Earth Magic

April 27, 2020
Spiritualist Jones (Celebrity Ghosts and Notorious Hauntings) presents a thorough, approachable beginner’s guide to witchcraft and herbalism. She covers a variety of spiritual practices and supplies, such as spellcasting, crystals, moon magic, and herbs, with a focus on Wiccan concepts like the three-fold law and wheel of the year. Chapters open with a brief history of a given topic, tracing the etymology of common words, such as blessings, and highlighting shared beliefs, like the “golden rule.” Though Jones’s research is solid, there are some vague references to concepts like placebos and the “zero-point field” that lack deeper discussion of their scientific basis. Her structure also suffers from disorganization; for example, a section on potions and infusions comes early in the text, while the bulk of herbal guidance is closer to the end. Jones is careful to include health warnings alongside suggestions about herbs and oils, including dilution charts for oil blends. Correspondence charts and how-to guides also add practical applications, while captioned pictures and brightly colored section markers give the book a textbook design style. Would-be DIY herbalists who can look past some execution flaws will find this a decent primer.