What do you think?
Rate this book
Missing Witches: Recovering True Histories of Feminist Magic
A guide to invocations, rituals, and histories at the intersection of magic and feminism, as informed by history's witches--and the sociopolitical culture that gave rise to them.
When you start looking for witches, you find them everywhere. As seekers and practitioners reclaim and restore magic to its rightful place among powerful forces for social, personal, and political transformation, more people than ever are claiming the identity of "Witch." But our knowledge of witchcraft and magic has been marred by erasure, sensationalism, and sterilization, the true stories of history's witches left untold.
Through meditations, stories, and practices, authors Risa Dickens and Amy Torok offer an intersectional, contemporary lens for uncovering and reconnecting with feminist witch history. Sharing traditions from all over the world--from Harlem to Haiti, Oaxaca to Mesopotamia--Missing Witches introduces readers to figures like Monica Sjoo, HP Blavatsky, Maria Sabina, and Enheduanna, shedding light on their work and the cultural and sociopolitical contexts that shaped it. Structured around the 8 sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, each chapter includes invocations, rituals, and offerings that incorporate the authors' own wisdom, histories, and journeys of trauma, loss, and empowerment. Missing Witches offers an inside look at the vital stories of women who have practiced--and lived--magic.
When you start looking for witches, you find them everywhere. As seekers and practitioners reclaim and restore magic to its rightful place among powerful forces for social, personal, and political transformation, more people than ever are claiming the identity of "Witch." But our knowledge of witchcraft and magic has been marred by erasure, sensationalism, and sterilization, the true stories of history's witches left untold.
Through meditations, stories, and practices, authors Risa Dickens and Amy Torok offer an intersectional, contemporary lens for uncovering and reconnecting with feminist witch history. Sharing traditions from all over the world--from Harlem to Haiti, Oaxaca to Mesopotamia--Missing Witches introduces readers to figures like Monica Sjoo, HP Blavatsky, Maria Sabina, and Enheduanna, shedding light on their work and the cultural and sociopolitical contexts that shaped it. Structured around the 8 sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, each chapter includes invocations, rituals, and offerings that incorporate the authors' own wisdom, histories, and journeys of trauma, loss, and empowerment. Missing Witches offers an inside look at the vital stories of women who have practiced--and lived--magic.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2021
146 people are currently reading
3716 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 17, 2020
I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Missing Witches by Risa Dickens & Amy Torok was not what I expected. Going into this book, I was expecting a comprehensive telling of the unknown (or little known) histories of the witch… and it is only by a tenuous stretch of that expectation that I can say that the book tried.
The overall problem I faced is that the book was exceedingly scattered in the way it was written. The narrative was longwinded and cut frequently by even longer quotes and roundabout asides by the authors. On any given page, I found it difficult to discern what the current topic even was.
It is my feeling that the book was not organized well, and was written in such a way that only the most determined will be able to slog through it. This book will not be accessible to your average reader, and frankly, I'd encourage you to find your history elsewhere if you can.
Missing Witches by Risa Dickens & Amy Torok was not what I expected. Going into this book, I was expecting a comprehensive telling of the unknown (or little known) histories of the witch… and it is only by a tenuous stretch of that expectation that I can say that the book tried.
The overall problem I faced is that the book was exceedingly scattered in the way it was written. The narrative was longwinded and cut frequently by even longer quotes and roundabout asides by the authors. On any given page, I found it difficult to discern what the current topic even was.
It is my feeling that the book was not organized well, and was written in such a way that only the most determined will be able to slog through it. This book will not be accessible to your average reader, and frankly, I'd encourage you to find your history elsewhere if you can.
July 29, 2021
Book Review: Missing Witches - Recovering True Histories of Feminist Magic by Risa Dickens and Amy Torok
Genre: Non-Fiction / Witchcraft / Paganism / Feminism
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Release Date: March, 2021
About the Authors
The two authors, Risa Dickens and Amy Torok met backstage at a Ukulele showcase, which makes for a very interesting 'and how did you meet?' story. They live, as they say, “tucked into the woods of Quebec” which to be honest sounds like my absolute dream. Other than this book, together they have created music, a coven and a podcast on which the book is based (more on that later).
Risa has a BA degree in English Literature and a Masters in Communications. She helped found ‘Worn’, a fashion journal all about feminist fashion history. It’s not actually being published anymore but there is an ‘archive’ book. Currently, Risa is working in marketing, PR and community building.
Amy also has a BA in English Literature, however, her Post Grad Diploma is in Journalism. She teaches English as a second language is a musician, artist and designer.
About the Book
Organised using the wheel of the year, each Sabbat features the histories of two witches. They are like mini-biographies of inspiring women. Some, like Doreen Valiente, are women who were self-proclaimed Wiccans or Witches. Others are women who may not have out-right said they were witches, or considered themselves witches, but they are spiritual and they work their magic in other ways. Through art, poetry, activism or the cultural sciences.
As I mentioned Risa and Amy are very educated ladies and I love how they’ve brought that into this work. Everything is sourced, cited and referenced like an academic paper and it makes my academic heart happy! One, because I love the organisation of it and two, because it makes it so easy to continue your own reading and research in the areas that interest you.
The book is based on their podcast of the same name, which also tells the stories and histories of the witches we have been missing. More information is available at their website: MissingWitches.com
The introduction mentions that Sandra Huber (a university professor) uses the Missing Witches podcast as a teaching aid for her class, Anthropology of Magic, Religion, Science and Ideology, which shows just how much research the ladies have put into their work. Also, does anyone else really want to take that class?! (Sign me up!)
Intertwined with the histories of women are personal anecdotes and stories from the two authors along with a ritual that allows you to connect with the themes of that chapter.
It’s worth noting at this point that the book is very diverse in terms of the women they feature. It’s not just focused on western Witchcraft
My Thoughts
As soon as I started reading the foreword by Amanda Yates Garcia, I knew I was going to love the book. It’s like a really uplifting pep talk and just sets the right tone for the rest of the book. I'm even more eager to check out Amanda's book; Initiated: Memoir of a Witch because I enjoyed her words and writing in the introduction. She also has a podcast called ‘Between the Worlds’ which I’m also going to have a listen to.
