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Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary
Re-enchant your life with this book of rituals, ceremonies, and practices for personal growth—anchored in the hidden power of everyday things.
“We all have a deep capacity to make magic . . .
. . . and to do it as easily as we breathe or open our eyes. This is not a matter of belief. You can discover your own capacity for magic in your own direct experience.”
— Briana Saussy
When you think of magic, do you imagine something supernatural, extraordinary, or beyond your everyday reality? Many of us are drawn to magic because we think there’s something “out there” that can bring enchantment and wonder back into our lives.
Yet there’s a secret to real the extraordinary is much closer than you may think.
With Making Magic, expert teacher Briana Saussy invites you to discover a practice of magic that will bring a new depth and power to each moment, act, and choice of your life. Through teaching stories, wisdom from a wide variety of world traditions, and no-nonsense practices you can easily weave into your daily routine, Briana will help you reconnect with the wild and creative force of magic that is always around and within you, waiting for you to remember.
As you explore this path of transformation, you’ll discover resources of magic that permeate your life,
• Doors and thresholds—ways we “cross between worlds”
• Communication—creating magic with your voice, body, intentions, and relationships
• Holy helpers—ancestors, angels, saints, and spirit beings who guide and support you
• Water and washing—access the revitalizing energy of water when you drink or bathe
• Textiles and threads—how to loosen, mend, or bind up supportive energies
• Candles and fire—elemental power to bring light to darkness and burn away what no longer serves you
• Kitchen magic—using food to nourish your whole self and reconnect you with nature
• Talismans—infuse your beloved objects with sacred purpose and supportive power
“Magic is the most real part of any ‘real life’—the spark illuminating the authentic core of every experience,” writes Briana Saussy. If you are ready to enter a world that is ripe with possibility and rediscover the electric wildness of your life, here is an essential resource for Making Magic as only you can.
“We all have a deep capacity to make magic . . .
. . . and to do it as easily as we breathe or open our eyes. This is not a matter of belief. You can discover your own capacity for magic in your own direct experience.”
— Briana Saussy
When you think of magic, do you imagine something supernatural, extraordinary, or beyond your everyday reality? Many of us are drawn to magic because we think there’s something “out there” that can bring enchantment and wonder back into our lives.
Yet there’s a secret to real the extraordinary is much closer than you may think.
With Making Magic, expert teacher Briana Saussy invites you to discover a practice of magic that will bring a new depth and power to each moment, act, and choice of your life. Through teaching stories, wisdom from a wide variety of world traditions, and no-nonsense practices you can easily weave into your daily routine, Briana will help you reconnect with the wild and creative force of magic that is always around and within you, waiting for you to remember.
As you explore this path of transformation, you’ll discover resources of magic that permeate your life,
• Doors and thresholds—ways we “cross between worlds”
• Communication—creating magic with your voice, body, intentions, and relationships
• Holy helpers—ancestors, angels, saints, and spirit beings who guide and support you
• Water and washing—access the revitalizing energy of water when you drink or bathe
• Textiles and threads—how to loosen, mend, or bind up supportive energies
• Candles and fire—elemental power to bring light to darkness and burn away what no longer serves you
• Kitchen magic—using food to nourish your whole self and reconnect you with nature
• Talismans—infuse your beloved objects with sacred purpose and supportive power
“Magic is the most real part of any ‘real life’—the spark illuminating the authentic core of every experience,” writes Briana Saussy. If you are ready to enter a world that is ripe with possibility and rediscover the electric wildness of your life, here is an essential resource for Making Magic as only you can.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2019
121 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Briana Saussy
12 books95 followersBriana Saussy is a writer, teacher, and spiritual counselor, and is part of a growing community of soulful seekers. People who are drawn to Briana’s work want a practical and creative approach to spirituality. They are open to the spiritual riches of the world religions, as well as the contributions of modern psychology to man’s search for meaning; but they feel a need to explore the often overlooked and forgotten regions of folk divination, magic and storytelling practices.
Briana’s work speaks to anyone who is looking for range and comprehensiveness of vision, which is required for a genuinely pragmatic approach to spirituality. She is well-grounded in the world’s great religious and intellectual traditions, as well as western psychological practices. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Eastern and Western classics, philosophy, mathematics and science from St. John’s College (Annapolis and Santa Fe), and is a student of Ancient Greek and Sanskrit.
Briana’s work speaks to anyone who is looking for range and comprehensiveness of vision, which is required for a genuinely pragmatic approach to spirituality. She is well-grounded in the world’s great religious and intellectual traditions, as well as western psychological practices. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Eastern and Western classics, philosophy, mathematics and science from St. John’s College (Annapolis and Santa Fe), and is a student of Ancient Greek and Sanskrit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 18, 2019
A very well done guide to discovering your own magic through everyday acts and exercises.
What I liked about the book:
Easily read/Well written.
The exercises contained within are excellent for developing a magical life.
The exercises are straight-forward and suitable for people in most income brackets.
