Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods: History, Insights & Magickal Practice

by Jason Mankey, Astrea Taylor

A Witch's 21-Century Guide to Making Magick with the Greek Gods

The ancient Greek gods surround us even now in our modern world. From Aphrodite to Zeus, this book reveals the origins of more than sixty deities and other mythological figures, including the Olympians, Titans, and Primordial Forces. Explore how they've been worshipped across the centuries and how you can work with them in your own practice.

You'll meet the gods one by one, exploring their history, unique correspondences, and personal insights from contributing authors who work with them magickally. This book also provides rituals and spells to connect with each deity. Draw down the moon with Selene, cast a courage spell with Ares, and reclaim lost parts of yourself with a ritual for Persephone. By inviting these divine beings into your practice, you can cultivate a magickal life that satisfies your soul to its very core.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Mythology, Occult, Wicca, Paganism, Spirituality

450 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2022

Reviews

[Angelo Nasios · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am fully reviewing the book on my Substack (angelonasios.substack.com) - I finished the introduction and have twice seen Astrea Taylor misuse scholarship. She makes claims that she puts citations to, but when you read the cited work; it is unrelated to her claims.

Taylor also displays an unfamiliarity with Greek Myth; in the introduction, she wrongly retells the myth of Icarus.

Taylor wrongly calls Herodotus a philosopher; he is a historian.

Taylor's childlike approach to Greek religion closely resembles Christian literalism.

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but it fits what to expect from llewellyn publishing. It makes for a good starting point for those curious of Hellenic practices blending with neo paganism. The authors' own UPG and succinct ritual for each deity are fun to play with, but some seasoned practitioners may be left wanting.

[Blake Gama · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not much information about the gods or about how to interact with them, even the personal experiences feel generic almost. I was expecting a lot of this book, so you could say i was disappointed.

[Sas UrbaneHexe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so disappointed. I really looked forward to the book and pre-ordered it. I really, really wanted to like it.
What I expected was a book that brings together Modern Witchcraft and Hellenic Polytheism. I expected that the authors would try to bring together hellenic religion & practice and witchcraft to create a modern practice that is based or at least heavyly influenced by ancient Greek practices and believes. I hoped that the book would show witches like me, that work with Greek gods, ways to integrate parts of hellenic practice into our own in a respectful, authentic way.
At least I expected the history parts to be well researched (, or the awareness of colonialism).

This book does nothing of the above.

We have a book in which each chapter is dedicated to a specific god*dess. With a part that tries to retell the history and the myths, then a part with personal insights from various devotees and after that one ore more spells, recipes or something like that. - I've never been a fan of books that are structured like this.

And you can't even use this book as a reference book, 'cause it's just not well researched. It has many mistakes in regards of content and states things as facts that aren't.

Why the 3 stars? Well it was a nice read. I liked the personal insights and some of the spells where nice.

I would call this book "Love Letters to the Greek Gods". You can feel the love for the Gods in every story. It could have been a nice collection of essays with personal insights, if it wouldn't have tried to be something else.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read, both authors' voices complimented each other and loved the addition of other witches! Would love to know more about how they see these gods in modern spaces and more current ways to honor them that aren't just spells, maybe that's book 2?

[Ian Lovecraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mankey and Taylor do an amazing job at giving the history of the Geek Gods and then have examples on how modern witches can work with them!

[Bill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this reference book. I have listened to it, but also own it digitally and physically. It will be worn out due to how much I may use it for future references.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb—the book itself is wonderful and the annotated bibliography really gives you more material for deep diving in the subject.

[Elyse Welles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for the ages! One of the new classics, every witch must have on their bookshelf.

The best part of this book was the way they wrote it from an anthropological perspective, exploring the Indo-European roots of the Ancient Greek gods and not shying away from mentioning that the Greeks were very syncretic, and that much of what they did was inspired and used outside of Greece. As a teacher of the Craft, I often get questions about if it’s cultural appropriation to work with the Greek deities, and the short answer is absolutely not and this book did a great job of assuaging those worries early on.

I also felt that they improved on any other existing book on Greek mythology or ancient Greek lifestyle with regards to the Gods because they included personal gnosis. I’ll never understand why some people dislike personal gnosis in a text! The reality is even the myths that we read as academic texts today are all founded in personal gnosis, so why would we not regard modern gnosis?

This book is a great reminder that it is a living religion. The gods are not dead, and their worship is as vibrant, as ever, and indeed, more far-reaching than even the Greeks could’ve imagined possible. The Greeks could’ve imagined possible.

The structure of the book was fantastic, taking you through the 12 gods/the Olympians, then the other notable deities, and the chapters each ended with wonderful spells or rituals that you can use to connect to said deities. They were unique spells, and had something for everyone, whether you identify more with “white magic” or “dark magic,” etc. They also had spells that called on the ancient customs, such as those from the Greek Magical Papyri or the findings at archaeological sites.

This is the best read for Ancient Greek gods I’ve ever read, and a definitive guide — well-researched and with an extensive bibliography.

[The Hellene · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a Greek I am shocked about the amount of false claims, incorrect citations and historical ignorance in this book. The pagan and New Age industry makes money off distorting and appropriating Greek culture. There is, of course, nothing new about the insight that this industry thrives on cultural appropriation and alienation.