In the introduction the ladies explain why they have chosen to organise the book using the wheel of the year. And it’s such a great explanation. It's because it’s consistent; it never changes, it’s something that is continuous for everyone across the world. No matter your faith, religion, belief or even if you have none. The wheel of the year, the changing of the seasons, is there as something that we all witness and experience. And that’s such a lovely thought.
I’ve found that true stories of witches are hard to find. I’ve read many books with variations of the title ‘History of Witchcraft’, and like they mention in the book, they usually talk of the European and American witch-hunts then jump to Aleister Crowley, Gerald Gardner and Scott Cunningham. It's as though they are rediscovering something after it’s been dormant. Don’t get me wrong I love Cunningham. But when reading those ‘witch history’ books I always felt like something was missing; where were the women? There was a gap that needed to be filled and that’s what Missing Witches has done. It’s filled in some of the history of Witchcraft, magic and spiritual beliefs that have always been there, but not spoken of. These women were there, living the Witchy life, but they’ve been hidden.
The histories that they explore in the book are linked to extremely relevant issues; racism, transphobia and gender identity among just a few. Yet we are looking at them from a lense throughout history. It adds further context to the histories whilst bringing them right up to date. One worthwhile tangent that stood out to me in particular was the constructive and thoughtful criticism they give regarding the male and female binary. It just makes so much sense!
Furthermore, they address the cynicism that comes from people when you talk about being a Witch, or practicing Witchcraft. I feel like they bring a lot of credibility to the study of the Craft. It’s also a stark reminder that I can freely call myself a Witch and the most ‘negativity’ that I will get is a wry smile or a laugh. Yet in other parts of the world women are still murdered as Witches.
In the same vein they explore and critique the problematic ‘new-age spirituality’ in the west which can be very damaging. Things like gate-keeping and cultural appropriation of indigenous spiritualities. For me it emphasises how important it is to research and understand where the practices, ideas, beliefs etc. come from. It's the best way to really connect and engage with the Craft. I like the way they say it in the book and I very much see my practice in this way, “Our beliefs are much more deeply rooted in research rather than blind faith.”
As well as the academic vibe to the book it’s also deeply personal. The stories and histories of the ‘missing witches’ are intertwined with personal stories from Risa and Amy. They are sharing parts of their own stories as they tell the stories of others. I LOVE that personal vibe in witchy books. They are both really brave to lay so much of themselves out there for everyone to read, but then it makes you, us, the reader feel like we’re not alone.
At the beginning of the book Risa shares the story of when she gave birth to her daughter and it just gave me all the emotions. Even though it’s not something I can relate to, it was really brave, honest and extremely powerful to read. She believes she’s being 'over-dramatic' and as though she’s ‘taking up space with the story’, when there are women who may have experienced more difficult births than her. But I don’t think anyone should feel this way, it doesn’t matter what your story is, you should be able to tell it, and I think more of these brutally honest stories from women should be told.
That idea of not telling your own story for fear of ‘taking up space’ that belongs to someone else really hit home, when Amy talks about her struggles with anxiety. I very rarely talk about my own mental health issues for that very reason and because I’m not comfortable with sharing some things and struggle to put it into words. I could definitely relate to a lot of what Amy was saying. For example, I feel like I’ve spent most of my life, 'being scared and doing it anyway’ but actually having done that for most of my life it eventually became too much and my mind and body just said, 'no more, I’m done.' But hopefully I’m learning some better strategies to deal with it (and the meds help). Amy shares something that has helped her anxiety and that’s through asking herself specific questions. They just make so much sense to me. I won’t share them because I don’t want to give too much away from the book, but it’s a really honest and open insight into anxiety and I felt like I could relate to what she was saying.
It’s not just the stories they tell, it’s the way they tell them. The writing style and their voice is so visual and literary; full of metaphors and imagery. I think this might come from the podcast, because when they’re talking it sounds like how they write. I have listened to a few of the podcasts now and Amy/Risa's? voice is so soothing and beautiful to listen to. I’m not usually one for podcasts because I’m weird about voices, but it's a gentle and relaxing tone. I think all the things that work so well in the podcast come across really great in the book.
For me, I would give the book a little warning. Risa and Amy are not afraid to talk about difficult topics or problematic ancestors. They are not going to ignore or gloss over details just because people may not like them or they feel uncomfortable - and so they shouldn’t! They explore the ‘true’ histories. Just so people are aware there are sections where they talk about drug use, abuse, ritual sacrifice of animals, and the story of a woman who is a trans exclusionary radical feminist.
This is by no means a negative. If anything it’s one of the positives of the book. The way that they openly talk about these topics is important and they offer their perspectives whilst allowing you to contemplate these ideas for yourself.
Final Thoughts
I really did love this book. For so many different reasons. I learned about women I otherwise wouldn’t know about, particularly women of colour. It also introduced me to women from a range of disciplines from artists and poets to archeologists and anthropologists.
It’s provided me with so many new avenues for research and study. I was constantly making notes of all the things and people I wanted to read more about. They really make you want to keep exploring and learning and they provide you with the opportunities to do that. I have a huge list of books I now want to read.
It reminded me that that there is so much more to Witchcraft than spells and rituals. It’s about doing what’s right by yourself and everyone in the world. Through the stories of Witches and Women it offers a deeper understanding of Witchcraft; where the beliefs, the ideology and the symbolism comes from.
At this point I usually say who I think the book is for. I imagine if you are a fan of the podcast then you probably already have the book, but if not and you love the podcast then you will definitely love the book. I would say, yes, the book is for witches, it’s for women, it’s for feminists. But honestly I would recommend this book to everyone!
It does what I believe it set out to do: recover the histories of women otherwise hidden, forgotten or missing. It provided Amy and Risa with a place to put all of their research and I’m so glad it did because it’s opened up so much for me and my Craft.
It is one of my favourite books of the year and only the second book this year to get 5 stars on my GoodReads. (The other being Rebel Witch by Kelly Ann Maddox.) I really think there needs to be a book two! But until then, I think I’m just going to read it again!