The author does not promote any one religious belief system; The book is very Secular.
What I disliked about the book:
The book was written in a poetic/New Age style that just didn't jive well with me.
Takeaway
I highly recommend that if you are interested in discovering what magic is for you, and leading a more magical life, then don't pass up Making Magic. It is most definitely worth the investment.
What I liked about the book:
Easily read/Well written.
The exercises contained within are excellent for developing a magical life.
The exercises are straight-forward and suitable for people in most income brackets.
The author does not promote any one religious belief system; The book is very Secular.
What I disliked about the book:
The book was written in a poetic/New Age style that just didn't jive well with me.
Takeaway
I highly recommend that if you are interested in discovering what magic is for you, and leading a more magical life, then don't pass up Making Magic. It is most definitely worth the investment.
February 28, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
Making Magic.
I didn't know what to expect from Making Magic so I went into it with an open mind. And I was pleasantly surprised.
Making Magic is not what you think; yes, there are rituals and spells but it's not love spells or putting the voodoo on someone.
The author's perspective from magic comes from personal experience and years of study.
When she is talking about magic, she means all that we are, as a person, and all that we embody, the things we do, the routine we engage in, the people and places we meet each and every day that make up our daily living.
The author includes rituals you can do but they are meditative and mindful, and that is the best way I can describe this book.
Ms. Saussy is talking about being mindful and self aware, your experiences, the world around you, the places we inhabit (or wish to), the people in our lives (are they positive or negative?), how we understand and process our experiences of the natural world and our place in it.
The magic the author refers to is the magic we do everyday, the acts of kindness we bestow on ourselves, animals and each other, the places we visit and learn from, and the people we interact with and learn and grow with.
It's an interesting book, though not for everyone.
It's a decent read for anyone interested in taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally and spiritually, though without the inclusion of religious beliefs, if you don't tend to swerve that way.
I didn't know what to expect from Making Magic so I went into it with an open mind. And I was pleasantly surprised.
Making Magic is not what you think; yes, there are rituals and spells but it's not love spells or putting the voodoo on someone.
The author's perspective from magic comes from personal experience and years of study.
When she is talking about magic, she means all that we are, as a person, and all that we embody, the things we do, the routine we engage in, the people and places we meet each and every day that make up our daily living.
The author includes rituals you can do but they are meditative and mindful, and that is the best way I can describe this book.
Ms. Saussy is talking about being mindful and self aware, your experiences, the world around you, the places we inhabit (or wish to), the people in our lives (are they positive or negative?), how we understand and process our experiences of the natural world and our place in it.
The magic the author refers to is the magic we do everyday, the acts of kindness we bestow on ourselves, animals and each other, the places we visit and learn from, and the people we interact with and learn and grow with.
It's an interesting book, though not for everyone.
It's a decent read for anyone interested in taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally and spiritually, though without the inclusion of religious beliefs, if you don't tend to swerve that way.
April 20, 2019
This is a not-to-be-missed book. Rather than tell you how she does things, Saussy offers a gentle guide into how you can find your own magic. Her theory about magic as a wild thing mirror my own experience. I've been on a magical path for nearly 40 years. I thought I had a pretty good handle on magic et al. Saussy showed me what I was missing. That piece of the puzzle that is like water. If you think to grasp it, it will slip right of your hands. This book shows you how to stalk the magic until you become the elusive thing you are seeking. Within the first twenty percent of this book, I'd bookmarked five different things to come back to.
Saussy is clear in the opening about what this book is and isn't. It isn't a how-to beginners book. Nor is it a
"you need to have a hoary beard or a wizened crone's face" book. Sages to initiates to those just knocking on the door will gain not just knowledge but true gems of wisdom. It will be a book I recommend to my students and anyone who pauses long enough for me to express my heart's pleasure in this book. Also? I will be purchasing a physical copy. It's that good.
Saussy is clear in the opening about what this book is and isn't. It isn't a how-to beginners book. Nor is it a
"you need to have a hoary beard or a wizened crone's face" book. Sages to initiates to those just knocking on the door will gain not just knowledge but true gems of wisdom. It will be a book I recommend to my students and anyone who pauses long enough for me to express my heart's pleasure in this book. Also? I will be purchasing a physical copy. It's that good.
October 7, 2019
This is not the rabbit-in-a-hat kind of magic, nor is it a book on wicca or pentagrams. It's a book about the magic of nature, of hidden knowledge, of creating rituals to create a sacred life that is yours alone. Well worth reading from many viewpoints--for the naturalist, for those who feel we are all connected, for those who want to make their lives more meaningful, and for ritualists--those who want to celebrate important events through meaningful ritual.
April 23, 2023
I found the book to be quite waffling and not to the point. Personally I wasn’t a big fan of the term ‘holy helpers’ instead of spirit guides as that’s what they are. Very basic but maybe good for someone very new to magic and ritual.
Read
February 8, 2019Briana Saussy's "Making Magic" is a guided tutorial on finding our inner magic and honing our skills in order to live a more fulfilling life. I enjoy her use of journaling to help bring awareness of our inner thoughts, hopes, and dreams. This book can be truly exceptional in helping one along on their journey of magic and self-discovery. However, much of the teachings in each chapter are done through her tale of Golden Locks and the Bear People, which made it difficult for me to take seriously. Highly recommended for helping younger girls on their journey in finding themselves.
July 17, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a free, advance copy of this text from Llewellyn Publications of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary by Briana Saussy is an ambitious text: it attempts to serve as an introductory guide to incorporating a bit of magic into the reader’s everyday life. Making Magic is ideal for the newbie witch or the busy witch, as many of the exercises within can be completed quickly, but assist in building one’s magical ability over time through repetition and practice. In fact, this book is surprisingly practical, encouraging the practitioner to make small, daily habits that build over time rather than encouraging someone to devote every waking moment to their Craft. While some of the exercises may seem a bit “easy” to someone who has been studying the Craft for a longer time, I found it refreshing to go back to the basics and realize just how important it is to have a strong foundation upon which I can develop my Practice.
What I absolutely loved about Making Magic was the structure of the book itself. Each chapter contained its own lesson and corresponding exercise and ended with a selection of “Stepping Stones.” The Stepping Stones were my favorite; they are essentially modified exercises that can be practiced if the main exercise of the chapter is too complicated or advanced. I honestly wish every guide on magic had a section like this! I felt that the inclusion of the Stepping Stones will make Making Magic much more accessible for someone who is either entirely new to the Craft or just doesn’t currently have a lot of time to devote to magic.
As for criticisms, I found it difficult to initially get into this book. It begins with a fairy tale that is then used to frame the following chapters’ lessons. While the story was certainly creative and charming, I felt that it made the rest of the text seem a bit immature. I wish it hadn’t been quite as central to the overall message of the book. I also found some of the exercises in the first few chapters to be a bit too simplistic for my tastes, though I imagine that’s because the ideal audience is likely either casual dabblers in the Craft or beginners.
Overall, I enjoyed Making Magic. It really stands out to me from other beginners’ witchcraft and magic books. There were a few “huh, hadn’t thought of that!” moments while reading, which is always fun! I highly recommend this book for someone who wants to learn how to incorporate more magic into their lives or for those who want to get back to the basics and strengthen their foundational skills.
My Rating: 3/5!
Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary will be published June 4, 2019 and can be pre-ordered via Llewellyn or Amazon where it retails for $15.07 for paperback or $9.99 on Kindle.
Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary by Briana Saussy is an ambitious text: it attempts to serve as an introductory guide to incorporating a bit of magic into the reader’s everyday life. Making Magic is ideal for the newbie witch or the busy witch, as many of the exercises within can be completed quickly, but assist in building one’s magical ability over time through repetition and practice. In fact, this book is surprisingly practical, encouraging the practitioner to make small, daily habits that build over time rather than encouraging someone to devote every waking moment to their Craft. While some of the exercises may seem a bit “easy” to someone who has been studying the Craft for a longer time, I found it refreshing to go back to the basics and realize just how important it is to have a strong foundation upon which I can develop my Practice.
What I absolutely loved about Making Magic was the structure of the book itself. Each chapter contained its own lesson and corresponding exercise and ended with a selection of “Stepping Stones.” The Stepping Stones were my favorite; they are essentially modified exercises that can be practiced if the main exercise of the chapter is too complicated or advanced. I honestly wish every guide on magic had a section like this! I felt that the inclusion of the Stepping Stones will make Making Magic much more accessible for someone who is either entirely new to the Craft or just doesn’t currently have a lot of time to devote to magic.
As for criticisms, I found it difficult to initially get into this book. It begins with a fairy tale that is then used to frame the following chapters’ lessons. While the story was certainly creative and charming, I felt that it made the rest of the text seem a bit immature. I wish it hadn’t been quite as central to the overall message of the book. I also found some of the exercises in the first few chapters to be a bit too simplistic for my tastes, though I imagine that’s because the ideal audience is likely either casual dabblers in the Craft or beginners.
Overall, I enjoyed Making Magic. It really stands out to me from other beginners’ witchcraft and magic books. There were a few “huh, hadn’t thought of that!” moments while reading, which is always fun! I highly recommend this book for someone who wants to learn how to incorporate more magic into their lives or for those who want to get back to the basics and strengthen their foundational skills.
My Rating: 3/5!
Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary will be published June 4, 2019 and can be pre-ordered via Llewellyn or Amazon where it retails for $15.07 for paperback or $9.99 on Kindle.
May 15, 2019
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of Making Magic by Briana Saussy from netgalley.com for an honest review. However, the author is a friend of mine.
