A Victorian Grimoire: Romance - Enchantment - Magic

by Patricia J. Telesco

Secrets to a Romantic Way of Life

Like a special opportunity to rummage through your grandmother's attic. A Victorian Grimoire offers you a personal invitation to discover a storehouse of magical treasures. Enhance every aspect of your daily life as you begin to reclaim the romance, simplicity and "know-how" of the Victorian era--that exceptional period of American history when people's lives and times were shaped by their love of the land, of home and family, and by their simple acceptance of magic as a part of everyday life.

More and more, people are searching for ways to create peace and beauty in this increasingly chaotic world. This special handbook--Grimoire--shows you how to recreate that peace and beauty with simple, down-to-earth "Victorian Enchantments" that turn every mundane act into an act of magic...from doing the dishes...to making beauty-care products...to creating games for children. This book is a handy reference when you need a specific spell, ritual, recipe or tincture for any purpose. What's more, A Victorian Grimoire is a captivating study of the turn of the century and a comprehensive repository of commonsense knowledge. Learn how to relieve a backache, dry and store herbs, help children get over fears of the dark, treat pets with first aid, and much, much more.

Cover collage by Sandra Starck
Cover photography by Michael Yencho

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

362 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1992

About the author

Patricia "Trish" Telesco is a professional author with more than 50 metaphysical titles on the market.

Trish considers herself a kitchen witch whose love of folkore (and a bit of Strega) flavor every spell and ritual. Her strongest beliefs lie in following personal vision, being tolerant of other traditions, making life an act of worship, and being the magic!

Trish travels minimally twice per month to give lectures and workshops around the country. She has appeared on several television segments and maintains a strong, visible presence in the public through journals like Circle Network News, and on the internet.

Her current pet projects include supporting pagan land funds and coordinating spiritually oriented tours to Europe.

Telesco began her Wiccan education and initiation on her own, but later received initiation into the Strega tradition of Italy. She is a trustee for the Universal Federation of Pagans, a member of the Authors Guild, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and a professional member of the Wiccan-Pagan Press Alliance.

In March 2012 her husband, Paul Telesco, was diagnosed with a tumor on his brain stem. Since that time, Telesco has been focused on raising awareness and fund-raising

Reviews

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Victorian Grimoire" is exactly what it purports itself to be: a collection of Victorian-inspired spells, chants, and inspiration for the aspiring kitchen witch or the seasoned practitioner of the arts. Although I don't considered myself a follower of these practices, this was a fun book to read for anyone who's interested in letting a little bit of Victorian-infused romance and magic in into their life.

On a side note, I found it very interesting that adding gloves and umbrellas into the spell or enchantment is a thing.

My thanks to Netgalley, Llewellyn Publications, and the author for opportunity to read this book for a review.

[Karen Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read . I must admit that I had not read the synopsis of this book carefully enough and once I read about the Wiccan and pagan side of this book I was a bit concerned. No worries though, it is more about the magic in everyday life, beauty, nature and a wellbeing approach to life as lived by the Victorians. Well researched and makes some interesting points.

[MissMythie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely chock-full of information and a reasonably fun read. The author is definitely coming at this topic from a Wiccan perspective and the contents are set up to be a "low", casual alternative to high or ceremonial magic, although she does have several rituals in there too. Definitely a survey of possibilities, some of which will absolutely need more dedicated study in order to effectively practice, especially in the divination section. Holds up reasonably well for a ~25 year old book.

I appreciated that she made sure to throw in several commonsense warnings in just about every section: that your personal experience trumps anything found in a correspondence table, that magic is no substitute for actual medical care for people OR pets, that you should consult dedicated guides for toxicities and such, and that if something about a certain magical path doesn't feel right, you should avoid it. She also included advice to keep doing research and double-check things represented as "fact", which I always find a good sign in witchy authors. I do think she was missing a few warnings, like lead and quicksilver/mercury being toxic (they show up a few times in her folk simples) or that asking for a favor is probably not going to get best results when contacting deities for the first time.

Some stuff I have issues with: there's a reasonable amount of mix-and-match, call-on-random-deities-associated-with-your-spell's-purpose invoking, which goes against quite a bit of advice I've previously seen. She has a lot of DIY instructions for things like making soap or dyeing fabric with natural dyes at home that should really be researched more heavily because they're more complicated than that. Many of her recommended activities for magical living seem to take quite a bit of time, or are meant to be refreshed after short, regular intervals, which may be difficult to do if you're a solitary practitioner with a regular job, like I am. Her primer-appendix of basics for magical newbies is very Wicca-focused, which may be less helpful if your magical inclination runs in a different direction, as mine does.

Be aware of occasional uses of the g*psy slur, and some casual ableism of the mental health direction in the Love and Sex chapter ("we cannot hope to really share our lives with another until we, ourselves, are whole.") Your Mileage May Vary at the chapter on children and the ways to include children in your practice.

Overall, I found it a good read with some interesting ideas, but some sections I will be pretty much dismissing wholesale. I would not recommend as your first dedicated magic book, but it's not bad for the research-inclined witch reasonably new to their practice.

[Kim Degener · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute gem! A Victorian Grimoire is full of magical information, ranging from the lore of common household items to honoring the Wheel of the Year, herbalism, correspondences, spells, divination, and rituals, all presented in a very positive manner. You can learn everything from the language of flowers to circle casting to making poppets. This would be a wonderful addition to any magical bookshelf! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy for review.

[Taj · Rating 1 out of 5]

i REALLY expected to like this book. combining Victoriana and a Grimoire. sounded awesome..
however
by page 7 (yes SEVEN) i was TOTALLY turned off by gross inaccuaracies on something incredibly simple.

Seriously, if you cant get something basic and simple correct WHY would anyone in their right mind expect anything Else in the book to have any use. All things spoken of were then suspect. (ok the recipes for cookies might be allright)but thats NOT what i bought the book for.

and in case you are wondering what set me off... if i may quote."Unlike their finery" (referring to jewelry)", fabric colors were rather bland untill after 1900. The most popular colors were crisp blacks for winter & whites for summer although variations of dark blue and grey were also common. Color itself was questionable and disreputable. Too much ornamentation or color was considered a sign of easy virtue...."
WHAT A LOAD OF HOGWASH.
total garbage..
the Victorians ADORED COLORS - i have seen ELECTRIC PURPLE in an 1860s dress. they used the rainbow for their wardrobes. in fact by modern standards much would now be considered rather garish. Yes, after Prince Albert died Widows mourning became quite 'the thing' in Queen Victoria's honor but that was Specific. not their 'favorite' thing.. (& if you dont believe me go to pinterest & look up a year - say 1860s or 1870s dresses and see for yourself)

Now this may seem like a quibble but if you cant get something as BASIC & EASILY disproved as her comments are correct - i have to ask = is ANYTHING she writes worth perusing??
i put the book down on page 7 and have had NO interest in reading it since..
if you get the book you decide for yourself. personally am getting rid of it.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I really love the cover photo of this book. This is the very first thing I check before signing up for a review and I am quite impressed.

If you are fascinated by the folklore and history of the Victorian era, you will enjoy this book. It explores the old-fashioned customs and modern new age practices that are influenced by this period. It also enhances your appreciation of magical realism literature by explaining the origins and meanings of some common elements. The book has a captivating section on how fans were used as a form of communication and expression by Victorian ladies.

Whether you love history, magic, or home cures, you will enjoy this book on your shelf. The tea concoctions are especially fascinating.

#AVictorianGrimoire #NetGalley

[Ishieta Chopra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise, and set in a time that was a mixed bag, in my personal opinion.
It is an informative book that covers many topics from the magick-witchy-superstitions-beliefs from the Victorian times.
It covers a basic introduction of these topics, without getting into the depths of all of them. This basically makes this almost an encyclopedia for anyone wanting to know what was popular in those times, and how people perceived them and used them.
For example how gloves evolved from being just a garment to being a tool for silent communication.
I also found the chapter on Gardens, which was a detailed one, to be quite interesting and gave me a pause.as I contemplated how people in the victorian times incorporated so many ideas into this one space.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apparently written for people who actually want to try curing warts/casting love spells they way their magical gran-cestors did.

[Leah M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Crossed Crow Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really intrigued by the sound of this book. The chance to see what a grimoire from the Victoria era might have looked like, and learning more about everyday magic from that era was something I couldn’t resist. I still have fond memories of the books my mom gave me about the Victorian language of flowers, and they had such a wonderful scent to them. I wonder where those books are …

This isn’t the kind of book that I’d recommend you read cover to cover, yet when reviewing a book, that’s exactly what I do. It was a tough job, and took me a ridiculously long time. Part of that was my fault, but I’m going to insist on sharing the blame with the book itself. It’s exceptionally dense. I was expecting a lighter read, and was surprised to see how much information is packed into this book.

I was surprised to see how much of the material was focused on America, since I automatically associate the Victorian era with England, and didn’t even realize that there was a Victorian era in America. I love when I learn new things from books, and when they motivate me to look things up independently to learn more after getting curious. The author also encourages readers to find ways to incorporate magic into their lives in so many tiny ways, and lists many ways that readers can do exactly this. And she inserts plenty of her own real-life experiences, which I love seeing in a book like this. I always like when I get a feel for how the author finds ways to make their everyday life magical.

If you’re a beginning practitioner, or someone just starting in the craft, this isn’t the book for you. While each of the rituals or spells seems simple, they are deceptively so. They each involve a number of items for preparation, setting up the circle, doing the ritual, and closing it out. There are some factual inaccuracies in there, and it honestly felt as though the book wasn’t edited beforehand. I was shocked to see the author suggest that readers put garlic powder in their dog’s food, or feed their dogs fresh garlic, since that’s toxic to dogs. The book needs to be thoroughly edited. I also got a little uncomfortable about the mixing and matching of deities in the earlier spells, since it felt too culturally appropriative for my liking. It played out a bit later, when “Cabala” [sic] was discussed as playing a role in magic and tarot, yet the Jewish roots of Kabbalah, a closed practice that requires intensive and devoted levels of study, was completely erased from the discussion, only the Christian references to it were mentioned.

Overall, this was a hit or miss book for me. It kind of fell right in the middle, with many of the spells being very involved, involving a lot of items and complex steps that wouldn’t necessarily be reasonable to follow. I did enjoy seeing more about the language of flowers and how the people of those times also assigned certain meanings to various classes of items around them, but this isn’t going to be one of the first books I turn to in a pinch.

[Kelly Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Victorian Grimoire by Patricia Telesco fulfills its promise to provide readers with enchantment, romance, and magic! This beautiful book blends history and folklore with ideas for everyday magic, uncovering the “unadulterated magic…that danced and wove its spell throughout every fiber of the Victorian era.” Telesco, who is both a writer and an herbalist, reveals that the Victorian era was about more than repression. She situates the time period at the crossroads of the mystical and the modern so that readers can apply past traditions to the present day.

The book features well over two hundred chapters and is divided into sections that include Victorian Symbols, Celebrating the Wheel of the Year, Cooking Magic, Magic throughout the House, Personal Care for the Body and Spirit, Romance, and Lullaby. The author also provides an appendix that compares “then” to “now”, an appendix of modern enchantments, and a glossary of magical terms. This is the kind of book best purchased in print so that readers can flip through the chapters according to their interests and desires.

Telesco argues throughout her book that “real magic can be something unpretentious, soft, and part of every corner of our reality.” She encourages readers to find magic in the mundane routines of life, offering cozy and inspiring tips that anyone of any faith can follow. I absolutely loved her presentation of the Victorian era and her approach to enchanting life with everyday magic. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the 19th century and how its lessons and symbols remain relevant to a 21st century audience. This is a book I will return to often!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

[JoyReaderGirl1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Research and reference dense, “A Victorian Grimoire,” compiled by Becca Fleming provides a short history of the Victorian-era of the mid-1800s to about the turn of the century when England’s Queen Victoria reigned, the US Civil War divided a country and the industrial revolution began mechanizing and streamlining commercial production, along with brief snippets of common social interests of the era, herbal remedies, crafting projects, and some ritual practices—although, personally, I am skeptical about the later being attributable to the Victorians.

Granted, it is a known fact that spiritualism, mediums, theosophy, seances, mesmerism, Egyptology, mystic orders, secret societies and all things esoteric were in fashion with high society in Victorian circles. Famous individuals like Author Arthur Conan Doyle, Illusionist Harry Houdini, Occultist Aleister Crowley, Theosophist Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, among others were all known attendees or leaders of some of these types of organizations.

However, were everyday housewives practicing witchcraft? Casting spells? Were they members of covens? Possibly a few, but I personally don’t think there were many. The memory of the burning days of the recent centuries had to have been branded into the memory of most commoners very clearly.

Although this “grimoire” offers an extensive bibliography at the end, it is not footnoted for specific attributes, which would make those sections clearer and less ambiguous. Poor people still had a lot to lose in the 1800s. Any reader of Charles Dickens understands the daily horrors faced by those scrimping to get by. The rich could shrug-off their eccentrics.

Furthermore, this volume is completely black and white and text dense. The few illustrations included are line drawings. I just found this book lacking in many ways. It appears to be one person’s collection of many collected tidbits of information.

Although, just a student of history with a fascination for esoterica, rather than a practitioner of any white or dark arts, this just doesn’t read like a grimoire in any true sense of the word—although it does include some esoteric recipes/receipts.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Becca Fleming, and Publisher Crossed Bow Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

[Jaclyn Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Victorian Grimoire" by Patricia Telesco is a text I did not initially recognize as essential to my reading list, but I am grateful for the discovery. 🩷🌸

As an enthusiast of history and the Occult, particularly in relation to Magick practices, I find Grimoires to be particularly engaging.

This book is chock full with spells, correspondences, the superstitions prevalent during the Victorian era, and much more. It contains an extensive amount of valuable information.

Despite its substantial length, which I colloquially refer to as "chonky," the reading experience was enjoyable. I intend to, and have already begun to, incorporate several of the spells and various Magickal insights into my daily practices.

The reading experience was akin to a temporal displacement to the past (TIME TRAVELLLL), providing a profoundly intriguing and enlightening journey.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Victorian Grimoire had some interesting historical tidbits--not as much as I'd hoped, and some were a bit... well? Elementary...or maybe even unnecessary. For instance, the table of Lunar terms, featuring "Llewellyn terms" particularly was worthy of an eyeroll. *tsk*. Our Victorian ancestors used the same names for the moon phases, so there was no need for that translation (for lack of a better term). I'm not sure whose decision that was hers, or the publishers but it was unnecessary. Nonetheless, little nitpicky things aside, I enjoyed the book.

[Claudia Loureiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOvE this book! It was out of print, so I bought a used copy. I use this book more as an encyclopedia than a typical guidebook for Witches. It is one of the most thorough resources I have found, and is usually the first book I pick up when a magickal need arises!
This book offers a new way to look at history and magick. It's beautiful illustrations and bits of poetry give it life. It has a lot of helpful hints and tidbits, and is a great addition for anyone that wants to expand their views on magick.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book for practitioners of all magic/magicks! The Victorian period was a time of great awakening for magical practice. This book covers so much! This is a "how to" and why. This covers divination of all kinds such as, moon spells,poppets,jewelry, stones/crystals meanings,herbs, and more. There are a huge number of spells and recipes. The Victorian Grumpier is appropriate for beginners as well as advanced practitioners. Perfect for eclectic witches, and lovers of magical history!

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the free book in exchange for a review!

I love reading this book because it had many witch practices from the Victorian era and I liked how it differentiated from some of the other witch books I read. I liked how the book showed different types of practices and spells, how the Victorians would have used the Spells, and where they got their ingredients. The book was clearly split up into different chapters so readers could easily find what chapters they wanted to read and any spells they wanted to learn about or do!

[The Starry Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

A big portion of this book focused on gardens, plants, and herbs which was too similar to Telesco's other book 'The Victorian Flower Oracle.'

There are many books like this on the market that discuss ways to infuse magic into everyday living. I'm not sure what made this specifically Victorian?

There really wasn't anything new in this book that pagans, witches, or magical folk wouldn't already know about.

[Weslyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me forever to read. It should have been a much shorter book. As many have already pointed out, there are inaccuracies about the time period as well as a multitude of typos. I flagged a few sections of interest towards the center of the book, but I could have done without the first 50 pages or so as well as the last 100 pages. I’ll still be referencing the sections on herbs and gardening, but this book should have been edited better.

[Juli Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been picking at this messy weirdo of a book for over a year and I'm finally through. I don't even know where to begin in recounting my thoughts here, except to say this is for the real deep-diver. There's just so MUCH information here, and so much that would be far better served in other contexts. This whole book is just running off messy vibes. I added a star because I found reading this book amusing in some strange way.

[Beth Mayfield-House · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my Aunt Beth gave this to me to read, she told me not to read it from cover to cover. Did I listen? Well, sorta. I actually became quite interested in the appendixes and read all those first. It is a good reference tool -something to skim through and bookmark for later use. I see what my Aunt Beth meant now. Not a "good read" in the traditional sense, but more of a good tool.

[Sarah-jane Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley

I really enjoyed this Grimoire from Patricia Telesco. The book is well written and full of information ranging from the common lore of households items to honouring the wheel of the year with herbalism, spells, divinations and rituals that are all presented in a positive manner. Definitely a book to add to my magical bookshelf .

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you NetGalley and Crossed Crow Books for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*

This Victorian grimoire is everything I wanted it to be and more. Would be a beautiful addition to any occult collection.

[Sharline Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a very subtle magical family book. I would definitely recommend this book for a wiccan/ spiritual family.

[MarryAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got this book I wasn't sure what to expected, but I did not expect it to be such a complete book, perfect for anybody who wants to know more about magic and it's history

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my usual type of read but I was intrigued by the front cover and the synopsis, which suggested (to me anyway) that it was a study of how the Victorians would use Magic in their day-to-day lives.

While the book does achieve this in parts, it seems more of a traditional grimoire, with spells, rituals and helpful tips for those practising modern Wicca/Witchcraft.

I'll be honest, and admit that the reason why I can't rate this book higher than 3 stars is because I have no real interest in modern Wicca/Witchcraft (like I said above, I came into this hoping for a more history-based book, rather than spirituality) and struggled to finish reading it.
But, you can feel the author's passion for her subject matter and, as I flicked through some of the later pages I was struggling to sit down and read, I couldn't help but notice that there are some good ideas to help with mindfulness.

[Lena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most complete book I've ever read or seen. I'm totally blown away and in love with this book.

I was born gifted with spiritual gifts 66 years ago and a witch. This book has everything from crystals, flowers, how to set up your garden, recipes, fan magic, scrying, wheel of the year, cleaning, divination, personal care, love, children and so much more. You will totally be amazed by this book written by a talented author, Patricia Telesco.

There are illustrations and everything is written quite clear so you everyone can understand. This book is for anyone that is interested in the spiritual journey, spells, witchcraft, wanting to kmow more reference. Get a copy for yourself and as gifts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book (via E-Book) in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Victorian Grimoire by Patricia Telesco fulfills its promise to provide readers with enchantment, romance, and magic! This beautiful book blends history and folklore with ideas for everyday magic, uncovering the “unadulterated magic…that danced and wove its spell throughout every fiber of the Victorian era.” Telesco, who is both a writer and an herbalist, reveals that the Victorian era was about more than repression. She situates the time period at the crossroads of the mystical and the modern so that readers can apply past traditions to the present day.

The book features well over two hundred chapters and is divided into sections that include Victorian Symbols, Celebrating the Wheel of the Year, Cooking Magic, Magic throughout the House, Personal Care for the Body and Spirit, Romance, and Lullaby. The author also provides an appendix that compares “then” to “now”, an appendix of modern enchantments, and a glossary of magical terms. This is the kind of book best purchased in print so that readers can flip through the chapters according to their interests and desires.

Telesco argues throughout her book that “real magic can be something unpretentious, soft, and part of every corner of our reality.” She encourages readers to find magic in the mundane routines of life, offering cozy and inspiring tips that anyone of any faith can follow. I absolutely loved her presentation of the Victorian era and her approach to enchanting life with everyday magic. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the 19th century and how its lessons and symbols remain relevant to a 21st century audience. This is a book I will return to often!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Victorian Grimoire is an absolutely gorgeous and extremely thoughtful title that explores witchery as it existed in the Victorian era and how those ideas carry through to today. Telesco artfully explores all the ways we can find magic in the mundane, and how our homes and spaces are imbued with it. Her applications to magic are practical, and the ritual practices highlighted in the book are simple and make for an extremely accessible approach to magic for the everyday witch.

I'm a huge fan of Telesco's, and this title was as much of a hit as I had anticipated it would be, A Victorian Grimoire should certainly be a staple for any magical bookshelf.

[Naoise Nickolay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just reviewed A Victorian Grimoire by Patricia Telesco. #AVictorianGrimoire #NetGalley

I can see myself buying a hard copy of this book. It has a lot of history and symbolism associated with Victorian life that has a place today. The ritualistic side is less appealing to me personally but it would not deter me from buying or recommending this book. I can see where much of the folklore is also relevant to Feng Shui, which is a topic very close to my heart. Overall I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Net Galley.
[NetGalley URL]

[Shirley Andrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Presented Information

The author discusses the various aspects and history of the craft during the Victorian era. She states that the Victorian era was full of magic, from the focus on the stage magician and mind readers to the subtle symbolism embodied in what they wore, how they stood, and even what they said.

She provides a list of each month and its corresponding birthstone, along with their attributes. She discusses the magical calendar, the types of foods prepared, rituals, and other annual observances.

I enjoyed reading this book, exploring the rich culture of the Victorian era and reading about all the various herbs used to teat and heal so many illnesses. This book is full of so much information and is great reference material. I highly recommend it.