Book Review: Naturally Modern Magic by Lacey Burbage

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I may not have loved my last read, I certainly loved Naturally Modern Magick: The Essential Compendium of Spells and Rituals for Health, Happiness, and Prosperity by Lacey Burbage. This absolutely gorgeous spellbook is an excellent resource for new and old witches alike, offering a plethora of well-researched spells for every occasion, and I mean every occasion. The elaborately illustrated pages remind me a lot of my two books, and, like my books, Naturally Modern Magick doesn't skimp on information.

Like most spellbooks, Naturally Modern Magick opens with the very basics of spell casting, covering everything from casting a circle, cleansing, and grounding. There is the assumption that the witch has some background knowledge already, but the refresher is nice all the same. Burbage also makes it clear that the plants and other spell ingredients are not just tools, but "spiritual kin." I absolutely love this approach, which is a stark difference from my last book review of A Witch Alone. Animism is a key tenet of my practice, and finding like-minded authors is always a pleasure.

This brief introduction also mentions the importance of consent in witchcraft, especially when it comes to spells being cast for or on another person. There is nothing worse than trying to start a relationship with a kidnapping. Be mindful of what you are doing and whether or not you have asked for proper consent. This also goes for keeping your pets safe, ensuring they are not present when using potentially harmful or toxic ingredients. There is no list or mention of which ingredients could be toxic, so it is up to you to do your due diligence when working any of the spells found in Naturally Modern Magick.

I genuinely love the spells Burbage has created. There are spells for grounding, cleansing, love, luck, manifestation, and so much more. There is even a spell for meeting your spirit guides and protecting yourself while traveling to the Otherworld. I love the inclusion of such spells for us hedge witches. There are also several spells that use cinnamon sticks for divination, rice for a spell base, and clay to bind herbs to make talismans, amulets, and charms. All of these are such clever ideas and have given me much to think about when it comes to future spell writing. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read others' spells. The creativity of others never ceases to amaze me and has influenced more than a couple of spells found on my blog. In fact, Burbage has inspired me so much that I have already started writing some new spells that include rice, clay, magical inks, and even magically-infused paper!

Burbage not only offers an enormity of spells, but also includes how to make base ingredients such as moon water or magical rice that can be used in a plethora of other spells. For these magically charged ingredients, she offers a list of potential uses in other magical spells, even referencing their use in some of the full spells and rituals she offers later in the book. I love that Burbage did this and wish more authors would take note.

Two of my favorite spells, apart from the spell for protection during hedge riding, include a spell for an accessory charging station and a charm to stop replaying situations in your mind (I am notoriously anxious and often replay moments over and over and over and over and over again...) The accessory charging station works the same way as a phone charging station, except for jewelry, charms, amulets, crystals, and other such objects. It is such a clever idea!

The only true downsides to Naturally Modern Magick are that many of the spell ingredients are not commonly found at your local grocery store and will, therefore, require a trip to a specialty shop, and there are no substitutions or modifications for the spells. This makes some of the items expensive and therefore out of reach for many witches. Furthermore, without modifications, some spells that require walking or other movement, access to the outdoors, ecetera, may not be accessible to all witches. I realize there is a page and word limit in such books, as I have written two similar books, but this is something to consider if you plan on picking this book up.

Overall, I deeply enjoyed Naturally Modern Magick: The Essential Compendium of Spells and Rituals for Health, Happiness, and Prosperity by Lacey Burbage and highly recommend picking up a copy if you are interested in expanding your spell repertoire!

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Book Review: A Witch Alone by Marian Green

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This week and the next, I plan on posting several book reviews, as I have fallen way behind on my reading and review process. I currently have 10+ books to review, with the hopes of knocking out at least 5, if not 6, of those in the next two weeks. I know that's a lot of reviews, but I really need to get them off my TBR shelf so I can breathe and feel like I can produce other content.

The first of these reviews is A Witch Alone: 13 Moons to Master Natural Magic by Marian Green. This is a reprint (with some updates) of the original 1991 version, and boy, oh boy, do I have some thoughts. So buckle up, buttercup! It's going to be a long journey!

First and foremost, A Witch Alone is about Wicca, or at least is heavily Wiccan-influenced. If Wicca is your thing, or your practice is Wiccan-inspired, this book may be for you. If you are not Wiccan, then I would skip this one, as there is very little "new" information you could take away. As I was reading, I kept saying, "I've read this before..." and it's because I have. There is absolutely nothing new here that you can't find in dozens of other books. Several of the exercises were nearly identical to ones I read and did when I was first getting into witchcraft 25 years ago, particularly those found in Silver Ravenwolf's works. And honestly, that sucks. I figured with a re-release with a new introduction and everything that some of the content would also be updated to reflect modern practices, but alas, that was not the case.

There are chapters on the God and Goddess, the Wheel of the Year, casting a circle, and calling quarters—typical beginner Wicca information. However, I appreciate that Green has tried to take a more central pagan approach, saying that you can take what works for you and leave behind what doesn't. This is exactly my approach to witchcraft, which has resulted in the unique path I follow today. Paganism is not a single religion, but a melting pot of traditions, faiths, and practices as unique as the people who practice them.

Green also covers the Otherworld and somewhat how to travel to it, which is not typically found in other introductory books. I greatly appreciated its inclusion and her use of fiction to help one learn to reach an altered state of consciousness. This is certainly a valid approach, but I would warn anyone using this method to be mindful of the differences between an active imagination and hedge riding. Green agrees with me that your intuition should be your guide, and you would be wise to listen to us both. Unfortunately, Green suggests reading Harry Potter as a fictional text to inspire you, and I strongly disagree with giving that IP anymore of your time and energy, considering the author is openly anti-trans and uses her vast fortune to actively harm the trans community. It's time to let HP die, people.

There are several other instances of Green parroting cultural appropriation or misinformation, using inappropriate language and slurs, or supporting problematic behaviors. I feel like these were all things that could easily have been updated and should have been in. The very first of these was the use of karma. Green calls it "an Eastern term" and bastardizes its true meaning. Yikes. Later, she describes the Wheel of the Year as some ancient practice—it isn't, and continues to spread the misinformation that Easter is named after Eostre. No...it isn't. Can we please let this myth die already?! Green suggests taking from nature without asking first, which reeks of privilege and a disconnect from the natural world, supports only white, Eurocentric authors in her recommended further reading, and even uses the word g*psies, which is a slur. Who approved this?! 

Her chapter on "the healing arts" also left a bad taste in my mouth, as it sounded eerily similar to the alt-right wellness pipeline and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement happening in the United States. At one point, she suggests that if people know you are learning alternative healing methods, they are going to think you can work miracles. Eye roll...

She uses similar rhetoric in the very beginning to say the opposite, suggesting that if you decide to pursue witchcraft, you are going to be violently cast out by friends and family for being different. I'm sorry. It's 2025. Can we stop with this victim mentality? Witchcraft has grown so much in the United States and Britain that it's no longer viewed in a negative light, as it was in the 90s and early 2000s. A lot has changed, and that's a good thing! I wish we would stop telling young people to prepare to be cast out of society at large.

So, did I like anything? Actually, yes. Green says at one point, "I think that if some of the witches of today thought more about the actual workings of Nature and less of book-bound, set knowledge, they would gain more power in their magics, more joy in their celebrations, and a greater sense of unity with their ancestors and the ancient faith they aim to follow." I agree, wholeheartedly. There is nothing wrong with learning from books and reading all the time. However, at some point, you need to actually go outside and practice witchcraft. Connect with nature and the universe. Feel the divine within you and the world around you. Cross over the Otherworld and greet the spirits you meet there with reverence and an open mind.

Finally, Green offers several amazing exercises and suggestions on growing as a witch. She includes exploring history, poetry, and the natural world for information, inspiration, and correspondences. Again, I fully, 100% support this take. It's actually how I have consistently approached my own practice. There is so much information and folklore hidden in everyday things, if only one knows where to look.

Overall, this is not a book I would overwhelmingly recommend to most of my readers. I believe this is a repeat of information we have all read and heard a thousand times before, and in this economy, no one should be wasting money on repeat information. However, if you are new to Wicca or your practice is heavily Wiccan-influenced, this may be the book for you. Just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you. A Witch Alone: 13 Moons to Master Natural Magic by Marian Green is available now, in its updated form, wherever books are sold.

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Magical Properties of Opal

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Wise Earth Medicine Tarot by Lalania Simone Review

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this deck in exchange for an honest review.

I was so thankful when Weiser reached out and asked if I would like to receive a copy of Wise Earth Medicine Tarot by Lalania Simone. This was about the same time that Llewellyn asked if I would like to receive a copy of Shamanism and Your Shadow: Using Animal Guides to Explore and Heal Your Inner Self by Granddaughter Crow. I knew they would likely pair really well, and I was not disappointed.

Wise Earth Medicine Tarot is a beautiful, full-color deck featuring the traditional major arcana and the minor arcana as elements. I love this approach, as many people better understand the meaning of the elements than they do the objects traditionally found in the Rider-Waite decks. Furthermore, the meaning of the card is featured right on the front, along with a plant or animal that corresponds with the meaning. Simone did a wonderful job carefully planning each card to ensure the picture and meaning matched in an authentic yet artistic way.

This deck is honestly one of the most beautiful decks I have had the opportunity to review. Each suit is themed, featuring flora, fauna, and colors associated with each element. By far my favorite suit was Earth, which features vibrant greens and some of my favorite animals, such as the cat, fox, and raccoon. Water features aquatic creatures, while air focuses on flight, and fire on desert and savannah creatures.

The cards are not only beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully planned, but also sturdy. They are made with thick cardstock and will hold up well over multiple uses. The edges are gilded in my favorite color of green —a deep, lush emerald that sings to my soul. This, however, will likely wear off with repeated use, but it garners extra points in my book nonetheless.

The deck also includes a guidebook featuring instructions, spread ideas, and more information to get you started. Overall, this is the perfect deck for beginner tarot readers and seasoned ones alike. If your practice focuses more on the elements and natural world (low magic) compared to high magic, this is the perfect deck for you!

I highly recommend picking up Wise Earth Medicine Tarot by Lalania Simone if you are on the hunt for a new deck or looking for one to help you get started in divination.

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Magical and Medicinal Uses of Water Lily

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Creation, Enlightenment, Hedge Riding, Love, Peace, Purity, Rebirth, Spiritual Connection, Wisdom

Magical Uses and History: The scientific name for water lilies, Nymphaea, is derived from the word "nymph," water spirits commonly found in Greek myths. This is a rather obvious reflection of the nature of water lilies, which commonly grow in bodies of water, their roots digging deep underground while their leaves or pads float to the surface. Often confused with the lotus, water lilies have a different history, folklore, and magical presence than the lotus.

In ancient Egypt, the water lily was highly regarded due to its unique nature. Like morning glories, Egyptian varieties of water lilies are nyctinastic, their flowers opening and closing due to temperature changes. They rise out of the water and bloom in the morning, but retreat back beneath the surface in the afternoon heat. This unique behavior led the Egyptians to associate water lilies, specifically blue water lilies, with the creation. According to the myth, a blue lotus flower arose from the primordial waters of Nun at the beginning of the world. Within was Nefertem, the physical manifestation of the first sunlight or sunrise. Sometimes referred to as "He Who is Beautiful" and "Water-Lily of the Sun," Nefertem is often depicted as a beautiful young man with blue water lilies adorning his head. In the Book of the Dead, Nefertem is referenced in a passage which says, "Rise like Nefertem from the blue water lily, to the nostrils of Ra, and come forth upon the horizon each day." Needless to say, the blue water lily symbolised creation, rebirth, and death, as well as the cyclical nature of sunrise and sunset. (What's even more interesting is recent fossilized remains of the earliest flowering plants are believed to be most closely related to modern-day water lilies, suggesting it really was there at the "beginning.")

Nefertem's myth doesn't end there, however. As the Sun God Ra suffered the effects of aging, Nefertem brought him a water lily flower. Ra smelled the flower and was instantly restored. As such, the scent of the water lily was believed to be restorative and protective, with numerous depictions of the flowers being held by gods and goddesses to the noses of pharaohs to ensure their long and ever-lasting reign. 

Furthermore, water lilies have been found in a great number of Egyptian tombs as potential offerings, as well as painted on walls and even on unguent jars. In these tomb paintings, the dead are often depicted smelling the flowers, which is believed to reference the restoration of the deceased's senses as they enter the underworld to await rebirth. During the mummification process, oil made from water lilies was used "to unite the limbs, join the bones and assemble the flesh" and reduce the smell of decay. Nefertem is said to have resided over this process as well, further associating him and the water lily with life, death, rebirth, and even perfume.

Similar myths of water lilies and rebirth are found in other cultures, more specifically among the Tupi-Guarani people of Brazil. According to their myth, the moon goddess Jaci was known to come in the night to kiss and light up the faces of beautiful young virgins. If she deemed them worthy enough, she would turn them into stars. Naiá, a young virgin, became obsessed with becoming a star, even after being warned that she would lose her flesh and blood in the process. Each night, Naiá roamed the mountains seeking out the moon, refusing to eat or sleep. One night, Naiá happened upon a lake, where she noticed the moon's reflection. Desperate for the moon's blessing, she dove into the water and drowned. Jaci turned her into a water lily, the "star of the waters," to reward her for the sacrifice and dedication. In Greek mythology, Chloris, the goddess of flowers, transforms a dying nymph into a beautiful flower, which some interpretations identify as a water lily. These myths, while certainly darker in nature, also show the water lily being a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

As such, water lilies can be used in spells and rituals related to creation, death, rebirth, and transformation. Place water lily flowers as offerings to your ancestors or creation/death deities. Use water lily oil to anoint candles or diffuse to inspire creativity and transformation. Add the petals to spell bags for similar purposes.

Because water lilies have roots deep below the water's surface and a blooming flower on the water's surface, water lilies are also thought to symbolize the connection between life and death or the world above and the world below. In ancient Maya, water lilies were often depicted being used in rituals and ceremonies, most likely as a psychotropic substance. It was also called "nikte'ha," meaning "vulva of the water," thus representing its connection with the divine, life, birth, and even fertility. In Egypt, the blue water lily was also used by spiritual leaders to induce trances. This tradition has been continued into modern day, with hedge witches, shamans, and other astral travelers using the petals to reach an altered state of consciousness. Diffusing water lily oil can help enhance psychic awareness and facilitate communication with the Otherworld.

Finally, the water lily has paradoxically been associated with both purity and lust. Certain varieties of water lilies act as a mild aphrodisiac and have been steeped in wine to induce lustful behavior. More often than not, however, the water lily is associated with purity and modesty. This likely arises from the fact that the water lily can emerge from the murky, muddy depths without a blemish, its flower petals untarnished by the dirt below. Water lilies are sometimes added to wedding bouquets to represent chastity and purity of the heart, as well as eloquence and grace. Their delicate fragrance was highly regarded throughout history and was said to temper earthly desires and temptations by reminding the imbiber to seek inner peace. Pliny the Elder even recorded water lilies being an antidote to love potions. As such, water lilies can be used in spells and rituals for purity as well as love. Use water lily perfume or oils in spells to enhance feelings of love and attraction or to aid during meditation. Water lilies can also be used in cleansing rituals and baths to purify and renew you or your space.

Water lily can be used in a number of spells, including:

      Divination

      Hedge Riding

      Purity Rituals

      Love Spells

      Rebirth Magic

      Death Magic

      Transformation Rituals

Medicinal Uses: When it comes to using water lilies in medicine, not all water lilies are created equal. Several varieties are toxic, while others, like the American white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), are perfectly safe. Please consult a licensed herbalist or your doctor before using water lily in your herbal practice. American white water lily contains tannins that help reduce inflammation and swelling and are antidiarrheal. Many varieties also contain nymphayol, an organic compound that stimulates the secretion of insulin and promotes the absorption of glucose, suggesting it is a useful treatment for diabetes. Nymphayol is also anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, and has been found useful in treating gastric ulcers. Water lilies are also hepatoprotective, thus helping promote healthy liver function. Water lily should not be taken by those who are taking pain relievers such as opioids, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and medications used to treat Alzheimer's, dementia, or Parkinson's. Water lilies should also be avoided by those who suffer from seizures.

Preparation and Dosage: To create an infusion, combine 1 tsp of powdered water lily root with 1.5 cups of water. Boil for 30 minutes before enjoying. Drink up to three times per day. As a tincture, take 0.5 milliliters up to three times a day. Water lily can also be used externally as a cream, poultice, or ointment to treat minor swelling, bruising, or pain.

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!

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Book Review: A Tea Witch's Crystal Brews by S. M. Harlow

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last year, I had the pleasure of reviewing S.M. Harlow's A Tea Witch's Grimoire, so when Weiser reached out to see if I wanted to review her next book, I jumped at the opportunity. A Tea Witch's Crystal Brews expands upon A Tea Witch's Grimoire, this time with the help of crystals!

Harlow dives into the world of crystal grids and how to use them in your tea practice. While she cannot include a comprehensive guide to every crystal, she does offer a very detailed list of crystals and their intention and tea pairings, making it easy to develop your own recipes and rituals to suit every occasion. This is paired with an excellent guide to creating crystal grids, how they work, the meaning of the different designs (sacred geometry), and how to use them in your practice, with or without tea. I've honestly never read such a complete guide to crystal grids, so this was a first for me. I walked away with a lot to think about and how to incorporate crystal grids more into my own practice.

A Tea Witch's Crystal Brews gives some background in tea witchcraft, but I believe there is the assumption that you have read Harlow's first book and therefore may only need a refresher instead of an entire guide. Since I have read her previous work and written my own book on tea witchcraft, I felt her refresher was more than enough to get even new witches started on their tea witchcraft journey.

As before, A Tea Witch's Crystal Brews contains a large number of recipes and rituals, complete with moon phases, ritual ideas, and more. There is even a chapter dedicated to crystal elixirs! I loved the inclusion of crystal elixirs, the water from which can be used to brew any number of teas given that the water is safe to drink. Remember, not all crystals are friendly!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the guides, recipes, and rituals in Harlow's latest book, A Tea Witch's Crystal Brews. I cannot wait to see what her future holds and if she will continue creating these fantastic recipe books! You can never have too many tea rituals in your life!

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