However, in this particular case it appears that the pagan movement has surpassed itself. The list of flaws is sheer endless: from methodological errors, incorrect quotations and semantic confusion up to lacking contextualization, wrong statements and biased conclusions, everything can be found in this book, which is more than badly researched even for pagan means.

The authors‘ history-related claims are quite misleading. Even simple, basic things such as the drawing of a timeline ended in disaster. Nevertheless, I have no doubts the book will be commercially successful, since it swims on a huge wave of cultural “McDonaldization” and it is aimed at a special audience. Given the number of bizarre interpretations and logical errors, one has to wonder if there are any editors at Llewellyn Worldwide at all. This leads us to the undifferentiated and contextless use of the terms “magic” and “magick” in the book; Mankey and Taylor make no distinction between these terms and the Greek concept of magic.

But the responsibility for this untenable blend of misinformation and misperceptions lies not only with the authors, but also with the publisher. From an ethical standpoint, this does not exactly cast a good light on Llewellyn Publishing.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d first like to state that I am a Hellenic Polytheist. While I knew a lot of information in this book, these were still a few nuggets of info that I didn’t know that gave me some new topics to look into outside of this book. And while I know this book isn’t meant for reconstructing Hellenic Polytheists, I’m more of a revivalist myself and bring many aspects of my religion into the modern day, it still felt odd that the personal sections about each deity were from all these high priests or priestesses of various Wiccan traditions and more. It felt as if these deities were just being plucked out of their religion and original context. Not every chapter was bad about this but some were. For example the Hades chapter. Why is blood being mentioned as an offering? It completely ignores the cultural context that the Hellenic gods saw blood as miasmic and would probably piss off Hades, even as a chthonic god. Things like this really threw me for a loop and had me screeching at my phone. But in other aspects I loved how much it delved into the Hymn to Demeter in the Persephone chapter. I also particularly enjoyed the Pan chapter. Overall, is there things to learn from this book? Yes. Would I just stop at this book? No. Definitely use this as a jumping board to continue your research. Definitely take what resonates, and leave what doesn’t. Maybe for some, all the Wiccan bits will be fine, but for me, felt so far removed from Hellenic Polytheism and those today who actively worship and work with the Hellenic pantheon.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — 3-Star Review of Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods by Astrea Taylor & Jason Mankey

Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods is an informative and approachable guide for readers interested in blending Hellenic mythology with modern magical practice. The authors introduce nearly thirty Greek gods and goddesses, outlining their origins, histories, and attributes in a clear and accessible way. The inclusion of rituals, correspondences, and contributions from practitioners adds practical value for those looking to incorporate these deities into their own spiritual work.

However, while the book offers a wide overview, it doesn’t dive as deeply into each figure as some readers might hope. Covering so many gods in one volume means each section can feel a bit brief, leaving those seeking more historical nuance or advanced practice wanting more. The material is solid for beginners, but may feel somewhat surface-level for those already familiar with Greek mythology or witchcraft traditions.

That said, the layout is easy to follow, the tone is welcoming, and the combination of myth, history, and modern guidance makes it a helpful introductory resource. For anyone curious about working with Greek deities in a contemporary magical context, this book provides a straightforward and enjoyable starting point.

[Jessica Nightshade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods by Jason Mankey and Astrea Taylor is a valuable and well-researched resource for anyone wanting to integrate the Greek pantheon into their witchcraft practice. The book offers a detailed look at over sixty deities, from the well-known Olympians to lesser-known figures, and includes fascinating historical context along with modern interpretations. Each chapter features spells, rituals, and personal insights from contributors, adding a practical dimension to the lore. While it may not provide groundbreaking new ideas for those already familiar with Hellenic magick, the comprehensive approach and accessible format make it a solid choice for witches looking to deepen their relationship with these powerful deities. Four stars for a thoughtful and engaging guide that bridges the ancient and the modern.

[Cass Ann Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This absolutely incredible book is a MUST HAVE for anyone searching for information or working with Greek Gods.
I cannot say enough good things about how well Astrea, Jason, and guest did on writing every single chapter. I actually listened to this book audio style and decided I needed the buy the book as it can easily be referenced back to time and time again!
Blessed be!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good book as a starting point. But I was a little disappointed once it got to the sections about the Gods/Goddesses. I was hoping for more specific information on how to work with the deities and what to offer. But it is a good starting point for beginners looking for information.

[alyssa ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Helpol who also practices witchcraft, this is a good beginner book that touches the very basics. I think if you’re going to work with the Greek Gods, researching from actual Hellenistic Polytheists is a better way to go (especially since you’ll learn how to actually respectfully approach the Gods and work with them).

[Penelope R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very superficial 101 text. Go to the scholarship if you’re interested in hellenism. Sources given are sketchy, misrepresented and are regurgitated out of context. This is another ‘churn and burn’ cash grab from Llewelyn.

[Kerri Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with information and tons of "guest appearances" from other writers, gives this book a wonderful variety of viewpoints. loved it!

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good starting point but a lot of it does feel vague and more general than I was hoping for.

[Kristy Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of great information, rituals, and insights. I really enjoyed reading and listening to the audiobook for this book.

If you are into Greek Gods its a must read!

[Ozan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve learned a lot from this well-written book.

[Kyrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was full of blatantly inaccurate information about the Greek Gods. The spells were simple and generic and had almost no information on actually interacting with the Gods. Very disappointing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not great. I understand this is about modern adaptation, but I still would have liked to see a bit more scholarship.