The Door to Witchcraft: A New Witch's Guide to History, Traditions, and Modern-Day Spells

by Tonya A. Brown

Learn witchcraft and fine-tune your unique blend of magic with The Door to Witchcraft

Whether inciting a light curiosity or a passionate craving, witchcraft is a practice that you can adapt to fit your goals. The Door to Witchcraft shows you the wonders of magic and how you want to practice it. The book begins with an overview of its history, values, and beliefs. Once you have a solid foundation, learn how to tap into your powers and customize your magic practice. Finally, put your powers into action and start practicing spells.

Learn everything a beginner needs to know to practice magic,

Walk through the door and into the world of witchcraft with this beginner's guide.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Occult, Spirituality, Magic, Religion, Paganism

202 pages, Paperback

Published April 9, 2019

Reviews

[SA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could unequivocally recommend this as a solid general introduction to the practice of witchcraft, but I find it critical to note that within the actual spells Brown offers, there are a number of craft ingredients and instructions that are clearly derived from hoodoo practices and/or brujería. Brown doesn't contextualize her spells within such praxis, and a newcomer to the practice of witchcraft wouldn't be able to discern otherwise.

I'm frustrated, because while it's evident to me that, for example, using High John the Conqueror, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and lucky hand root for a fast-money oil is unequivocally a hoodoo spell, Brown doesn't mention or reference the hoodoo tradition or her relationship to hoodoo or even where she herself learned the spell (because in no way could she have developed it in a vacuum).

This frustration is compounded by my estimation that Part I, featuring an accessible introduction to witchcraft and how sensibly, as a novice, to practice the craft, represents a fine addition to the growing contemporary volumes of introductory witchcraft. In all honesty, Brown delivers this more deftly than most -- the section on "Core Beliefs and Values" stood out to me as a sensible introductory morality of contemporary witchcraft.

Even so, I can't let Brown get away with the problems of the spells offered in Part II, which smack of cultural appropriation. From what I can find of Brown's background she appears to be a white woman residing and practicing in New Orleans, which would provide a clear connection to hoodoo practices, but without offering the cultural/historical background for the practices she has written (or her own experience of learning them, much less sharing them publically) Brown gives the appearance of white-washing longstanding spellwork of the hoodoo tradition -- white-washing in such a way that she, as a white woman, is profiting from the cultural knowledge and practice of black and brown people in the American South.

In a way this is a prime example of white privilege in action -- initially a fine volume of introductory knowledge and instruction for a general audience, thoroughly compromised by unthinking and unchallenged white privilege, and the disenfranchisement of black and brown practitioners and their voices for the profit of the privileged.

[Monika Sadowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this guide for witchcraft. Finally, a book that explains everything how it should be explain. Very good for beginners. I like that part about witch history. Spells are easy with step by step instructions.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best books to get if one is just starting out in witchcraft. In fact I would put it up there with Raymond Buckland and Scott Cunningham. The book was a breath of fresh air for me. It spoke to me. It was simple effective magic without the weight and dogma of religion. The book reminded me of things in my youth that might mark me as a witch.

One of the first things you have to know is that no one can define your witchhood for you. You define it. The book erases many lines and speaks a language of full inclusion. There are many ways to practice your craft...so long as it works for you. Does not matter if you are solitary or a coven member, does not matter you tradition or even if you are eclectic it is all valid.

Most people drawn to witchcraft have a had a different experience growing up. They may have been an outcast and usually are drawn to nature and or the horror gothic stuff. I was drawn to both. Yes I was an outcast well especially in my youth.

The book like any primer will give over view and a brief history and description of the various witchcraft traditions. This book does so along with a description of the 8 sabbath and the lunar festivals. A must have for all witches are the times for different types of magic for example what each day of the week would be good for.

The second part of the book is a formulary of spells and various potions. There are some tea recipes that I am keeping in mind for both dreaming and psychic visions. Another recipe I plan on keeping is one for flying ointment. There are various spells for wealth love and well being.

Own your witchhood . Don’t let anyone load you down with their dogma and hang ups. You are a witch and you write your own bible.

[julia ☆ [owls reads]]

"Some witches believe that you shouldn’t cast a spell if it interferes with someone’s free will. I don’t follow this rule. Most magic manipulates free will at some level. As I’ve said before, you are the witch and you have the power to choose what’s right for your magic practice."

DNF @ 25% because I am not comfortable with that.

[Salem ☥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There is no authority to tell you what is appropriate or wrong. You are the witch; your life and your actions are your responsibility.”

A good introduction for beginners—however, the author fails to mention which spells or rituals are from closed practices. Brown would bring up researching old gods, though warn to reader to be careful about not taking what isn't yours from other cultures, then in the same breath elaborate on spells that come from closed practices without clarification. Irksome.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really comprehensive guide for anyone wanting to get into witchcraft or looking to research it, this book gave an overview of all the important topics and a great list of recommendations for further reading.
However, the structure is a bit all over the place. The different topics are organised into multiple parts but at some points the paragraphs are interruped by other information and don't seem to fit together all too well. I understand that it's hard to do that when there are countless topics to cover, though. I also wish that some topics had a more in-depth explanation other than "this also exists". Sometimes, one or two sentences just aren't enough.
Most importantly though, this book made me feel welcome and it was extremely inclusive. The writing was smooth, humorous even, and the author sprinkled in a few of her own opinions and experiences, which made this a very entertaining and informative read! I will for sure take a look at her magazine and maybe stalk her social media a bit ;)

[Elena Toncheva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Интересно четиво..

[Urtė Caspo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kol kas geriausias įvadinis skaitalas apie raganas, turėjau gerą laiką su šia knyga 🤭!

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear, concise guide to the basics of witchcraft. As someone who isn’t a witch but loves studying witchy things, I was super excited to learn about how modern witches identify and practice. Tonya Brown does a nice job of boiling complex concepts and ideas down to their core while also providing resources for the reader to explore beyond the basics she provides.

[Yvonne Glasgow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a witch and practicing pagan since I was 13 years old... I'm no beginner, but I still found lots of great info in this book. It's a great refresher course, an excellent guidebook, and worth having in the collection.

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

This is a wonderful guide to Witchcraft, and the author did a great job of fully explaining the history, traditions, and even threw in spells in the second half of the book for those who are curious.

What did I like? The author did a great job of really setting you straight when it comes to what Witchcraft really is and if it's for you. She negated a lot of the myth and just really put the facts out there versus the negative views of Witchcraft when it comes to Christianity. The history was full references if you cant take her word for it, and this book contained a lot of information on what type of witch you might be. Anyone with some curiosity could pick up this book and decide for themselves. There's a wealth of knowledge between these pages about pretty much everything witchy you could name or be curious about. I was highly interested.

Would I buy this book? I'd skip buying a kindle copy and just buy a paper copy. This was so interesting that I doubt that anyone could really get the full gist of it in one reading. I would definitely say that I want a paper copy just to dog ear as I continually go through it. The spells in the last part of the book are a particular interest but some of the ingredients seem like they would be hard to get. I don't live near New Orleans so I'm guessing my nearest opothecary will be an online store.

Thoughts for the author? Excellent job! This book was such a fountain of information that I'm sure any curious person or beginner witch would love to have. Really enjoyed it.

[CheyChey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had some useful information but there is also information beginner witches, like myself, should be weary of. Luckily I had done some research on how to avoid appropriation prior to reading. Brown mentions smudging spaces with sage to cleanse them but makes no mention of avoiding white sage, a plant important and sacred to the Indigenous community. Brown also mentions Honey Jars which are derived from Hoodoo, a closed practice. Brown doesn't credit some of the practices she mentions as being Hoodoo etc. nor does she mention if how and if she was granted permission from those communities to use some of the ingredients or practices. For people like myself just learning, it would be very very easy to get tripped up and confused if you just simply don't know. Research everything and find out where it's from and avoid taking from closed practices or appropriating.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Green Witch and one new to spell casting I was thrilled to receive this book for review. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to review. My opinion is my own,
I loved this book. I quickly saw that I must buy the hardback of this book for creating my spells. This is a well written concise easy to follow guide to the history of witchcraft and how to get started for all new witches. Its a great first guide for brand new witches to use as a basis for their learning curve.

Anyone can follow along with these spells and successfully build upon their own basic knowledge. A excellent guide that I highly recommend.
Very well done to the author

[Mere Lune · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite introduction-to-witchcraft book that I’ve read so far. The history included was fascinating. I was already pretty familiar with the events described in the history section, but it was organized so well by Brown. You can tell that a lot of love and careful detail was put into the book, from the inclusive comments, notes about appropriation, the delicate drawings, and the overall tone. A wonderful introductory guide. I had never heard of the “simmering” technique, and I absolutely love it. As a busy mom who works full time, goes to school, and has a toddler, the ritual/spell suggestions seem so accessible and friendly. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty much a baby witch, and while I've read other books and dabbled around I feel like this was truly a great entry way into the witchy world.

Informative with history and information, it pretty much guides you through the basics while also being incredibly open minded about the 'rules' or I guess lack there of. It really believes in being true to yourself and trusting what feels right for you, not anybody else, which I loved.

Highly recommend. I only have the ebook but can't wait to get the hard copy.

[Rachael Dawson-Baglien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because I listen to Tonya's Witch Daily podcast. This is such a good reference book for people wanting to learn about witchcraft! Tonya is obviously well-versed and she gives just the right amount of information to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed. I also enjoyed the list of other books to check out and added a couple to my Goodreads bookshelf :)

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive primer, though slightly disorganized. Follows a fairly Wiccan mindset though differentiating between pagan, wiccan, and witch, but still perpetuating martyr mentality. Couple of decent spells though.

[Fudgy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it to the core and the perspective here was so refreshing

[Cascade · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn cool book 😎 thought the spells we're gonna be all bippity boppity boop, glad we put that stereotype to rest😌

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! All I can say is wow! I loved this author's style of writing. I loved this book! Though I am not a beginner, I still found this book extremely helpful. It was so easy to read and very encouraging to those starting this path. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Rebecca Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Loved all the spells and chants it was an easy read loved the fact my cat knew when I was reading the book.

[Nicole H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So...let's get to that, shall we?

Let me start out by saying that it was pretty good in the grand scheme of things. I would recommend it to beginners or the curiosity driven people who just want to know more about all things witchy. Those who are more familiar and/or advanced in their knowledge of witchcraft and it's origins might find this book a bit...tedious? Or, they could find it a nice refresher (I'm not a mind reader.) Either way, the author did quiet a bit of research and it shows so she gets props for that.

The book is divided into two parts. Part one goes into the history and basic understanding of the core beliefs of witchcraft as well as details various things from holidays to covens and essential tools. It's very...how-to-witch. (My personal favorite part was how she showed how to write in the the Theban Alphabet, which for those of you that are unaware is the secret coded language that witches used to use way back when so that mere common folk couldn't read their stuff. I used to write messages in it to my friends when I was in grade school so that gave me a nice bit of nostalgia.) There was quite a bit of information that I was unaware of but there was some that I already knew. Another thing that I really liked was how the author threw in what to look out for in regards to people either in the community or outside of it. All in all, I was interested and I'm the sort of person that ain't got time to read stuff that doesn't keep my attention so the author succeeded there.

Moving on to part two, this section dealt with spells. (I'm going to be upfront, I read these books because they fascinate me, but I am not a practicing witch.) There were spells for love, health and healing, careers, friends and family, spiritual matters, and protection. Each chapter discussed the history of the spells, how and when to perform them, and what to expect as well as other good stuff.

Really, the only problem that I had with the book was the formatting, which was a bit...chaotic? However, the book that I read was the advance version so by the time this is published, hopefully that won't be an issue. If it's still there or whatever, it didn't distract me too much and I was able to finish reading relatively unscathed. LOL.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only to beginners.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So...I hope it helps?

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Door to Witchcraft” by Tonya Brown was an extraordinary read. The label of a simple introductory guide does not do this work justice. To describe this book as bluntly as possible, I would present “The Door to Witchcraft” as a whimsical and easy to access piece that has a copious amount of research at its core.

Emphasizing that knowledge is power, Brown begins her book by presenting history, misconceptions of witchcraft, and resources to readers at the forefront before showcasing spell work. Brown emphases the importance of understanding where the practice stemmed from historically and how the practice is so much more than what media offers us. This book is meant for the true beginner and what I like the most about this book is the shear amount of resources. In no way does Brown showcase her book as the end all be all to witchcraft knowledge. “The Door to Witchcraft” is a guide of basics, offering an overview of all things witchcraft while also tipping her hat to other witch authors and historians.

Apart from Brown’s historical presentation, I also valued Brown’s openness to deconstructing problematic norms of witchcraft. Brown displays how her view of witchcraft differs from other ideologies with her empowering statement that not only does “magic and our identity not stem from our genitals” but also that if we choose the path of witchcraft in whatever way we choose, “no one has the right to judge the validity of how” we choose to label ourselves. In so many previous works, books of a similar purpose present themselves as being closed off or rigid in practice, only opening its doors to individuals with wombs or of a strict Wiccan faith, OR present the mainstream, and often misleading, falsities of what witchcraft is at its core. Brown’s book seeks to be different.

For readers with an interest in witchcraft, especially at the beginner level, I highly recommend Brown’s work. Not only will it provide readers with an empowering desire to practice, it will actually “open its doors” to other, more focused, paths to becoming your personal dream of being a witch.

[Jessica Donegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good, but wasn't what I was looking for. I think it tells a great story and sets a good atmosphere or tone for someone to start opening themselves up to practicing witchcraft, but the history section seems to lie by omission.

It's a red flag when historic witch hunts are connected to the practice of witchcraft because it's well known most, possibly all of the victims of witch hunts were not witches. The practices these people claimed witches partake in don't reflect historic or modern practices. Mentioning the popularization of the Malleus Maleficarum and calling the event the European Witch Hunts instead of the burning times would be more historically appropriate and would reflect a better understand of how these events have culturally shaped the term witch as opposed to an event that actually hunted witches.

Mentioning Margaret Murray is necessary, but I think it's irresponsible to speak about her impact on the history of witches without also speaking on how her work was factually rejected by the academic community. For sometime elements of religious Neo-pagan witchcraft and witchcraft as a history were pulled from her academic work even though scholars had debunked her work. Murray created a romantic mythology some forms of witchcraft rest on, but it holds no basis in history.

Since I was primarily looking for history, folklore, and mythic basis and this book lacks transparency in its presentation of history, it wasn't a good fit for me. Still, its well written, has good structure, and offers a nice overview of different techniques witches may use in their practice. I would recommend it a beginner.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like at this point, all new witchcraft books should have a section about cultural appropriation. It's 2021. We shouldn't be encouraging new witches to use sage or palo santo if they do not come from a linage who've used it.

It's also very easy to look over the fact that a good half of these spells come from voodoo/hoodoo without the author addressing it. I know she lives and does work in New Orleans, but she never addresses that she is pulling from this practice and doesn't go farther in depth than "if it speaks to you, then do it, but be mindful of cultural appropriation" (I am paraphrasing lmao). Like what does that even mean? Based on the rest of the book, she contradicts herself.

Besides that, I think this is a good intro to witchcraft book IF you've already stuck your toe in the water and already know that hoodoo/voodoo, Brujeria, Shamanism etc are closed practices. Other than that, it was personable, straight forward and easy to follow given the subject matter.

[Jessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I've read quite a few books on all things witchcraft/ paganism/ wicca etc and I'm surprised to have learned quite a few new things in this book!

It's not one of those cheesy "spell" books that seem like mostly bs but instead very informative with things explained simply and in a relatable manner.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely lives-up to its title. This is a great book for people who are new to Paganism/Witchcraft and who want to start to build-up a solid foundational understanding of such matters and start to form ideas of how you can incorporate Witchcraft into your everyday life.

This book is particularly useful if you are looking to get acquainted with the terminology commonly used in other Witchcraft books before you start to explore other more complex texts as it contains a plethora of definitions and examples for Witchy terms. It is also a nice touch that there is a list of further resources which the author recommends in the back so that people new to Witchcraft can use this as a springboard to broadening their understanding and strengthening their passion.

This book manages to cover a lot of content in a succinct and concise manner which makes it a good place for Witches to start as it is totally accessible and not a daunting read at all.

I really appreciated the inclusive language used in this book. Many other books on Witchcraft feel like they cater only to women and focus mainly on feminine energies whereas this book even made explicit reference to the existence of non-binary witches which was both validating and heartening to read.

[Silas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book begins with a rejection of Wicca by the author, primarily on the basis of hexing (though unlike some similar books I have read, it at least admits that Wiccans can, in fact, be witches), and then follows it up by detailing a variety of Wiccan ideas, like the Wheel of the Year, as well as some questionable historical details. The book finishes off with a selection of spells that the author drew from other authors' works in magazines (hopefully with permission, but at least with credit). Many of these spells use elements from Hoodoo, but the majority of it is straight Wicca with the numbers filed off. If you are interested in Wicca, there are much better introductions than this, and if you prefer your witchcraft separate from Wicca, this isn't really great, either. The author does make a great effort to write fairly, despite her personal opinons, which I appreciate. Still, this isn't a book I would recommend, personally.

[Vivenya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just now starting to reading into the art of witches and taking my first steps on this path. So the book piqued my interest.
All in all, I am very happy with the information I got from it. It is good basic research and the first spells are also described helpful. I would have liked something like a glossary for herbs, etc., but I understand that this was not the goal of this book. It is a basic introduction to the history of witchcraft and the first steps a novice witch can take to find their own way on their path. The author describes the content comprehensibly and gives a good overview of things. Sometimes I would have wished for a bit more in-depth, but all in all I am very satisfied with the book and will at least take it as a refer from time to time in the beginning.

[PolicemanPrawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is like a child and woman's guide to witchcraft, neutered and glossed up to make it seem like a fun and trendy activity. The reality is that witchcraft, if it exists, is a brutal and dark thing, involving human sacrifice, paedophilia, worship of the devil, cannibalism, and other bad things. This book provides a Harry Potter version of witchcraft, offering the likes of love spells and spells to enhance your career. OK, so it might want to be selective about what to cover, but the reality is that the darker aspects are a central component of witchcraft. I question the effectiveness of the material.