Polish Folk Magic: Ancestral Lore & Traditions of the West Slavs

by Joanna Tarnawska

A practical approach to traditional Polish folk practice.

Polish Folk Magic is an introductory guide into the folk beliefs, seasonal practices, living ancestral traditions, and authentic folk magic of the West Slavic peoples. With the Polish and Slavic diasporas in mind, Joanna Tarnawska fills in the gaps where sources have been previously scarce or inaccessible to those not embedded in the region.

Tarnawska guides the reader through everything from the Slavic folkloric calendar to charms, protection magic, and healing. Polish Folk Magic includes a grimoire specific to Polish folk magic, the perfect companion for native and diasporic practitioners alike. Through an exploration led by a native Polish practitioner and made accessible by providing both Polish and English versions of each charm and spoken formula, the reader is invited to personalize their craft through this rich world of folk magic.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Poland, Witches, Spirituality, Polish Literature

280 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2025

Reviews

[Elyse Welles · Rating 5 out of 5]

In much of the Western world, the deep folk traditions of countries like Poland have long been overshadowed by dominant religions. As a native Greek priestess practicing my own ancestral traditions, I know how difficult it can be to find and keep one’s voice in such a landscape. Joanna Tarnawska has not only kept her voice, but amplified it, selflessly, voicing―for the first time in an English language book―the depths of Polish folk magic. In doing so, she has offered a gift not only to the Slavic diaspora, but also to those in Poland working to revive and carry forward their ancestral practices. Polish Folk Magic deserves a place on the shelf of every serious folk magic practitioner.

[David Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in 2 days. I cannot understate what a long time coming this book is. Very little (if anything at all) has been written about Polish witchery, especially folklore from a dual-religious angle. I actually want to go through and read it a second time and make more extensive notes. Even if you're not part Polish like me, the lore in this book is absolutely fascinating to learn about.

[Patricia Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful basic book for magic, especially if you are Polish and want to practice “Polish magic”. The author lays out many important aspects of Polish (and Slavic in general) magic: developing a relationship with Ancestors and the spirits around you, the importance of water and fire, and the importance of maintaining Balance! All terrific points.

Tarnawska focuses on practices that are probably about 1,000 years old but going back about 2,000 to 3,000 years, so she records spells that can have a patriarchal or Christian bent, because that’s how they have evolved in Poland. For spells she records the English translation but also gives the original in Polish. ❤️

She also includes curses. (My caveat on that is always… just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. The point of being a Wise One is to be wise about your choices. I’m not talking about the “Rule of Three” here, but rather, that in focusing on harm and hate disconnects you from others and it can cause more harm to yourself. Who wants to hang out with someone who is always bitter, complaining and focusing on the bad stuff in their lives?!) Although the author does have a good point that this is sometimes the last resort of those without societal power.

While Tarnawska mentions that the witch trials are one of the best sources of witch lore, I disagree. Much of what was recorded in them was sensationalized and it was people giving the Christian torturers what they wanted to hear. I think the BEST source of folk magic is plant lore and fairy tales.

I try to avoid falling into the trap of legitimizing Christianity’s beliefs that warped our indigenous practices. So I prefer to avoid talking about “the Devil,” evil or demons because those words all include unspoken assumptions that legitimizes them. Instead I would say the Dark God, Lord of the Underworld, or the Horned God. In indigenous belief there are withering, deathly forces, but used wisely, these can be used to shape out-of-control life forces (like cancer) or stop an undesirable behavior. Night is not evil, dark is not evil, the Underworld is not evil, it’s just different. So when Tarnowska uses these terms I have to keep translating it in my head, which I find tiring. However, I have no problem with the “sign of the cross” because I believe the reason Christianity took the cross as a holy symbol is because the equal-armed cross was already a Pagan protective symbol for untold ages before! Just think about it.. X is a banning symbol too.

I love that Tarnowska emphasizes that the emotional force behind a spell can be more powerful than an old spell (but of course, the old spell has the weight of tradition behind it.). I like her idea of speaking the spell in English but also writing down the spell in the original language. I hadn’t thought of doing that and it will probably become part of my practice. 😊

There’s an absolutely darling greeting to the Morning Sun that I love. A great summary of cleansing and protective magic. So yeah, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom is 100% Polish and my dad is 50% Polish, so I grew up surrounded by relatives that were proud of their Polish heritage. I'm also interested in the occult, so when I saw this book, I thought it would be a great way to learn more about my ancestors. This books provides a broad overview of Polish folklore and how it was eventually absorbed into Christianity. Those looking for a deep dive into folk magic may be disappointed as this book only scratches the surface. However, as an entry point into Polish folklore and customs, I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it quite informative.