If you read until the end - thank you! If you’ve read the book I’d love to hear what your thoughts are, and if you are interested in it, then you can buy it here.
A huge thank you to North Atlantic Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Genre: Non-Fiction / Witchcraft / Paganism / Feminism
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Release Date: March, 2021
About the Authors
The two authors, Risa Dickens and Amy Torok met backstage at a Ukulele showcase, which makes for a very interesting 'and how did you meet?' story. They live, as they say, “tucked into the woods of Quebec” which to be honest sounds like my absolute dream. Other than this book, together they have created music, a coven and a podcast on which the book is based (more on that later).
Risa has a BA degree in English Literature and a Masters in Communications. She helped found ‘Worn’, a fashion journal all about feminist fashion history. It’s not actually being published anymore but there is an ‘archive’ book. Currently, Risa is working in marketing, PR and community building.
Amy also has a BA in English Literature, however, her Post Grad Diploma is in Journalism. She teaches English as a second language is a musician, artist and designer.
About the Book
Organised using the wheel of the year, each Sabbat features the histories of two witches. They are like mini-biographies of inspiring women. Some, like Doreen Valiente, are women who were self-proclaimed Wiccans or Witches. Others are women who may not have out-right said they were witches, or considered themselves witches, but they are spiritual and they work their magic in other ways. Through art, poetry, activism or the cultural sciences.
As I mentioned Risa and Amy are very educated ladies and I love how they’ve brought that into this work. Everything is sourced, cited and referenced like an academic paper and it makes my academic heart happy! One, because I love the organisation of it and two, because it makes it so easy to continue your own reading and research in the areas that interest you.
The book is based on their podcast of the same name, which also tells the stories and histories of the witches we have been missing. More information is available at their website: MissingWitches.com
The introduction mentions that Sandra Huber (a university professor) uses the Missing Witches podcast as a teaching aid for her class, Anthropology of Magic, Religion, Science and Ideology, which shows just how much research the ladies have put into their work. Also, does anyone else really want to take that class?! (Sign me up!)
Intertwined with the histories of women are personal anecdotes and stories from the two authors along with a ritual that allows you to connect with the themes of that chapter.
It’s worth noting at this point that the book is very diverse in terms of the women they feature. It’s not just focused on western Witchcraft
My Thoughts
As soon as I started reading the foreword by Amanda Yates Garcia, I knew I was going to love the book. It’s like a really uplifting pep talk and just sets the right tone for the rest of the book. I'm even more eager to check out Amanda's book; Initiated: Memoir of a Witch because I enjoyed her words and writing in the introduction. She also has a podcast called ‘Between the Worlds’ which I’m also going to have a listen to.
In the introduction the ladies explain why they have chosen to organise the book using the wheel of the year. And it’s such a great explanation. It's because it’s consistent; it never changes, it’s something that is continuous for everyone across the world. No matter your faith, religion, belief or even if you have none. The wheel of the year, the changing of the seasons, is there as something that we all witness and experience. And that’s such a lovely thought.
I’ve found that true stories of witches are hard to find. I’ve read many books with variations of the title ‘History of Witchcraft’, and like they mention in the book, they usually talk of the European and American witch-hunts then jump to Aleister Crowley, Gerald Gardner and Scott Cunningham. It's as though they are rediscovering something after it’s been dormant. Don’t get me wrong I love Cunningham. But when reading those ‘witch history’ books I always felt like something was missing; where were the women? There was a gap that needed to be filled and that’s what Missing Witches has done. It’s filled in some of the history of Witchcraft, magic and spiritual beliefs that have always been there, but not spoken of. These women were there, living the Witchy life, but they’ve been hidden.
The histories that they explore in the book are linked to extremely relevant issues; racism, transphobia and gender identity among just a few. Yet we are looking at them from a lense throughout history. It adds further context to the histories whilst bringing them right up to date. One worthwhile tangent that stood out to me in particular was the constructive and thoughtful criticism they give regarding the male and female binary. It just makes so much sense!
Furthermore, they address the cynicism that comes from people when you talk about being a Witch, or practicing Witchcraft. I feel like they bring a lot of credibility to the study of the Craft. It’s also a stark reminder that I can freely call myself a Witch and the most ‘negativity’ that I will get is a wry smile or a laugh. Yet in other parts of the world women are still murdered as Witches.
In the same vein they explore and critique the problematic ‘new-age spirituality’ in the west which can be very damaging. Things like gate-keeping and cultural appropriation of indigenous spiritualities. For me it emphasises how important it is to research and understand where the practices, ideas, beliefs etc. come from. It's the best way to really connect and engage with the Craft. I like the way they say it in the book and I very much see my practice in this way, “Our beliefs are much more deeply rooted in research rather than blind faith.”
As well as the academic vibe to the book it’s also deeply personal. The stories and histories of the ‘missing witches’ are intertwined with personal stories from Risa and Amy. They are sharing parts of their own stories as they tell the stories of others. I LOVE that personal vibe in witchy books. They are both really brave to lay so much of themselves out there for everyone to read, but then it makes you, us, the reader feel like we’re not alone.
At the beginning of the book Risa shares the story of when she gave birth to her daughter and it just gave me all the emotions. Even though it’s not something I can relate to, it was really brave, honest and extremely powerful to read. She believes she’s being 'over-dramatic' and as though she’s ‘taking up space with the story’, when there are women who may have experienced more difficult births than her. But I don’t think anyone should feel this way, it doesn’t matter what your story is, you should be able to tell it, and I think more of these brutally honest stories from women should be told.
That idea of not telling your own story for fear of ‘taking up space’ that belongs to someone else really hit home, when Amy talks about her struggles with anxiety. I very rarely talk about my own mental health issues for that very reason and because I’m not comfortable with sharing some things and struggle to put it into words. I could definitely relate to a lot of what Amy was saying. For example, I feel like I’ve spent most of my life, 'being scared and doing it anyway’ but actually having done that for most of my life it eventually became too much and my mind and body just said, 'no more, I’m done.' But hopefully I’m learning some better strategies to deal with it (and the meds help). Amy shares something that has helped her anxiety and that’s through asking herself specific questions. They just make so much sense to me. I won’t share them because I don’t want to give too much away from the book, but it’s a really honest and open insight into anxiety and I felt like I could relate to what she was saying.