It all starts with a story. In this case, we’re treated to Golden Locks and the bear people. You may think you know how this story goes, and ends, but you don’t. That’s the beauty of magic. This is the magic Briana Saussy teaches us to remember. Magic is everywhere. It’s in the food we eat, the activities we do during the day, and the sacred times we spend with others. As adults, we forget about the magic surrounding us.
Making Magic teaches us to remember our own magic. The book blends the myth of Golden Locks in with daily activities and actions which help us to bring back our own power, our own magic. Each chapter takes a singular topic, relates it back to the myth, and then explores how the topic relates internally and externally (or through the everyday and the extraordinary). Bri includes two rituals for each chapter, one is a short internal dose of the topic, while the next blends the topic into a more concrete way. You are invited to interpret words and play with the material as you see fit. This is, after all, a book for you to rediscover, remember, your own personal magics.
What I liked: I love how Bri weaves the ordinary and extraordinary together. We are all magic and the path of a “magician” is a personal one. Making Magic doesn’t include lists to memorize, or spells, or hard rituals to follow to the letter. She allows the reader to experience and explore the material she presents— to blend it into their own personality and style. Making Magic doesn’t contain definitions... not even one on what magic is. “Magic is a wild animal” she writes, “it resides in the places we always are.” This book guides you into the a deep connection of what magic can be. How you personally define it, where it appears in your life, and helps bridge tight connections between yourself, story, and Nature.
Caveat: This book teaches you to discover your own personal magic. It requires a lot of imaginative play and experimentation. This is not a book for those who want to know the lineage of magic being taught. Bri does tell you her credentials; however, she knows that the most powerful magic comes from within the individual’s own self, mind, and practices. If you aren’t into “unverified personal gnosis” methods, then you might want to skip this book.
Bottom Line: Are you ready to remember your magic? Want to bring magic into every aspect of your life? Bri’s book will help you develop a personal connection you the magic you forgot as a child.
It all starts with a story. In this case, we’re treated to Golden Locks and the bear people. You may think you know how this story goes, and ends, but you don’t. That’s the beauty of magic. This is the magic Briana Saussy teaches us to remember. Magic is everywhere. It’s in the food we eat, the activities we do during the day, and the sacred times we spend with others. As adults, we forget about the magic surrounding us.
Making Magic teaches us to remember our own magic. The book blends the myth of Golden Locks in with daily activities and actions which help us to bring back our own power, our own magic. Each chapter takes a singular topic, relates it back to the myth, and then explores how the topic relates internally and externally (or through the everyday and the extraordinary). Bri includes two rituals for each chapter, one is a short internal dose of the topic, while the next blends the topic into a more concrete way. You are invited to interpret words and play with the material as you see fit. This is, after all, a book for you to rediscover, remember, your own personal magics.
What I liked: I love how Bri weaves the ordinary and extraordinary together. We are all magic and the path of a “magician” is a personal one. Making Magic doesn’t include lists to memorize, or spells, or hard rituals to follow to the letter. She allows the reader to experience and explore the material she presents— to blend it into their own personality and style. Making Magic doesn’t contain definitions... not even one on what magic is. “Magic is a wild animal” she writes, “it resides in the places we always are.” This book guides you into the a deep connection of what magic can be. How you personally define it, where it appears in your life, and helps bridge tight connections between yourself, story, and Nature.
Caveat: This book teaches you to discover your own personal magic. It requires a lot of imaginative play and experimentation. This is not a book for those who want to know the lineage of magic being taught. Bri does tell you her credentials; however, she knows that the most powerful magic comes from within the individual’s own self, mind, and practices. If you aren’t into “unverified personal gnosis” methods, then you might want to skip this book.
Bottom Line: Are you ready to remember your magic? Want to bring magic into every aspect of your life? Bri’s book will help you develop a personal connection you the magic you forgot as a child.
January 31, 2020
A beautiful book that reminds us that magic is inherent and available to us all through story and dreaming
November 28, 2019
This book wasn't bad, but it also wasn't amazing, to me. Like Jailbreaking the Goddess: A Radical Revisioning of Feminist Spirituality, it feels to me like an important book for people to read, but that it wasn't for me. As in, the concepts weren't earth-shattering, or that different, to me.
But i can see it being pretty important for anyone who's just starting to look into magical spirituality, & those who may call themselves a "baby witch". I've seen so many post on an Amino saying, "Where should I start?" to the point that it seems like it's every other post. It is specifically just about magic, as Saussy sees it, not within the restraints or constructs of any religion. There's no Wicca or any Paganism here. The author only ever really refers to spiritual beings, including any deities, in the chapter on "holy helpers". She takes magic out of any religious context (except when citing a few examples in certain religious traditions), & she maintains throughout the book that magic is a "wild" creature. This doesn't feel all that revelatory to me, hence my "eh, it's okay" review, but i feel like this viewpoint could be very important & helpful for the "baby witches" out there. The book doesn't hold your hand, but still gives some guidelines, so it's a nice middle road.
