What do you think?
Rate this book
Practical Solitary Magic
Many students don't want to be tied to a particular group or spiritual tradition, but prefer to search, experiment, and grow on their own/ this book is perfect for these people. Watson discusses the principles that underlie magical practice in a veryeasytounderstand manner. She includes information on affirmations, visualization, spiritual practices, folk magic, and ritual. Safety measures and ethical considerations are stressed throughout.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 1996
30 people are currently reading
498 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 11, 2019
Trigger Warnings: This book features ableism: mental illness discrimination, fatphobia, sexism and exclusion of trans and nonbinary genders.
I can't remember if it was on a blog or in a book I've read, but Practical Solitary Magic by Nancy B. Watson was recommended for those who were practicing alone, and didn't have anyone to give guidance. This is me, so I bought it, thinking it would be extremely helpful. It was anything but.
Practical Solitary Magic is written like an academic book. It's very easy to understand, but it's cold and detached in a way no other book I've read has been. It felt like reading a textbook, and was very off putting. However, the book started off well, talking about what I consider the science of magic; while other books explain correspondences, and affirmations, etc., they don't go into how or why these things work, but Practical Solitary Magic, at first, did. I found it so interesting, so despite really not liking how it was written, I carried on reading.
But it became very obvious soon afterwards that this book wasn't for me. With previous books, even if I wasn't fully on board with the author's own beliefs, there were still things in them I found interesting or helpful, so I kept reading this one, but really, there was pretty much nothing in this book that would help me.
It's probably because it's over 20 years old, and magick may have moved on since then, but this book makes magick out to be something really complicated and difficult. There's a heavy focus on psychology - Watson actually recommends all readers get themselves a psychotherapist - and magick is very regimented. There are numerous steps to go through, and you can't deviate. We're talking several hours worth of work each and every time, which is nothing like what I've read in other books. While the books mentions witches following their own path, Watson doesn't give much wiggle room. The reader must do this, they must believe in that. And you must become perfectly whole, psychologically speaking, in order to get anywhere, really - and this can take years. It also talks about following the solar cycle and ignoring the lunar cycle, which contradicts everything else I've read. For me, where I'm at, and what I believe in, this book is absolutely not for me, and was so unhelpful.
It's also kind of sexist, too. As anyone who has read other witchcraft books know, colours have correspondences, and this is helpful in candle magic. But when it comes to affairs of the heart or sex, men and women are to use completely different coloured candles. Why? Why is a candle in a certain colour going to work better for a man than a woman? This, of course, excludes those who aren't cis-gendered. It's also fatphobic, implying people would want to be "sylph-like". And my god, the number of times she was insulting to those with mental illness! She talks about "madness" being a punishment from the gods, and talks about "street crazies," "psychopath" criminals - when they're just awful people, and talks about a "lunatic". This also goes hand in hand with her belief that disease is your body's way of telling you that your life is lacking something important, and the benefit of the disease is that you get what you need - the example she gave for herself was that she needed more time to lie around reading, so she ended up with a slipped disk. And this goes for all disease. As someone who has very recently found out two members of my family have very serious, incurable health problems, the idea that they're supposed to be benefitting from the hell they are and will go through, and need to make changes to their life, had me raging. It's probably very much of it's time, as I've said before, when views and opinions were different, and certain things weren't as understood or as talked about as today. But I don't think that really excuses it.
So what with this book being really unhelpful, too regimented and forceful in regards to what we should believe and do, and all kinds of offensive, I really didn't enjoy this book. To be honest, I felt it was a waste of my time.
I can't remember if it was on a blog or in a book I've read, but Practical Solitary Magic by Nancy B. Watson was recommended for those who were practicing alone, and didn't have anyone to give guidance. This is me, so I bought it, thinking it would be extremely helpful. It was anything but.
Practical Solitary Magic is written like an academic book. It's very easy to understand, but it's cold and detached in a way no other book I've read has been. It felt like reading a textbook, and was very off putting. However, the book started off well, talking about what I consider the science of magic; while other books explain correspondences, and affirmations, etc., they don't go into how or why these things work, but Practical Solitary Magic, at first, did. I found it so interesting, so despite really not liking how it was written, I carried on reading.
But it became very obvious soon afterwards that this book wasn't for me. With previous books, even if I wasn't fully on board with the author's own beliefs, there were still things in them I found interesting or helpful, so I kept reading this one, but really, there was pretty much nothing in this book that would help me.
