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When you think of a witch, what do you picture? Maybe you imagine cool teenage girls like in Sabrina or The Craft or a sisterhood like in Practical Magic. Or do you see bubbling cauldrons and toads instead? As cool as pop culture witches are, that isn't what the modern concept of witchcraft has evolved into. It's about channeling and finding an outlet for your energy and intentions, honing your intuition, and reconnecting with nature.
I've been interested in witchcraft for as long as I can remember, but it was only in the last few years that I've spent time learning what it means in this day and age. That equals reading countless books, including the three in Skye Alexander's The Modern Witchcraft Introductory Boxed Set. If you're already experienced in this magical world, it likely won't offer much learning, but this is a great place to start for newcomers.
I Put a Spell on You
Photograph: Simon & Schuster
The Modern Witchcraft Introductory Boxed Set$51 at Amazon$47 at Bookshop.org$51 at Target
These aren't the first books by Skye Alexander that I've read. She's concise and clear-cut, packing tons of easy-to-digest information into a few hundred pages. It's less like deciphering an academic research paper and more like a friend explaining what you've been missing out on.
The three books in this set go well together but can be purchased separately too. The Modern Guide to Witchcraft offers a crash course on the history of the craft and different types of witches, creating sacred spaces in your home, navigating crystals and other tools, plus a section on spells. The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book goes in-depth on spells, herbs, crystals, and other ingredients that go with and can enhance each type of spell, and general rules of practice. Lastly, there's The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire, which walks you through the process of creating and using your witch's journal, as well as more explanations on tools, deities, and symbols.
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Each book can stand on its own, but that means there's an overlap on some topics. For example, every book talks about casting a circle while explaining how different moon phases are good for different spells and rituals. Some even include the same spells. This can be a little frustrating at times, but for the most part, Alexander changes it up enough to keep it from feeling monotonous. I like to think of them as textbooks for a class I'm grading myself on. Sometimes it was nice to have a refresher, and other times I skipped sections I didn't find necessary to revisit.
I’ve tried several times to find my path in witchcraft and manifestation, but every time, I dove in too hard and lost steam—it’s like starting a new hobby, spending all your money buying every accessory, and then dropping it a few weeks later. These books, through their simple explanations, gave me the guidance I needed.
A Witch in All of Us
Witchcraft can be intimidating and overwhelming for newcomers, and no book should be taken as gospel. You don't need books, fancy bowls, or bay leaves to write your desires on. You don't need altars and hundreds of dollars worth of crystals. Use what you have or what feels right to you.
OK, you might be looking at me as though I have three heads. As a kid, it was immensely fun imagining my fingers as a wand and hoping for things to appear out of nowhere with a swish and a flick. But as an adult, this world is about empowerment. I've identified it as a way of taking back control as a woman. The history of witches is intertwined with efforts from the patriarchy to control women, something we're still grappling with today. These books, and witchcraft in general, help me be in tune with my intuition and bask in my power.