It’s not just the stories they tell, it’s the way they tell them. The writing style and their voice is so visual and literary; full of metaphors and imagery. I think this might come from the podcast, because when they’re talking it sounds like how they write. I have listened to a few of the podcasts now and Amy/Risa's? voice is so soothing and beautiful to listen to. I’m not usually one for podcasts because I’m weird about voices, but it's a gentle and relaxing tone. I think all the things that work so well in the podcast come across really great in the book.
For me, I would give the book a little warning. Risa and Amy are not afraid to talk about difficult topics or problematic ancestors. They are not going to ignore or gloss over details just because people may not like them or they feel uncomfortable - and so they shouldn’t! They explore the ‘true’ histories. Just so people are aware there are sections where they talk about drug use, abuse, ritual sacrifice of animals, and the story of a woman who is a trans exclusionary radical feminist.
This is by no means a negative. If anything it’s one of the positives of the book. The way that they openly talk about these topics is important and they offer their perspectives whilst allowing you to contemplate these ideas for yourself.
Final Thoughts
I really did love this book. For so many different reasons. I learned about women I otherwise wouldn’t know about, particularly women of colour. It also introduced me to women from a range of disciplines from artists and poets to archeologists and anthropologists.
It’s provided me with so many new avenues for research and study. I was constantly making notes of all the things and people I wanted to read more about. They really make you want to keep exploring and learning and they provide you with the opportunities to do that. I have a huge list of books I now want to read.
It reminded me that that there is so much more to Witchcraft than spells and rituals. It’s about doing what’s right by yourself and everyone in the world. Through the stories of Witches and Women it offers a deeper understanding of Witchcraft; where the beliefs, the ideology and the symbolism comes from.
At this point I usually say who I think the book is for. I imagine if you are a fan of the podcast then you probably already have the book, but if not and you love the podcast then you will definitely love the book. I would say, yes, the book is for witches, it’s for women, it’s for feminists. But honestly I would recommend this book to everyone!
It does what I believe it set out to do: recover the histories of women otherwise hidden, forgotten or missing. It provided Amy and Risa with a place to put all of their research and I’m so glad it did because it’s opened up so much for me and my Craft.
It is one of my favourite books of the year and only the second book this year to get 5 stars on my GoodReads. (The other being Rebel Witch by Kelly Ann Maddox.) I really think there needs to be a book two! But until then, I think I’m just going to read it again!
If you read until the end - thank you! If you’ve read the book I’d love to hear what your thoughts are, and if you are interested in it, then you can buy it here.
A huge thank you to North Atlantic Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
May 30, 2021
2.5 stars. I was very excited about this prospect. Sadly, the disorder of thought and strange off tangent remarks made this read hard to follow. I felt like I was being lectured by a scatter-brained great aunt who ran a commune in the 70’s.
Love the podcast; hate the book
Love the podcast; hate the book
June 30, 2021
To be honest, I made the mistake of reading a negative review about this book before i got into it - I really think it affected me on it in the first chapter, but then I couldn't put it down! I think I read half the book in three days.
I am a fan of their podcast (Missing Witches) and have been for a few years now. I found that some of the content in this book were Witches that were covered in the podcast, so in that sense it was a bit redundant for me, but I truly can say that Risa and Amy have done a wonderful job with their research. They are very informative and get to the history of each person they cover on all their episodes.
They interview many wonderful people as well, and are advocates for inclusion and intersectionality for all things witchy. They take the time to address the issues with some of these missing witches's histories and the problems with history itself, and cross it back to the present. I do admit, after having listened to the podcast, that this book almost reads like one, but I found no difficulty keeping up... I loved the parts where they talked about their personal experiences, and some of their stories were truly poetic in their own right. I did also enjoy the novelty of the format for their book too! Writing a chapter for every season/sabbat.
I am greatly appreciative that literature like this is out there, and I do hope they can uncover more witches for us.
I am a fan of their podcast (Missing Witches) and have been for a few years now. I found that some of the content in this book were Witches that were covered in the podcast, so in that sense it was a bit redundant for me, but I truly can say that Risa and Amy have done a wonderful job with their research. They are very informative and get to the history of each person they cover on all their episodes.
They interview many wonderful people as well, and are advocates for inclusion and intersectionality for all things witchy. They take the time to address the issues with some of these missing witches's histories and the problems with history itself, and cross it back to the present. I do admit, after having listened to the podcast, that this book almost reads like one, but I found no difficulty keeping up... I loved the parts where they talked about their personal experiences, and some of their stories were truly poetic in their own right. I did also enjoy the novelty of the format for their book too! Writing a chapter for every season/sabbat.
I am greatly appreciative that literature like this is out there, and I do hope they can uncover more witches for us.
August 4, 2021
Rating this was genuinely difficult. I enjoyed it! I learned new things! I love the writing (for the most part), and oh, oh, those citations at the end. Yes! The Mabon chapter on Enheduanna and Inanna 100% made up for that other book on Inanna I wasted my time on earlier this year. I can tell that Risa and Amy are dedicated to being lifelong learners and a good allies as white settlers.
I also agree with other reviews that it was difficult to follow because I somewhat felt like this might have started as an academic endeavor, and then the decision to break it down into the Wheel of the Year came afterwards. The random tidbits about their lives would sometimes throw off the narrative about the "Missing Witches". I appreciated some of the personal stories, but it kind of felt thrown in at lot of the time, but I also know Risa acknowledged she was anxious about "taking up space" writing about herself. I recognize personal storytelling is valuable, and admittedly, I have never listened to their podcast, so I went into this with no idea how it's structured. Maybe that's par for the course.
I read it starting with Lughnasadh, and ended with Litha. And that was a bit rough to end on. Because Litha ends with focusing on Z. Budapest, someone I would most definitely not consider a "missing Witch" from history. It really felt like Amy needed to include her only to draw in her own familial history. Which is fine, but I really do think there are other people out there this chapter could have focused on.
