The Spell Book for New Witches: Essential Spells to Change Your Life

by Ambrosia Hawthorn

Unlock your magic with simple spells for new witches.

There's magic in all of us, just waiting to be tapped. If you're ready to access and channel your power, this spell book will be your guide. Inside, you'll learn what it means to create and cast a spell, the central philosophies of witchcraft, and how spellwork can help you feel more powerful and connected to the world around you.

Empower the witch within as you explore the ultimate spell book for getting started with magic.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Magic, Spirituality, Wicca, Magick, Witches

244 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2020

Reviews

[Kitty Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Look, I'm probably more judgemental, more skeptical, and more of a traditionalist than the intended audience for this book, but I'm also a sucker for a pretty cover, and so here we are.

The Spell Book for New Witches is another Wiccan-based (even though the author doesn't like to label her practice, some of it was pretty obvious) spell book with a bunch of woo-woo intention setting that doesn't really jive with tradcraft or more historical-based witchcraft. Most of the "spells" in this are throwing some herbs in a baggie and really believing in something.*

Even if I'm looking for woo-woo intention-based magic, this is light on information. She recommends using herbs, but without a list of correspondences for why she chose those herbs; admittedly, this is meant to be more of a practical book of shadows rather than a grimoire, so that may be excused, except she says they're the same thing at one point.** She also makes the cardinal sin, in my book (ha), of expressly saying that magic that interferes with someone's free will is necessarily Bad and Will Come Back to Haunt You, and that "real" witches believe in X, Y, and Z. This is especially annoying as she mentions hoodoo earlier, and even has - what I believe to have originated in hoodoo - a recipe for Come to Me Oil (though it uses Wiccan-correspondence herbs, rather than traditional hoodoo ones that you would typically see in a Come to Me Oil). The judgey-judgey and "all witches believe..." that totally discounts tradcraft and historical witchcraft will always bug me, plus I'm giving some serious side-eye to the appropriation of a hoodoo oil name when she could have easily just named it "Love Attraction" or something generic.

The list of resources is pretty thin and definitely not historical or even traditionally-based, as far as I can see, and there's a lot of emphasis on crystals, which is a little too New Agey for my cold dead heart.

The illustrations and layout, however, are beautiful, and the book is well-organized and well-written, with no editorial mistakes that I could see, which isn't something I take for granted with small publications like these, so kudos to that. And, as I said, it has a pretty cover.

All in all, if you're Wiccan or more into New Agey magic, this might be a good book for you, especially for beginners. For those who are more practiced in their craft or prefer some documentation along with their magic, then look elsewhere.

* For those of you thinking, "Isn't that what witchcraft is?", in this case, I refer to the fact that a lot of New Age traditions basically believe that what you believe matters more than what you use. In more traditional magic, there are very strict correspondences, and messing it up can have dire consequences. Historical witchcraft, likewise, does a lot of research into what meant what so that they can have an accurate rendition of ancient potions and spells, because they believe that it does matter, and substituting any old herb because you want to is Not Done.

** A grimoire is more of a reference book, which would include said herb correspondences, as well as maybe identifying herbs, lunar calendars, etc., while a book of shadows tends to be the actual spells a witch uses.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sage Nestler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Take

The Spell Book for New Witches is an excellent introduction into witchcraft that debunks the myths surrounding this spiritual practice.  Like all books on this subject, the information presented should be taken with a grain of salt as everybody's practice is different.

Tell Me More

I have been a spiritual practitioner of witchcraft for some time, and I am extremely passionate about sharing the beauty of this spiritual practice with others.  Witchcraft has often been seen as a "bad word" because some religions have defined it as evil; but in reality, witchcraft is the practice of connecting with the natural world and acknowledging and utilizing the energies that all living things bring into existence. 

The Spell Book for New Witches is a beautiful first reader on the subject because Ambrosia Hawthorn explains some of the histories of this practice while providing a plethora of example spells that one can use to become acquainted with the practice.  She also explains many of the different objects that witches use, and why they are important, without telling the reader exactly what they must do to be considered a "witch".  I wish that I had found this book when I was first exploring witchcraft because it makes the reader feel well informed and welcomed.  So many other texts make the reader feel as though they have to earn the right to be considered a "witch", but Hawthorn presents love and acceptance through her writing that creates a lovely learning and reading experience. 

Whether you are interested in learning about witchcraft or are a seasoned practitioner, The Spell Book for New Witches will bring you new insight while debunking the myths surrounding this beautiful spiritual practice.  I have increased my knowledge base of spells while learning new things about witchcraft through reading this book.  I passionately recommend The Spell Book for New Witches to help you begin or expand your spiritual practice.  It is a must-read for anyone interested in the beauty of witchcraft!        

