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Poetry as Spellcasting: Poems, Essays, and Prompts for Manifesting Liberation and Reclaiming Power
Poems, essays, and prompts to sing a new world into being--Queer & BIPOC perspectives on poetry as an insurgent ritual for manifesting liberation and reclaiming power.
Written for poets, spellcasters, and social justice witches, Poetry as Spellcasting reveals the ways poetry and ritual can, together, move us toward justice and transformation. It asks: If ritualized violence upholds white supremacy, what ritualized acts of liberation can be activated to subvert and reclaim power?
In essays from a diverse group of contributing poets, organizers, and ritual artists, Poetry as Spellcasting helps readers explore, play, and deepen their creativity and intuition as integral tools for self- and communal healing and social change.
Both poetry and occult studies have been historically dominated by white, cishet writers; here, Poetry as Spellcasting reclaims the centrality of queer and BIPOC voices in poetry, magic, and liberatory spellwork.
Written for poets, spellcasters, and social justice witches, Poetry as Spellcasting reveals the ways poetry and ritual can, together, move us toward justice and transformation. It asks: If ritualized violence upholds white supremacy, what ritualized acts of liberation can be activated to subvert and reclaim power?
In essays from a diverse group of contributing poets, organizers, and ritual artists, Poetry as Spellcasting helps readers explore, play, and deepen their creativity and intuition as integral tools for self- and communal healing and social change.
Both poetry and occult studies have been historically dominated by white, cishet writers; here, Poetry as Spellcasting reclaims the centrality of queer and BIPOC voices in poetry, magic, and liberatory spellwork.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2023
122 people are currently reading
2960 people want to read
About the author
Tamiko Beyer
11 books24 followersTAMIKO BEYER IS THE AUTHOR OF THE AWARD-WINNING POETRY COLLECTION WE COME ELEMENTAL (ALICE JAMES BOOKS), AND CHAPBOOK BOUGH BREAKS (MERITAGE PRESS).
Her poetry has appeared in journals including The Volta, Tupelo Quarterly, and The Progressive and several anthologies. She is a founding member of Agent 409: a queer, multi-racial writing collective in New York City that performed across the east coast and led workshops at conferences such as the U.S. Social Forum and Split this Rock Poetry Festival.
She has received several fellowships and grants, including a Kundiman fellowship, a grant from the Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund, and an Olin and Chancellor’s Fellowships from Washington University in St. Louis. She was a longtime workshop leader for the New York Writers Coalition.
With a background in communications writing and grassroots organizing, Tamiko has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the news program Democracy Now!, feminist film distributor Women Make Movies, and San Francisco Women Against Rape. Today, she is the Deputy Communications Director at Corporate Accountability International.
Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Tamiko has lived on both the East and West coasts. She received her B.A. from Fairhaven College at Western Washington University and her M.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in Boston in a former chocolate factory next to the Neponset River.
Her poetry has appeared in journals including The Volta, Tupelo Quarterly, and The Progressive and several anthologies. She is a founding member of Agent 409: a queer, multi-racial writing collective in New York City that performed across the east coast and led workshops at conferences such as the U.S. Social Forum and Split this Rock Poetry Festival.
She has received several fellowships and grants, including a Kundiman fellowship, a grant from the Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund, and an Olin and Chancellor’s Fellowships from Washington University in St. Louis. She was a longtime workshop leader for the New York Writers Coalition.
With a background in communications writing and grassroots organizing, Tamiko has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the news program Democracy Now!, feminist film distributor Women Make Movies, and San Francisco Women Against Rape. Today, she is the Deputy Communications Director at Corporate Accountability International.
Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Tamiko has lived on both the East and West coasts. She received her B.A. from Fairhaven College at Western Washington University and her M.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in Boston in a former chocolate factory next to the Neponset River.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 24, 2022
Thank you, North Atlantic Books, for the advance reading copy.
I love the cover so much! However, I was expecting more illustrations or pages with easy to the eye presentation. I feel this is a book for the readers who are seeking self healing and comfort through a book that has poetry and more interactive prompts.
Expect more of essays, less prompts and much lesser poetry. I would expect a lot more of poetry, more prompts frequently in the content and an essay alternating in between seeing the title of the book.
