Witch Crafting: A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic

by Phyllis Curott

Phyllis Curott’s first book, Book of Shadows, was an inspirational, spiritual memoir that chronicled her journey from Ivy League-educated, New York City attorney to Wiccan High Priestess. By inviting readers of all faiths to share in her own personal transformation, Phyllis debunked many of the myths surrounding Wicca and revealed it for what it really is: a spiritual movement whose tenets of Goddess worship and reverence for Nature were a great deal more accessible and familiar than she’d ever expected. In Witch Crafting, Phyllis digs deep into the practices and principles of Witchcraft to provide a comprehensive guidebook that anyone "novices and seasoned practitioners alike" can use to incorporate the beauty and power of Wicca into their own daily lives.
Far from being just another mechanical spell book, Witch Crafting is the first book to offer readers not only the how-to of Witchcraft, but also the why-to, explaining the profound spiritual tenets behind Wiccan techniques. Filled with both traditional and innovative shamanic practices, Phyllis also provides an empowering new definition of magic and reexamines the ethics under which Witchcraft is practiced, offering a groundbreaking alternative to the Threefold Law. With enchanting stories from Curott’s own experiences, Witch Crafting will also teach you how to:
• Master the secret arts of effective spellcasting

• Create sacred space and personal rituals

• Perform divinations for spiritual insight and earthly success

• Tap into the power of altered states, such as dreaming, meditation, prayer, and trance

• Keep a magical journal and create your own Book of Shadows ·Keep a magical

Rich with detailed advice for making magic, working with Nature, and finding the Divine within, as well as thought-provoking evaluations of this remarkable spirituality, Witch Crafting is the special volume that you’ve been searching for. Whether you are a beginner or have been practicing Witchcraft for years, whether you worship in a coven or on your own, Witch Crafting is the ideal handbook for you, or anyone seeking to unlock the divine power that makes real magic happen and experience the ecstasy, energy, and gifts of the Universe more fully.


From the Hardcover edition.

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

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2001

About the author

Phyllis Curott is one of America’s first public Wiccan Priestesses, an attorney, and an author whose groundbreaking books, published in fourteen countries, have made Wicca accessible to the world and awakened an entire generation to the Goddess. She is founder of the Temple of Ara, the world’s oldest shamanic Wiccan congregation, and was the Vice Chair Emerita of the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions, and creator of the historic Inaugural Assembly and drafter of the Declaration for the Dignity and Human Rights of Women adopted by the 2015 Parliament. Named one of the Ten Gutsiest Women of the Year by Jane Magazine and called one of "America's leading voices" by Time Magazine, Curott was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Collegium of Clergy and Scholars in 2014. Curott received her Bachelor's Degree degree in Philosophy from Brown University and her Juris Doctor from New York University. She is currently living on Long Island and working on her next book, Wicca: Awaken the Divine Magic within You, out November 2018 with a companion online class Spring 2019 for Hay House.

www.phylliscurott.com
Represented by Cullen Stanley International

Reviews

[Eishexe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book on Wicca that I picked up when I was 15 or so. I still have it, if that means anything. This is a great primer on the Wiccan religion. She covers the fundamental Wiccan beliefs, holy days, traditions and lists correspondences for spellcraft. This book's tone is predominantly spiritual/religious, so if yer lookin' for an intro to spells, either casting or writing, I suggest perhaps looking into something else. I found Power Spellcraft for Life to be helpful, and the Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells was awesome.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis Curott is utterly sensible in her writing style, and I appreciate that, especially since a great deal of pagan books are way less down-to-earth. This is a great practical handbook for both beginners and oldbies like me (I've been pagan for almost 14 years now), giving explanations of why we do what we do that are easy to understand and often not discussed. Some of us, particularly practitioners who have never been part of a coven, don't get these theological explanations of how and why spells work and what to do when they don't, in addition to historical contexts for our practice.

That said, it is a long read. There are lots of activities she encourages you to engage in, but even if you skip over some of them (which I don't recommend - I think all of them are really useful!), it will probably take you a long time. There's a lot to absorb, even though she phrases it simply. Really enjoyed this practical not-quite-how-to guide to paganism. It makes you think about the reasons for ritual, and helps organize your beliefs a bit better. Good thinking-through exercises and excellent suggestions in general. I'd recommend this for pretty much any pagan, n00b or old.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way everyone first read - or was told to read - Starhawk's Spiral Dance in the 80s when seeking Witchcraft books, well, this is the book everyone I know suggests today. It's ALWAYS one of the main books used in my WC apprenticeships. The part about quantum physics is great at explaining magic; I like that the energy of the Universe is Divine Love and not neutral as other books say; the reasons for getting rid of the scare tactics of the 3 fold law are amazing (getting rid of all poorly understood Eastern faith concepts would be even better for anyone, Witch or not); and it sure is nice to have a Witch writer who is a high powered lawyer and into rock concerts! Not all of us go to ren fairs and work at goth comic book stores or live on communes and practice Reiki!

[Aitziber Madinabeitia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donde está la parte avanzada....que no la he visto

[Ami Gallier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. This author backs up magical lessons with science, while not getting entangled in it!

[elle jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the Intro books I'd recommend if anyone was to ask. Curott encourages you on nearly every page to *do*, rather than read, which I love and completely agree with. Go witch, witches! We also have a very similar idea about what the spiritual path is for: to connect with the Divine. Curott's definition of a witch is one I gel with.

A bit gender essentialist to my eyes now, I'd love to see a rewritten version of this slightly updated. Overall still a book I refer to and enjoy.

[Liander (The Towering Pile) Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who had never read anything (besides online) about Wicca, I learned a lot from this book. It gave a very good overview of one tradition of Wicca, The Tradition of Ara. While before reading this book I was interested in paganism in general, but not specifically Wicca, Witch Crafting has caused me to consider Wicca (though not necessarily the Tradition of Ara) as a potential path. It also contains some very helpful exercises in meditation and visualisation, as well as lots of useful tables.

[Sable · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent Witchcraft how-to of use to the folk Crafter and the Kitchen Witch especially. Very rich in sensory experience and hands-on work and imagery, acquainting oneself with the natural world, etc. I still use a variation of Curott's ritual bath formula to clean ritual clothes and altar cloths.

[Feistymonkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best beyond the basics books on witchcraft that I have ever read.Perhaps even the only beyond the basics book I've read that, in fact, goes beyond the basics. I borrowed it from the library and didn't want to return it.

[Sum Merland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither bad, neither good, just Currot's take on her americanized wiccan tradition. Certain exercises are more or les interresting, still i didn't consider this book as an interesting work for someone who has been around wicca for a while.

[Verne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting field guide to wiccan magic. Phyllis Curott is very thorough in her explanation of all things magic. I have to admit that it was hard to get through at times, but if you're looking for something that really gets into the meat of things, this is the book you're looking for.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful introduction to the Wicca religion: the author explains magic and spells with quantum physics. This is a book that tries to explain the "whys" of the religion and, less so, the "how-tos."

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Book of Shadows and Witch Crafting back-to-back, I have grown quite fond of Phyllis Curott. She has a poetic beauty to her words and worldview that I love. As a skeptic by nature, I find her views reasonable, even if I do not agree with them. With a prior framework to Gardenarian Wicca, it is refreshing to see the changes she has adapted to her own beliefs in order to align with a less rigid view of practice.

Personally, I do not prescribe to the religious aspects of Witchcraft, so this book was a little too spiritual for me personally. But what else should I expect from a "Spiritual Guide to Making Magic"? That's on me. I still was able to gather a better understanding of magical practices as a whole and there were plenty of quotes I wrote down to keep in mind for my own magical journey.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone trying to cultivate a deeper relationship with Divinity/the Goddess and God.

"So the Wheel turns. We end where we began, to begin again. The cycle is the same, but we are changed, and will change again, for this is the magic of the Universe..."

[Bianca Beland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid guide to American Witchcraft and Wicca through the eyes of a once-skeptic. It tries to explain witchcraft through exercises and explaining the why behind them, but I feel like it may have fallen short in some places, for me personally.

All in all, however, an easy and entertaining read and definitely helped me build my understanding of American Witchcraft and Wicca (although I likely will not become a Wiccan, myself).

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be an incredibly invigorating page-turner for a beginner. As someone who is still working on their Book of Shadows, this book provides an amazing template, context, examples, and information to structuring one’s life down this spiritual path. There is a lot of information regarding Wicca and it can be very overwhelming. But this really felt like I was learning in a manageable way. Would definitely recommend.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Comprehensive guidebook” is a good summary of this book. I’ve had it on my shelf for a very long time and finally got back around to it. Definitely recommend for anyone picking up the craft, but there have probably been a hundred other similar books in the interim.

Curott is a High Priestess and the founder of one of the oldest Wiccan congregations in America; she knows from whence she writes. ☸️

[Daylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good book on spiritual aspect of Wicca. She does a brief overview on spellcraft and focuses mostly on building a spiritual relationship with The Divine. I wish the chapters were arranged a little differently but still a great resource, especially for those who are already familiar with the magic aspect of Wicca.

[Stefanie Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on witchcraft and magic that I've read thus far. The author is relatable and really explains the "why's" to the practice, the intention, and how the Universe works. I'd recommend this to both beginners and experienced practioners alike.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, warm, insightful and informative. One of the first books that I read on Wicca and still a favourite. A good mix of theory, anecdote and practical exercises for someone just starting out on their path.

[Airmoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anche se non siete della Wicca o se non siete interessati agli esercizi pratici è molto interessante e molto scorrevole per imparare le basi del paganesimo. Magari alcune cose si rifanno in special modo alla Wicca ma come infarinatura di base è molto piacevole.

[Bethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is always learning about witch craft and spirituality, this book was very informative.
I learnt so much from this book even after reading lots of different books on this subject, this is by far the most resourceful. A great book for beginners and for those with years of experience.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me, and I was very pleased with it. There is many forms of witchcraft, as well as other spiritual practices; and I think everyone can take something away from the book.

[Readgoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

action packed

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful information as a newbie to see what path I wanted to go on, but could have been a little more in-depth.

[Fortunata Ecate Kourotrophos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non è esattamente nelle mie corde, ma è un classico. Molto macchinoso e molto prudente... Non lo terrò sicuramente in libreria

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best!

[Sarah Herrle]

An excellent explanation of Wiccan belief.

[Aenea Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting in regards to spirituality, even for people like me, who can't really identify with the concept of Wicca, but still like to bring more intuition and spirituality into their life.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was THE book that helped get me moving into pursuing a better learning of both my beliefs, of myself and of my path. Worth the read and will never lend this one out! Lol Its MINE!

[Naz · Rating 3 out of 5]

read out of curiosity. i dont know how to rate it so here are three stars.