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dove into The Spell Book for New Witches: Essential Spells to Change Your Life for a couple of specific reasons. Mostly because it worked for some challenges that I'm in. It also doesn't hurt that it's a book from a new author. Or that the title alone seemed pretty interesting.

Now I've never been one of those people who believed in energy, spells, or crystals. I do think they are an interesting topic though and one I would like to explore a bit more. I mean, I like all of that stuff in shows, movies, and books. So, I figured I should dive into another take on it because people do believe in these things.

In the beginning, we get a lot of information and explanations for certain things. I was a little sad that blue mentioned depression since it's my favorite color, but it also makes sense as well. Even though I'm far from depressed. Other than that, I liked how the spells were broken into certain parts. A lot of them were interesting to read about and others were okay but not for me.

In the end, it was a very interesting read and opened my eyes to something I didn't fully understand. I still think that I have a lot more to learn and will probably have to dive into other books to get all that information.

[Ophelia Feyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Review: 'The Spell Book for New Witches – Essential Spells to Change Your Life'* by Ambrosia Hawthorn.
Illustrated by: Travis Stewart
Publisher: Rockridge Press / Callisto Media
Release Date: 4th February, 2020

About the Author

Born in California, Ambrosia is the editor of 'Witchology Magazine'. She found her practice at the age of 13 and has been studying the craft and her lineage ever since. She describes herself as a travelling eclectic witch with indigenous roots in Yup’ik shamanism and Puerto Rican folk magic.

Ambrosia’s other works include: 'The Contemporary Witch', 'Seasons of Wicca', 'The Wiccan Book of Shadows', and 'Anyone Can Be a (Perfect) Witch'.

About the Book

Here’s the blurb:

“Magic is present within us all – when accessed, it allows us to connect to the natural world, invite in opportunities, and create the change we need in our lives. Whether you’re new to spellwork or hoping to expand your skills, The Spell book for New Witches shows you how to tap into your inner power and make spellcasting practical for your everyday.

Start your path to practical magic with an introduction to spellwork, including helpful instructions on performing spells, prepping your space, and channeling energy to access your power. Easy-to-follow spells will help you find lasting love, protect your family and friends, advance your career, and live the life you deserve.”

My Thoughts

With a name like, 'The Spell Book for New Witches' it would be easy to think that you could just open the relevant page and off you go. However, it’s always best to have some background knowledge of magic and spell-casting before you start, and I wouldn’t rely on this book for that information.

Although the author has covered some introductory ideas related to understanding spell casting, I found the information to be hit and miss. There are some instances of misinformation, or not enough context is provided.

In terms of magical beliefs and principles some of the guidance is presented as being held by all witches however, they are beliefs held mostly by Wiccans or new age practitioners. For example, ‘the threefold law’ (the idea that anything you send out into the world will come back to you times three) is predominantly found in Wicca. Similarly, when discussing baneful magic, ‘do no harm’ is presented as a principle that all witches should follow. As with the threefold law, not all witches, pagans, occultists and other magical practitioners subscribe to this belief.

Following these ideas I found it problematic that the writer presented ‘black magic’ as ‘unethical’ and ‘white magic’ as ‘healing’. As I have mentioned in previous reviews this is outdated thinking.

Information provided relating to the wheel of year, moon phases, witchcraft tools and symbology is useful information found in most books of this kind. Similarly, the section titled, Frequent Instructions in Spellcasting is helpful for beginners as it provides details about terms and ideas that show up a lot in spell books and spell work.

The spells themselves are organised by topic and contain all the information needed to cast them effectively; best time to perform the spell, how long it will take, the best place to perform it, tools and ingredients, and step by step instructions. I also appreciated the range of spell methods that have been curated, including; oils, spell bottles, spell bags, candle magic, knot magic, potions, charms, talismans, poppets, sigils, amulets and more.

Overall, I would recommend that beginners and new witches read and learn from a range of sources. This book, like others of its kind, presents Wiccan principles as general beliefs amongst the magical community. Whereas, not all witches, Wiccans, spiritual and magical practitioners follow the same path/belief system. It’s important to discover what aligns most with your personal values, and practice in a way that resonates with you. If that happens to be a Wiccan path, great, if not, explore other magical avenues.

*Book was gifted by the publisher.

[Amy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spell Book for New Witches encourages everyone to tap into the magic inside by connecting with nature. The first 50 or so pages focus on background information, and the remaining 150 or so pages focus on different spells. There are suggestions of talismans, tools, and clothing to enhance your spells, but the overall message of the book is that you should do what you're comfortable with. Each spell goes into detail about why you might need it, when and where to perform it, the amount of time to commit to it, tools and supplies you'll need, and detailed steps of what to do to cast the spell.

