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Bewitching the Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit
Empower yourself by connecting to the five elements through meditation, breathwork, tarot, crystals, rituals, and journaling
It's the new age of enlightenment, and more and more people are embracing witchcraft and other spiritual practices to tap into their inner strength and resilience, while aligning with something larger than themselves. The tools that Gabriela Herstik offers in Bewitching the Elements will help you connect to the universe and your inner light.
Through earth, learn how to ground and create compassionate boundaries.
Through air, harness the breath, balance the body, and find presence in the moment.
Through fire, embody passion, burning away what no longer serves you, and learn to constructively work with anger.
Through water, explore your emotional depths and come back to the heart.
Through spirit, connect to your own sense of power, embracing all of the lessons of the elements.
Committing to a path that serves our authentic selves is a radical act. When we do this work alongside nature, by turning to the elements, we find a map back to our intuitive and energetic wisdom.
It's the new age of enlightenment, and more and more people are embracing witchcraft and other spiritual practices to tap into their inner strength and resilience, while aligning with something larger than themselves. The tools that Gabriela Herstik offers in Bewitching the Elements will help you connect to the universe and your inner light.
Through earth, learn how to ground and create compassionate boundaries.
Through air, harness the breath, balance the body, and find presence in the moment.
Through fire, embody passion, burning away what no longer serves you, and learn to constructively work with anger.
Through water, explore your emotional depths and come back to the heart.
Through spirit, connect to your own sense of power, embracing all of the lessons of the elements.
Committing to a path that serves our authentic selves is a radical act. When we do this work alongside nature, by turning to the elements, we find a map back to our intuitive and energetic wisdom.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2020
101 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 31, 2020
4.5 Stars.
Being such a huge fan of Gabriela Herstik's first book, Craft, I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of her second book, Bewitching the Elements. With this book, she's given us so many ways to work with the elements in your practice, there's something for practically every witch.
I really adore Herstik's writing style. She clearly knows how to write, with a background of writing for various magazines, but she does so in a way that feels like you're having a conversation with a friend. Bewitching the Elements is educational, but also fun, and Herstik's voice and personality shine right through. Reading her books is just such a joy in and of itself, learning from her is a bonus.
And there's so much to learn, and try out and experiment with. For every element, Herstik talks about what each element means and represents in a magical sense, ways to connect with the element, talks us through multiple visualisations, crystals to work with, tarot cards relating to the element and spreads, deities related to the element, and how to work with and create altars for them, glamour magic to embody the element, journal questions, an indepth look at the zodiac signs related to each element, and rituals. If you've ever bought one, Bewitching the Elements is very much like Herstik's ritual guides, but one based on the elements rather than the Esbats and Sabbats, and a hell of a lot longer. It's just incredible the wealth of information kept within these pages.
As I've mentioned, there's something in this book for almost any witch. Now there are a lot of visualisations, several for each element, and, as I've discussed recently, visualisations don't work for me. So there is a fair amount in this that doesn't resonate with me. But what I've found with both Herstik's books that I don't need to resonate with everything to gain something from them. Not resonating with something - especially in Herstik's books (I don't know, maybe it's something to do with how she writes?) - leads me to figure out what does, which is so helpful. But there are aspects of this book that do resonate. I loved everything on glamour, especially in the Water and Fire chapters, everything on tarot, everything Herstik writes about deities, the breathing exercises in Air's chapter, the entirety of the Water and Spirit chapters (minus visualisations), which really spoke to me, and most of Fire - there's a fair bit on sex magic, which isn't for me, but everything else was great.
I found as I was reading, I would mentally add to what Herstik was saying, like my own associations of the elements, or certain deities I think would work for certain elements. I would think about the elements differently which would lead to reflection and asking myself questions, and figuring things out. All of which led to greater contact with the Goddess^! Something about Bewitching the Elements unlocked something in me that allowed the Goddess to flow through. I now have a greater connection with her, she's comig through loud and clear, and it's absolutely wonderful! I have a huge amount of love for Bewitching the Elements for what it's brough about for me. It's amazing!
