You Are a Great and Powerful Wizard: Self-Care Magic for Modern Mortals

by Sage Liskey, Barbara Counsil (Illustrations)

Your words and actions have tremendous power. Learn how to harness that power to change your life and make the world a better place with this modern spell book--regardless of your religion or spiritual leanings. Contemporary life is confusing and it's easy to feel out of control. Sage Liskey shows you how to get in touch with the mental, emotional, and physical aspects needed for spell casting. Chapters include guidance on finding your highest form, understanding your wizarding type, controlling your magic, overcoming roadblocks to your power such as depression and trauma, working with magical objects, and community spell work. Once you've fully tapped into your magical powers, you can use them to effect positive change in yourself and those around you.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published July 14, 2020

Reviews

[Hallie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magical read! Words of wisdom from a Sage. I will be buying a second copy for my niece who is graduating from high school. Sure to make a great gift as well as personal read.

[Wilde Ungulate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could be described as self-help, but honestly it's way beyond what you would expect from that genre. It tackles some pretty big topics, like managing addiction, self-esteem, motivation, etc., but in a really lighthearted, approachable, and non-judgmental way. When I read this book, it feels much easier to reach toward self-actualization and I feel that I can cut through the doubt and fear standing in my way. We're all just under a bunch of different spells, some that we intentionally cast and some that we unconsciously auto-cast, and we can always change what's in our spell book :)

Be the Wizard you want to be!

[Matt Burney · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am routinely disappointed that I can't fly, disappear, or employ telekinesis with any reliability, I did not feel misled by the cover, being a mere modern mortal. I enjoyed the consistent use of magical metaphor, and plenty of reminders and guidance to further my self-awareness and analysis in this modern world of "virtual reality". Life is more fun when we re-imagine our modern psychobabble, health foods, and introspection with mystical synonyms of antiquity. I also enjoyed the illustrations-- refreshing in this day and age of digital everything. The book feels geared towards twenty-somethings or mature teens, but the lessons within apply universally.

[M McCormack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book that is about basic human social studies. That’s it. It’s a book for aliens to understand humans. There is nothing “magical” about this so called magical *secular* self help book. There isn’t really anything in here useful for you unless you just live under a rock and don’t know what living in society is like. More law of attraction type stuff if anything. Give it to your quirky 12 year old cousin, but for everyone else... pass.

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good! I liked it, for a self-help book it felt really down to earth and straightforward in its approach, a good amount of practical skills and advice to work on, and an engaging way of writing about them (within the framework of magic).

[Ariel Kusby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting! An accessible mental health guide told through lens of magic and wizardry, this book is an empowering handbook for anyone who is looking for self-possession amidst a toxic culture. This book calls us to ask: What spells have been unknowingly cast upon me, and what spells do I unwittingly cast upon others? If we can see a spell as any action that transforms reality, then we can start to understand how inherently powerful each of us really are.

A unique overview of life that covers everything from depression, activism, dream analysis, and intentional eating under an over-arching umbrella of magical wellness, this book is for anyone who could use more magic and happiness in their life!

[Amy Lamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This clever self-help-style book fell into my hands quite by circumstance and, with no expectations, I curiously devoured it. The first half of the book overviews topics of general well-being such as understanding of your individual traits, navigating social dynamics, and neurodiversity. The second half of the book offers strategies to “power up” your life skills to reach your “highest form”. At the end of each chapter, a serious of “life mapping” questions help the reader reflect on how they deal with the chapter topic in their own lives. The final chapter has the reader amalgamate these life mapping lessons – revealing the great and powerful wizard within!
While the vocabulary of wizardry and alchemy may equally attract and repel certain reader demographics, Sage’s supportive, earnest, and friendly tone is infused into every page, accompanied by Barbara Counsil’s delightful illustrations. The book gracefully probes a wide array of subject matters; some such as mindfulness with diet felt obvious to me, yet others such as non-violent communication skills had me reflecting more deeply. No two readers will have the same takeaways. And here is the “magic” of the book – the fantastical word choice serves as a guise to disarm the reader’s defenses, making them more receptive to a considerable collection of self-help topics explained in accessible language. Someone who might not pick up a book on how to manage bad habits with therapy and meditation, for example, might want to know how to be a great and powerful wizard and subsequently realize they want to break a bad habit. Sage honors each individual’s journey without judgement and his genuine desire to help others discover how to live their best lives comes through loud and clear. My main critique is that depth is considerably sacrificed for breadth, however, the savvy reader can use the topics which resonated most with them as a jumping off point to continue their inner work.

[Shelby Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage Liskey brings us a whole new perspective on self-help. While most self-help books read as a statement of facts, Liskey transforms us all into wizards who are able to harness our own magic and shape ourselves. This new perspective not only makes this book more engaging but also shifts the typical perspective so we can view self-help in a completely new form.
While Liskey's work includes a lot of advice that is commonly heard through other self-help books, his personal twist of the wizard perspective gives new light to the topic and allows us to see the full picture. This tidy book includes a variety of ideas to allow for a variety of different paths for wizards to take on their road to recovery. I personally found it helpful how he includes all possibilities for activities to allow change within our everyday. Also, Liskey politely includes references to spirituality as paths that wizards could choose, which I thought was a polite gesture for anyone looking to explore one's higher self.
I would recommend this book to any nerd who is trying to find themselves. This close relation to those we treasure on screen or within novels triggers the inner child in us all and allows us to reconnect with our roots.

[Tulsi Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Sage Liskey is a new and expanded edition now gracing our living room at the farm for visitors to peak at. You Are a Great and Powerful Wizard is about the everyday magick making of self care, living well and embodying positive possibilities. Cool illustrations too! Very fun and informative read.

[George Hersh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents a magical perspective on the affairs of the mundane world and shows that indeed everything is permeated with magic. Great tips and tricks to harness your magical power and use it wisely in this modern world.

[Chloe Goldade Holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect feel good book to curl up with. At the end of each chapter are clever life mapping questions to help you keep thinking about changes you want to make and connect your life to the concepts in the book. Love the small easy to carry around size.

[Caitlynn Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, to be completely honest it’s quite surface level advice. But definitely a good book with some solid info that would be good for tweens/teens/ young adults. Will admit there is quite a liberal/ democratic undertone but not overwhelmingly.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have the power to shape our own reality - it's magic! What a insightful, powerful, and fun book.

[David N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well researched, easy to read, and packed with wisdoms and common sense that we all tend to forget!

[Krys Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy read. So informative. I feel like you can read it multiple times during different portions of your life throughout your life.

[Cole Sutton Kastner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely well written self help book with a whimsical and easy to digest flare.
You will be entertained from cover to cover.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A student bought me this book and Im glad he did. A fun insightful way to speak to the power we have as individuals.

[Liza · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 16%

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm usually not big into reading so-called "self help" books, but this one was really entertaining and uplifting. You Are A Great and Powerful Wizard tackles issues around mental health, motivation, and creativity in such a positive, non-judgmental light. It's gentle and approachable, which makes it more accessible for people who are already having trouble putting in the effort to feel better and better themselves. Not to mention it's an instant win for lovers of the fantasy genre. I have never read a book quite like it before.

You can read it all in one go, but I recommend making it a habit to read a chapter every day, perhaps before bed. I noticed a positive and lasting shift in my own thought processes that has helped me stand out of my own way and relax into a more happy, productive life. Truly, Sage Liskey is right when he points out that we are casting spells on ourselves, whether positive/creative spells or destructive spells, and we have the power to change that through the words and beliefs we choose. The teachings really are practical magic that you can approach in a sustainable way, making little incremental changes in your thought processes -- and because the changes are incremental, they are less daunting to take on, but they can really add up to impressive results.

This is a wonderful book for all ages, super readable for a younger audience but still enjoyable and relevant for older readers. I cannot recommend it enough.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand the intended theme throughout the book about everyday life holding a magical power, but I could not get onboard with this book. Someone bought this for me and I thought it was so cute. However, it’s almost like an extremely basic manual for “how to be a human” and the words “magic” and “wizard” were haphazardly thrown in. Relationship advice like “don’t make sexual comments about their body or touch them” when first meeting someone seems so obvious I don’t know why it even has to be written. That’s how I felt while reading most of this book—“why did this need to be written down?” I guess it makes sense if it was written for a pre-teen or an adult with some type of social disorder. There was a section about making friends that said you can make non-living friends with a “stuffed animal or piece of artwork”. I’m not sure how to take this advice. Is that healthy to have a piece of artwork as a friend?

I found the writing itself to be a little too unstructured. It felt like English conventions might have been purposely ignored in some places to make it more of a casual read. For me, it was distracting.

This is not about witchcraft or wizardry, if that’s what you’re looking for. This is a “how to be a person” guide. I find the title to be seriously misleading.

(The last lower review had a response from the author that sounded whiny and petty. I hope he can take the criticism constructively going forward.)

[Sage Liskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Are A Great And Powerful Wizard: Self-Care Magic For Modern Mortals explores how to uplift your life and change the world through the fun lens of magic and wizardry. In 280 illustrated pages it makes mental health, community building, habits, depression, motivation, relationships, creativity, activism, and so much more easy to understand. Great for adults and teens alike.

Originally You Are A Great And Powerful Wizard was inspired by combining the ideas found in Marshall Rosenburg's Nonviolent Communication and Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea fantasy series. Each chapter ends with a Life Mapping section that gives you journal prompts for self-exploration. Beyond being packed with useful information on becoming happier and more fulfilled, You Are A Great And Powerful Wizard details how to effectively create the world you want to see.

Please note that while the publisher confusingly decided to describe this book as "secular witchcraft," this is in no way a book of witchcraft (at least not in any traditional sense). Rather the book uses magic and wizardry as a fantastic metaphor for exploring oneself and the world through.

I hope you enjoy. You can get a signed copy directly from me (the author) at etsy.com/shop/radcatpress

[Eden Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a comprehensive resource for people who know that they could be living a more full, balanced, engaged life, but can't quite figure out where they are currently preventing themselves from having this life.
Each section is thorough and there are clear directions to help folks who want someone to point them in the right direction.
The book is also delightfully witty and fun, providing a different perspective on well-being and mental health.