Overall, this is a nice gift book for new witches who want to learn more about spells, symbols, oils, etc.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not influence my review.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the spells and content were great, but much was a bit underwhelming. With the disclaimer that this was geared towards a practice style that just isn’t my personal type of magick, this book would be a good starter for New Age practitioners.

The background presented was cursory, which may be fitting for a beginner book. That said, given the depth of spells then shown, more background might have been useful. As a very basic introduction, it does the job, though readers may be better served by reading the references listed then coming back to this material.

The spells themselves were pretty good. Each section has many spells that do the same thing, but I liked how the reader had options to find the rituals that best suited their needs and style. The spells did require, as a general rule, items and supplies that are easily obtained making the book accessible for anyone just starting out. The spells trended towards meditative/”New Age” ritual which just happens to not be my style (not a bad thing, if this is your style, this will be a great resource).

Overall, I would say the book is “OK.” I would recommend that new Witches use this as a companion piece with other resources to first feel out what type of magick most feels natural. If meditative ritual is your thing, this would be a handy reference.

[Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book for the *absolute* beginner. Once you have a grasp of the basics it will be much easier to interpret for yourself. The introduction was pretty good, I liked the way the author described magic, but they criminally underrepresent how many different types of witchcraft there are. They also push the concept of the threefold law, which many witches do observe but not all. Presenting it as a "cosmic law" is misinformation.

As many have said, the spells are very ingredient and tool heavy. These can be pretty hard to follow for new witches and those practicing in secret. *Know that you can alter any spells presented to you to fit your practice, needs, and ability.* I don't like how it simply gives you an ingredient list. Each herb and oil has its own energy and correspondences, you should know the properties of every ingredient you use. If you don't know why you're using something in your spell you won't be able to tell it what its purpose is and you'll have energy that may not be able to aid you in the way you wanted.

There are some good spells that I'll probably strip down in order to use them for myself. I am one of those without access to a huge array of herbs and oils. With all books on witchcraft, take what you like from it and mold it into your own practice.

[T.L. Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for a variety of reasons:
* there’s energy talk (I love energy manipulation)
*the spells are modern and useful spells
*the spells are creative and hands
*empowers the reader to create change (feel good!)
*talking about ethics

I hate being told what to do, so when Ambrosia explains that magic isn’t good or bad and also that ethics are the same in all other areas of life, I was glad.

I love it when Ambrosia says, “Magic is the energy that flows through every natural thing. It’s neutral energy that is neither good nor evil. Power is the practical art of channeling magic for your use. When you begin bending and channeling magic, you are, in a sense, building up your personal power. It’s through this manipulation that you can influence or control the energy around you.
But Spellcasting is just one of the many ways to manipulate energy. It’s also the means of using tools such as crystals, stones, herbs, shells, metal, and wood.” (pg. 8)

I enjoyed Ambrosia’s thoughts on tailoring and creating your own perfect path. This book was also very scan-able and beautiful, which made it an easy read.

[Caroline Arena]

I’m for sure not a new witch but a girl can always brush up on her spells. Stay witchy

[Miranda Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book full of spells for everything from wellbeing to attracting money amongst many others! It is one of those books you can dip in and out of for advice and inspiration and is great for new witches starting out!!

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.756 Stars

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciate the breadth of spell approaches in this book, the reliance on essential oils was off putting. I would have also liked to see deeper explanation of why certain spell casting techniques/herbs were used over others. I did chuckle seeing that half of the suggested reading was Scott Cunningham because, of course it was.

I think a beginner would find inspiration here (I certainly did), but wouldn’t learn more about the craft from this book.

[Jamie Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really loved how she broke down the definitions in the book and talked so much about karma and intention. I love learning about Crystal, astrology, and manifestation and I felt like this non fiction book was a really great extension of those passions.

[Jackie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ready, very informative and well written for beginners.

[Brenda Hasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this book for research. Informative. Well written.

[Aleksandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was cute. It was a quick read and it was pretty informative. I really enjoyed and will be trying some of these spells.
The only thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was how the beginning was pretty repetitive, other than that I really liked it.
The spells seem easy enough and this author seems well informed on this topic. If you’re interested in spells I’d definitely give this a go. It was a quick read. Most of the book is just spells

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really made me understand why people believe in the power of casting spells and witchcraft. The author lays out the facts in such a straightforward way that is easy to understand so the reader really walks away knowing a lot about witchcraft. I cannot say that I am completely invested in this, but I have always found this topic to be interesting and enjoyed learning more about it.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First let me say that I was sent this book by the publisher with the expectation that I would give an honest review of its content. This was an interesting book about witches, Wicca and the history of witchcraft, what the difference is between various types of witchcraft and the meaning behind important aspects to practicing witchcraft. I am not someone who is a practicing witch or believes in the Pagan religions but I love to learn about other beliefs and religions of all types. This book was very eye-opening and gave me insight into the practice of witchcraft. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the craft or who is a new practicing witch.

