modern witchcraft – ROSES AND REVIEWS

October 24, 2022December 10, 2022

My Favorite Witches (90’s edition)

Happy October!

I have been watching and reading lots of witchy things this season, and it has me feeling so nostalgic! I loved the new Hocus Pocus (which was done so well! The Sanderson Sisters haven’t aged a day!!) and have been watching Sabrina and Practical Magic on repeat all month. So I thought it would be fun to to honor some of my favorite witches for spooky season!

The Owens Sisters

Two is a magickal number: 2 is the very essence of duality, and Gillian and Sally Owens are the perfect duo – where Gilly is rebellious, Sally is prudent. Where Gillian is spontaneous, Sally is predictable. They are polar opposites, but together they complete each other.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch

Sabrina is the type of which many of us strive to be — navigating through the world, taking care of the people we love, and always using our powers for good. Yes, sometimes her magic causes more hijinx than heroism, but she can usually fix her mistakes and learn from them, and her heart is always in the right place.

The Sanderson Sisters

27 years later and the beloved movie Hocus Pocus is still watched every Halloween season, and the new sequel only solidifies this classic in witch lore. The Sanderson Sisters represent the quintessential trine, and are the youth-stealing monsters of myth that everyone loves to hate.

The Craft Coven

Nancy is who I think of when I think of the ultimate dark witch. She dabbles in shadow Magic, loves a good hex, and even taps into astral maniulation. But if Nancy is a dark witch, then Sarah is her opposite: a light witch.

Sarah Bailey is a witch who understands that right choices are not always easy to make. She could easily could’ve followed her coven into reckless and harmful magic, but instead she fights against them, even when they try to use her mental health struggles against her.

The Wicked Witch of the West

I can’t make a list of witches and not include her! She isn’t a 90’s witch, but she is a classic!

October 24, 2022December 10, 2022

Lighting The Wick

This is a really interesting book that glimpses into the ancient art and modern magic of candles. Packed full of wisdom and spells, this book is essential for witches of all paths.

Candle spells are one of the simplest form of magic. Fire helps to align yourself with the elements, focus your intentions and release your energy into the world.

This book offers a wonderful introduction to candle magic, and teaches readers how to harness the power of the flame. It covers everything from the history of candles to spells of all kinds: spells for love, money, career, health, and luck are just some of the things you will learn from this guide.

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Authors Sandra Mariah Wright and Leanne Marrama are professional psychics based in Salem, MA. You can follow them at @thepsychictea and @leannemarrama on Instagram.

Thank you to Tarcher Perigree for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own. #atpinfluencers

August 22, 2022December 10, 2022

The Modern Art of Brujeria by Lou Florez

This was a really interesting book that glimpses into Mexican cultural lore and traditional folk magic. Packed full of recipes and prayers, this book is essential for witches of all paths.

Meaning “witchcraft” in Spanish, brujería describes or disparages occult religious practices in some Latin American and Afro-Caribbean cultures with indigenous roots.

I chose this book to learn more about Brujeria magic because it is informed by Catholic beliefs, Aztec traditions, and Mexican healing arts. The main focus of the spellwork in this book are baths, candles, cleansings, and agua floridas. It offers a cultural understanding of spellcraft and other traditions of the Global South.

And while it does teach readers about spiritual cleansing through cleaning, candle casting and honoring the saints, it is more than just a reference or lesson book. Dedicated to Mexican-Americans, this book is for those who feel they are both and neither, who are caught in-between. It explores ancestors and descendants, and seeks to reclaim the magical and religious traditions of Mexico. Filled with cultural advice, this book hopes to bring confidence back to the generation of Mexican-Americans who have been assimilated and colonized, and lets readers know that they are not alone.

If you feel a pull back to the magic of your ancestors, this book is written for you.

Thank you so much to Ulysses Press for reaching out to send me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

April 11, 2022December 10, 2022

Earth Magick by Lindsay Squire

I love books about the occult and witchcraft, so I was excited to add Earth Magick to my collection of magical books. The cover is stunning and I love the art style-–it just makes me want to read it and display it. And it is as beautiful inside as it is out: the book is filled with gorgeous illustrations, diagrams, and charts that inspire and inform your practice.

This book covers ritual basics, the elements, the seasons, healing crystals, divination techniques, shadow work, energy balancing and more. Each section is packed full of easy to understand text and is paired with beautiful visualizations, breaking down the information and making it all super easy to understand and put into practice.

October 15, 2019December 10, 2022

How Witchcraft and Comics Inspired The Chilling Tales of Sabrina

I loved Sabrina The Teenage Witch and watched it for years! But I also love the new interpretation of the show, even though it is so completely different from the light-hearted original I once loved. The old show was very much a sitcom while the modern version is more of a drama, which is great for the spooky October vibes. But what I appreciate most about this remake is the attention to detail in regard to witchcraft. This show not only makes the occult approachable but does it in an educational-yet-fun way. There are a ton of important topics Sabrina touches on—including gender issues, religion, and identity—but here I am going to talk about witchcraft.

There are actually two separate Sabrina comics that have inspired two very different shows: the 90’s sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch was based on the Archie comics from the 1960’s, while the newer Netflix show is based on the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina graphic novels, which were first published in 2014 under the Archie Horror imprint. Continue reading “How Witchcraft and Comics Inspired The Chilling Tales of Sabrina”