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I don't know about you, but I have not felt like I have been able to catch a break in 2026. It has been one thing after another, which has meant my blog and reading have been put on the back burner. I haven't felt like reading, writing, or even practicing because I simply have no energy left to give. I know this is all part of the plot, especially if you live in the United States. The strategy is to overwhelm us to the point where we feel so exhausted that we give up fighting. Despite how exhausted I am, fighting politically has not taken the back burner, and I will continue to stay informed, show up, and do what is necessary to protect my community. Unsurprisingly, witchcraft is a great resource to rely on during trying times, as it has historically been used by oppressed peoples to fight against their oppressors.
A couple of months ago, Crossed Crow Books reached out to see if I was interested in reviewing any of their recent titles. I could not pass up the opportunity to read and review Polish Folk Magic: Ancestral Lore & Traditions of the West Slavs by Joanna Tarnawska, and I am so thankful I didn't. Tarnawska is a Polish native and folk practitioner, giving her the true inside scoop on Polish folk magic without the outsider's perspective.
Polish Folk Magic opens with a brief introduction explaining who and what the book is for. First and foremost, Tarnawska is honest that she is just scratching the surface of Polish folk magic, as traditions and stories vary by region and culture. She notes that her book is heavily sourced and encourages the reader to turn to these primary sources to learn more. Finally, she makes it known that Polish Folk Magic is for the Slavic/Polish diaspora and those interested in appreciating the Slavic/Polish culture. My heart sang with joy when I read the final introductory paragraph.
Many of us here in the United States and abroad in other colonized nations are searching desperately for cultural and ancestral roots that have been stripped away from us due to assimilation, loss of records, and time. If you spend any time on Threads, you will routinely see Europeans making fun of Americans trying to connect with our ancestral roots without realizing the sense of loss so many of us feel. We are living on stolen land with little to no connection to our ancestors, leaving a gaping hole in our sense of community and connection. Many of our ancestors immigrated out of necessity, to escape famine, war, and poverty, only to end up right back in those situations when they landed on foreign soil. They were relegated to slums, stripped of their valuables, denied access to certain jobs and places of business, and often forced to assimilate by changing their names, hiding their culture, and disguising their accents. This resulted in fragmented family histories, stripped of culture and heritage. Tarnawska recognizes that those who belong to the Slavic diaspora are seeking connection, and attempts to begin filling that void with her work. We need more books like Polish Folk Magic, written by those who are currently living and breathing the unbroken traditions of our homelands, so that those of us seeking connection can find our way home.
As mentioned earlier, Tarnawska takes an academic approach to Polish folk magic, while still remaining accessible. This is not your traditional how-to book, focusing primarily on laying the foundation of what Polish folk magic is, how it works, and tracing the history of the practices. This makes Polish Folk Magic a one-of-a-kind primer to understanding the Polish folk magic tradition, acting as a jumping point for those of us outside of current culture. Tarnawska covers everything from history, traditions, and folklore to types of magic, spells, spirits, and holidays. Throughout, Tarnawska offers personal insights into her practice and those of nearby regions, making sure to remind us that she is not able to cover everything within the scope of this book. However, Tarnawska still creates an excellent introduction that left me with plenty of ideas on where to start tracing my own Swedish and Scottish roots. And that is one of the great things about Tarnawska's work; you don't have to be Polish or Slavic or of that diaspora to find value in her work. In fact, much of the folklore Tarnawska discusses overlaps heavily with other cultures in the region, helping to set the stage for your future research.
Apart from offering one of the best introductory books I have ever read, Tarnawska also makes important connections between what our ancestors did and how we can use it in our modern world. Just as our ancestors fought against famine and uncertainty, so do we. While most of us are no longer living an agrarian life, that doesn't mean the earth's cycles don't pertain to us. On top of this, the threats they faced are the same we face today, just on a larger scale. Tarnawska encourages the readers to apply the foundations she lays to fighting climate change, tyrannical governments, capitalism, and other diseases of our modern world. I wish she had expanded on this a bit more, but I hope she will write more in the future.
Overall, I cannot give Polish Folk Magic: Ancestral Lore & Traditions of the West Slavs by Joanna Tarnawska enough praise. If you are of the Salvic diaspora or not, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy if you are trying to reconnect with your ancestral roots and decolonize your practice. The approach Tarnawska takes is one that you can easily apply to any country/culture/heritage, and her work offers valuable insight into understanding where much of the folk practices in the United States originates from.
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