The only negative I have is that it can be kind of repetitive in places. Although the visualisations weren't for me, I still read them. And each one starts and ends roughly the same. Herstik does a great job of re-wording things to a certain degree, so it's not a copy and paste job, but they're so very similar for each and every visualisation. What's frustrating is that before starting the meditation rituals, Herstik mentions that you'll want to set up space, so "follow the instructions on page 15," as they've already been set out. I wish, similarly, at the very beginning, a very basic outline for a meditation visualisation had been written, in the same way for setting up space, and each visualisation would start with something like, "For this visualisation, follow steps 1-5 on page X, this time using the heart breath," or whatever additions needed to be made for a particular visualisation, and ended, "to finish this visualisation, follow steps 8-11." I know this would mean a lot of flipping backwards and forwards, but I feel only at the start, because there are so many, these steps would end up being memorised, plus you've got to flip back and forth for setting up space anyway. And as Herstik herself says herself at the start of each visualisation, the reader may want to read through it several times to familiarise themselves with it, or record themselves reading it out, so there's that option, too, for flipping back and forth. I just feel this would have solved things, because there are so many visualisations, and it really does get so repetitive.
But otherwise, I'm a big, big fan of this book. I will absolutely be dipping in and out of it to remind myself of things and to try out the tarot spreads, and so on, as I do still with Craft. And I'm so looking forward to Herstik's guided journal, Embody Your Magic, which is being published in September. I really recommend giving Bewitching the Elements a read, whether you're a new or experienced witch, it's great!
Being such a huge fan of Gabriela Herstik's first book, Craft, I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of her second book, Bewitching the Elements. With this book, she's given us so many ways to work with the elements in your practice, there's something for practically every witch.
I really adore Herstik's writing style. She clearly knows how to write, with a background of writing for various magazines, but she does so in a way that feels like you're having a conversation with a friend. Bewitching the Elements is educational, but also fun, and Herstik's voice and personality shine right through. Reading her books is just such a joy in and of itself, learning from her is a bonus.
And there's so much to learn, and try out and experiment with. For every element, Herstik talks about what each element means and represents in a magical sense, ways to connect with the element, talks us through multiple visualisations, crystals to work with, tarot cards relating to the element and spreads, deities related to the element, and how to work with and create altars for them, glamour magic to embody the element, journal questions, an indepth look at the zodiac signs related to each element, and rituals. If you've ever bought one, Bewitching the Elements is very much like Herstik's ritual guides, but one based on the elements rather than the Esbats and Sabbats, and a hell of a lot longer. It's just incredible the wealth of information kept within these pages.
As I've mentioned, there's something in this book for almost any witch. Now there are a lot of visualisations, several for each element, and, as I've discussed recently, visualisations don't work for me. So there is a fair amount in this that doesn't resonate with me. But what I've found with both Herstik's books that I don't need to resonate with everything to gain something from them. Not resonating with something - especially in Herstik's books (I don't know, maybe it's something to do with how she writes?) - leads me to figure out what does, which is so helpful. But there are aspects of this book that do resonate. I loved everything on glamour, especially in the Water and Fire chapters, everything on tarot, everything Herstik writes about deities, the breathing exercises in Air's chapter, the entirety of the Water and Spirit chapters (minus visualisations), which really spoke to me, and most of Fire - there's a fair bit on sex magic, which isn't for me, but everything else was great.
I found as I was reading, I would mentally add to what Herstik was saying, like my own associations of the elements, or certain deities I think would work for certain elements. I would think about the elements differently which would lead to reflection and asking myself questions, and figuring things out. All of which led to greater contact with the Goddess^! Something about Bewitching the Elements unlocked something in me that allowed the Goddess to flow through. I now have a greater connection with her, she's comig through loud and clear, and it's absolutely wonderful! I have a huge amount of love for Bewitching the Elements for what it's brough about for me. It's amazing!
The only negative I have is that it can be kind of repetitive in places. Although the visualisations weren't for me, I still read them. And each one starts and ends roughly the same. Herstik does a great job of re-wording things to a certain degree, so it's not a copy and paste job, but they're so very similar for each and every visualisation. What's frustrating is that before starting the meditation rituals, Herstik mentions that you'll want to set up space, so "follow the instructions on page 15," as they've already been set out. I wish, similarly, at the very beginning, a very basic outline for a meditation visualisation had been written, in the same way for setting up space, and each visualisation would start with something like, "For this visualisation, follow steps 1-5 on page X, this time using the heart breath," or whatever additions needed to be made for a particular visualisation, and ended, "to finish this visualisation, follow steps 8-11." I know this would mean a lot of flipping backwards and forwards, but I feel only at the start, because there are so many, these steps would end up being memorised, plus you've got to flip back and forth for setting up space anyway. And as Herstik herself says herself at the start of each visualisation, the reader may want to read through it several times to familiarise themselves with it, or record themselves reading it out, so there's that option, too, for flipping back and forth. I just feel this would have solved things, because there are so many visualisations, and it really does get so repetitive.
But otherwise, I'm a big, big fan of this book. I will absolutely be dipping in and out of it to remind myself of things and to try out the tarot spreads, and so on, as I do still with Craft. And I'm so looking forward to Herstik's guided journal, Embody Your Magic, which is being published in September. I really recommend giving Bewitching the Elements a read, whether you're a new or experienced witch, it's great!
March 30, 2021
There was more focus on deities than I wanted out of it, but apart from that really useful.
June 13, 2021
Me ha parecido una lectura de divulgación muy, muy interesante. Es claro, específico y no repite lo que todos los libros de este tema concreto. Encantada con su lectura.
August 14, 2020
Felt too basic and more like the Californian version of new agey witchcraft. Fluffy-bunny spirituality.
June 8, 2022
Tengo muchas cosas con las que no coincido con esta bruja, como el hecho de animar a cualquier principiante a realizar invocaciones, o el consumo de canabis. Por otro lado, hay rituales interesantes y de más cosillas que aunque ya hayas estudiado siempre viene bien recordar.
July 9, 2020
I'm very drawn to mystical/new agey stuff, but reading this made me realize that I like religious iconography much more than any sort of religious ritual/practice itself. The descriptions of rituals and drawing circles/invoking goddesses all seemed silly to me. I think there are elements of truth in any sort of spiritual practice, and things that you can adapt into your life without being a full on devotee of said religion. I'm interested to learn more about tarot cards purely from a storytelling perspective. I also still enjoy crystals, but connecting red crystals to the element of fire, and blue to the element of water is just kind of like, wow obviously? Many of the connections to the elements seemed really obvious and easy to draw, so I got a better idea of how fortune tellers can make money.
April 19, 2020
Gabriela gives great insight in Bewitching the Elements. She covers everything from tarot, meditation, and crystals, to chakras, herbs, and even fashion.
Each element of course gets its own chapter, and within each chapter are different journal prompts, and tarot spreads to try out. These things help you get in touch with not only the element you want to work with, but with your own self. In each chapter, Gabriela gives different meditations for working with the element, and she talks a little bit about a few tarot cards with the corresponding element, such as Swords for Air, and Pentacles for Earth.
Reading Bewitching is like being spoken to by a trusted wise and magical friend or mentor. The language is friendly; I felt like she was talking right to me, and like she liked and respected me.
I tried out each tarot spread and got some good readings out of them. I also thought the meditations were easy to do, and felt really good doing them. The journal prompts helped me look within and I got to know myself better.
All in all, the book was great at helping me work with the elements, and it gave me a lot of confidence in my craft.
Each element of course gets its own chapter, and within each chapter are different journal prompts, and tarot spreads to try out. These things help you get in touch with not only the element you want to work with, but with your own self. In each chapter, Gabriela gives different meditations for working with the element, and she talks a little bit about a few tarot cards with the corresponding element, such as Swords for Air, and Pentacles for Earth.
Reading Bewitching is like being spoken to by a trusted wise and magical friend or mentor. The language is friendly; I felt like she was talking right to me, and like she liked and respected me.
I tried out each tarot spread and got some good readings out of them. I also thought the meditations were easy to do, and felt really good doing them. The journal prompts helped me look within and I got to know myself better.
All in all, the book was great at helping me work with the elements, and it gave me a lot of confidence in my craft.
Want to read
April 7, 2020Gabriella Herstik has created another wonderful addition to any witch's library. Bewitching the Elements is enchanting, inspirational, and filled with so much wise advice. It's akin to hearing a call that you want to answer. She helps our connection to magick and inner power. My favorite line: "Nature belongs to no one, but her beauty belongs to everyone." This resonates with me, and I can't wait to see what else Gabriella comes out with.
May 27, 2021
El libro me ha encantado de principio a fin, es un libro de no ficción en el que vas a encontrar mucha información sobre la espiritualidad, la naturaleza, el universo y la magia en la mujer. No es un libro de autoayuda, pero los ejercicios y rituales que nos enseña pueden ayudar mucho a llevar mejor ciertas situaciones y calmarnos la mente y el alma. El libro está muy bien estructurado, las explicaciones son detalladas y claras y el lenguaje es sencillo. Me ha gustado mucho como la autora extrapola términos o practicas a la actualidad sin llegar a alejarse mucho de lo mágico y antiguo. El tema de la magia y de las brujas es tratado sin tapujos y de forma natural. En cuanto a los elementos como el agua, el aire y el fuego, aprenderás el poder oculto de cada uno de ellos y con la información que nos proporciona poder sacar mucho partido en nuestro día a día meditando con ellos.
En el libro hay mucha información sobre magia, piedras, tarot, rituales etc pero sobre todo, sobre las diosas antiguas que han representado siempre la creación de la magia y el mundo, cada diosa tiene su parte en el libro. También hay algo de astrología aplicada al horóscopo real, me ha encantado. Por último, con este libro aprenderás a conectar con el universo y la naturaleza de una forma poco común y a realizar rituales sanos, con muchos beneficios y para muchos propósitos.
✨Quiero destacar también las hermosas fotografías del libro, son preciosas y transmiten muchas witches vibes 😍
Ficha: https://www.rocalibros.com/roca-edito...
En el libro hay mucha información sobre magia, piedras, tarot, rituales etc pero sobre todo, sobre las diosas antiguas que han representado siempre la creación de la magia y el mundo, cada diosa tiene su parte en el libro. También hay algo de astrología aplicada al horóscopo real, me ha encantado. Por último, con este libro aprenderás a conectar con el universo y la naturaleza de una forma poco común y a realizar rituales sanos, con muchos beneficios y para muchos propósitos.
✨Quiero destacar también las hermosas fotografías del libro, son preciosas y transmiten muchas witches vibes 😍
Ficha: https://www.rocalibros.com/roca-edito...
April 26, 2021
Crece con los elementos es una guía para aprender a conectar con los elementos, conocernos a nosotros mismos y llenarnos de energía positiva. Un manual que contiene muchos ejercicios prácticos, pero también para poder consultarlo en cualquier momento frente a las necesidades y los cambios.
Esta guía se divide en seis capítulos que coinciden con los principales elementos de la naturaleza: Tierra, Aire, Fuego, Agua, Espíritu y conexión. En cada uno de ellos se explica qué energías esconden y se propone una serie de ejercicios, rituales, mantras y prácticas para conectar con dichos elementos. Además, también nos ofrece el vínculo que tiene cada elemento con los signos del zodíaco, cartas del tarot y cristales.
Reseña: https://laestanteriadecho.blogspot.co...
Esta guía se divide en seis capítulos que coinciden con los principales elementos de la naturaleza: Tierra, Aire, Fuego, Agua, Espíritu y conexión. En cada uno de ellos se explica qué energías esconden y se propone una serie de ejercicios, rituales, mantras y prácticas para conectar con dichos elementos. Además, también nos ofrece el vínculo que tiene cada elemento con los signos del zodíaco, cartas del tarot y cristales.
Reseña: https://laestanteriadecho.blogspot.co...
February 3, 2022
Este es el libro perfecto para iniciar en este mundo de la magia y la brujeria, y cuando hablo de brujeria esta muy muy lejos de la mujer narizona con sombrero, empezando por ahi
Es un libro muy introductorio, presenta en cada capitulo la descripcion de cada uno de los elementos: agua, tierra, aire, fuego, espiritu y en cada uno nos presenta su significado en nuestra vida, como podemos conectar con este, las diosas relacionadas, los signos del zodiaco, las cartas del tarot relacionadas, comprender la influencia de la luna en los ciclos de vida propios y demas cosas por el estilo.
Es un libro muy bueno para leer con calma ya que tiene muchos ejercicios practicos para conectar con los elementos asi que realmente es para tomarse su tiempo.
Es una gran introduccion muy completa a este mundo espiritual y de los elementos, super recomendado.
Es un libro muy introductorio, presenta en cada capitulo la descripcion de cada uno de los elementos: agua, tierra, aire, fuego, espiritu y en cada uno nos presenta su significado en nuestra vida, como podemos conectar con este, las diosas relacionadas, los signos del zodiaco, las cartas del tarot relacionadas, comprender la influencia de la luna en los ciclos de vida propios y demas cosas por el estilo.
Es un libro muy bueno para leer con calma ya que tiene muchos ejercicios practicos para conectar con los elementos asi que realmente es para tomarse su tiempo.
Es una gran introduccion muy completa a este mundo espiritual y de los elementos, super recomendado.
August 29, 2024
An excellent follow-up to Inner Witch. That book was an intro, and this book is the next level. Everything we learned about in Inner Witch is here with more information on connecting with the elements. How do the elements show up in astrology and tarot? What herbs and crystals are linked to certain elements? According to my birth chart, what elements am I lacking a connection to, and what can I do to incorporate those elements into my life? All of these questions are answered, plus so much more. I'm thinking if you are doing a solo-study of witchcraft, then you could just read all of Gabriela's books. She is an excellent teacher. I really appreciate the sex positivity and inclusivity of her teachings, too. I can't wait to dive into her Sacred Sex book. Five out of five stars to Bewitching the Elements.