Well, every chapter has something to offer for the one needing some comfort and self awareness.
I love the cover so much! However, I was expecting more illustrations or pages with easy to the eye presentation. I feel this is a book for the readers who are seeking self healing and comfort through a book that has poetry and more interactive prompts.
Expect more of essays, less prompts and much lesser poetry. I would expect a lot more of poetry, more prompts frequently in the content and an essay alternating in between seeing the title of the book.
Well, every chapter has something to offer for the one needing some comfort and self awareness.
January 25, 2023
This book was so interesting. As a creative writer, I love the concept of using poetry to aide in spiritual insight. I really appreciated how this book has a way of venerating some of our vocational ancestors (like Audre Lorde, Lucille Clifton, Toni Morrison etc).
Although I enjoyed the diversity of writing styles and reflections, I think the book could have been organized in a more cohesive way. One moment, I felt like I was reading a book review, and then the next, I felt like I was reading someone’s diary, then a poem, etc.
I look forward to doing some of the writing exercises.
Although I enjoyed the diversity of writing styles and reflections, I think the book could have been organized in a more cohesive way. One moment, I felt like I was reading a book review, and then the next, I felt like I was reading someone’s diary, then a poem, etc.
I look forward to doing some of the writing exercises.
November 23, 2024
Poetry as Spellcasting is a profound and thoughtful collection of essays about how to develop intuition and respond more deeply and spiritually to one's surroundings. Written by bipoc and lgbtqia+ writers, it aims to deepen "the power-building possibilities of our attention" and "attune our senses to the more-than-human and to the interdependence of ecology." The editors are intentionally anticolonial and intend their book to assist readers to intercede and intervene to create a world that honors all people. Poetry is seen as "an activating ritual that helps us attend more deeply to ourselves, our communities, and our planet." The book will give high value to anyone who writes to find the voices of their ancestors, history, and the places they love. I am grateful to the authors/editors for developing this helpful and sorely needed guide to creativity, healing, and connection.
February 13, 2023
I feel this book isn’t as useable as an ebook, a physical copy would fit much better with its writing and images, plus the exercises the reader is asked to do/join in with. I wasn’t the target audience and that is perfectly fine, I still found the writing interesting and informative and feel I could recommend it to other who would benefit more
November 29, 2023
Very much enjoyed this one. I did expect there to be more actual poems in it than there were.
February 16, 2023
So I was expecting more of poetry or how to do spellcasting in poetry form. It really felt just like a book. It had some interesting information about setting your circle. There was some prompts that were helpful but not a very engaging read.
April 13, 2025
In Poetry as Spellcasting, Tamiko Beyer, Destiny Hemphill, and Lisbeth White conjure not merely a book of verse, but a grimoire for the soul—a tapestry woven of lyricism, ritual, and radical reimagining. This collaborative work is a deeply spiritual, culturally resonant offering that dwells at the intersection of poetics, ancestral memory, activism, and the sacred act of becoming.
Structured as a triadic invocation—part poetry anthology, part essay collection, part writing manual—the book invites readers into an embodied poetic practice that serves both as personal reclamation and collective liberation. Through this hybrid format, the authors extend a living invitation: to write, to remember, and to re-enchant the world through language.
What sets this volume apart is its unapologetic weaving of spiritual traditions—particularly those grounded in the Black, brown, queer, and femme experience—with the transformative power of writing. Here, the act of composing a poem is not merely aesthetic; it is an act of defiance, of healing, and of spellcasting in the truest sense. Each poem pulses with breath and blood, memory and myth, while the accompanying essays provide scaffolding for reflection and the prompts guide readers toward their own rituals of articulation.
The language is lush yet grounded, lyrical yet accessible. It resists the elitism often associated with literary poetry, offering instead a communal altar where language becomes prayer, protest, and possibility. The thematic throughline—of power reclaimed, of bodies made sacred, of futures dreamed into being—resonates with urgency and grace.
Particularly commendable is the book’s fluid choreography between individual voices. Rather than diluting their perspectives, the co-authors create a chorus—each distinct, yet harmonizing into something greater than the sum of its parts. In this way, the book mirrors the very communities it honors: intersectional, intergenerational, and interdependent.
Final Verdict: Poetry as Spellcasting is not merely a collection—it is a ritual object, a pedagogical tool, and a revolutionary balm. For poets, educators, mystics, and activists alike, this is a volume to be read slowly, aloud, and often. It is a book to be carried—not only in one’s bag, but in one’s bones.
⭐ 5/5 stars
✨ Essential for readers of Audre Lorde, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, adrienne maree brown, and those seeking to re-enchant their writing with purpose, power, and presence.
Structured as a triadic invocation—part poetry anthology, part essay collection, part writing manual—the book invites readers into an embodied poetic practice that serves both as personal reclamation and collective liberation. Through this hybrid format, the authors extend a living invitation: to write, to remember, and to re-enchant the world through language.
What sets this volume apart is its unapologetic weaving of spiritual traditions—particularly those grounded in the Black, brown, queer, and femme experience—with the transformative power of writing. Here, the act of composing a poem is not merely aesthetic; it is an act of defiance, of healing, and of spellcasting in the truest sense. Each poem pulses with breath and blood, memory and myth, while the accompanying essays provide scaffolding for reflection and the prompts guide readers toward their own rituals of articulation.
The language is lush yet grounded, lyrical yet accessible. It resists the elitism often associated with literary poetry, offering instead a communal altar where language becomes prayer, protest, and possibility. The thematic throughline—of power reclaimed, of bodies made sacred, of futures dreamed into being—resonates with urgency and grace.
Particularly commendable is the book’s fluid choreography between individual voices. Rather than diluting their perspectives, the co-authors create a chorus—each distinct, yet harmonizing into something greater than the sum of its parts. In this way, the book mirrors the very communities it honors: intersectional, intergenerational, and interdependent.
Final Verdict: Poetry as Spellcasting is not merely a collection—it is a ritual object, a pedagogical tool, and a revolutionary balm. For poets, educators, mystics, and activists alike, this is a volume to be read slowly, aloud, and often. It is a book to be carried—not only in one’s bag, but in one’s bones.
⭐ 5/5 stars
✨ Essential for readers of Audre Lorde, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, adrienne maree brown, and those seeking to re-enchant their writing with purpose, power, and presence.
November 30, 2023
Poetry as Spellcasting,
written and edited by Tamiko Beyer, Destiny Hemphill, and Lisbeth White is a beautiful collection of essays and poetry about the ways in which poetry connects to and reflects the sacred, spiritual, and magical — and the ways the author use the act of writing poetry as a sacred practice, a form of healing, a method for connecting with ancestors and community, and a path toward building a better future. In addition to the essays and poetry, the book includes prompts and suggestions to delving into poetry while staying grounded and connected to spirit.
In the essay "Articulating the Undercurrent," Dominique Matti writes:
In "Text of Bliss," Kenji C. Lui writes:
In "Poetry as Prayer," Hyejung Kook writes:
In the essay "Articulating the Undercurrent," Dominique Matti writes:
"I learned that it was possible to feel what one could not otherwise know. And that I could transmit feeling where rational explanation failed, by using poetry like a lyre — plucking invisible energetic strings. I discovered that where no one would cry for me, my poetry could conjure easy tears. And when my spirit could not represent itself in mundane gesture, it could rise up and shout in verse."
In "Text of Bliss," Kenji C. Lui writes:
"There is a time and place for the poetry of comfort and contentment, the poem that pleases aesthetically even if the subject is difficult. Beyond that, I think my poetry goal is to break something. Not in the sense of something broken in my interior, a confession and healing, but instead a methodical attempt to
break certain aspects of
this world.
. . . to bring to a crisis [their] relation with language."
In "Poetry as Prayer," Hyejung Kook writes:
"Rilke says, 'Every angel is terrifying.' But what if you are the angel? What if the power you are afraid to call upon and know is your own power? Consider the possibility that the outward address of poetry as prayer was actually an inner invocation, a tapping into our own divine and enlightened self."
October 4, 2024
This book is one of the most moving, complex, and deeply introspective pieces I've ever read. It's for lovers of poetry, believers in magic, and those who are on healing journeys, self-discovery adventures, and those who want to have more self-awareness for themselves and what they are putting out into the world. It talks about the power of words and collective intention, while also providing insight into history, heritage, and so much more. It's full of essays, prompts, and poems that cover such a wide and deep range of topics, time periods, and pieces.
It took me a few days to even get past the very beginning because it was that incredibly moving. Destiny Hemphill was my favorite poet, and I knew she would be from her very first piece in the book, "how we got our blues-tongue," which took me so many tries to get all the way through. The words came alive in such an amazing way that I simply couldn't move on without adequately processing each part. So much of this book was like that for me! It's a book that I will absolutely have to buy at some point because 1) I want to support these amazing individuals and their work and 2) I feel like this book could be an ongoing life teacher that I want in my own practice.
"There is a reason we call it a practice because that's what it is, for the rest of the time we are in our work, we are practicing. There is no end point. There is no arrival. There is only the practice."
I enjoyed the literary mentions, the historical explanations and connections, the diversity of identity, writing styles, and literature, and the application to the present as well. I feel as though there are so many ways this book could be used and useful to its readers, and it honestly holds so much power, it was quite intimidating, which is also why I took it so slowly, despite wanting to devour it all at once.
"I discovered that where no one would cry for me, my poetry could conjure easy tears. And when my spirit could not represent itself in mundane gesture, it could rise up and shout in verse."
"There is a time and place for the poetry of comfort and contentment, the poem that pleases aesthetically even if the subject is difficult. Beyond that, I think my poetry goal is to break something. Not in the sense of something broken in my interior, a confession and healing, but instead a methodical attempt to break certain aspects of this world. . . to bring to a crisis [their] relation with language."
"Rilke says, 'Every angel is terrifying.' But what if you are the angel? What if the power you are afraid to call upon and know is your own power? Consider the possibility that the outward address of poetry as prayer was actually an inner invocation, a tapping into our own divine and enlightened self."
It took me a few days to even get past the very beginning because it was that incredibly moving. Destiny Hemphill was my favorite poet, and I knew she would be from her very first piece in the book, "how we got our blues-tongue," which took me so many tries to get all the way through. The words came alive in such an amazing way that I simply couldn't move on without adequately processing each part. So much of this book was like that for me! It's a book that I will absolutely have to buy at some point because 1) I want to support these amazing individuals and their work and 2) I feel like this book could be an ongoing life teacher that I want in my own practice.
"There is a reason we call it a practice because that's what it is, for the rest of the time we are in our work, we are practicing. There is no end point. There is no arrival. There is only the practice."
I enjoyed the literary mentions, the historical explanations and connections, the diversity of identity, writing styles, and literature, and the application to the present as well. I feel as though there are so many ways this book could be used and useful to its readers, and it honestly holds so much power, it was quite intimidating, which is also why I took it so slowly, despite wanting to devour it all at once.
"I discovered that where no one would cry for me, my poetry could conjure easy tears. And when my spirit could not represent itself in mundane gesture, it could rise up and shout in verse."
"There is a time and place for the poetry of comfort and contentment, the poem that pleases aesthetically even if the subject is difficult. Beyond that, I think my poetry goal is to break something. Not in the sense of something broken in my interior, a confession and healing, but instead a methodical attempt to break certain aspects of this world. . . to bring to a crisis [their] relation with language."
"Rilke says, 'Every angel is terrifying.' But what if you are the angel? What if the power you are afraid to call upon and know is your own power? Consider the possibility that the outward address of poetry as prayer was actually an inner invocation, a tapping into our own divine and enlightened self."
August 15, 2024
what a beautiful collection of poems/essays/thoughts. v focused on the voices of BIPOC which was excellent and informative to read about.
November 23, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and North Atlantic Books for providing me with a free ARC!
This is a stunning collection of poetry.
For each chapter you'll find an essay and prompts that will help to get you in the right frame of mind to write your own poems. I found it inspiring, moving and yes, magic.
The book truly underlines the importance of words, of believing in yourself and remind the reader that they are the creator of their own world, that they are capable of making art from their lives, whatever that looks like.
I appreciate the different poetry styles, used here and each and every writer who participated.
This book would make a lovely gift for an aspiring young writer, especially if they struggle to find their place in the traditional places where these practices are taught.