It's probably because it's over 20 years old, and magick may have moved on since then, but this book makes magick out to be something really complicated and difficult. There's a heavy focus on psychology - Watson actually recommends all readers get themselves a psychotherapist - and magick is very regimented. There are numerous steps to go through, and you can't deviate. We're talking several hours worth of work each and every time, which is nothing like what I've read in other books. While the books mentions witches following their own path, Watson doesn't give much wiggle room. The reader must do this, they must believe in that. And you must become perfectly whole, psychologically speaking, in order to get anywhere, really - and this can take years. It also talks about following the solar cycle and ignoring the lunar cycle, which contradicts everything else I've read. For me, where I'm at, and what I believe in, this book is absolutely not for me, and was so unhelpful.
It's also kind of sexist, too. As anyone who has read other witchcraft books know, colours have correspondences, and this is helpful in candle magic. But when it comes to affairs of the heart or sex, men and women are to use completely different coloured candles. Why? Why is a candle in a certain colour going to work better for a man than a woman? This, of course, excludes those who aren't cis-gendered. It's also fatphobic, implying people would want to be "sylph-like". And my god, the number of times she was insulting to those with mental illness! She talks about "madness" being a punishment from the gods, and talks about "street crazies," "psychopath" criminals - when they're just awful people, and talks about a "lunatic". This also goes hand in hand with her belief that disease is your body's way of telling you that your life is lacking something important, and the benefit of the disease is that you get what you need - the example she gave for herself was that she needed more time to lie around reading, so she ended up with a slipped disk. And this goes for all disease. As someone who has very recently found out two members of my family have very serious, incurable health problems, the idea that they're supposed to be benefitting from the hell they are and will go through, and need to make changes to their life, had me raging. It's probably very much of it's time, as I've said before, when views and opinions were different, and certain things weren't as understood or as talked about as today. But I don't think that really excuses it.
So what with this book being really unhelpful, too regimented and forceful in regards to what we should believe and do, and all kinds of offensive, I really didn't enjoy this book. To be honest, I felt it was a waste of my time.
February 11, 2018
I've absolutely loved this book.
Nancy Watson acheived her prowess in magic the hard way - by working endlessly from an outdated old book alone, typing out huge passages, trying to make them work and finally finding the right teacher for her (Murry Hope, English Wiccan High Priestess and magician). Because of this (I suspect) her writing is unique - I didn't find myself recognising long screeds from other books on magic.
This book is essentially a primer in basic magic. By basic I mean that if you work through it all and actually do it, I reckon you'll have a good basis from which to proceed, and you'll be working safely too.
Be aware that Nancy Watson's focus is on the Western Mystery Tradition and not in Wicca. However, the techniques, dilemmas and attitudes described are, I think, a good primer whichever way you eventually take.
There are chapters on attitude, spell craft, the four planes, elemental magic, divination and timing and tides.
I loved the way her own practice shone through all of the work. Couldn't put it down, and intend to use all sorts of tips from it in my personal practice.
Nancy Watson acheived her prowess in magic the hard way - by working endlessly from an outdated old book alone, typing out huge passages, trying to make them work and finally finding the right teacher for her (Murry Hope, English Wiccan High Priestess and magician). Because of this (I suspect) her writing is unique - I didn't find myself recognising long screeds from other books on magic.
This book is essentially a primer in basic magic. By basic I mean that if you work through it all and actually do it, I reckon you'll have a good basis from which to proceed, and you'll be working safely too.
Be aware that Nancy Watson's focus is on the Western Mystery Tradition and not in Wicca. However, the techniques, dilemmas and attitudes described are, I think, a good primer whichever way you eventually take.
There are chapters on attitude, spell craft, the four planes, elemental magic, divination and timing and tides.
I loved the way her own practice shone through all of the work. Couldn't put it down, and intend to use all sorts of tips from it in my personal practice.
June 13, 2019
"The key to advancement in magic is experimentation." p.213
Is, in my opinion, everything you need to know about magic. The history is an excellent subject to learn. Reading about the methods of others, past and present can only help to improve what one already knows. Interacting with a knowledgeable community bolsters, and supports one through the tougher times, and gives one an outlet for the joys, and failures (always share the latter, it's the only way to learn, and teach). Overall, I continue to recommend this book as a solid, basic, introductory manual, even though I do not agree with everything she says, or how she does things; it clearly works for her. Modern practices have shifted greatly since this was published. If one passes it on the library shelf, one could do worse for a start, yet, if one leaves what doesn't work for them, and takes what does, it serves its purporse.
She brushes large topics knowing full well there is far too much information to cover in her work. She gives nods to animism, polytheism, world mythology, NLP, astrology, elementals, circle casting and ritual construction, to offer a select list. Each of these topics is the subject of several books, that, themselves, cannot cover the depth in a single volume. The recommended reading list is well worth the time to pick up this book. Certainly, the books are older, yet, they still contain worthy fruit to taste.
It has only been a few years since I last read this, yet, considering how my practice has expanded so very much since I read it, I wanted to check this once more. Particularly, as this was written in 1996; twenty years certainly brings change in perspective, particularly in magical circles.
Magical Theory is especially an area that interests me more than ever.
The author's presentation of Jungian psychology, and how it can apply magically, is one solid example of how the movement of the 20th century differs from all before it. Like Neo-Platonism before it, the influence is melded so seamlessly into the practices, and explanations of phenomena that one simply cannot imagine the concepts segregated from it.
The Psychological model gained traction in magical, and religious contexts for many.
Following the idea that it is the unconscious that does the work, inspired by Dion Fortune, early in the text she offers a brief temperament test so that one might be able to best seek the methods that work for one's own personality. This is not a one size fits all magic; it is as individual as each of us is. Along the lines of the Jungian types: thinking, feeling, sensate, and intuitive.
She emphasizes, repeatedly, as others have before her, the need, and help that psycho-analysis brings to oneself, and, therefore, one's practice.
I am struck, this time, by the use of the term 'archetypes' when she is clearly treating them as gods, and goddesses. True, the term 'archetype', from a Jungian standpoint can certainly mean an actual being, not one only as a mental construct. This marks the dating of the book for me, as polytheism is much stronger now in the general magic community, along with animism. These are ideas which would have been deeply rejected in the 90s, or earlier in the 20th century.
I, also, missed, that when she mentions Celtic deities, she is including characters of Arthurian legend.
***************
A sound, broad and clearly written primer for anyone wishing to explore modern spell-craft and ritual practice rooted in the Western Mystery Tradition. She consistently quotes the the movers and shakers of the English-speaking occult world as her solid sources and guides. These include Dion Fortune, William G. Gray, and Israel Regardie; all considered highly-effective and knowledgeable in their area.
Her sound and practical advice, rooted in decades of experience and work shine through in humble, honest and direct exposition of the trials of effort required to achieve positive and lasting results that is anchored in reality. Many times she emphasizes the benefits of self-exploration through analysis to develop into a more rounded individual and thereby, a more effective magician.
I read this work when it was first published. I wanted to see what gems I might find reading it again. [second read Sept-Oct 2013]
Is, in my opinion, everything you need to know about magic. The history is an excellent subject to learn. Reading about the methods of others, past and present can only help to improve what one already knows. Interacting with a knowledgeable community bolsters, and supports one through the tougher times, and gives one an outlet for the joys, and failures (always share the latter, it's the only way to learn, and teach). Overall, I continue to recommend this book as a solid, basic, introductory manual, even though I do not agree with everything she says, or how she does things; it clearly works for her. Modern practices have shifted greatly since this was published. If one passes it on the library shelf, one could do worse for a start, yet, if one leaves what doesn't work for them, and takes what does, it serves its purporse.
She brushes large topics knowing full well there is far too much information to cover in her work. She gives nods to animism, polytheism, world mythology, NLP, astrology, elementals, circle casting and ritual construction, to offer a select list. Each of these topics is the subject of several books, that, themselves, cannot cover the depth in a single volume. The recommended reading list is well worth the time to pick up this book. Certainly, the books are older, yet, they still contain worthy fruit to taste.
It has only been a few years since I last read this, yet, considering how my practice has expanded so very much since I read it, I wanted to check this once more. Particularly, as this was written in 1996; twenty years certainly brings change in perspective, particularly in magical circles.
Magical Theory is especially an area that interests me more than ever.
The author's presentation of Jungian psychology, and how it can apply magically, is one solid example of how the movement of the 20th century differs from all before it. Like Neo-Platonism before it, the influence is melded so seamlessly into the practices, and explanations of phenomena that one simply cannot imagine the concepts segregated from it.
The Psychological model gained traction in magical, and religious contexts for many.
Following the idea that it is the unconscious that does the work, inspired by Dion Fortune, early in the text she offers a brief temperament test so that one might be able to best seek the methods that work for one's own personality. This is not a one size fits all magic; it is as individual as each of us is. Along the lines of the Jungian types: thinking, feeling, sensate, and intuitive.
She emphasizes, repeatedly, as others have before her, the need, and help that psycho-analysis brings to oneself, and, therefore, one's practice.
I am struck, this time, by the use of the term 'archetypes' when she is clearly treating them as gods, and goddesses. True, the term 'archetype', from a Jungian standpoint can certainly mean an actual being, not one only as a mental construct. This marks the dating of the book for me, as polytheism is much stronger now in the general magic community, along with animism. These are ideas which would have been deeply rejected in the 90s, or earlier in the 20th century.
I, also, missed, that when she mentions Celtic deities, she is including characters of Arthurian legend.
***************
A sound, broad and clearly written primer for anyone wishing to explore modern spell-craft and ritual practice rooted in the Western Mystery Tradition. She consistently quotes the the movers and shakers of the English-speaking occult world as her solid sources and guides. These include Dion Fortune, William G. Gray, and Israel Regardie; all considered highly-effective and knowledgeable in their area.
Her sound and practical advice, rooted in decades of experience and work shine through in humble, honest and direct exposition of the trials of effort required to achieve positive and lasting results that is anchored in reality. Many times she emphasizes the benefits of self-exploration through analysis to develop into a more rounded individual and thereby, a more effective magician.
I read this work when it was first published. I wanted to see what gems I might find reading it again. [second read Sept-Oct 2013]
August 2, 2011
This is a book I would highly recommend to any 101 or 202 Craft practitioners. This book is straight forward, and easy to read; it is chopped full of exercises, visualizations, and really good info on the Elements, etc. One of my favorite things about it and why I gave it 5 stars is the fact that it actually explains how and why magick works from a psychological stand point. It is the first i have ever known to bring up the archetypes, affirmations and the bringing together of the higher, middle, and lower self, (though I can't remember if the author called it that or something different.) Though not necessarily a book on magic in a spiritual sense it is an essential read on how to preform magick and why magick works or doesn't.
September 20, 2021
This book was a recommendation, and warrants close study for those interested in the Art. So I now recommend it in turn!
May 21, 2010
I wanted to know about this practice and she explained it very well. What I used to think was secretive, unavailable, and possibly just something delusional, was made clear. Her writing is easy to read and follow. Her book (the only one she wrote I know of) led me to investigate further into the subject of magic written by those she referred to in her book. I tried a couple of the exercises that she placed by Murry Hope, and it worked! I'm, at times, rather skeptical about what may be experienced and this took me by complete surprise.
September 11, 2018
I had to read this book as part of my studies in one of the traditions I was a part of.
I tried to like it. I tried to engage with it. I wondered what was wrong with me because the others raved about it and I wasn't getting it.
In short, it bored me to tears. It read like a textbook. Which is fine, if that is what you are looking for, but I found that it was far too dry and sleepy to enjoy or to really get anything out of it. It reminded me of the extremely well-written, researched, and intellectual books I had to read for University courses that also put me to sleep.
If you read my review of "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" by Silver Ravenwolf..this book has the opposite problem. It's accurate to a fault, excellent info, well laid out and researched, but about as entertaining as eating dry toast. I didn't get a sense of who this woman was, why she was doing magick, and why we should care. In my personal opinion, it was too ceremonialist for my taste, but that's purely preference.
Reference book? Great! Book to read for enjoyment? Bad. I learned a lot from my textbooks, but also fell asleep in a puddle of drool trying to read them. This book was similar. Lots of meat and potatoes, no spice, and the flavour has been boiled out.
I tried to like it. I tried to engage with it. I wondered what was wrong with me because the others raved about it and I wasn't getting it.
In short, it bored me to tears. It read like a textbook. Which is fine, if that is what you are looking for, but I found that it was far too dry and sleepy to enjoy or to really get anything out of it. It reminded me of the extremely well-written, researched, and intellectual books I had to read for University courses that also put me to sleep.
If you read my review of "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" by Silver Ravenwolf..this book has the opposite problem. It's accurate to a fault, excellent info, well laid out and researched, but about as entertaining as eating dry toast. I didn't get a sense of who this woman was, why she was doing magick, and why we should care. In my personal opinion, it was too ceremonialist for my taste, but that's purely preference.
Reference book? Great! Book to read for enjoyment? Bad. I learned a lot from my textbooks, but also fell asleep in a puddle of drool trying to read them. This book was similar. Lots of meat and potatoes, no spice, and the flavour has been boiled out.
January 23, 2023
A very useful book. I enjoyed reading it. It contains info and advice on the basics and is explained on a very practical level. I sometimes missed deeper explanations (and thought "okay, but why?").
For example, she explains the nature of deity archetypes and what they are in a very logical way. Okay, useful. She then went on to mention that they do not appreciate when the magician does ___. Okay, but why is that? Why is that not appreciated? And how exactly is that determined?
I was kind of missing the logical connection at some points. Other that that, though I liked it very much and will definitely be coming back to it in the future.
For example, she explains the nature of deity archetypes and what they are in a very logical way. Okay, useful. She then went on to mention that they do not appreciate when the magician does ___. Okay, but why is that? Why is that not appreciated? And how exactly is that determined?
I was kind of missing the logical connection at some points. Other that that, though I liked it very much and will definitely be coming back to it in the future.
April 24, 2019
Certainly not all of these views resonated with me. I found it to be more spiritual and literal in its interpretations of the symbols, rituals, and effects of magic. That being said, I did find it a useful and beautiful perspective, with lots of exercises on meditation that I look forward to incorporating into my practice.
September 25, 2021
Excellent workbook for practitioners of all skill levels, with a variety of useful exercises and meditations.
August 3, 2023
Essential beginner book for anyone interesting in practicing magic.
February 11, 2025
best and only book on witchcraft you’ll need !!!
July 13, 2025
I loved this book, just bear in mind it was written a long long time ago so some of its values are probably not what you would expect today.
December 27, 2013
This is one of the few 101 books out there I actually recommend to people. The author does a very good job of explaining the nuts and bolts of magical practice and has a number of very useful exercises to work through so that the reader can gain practical experience rather than just theory.
My one nitpick with the book is the second chapter where Watson discusses Ethics. In it she presents things as black and while, with using magic to "harm" another always being wrong. If I was being mugged, you can bet your ass I'd smash the attacker's knee (for a start!) and yes I WOULD be causing harm to them, but they attacked me so...not morally wrong in my book. People have a right to protect themselves and those they love. Magic is just one more tool to do just that. The same as a restraining order or pepper spray.
If you follow her dictates about ethics the reader will likely never do ANYTHING since almost any magic will be affecting SOMEONE'S "free will". Watson is also rather confusing as she says on one hand not to do things against another's will but on the other hand asks people to "put the shoe on the other foot" and think how they would feel if someone gave them magical assistance.
So while I like this book a lot and have literally handed it to people that say they want to learn but have no idea where to start, I tell folks to take the ethics with a HUGE grain of salt and remember that part of one's path is figuring out what the ididivual's own moral code is and what is ethically permissible for themselves in their own practice.
My one nitpick with the book is the second chapter where Watson discusses Ethics. In it she presents things as black and while, with using magic to "harm" another always being wrong. If I was being mugged, you can bet your ass I'd smash the attacker's knee (for a start!) and yes I WOULD be causing harm to them, but they attacked me so...not morally wrong in my book. People have a right to protect themselves and those they love. Magic is just one more tool to do just that. The same as a restraining order or pepper spray.
If you follow her dictates about ethics the reader will likely never do ANYTHING since almost any magic will be affecting SOMEONE'S "free will". Watson is also rather confusing as she says on one hand not to do things against another's will but on the other hand asks people to "put the shoe on the other foot" and think how they would feel if someone gave them magical assistance.
So while I like this book a lot and have literally handed it to people that say they want to learn but have no idea where to start, I tell folks to take the ethics with a HUGE grain of salt and remember that part of one's path is figuring out what the ididivual's own moral code is and what is ethically permissible for themselves in their own practice.
December 1, 2008
I love this book perhaps because it makes the elementals guides to your life and partners in your magick. It also has sound magickal theory and practice to back it up. It is one of my favorite books to reread.
January 16, 2010
Brillant! Loved it. Use it to teach solitaries.
March 2, 2010
Very useful reference book.
September 24, 2012
This is the clearest, simplest, most useful book on the subject I've ever read. 'nuff said.
March 3, 2011
Even if you know nothing about spell-making, this book is a fascinating view of simply harnessing the power of your thoughts to bring about change in your life.
March 7, 2011
A really GOOD book with every day applications for those of us who choose to practice outside of a coven.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews