How Witchcraft Saved My Life: Practical Advice for Transformative Magick

by Vincent Higginbotham

Take Control of Your Life with the Power of Witchcraft Discover how magickal practices and principles can help lift you up from darkness and hardship. Author Vincent Higginbotham faced abuse, homelessness, and abandonment. But from the depths of these personal tragedies, a practice emerged, focusing on developing the psychic senses, reading tarot, understanding the elements, and drawing in magic for positive change. This guidebook is written for anyone coping with the legacy of abuse, neglect, poverty, loneliness, prejudice, or addiction. How Witchcraft Saved My Life includes hands-on exercises and practices for spellwork, tarot, intuition, and the four pillars of Witchcraft―to Keep Silent, to Dare, to Will, and to Know. You can learn to use magick to cope with suffering and recover from trauma. The stories and lessons in this book teach you practical spiritual skills that will empower you to pull yourself out of the darkness of despair and into the light.

Genres: Witchcraft, Spirituality, Paranormal, Nonfiction, Self Help

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

Reviews

[The Shakti Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Vincent Higginbotham bravely shares his path to magick in his book, How Witchcraft Saved My Life. Part autobiography, part how to, this is not for the faint hearted nor the “I watched the Craft and now I want use magick to get my boyfriend back” privileged white girl ding bat. This will resonate with those seeking healing from similar traumas and older practitioners. This is pretty gritty stuff and very real.

*eArc provided by the publisher and NetGalley

[Lazarone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book full of practical advices and insights. What is of special value is that it contains stories from real life and then the lessons learned in light of witchcraft knowledge and practices. And these occult lessons are offered in a very lucid way. Forex. Just in first chapter whole practice of main magic approach is presented and can be practiced instantly and that is very helpful. In first part of the book we have more general teachings presented like meaning of magic, protection, tarot and divination. A really awesome chapter about how to use magic in everyday life is given. Learn the secret of mundane (but also magical) works here!!! In the second chapter pearls of wisdom are too many to count. We all know about four occult virtues and they always sounded somehow abstract, but in this book they are presented in very practical ways that you can use them right away. A special chapter about gratitude is also interesting. One the real value of this text is that we can glimpse into the life of one sincere witch and learn from kindly offered lessons. There and there maybe just a little clarification about some meanings is needed. In general, it is an amazing book!

[Elhoim Leafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How Witchcraft Saved My Life is not another book about magic and spells; this is a book about the lessons of human beings in search of discovering their own magic and freedom...Vincent leads you to turn on that magical light in the middle of an erstwhile dark journey to discover the transformative power of magic. In this book, Vincent tells us his turbulent life journey, and how it led him to discover the marvelous and winsome potential to change his life, after reading this book, you will feel forced to discover your own magical potential too."
―Elhoim Leafar, author of The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags and Manifestation Magic

[Sachairi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad to have bought this book!

I have a lot of thoughts and not sure where to start, but... the cover jumped out at me. I've been saying the last few months that I felt like witchcraft has saved me and has given me a great foundation for my own healing. I was considering buying it when I read the back and saw that not only is Vincent a survivor of abuse as well, but also a follower of Hekate. I knew I needed this on my shelf!

I appreciated the content warning at the beginning, as Vincent does have hard times that can be difficult to read about. He doesn't go into detail, but my heart went out to him every time. The book is broken down into helpful sections, and by the end of the book I felt not only like I knew Vincent a little but I also felt validated. It can be a struggle as a trauma- informed person when you're just dipping your toes into witchcraft. It's all love and light and while that's wonderful and likely a good place to start, it ignores the very real, dark underbelly of being human.

He speaks of his experiences with vulnerability, candor, and strength. After each lesson, he would write about how he'd do different if he knew then what he knows now, and those can be great examples on how to grow your craft. There's also 'try this' parts, and he never makes one feel less for struggling. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially those on a healing journey.

[Rebecca Elson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 06/16/2021.

I just didn’t know what to expect from “How Witchcraft Saved My Life: Practical Advice for Transformative Magick” by Vincent Higginbotham. The title has a “very special episode of Donahue” kind of vibe to it. And truth be told, it’s hard to determine exactly what I read and how to write a review.

Higginbotham has written an incredibly frank memoir of his past struggles with homelessness, understanding his sexuality, and journey to witchcraft. “How Witchcraft Saved My Life” is a brave work and not for the faint of heart. Woven throughout this memoir are the signs and synchronicities that in retrospect showed Higginbotham the magic that had been in his life all along.

What you’ll also find in “How Witchcraft Saved My Life” is some incredibly practical, realistic, advice on how to practice witchcraft and incorporate it into your everyday life. Seriously, his approach to witchcraft, paired with his writing voice, makes Higginbotham an accessible teacher of his style of witchcraft.

“How Witchcraft Saved My Life” is a testament to Vincent Higginbotham’s perseverance and the witchcraft that he credits for it.

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"How Witchcraft Saved My Life" by Vincent Higginbotham is part autobiography and part How-To/Self-Help. Which chapter is specific to the topic Higginbotham chooses to go in depth with. The book outlines his personal struggles from a young age of sexual abuse, struggling with acceptance, and homelessness. His take on his life was raw and admirable. Within this topics, he recalls certain parts of his life and how us, as the reader, can use his knowledge to help ourselves regardless of our situation by words of advice, how-tos, journaling ideas, spell ideas, etc. Now he doesn't take about his struggles but dives deep into topics like tarot card/divinations, how to listen to our intuition, our 6th sense, and more.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and appreciate Higginbotham for being so raw and open. Definitely a great resource to have in your book shelf.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fácil de seguir, es más que todo un libro de autoayuda, motivación, y superación para Paganos y Brujos, pero no la historia de cómo la Brujería ayudó al autor (excepto uno o dos casos). Aunque comparte anécdotas sobre su pasado tempestuoso y cómo fue superando cada etapa, Vincent no usó la magia para seguir adelante, sino que relaciona hechos de su pasado con enseñanzas actuales que sirvan a aquellos que las necesiten. Aunque atractivo y emotivo, esperaba algo diferente, o al menos una forma de contar distinta a la que usó el autor.

Easy to follow, it's mostly a book of self-help, motivation, and improvement for Pagans and Witches, but not the story of how Witchcraft helped the author (except for one or two cases). Although he shares anecdotes about his stormy past and how he has overcome each stage, Vincent did not use magic to move forward, but relates events from his past to current teachings that serve those in need. Although attractive and emotional, I expected something different, or at least a different way of telling than the author used.

[Mandi Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Part craft basics, part memoir, this book invites you into a life that's been radically transformed through the power of magic. Though many claim the craft to be a transformative tool, this book drives that principle home by pairing practical knowledge of witchy basics with personal stories, ultimately making the guidance and principles within that much more memorable. In reading this, you can feel the authors humanity and reverence for the subject matter, as he seamlessly blends guidance and foundational principles for witches with deeply personal stories and anecdotes about a tumultuous life. This is a story of deep healing through an empowered magical practice, and an invitation for all who read it to find the same. There are action prompts and focus points in each section, which make it a wonderful resource for both new and seasoned witches alike. I look forward to more of this authors work in the future!

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the witchy equivalent of A little life, but with a positive ending. I appreciated the lessons and reflections of the author to frame his life events in a way that makes sense, but the witchcraft in it lacked depth. Although perhaps that is the point: no matter the situation you're in, there are ways out. Also, I thought the hardest hurdle of the book came in the beginning but it just kept coming, and in that sense it was a good book.

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful guide to using the power of Magick to overcome emotional baggage. It teaches you to learn to look within yourself to affect personal growth and change. This is for anyone who has been hurt or traumatized by life. I would recommend this book as a wonderful addition to your personal collection.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful for the knowledge,lessons and life experiences Vincent Higgenbotham shared in his book. I recommend this book to everyone, he was very brave to share his life story and lessons with the world!! I am thankful to have been able to read his book.

[Courtney Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful book by a kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable Witch. I tore through this thing almost immediately and will be recommending it to people looking for a spiritual approach to life's challenges, through a Witch's view.

[Tyesha]

Dnf at 33%
I didn’t care for the writing style. It was repetitive and some ideas never felt complete. I won’t be giving a rating because I didn’t finish and it’s such a personal book it doesn’t feel right to rate it poorly.

[Sheri Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted this book to be more of a personal account, autobiography type with some witchcraft added in where needed. I found it to be a little bit too repetitive and provided just basic 101 information. It does have good info, and I'm not upset that I bought it or read it, I just wanted more.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reader does get some things/techniques to consider or introduced. Mostly get points from authors life and magics role at that time or later in life.

[Sharon Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book!!

This is the most life affirming, life altering book I have read in a long time. I give thanks and gratitude xxx

[Steffany Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just awful.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, with a powerful message of how a Witch or non Witch can just be a better more well rounded person.

[Abrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how the book takes his real life experiences and then shows you how they connect to you as the reader and the last chapter really pulled together how to take what he talked about throughout the whole book and use it for your own growth.