. I was hoping for an interesting reading but I get only boredom out of it.
October 30, 2019
"tibia of a hanged man..." ...sure
I have experience with Slavic witchcraft, it corrupted any materialist indoctrination from a very young age, this book is a disappointment it's written by a child and an insult
I have experience with Slavic witchcraft, it corrupted any materialist indoctrination from a very young age, this book is a disappointment it's written by a child and an insult
January 7, 2020
This book came to my attention while researching source material regarding Baba Yaga. I had hoped that She would be featured in this book, however sadly She was barely acknowledged. Having said that I enjoyed what I read. I had not realized that Christianity and Paganism were so intertwined in Slavic cultures. Bearing that in mind, Pagans who do not want to include Christian aspects to their path may find the book less relevant.
The folklore and spellcraft included was quite informative, with a great deal of similarities to other material I've encountered that was not Slavic-based. I found that extremely interesting and am happy to say that the spells in the book are extensive, which makes it (in my humble opinion) worth investing in. So while Baba Yaga was mentioned only briefly, I am glad that I have a bit more insight into Slavic Pagan traditions, if only to enhance my understanding of Her.
The folklore and spellcraft included was quite informative, with a great deal of similarities to other material I've encountered that was not Slavic-based. I found that extremely interesting and am happy to say that the spells in the book are extensive, which makes it (in my humble opinion) worth investing in. So while Baba Yaga was mentioned only briefly, I am glad that I have a bit more insight into Slavic Pagan traditions, if only to enhance my understanding of Her.
June 20, 2022
That was a weird lecture, for sure not for beginners. Author is mixing witchcraft and Christianity, it's not bad but it's different and can not suit neopaganism. You have to choose which information you take. It has an old energy and it's not just a book. It's more. It's not just a spells. Use carefully and deliberately.
May 26, 2024
I thought a lot of this book was interesting, amusing, or even useful in terms of practical folk traditions, but that was ruined by some parts being total garbage, especially: “try not to give money to homeless people, they can send evil or damnation your way.” Yikes. She also says that unmarried women shouldn’t have cats. Good luck with that!
August 12, 2024
Slavic Witchcraft By Natasha Helvin is not as advertised.
Natasha Helvin, as described in her own words, is an occultist, hereditary witch, and priestess of Voodoo. Born in the Soviet Union and later moving away at 18. She claims to have learned from her mother and grandparents, the traditions of old world Slavic paganism.
All this and yet, she cannot source anything she says, save a very unfounded “Just trust me.”
The book is separated into 10 chapters, the first two and introduction focusing on ‘The traditions,’ and other folklore information as well as history. The later 8 sections are all about Spells and spell work, and superstition.
Introduction; Sorcery as a Living Tradition.
Slavic Witchcraft was published in 2019, deep into the popularization and hype of witchcraft and paganism in the 21st century. And yet, Natasha chooses to open her book with a Cautionary Note, which warns the reader that what is inside is ‘taboo’ and ‘forbidden.’ Which is what initially made me raise an eyebrow at what I was reading.
The majority of this section was just discussing her childhood, and experiences to solidify her position as the teacher in this book. Nothing too unusual, and nothing of note. I won’t comment on someone’s life experiences as a point of note. But it’s hard to see the point in bringing it up, when it just loops over itself, as if to philosophize on it rather then make a point. Nostalgia is a valid place to write from, even in Spirituality and Nonfiction, but there are ways to go about it, to make a point. As an example; Braiding Sweetgrass, By Robin Wall K. She makes many points of talking about her life, that ultimately ends with her informing the reader of a life lesson. In Slavic Witchcraft, this just becomes a loop, that is hard to read.
1, Pagan Christianity or Christian Paganism
This Chapter highlights the most glaring issue in the entire book. There are NO SOURCES. Throughout this chapter Natasha Heavily references historical events and real life situations that do have the history to back them up. The Indoctrination into Orthodox Christianity, and the way they amalgamated pagan practices into their religion, are true historical facts. The way paganism out beat Christianity in Russia multiple times, are facts. However, the author refuses to use references and build a bibliography which makes everything she says feel less credible.
Here I will also address the 4 Elements. This isn’t the first and won’t be the last time I bring it up in a Spirituality book review.