Finally, there was a lot of talk about the "lake house" and "living in the forest" outside of Montreal. How lovely for them! At one point, Amy writes "...being born white, middle class, cis, het, and Canadian...The world, for the most part, IS my safe space. I respect so much the need and desire for safe spaces, especially for people who feel alienated by the world at large" (pp. 164-165).
As a queer Indigenous women, in danger of violence when walking freely in nature on my own home territory, I offer to white settlers who are "land owners" genuinely invested in providing "safe spaces", the idea to do this, or something like it:
https://treatylandsharingnetwork.ca/
There was also a "cottage share" for settlers who have cottages in areas Indigenous folks have been priced/forced out of so that they can have a break every now and then. I can't remember the name of but will edit to add if I can remember.
I also agree with other reviews that it was difficult to follow because I somewhat felt like this might have started as an academic endeavor, and then the decision to break it down into the Wheel of the Year came afterwards. The random tidbits about their lives would sometimes throw off the narrative about the "Missing Witches". I appreciated some of the personal stories, but it kind of felt thrown in at lot of the time, but I also know Risa acknowledged she was anxious about "taking up space" writing about herself. I recognize personal storytelling is valuable, and admittedly, I have never listened to their podcast, so I went into this with no idea how it's structured. Maybe that's par for the course.
I read it starting with Lughnasadh, and ended with Litha. And that was a bit rough to end on. Because Litha ends with focusing on Z. Budapest, someone I would most definitely not consider a "missing Witch" from history. It really felt like Amy needed to include her only to draw in her own familial history. Which is fine, but I really do think there are other people out there this chapter could have focused on.
Finally, there was a lot of talk about the "lake house" and "living in the forest" outside of Montreal. How lovely for them! At one point, Amy writes "...being born white, middle class, cis, het, and Canadian...The world, for the most part, IS my safe space. I respect so much the need and desire for safe spaces, especially for people who feel alienated by the world at large" (pp. 164-165).
As a queer Indigenous women, in danger of violence when walking freely in nature on my own home territory, I offer to white settlers who are "land owners" genuinely invested in providing "safe spaces", the idea to do this, or something like it:
https://treatylandsharingnetwork.ca/
There was also a "cottage share" for settlers who have cottages in areas Indigenous folks have been priced/forced out of so that they can have a break every now and then. I can't remember the name of but will edit to add if I can remember.
April 15, 2021
Missing Witches is about identity and otherness, viewed through the lens of witchcraft, specifically modern Western witchcraft and Paganism. This is immediately clear when you see the chapters are organized around the Wiccan based ‘Wheel of the Year’. However, it does look at those issues around the world. The writing style is conversational and personal but a lot of research obviously went into it. This isn’t a book about magic in the most literal sense, but about the magic of finding power when society tries to keep it from you. The writing style is not one that appeals to me personally but I think it is a book that will appeal to those who feel lost, and those who wish they had a mentor, or could just have a conversation with someone who understands some of the things they are feeling. It is probably also a book that would be useful for people who just don’t understand what the fuss about feminism, identity, and ‘otherness’ is all about.
March 25, 2021
Short answer : I love this.
Long answer : I love this. Full stop. Admittedly, I skipped around like a choose your own adventure book, started on Ostara (since we just celebrated) and really drank in the story being told - it felt more like a conversation or maybe an informal lecture about both Ostara and two “lost” Witches, as well as personal recollections from the author (each sabbat switches which author is voicing/instructing) and the message of renewal and rebirth that Ostara brings was threaded throughout it all. Each section ends with light instruction and incantation. I had to stop reading after I gorged on Ostara and Imbolc and plan to reread each section as it corresponds with wherever we land on the wheel of the year (Beltane is up next).
Truly lovely, I honestly went into it thinking this would be a dry(ish) retelling of historical Witches, and it was, in a sense, but more so it was a conversation encompassing powerful women and their magic (folk, literary, etc etc) and what it means to identify both as a Witch and as someone “other” in the time that they existed. I really enjoyed the casual, non-linear setup, it worked for me (easily digestible rites that I could read in a sitting and then unpack throughout the rest of my day). Inclusive, intersectional, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, abolitionist feminist Witches : this book was written for me. 5 stars, easily.
Long answer : I love this. Full stop. Admittedly, I skipped around like a choose your own adventure book, started on Ostara (since we just celebrated) and really drank in the story being told - it felt more like a conversation or maybe an informal lecture about both Ostara and two “lost” Witches, as well as personal recollections from the author (each sabbat switches which author is voicing/instructing) and the message of renewal and rebirth that Ostara brings was threaded throughout it all. Each section ends with light instruction and incantation. I had to stop reading after I gorged on Ostara and Imbolc and plan to reread each section as it corresponds with wherever we land on the wheel of the year (Beltane is up next).
Truly lovely, I honestly went into it thinking this would be a dry(ish) retelling of historical Witches, and it was, in a sense, but more so it was a conversation encompassing powerful women and their magic (folk, literary, etc etc) and what it means to identify both as a Witch and as someone “other” in the time that they existed. I really enjoyed the casual, non-linear setup, it worked for me (easily digestible rites that I could read in a sitting and then unpack throughout the rest of my day). Inclusive, intersectional, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, abolitionist feminist Witches : this book was written for me. 5 stars, easily.
Read
February 18, 2022DNF around the third chapter. I don't feel I can rate this fairly or count it properly because I tried twice and both times couldn't get further. This isn't a book about magic. It's not about divine feminine wisdom or healing or anything like that. At all. This is a book about historical women throughout time who have done interesting, intelligent and powerful things, interspersed with opinionated narrators telling you how to be, how to think, how to be a "good feminist." And equating all political acts of strength as "witchcraft." It all comes off extremely preachy, dry, and mundane. This book was just not for me.
October 17, 2021
4.5 ⭐ This was a really great read. I loved how this book intertwined the seasons/celebrations around the year with some amazing witchy women. The rituals and incantations at the end of each were a lovely extra sprinkled in.
