great video!!!✨ but could you do one for more advanced witches? like for the ones who are just done with the basics and would like to deepen their knowledge but don't know where to go 🙏🙏
@@TheWitchOfWonderlust thank you Olivia!!! My practice is a lot like yours. More to the "darker" side and it's a struggle to find books for the path I am on. If you know of any others please let me know! Or add in the next video. I plan on buying Of Blood And Bones soon once I save enough money❣
Yes please, it is very hard to find good stuff once you've been practicing for a while, every book feels the same and feels superficial and it feels like you aren't getting anything out of it. I liked other intermediate-advanced books Olivia has mentioned in her channel, like Planetary Magick, since I've been practicing planetary magick for a while and even considering myself intermediate in planetary magick this books has taught me new stuff, but it's so rare to find a book like this for intermediate witches, even though if you type witch on Amazon search hundreds and hundreds of the same basic books appear 😪
Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn is also amazing for beginners! It gives you the strongest foundation while also supplying exercises so you can start practicing what you're reading about right away.
I found "Scottish Witchcraft " to be helpful to me. It helped in my understanding of my making a journal for my spells and how Scottish people held on to ancient beliefs before Christianity.
Thank you!! I've gotten so much out of the books you have recommended in the past, looking forward to adding more to my list! I never saw myself as a dark magic person before reading Of Blood and Bones, but now I understand when and why it is used. The funeral section is lovely, and helping me find peace now that my grandfather is in hospice care. Thank you for sharing your experience 😊
I’m so happy you’ve found value in the previous book recommendations! And *yes* that’s exactly why the dark pieces of the craft is important. There is absolutely a time and place for both sides of the coin.
Me too I’ve recently discovered this path and it really speaks to me. I use to be so I tune with spirits and energy just naturally but have lost it over the past couple of years so need to get back there
I’m so excited! I think (might be wrong) that this is the first video of 2022 and I’ll take this chance to wish everyone a very happy new year and I hope yall have an amazing 2022
Thank you, always been interested in witchcraft. But it's not until now I feel ready to explore this world. This video giving me some ideas on where to start.
It's really awesome that those who have the convenience of time to read books and then, share it with an audience, because not all of us have that convenience of time, with busy lives and all. I have the time to read as well, and am thinking of releasing one of my own.. More like a guide really. I am just in the wrong location for that to happen. Thanks, Olivia! Have a great 2022! Blessed Be and May the Force be with You.
What about “Self-Initiation for the Solitary Witch, attaining higher spirituality through a five-degree system”? Basically I loved the book because it’s like a workbook for those that want to go through the levels to become an Ancestor Witch. I can send you a digital version for you to read if you’d like.
i've personally done a cord cutting ritual and i have to say i felt it worked, it felt freeing. i had to start over but was able to finish it and i felt empowered. never thought that i was capable or able to do magick
Gahhh! Where were you when I naively bought The Green Witch 🤦♀️ ...you nailed it! I’m currently reading The Crooked Path (mentioned by you, I’m sure). I love it! 👍
Thank you for this!! Beginner (and new sub) here looking to learn and I was wondering if there was a book list!! Thank you and your channel has been great so far!! It truly helps not to be overwhelmed by taking in small doses at a time!! I love how you simplify it to be your own practice! 💕
“The Green Witch”, and a number of other books like it, become popular because they are at big box retailers and they have pretty covers. They appeal to the “witchy aesthetic” consumer who doesn’t really practice.
Exactly, I'm guilty here! Haha! Personally, I (got) and enjoyed this book because I'm into herbology and it added a little bit of magick to my knowledge and made me open my eyes on small things I always ignored. I'm not that much into witchcraft and I feel I would be overwhelmed even by the most beginner book advised in this video. I guess different lifestyles, different needs. Nevertheless I like listening to other people experiences. :)
Same here! I have all three of the books. Are the criticism about them valid? Sure, I can agree with that. I still like mine however. I like herbalism and I have my crystal collection but I’ll be the first to admit that my idea of witchcraft only brushes the thinnest layer of the surface. Will I dive deeper someday? Maybe. But as a mom of two under 3 years old I definitely don’t have time at this stage of my life lol. Right now these books help add a little magic to my daily routines and I like them for that alone.
I have a love hate relationship with the green witch. I read it and it made me realize that I wanted to pursue green witchcraft, but I certainly didn't "learn" anything from it. You're correct. For me it was a tool that made me go down the rabbit hole of green witchcraft, but that was about it.
That's how I feel about it. It was a good intro when I started because it gently tells you a little bit of everything, but when I finished the book I had the impression that I couldn't do anything with it, that I had read about a lot of topics, but had no real knowledge about any of them. However, I don't regret reading it because I jumped from there into other very good beginner books (Psychic Witch, for instance) knowing a few basic ideas and being able to build up on them.
Great video! I'm by no means a beginner, but it's always great and refreshing to dive into a good, well-written book and revisit the basics over and over, through different authors with their own different angle. Thanks for the recommendations, I noted 3 of them!
i'd add Jason Miller's Sorcerer's Secrets, and Protection Magic books, Aidan Wachter's Six Ways, Draja Mikharic's Spiritual Cleansing, and maybe some glances at Quareia's online teaching material for inspiration... also an out-of-print book if you can find it: Chaos Ritual by Steve Wilson if you really want to free-form the whole thing
This is a very helpful list and I like how you tried to cover different aspects of witchcraft too. Tarot are though absent from here so I have to suggest Tina Gong's book -both aesthetically pleasing and summing up all the things one needs to know about individual cards but also cards in groups. I will have to disagree with Temperance's book though and it'd be good for others to know as well that she apparently dismisses climate change, denounces the pill without consideration of other people's circumstances, and talks about menstruation and hormones in a very gender essentialist way...
I like candle magic a lot and spell bags. I admittedly have not experimented with poppets or knot magic, but really interested in examining those things further.
That's how I felt about Greenwich too. That was my first one. I was like I feel like I don't know anything really and I am not excited about anything. 100% right on that. Thanks I loved this
I totally agree on the Green Witch book. I was so looking forward to it, since it seemed so popular and it was a struggle to get through and at the end I just felt like I wasted my time. I really didnt learn a thing from it (and I focus on green and Kitchen witchery too!) After that book I dont even look at any similar to it.
Thank you so much for this! Those last couple of books I have been tempted to buy, but now I am like... HUH. I want depth and meaning not junk. Good Job! As a beginner I need all the help I can get!
