Happy Friday and welcome back to another book review!
After finishing ACOSF last week (peep the review here), I've had a bit of a book hangover. So I decided to take it easy with a lovely little nonfiction book that found its way to me via my local library's "premium" pickup feature—librarians curate a list of up to 10 extra books they feel you may enjoy according to your current holds and checkout history . . . for free!
Genre: Witchcraft and Spiritualism, Magic Studies, Personal Transformation + Self Help
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pairing: Almond moon spell cookies + honey & rose milk tea
Inner Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft by Gabriela Herstik is perfect for the “baby witch," seasoned witches of any background looking for a fresh perspective, women and femmes who want to add more magic to their daily lives, or those who are wondering wtf a witch even is or does. It is a practical guide that educates and empowers readers to be open and curious and to reach for something more.
Herstik’s conversational tone and organized format helps deliver an array of knowledge from different practices and cultures in a way that is not at all dry or intimidating, making it easily digestible for readers of all ages and backgrounds while also leaving room for their own knowing. Herstik provides app suggestions and a Further Reading section to help readers branch off and deep dive into subjects they feel most drawn to, so they may learn and grow even after they've finished these pages.
That’s not to say this is a one-and-done book, though. With helpful tables of correspondences on everything from The Wheel of the Year and the days of the week to things like herbs, crystals, tarot, and astrology, Inner Witch is a great tool to keep coming back to, making it a perfect addition to any metaphysical collection.
PARTS/SECTIONS I LOVED MOST
In the Combating Spiritual Materialism section, Herstik encourages readers to be mindful of the tools they use, where they get them, etc. This was, in my opinion, possibly the most important section simply because we need to bring more awareness to the facts that:
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to create your practices.
There is a lot of gatekeeping and attempted gatekeeping within the community, especially when it comes to “having” to have particular ingredients or tools in order to be a “real” witch.
Many plants are being over-harvested to the point of endangerment because of the “need” to have specific ingredients (like white sage) when there are actually many plants that can be used as a substitute that are much easier to access locally.
Sometimes items and tools are found at such a great bargain because of the shortcuts taken by companies and sellers to benefit themselves . . . which often means unethical sourcing and business practices.
I adore the way Herstik uses fashion to embody and connect with the cards, among other things. As someone who has never played much with fashion, there were quite a few things I had not considered trying but am now excited to.
On that note, Herstik encourages thrifting on more than one occasion—not only is it easier on your wallet and Mama Earth, but it can be a bit of an adventure to see what treasures you can score.
Moon phase journaling prompts! While I am a big fan of journaling in general, I love when books provide a sort of interaction for the readers; it adds to the experience as well as helps the lessons really sink in.
In short, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in magic, witches, and/or reclaiming their feminine power. It has something for everyone, no matter their age, background, or interests.
If you're interested in picking up a copy for yourself or a loved one, you can do so here, or request it at your local bookstore or metaphysical shop! You can also learn more about Herstik and her other books by going to her website or following her on Twitter or Instagram!
Read it already? Let us know what you thought in the comments below!
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