I have highlighted and annotated a lot throughout the text for myself to review as the seasons change. Some of the messages in this book really drew me in and resonated so I look forward to going back through this again and again.
I am also looking forward to doing my own individual deep dive into these remarkable witches.
I have highlighted and annotated a lot throughout the text for myself to review as the seasons change. Some of the messages in this book really drew me in and resonated so I look forward to going back through this again and again.
I am also looking forward to doing my own individual deep dive into these remarkable witches.
July 8, 2021
My mind is absolutely blown. I am So happy I discovered this.
December 31, 2022
This is by far the best book I’ve read about the witches’ holidays. Each chapter focuses on one or two historical women who have not been remembered all that well and illuminates them. The authors take turns writing chapters, delving into mythology, tradition, and history, tying it all together in a poetic and beautiful way with each specific holiday. It make the Sabbats come alive in a way that other books haven’t managed to do for me.
They also make it personal, weaving details of their own stories in to illustrate the themes of the holidays. This makes the book feel relatable in a way that a simple history lesson wouldn’t have.
The authors show a deep respect for story in general and for their subjects, both themselves and the strong, transformative women they highlight. It is a revelatory history. A challenging and emotionally-engaging testament. Highly recommended. 💜
They also make it personal, weaving details of their own stories in to illustrate the themes of the holidays. This makes the book feel relatable in a way that a simple history lesson wouldn’t have.
The authors show a deep respect for story in general and for their subjects, both themselves and the strong, transformative women they highlight. It is a revelatory history. A challenging and emotionally-engaging testament. Highly recommended. 💜
August 15, 2023
9/52 - book with a dedication
Hmm.
So, a good thing about this book: it follows the very witchy template of rejecting cancel culture. I liked very much that the authors included some controversial figures among their minibiographies; a lot of the womxn highlighted did both wonderful and questionable things, and the authors did not shy away from wrestling with those dualities. Modern witchcraft was founded in a really questionable way, by some questionable people, and almost immediately had its iconography and ideas co-opted to support vile regimes and patterns of thought.
Paganism and an idea of white northern superiority are often closely tied, and this book does a truly amazing job on two fronts: first, diversifying the corpus of witchcraft authority by emphasizing Black, indigenous, and other POC contributions and perspectives; and second, by explicitly tackling the idea that today's witchcraft somehow follows a pure and unbroken line back to the traditions of the past. Amy and Risa treat witchcraft as an amalgamation of all sorts of ideas, emphasizing the importance of respecting the cultures that these ideas originate from. I love that they open by critiquing Gerald Gardner.
The star I'm docking is for a couple of things. First, stylistically, this book was a casually written stream of consciousness that was a struggle to get through. It wasn't well written or well edited. It felt like fireside ramblings in text form. The chapters were disorganized and I think I could pull less out of it than I would have liked because of this.
Secondly, I disagree with the authors' decision to assign the identity of Witch to all of the subjects they discussed. Many of these women are dead. Many of them never identified as witches in their lifetimes, and if they're still alive, still don't. Witches have fought long and hard for the ability to self-assign that identity instead of having it laid upon them; I think the authors made an ideological misstep in granting themselves that authority. I know it was done with good intentions, but it sat very badly with me. Call them feminists and influencers, call them visionaries, emphasize their contributions to what we consider the corpus of witchcraft sources, but don't slap that label on them.
Overall, it was okay. I didn't really enjoy it, although I recognize that parts of it were good for me and contributed to breaking down some of my own internal biases--like drinking a kind of nasty smoothie packed with superfoods. I've done it and I feel kind of virtuous but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Hmm.
So, a good thing about this book: it follows the very witchy template of rejecting cancel culture. I liked very much that the authors included some controversial figures among their minibiographies; a lot of the womxn highlighted did both wonderful and questionable things, and the authors did not shy away from wrestling with those dualities. Modern witchcraft was founded in a really questionable way, by some questionable people, and almost immediately had its iconography and ideas co-opted to support vile regimes and patterns of thought.
Paganism and an idea of white northern superiority are often closely tied, and this book does a truly amazing job on two fronts: first, diversifying the corpus of witchcraft authority by emphasizing Black, indigenous, and other POC contributions and perspectives; and second, by explicitly tackling the idea that today's witchcraft somehow follows a pure and unbroken line back to the traditions of the past. Amy and Risa treat witchcraft as an amalgamation of all sorts of ideas, emphasizing the importance of respecting the cultures that these ideas originate from. I love that they open by critiquing Gerald Gardner.
The star I'm docking is for a couple of things. First, stylistically, this book was a casually written stream of consciousness that was a struggle to get through. It wasn't well written or well edited. It felt like fireside ramblings in text form. The chapters were disorganized and I think I could pull less out of it than I would have liked because of this.
Secondly, I disagree with the authors' decision to assign the identity of Witch to all of the subjects they discussed. Many of these women are dead. Many of them never identified as witches in their lifetimes, and if they're still alive, still don't. Witches have fought long and hard for the ability to self-assign that identity instead of having it laid upon them; I think the authors made an ideological misstep in granting themselves that authority. I know it was done with good intentions, but it sat very badly with me. Call them feminists and influencers, call them visionaries, emphasize their contributions to what we consider the corpus of witchcraft sources, but don't slap that label on them.
Overall, it was okay. I didn't really enjoy it, although I recognize that parts of it were good for me and contributed to breaking down some of my own internal biases--like drinking a kind of nasty smoothie packed with superfoods. I've done it and I feel kind of virtuous but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
February 20, 2023
I think Amy & Risa had large ambitions with this book — to tell Herstory, the missing stories of witches throughout time, all of written time. Part ancient history, part political observation, part memoir. Each chapter was organized around the Wheel of the Year festivals, and had several themes or stories woven throughout about femme-and-non-binary centered history and spirituality. Also woven throughout were the authors personal stories and anecdotes, with each chapter concluding in a ritual or two from the authors’ practice.
Overall, I enjoyed the subject matter and appreciated the depth & breadth of the author’s ambitions in telling the untold stories. Some chapters told them better than others. My main issue with it was the framework of the Wheel of the Year was sometimes loosely connected to the individual witches and stories told, making them sound similar or run together. The voice was scattered — introducing one witch by full name, then another, referencing first names-only long afterwards, then a personal anecdote. This made it difficult to follow a through-line or flow for each thematic chapter. With a little more editing it would be perfect.
It seems like the book would work better as a podcast, and just learned today it was based on a podcast. Maybe I’ll give that a whirl instead!
Overall, I enjoyed the subject matter and appreciated the depth & breadth of the author’s ambitions in telling the untold stories. Some chapters told them better than others. My main issue with it was the framework of the Wheel of the Year was sometimes loosely connected to the individual witches and stories told, making them sound similar or run together. The voice was scattered — introducing one witch by full name, then another, referencing first names-only long afterwards, then a personal anecdote. This made it difficult to follow a through-line or flow for each thematic chapter. With a little more editing it would be perfect.
It seems like the book would work better as a podcast, and just learned today it was based on a podcast. Maybe I’ll give that a whirl instead!
Read
August 18, 2023More of a collection of sermons to punctuate the wheel of the year than a "sit and read like a history textbook" but that's exactly what I loved about it. Just the right amount of "let's think critically about historical figures" for me. I thoroughly enjoyed.
February 16, 2023
(Read for a bookclub) 3.5 stars. Really appreciated the organization of the book, the topics covered, and the incredibly inclusive language and sensitivity offered to all humans.
October 20, 2022
Rating: 3.5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to North Atlantic Books for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to review for them last year!!
This was my first time reading a book by Risa Dickens so i wasnt sure what to expect even tho the cover mainly made me request this book to review cause it intrigued me.
The Chapters were very informative but too descriptive for me where i didnt feel it necessary to know the whole back story of each Witch mentioned that went missing it just seemed overwhelming to me.
The Ritual Exercises were very helpful which i did do a few of them. Some of them didnt fit me as a person so i didnt feel the need to do them.
Overall it's a good informative book about Histories of Witches!! I dont know if i'd read more by Risa in the future, it would depend on what her other books are about.
Review:
Thank you to North Atlantic Books for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to review for them last year!!
This was my first time reading a book by Risa Dickens so i wasnt sure what to expect even tho the cover mainly made me request this book to review cause it intrigued me.
The Chapters were very informative but too descriptive for me where i didnt feel it necessary to know the whole back story of each Witch mentioned that went missing it just seemed overwhelming to me.
The Ritual Exercises were very helpful which i did do a few of them. Some of them didnt fit me as a person so i didnt feel the need to do them.
Overall it's a good informative book about Histories of Witches!! I dont know if i'd read more by Risa in the future, it would depend on what her other books are about.
October 27, 2022
I loved the hard work and real interest put into the book. I also like that although the authors clearly cared for and even adored some of the women they were discussing, they were still able to look at them through a lens of realism and see their faults. Most notably, Z. Budapest, who had some truly remarkable ideas and brought a lot to modern day witchcraft, but is a known TERF.
I also enjoyed the personal stories the authors told. They were relevant and they brought life into the pages, not that they were dead before!
This book is an enjoyable mixture of memoir, history, and modern witchcraft. Highly recommend.
I also enjoyed the personal stories the authors told. They were relevant and they brought life into the pages, not that they were dead before!
This book is an enjoyable mixture of memoir, history, and modern witchcraft. Highly recommend.
March 21, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Reading this I began to understand why my mom is constantly reading self-help books. While those are still not my thing this book told me I was strong and laid out ways I can improve.
I loved the grounded approach to these subjects. The rituals throughout were accessible. Learning stories of lives flaws and all was refreshing.
This is but the beginning of me reading about witches and the various practices that unite.
I loved the grounded approach to these subjects. The rituals throughout were accessible. Learning stories of lives flaws and all was refreshing.
This is but the beginning of me reading about witches and the various practices that unite.
September 15, 2022
Queer,witchy, enlightening, and empowering. What else does one want from a book?
March 29, 2024
I very much enjoyed reading about all of these Witches and their unique stories. I've also found many books to add to my tbr list and terms I'm excited to look up and learn more about.
September 8, 2021
Fantastic dive into some amazing witches who came before and how they exemplified the spirit of the different sabbats. I really enjoyed it. Only complaint is that some of the “witches” included did not actually profess to be witches. Very informative and I enjoyed really studying the book while also finding it to be an easy read.
November 3, 2021
I read this with the changing of the seasons, letting the wheel guide my progress and insight.
Starting with Yule and ending with Samhain.
Some chapters were harder than others to match to the actual sabbaths (since climate change has pushed the seasons here in Texas to either be to too early or too late). I found solace in this book and the witches within it. I found companionship and answers and questions a plenty. And I hope there will be a sequel of some sort in the future.
Starting with Yule and ending with Samhain.
Some chapters were harder than others to match to the actual sabbaths (since climate change has pushed the seasons here in Texas to either be to too early or too late). I found solace in this book and the witches within it. I found companionship and answers and questions a plenty. And I hope there will be a sequel of some sort in the future.
August 25, 2022
Notes from reading:
Intersectional & global. Anti capitalist. Queer inclusive. Anti-colonial. Feminist. Critical of white-washed, capitalist peddling, mysoginistic, racist, “New Age” practices. Overall, really progressive perspective. You can tell they’re putting in the work to educate themselves and then sharing that with us.
Seems to be more rooted in research and folklore, which I like.
Went looking for wheel of the year, found this.
This is resonating a surprising amount.
Published recently, 2021 ish.
Not preaching.
I would like to prefece this by saying I am not Pagan, wiccan, or a witch. So this book is not really *for* me. I picked this up mostly on a whim. I was looking for something on the Wheel of the Year, mostly in a historical/folklore ish context and stumbled upon this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
A meandering accounting, not so much straight here are the “missing witches” etc, ect… Very anecdotal.
I think I might have been higher on the book off the prologue than the rest of the book? But still good.
Unfortunately it didn’t quite deliver in what I was hoping to get out of it - that is, the historical practices of the wheel of the year. But that’s more a me thing than anything else.
