Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven

by Jaya Saxena

man. “Yes,” says Boniface. “Not really,” he snaps back.) When she shared the results on her Tumblr, the post went viral, and other women re-created the experiment to much the same results. Gaining (or regaining) control over your self-confidence isn’t easy—it feels almost out of your hands. Patriarchal culture needs women to stay anxious, on edge, and constantly seeking approval, and grants the power to give that approval to men only. But Boniface has given us words of power: Yes, I am. Thank you, I know. This spell builds on those simple, positive statements and can help incorporate loving (or not hating—baby steps!) your looks as a powerful part of your witchcraft practice. Go outside on a clear day when the sun is high, ideally sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Choose a quiet and peaceful outdoor spot where you feel at ease and where you’ll be relatively alone. (If you live in a city, don’t worry: people being a bit weird in public parks usually get a wide berth.) Find a spot to sit, or remain standing if you prefer. Hold up the mirror with its nonreflective surface toward you and its reflective surface toward the sun, so that your face is in shadow. Say the first compliment on the list out loud: for instance, “you have