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to go shopping now because this book made me want to try these positive spells. Having lived in many places, most cultures embrace cleansing and methods used to bring prosperity. The needed ingredients seem like they would be found without much effort. . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and the cover is absolutely beautiful, especially the smooth texture of it! However, I didn't like a lot of the spells and some of the writing is really vague. As a new witch, I'm still learning about witchcraft and everything, and some of the instructions in these spells were too vague. As I read them I thought, okay, but what does that mean? Do I do this or do I do that? I guess maybe it's left up to interpretation? I don't know, but that bothered me and made me not really interested in that spell. In other parts it's really specific like cleansing an area before you do each spell. I've read other books and they didn't mention this at all so that surprised me, but I'm guessing this is a Wiccan thing. Overall I think it's a good read if you're interested in this book, but to each their own.

[Amy Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s lots about this I liked, and there’s definitely spells I’ll use, but I take issue with the fact the correspondences for each ingredient aren’t listed, nor are correspondences covered at all, which is really important for a beginner witch to know if they haven’t yet started to learn about them.

I also take massive issue with the fact that the author takes a “love and light only” approach. That’s not how everyone practises. And posing it as the be all and end all is gross and exclusionary. And they shove it down your throat coupled with the “threat” of the threefold law. Just say you’re Wiccan and be done with it.

I legitimately would have given five stars for this book if these things hadn’t been an issue.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this is an Ebook but the first thing I would Like to say about this book is its cover image. I think it is Beautiful and the book inside is also quite interesting. It has been Written by the Witchology Magazine owner Ambrosia Hawthorn

Magic is present within us all—when accessed, it allows us to connect to the natural world, invite in opportunities, and create the change we need in our lives. The Spell Book for New Witches is an excellent introduction into witchcraft that debunks the myths surrounding this spiritual practice. The Spell Book for New Witches encourages everyone to tap into the magic inside by connecting with nature. The first 50 or so pages focus on background information, and the remaining 150 or so pages focus on different spells. 

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
Não recomendo pra alguém que realmente acabou de começar na bruxaria, precisa ter um conhecimento da propriedade dos ingredientes que os feitiços usam e a autora não explica isso, só dá de bandeja o método pra fazer e o que precisa.
Além disso, a parte teórica do livro é influenciada pela Wicca, principalmente com a presença da lei tríplice/karma e também a escritora menciona poucas vertentes da bruxaria e quase não comenta sobre elas, o que eu entendo que não era o foco do livro mas poderia ter sido mencionado que existem muitas mais vertentes.
Fora isso, o livro é até que bom.

[Emma (littledollreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my journey into the world of witchcraft this was the next book that I picked up. I quite liked the beginning explanations of the practices on witchcraft and found that they helped to cement my understanding. A definite must read for new witches. The spells in here were some that I could definitely get behind and seemed really accessible. This is one that I will definitely be coming back to.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! So pretty and chock full of simple spells for the new witch. It was organized well and wasn't as intimidating as other witchcraft books I've read. Great introduction to the craft.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite some contradictory statements and questionable spells, I found myself taking notes on several entries.
Do I think it is a good book for "New Witches"? No. But it could be a nice resource to witches that recently learned the basics.

[aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

not for me personally, i’ve been into witchcraft for a long time and i feel like the spells here are overly complicated in ingredients. especially for beginners, however you might like it!

[jas ⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

there's some spells i definitely will try out and there's also new info I learned as a relatively new witch:)

[Amanda Conover · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a beginner in witchcraft, I found this book super helpful in outlining the basics. I enjoyed how the spells were broken up into sections and seemed fairly straightforward + easy to cast. The introduction also has valuable information, although like other reviews mention I really wish there was information under at least some of the spells or in the beginning of the book signifying why certain herbs, tools, moon phases, days, and methods were chosen for particular spells. I plan to eventually create my own spells after working on my book of shadows, so blindly following the steps for each spell in this book will not help me learn how to make some of those decisions. Additionally, some of the spells were far too basic (meditating with a crystal, etc.) or extremely similar to other spells in the book. And as others mentioned, there may have been some misinformation regarding different witchy terms.

[Luna A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 1 was so short and uninformative that it might as well not even be there. It’s like the author started writing about things and then just stopped halfway through. Considering this is supposed to be for new witches, the lack of info is pretty concerning. We’re talking about a 225 page “beginner“ book with less than 35 pages on witchcraft basics. It barely even scratches the surface of what people should know before moving on to part 2. That being said, I’ve been practicing for a while so I didn’t really need that part anyways. There are A LOT of spells in part 2 which I found to be pretty useful. Overall, the book is organized nicely and written very well. But if you’re looking for a sort of “witchcraft 101” like it advertises, look elsewhere.