This is a stunning collection of poetry.
For each chapter you'll find an essay and prompts that will help to get you in the right frame of mind to write your own poems. I found it inspiring, moving and yes, magic.
The book truly underlines the importance of words, of believing in yourself and remind the reader that they are the creator of their own world, that they are capable of making art from their lives, whatever that looks like.
I appreciate the different poetry styles, used here and each and every writer who participated.
This book would make a lovely gift for an aspiring young writer, especially if they struggle to find their place in the traditional places where these practices are taught.
January 10, 2023
"Poetry, I learned, can be one of the strongest magnetic fields to activate our moral compass." -Alixa Garcia
Huge thank you to North Atlantic Books, the editors, and Netgalley for an ARC of Poetry as Spellcasting. What a gift! These words enriched my life, challenged and inspired me, and I can't wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on this amazing book.
Poetry as Spellcasting is a compendium of essays, rituals, and poems centered around the idea of cocreating a more just and flourishing world through the power of community and words. I read it in tandem with John Koenig's The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - a brilliant combo, each bringing out the best in the other. This was truly a stellar reading experience for me and I plan to revisit both books often.
I do see how Poetry as Spellcasting might not be everyone's cup of tea. It is creative and scholarly. It is woowoo and grounded in reality. It is not a neat and tidy package but a loose association of ideas with strings dangling, requiring the reader to participate in building connections. I loved it. If you pick it up, be prepared to put in some work. The essays require rigorous attention, the poetry needs to be sat with, patiently, to unfold, and the prompts might well push beyond existing comfort zones. And the reward for all that work is more work. In the essay Poetry as Prayer, Hyejung Kook affirms her power to "visualize and bring intention toward a new and better world through the power of language." And challenges all of us with the question, "Together, what future can we call into being through our poems, our prayers?"
The work is ours. It is creative and communal. It is worthy of our care and attention. As the editors conclude, "we believe we can use a poem as an activating ritual that helps us attend more deeply to ourselves, our communities, and our planet. To summon, to cast, a new world into being."
Huge thank you to North Atlantic Books, the editors, and Netgalley for an ARC of Poetry as Spellcasting. What a gift! These words enriched my life, challenged and inspired me, and I can't wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on this amazing book.
Poetry as Spellcasting is a compendium of essays, rituals, and poems centered around the idea of cocreating a more just and flourishing world through the power of community and words. I read it in tandem with John Koenig's The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - a brilliant combo, each bringing out the best in the other. This was truly a stellar reading experience for me and I plan to revisit both books often.
I do see how Poetry as Spellcasting might not be everyone's cup of tea. It is creative and scholarly. It is woowoo and grounded in reality. It is not a neat and tidy package but a loose association of ideas with strings dangling, requiring the reader to participate in building connections. I loved it. If you pick it up, be prepared to put in some work. The essays require rigorous attention, the poetry needs to be sat with, patiently, to unfold, and the prompts might well push beyond existing comfort zones. And the reward for all that work is more work. In the essay Poetry as Prayer, Hyejung Kook affirms her power to "visualize and bring intention toward a new and better world through the power of language." And challenges all of us with the question, "Together, what future can we call into being through our poems, our prayers?"
The work is ours. It is creative and communal. It is worthy of our care and attention. As the editors conclude, "we believe we can use a poem as an activating ritual that helps us attend more deeply to ourselves, our communities, and our planet. To summon, to cast, a new world into being."
December 22, 2022
What a glorious compilation of shared storytelling, experiences, poetry and magical living through ritual writing. The world needs more of this! Inspiration, declaration, intent and shared energy to move us forward together, and manifest a better world. The authors “identify variously as Black, multiracial, Asian American, disabled, queer, and femme. We wrote and edited this book as a love poem and spell by and for poets of color, spellmakers, magic makers.”
Explaining and kindling the power of language, setting the scene for sacred space and ritual, igniting liberation, disruption, and magic through words and creative expression. Ancestors, Buddhist traditions, spirits of the trees, flowers and death. This book dives into it all and so much more, through the lens of each writer. Big gratitude for this creation. It needed to be written — we need this book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy to share and buy for many.
Explaining and kindling the power of language, setting the scene for sacred space and ritual, igniting liberation, disruption, and magic through words and creative expression. Ancestors, Buddhist traditions, spirits of the trees, flowers and death. This book dives into it all and so much more, through the lens of each writer. Big gratitude for this creation. It needed to be written — we need this book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy to share and buy for many.
July 29, 2024
Not entirely what I was hoping it to be given the title. It's much heavier on the essays than on the poetry and prompts.
January 27, 2023
Poetry Spellcasting by Tamiko Beyer, Destiny Hemphill, and Lisbeth White was born out of a panel the writers presented on in 2019 where they led a writing ritual in community and ended the session with participants standing in a circle and casting a collective spell for liberation and transformation. They share this experience in the introduction of the book as a way for us to understand the power felt when we set our intentions in community with an intention to help the world and each other heal. This book is a collaborative effort between the three writers and others they invited to contribute to sections, essays, and poems. They categorize it as "part anthology, part poetry collection, and part workbook."
Poetry as Spellcasting is so much more than a book. It is an activating ritual for every reader and the communities we are a part of. By using the art of poetry as divination the writers help us recall a world that respects the dignity of everyone and makes space for all of our experiences while honoring our ancestors and the cultural lineages we come from.
The book ends with a powerful poem-spell the writers outline for readers to try and it's full of prompts along the way to help readers write, process, and reimagine a better world that is more loving and honoring of who we are as divine beings. Poetry is the pathway to this spiritual act of reimagining and reconnecting.
Thank you so much to the authors and publisher for the e-arc copy!
Poetry as Spellcasting is so much more than a book. It is an activating ritual for every reader and the communities we are a part of. By using the art of poetry as divination the writers help us recall a world that respects the dignity of everyone and makes space for all of our experiences while honoring our ancestors and the cultural lineages we come from.
The book ends with a powerful poem-spell the writers outline for readers to try and it's full of prompts along the way to help readers write, process, and reimagine a better world that is more loving and honoring of who we are as divine beings. Poetry is the pathway to this spiritual act of reimagining and reconnecting.
Thank you so much to the authors and publisher for the e-arc copy!
July 24, 2023
This poetry book the "Poetry Spellcasting" excites the senses. When our hearing, smelling, touching, tasting and seeing become like us, emotional, we become one. At unity with one another truly able to feel like we have come to a sweet understanding of one another. No more hiding our eyes, our hands for fear of judgment.
Here are a few of the words used to release these magical hours.: red threads, slivers of moon rind, fragrance of mulberry trees and a hum. It is fun mixing up and falling down among words.falling down in to words. Enthusiasm increases when their is the realization that this is a volume filled with multicultural authors. There is nothing to fear..
Our learning curve is met when we meet rain. In Japan, there are fifty words for "rain." Can you hear them as you read Kenji C.Liu's poem? You must remember Tamiko Beyer and the others who quietly or loudly strive to share their world with us. I want to say 'thank you.'
Here are a few of the words used to release these magical hours.: red threads, slivers of moon rind, fragrance of mulberry trees and a hum. It is fun mixing up and falling down among words.falling down in to words. Enthusiasm increases when their is the realization that this is a volume filled with multicultural authors. There is nothing to fear..
Our learning curve is met when we meet rain. In Japan, there are fifty words for "rain." Can you hear them as you read Kenji C.Liu's poem? You must remember Tamiko Beyer and the others who quietly or loudly strive to share their world with us. I want to say 'thank you.'
June 11, 2024
"Black, Indigenous, and Brown bodies, female bodies, gender nonconforming bodies, trans bodies, working-class bodies, queer bodies are the historical perpetrators of witchcraft"
Woweeee what a quote. I also love the one below. This book was so wonderful to read. I am not someone who writes poetry or writes anything at all? For that matter. But the authors and contributors had so much intention and love and magic to give in this book. I only docked a star cause I was anticipating MORE spell casting and magic work descriptions/instructions. I need to dig more into my magic practice and could maybe swing back around to this book for more context and info.
"Our blood carries metals around our body. We must consume various amounts of certain minerals to survive. We are copper and cobalt and iron."
Woweeee what a quote. I also love the one below. This book was so wonderful to read. I am not someone who writes poetry or writes anything at all? For that matter. But the authors and contributors had so much intention and love and magic to give in this book. I only docked a star cause I was anticipating MORE spell casting and magic work descriptions/instructions. I need to dig more into my magic practice and could maybe swing back around to this book for more context and info.
"Our blood carries metals around our body. We must consume various amounts of certain minerals to survive. We are copper and cobalt and iron."
January 25, 2023
This collection of essays, poems and prompts gives the reader encouragement to extend their own creative prowess. Be this, in an attempt to help themselves or communities, it is an empowering read. Each section starts with a poem and ends with a suggested ritual.
I was out of my comfort zone reading this book, which is a challenge. However, I really did find a lot to enjoy in this volume. It is not a book I would have chosen to read ordinarily, but the description sparked my curiosity and so, here we are. While the spellcasting was not for me, I found great depth in the essays on a wide-ranging themes. Particular standouts for me were the Audre Lorde section, Enchantment and Inigluu.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #North Atlantic books for allowing me to read this edition.
I was out of my comfort zone reading this book, which is a challenge. However, I really did find a lot to enjoy in this volume. It is not a book I would have chosen to read ordinarily, but the description sparked my curiosity and so, here we are. While the spellcasting was not for me, I found great depth in the essays on a wide-ranging themes. Particular standouts for me were the Audre Lorde section, Enchantment and Inigluu.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #North Atlantic books for allowing me to read this edition.
March 13, 2023
*Acquired an ARC through Net Galley*
As a fellow poet, I was widely intrigued by the premise of the book. it is fascinating to find the correlations between mediums of self-expression and pure magic and energy. Practising poetry as an ancient witch would, is an interesting premise and I was delighted with every page.
Poetry as Spellcasting reads beautifully and at times made me feel hopeful, joyous and all in all more curious to explore my own ways I could connect with deeper meaning through poetry.
The core criticism would be not the content but the formatting as I only had access to the digital copy I am not sure how it will look in the final version but the digital copy needs fixing as the formatting and the imagery do not translate well with the epub versions.
As a fellow poet, I was widely intrigued by the premise of the book. it is fascinating to find the correlations between mediums of self-expression and pure magic and energy. Practising poetry as an ancient witch would, is an interesting premise and I was delighted with every page.
Poetry as Spellcasting reads beautifully and at times made me feel hopeful, joyous and all in all more curious to explore my own ways I could connect with deeper meaning through poetry.
The core criticism would be not the content but the formatting as I only had access to the digital copy I am not sure how it will look in the final version but the digital copy needs fixing as the formatting and the imagery do not translate well with the epub versions.
December 28, 2023
What a fine book. I know I will go back again and again for its wisdom and way forward. Its poetry: how we got our blues tongue by Destiny Hemphill and more. Essays: a strong one by Alexis Pauline Gumbs and a favorite called Articulating the Undercurrent by Dominique Matti—“I once read that at the core of much trauma is a sense of having been skipped over, bypassed, denies a customary regard for one’s being.”
Do we realize how many of us and our ancestors have not been noticed?
I also loved Hyejung Kook’s Poetry as Prayer with its revelations of words and sounds as charms in poetry. And the wealth of rituals… I am trying one in a workshop very soon called Working with Power Words.
Then there’s Tamiko Beyer’s poem “Because Death and Birth Are of the same Stream. They are.
Do we realize how many of us and our ancestors have not been noticed?
I also loved Hyejung Kook’s Poetry as Prayer with its revelations of words and sounds as charms in poetry. And the wealth of rituals… I am trying one in a workshop very soon called Working with Power Words.
Then there’s Tamiko Beyer’s poem “Because Death and Birth Are of the same Stream. They are.
October 10, 2024
This book held magic within its words, which was exactly its intention. Utilizing poetry to propel social justice work among other intents of disrupting colonialism and capitalism through the power of repetition, activation, calling upon ancestors, the dead and other non human beings. Each essay was unique and beautiful and filled with hope even among the heavy topics it intended to disrupt through itself. I just wish there were more prompts within and after each essay to make it more interactive and easier to retain the intentions after each essay, as I learn by doing. But all in all it was a breath of fresh air and well written by people who are experts of their craft.
August 24, 2025
This is a beautiful anthology, containing an abundance of poetry and narrative resonance that will break open your heart and stitch you back to wholeness. It contains prompts to expand your craft and practice, poetry, essays, fusion pieces, and personal narrative to bring the possibilities to life. In many ways it increased my hunger for a different world. It’s only 187 pages. I took a year to read it simply because I wanted to savor the understandings of the pieces, to not rush through it. Read at your own pace. Enjoy!
Preview of opening poem by Lizbeth White:
In the new mythology, you are always whole.
If and when you fracture, it is not apart.
Apart does not exist here.
Preview of opening poem by Lizbeth White:
In the new mythology, you are always whole.
If and when you fracture, it is not apart.
Apart does not exist here.
February 8, 2023
Poetry as Spell casting is a wonderful anthology of essay work and poetry to inspire the witchy reader.
What I liked
1. Prompts within the text allow for a good deal of interactive experience for readers.
2. There is a fairly even balance of poetry and
What didn't work for me as well
1. By the nature of its layout this book is not ideal for a single sitting read through dsipite its small size.
Who I would recommend this book for
This collection is a wonderful creative inspiration both for practicing witches and for lovers of witch inspired literature.
What I liked
1. Prompts within the text allow for a good deal of interactive experience for readers.
2. There is a fairly even balance of poetry and
What didn't work for me as well
1. By the nature of its layout this book is not ideal for a single sitting read through dsipite its small size.
Who I would recommend this book for
This collection is a wonderful creative inspiration both for practicing witches and for lovers of witch inspired literature.
January 7, 2023
I picked up this book because I love modern protest poetry and this looked like it would have some really interesting perspectives on poetry and power. I was not disappointed. The book was made up of chapters with discussions, poetry, and activities for the more spiritual people among us. Overall, I really enjoyed reading essays from a wide range of diverse authors. A fascinating read that was well-worth the effort.
This was a NetGalley read and review.
This was a NetGalley read and review.
March 29, 2023
This book is poetry in motion, and I’m spellbound by the way it handles language and art and combines them to create something magical! I’m always a sucker for a good anthology or essay collection, but when you add in poetry and a healthy dose of mysticism and Craft, I’m all in. I will be recommending this one to all my witchy and writerly friends alike, because it doesn’t matter what your spiritual background is, this is one resource that will never be a miss!
June 3, 2025
This book will push your poetry and/or your spells to the next level. It’s written by and for BIPOC, in this time of suffering for “manifesting liberation and reclaiming power.” If you’re a whyte person who is not up to date, this book will lose you fast. It’s full of stories, poems, spells, writing exercises, and more that will push you to your edges and force you to create something new. Here, both poetry and spells are lived and have the power to change the world.
July 25, 2023
Thank you to netgalley for the arc!
Poetry As Spellcasting is an incredible must read for anyone who practices witchcraft and is spiritual. Each essay in the book is a true work of art, making you think and feel deeply. The prompts at the end of the essays were fantastic as well. I did a few of them and loved them so much I will be working them into my daily practices. 5/5 stars
Poetry As Spellcasting is an incredible must read for anyone who practices witchcraft and is spiritual. Each essay in the book is a true work of art, making you think and feel deeply. The prompts at the end of the essays were fantastic as well. I did a few of them and loved them so much I will be working them into my daily practices. 5/5 stars
August 9, 2025
I started this books a while ago then set it down. I picked it back up this summer when I was going through a large transformation and it helped guide me into higher thinking and transformational spell work. I felt powerful. I felt whole. It is a wonderful collection on the reflections of our world and what language can d lo to heal the wounds that have been created. Pick it up immediately.
November 28, 2022
The writing in this book is beautiful, and the exercises were very helpful in getting me into the right headspace to write/ express myself. I found it beneficial that many of the prompts were based on inner work, anyone can easily benefit from this book.
November 22, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
A review will be published on NetGalley in the coming days.
A full review will be published on my blog (a link will be available through NetGalley).
A review will be published on NetGalley in the coming days.
A full review will be published on my blog (a link will be available through NetGalley).
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