Overall, “Missing Witches” was an enjoyable read. The writing was very accessible, and it was not hard to read. A good introductory book, for me.
Intersectional & global. Anti capitalist. Queer inclusive. Anti-colonial. Feminist. Critical of white-washed, capitalist peddling, mysoginistic, racist, “New Age” practices. Overall, really progressive perspective. You can tell they’re putting in the work to educate themselves and then sharing that with us.
Seems to be more rooted in research and folklore, which I like.
Went looking for wheel of the year, found this.
This is resonating a surprising amount.
Published recently, 2021 ish.
Not preaching.
I would like to prefece this by saying I am not Pagan, wiccan, or a witch. So this book is not really *for* me. I picked this up mostly on a whim. I was looking for something on the Wheel of the Year, mostly in a historical/folklore ish context and stumbled upon this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
A meandering accounting, not so much straight here are the “missing witches” etc, ect… Very anecdotal.
I think I might have been higher on the book off the prologue than the rest of the book? But still good.
Unfortunately it didn’t quite deliver in what I was hoping to get out of it - that is, the historical practices of the wheel of the year. But that’s more a me thing than anything else.
Overall, “Missing Witches” was an enjoyable read. The writing was very accessible, and it was not hard to read. A good introductory book, for me.
January 24, 2022
welp...i enjoyed the first half of this book very much, and then i think it just sort of took a nose dive for me at the end. i question their decision to reclaim some of these missing witches like Z. Budapest and H.P. Blavatsky; could the page space not have been better spent??? i also really did not like the chapter that was spent "reclaiming" the c-word? and i question their broader approach of applying the term witch to people who didn't identify with it, because i think that reinscribes a lot of the problems with witch as an externally applied label. (you can't reclaim words FOR other people?? that is simply not how reclaiming words works.) a lot of this book just felt like plain old white T-shirt slogan feminism to me in a way that i did not enjoy :(
October 16, 2021
This book is not what I expected. I was hoping to learn more about the history of witchcraft, but I feel like the authors expected the readers to already have knowledge of the history and current day witchcraft, which often left me confused. The cover artwork is beautiful and the concept is intriguing, but the writing just left me wanting more from it. Thanks to Kate Rock Book Tours for a gifted copy!
March 20, 2021
The authors of Missing Witches host a podcast with the same name. The book follows the Wheel of the Year starting with Yule and ending with Samhain. Each chapter discusses two women who are strong and not talked about nearly enough in history. The stories are interesting but the telling is a bit disjointed. I always enjoy feminist history and this was worth the read.
May 9, 2021
I got this book from Goodreads giveaway and woah, was it so much more than I expected. My new books is now filled with tabs of pieces of history I learned, quotes, books to add to my reading to expand my knowledge of history and witchcraft. The mixture of intersectional feminism, history, and magic made this a throughly enjoyable read.
November 11, 2023
Stay away from this book if you're even slightly right-leaning. You'll just be told how terrible of a person you are and that you need to "do better." I was excited about the subject matter of learning of Witchcraft and the feminists who helped shape it, but was terribly disappointed in the longform, longwinded "narrative" this book presents. It's difficult to follow and extremely preachy. DNF.
May 1, 2021
This is the witch book I've been looking for for years and not finding till now. As soon as I saw colonialism and cultural appropriation called out in the intro, I knew this was the read I needed. I would give this more stars than five if I could!
September 4, 2023
While on the hunt for nonfiction witch books, I discovered Missing Witches. Feminism and witchcraft seem to be inseparable. And as a guide to invocations, rituals, and histories, this book promised to be an informative and enchanting read. Amidst all the erasure, fiction, and sterilization of witchcraft and magic, Dickens and Torok, who also have a podcast of the same name, aim to tell true stories of witches.
Missing Witches covers eight chapters organized by the eight Sabbats featuring an exploration of various witches throughout history, whether or not they identified as witches. The essays include the authors' own perspectives, meditations, stories, and practices through an intersectional, feminist, and contemporary lens. Covering witches and traditions from all over the world, the authors introduce witches like Monica Sjoo, Pamela Coleman Smith, Maria Sabina, and Enheduanna and their work in practicing magic.
As someone relatively unfamiliar with the history of witchcraft, it was fascinating to hear the stories of influential witches erased by white, colonial, and patriarchal narratives. However, the reflections and takeaways interested me more. As the authors say, "witchcraft and activism are one," which is why patriarchy seeks to burn witches. I also liked the lessons we can learn from each witch. For instance, there's a power in taking care of and being yourself as well as accepting the shadow parts of yourself and speaking your truth. And with radical compassion we can connect with others, plant our seeds, and perhaps see ripples in creating a better world. And in comparison to patriarchy which divides and puts us in competition, witchcraft is about connection and collaboration. It's about breaking down neat little categories and acknowledging we're all one. If you're looking for a unique perspective and to hear the untold stories of witches, check out Missing Witches.
Missing Witches covers eight chapters organized by the eight Sabbats featuring an exploration of various witches throughout history, whether or not they identified as witches. The essays include the authors' own perspectives, meditations, stories, and practices through an intersectional, feminist, and contemporary lens. Covering witches and traditions from all over the world, the authors introduce witches like Monica Sjoo, Pamela Coleman Smith, Maria Sabina, and Enheduanna and their work in practicing magic.
As someone relatively unfamiliar with the history of witchcraft, it was fascinating to hear the stories of influential witches erased by white, colonial, and patriarchal narratives. However, the reflections and takeaways interested me more. As the authors say, "witchcraft and activism are one," which is why patriarchy seeks to burn witches. I also liked the lessons we can learn from each witch. For instance, there's a power in taking care of and being yourself as well as accepting the shadow parts of yourself and speaking your truth. And with radical compassion we can connect with others, plant our seeds, and perhaps see ripples in creating a better world. And in comparison to patriarchy which divides and puts us in competition, witchcraft is about connection and collaboration. It's about breaking down neat little categories and acknowledging we're all one. If you're looking for a unique perspective and to hear the untold stories of witches, check out Missing Witches.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews