Kate Freuler

3/5
We definitely need more books on the topic.

This book includes a disclaimer for many things, most importantly to not use any of this in lieu of professional help. It also includes a section for recommended reading and a (quite small) bibliography.

I haven't read many books like this. None with this depth, most barely touch on shadow work/dark magic and are mostly on the love and light side. Balance is so necessary and I feel like there's a lot of fluff. This book isn't without it's own show more issues that are seen in many other books (including the love & light ones).

"If you're reading this book, chances are you're familiar with casting a circle prior to rituals or spells". This assumption is based on Wicca and goes on to explain that you cast a circle to keep yourself safe while working with the dark moon energies. But very rarely does Wicca touch on shadow work as the Three Fold Law clashes heavily with it. It's a big reason as to why practitioners leave. I believe Freuler is in the same boat, saying: "I started off with the rule of three and harm none ever-present in my mind, believing that everything I sent out through magick would return threefold. However, over time, as I got older . . ., I started to see that things were not so simple, that it was not all fairy dust and white light in magick, life, or nature." (page 2, Introduction). She also ends spells with "So mote it be." That's textbook Wicca, and that's normal reasoning for distancing yourself. But when your current practice takes from what you know (Wicca), you should just come out and say it. You're Wiccan or ex-Wiccan and how it frames your current work. Circle casting isn't necessary in folk magic or other practices. It's like assuming you know how a Catholic Mass works because you've spent time in America.

I'll say this loudly: Wiccans are witches but not all witches are Wiccan.

So yes, it's important to know if you're following folk witchcraft, Wiccan witchcraft, or any other way. That ends my rant on witchcraft books turning into a hidden book about Wicca. Nothing against Wicca, just against lack of transparency.

I found it interesting to read about "destructive forms" of elements. I never thought about it like that.

The small bibliography gives me pause. There's a whole section on poppets or "voodoo dolls" but lacks the mention of its importance to specific practices and whether or not they're closed. There's zero mention anywhere of closed practices. Wicca is heavily reliant on do whatever you want! pick and choose whatever you like! And that's caused a lot of cultural appropriation, so it's nice have books address that. This one does not.

If you make your own spells, you won't like this. There's a lot. They include the chants and ingredients and there's plenty of them. I appreciate that and obviously your own created spells are better, but you have to start somewhere.

There's a lot of information here. I liked the section on menstrual blood and a slight little history of how it was honoured and also demonized. The section about cleaning bones was weird when it said to pick, file, and peel and pry them to clean everything off. Do we really want to file down bones? Are we wearing proper PPE? I don't want bone shavings/dust/particles in my nose and lungs. But are we respecting the spirit, the animal, the being by treating it like this? I don't clean bones, but I have family who do and they've happily let nature takes its course to clean it or used beetles and haven't needed to peel, pry, pick, or file anything. Maybe it's for smaller animals? I don't know. I wouldn't handle them like that so it was weird to me.

I do believe Freuler is passionate about balance and isn't afraid to work in the dark. I admire that. I respect the topic and the need for books on this topic. I didn't really like her voice, it came off like any other book, I suppose it lacked character. But I'm glad this book exists. I hope it leads people to find similar books, while also be mindful of a Wiccan slant and of closed practices.

I would buy this, but it's also a great library book.

June 5, 2024 show less