The most useful book I've read as an intermediate witch has been The Herbal Alchemist's Handbook: A Complete Guide to Magickal Herbs and How to Use Them by Karen Harrison. It goes into planetary associations for herbs and explains to you what kinds of workings benefit from herbs of a certain planet, and gives you examples on mixing herbs from different planets for a specific result. Karen also teaches you to create custom formulas based on astrology and numerology, and she explains how to make incense, oils, potpourri and other preparations. I work heavily with herbs and this book taught me all the things the other books that listed herbs or herbal magick or heck, green magick didn't explain to me. It even talks about the elements and moon phases briefly. I think any beginner interested in working with herbs should consider adding this to their collection
at the beginning of my journey the green witch and the house witch books made me think i didnt like reading witchy books and that i could only learn from apprenticeships but then i realized they’re just boring books lmao
for me the modern guide of witchcraft book wasn't great but gave me enough information so I understand more advanced books easier bc it had a lot of topics but nothing in depth
Love these recommendations! I used to have the Modern Witchcraft spellbook but gave it away. I did a spell from it that worked, but backfired and bit me in the ass, so... Yeah, I should have trusted my intuition and not performed it even though the book didn't mention what could happen, but at least I learned my lesson 😅
First of all hi my name is and know if I have any knowledge of witch craft herbs,candles,stone ? My birthday is April 30,my favorite color is blue favorite pastime is night time and when am I incompatible with doing the months and planets
What's your opinion on A Witches Guide to Spellcraft by Althea Sebatiani (sp?)? It seems good for beginning witches with hands-on energy and spell exercises. And my personal favourite thing: ✨NO journalling✨ (I have an irrational dislike of witchcraft books & then it's just 30 journalling exercises.)
Dear Olivia 💐💞 lots of love too you thank you so much you provide so much insight too us really forward to look you do more spells the way of doing it right also can you cover the topic working with dieties like santisima Muerte thankyou so much ❤️for all you do
In a previous video I remember you really liked Psychic Witch as a great book for beginners ... did you change your mind or did it just not make the cut?
I have to agree with your do not recommend. Skye Alexander also wrote some pretty problematic stuff in the only one of those books I read. Green witch felt so watered down
Do you have any recs for giving to loved ones who aren't involved in witchcraft but want to understand it? Not because they want to practise or get involved, just because they want to understand it beyond what they've seen in pop culture
For a simple and helpful magic practice, I have also appreciated a mini e-tutorial written by Regina del Graal. Check on yt: " Easy magic for modern witches, fairies and wizards"
Re: Horse Magick listing the *reasons* why ingredients are included in the spells -- I agree that this is absolutely required and it frustrates me to no end that so few tictoc videos/youtube videos/pinterest entries just list ingredients but not why. The whole purpose is to channel your intent and if you don't know why you're using this herb or that candle, how focused can your intent actually be?
A bit unrelated, but Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn has become so popular that I've seen the Chinese translation advertised here in HK, and I recently met a witch here who was reading it. Glad to see good info really getting out there. Also thanks for the recommendations Olivia! Life Ritualized sounds like something I could use.
'Heal the witch wound' was an amazing book for me as a beginner witch as a starting point. I listened to it as an audiobook and it really helped me work through the fears and reservations I had about the topic of witchcraft and spirituality. Especially for those who feel a little worried or anxious about starting their journey, especially in regards to religious fears and superstitions, I can truly recommend this book. It feels like a warm soothing introduction and I loved it a lot.
American Brujeria by J. Allen cross was one of my first witchcraft books. I listened to the audio book & then later purchased a hard copy. As a latina, I loved it & felt immediately connected to it. But as someone interested in & curious about witchcraft, it explained basic principles & left me wanting to know as much as possible.
Haha, I picked up the Green Witch at an Amazon bookshop out of curiosity I remember reading it for a second and then putting it down and never picking it up again. It felt more like an unserious book. I think also there is a market for witchcraft books that are very, overly mainstream (as in they exist to pad a chain bookshop as like a quirky thing for a store to have but would not contain much else from there). I think as I'm someone who has always had an interest in occult from a literary, non-fiction/historical, and in some parts a philosophical way, these kinds of books always seem to exist to appease people who would see it as something of a curio like how people who have valuable relics in their house just for show not to actually understand their significance.
Definitely gunna be picking up “Horse Magick”, I’ve been a witch for 3 years yet I still very much am I baby witch, ADHD has really made the road to Witchcraft very difficult. I’m always asking myself WHY I need to ingredients I do when I read them in my spell books, so to see that there is one that does that will really help me understand and permanently keep that knowledge, thank you!
Love the veil! Love the list. Green Witch was one of my first books and thought that was hard to wrap my head around at that time. I now have a book in hand or audio one going all the time. Glad I missed the "modern" series 😁 but I've picked up my share of what-not-to-read books. There is a learning curve to recognizing books that are worthy of the money/time spent. I use Scribd to preview books... now... 🙄 I then get physical copies to keep notes in/on. I appreciate all you do for our community's education and am looking forward to the intermediate/advanced list. Thank you 😊 💓
Second Scribd. It’s AMAZING since 1) I have like $1000 of books tagged on there so it’s saving me a lot 2) I can “test run” a lot of books before/if I want to get hard copies and 3) I’m an “in the closet” baby witch so I have many esoteric books that I would like to keep more discreet when friends/family visit are now digital.
Although I've been a witch for 5 years I'm only now beggining to look into more "dark" magick, like banishing, shadow work, spirit work and etc and I'll definetely give Of Blood and Bones a read 😁 Update: I just finished it and this book is amazing. Idk if I'd recommend it for beginners because the author does assume that you already know some stuff, like how to cast a circle, what is moon water, how to meditate, but I like it how she integrates a theoretical and practical parts in the same chapter, and although I'm into ceremonial magick I liked how simple the spells are. Thanks for the recommendation Olivia :)
Loved your mention on "Fluffy Fake Smile" lol....Im still puzzled as to why so many have this auto labeling of good vs evil light vs dark concepts ..you miss out on so much if neglect one side or the other...As a beginner book I also found ( not in its entirety) to be a GREAT foundation builder was Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Chris Penczak
Great collection here! I would like to add two books to this list. Although not necessarily absolute beginner-friendly, they made me change the way I viewed my craft and my path a lot as I read them. The first one is Weave the Liminal by Laura Tempe Zakroff and the second one is Six Ways by Aidan Wacther. Both are very theoretical, insightful and open-ended enough to help you on your way without lecturing you on how things "should be". I can't wait for a book recommendation list for more advanced practitioners!
I enjoyed the House witch book, (the one that goes with green witch that you spoke of not liking). I liked them because they made the practices seem obtainable, and like something I could connect with. But I definitely viewed them as beginer books. Like a kind introduction. But I could see how they could be lacking or not the best. Thanks for the other book reccomendations
1:52 the year of the witch- I like this… it always felt like something I wanted to go deeper with and figure out how to personalize 4:57 spells for change. I like it 5:27 urban magic!!! Yessss so needed! Lol. Even if you do live in a rural area it’s good to understand that it’s not the ONLY way to witch 7:04 life ritualized. This feels relatable 8:31 bad ass ancestors- also seems very useful to me 8:52 horse magic- intriguing 11:09 element magic series- I really want to delve deeper into elements than the basics, so I like this 12:52 of blood and bones- I definitely want this on my shelf 15:43 hands on chaos magic- very interested in this as well
I agree with you that The Green Witch and Modern Witchcraft books are too surface level to be useful in the long run, BUT they are a good stepping stone if you are new and just want to know what witchcraft is about. You get a little bit of everything without going in-depth into any topics, so at least when you hear people talking about circles, about the moon, about tools, about energy work, you have a point of reference. That being said, I would recommend Psychic Witch and Mastering Magick to any newbie.
Wow as a beginner I bought the Green Witch book and I thought I was weird for not being able to get through it. So many different people like that book, but I found It was really wordy and presenting simple concepts in a more complicated way, even some that I had already studied. I’m glad to hear that it wasn’t a me problem, for a while I thought I was kinda stupid or too unfocused to get through it.
I don't know how I found this or how I ended up here I'm glad I did though 🙌🏾As a woman of colour my ancestors worked in what would be called 'dark magic' I personally love it, resonate with it and honour dark female deities of my indigenous background. I'd be a 'bad witch' to these modern 'love and light' fluffy witches, darker magic is not bad you're right, but it is certainly more powerful, and not about harmful things to others either there's more to it, you are right with everything you said. I appreciate the Blood and Bones book I'm buying it now 😝. I think I'll stick around for the advance book recommendations 🎯
I would love to soo much to learn about that kind of magic, the magic that nowadays it is considered "dark magic" although for no apparent reason. I am greek and not a person of colour but I would really love to just read and learn, I am not ingnorant so I don't want to do a anything that is closed practise or to be disrespectful to any one.
@@eygeniamark1198 just read and learn if you're interested in the magic associated with people of colour or even Arabic witches too. The only tip I would give is go to the right sources if on UA-cam watching videos learn from witches of African or Arabic descent you're more likely to learn correctly. I wish you well and bring Greek is no problem as long as you're respectful 👍🏽
Omg I was expecting Greenwitch to be rich and deep and all about nature and its energy. It was sooooo boring and honestly terrible. It was like a red wine with too many tannins. It felt like I took the time to read something that should have been enjoyable and instead I just licked leather. That's the best way I can describe my experience 🤷♀️😄
Maybe we started off on the wrong foot let's try this again, your hard work and dedication on hone your dancing in esoterical endeavors I apologize if I was rude brash or just a plain d head to you I hope next time you're in Naples you at least say hi and not just look at me with them Big Bright beautiful eyes much love sweetheart ☝️🌞🤘🖤🤍
hmph, i was wondering if it was just me or if the green witch and modern witchcraft books were a little... er, stale? like they all said basically the same bullshit, and i basically only read them as a sort of "haha funny words on a screen to keep my brain busy" kinda thing. glad to know i wasn't the only guy sitting in a corner with a question mark over my head. other than that, i'll *definitely* be sinking some money into these recommended books when i get the chance to, just the _covers_ look so nice!!
The Crooked Path is one of my favorite books to recommend. It has SO MUCH knowledge packed inside! I also really appreciated the 'lessons' at the end of each topic - great for beginner folk practitioners!
Is it hands on? Asking 'cause I can't get anywhere with witch books that require journalling. I just wanna do the magic--I'll do shadow work and introspection on my own time.
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I’m NOT new in the slightest. This and Of Blood and Bone and the Sex Witch. All three can be for people of ALL stages in witchcraft. So PACKED full of Info!
This is an awesome list! One of my personal favorite beginner books is Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak. It was a great intro for me and extremely helpful for getting in touch with the psychic side of The Craft. There are a lot of parallels between it and Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn.
Is Intuitive Witchcraft hands on? I can't handle books with "journalling exercises" all over--I'll deal with introspection and shadow work on my own time.
@@MistressOfWhispers It is a mix of rituals, meditations, and journaling exercises. I really liked the content of the book and I did not do all of the journaling exercises but I did most of them.
I am so jealous of your friends really. Can I be a distance friend? I’m about to do my money bowl. I’m so excited about it. I’m from Ghana and here witchcraft is an abomination. Anything that is not in the “Christian Bible” is an abomination and it becomes difficult for some of us to even talk about. And you don’t even get the stuffs here. I just love how in tuned I am becoming with my inner self. I’m not really a witch but I’m sure I will be. I love your videos
I agree with the philosophy of "keep what works/leave what doesn't", except of course when it comes to books/practices which are appropriative, problematic, or hurtful. I want you to know I love your content, and I hope this comment (which disagrees with one of the recommendations for specific reasons) doesn't inhibit my access to your content. I support you and what you do, especially as someone who understands that not everything is or should be 100% "love and light" in modern witchcraft. I just have a different opinion about one of the books, which I'll explain now. I'm a little afraid to say this, because she's your friend... but I have to be honest about my feelings about the very first book. For me, "Year Of The Witch" was one of those books. I wanted to love it, but it had sections which denied humans' effect on climate change, shamed the use of pharmaceutical medicine, and were trans-exclusionary. As a non-binary person who shares their witchy library/materials with their fiancé who is trans, and as a person who both needs to use pharmaceutical medicine and has loved ones who need it as well... I can't allow that kind of harmful energy in my life. If a book hurts me while I read it, I can't keep it. I had to return WOTY (and two other witch books) for that reason. I am still on the lookout for a good book about the wheel, and adapting it to one's own practice, that doesn't have such a negative impact with/for me. On the other hand, I'm super excited to eventually read Frankie's book when it's released! (I've considered ordering the overseas version, but i might not be able to.) Since they are also non-binary, I hope that their book will be more relatable for me. I'm 34 (almost 35) but had to "live in the broom closet" and suppress my witchy practice for at least 15+ years, so that's why I'm still so interested in beginner-type/foundational-level books and information. Frankie has said that they wrote "Spells For Change" with the beginner practitioner in mind, so I am hopeful it'll be useful for me. All of that said, I'm (again) really excited to purchase Frankie's book, and also look into the other books you discussed. Thank you for posting this, and for what you do as such a wonderfully multi-faceted creator and practitioner. I do have recommendations for books that are good for all levels of practitioners, but I'm not sure if I should mention them now especially since this comment is so long.
In the "For me..." sentence in my second paragraph, I meant that (as I went on to explain) YOTW was one of those books which I found to be very problematic and hurtful. (I had to note this, as that sentence was a little incomplete upon rereading my comment.)
I'm also ISO a book that is like a compendium of correspondences. I've looked into the Llewellyn one but it seems to be incomplete and have some inaccuracies.
I asked some of my non-binary and trans friends who’ve read the book, and they all say they they didn’t read it as exclusive, so I suppose that’s up to the readers perspective. Further, the climate change live you’re referring to is stating a single theory. I think it’d be a waste to throw away a whole book off of pieces that seem like a reach to me.
@@TheWitchOfWonderlust I'm genuinely glad that none of your non-binary/trans friends were bothered by the book's content. Yes, as you said, it's certainly up to each reader's own perspective on whether they are or aren't phased by the book's content. However, I'm neither the first person nor the only person who noticed the problematic sections I'm referring to. Temperance pretty clearly equates menstruation to cisgender womanhood by stating that women menstruate and men don't, which is trans-exclusionary or at the very least untrue and harmful (at least in reference to non-binary people and trans men). There are also many other reasons for amenorrhea, including (but not limited to) a person being intersex (and, although some intersex people do menstruate, they may not necessarily identify as female.). She also discussed her own experience with being on her pharmaceutical birth control, and how she grew closer to the cycles of nature when she went off of it because it "stunted her natural magick". This suggests that man-made/pharmaceutical medications in general (meaning, whether they're birth control or not) decrease your magickal connection/ability and/or your [magickal] connection to nature, which isn't true. It may have been the best option for her, but witches should not have to feel like they need to choose between their magick and their medication, because we can have both. In fact, some of us feel better when we are taking medication (whether it be birth control, anti-depressant/anti-anxiety type meds, pain meds, thyroid meds, or something else), and feeling better will give us more energy to invest time in our magickal practice. For my part, pharmaceutical medications (not just limited to my prescription for GERD) would certainly help me have more energy and be in less pain so that I could more actively practice my magick like I'd like to. She only mentions the one climate change theory at length. The Milankovitch cycle covers natural climate change, which does exist, but does not account for anthropogenic climate change... which also exists and is a major problem. I didn't even mention her references to parts of Judaism which are "closed practice", but there's also that as well. I understand that you disagree with what I said about the book, but I don't think it's fair to just brush me off and say I was reaching. All I did was state a few reasons why I personally didn't keep the book. I didn't say it was necessarily a bad book, just that it wasn't good **for me** (which I emphasized several times). I acknowledge that I was probably verbose, and I guess have been in this comment as well, but I didn't cast aspersions on anyone as an individual. I didn't say anything bad about Temperance at all, or anything bad about you or your other recommendations. I just thought it would be fair to mention how I felt about the book, and a few of the reasons why I felt it was lacking, so that there could be a more open conversation about it. I would even be willing to learn more about Temperance's other content. I just did not like the book, and wished I could find a different book about that topic, but I didn't end my comment there. In fact, the whole second half of my comment was about my excitement for Frankie's book (or Chaotic Witch Aunt rather, I suppose), my eagerness to do more research into your other recommendations, and complimenting/thanking you for what you do in general. Even though I'm a little bit older, I have gained a lot of knowledge and inspiration from you and what you do, and that was the more important part of my comment. Honestly, I just wanted to lend my experience to the discussion, and not be disingenuous about my experience as a reader. Would it have been better if I hadn't commented at all?
@@bonnieequality I think your criticism is very valid and well-phrased. I agree with all the points you made. It's just not a good book imo. And on top of the terfy rhetoric and sketchy climate change part (which I believe Temperance Alden has rectified in a podcast episode somewhere) it's rather poorly edited. It's strange to see the public hype around this book among many content creators, while most people who I engage with privately had their issues with the text. Obviously, liking or disliking a book is a very subjective experience (as mentioned above) but in this case I find it astounding that I have yet to encounter someone from the "online witchcraft community" publicly addressing some of the aforementioned criticisms. And I do not appreciate the way critique is brushed off with a "you have clearly not read the book" or "my trans friends say it's ok" (which is pretty much in the same vein as a white person being criticized for racist behaviour and saying "well my Black friend doesn't think it's racist"). Honestly, in what kind of chokehold does Temperance Alden have everyone lol. Jokes aside, I would love to see more critical engagement with the work of peers. I have enjoyed Temperance Aldens content online and I would never advise anyone NOT to read Year of the Witch but it has its obvious flaws and I think that can be discussed fairly. We're promoting critical reading skills left and right but when it comes to peers I feel there is a lot of hesitancy or what sometimes even seems like an outright refusal to engage critically. I can like a person and still see the flaws in their work. This is not something addressed solely to Olivia (you love the book and that's completely valid) but rather a general sentiment I wanted to express (and also in support of Bonnie being so vulnerable with their critique haha). That being said - I enjoyed the video very much and would add Six Ways by Aidan Wachter!! My absolute fave.
Hey community, i have a question that I hope you can enlighten me about. So my grandpa, born 1900, and native decent, used to have a babyfood jar next to a picture of the Good Samaritan (guy on a horse)...possibly St. Martin Caballero. Anyways, he would put water in the jar and it would rain 3 days later. He once explained that if you water the horse, he would bring the rain. Also my grandma could call the winds, by saying something like ... Golden Whiskers, but in Spanish. Has anyone heard of these? And do you think it could be a combination of Native teaching mixed with some Christianity? Thank you
These are all such good recommendations! I’m glad you included books you wouldn’t recommend as well as those you do. They help serve as a measurement of what you value and don’t in the books you recommend. And I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who found one of them too fluffy!
Thank you for saying about the learning experience of "Making mistakes and making amess and learning to clean up that mess is part of the learning experience and once you make that mess I bet you anything you probably won't make it again. And I bet you anything you'll be really good about knowing how to clean that up". Having made my own mistakes in my practice I don't make those mistakes . It is important for up and comings to not be afraid to make mistakes. Thank you for saying this.
great video!!!✨ but could you do one for more advanced witches? like for the ones who are just done with the basics and would like to deepen their knowledge but don't know where to go 🙏🙏
I plan on it, and am putting that together at the moment! This is the first one I figured I'd come out with due to the mass amount of requests for it
@@TheWitchOfWonderlust thank you Olivia!!! My practice is a lot like yours. More to the "darker" side and it's a struggle to find books for the path I am on. If you know of any others please let me know! Or add in the next video. I plan on buying Of Blood And Bones soon once I save enough money❣
Thank you so much, Olivia! I was just about to ask the same thing, books and tips for intermediate practices ♥️
Yes pls. Also don’t add the witch’s path in that list. It sucks.
Yes please, it is very hard to find good stuff once you've been practicing for a while, every book feels the same and feels superficial and it feels like you aren't getting anything out of it. I liked other intermediate-advanced books Olivia has mentioned in her channel, like Planetary Magick, since I've been practicing planetary magick for a while and even considering myself intermediate in planetary magick this books has taught me new stuff, but it's so rare to find a book like this for intermediate witches, even though if you type witch on Amazon search hundreds and hundreds of the same basic books appear 😪
CRYING THAT MY BOOK IS IN HERE DON'T MIND ME
Oh hi frankie:)
Acknowledgment by your peers is pretty sweet.
Lol I love it when I see some of my fav UA-camrs watch the same UA-camrs as me
Just referenced Spells for Change for a healing ritual tonight, thank you for writing this book!
What's Desettling and Decentering The Craft about?
Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn is also amazing for beginners! It gives you the strongest foundation while also supplying exercises so you can start practicing what you're reading about right away.
She needed to make an advertisement for her friends... not to arm you with the REAL knowledge tho
Actually, Olivia did an entire video book review just on Psychic Witch. She loved it. You can see it in her book review playlist.
This was my witch bible at first. It has so much information and exercises .
I wish people would stop saying "right".
@@faya1969i’m beginner which book you suggest
I found "Scottish Witchcraft " to be helpful to me. It helped in my understanding of my making a journal for my spells and how Scottish people held on to ancient beliefs before Christianity.
the nerd in me is loving this video! i’ve been looking at book recs this week so this video is really timely. as always, thank you Olivia!
Thank you!! I've gotten so much out of the books you have recommended in the past, looking forward to adding more to my list! I never saw myself as a dark magic person before reading Of Blood and Bones, but now I understand when and why it is used. The funeral section is lovely, and helping me find peace now that my grandfather is in hospice care. Thank you for sharing your experience 😊
I’m so happy you’ve found value in the previous book recommendations! And *yes* that’s exactly why the dark pieces of the craft is important. There is absolutely a time and place for both sides of the coin.
I am deep in your 101 playlist thank you for making it! You’re very inspiring and beautifully magical. I hope we get to meet in this life 🖤
Me too I’ve recently discovered this path and it really speaks to me. I use to be so I tune with spirits and energy just naturally but have lost it over the past couple of years so need to get back there
I’m so excited! I think (might be wrong) that this is the first video of 2022 and I’ll take this chance to wish everyone a very happy new year and I hope yall have an amazing 2022
Thank you, always been interested in witchcraft. But it's not until now I feel ready to explore this world. This video giving me some ideas on where to start.
It's really awesome that those who have the convenience of time to read books and then, share it with an audience, because not all of us have that convenience of time, with busy lives and all.
I have the time to read as well, and am thinking of releasing one of my own.. More like a guide really.
I am just in the wrong location for that to happen.
Thanks, Olivia! Have a great 2022!
Blessed Be and May the Force be with You.
What about “Self-Initiation for the Solitary Witch, attaining higher spirituality through a five-degree system”? Basically I loved the book because it’s like a workbook for those that want to go through the levels to become an Ancestor Witch. I can send you a digital version for you to read if you’d like.
I would love s copy of this! Could you send it to me?
Do you still have this digital version?
Love a good ole beginner video!! You look great btw!!!💕💕
Thank you so much!!
i've personally done a cord cutting ritual and i have to say i felt it worked, it felt freeing. i had to start over but was able to finish it and i felt empowered. never thought that i was capable or able to do magick
I am about to embark upon my 1st cord cutting ceremony. Congratulations on yours !!
@@yellowdressbookstore6602 i believe in you
"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy" - Miss Frizzle
Gahhh! Where were you when I naively bought The Green Witch 🤦♀️ ...you nailed it!
I’m currently reading The Crooked Path (mentioned by you, I’m sure). I love it! 👍
Thank you for this!! Beginner (and new sub) here looking to learn and I was wondering if there was a book list!! Thank you and your channel has been great so far!! It truly helps not to be overwhelmed by taking in small doses at a time!! I love how you simplify it to be your own practice! 💕
“The Green Witch”, and a number of other books like it, become popular because they are at big box retailers and they have pretty covers. They appeal to the “witchy aesthetic” consumer who doesn’t really practice.
Exactly, I'm guilty here! Haha! Personally, I (got) and enjoyed this book because I'm into herbology and it added a little bit of magick to my knowledge and made me open my eyes on small things I always ignored. I'm not that much into witchcraft and I feel I would be overwhelmed even by the most beginner book advised in this video. I guess different lifestyles, different needs. Nevertheless I like listening to other people experiences. :)
Same here! I have all three of the books. Are the criticism about them valid? Sure, I can agree with that. I still like mine however. I like herbalism and I have my crystal collection but I’ll be the first to admit that my idea of witchcraft only brushes the thinnest layer of the surface. Will I dive deeper someday? Maybe. But as a mom of two under 3 years old I definitely don’t have time at this stage of my life lol. Right now these books help add a little magic to my daily routines and I like them for that alone.
I have a love hate relationship with the green witch. I read it and it made me realize that I wanted to pursue green witchcraft, but I certainly didn't "learn" anything from it. You're correct. For me it was a tool that made me go down the rabbit hole of green witchcraft, but that was about it.
That's how I feel about it. It was a good intro when I started because it gently tells you a little bit of everything, but when I finished the book I had the impression that I couldn't do anything with it, that I had read about a lot of topics, but had no real knowledge about any of them. However, I don't regret reading it because I jumped from there into other very good beginner books (Psychic Witch, for instance) knowing a few basic ideas and being able to build up on them.
Great video! I'm by no means a beginner, but it's always great and refreshing to dive into a good, well-written book and revisit the basics over and over, through different authors with their own different angle. Thanks for the recommendations, I noted 3 of them!
i'd add Jason Miller's Sorcerer's Secrets, and Protection Magic books, Aidan Wachter's Six Ways, Draja Mikharic's Spiritual Cleansing, and maybe some glances at Quareia's online teaching material for inspiration... also an out-of-print book if you can find it: Chaos Ritual by Steve Wilson if you really want to free-form the whole thing
This is a very helpful list and I like how you tried to cover different aspects of witchcraft too. Tarot are though absent from here so I have to suggest Tina Gong's book -both aesthetically pleasing and summing up all the things one needs to know about individual cards but also cards in groups.
I will have to disagree with Temperance's book though and it'd be good for others to know as well that she apparently dismisses climate change, denounces the pill without consideration of other people's circumstances, and talks about menstruation and hormones in a very gender essentialist way...
OOP so glad I read this comment before I got her book. Removing that from my reading list, adding Tina Gong's book
I like candle magic a lot and spell bags. I admittedly have not experimented with poppets or knot magic, but really interested in examining those things further.
Thank you for this :) really helpful will be getting a few of these . Appriciate the reminders about practicing and cleaning up ect
That's how I felt about Greenwich too. That was my first one. I was like I feel like I don't know anything really and I am not excited about anything. 100% right on that. Thanks I loved this
I totally agree on the Green Witch book. I was so looking forward to it, since it seemed so popular and it was a struggle to get through and at the end I just felt like I wasted my time. I really didnt learn a thing from it (and I focus on green and Kitchen witchery too!) After that book I dont even look at any similar to it.
I loved your video!! I'm making a list for the books I want right now!
Thank you so much for this! Those last couple of books I have been tempted to buy, but now I am like... HUH. I want depth and meaning not junk. Good Job! As a beginner I need all the help I can get!
An eclectic list. These all sound like worthwhile books.
Thanks for making this video for those who are just starting out. :)
Thanks for the book ideas. Always looking for new books to read.
I would suggest the crooked path and introduction to witchcraft. I got a greater understanding of the practice and I would recommend it
The most useful book I've read as an intermediate witch has been The Herbal Alchemist's Handbook: A Complete Guide to Magickal Herbs and How to Use Them by Karen Harrison. It goes into planetary associations for herbs and explains to you what kinds of workings benefit from herbs of a certain planet, and gives you examples on mixing herbs from different planets for a specific result. Karen also teaches you to create custom formulas based on astrology and numerology, and she explains how to make incense, oils, potpourri and other preparations. I work heavily with herbs and this book taught me all the things the other books that listed herbs or herbal magick or heck, green magick didn't explain to me. It even talks about the elements and moon phases briefly. I think any beginner interested in working with herbs should consider adding this to their collection
Hey Olivia! Thanks for the great video! 💖🌟💖
at the beginning of my journey the green witch and the house witch books made me think i didnt like reading witchy books and that i could only learn from apprenticeships but then i realized they’re just boring books lmao
Olivia, can you please talk More about the dark side of witchcraft?
for me the modern guide of witchcraft book wasn't great but gave me enough information so I understand more advanced books easier bc it had a lot of topics but nothing in depth
Love these recommendations!
I used to have the Modern Witchcraft spellbook but gave it away. I did a spell from it that worked, but backfired and bit me in the ass, so... Yeah, I should have trusted my intuition and not performed it even though the book didn't mention what could happen, but at least I learned my lesson 😅
Love this video. Thank you soo much. Never seen these books before 🥰 x
Thanks, wanting to find something that takes it from the basics.
Do crazy manifestations that you weren’t prepared for actually happen?
First of all hi my name is and know if I have any knowledge of witch craft herbs,candles,stone ? My birthday is April 30,my favorite color is blue favorite pastime is night time and when am I incompatible with doing the months and planets
Definitely purchasing Urban Magick
I agree with you on the green witch book, it let me down
Thanks so much!
Thank you so much 💜 Will you make a similar video for "not beginner anymore" witches?
super helpful will definitely checkout your recommendations...
What's your opinion on A Witches Guide to Spellcraft by Althea Sebatiani (sp?)? It seems good for beginning witches with hands-on energy and spell exercises. And my personal favourite thing: ✨NO journalling✨ (I have an irrational dislike of witchcraft books & then it's just 30 journalling exercises.)
Dear Olivia 💐💞 lots of love too you thank you so much you provide so much insight too us really forward to look you do more spells the way of doing it right also can you cover the topic working with dieties like santisima Muerte thankyou so much ❤️for all you do
How do i summon/communicate with my ancestors? And how do i raise my energy/vibrations?
I felt the same about the green witch. I got nothing from it I felt like. I just use it quick reference on some herbs 😂
Thank you for the recommendations! I am so sad that I had just bought green witch and now I dont even want to read it. 😞
Rebel Witch by Kelly Ann
You are so beautiful and mystic looking💜
well, some of these are being added to my wish list :D
Thank you for the reco! What do you mean under “craft on the dark side”?
I clicked the like button for the phrase "buttfuck nowhere"
In a previous video I remember you really liked Psychic Witch as a great book for beginners ... did you change your mind or did it just not make the cut?
I just forgot about it. A friend is borrowing it rn
Can you make a list in the comments on all the books?
Thank you.
I have to agree with your do not recommend. Skye Alexander also wrote some pretty problematic stuff in the only one of those books I read. Green witch felt so watered down
Do you have any recs for giving to loved ones who aren't involved in witchcraft but want to understand it? Not because they want to practise or get involved, just because they want to understand it beyond what they've seen in pop culture
These would be the same recs!
Meur Ras (thank you) I would say I am not a beginner, how ever there are a few here that I will add to my collection and will be helpfull
For a simple and helpful magic practice, I have also appreciated a mini e-tutorial written by Regina del Graal. Check on yt: " Easy magic for modern witches, fairies and wizards"
Re: Horse Magick listing the *reasons* why ingredients are included in the spells -- I agree that this is absolutely required and it frustrates me to no end that so few tictoc videos/youtube videos/pinterest entries just list ingredients but not why. The whole purpose is to channel your intent and if you don't know why you're using this herb or that candle, how focused can your intent actually be?
the Magical Crafting channel is really good about doing that, give her a try.
@@ThESkAnKiEsTfRaNkThAtEvErWaS my goodness, what a silly thing to say.
@@ThESkAnKiEsTfRaNkThAtEvErWaS I daresay I know better than you do.
I literally just bought Horse Magick for this reason. So excited!
Id love to see an advanced witchcraft book recommendations list at some point. Thanks a lot for your great videos
It's on the list;)
Facts
Honouring your ancestors by mallorie vaudiose is also a great book for people who are looking into ancestor veneration x
Yes! This is another I forgot to put in there.
A bit unrelated, but Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn has become so popular that I've seen the Chinese translation advertised here in HK, and I recently met a witch here who was reading it. Glad to see good info really getting out there. Also thanks for the recommendations Olivia! Life Ritualized sounds like something I could use.
Olivia did a review on that one a little while ago and raved about it, so I'm glad it's getting lots of love.
'Heal the witch wound' was an amazing book for me as a beginner witch as a starting point. I listened to it as an audiobook and it really helped me work through the fears and reservations I had about the topic of witchcraft and spirituality. Especially for those who feel a little worried or anxious about starting their journey, especially in regards to religious fears and superstitions, I can truly recommend this book. It feels like a warm soothing introduction and I loved it a lot.
Yesss thank you 🙏🙏glad I’m not the only one I will definitely check it out
American Brujeria by J. Allen cross was one of my first witchcraft books. I listened to the audio book & then later purchased a hard copy. As a latina, I loved it & felt immediately connected to it. But as someone interested in & curious about witchcraft, it explained basic principles & left me wanting to know as much as possible.
Haha, I picked up the Green Witch at an Amazon bookshop out of curiosity I remember reading it for a second and then putting it down and never picking it up again. It felt more like an unserious book. I think also there is a market for witchcraft books that are very, overly mainstream (as in they exist to pad a chain bookshop as like a quirky thing for a store to have but would not contain much else from there). I think as I'm someone who has always had an interest in occult from a literary, non-fiction/historical, and in some parts a philosophical way, these kinds of books always seem to exist to appease people who would see it as something of a curio like how people who have valuable relics in their house just for show not to actually understand their significance.
Definitely gunna be picking up “Horse Magick”, I’ve been a witch for 3 years yet I still very much am I baby witch, ADHD has really made the road to Witchcraft very difficult. I’m always asking myself WHY I need to ingredients I do when I read them in my spell books, so to see that there is one that does that will really help me understand and permanently keep that knowledge, thank you!
Love the veil! Love the list. Green Witch was one of my first books and thought that was hard to wrap my head around at that time. I now have a book in hand or audio one going all the time. Glad I missed the "modern" series 😁 but I've picked up my share of what-not-to-read books. There is a learning curve to recognizing books that are worthy of the money/time spent. I use Scribd to preview books... now... 🙄 I then get physical copies to keep notes in/on. I appreciate all you do for our community's education and am looking forward to the intermediate/advanced list. Thank you 😊 💓
Could you please list a few "not to read" books if you have time? I'm brand new, hence why I'm watching this video
Second Scribd. It’s AMAZING since 1) I have like $1000 of books tagged on there so it’s saving me a lot 2) I can “test run” a lot of books before/if I want to get hard copies and 3) I’m an “in the closet” baby witch so I have many esoteric books that I would like to keep more discreet when friends/family visit are now digital.
For Hispanic touch! : Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz!
Although I've been a witch for 5 years I'm only now beggining to look into more "dark" magick, like banishing, shadow work, spirit work and etc and I'll definetely give Of Blood and Bones a read 😁
Update: I just finished it and this book is amazing. Idk if I'd recommend it for beginners because the author does assume that you already know some stuff, like how to cast a circle, what is moon water, how to meditate, but I like it how she integrates a theoretical and practical parts in the same chapter, and although I'm into ceremonial magick I liked how simple the spells are. Thanks for the recommendation Olivia :)
Loved your mention on "Fluffy Fake Smile" lol....Im still puzzled as to why so many have this auto labeling of good vs evil light vs dark concepts ..you miss out on so much if neglect one side or the other...As a beginner book I also found ( not in its entirety) to be a GREAT foundation builder was Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Chris Penczak
Great collection here! I would like to add two books to this list. Although not necessarily absolute beginner-friendly, they made me change the way I viewed my craft and my path a lot as I read them. The first one is Weave the Liminal by Laura Tempe Zakroff and the second one is Six Ways by Aidan Wacther. Both are very theoretical, insightful and open-ended enough to help you on your way without lecturing you on how things "should be". I can't wait for a book recommendation list for more advanced practitioners!
I enjoyed the House witch book, (the one that goes with green witch that you spoke of not liking). I liked them because they made the practices seem obtainable, and like something I could connect with. But I definitely viewed them as beginer books. Like a kind introduction. But I could see how they could be lacking or not the best. Thanks for the other book reccomendations
1:52 the year of the witch- I like this… it always felt like something I wanted to go deeper with and figure out how to personalize
4:57 spells for change. I like it
5:27 urban magic!!! Yessss so needed! Lol. Even if you do live in a rural area it’s good to understand that it’s not the ONLY way to witch
7:04 life ritualized. This feels relatable
8:31 bad ass ancestors- also seems very useful to me
8:52 horse magic- intriguing
11:09 element magic series- I really want to delve deeper into elements than the basics, so I like this
12:52 of blood and bones- I definitely want this on my shelf
15:43 hands on chaos magic- very interested in this as well
I agree with you that The Green Witch and Modern Witchcraft books are too surface level to be useful in the long run, BUT they are a good stepping stone if you are new and just want to know what witchcraft is about. You get a little bit of everything without going in-depth into any topics, so at least when you hear people talking about circles, about the moon, about tools, about energy work, you have a point of reference.
That being said, I would recommend Psychic Witch and Mastering Magick to any newbie.
Highly recommend the Quareia for anyone getting into chaos magick! Totally free resource that is built to help any and all practitioners
Wow as a beginner I bought the Green Witch book and I thought I was weird for not being able to get through it. So many different people like that book, but I found It was really wordy and presenting simple concepts in a more complicated way, even some that I had already studied. I’m glad to hear that it wasn’t a me problem, for a while I thought I was kinda stupid or too unfocused to get through it.
I don't know how I found this or how I ended up here I'm glad I did though 🙌🏾As a woman of colour my ancestors worked in what would be called 'dark magic' I personally love it, resonate with it and honour dark female deities of my indigenous background. I'd be a 'bad witch' to these modern 'love and light' fluffy witches, darker magic is not bad you're right, but it is certainly more powerful, and not about harmful things to others either there's more to it, you are right with everything you said. I appreciate the Blood and Bones book I'm buying it now 😝. I think I'll stick around for the advance book recommendations 🎯
I would love to soo much to learn about that kind of magic, the magic that nowadays it is considered "dark magic" although for no apparent reason. I am greek and not a person of colour but I would really love to just read and learn, I am not ingnorant so I don't want to do a anything that is closed practise or to be disrespectful to any one.
@@eygeniamark1198 just read and learn if you're interested in the magic associated with people of colour or even Arabic witches too. The only tip I would give is go to the right sources if on UA-cam watching videos learn from witches of African or Arabic descent you're more likely to learn correctly. I wish you well and bring Greek is no problem as long as you're respectful 👍🏽
Omg I was expecting Greenwitch to be rich and deep and all about nature and its energy. It was sooooo boring and honestly terrible. It was like a red wine with too many tannins. It felt like I took the time to read something that should have been enjoyable and instead I just licked leather. That's the best way I can describe my experience 🤷♀️😄
Maybe we started off on the wrong foot let's try this again, your hard work and dedication on hone your dancing in esoterical endeavors I apologize if I was rude brash or just a plain d head to you I hope next time you're in Naples you at least say hi and not just look at me with them Big Bright beautiful eyes much love sweetheart ☝️🌞🤘🖤🤍
hmph, i was wondering if it was just me or if the green witch and modern witchcraft books were a little... er, stale? like they all said basically the same bullshit, and i basically only read them as a sort of "haha funny words on a screen to keep my brain busy" kinda thing. glad to know i wasn't the only guy sitting in a corner with a question mark over my head.
other than that, i'll *definitely* be sinking some money into these recommended books when i get the chance to, just the _covers_ look so nice!!
So the books you DID NOT recommend are the same two that Amazon kept trying to recommend me lol interesting
The Crooked Path is one of my favorite books to recommend. It has SO MUCH knowledge packed inside! I also really appreciated the 'lessons' at the end of each topic - great for beginner folk practitioners!
Is it hands on? Asking 'cause I can't get anywhere with witch books that require journalling. I just wanna do the magic--I'll do shadow work and introspection on my own time.
@@MistressOfWhispers some is yes
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I’m NOT new in the slightest. This and Of Blood and Bone and the Sex Witch. All three can be for people of ALL stages in witchcraft. So PACKED full of Info!
Oh! And the Candle Magick book by Mystic Dylan that she’s talked about! It’s SO amazing.
This is an awesome list! One of my personal favorite beginner books is Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak. It was a great intro for me and extremely helpful for getting in touch with the psychic side of The Craft. There are a lot of parallels between it and Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn.
That's so funny i agree with you on the green witch. I didn't finish it.
Two books I really liked as I am just starting out is Intuitive Witchcraft by Astrea Taylor and Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn.
i LOVE intuitive witchcraft no one talks about it
Is Intuitive Witchcraft hands on? I can't handle books with "journalling exercises" all over--I'll deal with introspection and shadow work on my own time.
@@MistressOfWhispers It is a mix of rituals, meditations, and journaling exercises. I really liked the content of the book and I did not do all of the journaling exercises but I did most of them.
I am so jealous of your friends really. Can I be a distance friend? I’m about to do my money bowl. I’m so excited about it. I’m from Ghana and here witchcraft is an abomination. Anything that is not in the “Christian Bible” is an abomination and it becomes difficult for some of us to even talk about. And you don’t even get the stuffs here. I just love how in tuned I am becoming with my inner self. I’m not really a witch but I’m sure I will be. I love your videos
I agree with the philosophy of "keep what works/leave what doesn't", except of course when it comes to books/practices which are appropriative, problematic, or hurtful. I want you to know I love your content, and I hope this comment (which disagrees with one of the recommendations for specific reasons) doesn't inhibit my access to your content. I support you and what you do, especially as someone who understands that not everything is or should be 100% "love and light" in modern witchcraft. I just have a different opinion about one of the books, which I'll explain now.
I'm a little afraid to say this, because she's your friend... but I have to be honest about my feelings about the very first book. For me, "Year Of The Witch" was one of those books. I wanted to love it, but it had sections which denied humans' effect on climate change, shamed the use of pharmaceutical medicine, and were trans-exclusionary. As a non-binary person who shares their witchy library/materials with their fiancé who is trans, and as a person who both needs to use pharmaceutical medicine and has loved ones who need it as well... I can't allow that kind of harmful energy in my life. If a book hurts me while I read it, I can't keep it. I had to return WOTY (and two other witch books) for that reason. I am still on the lookout for a good book about the wheel, and adapting it to one's own practice, that doesn't have such a negative impact with/for me.
On the other hand, I'm super excited to eventually read Frankie's book when it's released! (I've considered ordering the overseas version, but i might not be able to.) Since they are also non-binary, I hope that their book will be more relatable for me. I'm 34 (almost 35) but had to "live in the broom closet" and suppress my witchy practice for at least 15+ years, so that's why I'm still so interested in beginner-type/foundational-level books and information. Frankie has said that they wrote "Spells For Change" with the beginner practitioner in mind, so I am hopeful it'll be useful for me.
All of that said, I'm (again) really excited to purchase Frankie's book, and also look into the other books you discussed. Thank you for posting this, and for what you do as such a wonderfully multi-faceted creator and practitioner.
I do have recommendations for books that are good for all levels of practitioners, but I'm not sure if I should mention them now especially since this comment is so long.
In the "For me..." sentence in my second paragraph, I meant that (as I went on to explain) YOTW was one of those books which I found to be very problematic and hurtful. (I had to note this, as that sentence was a little incomplete upon rereading my comment.)
I'm also ISO a book that is like a compendium of correspondences. I've looked into the Llewellyn one but it seems to be incomplete and have some inaccuracies.
I asked some of my non-binary and trans friends who’ve read the book, and they all say they they didn’t read it as exclusive, so I suppose that’s up to the readers perspective. Further, the climate change live you’re referring to is stating a single theory. I think it’d be a waste to throw away a whole book off of pieces that seem like a reach to me.
@@TheWitchOfWonderlust I'm genuinely glad that none of your non-binary/trans friends were bothered by the book's content.
Yes, as you said, it's certainly up to each reader's own perspective on whether they are or aren't phased by the book's content. However, I'm neither the first person nor the only person who noticed the problematic sections I'm referring to. Temperance pretty clearly equates menstruation to cisgender womanhood by stating that women menstruate and men don't, which is trans-exclusionary or at the very least untrue and harmful (at least in reference to non-binary people and trans men). There are also many other reasons for amenorrhea, including (but not limited to) a person being intersex (and, although some intersex people do menstruate, they may not necessarily identify as female.).
She also discussed her own experience with being on her pharmaceutical birth control, and how she grew closer to the cycles of nature when she went off of it because it "stunted her natural magick". This suggests that man-made/pharmaceutical medications in general (meaning, whether they're birth control or not) decrease your magickal connection/ability and/or your [magickal] connection to nature, which isn't true. It may have been the best option for her, but witches should not have to feel like they need to choose between their magick and their medication, because we can have both. In fact, some of us feel better when we are taking medication (whether it be birth control, anti-depressant/anti-anxiety type meds, pain meds, thyroid meds, or something else), and feeling better will give us more energy to invest time in our magickal practice. For my part, pharmaceutical medications (not just limited to my prescription for GERD) would certainly help me have more energy and be in less pain so that I could more actively practice my magick like I'd like to.
She only mentions the one climate change theory at length. The Milankovitch cycle covers natural climate change, which does exist, but does not account for anthropogenic climate change... which also exists and is a major problem.
I didn't even mention her references to parts of Judaism which are "closed practice", but there's also that as well.
I understand that you disagree with what I said about the book, but I don't think it's fair to just brush me off and say I was reaching. All I did was state a few reasons why I personally didn't keep the book. I didn't say it was necessarily a bad book, just that it wasn't good **for me** (which I emphasized several times). I acknowledge that I was probably verbose, and I guess have been in this comment as well, but I didn't cast aspersions on anyone as an individual. I didn't say anything bad about Temperance at all, or anything bad about you or your other recommendations. I just thought it would be fair to mention how I felt about the book, and a few of the reasons why I felt it was lacking, so that there could be a more open conversation about it. I would even be willing to learn more about Temperance's other content. I just did not like the book, and wished I could find a different book about that topic, but I didn't end my comment there. In fact, the whole second half of my comment was about my excitement for Frankie's book (or Chaotic Witch Aunt rather, I suppose), my eagerness to do more research into your other recommendations, and complimenting/thanking you for what you do in general. Even though I'm a little bit older, I have gained a lot of knowledge and inspiration from you and what you do, and that was the more important part of my comment.
Honestly, I just wanted to lend my experience to the discussion, and not be disingenuous about my experience as a reader. Would it have been better if I hadn't commented at all?
@@bonnieequality I think your criticism is very valid and well-phrased. I agree with all the points you made. It's just not a good book imo. And on top of the terfy rhetoric and sketchy climate change part (which I believe Temperance Alden has rectified in a podcast episode somewhere) it's rather poorly edited. It's strange to see the public hype around this book among many content creators, while most people who I engage with privately had their issues with the text. Obviously, liking or disliking a book is a very subjective experience (as mentioned above) but in this case I find it astounding that I have yet to encounter someone from the "online witchcraft community" publicly addressing some of the aforementioned criticisms. And I do not appreciate the way critique is brushed off with a "you have clearly not read the book" or "my trans friends say it's ok" (which is pretty much in the same vein as a white person being criticized for racist behaviour and saying "well my Black friend doesn't think it's racist"). Honestly, in what kind of chokehold does Temperance Alden have everyone lol. Jokes aside, I would love to see more critical engagement with the work of peers. I have enjoyed Temperance Aldens content online and I would never advise anyone NOT to read Year of the Witch but it has its obvious flaws and I think that can be discussed fairly. We're promoting critical reading skills left and right but when it comes to peers I feel there is a lot of hesitancy or what sometimes even seems like an outright refusal to engage critically. I can like a person and still see the flaws in their work. This is not something addressed solely to Olivia (you love the book and that's completely valid) but rather a general sentiment I wanted to express (and also in support of Bonnie being so vulnerable with their critique haha). That being said - I enjoyed the video very much and would add Six Ways by Aidan Wachter!! My absolute fave.
It would be awesome if you could make a video about books/resources for intermediate witches
I would add anything written by Aidan Wachter and Jason Miller
does anyone have these books in pdf or something ? i can't buy them :/
i have some of them !
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Thanks for the video!
I’d recommend “Rebel Witch” by Kelly-Ann Maddox 🖤
Seconded, I loved having a book that emphasizes personalizing one's practice!
Hey community, i have a question that I hope you can enlighten me about. So my grandpa, born 1900, and native decent, used to have a babyfood jar next to a picture of the Good Samaritan (guy on a horse)...possibly St. Martin Caballero. Anyways, he would put water in the jar and it would rain 3 days later. He once explained that if you water the horse, he would bring the rain. Also my grandma could call the winds, by saying something like ... Golden Whiskers, but in Spanish. Has anyone heard of these? And do you think it could be a combination of Native teaching mixed with some Christianity? Thank you
These are all such good recommendations!
I’m glad you included books you wouldn’t recommend as well as those you do. They help serve as a measurement of what you value and don’t in the books you recommend. And I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who found one of them too fluffy!
Thank you for saying about the learning experience of "Making mistakes and making amess and learning to clean up that mess is part of the learning experience and once you make that mess I bet you anything you probably won't make it again. And I bet you anything you'll be really good about knowing how to clean that up". Having made my own mistakes in my practice I don't make those mistakes . It is important for up and comings to not be afraid to make mistakes. Thank you for saying this.