Where is your information on the four elements as the building blocks of the universe coming from. It’s not a universal idea? Multiple other cultures have elements ranging from 3-5 or six. I would love genuinely a reference from where Natasha has the Ancient Slavs using these elements as a structure of their beliefs.
2, Slavic Magic Power and Sorcery
There’s a lot of things in this section that just require the reader to trust that Natasha is telling the truth without any resources to reference. Once again a lot of this book would have benefited from sources but because there are none, you just have to trust her.
An example is the Sorcerers Song. She dedicates quite a bit of this chapter to ‘folklore’ and often references this thing called the sorceresses/sorcerers song. The song in question is the dying sorcerers last words, before they transfer magic to someone else. A lot of the stuff in here is very fantastical, and there is a level of difficulty in understanding what is just fun storytelling on the authors part and what is to be believed as fact.
Here she also contradicts herself on the facts of who can and cannot be a witch.
What a witch is according to folklore, where the unfortunate use of a Romani slur is used, in a sentence that is just a repetition of really old racism. How can you write the sentence that describes witches as “ugly iron toothed and (racial stereotypes)” without also clarifying that these are all descriptions from a post orthodox and heavily antagonistic mindset?
These chapters really clarified for me that this book is not about Slavic paganism as a religion but rather, Ms Helvins Experience as a pagan with a post Christian Russian heritage. Everything is still very Christian. Which isn’t bad and not wrong, most folk magics we see today come from a Christian background because that is the most common religion of all our ancestors. This book isn’t a reconstruction of Slavic paganism, or Slavic pagan as a broad term regardless. It’s Natasha’s paganism.
The rest of the book focuses on Spells, which are for the most part fine.
I have personal issues with her opening comments on All people were made by god as man and woman and our true desires are to find our other halves. Okay, no.
I have issues with the amount of times she references everything and everyone around us as “manipulatable” that all things fall under our whims. Which is morally uncomfortable. I don’t think our ancestors who worked alongside animals and plants always saw them as lower, as seen in still Alive and well Indigenous American beliefs.
In the end, this book isn’t for beginners, it’s not for Slavic pagans, it’s for Natasha. And that’s fine.
Natasha Helvin, as described in her own words, is an occultist, hereditary witch, and priestess of Voodoo. Born in the Soviet Union and later moving away at 18. She claims to have learned from her mother and grandparents, the traditions of old world Slavic paganism.
All this and yet, she cannot source anything she says, save a very unfounded “Just trust me.”
The book is separated into 10 chapters, the first two and introduction focusing on ‘The traditions,’ and other folklore information as well as history. The later 8 sections are all about Spells and spell work, and superstition.
Introduction; Sorcery as a Living Tradition.
Slavic Witchcraft was published in 2019, deep into the popularization and hype of witchcraft and paganism in the 21st century. And yet, Natasha chooses to open her book with a Cautionary Note, which warns the reader that what is inside is ‘taboo’ and ‘forbidden.’ Which is what initially made me raise an eyebrow at what I was reading.
The majority of this section was just discussing her childhood, and experiences to solidify her position as the teacher in this book. Nothing too unusual, and nothing of note. I won’t comment on someone’s life experiences as a point of note. But it’s hard to see the point in bringing it up, when it just loops over itself, as if to philosophize on it rather then make a point. Nostalgia is a valid place to write from, even in Spirituality and Nonfiction, but there are ways to go about it, to make a point. As an example; Braiding Sweetgrass, By Robin Wall K. She makes many points of talking about her life, that ultimately ends with her informing the reader of a life lesson. In Slavic Witchcraft, this just becomes a loop, that is hard to read.
1, Pagan Christianity or Christian Paganism
This Chapter highlights the most glaring issue in the entire book. There are NO SOURCES. Throughout this chapter Natasha Heavily references historical events and real life situations that do have the history to back them up. The Indoctrination into Orthodox Christianity, and the way they amalgamated pagan practices into their religion, are true historical facts. The way paganism out beat Christianity in Russia multiple times, are facts. However, the author refuses to use references and build a bibliography which makes everything she says feel less credible.
Here I will also address the 4 Elements. This isn’t the first and won’t be the last time I bring it up in a Spirituality book review.
Where is your information on the four elements as the building blocks of the universe coming from. It’s not a universal idea? Multiple other cultures have elements ranging from 3-5 or six. I would love genuinely a reference from where Natasha has the Ancient Slavs using these elements as a structure of their beliefs.
2, Slavic Magic Power and Sorcery
There’s a lot of things in this section that just require the reader to trust that Natasha is telling the truth without any resources to reference. Once again a lot of this book would have benefited from sources but because there are none, you just have to trust her.
An example is the Sorcerers Song. She dedicates quite a bit of this chapter to ‘folklore’ and often references this thing called the sorceresses/sorcerers song. The song in question is the dying sorcerers last words, before they transfer magic to someone else. A lot of the stuff in here is very fantastical, and there is a level of difficulty in understanding what is just fun storytelling on the authors part and what is to be believed as fact.
Here she also contradicts herself on the facts of who can and cannot be a witch.
What a witch is according to folklore, where the unfortunate use of a Romani slur is used, in a sentence that is just a repetition of really old racism. How can you write the sentence that describes witches as “ugly iron toothed and (racial stereotypes)” without also clarifying that these are all descriptions from a post orthodox and heavily antagonistic mindset?
These chapters really clarified for me that this book is not about Slavic paganism as a religion but rather, Ms Helvins Experience as a pagan with a post Christian Russian heritage. Everything is still very Christian. Which isn’t bad and not wrong, most folk magics we see today come from a Christian background because that is the most common religion of all our ancestors. This book isn’t a reconstruction of Slavic paganism, or Slavic pagan as a broad term regardless. It’s Natasha’s paganism.
The rest of the book focuses on Spells, which are for the most part fine.
I have personal issues with her opening comments on All people were made by god as man and woman and our true desires are to find our other halves. Okay, no.
I have issues with the amount of times she references everything and everyone around us as “manipulatable” that all things fall under our whims. Which is morally uncomfortable. I don’t think our ancestors who worked alongside animals and plants always saw them as lower, as seen in still Alive and well Indigenous American beliefs.
In the end, this book isn’t for beginners, it’s not for Slavic pagans, it’s for Natasha. And that’s fine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
Ja wiem od kogo wy
August 7, 2019
Slavic Witchcraft is a fascinating book which provides a comprehensive introduction to Slavic paganism, witchcraft, magic, folklore, and divination. Helvin provides us with a brief overview of her life growing up in the Soviet state, details of some of the cultural beliefs and practices, and the concept of “dual faith”, where there is a blurring of lines between the old paganism of Russia and Christianity. This I found really interesting, and I would have liked a bit more on both the cultural and religious background here and of Helvin’s own experiences whilst growing up. She has a deep love and respect for her upbringing, her elders and ancestors, and the magical practices shared within the family, and this shines through the text.
The latter part of the book is separated into chapters for spells and charms — love, money, protection, house and home, health, dreams, divination, and cemetery traditions. Helvin also covers superstitions and burial practices of both Orthodox traditions and more regional, family groups. She does not shy away from more difficult subject matter and does discuss darker aspects of sorcery and magic, including graveyard spells, crossroad curses, and more. I found this book to be refreshingly balanced in that the more baneful magics are covered as well as the benignant ones, showing maturity and depth.
Slavic Witchcraft reminds me of elements of Corinne Boyer’s Under the Witching Tree and Judika Illes’ Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells, in that it blends folklore with witchery, culture and magic, spellcraft and religion in a cohesive way. I learned a lot about Slavic practices and, at the same time, recognised a lot of my own beliefs and practices within these pages. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Inner Traditions, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The latter part of the book is separated into chapters for spells and charms — love, money, protection, house and home, health, dreams, divination, and cemetery traditions. Helvin also covers superstitions and burial practices of both Orthodox traditions and more regional, family groups. She does not shy away from more difficult subject matter and does discuss darker aspects of sorcery and magic, including graveyard spells, crossroad curses, and more. I found this book to be refreshingly balanced in that the more baneful magics are covered as well as the benignant ones, showing maturity and depth.
Slavic Witchcraft reminds me of elements of Corinne Boyer’s Under the Witching Tree and Judika Illes’ Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells, in that it blends folklore with witchery, culture and magic, spellcraft and religion in a cohesive way. I learned a lot about Slavic practices and, at the same time, recognised a lot of my own beliefs and practices within these pages. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Inner Traditions, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2019
The tidbits about the history and folklore of Slavic society over time was pretty interesting, and I would've liked more of that. Same with the pieces of Helvin's experience learning this stuff from her relatives. Mostly I just wanted MORE here - it felt like the tip of an iceberg.
March 11, 2021
Some interesting parts, but was pretty disappointed that the title is "Slavic" witchcraft and then the author specifies as soon as it begins she means Russian.
August 23, 2022
I was so so excited to finally get my hands on this book so I could learn about the Magick of my Slavic/Eastern European ancestors (which can be VERY hard to find) but wow this book was a waste of time. The author spent more time talking about Christianity than basic Pagan or Indigenous folklore of the region (which is in the title). Its kind of frustrating to read if you are trying to distance yourself from Christianity and its colonization. Not to mention that if you are not Russian, then sorry this book isn't for you. Yes, I'm aware that Russia occipied many of the modern day Slavic countries, but still..beliefs and traditions varried from region to region. Also, the spells in this book are not practical for modern use whatsoever. They are all rooted in superstition, sexisism/misogyny, and again, Christianity. I could see them being used in, perhaps, Medieval times, but after that they all seem useless. It also appears that all of the spells in the book are from the author's family and their own traditions. It feels a bit wrong to write a book about your own experiences/beliefs and to say that it is representative of the entire regional culture. I think the title should be changed to "My Russian Family's Traditional Spellbook" or something lol. Anway, if you are looking for a book specifically about Russian Orthodox centered "sorcery" than perhaps you might enjoy this book. If you are just genuinely interested in learning about folklore/traditions from Eastern Europe, there's probably much better books out there.
March 14, 2020
Lovely to find a book that covers something other than Wicca world. However, the word "slavic" covers a lot of territory in central and eastern Europe. In this book, the author is referring to the east; specifically Russia and Ukraine and the population under the Eastern Orthodox Church. The western part, like Poland (which is my ancestry), under the sway of the Roman Catholic Church, is not part of the book's purview.
Ms. Helvin does a good job with an overview of the old folkloric traditions. Many of the superstitions will be familiar to anyone who knows about events like the Salem witch trials (poor elderly women are viewed with suspicion everywhere, apparently). Examples of magic rituals are given; also familiar to anyone with a nodding acquaintance of folk magic.
By far the best part of the book were the death and graveyard traditions, practices, and rituals. This was unknown territory for me, and I found the information fascinating and informative. It definitely adds to my knowledge base.
I could have wished for more, but it is what it is. A good overall introduction to eastern Slavic magic and folklore.
Ms. Helvin does a good job with an overview of the old folkloric traditions. Many of the superstitions will be familiar to anyone who knows about events like the Salem witch trials (poor elderly women are viewed with suspicion everywhere, apparently). Examples of magic rituals are given; also familiar to anyone with a nodding acquaintance of folk magic.
By far the best part of the book were the death and graveyard traditions, practices, and rituals. This was unknown territory for me, and I found the information fascinating and informative. It definitely adds to my knowledge base.
I could have wished for more, but it is what it is. A good overall introduction to eastern Slavic magic and folklore.
October 15, 2019
Interesting! I have a strong interest in the history of witchcraft throughout the world, and I have to say that this book is one of the more interesting ones I’ve read. I was more into the history side of it than for the actual spells, but I also found the spells fascinating and unique from others I’ve come across in other books on witchcraft. For me, the biggest highlight was the chapter on cemeteries and death rituals. I’m also a death historian, so this was something that was particularly up my alley. Absolutely fascinating. Natasha Helvin writes with clarity in a way that’s easy to understand, and I definitely feel like I have a stronger understanding of the history of Slavic witchcraft. I’d recommend this book to anyone with similar interests, and I’d say it’s a must read for fellow death historians!
September 30, 2019
DNF @ 16% due to no problem with the book. I did try - for three and a half months I kept this in my Currently Reading shelf.
I received an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The bits that I did read? I did enjoy, but found them so apart from my reality, my religion, that I found it hard to continue. I felt like I was peering into something that was not meant for me. I am not of Slavic descent, I don't follow Slavic paganism, the world of the book was foreign (quite literally!) to me.
I do recommend the book, though, but mostly for people who are of Slavic descent. I'm giving it four stars, because I found it interesting and informative.
I received an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The bits that I did read? I did enjoy, but found them so apart from my reality, my religion, that I found it hard to continue. I felt like I was peering into something that was not meant for me. I am not of Slavic descent, I don't follow Slavic paganism, the world of the book was foreign (quite literally!) to me.
I do recommend the book, though, but mostly for people who are of Slavic descent. I'm giving it four stars, because I found it interesting and informative.
April 22, 2022
Interesting but difficult to read
I bought this on kindle as part of my studies. While the information was interesting the book was badly formatted. Text was broken up on every page with recurring messages that the book was a read only proof copy (I paid for a sales copy not a preview copy), there were some errors in the English which required re-reading to understand what the author was trying to communicate, and there were quite a number of pages at the end with "insert text here" type messages repeating.
Overall it was an interesting read but the formatting issues were especially distracting.
I bought this on kindle as part of my studies. While the information was interesting the book was badly formatted. Text was broken up on every page with recurring messages that the book was a read only proof copy (I paid for a sales copy not a preview copy), there were some errors in the English which required re-reading to understand what the author was trying to communicate, and there were quite a number of pages at the end with "insert text here" type messages repeating.
Overall it was an interesting read but the formatting issues were especially distracting.
April 5, 2021
I listen more to the audio of it, multiple times. Truthfully, it made me remember a lot of things from my childhood. In terms of traditions when it comes to burial practices.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. It contains exactly what you need and more. The author makes sure to provide details which usually are neglected in other books. For example, how to know if the grave is active or not. Other authors just imagine that you already know that information.
The book is straight forward and easy to read.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. It contains exactly what you need and more. The author makes sure to provide details which usually are neglected in other books. For example, how to know if the grave is active or not. Other authors just imagine that you already know that information.
The book is straight forward and easy to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
I just put the audiobook on and fall asleep listening to spells.. I wasn't sure what this book was about and was a bit put off by the horrid cover but it's a reference book cover to cover of spellcasting. Reminds me of Judika Illes, 5,000 Spells. Would I recommend this to people who want to cast spells? No, because some are just not usable for me, such as religious spells against witches and witchcraft. I just don't get that. There are some interesting ideas but so far, perhaps it's folkloric research.
Read
December 29, 2020Research book. Really fascinating, after ages of reading about solely Western European and Britain-centric spells and witchcraft, to read the earthier, frankly scarier, Eastern European version. (You better have access to a stream, a field, and a forest, though, otherwise you won't be able to do much.) There's no real warning about the rule of three here, nor is there any coddling of the reader.
April 17, 2021
Generally this is a good read and give lots of info on different spells. Some of these spell are catholic based and I can see why people have a problem with that, but traditions had to evolve or else they would’ve been totally wiped out from Christianity. And anyways this is their practice, not yours and people can find better criticism than that of Christianity being apart of this book.
July 27, 2022
Want to attract money? Put a coin minted in your birth year in your wallet, of course! Want to attract love? Go outside just before dawn and say a few nice words when the sun comes up!
A book of superstitions and charms that is really more of a curiosity than anything that someone might actually use today.
A book of superstitions and charms that is really more of a curiosity than anything that someone might actually use today.
January 11, 2023
I am doing some digging into the deeper aspects of my ancestral roots.
I’d hoped for more pre-christianity content but still lots to learn. The Christian inclusion seems to be an adaptive aspect of the traditional practices.
This is one I’m going to have to look at again later.
I don’t know enough to offer a content/accuracy opinion.
I’d hoped for more pre-christianity content but still lots to learn. The Christian inclusion seems to be an adaptive aspect of the traditional practices.
This is one I’m going to have to look at again later.
I don’t know enough to offer a content/accuracy opinion.
February 9, 2023
I tried to read this in good faith (ha) and then just skimmed. From a skim:
1. This book says it's Slavic withcraft, it's literally just Russian.
2. NO SOURCES. I guess we're all just supposed to take what she says for granted??
3. There's a footnote that says "males and females are intrinsically different." So let's just throw in some gender essentialism.
4. Uses the g**sy slur
1. This book says it's Slavic withcraft, it's literally just Russian.
2. NO SOURCES. I guess we're all just supposed to take what she says for granted??
3. There's a footnote that says "males and females are intrinsically different." So let's just throw in some gender essentialism.
4. Uses the g**sy slur
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