Read
October 16, 2024It felt really silly at times but then I reminded myself - all religions are silly, but they can still benefit us if we’re looking for some kind of inner transformation
And an eclectic witch is really taking from all religions and all regions, which can feel icky and colonial despite her constantly talking about goddess worship as rejecting the patriarchy. I love that idea. I’d like to try some of this from more of a radical & decolonial framework if thats even possible
I give it a 3.5 because its very well put together and if you’re already doing certain practices apart she shows you how they can be wielded with intention together
And an eclectic witch is really taking from all religions and all regions, which can feel icky and colonial despite her constantly talking about goddess worship as rejecting the patriarchy. I love that idea. I’d like to try some of this from more of a radical & decolonial framework if thats even possible
I give it a 3.5 because its very well put together and if you’re already doing certain practices apart she shows you how they can be wielded with intention together
May 7, 2021
This book is so amazing and factual for witches exploring the different elements. It provides so much information for each element, as well as rituals, spells and simply anything you may think of. It involves astrological signs, moon cycles, tea magic, planets and their meanings, tips of setting up altars, meditation, tarot and its meanings, crystals, journal prompts and many, many more! This book is incredible for new witches or witches who want more knowledge on elemental based work! Would definitely recommend it to my spiritual friends.
July 21, 2021
The second book from Herstik and brings so much more information to the table. She builds on so much that was talked about in Inner Witch. If you liked Inner Witch, then you'll love this.
Herstik again makes learning about witchcraft so easily understandable for a baby witch. You can tell her knowledge through the book and she makes it so easy to digest and then use in your practice.
The organization of the book as well makes it again, really easy to follow. I feel like so many books on witchcraft have a sense of gatekeeping but Herstik makes it an open book.
Herstik again makes learning about witchcraft so easily understandable for a baby witch. You can tell her knowledge through the book and she makes it so easy to digest and then use in your practice.
The organization of the book as well makes it again, really easy to follow. I feel like so many books on witchcraft have a sense of gatekeeping but Herstik makes it an open book.
August 13, 2024
This book one of my top two favourite books of all time - truly there's not a book that has inspired my practice more than this treasure. It's an absolute must read. This was the first book I read by Gabriela Herstik and wow it truly changed my life and helped develop my spiritual practice into what it is today. 10/10. Also her tone of writing is so amazing - she's become my favourite author and witch after this one ✨🩷.
June 20, 2020
this book covered a lot or ground breaking things down by the elements. it was a bit more advanced then a 101 book, but didnt do a deep dive into any one element or subject working with the element. it did give you reference if you wanted to go deeper
December 13, 2022
Unas páginas, a veces diarias o a veces semanales, dependiendo de la locura de la vida, me acompañaron durante este año como una forma de volver a ponerme en contacto con mi alma de bruja, mujer sabia.
Ahora el reto es seguir la práctica aunque el libro se haya acabado.
Ahora el reto es seguir la práctica aunque el libro se haya acabado.
August 10, 2023
This book is great for beginners, I wish I could have gotten a little more about each element instead of other things you can do to work with the element. For more advanced readings on elemental work I’d go for something else. Overall very easy to read and provides good info!
November 19, 2020
Heartwarming and compassionate
December 21, 2020
Great read, great resource. Very handy to refer to. Interesting, full experience! More in-depth rituals and ways to deepen your practice around the elements and goddesses.
January 1, 2021
This was such an amazing read and so important. An amazing resource and beautifully written.
January 30, 2021
I always love Gabriela's writing style. A wonderful companion to the life changing 'Craft'.
August 25, 2021
Better than I expected. She's very modern, down to earth, seemingly like a magickal girl next door that you'd wanna get high with and come up with interesting ways to connect with the divine.
September 19, 2021
Lovely.
December 30, 2021
Very new age, flowery, and not my style but I do see how this would be appreciated by a specific audience!
February 16, 2023
A solid overview of the elements and how to work with them.
May 13, 2023
I enjoyed this book centered around the elements with a range of rituals and practices that connect to them. One to come back to - liked the tarot spread suggestions.
January 7, 2024
Book was a great resource. I went into it really wanting to focus on channeling each element and read those sections more explicitly. Great to do that and gain deeper insights as well.
January 26, 2024
I would say a good read. Having a lot of information in it and practical application. Was expecting a bit more from the writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews