Supermarket Magic: Creating Spells, Brews, Potions & Powders from Everyday Ingredients

by Michael Furie

The tools of magic don't have to be expensive or difficult to find--they're right in your supermarket aisles! This easy-to-use book provides clear instructions for working simple and powerful spells--with only common ingredients.

Perfect for Witches and all practitioners of natural and herbal magic, this essential guide explains all the basics of magic including ethics, meditation, timing, and basic charging techniques. There are clear instructions for working a wide variety of simple and powerful spells: clearing and cleaning, increasing harmony, healing, love, lust, beauty, luck money, protection, and honing psychic abilities. Discover how to whip up magical brews, powders, and oils using inexpensive items that can be conveniently purchased at your local grocery store.

Genres: Witchcraft, Magic, Nonfiction, Magick, Wicca, Paganism, Occult

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 2.5 stars

This book was very Wicca-oriented to the point where I skimmed most of the ethics chapters. It got to be a bit much. Especially his tone. >.>

A lot of Witchcraft = Wicca. That got annoying.

I wish there were at least one correspondence list. I have my own meanings but I always like looking at how others see things.

The actual spells look okay tho.

[B*tchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This book could have been so much better. If it just had what ingredients can be used for what, and why would have empowered people more. What we got is a book with a few recipes to use for spells and a cookbook full of under seasoned food. Uh, no thanks. It will be a cold day in hell when I season 15 pounds of lamb shank with 2 teaspoons of salt. :shudders: My other gripe was that this book felt very whitewashed. It is so Disney Wiccan I just couldn’t fully relate.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are witch you have seen the spell and ritual books that call for insane ingredients and shopping lists that are 5 miles long. This is not that book. This book is about the simple everyday magic that is found everywhere. Need a red candle, stop by the in aisle 5 and pick up a package of birthday candles, while you are in the aisle go to the end and pick up some sage from the dried herb and spices area. That is what this book is a lovely look at kitchen witchery. Using what is around us getting back to the roots of country magic.

Received reviewer copy from NetGalley
http://felelith.blogspot.com/2013/08/...

[Kristen Jett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book is intriguing - I really like how the book is broken down into sections, with shopping lists for specific purposes. This formatting could make it a little tricky to find things in the future if you don't remember it, but I don't think that's necessarily a drawback.

I highlighted more than I took notes - which is a good sign. There are some unique perspectives, and some that I thought really simplified procedures such as energy work and visualization.

I must say, I didn't expect so many basics and moral issues in the beginning. It seemed a bit like filler. Are you going to put this in every single one of your books? Doubtful. Trust the reader, or write a separate book on this.

[Nikki Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more than I was expecting! Powders, potions/brews, food, and spellwork using basic supermarket ingredients. It also has enough background information that I'd thoroughly recommend this as a beginner book.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supermarket Magic by Michael Furie

9780738736556

288 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Release Date: December 8, 2013

Nonfiction (Adult), Magic, Recipes, Spells, Brews & Potions

The book has the following chapters.

Chapter 1: For Better or Worse: Navigating the Supermarket
Chapter 2: Magical Basics
Chapter 3: Magical Ethics
Chapter 4: Clearing (and Cleansing)
Chapter 5: Harmony
Chapter 6: Healing
Chapter 7: Love, Lust and Beauty Magic
Chapter 8: Luck
Chapter 9: Money
Chapter 10: Protection
Chapter 11: Psychic Ability and Divination
Chapter 12: Sabbats and Esbats
Chapter 13: Miscellany

The title of this book is so intriguing. Who thought of going to the grocery store to find magical supplies? The author does a great job of describing how to protect yourself while shopping and how to find new things to try. I am always so happy to see ethics included in magical books. It is such an important reminder for what to do and what not to do.

I really like that everything in the book comes from the supermarket. He even includes a shopping list for the items needed for each chapter. The recipes and meditations are easy to follow and perform. If you like to discover new recipes, this is a good place to start.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the less-religious-primer, more-hands-on-how-to nature of this book. It related more like a "recipe" guide to me than a religious primer, which is what I really like. The author kept referring to keeping a book like his on hand for easy reference, but not being something to depend on- also something I appreciated. The author's tone also seemed very conversational, which I love, since I really hate feeling like I am reading a textbook when I'm reading a book on this subject.

[Rebecca Elson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 05/08/2017.

Well this is a bit embarrassing. I bought a book to review because I thought it was brand new and it wasn’t until I went to the publisher’s website that I realized it was published in 2013. 2013! But the book is good, it’s still available to purchase, and it was new to me, so I’m sharing it with you! We’re going to be talking about “Supermarket Magic: Creating Spells, Brews, Potions, & Powders from Everyday Ingredients” by Michael Furie.

I love food, as my ever widening ass can attest to. Which is why I love books that let me look at food in different ways. I also liked the idea of using a supermarket to do your magical shopping. It reminds me of all the times I would buy supplies at the local dollar store. I guess what I’m saying is that it was inevitable that I would end up reading this book, and it didn’t disappoint.

Now when I picked up “Supermarket Magic” I expected it to be wholly focused on what kind of magic you can work when your local supermarket is the closest thing you have to a magical supply shop. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Furie discussed a lot of magical basics and ethics. He then divides the book up into the most frequently used categories of magic: clearing and cleansing, harmony, healing, love, lust, and beauty, luck, money, protection, and psychic ability and divination. He also includes a section about Sabbats.

In each chapter Furie discusses what is involved in the category. Items that are associated with that type of magic, and several spells and/or recipes to use. There is a shopping list at the end of each chapter listing all the items he mentioned in the chapter. I found that particularly clever. He stresses that “Supermarket Magic” isn’t a cookbook, however there are a lot of recipes for brews and potions that sound…..magically delicious. (I couldn’t help myself!) Seriously, if something is tasty AND can have potential magical benefits, why wouldn’t you want to give it a go?

With its blend of beginner and advanced ideas “Supermarket Magic” is a great addition to any magic user’s library, whether you’re just starting out, or have been working with magic for years.

[Cindi Whittaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious to see what this book was like as I have been out of the loop on this genre for some time. I read other reviews and had a pretty good idea what to expect.
I appreciate a book that addresses the barriers one might face to acquiring ingredients and I love the idea of making it simple for someone to find ways to incorporate magick into the mundane. That's something I really looked for back when I was in college. Scott Cunningham was doing that then and this book draws on his work along with similar authors from the 90's on.
What I didn't appreciate was the tone. Other reviewers have mentioned it as well and even knowing ahead of time to expect it, I still found it a bit "preachy" for someone who does not follow his particular path. As a reference for the recipes I noted a few to inspire me but much of this could be found online for free. But, once again, I think it would be useful for someone just getting started and limited in resources, etc.

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate that this book seeks to demonstrate that all of one's needs for magical materia is available at one's local grocery.
Now, he does acknowledge that one's location will determine the size and type of store one has available.
With that in mind, his recipes use largely the same ingredients throughout, that are readily available in any American supermarket. He mentions that much can be found at an ethnic market, and at larger, more diverse store would have candles, diffusers, and other useful items for oneself.
As it says on the title, there are oils, powders, sachets, and more recipes with a purpose. Vegetarian/ vegan alternatives are included.
I did hope there would be more varied use of ingredients, even some slightly harder to find for those with access to the more diverse goods. For each area of focus there is an unnecessarily limited list of supplies in the instructions. There are many more ways to do any operation. I hoped the author would expose readers to that.

[Daniel Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fine book with a great many 'recipes' for oils, brews and foods for different seasons and purposes, all that can be found at the grocery. The book is dated at times (a long passage on low fat diets in one area; in a second spell it has a lust spell for a couple - with alterations to be done if the couple is same-sex, but instead of just leaving the reader to determine which version of the spell fits their needs best the book admonishes that, unless modified, "this spell should be only done by heterosexuals-" a phrasing that likely fit fine when the book was originally written in the 1970s but is jarring when reading the 2021 edit. )
Despite these challenges I liked the book, and I'm looking forward to reading the second in the series. It reminds me of when I was a young pagan and had to keep my practice hidden in a shared home.

[Venus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I had read parts of it last year and just re-read it again yesterday and today and I really like it. It’s easy to follow, explains the concepts and instructions well and makes magic accessible for anyone who is new or who is on a budget.

It is also great for those who are still “in the broom closet” and can’t use ingredients apart from normal household items, without drawing attention of relatives or roommates.

I like to recommend this book to beginners because it is easy to use and doesn’t require special tools or expensive herbs, crystals, etc.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has some great ideas but I expected it to have more recipes than it did. It was a quick read and I will keep it for reference.

[Katje van Loon · Rating 1 out of 5]

My review is over 5,000 words. I'll link to it when I've posted it on the relevant blog.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good reference. Some redundancy with the spell. But I really like that all ingredients are easy to get.

[Elizabeth Haze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found many of the spells and recipes useful for ideas, but did not particularly enjoy the author's overall tone, especially in the first section on the basics of witchcraft.

[Julissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great reference for simple, easy, magic working and has a handy list of associations. I appreciate the straightforwardness of the tone, but I find it a bit plain at times.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been a pagan for a very long time, I have seen my share of books that list spells and what ingredients that you should use for them. Unfortunately, the majority of them are herbs that are either very expensive or difficult to find. Thankfully, there are a few books on using items that are found in supermarkets to make our lives easier.

This is the latest one of those books. It is broken down into easy to use sections that take your from walking the grocery store aisles to actually casting the various spells. In fact, in the section on being in the grocery store there is an anti-anxiety protection chant to use for when you walk into the store. This really came in handy for me because I have trouble dealing with being in places with too many people.

There is an entire section devoted to the basics of magickal practice. This is one that I have down pat, but reading it over I have found that it has a lot of great information in there for beginners. There is also a section on magickal ethics. Many people believe that magick is either white (good) or black (bad). But in actuality, the magick itself isn't good or bad, it is the intention of the person that makes it good or bad.

One thing that really makes this book practical is the sections on the various spells each contain a shopping list. For instance, if you were looking to cast one of the spells for harmony, you would go to that section and the last page of that section contains a shopping list of all items that are useful in the various spells throughout that chapter. So you can check what you already have and then buy which items you don't. This way you can make your shopping trips much more successful.

There are even recipes for foods that can be made for each of the various spellworkings.

So no matter what you want to tackle, there is something in this book that will help guide you on your way.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supermarket Magic. Creating Spells, Brews, Potions & Powders from Everyday Ingredients. Michael Furie
I've always had an interest in alternative healing, nature, pagan religions etc so am open minded about whether such things as magic and spells really can work. So many books though are written as though the reader already knows about ingredients and rituals. Not this one, so if like me you're an open minded but very amateur practitioner/reader this book is perfect.
Michael explains very clearly and easily how to set up things for the best chance of success. How to meditate, how to visualise what you want, how to be specific about what you hope to achieve. Add to that the easy way he shows how to source ingredients and you're away :) no eye of toad and bats ears here, no gathering drops of dew from under a fallow oak tree after a new moon, no wearing expensive robes and using specially cast pots on available from select expensive outlets...just simple easy to follow recipes and instructions. Magic for everyone interested and seeking to learn more but short on cash to spend on speciality items. The spells too are easily set out, simple steps to follow and eliminates the possibility of error. That’s essential for success, it's no good setting a spell asking for your boss to give you a much needed raise, but mistaking a word or ingredient and turning him into a toad!!! (though maybe you want him turned into a toad? But this book won't tell you how to do it. It follows the “do no harm” principles of best magic.
Its a great read and clever source book for anyone open minded enough to want to learn more. It's 288 paperback pages, I don't have kindle info or price yet.
Stars: a really fun and interesting read – five stars.

Arc supplied by Netgalley

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, some feedback on this book:

First, I liked the simple, straightforward format and I absolutely love the recipe lists at the end of the chapters. Everything you need to perform the spells in this book can be purchased from your local supermarket, and some of them are ridiculously simple. I skipped most of the "Magical Food" sections because they were basically a list of recipes for normal things that you just empower with intention. Furie could have just said, "Bake a cake. Charge with intention." and saved himself a lot of work. Instead he included recipes like, "Banana Split of Love" and "Pesto of Passion". Giggle-funny, but ridiculous on its face and potentially embarrassing to the Craft if a non-witch picks up the book. "Ooooh, look, Poptarts of Playfulness!" (That's not actually in there, but you get it.)

I *really didn't like* all the lectures that started the sections. I got the feeling that instead of imparting knowledge, Furie was preaching at me. Witches don't do that. We're not supposed to do that. A general warning is one thing, but I don't expect to pick up a book about the Craft and encounter a bunch of morality lessons. If I wanted that, I'd read the Bible. Also, I found it... interesting that there was a preachment on everything from love spells to magical protection, but nothing about the potential pratfalls of working to increase psychic awareness. Hello? That's a pretty big omission, if you ask me. If you're going to lecture about one thing, lecture about them all.

[Cory · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 -- It was OK. If you were a nervy new pagan, I think it would be more useful; there's a reasonable amount of basic info, although if you can't work out that you can get common herbs from the supermarket, then you need more than this book to help you. There were some nice checklists so that the person picking up the stuff could make sure they had everything, and the chapters were logically organised into different spell types. The thing that really annoyed me about the book was the authorial voice -- at one turn, going on "rants" about their personal perspective on paganism (which I didn't always agree with), and then at another, using weasel words and syntax to try to confer authority -- "it is believed that..." "it is generally considered..." -- by whom? We're never told.

I don't think doing anything from this would cause you direct harm (although as others have pointed out, the coverage of ethics is patchy and could lead to some unanticipated consequences), but in the end, I'd go for Cunningham's herbal and food books over this one any day.

[Ashleigh Furry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite interesting and would be helpful to a lot of people I know who can't make it to specialty stores yet still want to practice their beliefs. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and really think this is one of the most down to Earth spiritual/magick books I have come across. Certainly a great book to give a look at and own.

[Tabitha Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly wasn't what I was excepting, but is solid starter for beginner witches or those that just want to have a quick handy kitchen grimoire. The suggestions and spell items are things that are all found in the grocery store and mostly things that you can use in other cooking areas so while a few items would be expensive it would pay out in the end both magickal and cooking.

[Lisa Lute · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much liked this guide to kitchen crafting. It offered numerous easy to understand directions, accessible ingredients for spells, and was written in an unitimdating manner. Great book for people new to the craft!

[Misty B · Rating 4 out of 5]

while I do not fully agree with everything in this book I will sure keep it around to refer to it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Lots of ideas and great rhymes for the spells

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy and informative. If you want a little magic in your lives without emptying your wallets or rather not go all too wiccan then this is for you!