The language felt weird to me at times. This is a personal preference, though, so i feel like it almost doesn't count. But when you use the phrase "show up" over & over again, even three sentences in a row, i'm getting irritated & starting to feel like the editor should've done something there. I'm no writer, but even i know there's other ways to say that. I literally starting inserting different words while reading any time "show up" was used, because it was that overused.
Of course, i did read this right after finishing Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, which could also explain why my reaction was more "eh" than "yeah!" But i also do feel like this is a beginner kind of book, albeit a new kind. It's not the "Teen Witch" of yore (that even i flipped through, & was willing to buy Silver Ravenwolf's "history" of Wicca). It doesn't pigeonhole magic, or the reader, into any one spiritual tradition, & it's much more open. Saussy encourages the reader to find their "own magic" & meanings to things, to the point where it felt too much to me. Even timekeeping, which felt confusing, pointless, & backwards to me.
It got to a point where it felt like any traditional anything meant nothing, as the author kept telling the reader to find their own correspondences for things. Which is great, & is something past books on magic haven't done, but again, it felt like it was taken to a point where any traditions may as well be thrown out the window. This is probably more personal preference, but especially since i'd just read Braiding Sweetgrass, it felt like a kind of hubris, as if saying, "You should look to what you think! It doesn't matter what or who came before." It felt uneven & unbalanced; for me, i didn't feel a middle road between traditions & one's own intuitions. That's really the thing that would hold me back from recommending this book to anyone just starting to look into magic, & i don't even follow any traditions or belong to any religion. I don't even do rituals, & what little i actually do is pretty much my own thing, based on my own intuition & thoughts & the like.
Overall, it's an okay book. It wasn't anything new to me, & it felt kind of unbalanced. I would maybe suggest it to "baby witches" & anyone else wanting to look into magic as part of a spiritual path, but not on its own: definitely in conjunction with other resources, be they books or websites or whatever.
But i can see it being pretty important for anyone who's just starting to look into magical spirituality, & those who may call themselves a "baby witch". I've seen so many post on an Amino saying, "Where should I start?" to the point that it seems like it's every other post. It is specifically just about magic, as Saussy sees it, not within the restraints or constructs of any religion. There's no Wicca or any Paganism here. The author only ever really refers to spiritual beings, including any deities, in the chapter on "holy helpers". She takes magic out of any religious context (except when citing a few examples in certain religious traditions), & she maintains throughout the book that magic is a "wild" creature. This doesn't feel all that revelatory to me, hence my "eh, it's okay" review, but i feel like this viewpoint could be very important & helpful for the "baby witches" out there. The book doesn't hold your hand, but still gives some guidelines, so it's a nice middle road.
The language felt weird to me at times. This is a personal preference, though, so i feel like it almost doesn't count. But when you use the phrase "show up" over & over again, even three sentences in a row, i'm getting irritated & starting to feel like the editor should've done something there. I'm no writer, but even i know there's other ways to say that. I literally starting inserting different words while reading any time "show up" was used, because it was that overused.
Of course, i did read this right after finishing Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, which could also explain why my reaction was more "eh" than "yeah!" But i also do feel like this is a beginner kind of book, albeit a new kind. It's not the "Teen Witch" of yore (that even i flipped through, & was willing to buy Silver Ravenwolf's "history" of Wicca). It doesn't pigeonhole magic, or the reader, into any one spiritual tradition, & it's much more open. Saussy encourages the reader to find their "own magic" & meanings to things, to the point where it felt too much to me. Even timekeeping, which felt confusing, pointless, & backwards to me.
It got to a point where it felt like any traditional anything meant nothing, as the author kept telling the reader to find their own correspondences for things. Which is great, & is something past books on magic haven't done, but again, it felt like it was taken to a point where any traditions may as well be thrown out the window. This is probably more personal preference, but especially since i'd just read Braiding Sweetgrass, it felt like a kind of hubris, as if saying, "You should look to what you think! It doesn't matter what or who came before." It felt uneven & unbalanced; for me, i didn't feel a middle road between traditions & one's own intuitions. That's really the thing that would hold me back from recommending this book to anyone just starting to look into magic, & i don't even follow any traditions or belong to any religion. I don't even do rituals, & what little i actually do is pretty much my own thing, based on my own intuition & thoughts & the like.
Overall, it's an okay book. It wasn't anything new to me, & it felt kind of unbalanced. I would maybe suggest it to "baby witches" & anyone else wanting to look into magic as part of a spiritual path, but not on its own: definitely in conjunction with other resources, be they books or websites or whatever.
June 27, 2019
I give this book a solid five out of five stars!
I can’t really say I learned much new from this book, but I still really enjoyed it. I suspect most intermediate to advanced witches won’t find much new here - but that’s okay! Accessible, non-denominational works to help beginners are important! From a pedagogical perspective, this book is a solid recommendation to give any beginner.
I’m glad to have discovered this book and will be including it amongst my usual recommendations for beginners.
I think children and teens would love this book, and learn a ton from it. This would be a good recommendation for younger witches in general. Most introductory books suited to the younger crowd tend to focus exclusively on Wicca.
Making Magic is gloriously non-denominational. While the author makes her own views on magic clear, she doesn’t try to convert us. And much of what she teaches will be applicable to any burgeoning witch or mage, no matter what their worldview.
For older readers just starting out, the sense of childlike wonder conveyed by the book will definitely make learning easier. I’d even recommend it to advanced practitioners looking for new perspectives, but many of the exercises will already be familiar to most.
The author uses metaphors and parables (such as the reimagined story of “Golden Locks”) to convey magical principles in a pleasant, whimsical way. This won’t resonate with everyone, but will be just what many beginners need to contextualize their journey.
In short, this is a book I wholeheartedly recommend as an introductory course in magic for the curious, the complete beginner, the witch taking their first steps on the journey. Appropriate for all ages, in a way that’s both unusual and refreshing for an occult work.
I can’t really say I learned much new from this book, but I still really enjoyed it. I suspect most intermediate to advanced witches won’t find much new here - but that’s okay! Accessible, non-denominational works to help beginners are important! From a pedagogical perspective, this book is a solid recommendation to give any beginner.
I’m glad to have discovered this book and will be including it amongst my usual recommendations for beginners.
I think children and teens would love this book, and learn a ton from it. This would be a good recommendation for younger witches in general. Most introductory books suited to the younger crowd tend to focus exclusively on Wicca.
Making Magic is gloriously non-denominational. While the author makes her own views on magic clear, she doesn’t try to convert us. And much of what she teaches will be applicable to any burgeoning witch or mage, no matter what their worldview.
For older readers just starting out, the sense of childlike wonder conveyed by the book will definitely make learning easier. I’d even recommend it to advanced practitioners looking for new perspectives, but many of the exercises will already be familiar to most.
The author uses metaphors and parables (such as the reimagined story of “Golden Locks”) to convey magical principles in a pleasant, whimsical way. This won’t resonate with everyone, but will be just what many beginners need to contextualize their journey.
In short, this is a book I wholeheartedly recommend as an introductory course in magic for the curious, the complete beginner, the witch taking their first steps on the journey. Appropriate for all ages, in a way that’s both unusual and refreshing for an occult work.
April 26, 2020
I love to plan and tend to over-organize and over-analyze, so I picked up Making Magic as a way to force myself to think about the role of mystery and magic in my life. I wanted to open myself to imagination and spontaneity; to be comfortable with not having everything regulated and catalogued. And the book worked for that.
Pretty quickly, Saussy helped me see the connections between "the everyday and the extraordinary," as she puts it. Another way of thinking about it is that the material objects that we surround ourselves with - art, knickknacks, clothing, etc. - says something about who we are deep inside. Saussy encourages readers to meditate on why some things give us comfort and other things make us uneasy. In understanding these connections, we not only better understand ourselves, but we're also able to use these physical, material objects to affect positive changes in our souls. Almost immediately, I found myself giving up some old habits that were keeping me very regimented about things that didn't need regimenting.
But since my main goal for the book was just to steer my mindset into a new lane, I didn't go into it all that interested in actually learning rituals. So I felt like I kind of learned everything I wanted to in the first half. As the book goes on, Saussy continues to introduce rituals and analogies that I was less interested in. For example, it was useful early on for me to think about my body in terms of a house or a home, but I didn't find much new in the later chapter describing my body as a storage container. But, someone else who's interested in the book for different reasons than I was might get a lot of benefit from the whole thing.
Pretty quickly, Saussy helped me see the connections between "the everyday and the extraordinary," as she puts it. Another way of thinking about it is that the material objects that we surround ourselves with - art, knickknacks, clothing, etc. - says something about who we are deep inside. Saussy encourages readers to meditate on why some things give us comfort and other things make us uneasy. In understanding these connections, we not only better understand ourselves, but we're also able to use these physical, material objects to affect positive changes in our souls. Almost immediately, I found myself giving up some old habits that were keeping me very regimented about things that didn't need regimenting.
But since my main goal for the book was just to steer my mindset into a new lane, I didn't go into it all that interested in actually learning rituals. So I felt like I kind of learned everything I wanted to in the first half. As the book goes on, Saussy continues to introduce rituals and analogies that I was less interested in. For example, it was useful early on for me to think about my body in terms of a house or a home, but I didn't find much new in the later chapter describing my body as a storage container. But, someone else who's interested in the book for different reasons than I was might get a lot of benefit from the whole thing.
March 19, 2021
"Because it does require faith and courage and devotion to ask for what you want and need, all the while taking seriously the possibility that you may not get it or the even more frightening alternative - that you actually will."
Making Magic is a practical and inclusive guide to how we can weave magic into our everyday lives. Briana Saussy reveals how everyday rituals, objects, and stories are connected to more conventionally extraordinary magic. She also provides a range of rituals that you can modify and complete to mindfully bring magic into your life. I don't have the discipline for elaborate witchcraft so I like how Saussy emphasizes how rituals are unique to each person. Reading through this book also made me more aware of the magic of objects and where they come from. I think it's important to have that awareness as it's so easy to take all of the stuff of the modern world for granted. Each object first comes from the Earth and must eventually return to it, hopefully without inflicting too much damage.
I hope to bring some of these ideas into my everyday life to turn the mundane into the extraordinary. Life during the pandemic is feeling more static than ever so I'm excited about weaving magic into my everyday routines, if only so I can feel some excitement and joy.
Making Magic is a practical and inclusive guide to how we can weave magic into our everyday lives. Briana Saussy reveals how everyday rituals, objects, and stories are connected to more conventionally extraordinary magic. She also provides a range of rituals that you can modify and complete to mindfully bring magic into your life. I don't have the discipline for elaborate witchcraft so I like how Saussy emphasizes how rituals are unique to each person. Reading through this book also made me more aware of the magic of objects and where they come from. I think it's important to have that awareness as it's so easy to take all of the stuff of the modern world for granted. Each object first comes from the Earth and must eventually return to it, hopefully without inflicting too much damage.
I hope to bring some of these ideas into my everyday life to turn the mundane into the extraordinary. Life during the pandemic is feeling more static than ever so I'm excited about weaving magic into my everyday routines, if only so I can feel some excitement and joy.
May 25, 2019
I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Three and a half stars, rounded down to three for Goodreads, despite mathematics telling me that's the wrong thing to do.
My biggest criticism is that it was extremely difficult for me to "get into" the book. I found myself forcing myself to read the book up until the 40 percent mark. That's when it got interesting. Forcing myself to read: rating went to three and a half stars which I would have rounded up to four... if it hadn't been for the Golden Locks story which was used to frame and structure the book. I wasn't a fan of that, the purpose of it still isn't one hundred percent clear to me. So I decided it was time for me to demonstrate my abysmal mathematical skills and round a 3,5 to 3.
I enjoyed the way Saussy wrote about the intersection of magic and mundane, of the ways magic is all around us. I was also a fan of the Stepping Stones. I will most likely be revisiting the book and the exercises and the Stepping Stones eventually!
Definitely recommended to anyone who's new to magic and would like to observe the magical side of themselves – or just anyone who isn't a fan of highly structured and, uh, authoritarian magic.
Three and a half stars, rounded down to three for Goodreads, despite mathematics telling me that's the wrong thing to do.
My biggest criticism is that it was extremely difficult for me to "get into" the book. I found myself forcing myself to read the book up until the 40 percent mark. That's when it got interesting. Forcing myself to read: rating went to three and a half stars which I would have rounded up to four... if it hadn't been for the Golden Locks story which was used to frame and structure the book. I wasn't a fan of that, the purpose of it still isn't one hundred percent clear to me. So I decided it was time for me to demonstrate my abysmal mathematical skills and round a 3,5 to 3.
I enjoyed the way Saussy wrote about the intersection of magic and mundane, of the ways magic is all around us. I was also a fan of the Stepping Stones. I will most likely be revisiting the book and the exercises and the Stepping Stones eventually!
Definitely recommended to anyone who's new to magic and would like to observe the magical side of themselves – or just anyone who isn't a fan of highly structured and, uh, authoritarian magic.
May 16, 2019
As a Pagan, and a dabbler in Wicca I’m always keen to learn other forms of practice and sometimes pick up other things to use in my rituals. So I was keen to read 'Making Magic' as the blurb sets it as “welcoming guide to accessing your magic and creating a spiritual path that is all your own”
It does just that, each chapter talks about an aspect of magic and gives you an idea and an example of ritual.
The concept isn’t anything new, but the rituals are pared down to the very basics. although it does suggest using certain talismans and trinkets they are not necesarry and each ritual can be brought right back down to nature. That was actually what I liked most about this book, the very basic nature of the rituals.
Most other books on practicing Paganism talk about ‘summoning your circle' or 'calling the corners', for someone like me that sometimes struggles with this kind of visualisation I was quite pleased to see that the ritual preperations in this book were just two cleansing breaths; In and Out. This is something which I shall definitly be adding to my own little pot pourri of paganism.
It does just that, each chapter talks about an aspect of magic and gives you an idea and an example of ritual.
The concept isn’t anything new, but the rituals are pared down to the very basics. although it does suggest using certain talismans and trinkets they are not necesarry and each ritual can be brought right back down to nature. That was actually what I liked most about this book, the very basic nature of the rituals.
Most other books on practicing Paganism talk about ‘summoning your circle' or 'calling the corners', for someone like me that sometimes struggles with this kind of visualisation I was quite pleased to see that the ritual preperations in this book were just two cleansing breaths; In and Out. This is something which I shall definitly be adding to my own little pot pourri of paganism.
August 31, 2021
Making Magic is what I expected and more! Great Book!!
Here expert teacher Briana Saussy the author helps us discover the practice of magic. It includes resources of magic in our everyday lives. Very well written and one I highly recommend.
• Doors and thresholds—ways we "cross between worlds"
• Communication—creating magic with your voice, body, intentions, and relationships
• Holy helpers—ancestors, angels, saints, and spirit beings who guide and support you
• Water and washing—access the revitalizing energy of water when you drink or bathe
• Textiles and threads—how to loosen, mend, or bind up supportive energies
• Candles and fire—elemental power to bring light to darkness and burn away what no longer serves you
• Kitchen magic-using food to nourish your whole self and reconnect you with nature
• Talismans—infuse your beloved objects with sacred purpose and supportive power
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Here expert teacher Briana Saussy the author helps us discover the practice of magic. It includes resources of magic in our everyday lives. Very well written and one I highly recommend.
• Doors and thresholds—ways we "cross between worlds"
• Communication—creating magic with your voice, body, intentions, and relationships
• Holy helpers—ancestors, angels, saints, and spirit beings who guide and support you
• Water and washing—access the revitalizing energy of water when you drink or bathe
• Textiles and threads—how to loosen, mend, or bind up supportive energies
• Candles and fire—elemental power to bring light to darkness and burn away what no longer serves you
• Kitchen magic-using food to nourish your whole self and reconnect you with nature
• Talismans—infuse your beloved objects with sacred purpose and supportive power
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 21, 2020
I adored this beautiful book & if you are looking to incorporate more mindfulness, connectedness & magic into you life, I think you will too.
Briana’s words are poetry in prose, the words are as magical as what’s described. From ritual suggestions, field notes, reflections & fairy takes, it’s a bounty of ways to weave your own magical life. If you’ve read lots of ‘beginner’s magic’ books, know this is approachable but takes a different slant; you work with what’s around you & in your life already. There’s no equipment to buy or tricky arcane skills to acquire, but a gradual and empowering unfolding of your own sacredness & the allies you meet from within it. Highly recommended.
Briana’s words are poetry in prose, the words are as magical as what’s described. From ritual suggestions, field notes, reflections & fairy takes, it’s a bounty of ways to weave your own magical life. If you’ve read lots of ‘beginner’s magic’ books, know this is approachable but takes a different slant; you work with what’s around you & in your life already. There’s no equipment to buy or tricky arcane skills to acquire, but a gradual and empowering unfolding of your own sacredness & the allies you meet from within it. Highly recommended.
September 17, 2019
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book took a little for me to get into over the last couple of months. I read a lot of new age books. I am not saying that I did not get anything from this book. I feel this does explain a few things that I have been wondering about for a long time. I like they way the book was divided and that made it easy to find the things that I wanted to read. Maybe I have been reading too many of these books as of late. But I will continue to use this book again.
February 15, 2021
I didn't really vibe with this one, to put it casually. Saussy's use of Goldilock's tale and her interpretation of it I find quite elegant and beautiful, but the overall result is both to shallow for me and at the same time probably more perplexing for a complete beginner. For him or her I would recommend other books, more advanced practitioners will probably have had many of the thoughts and musings herein. There are some poignant insights to be found here though and some easily adabtable practices.
April 11, 2019
I have absolutely loved every bit of this book. I’m already talking it up and telling people about it because it’s just that good, fun and digestible. Briana has a natural story telling gift and weaves this entire read into a very approachable and doable type of everyday magic while maintaining a beautiful mystery and wisdom of the ages. I’m so thankful to have been able to experience this book and hope it touches other hearts and magical minds far and wide.
February 26, 2020
This is a book about connection, to all in your surroundings, and to yourself. Gentle wisdom guides you in identifying and appreciating the magic of life. Self care and observation are of great importance, and this book shows how they are often neglected, and how returning your attention to such things holds magic and peace.
September 8, 2019
A clear, accessible, and evocative call to reconnect with the natural restorative magic all around us in nature and in the elements of everyday life. I will be referring back to this wonderful little book often.
July 17, 2019
A really interesting read on finding your magic within, I really enjoyed Making Magic it was so much more than I was expecting.
Read
August 21, 2019This book is a guide on finding magic in your own life in simple actives or experiences. The book is well written and researched. It gives you well laid out instructions on each chapter about how to find that magic in the world around you and in you.
August 23, 2019
Bri weaves a beautifully poetic tapestry of how to live a practical, magical life - this is the "mindfulness" framework I've been looking for! A guidebook for restoring one's spirit.
January 10, 2020
only part I really appreciated was the bit on spirals..
October 11, 2021
I love this book. It takes the concept of magic and yanks it out of the realm of esoteric and reminds us that magic is the regular meeting of the everyday with the extraordinary.
January 20, 2022
very good book to find new ways to be mindful and manifest your desires. very easy to read and includes very basic, easy ways to practice it in your own life
abandoned
April 21, 2022Not for me.
July 24, 2022
Takes too long.
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