It has been a long time since I sat down to write.
There is an odd comfort, like a warm embrace from a past lover, laced with a foreign feeling of no longer knowing who they are as intimately as you once did. The passion? Oh, the fierce passion is still there though.
My fire, my torch, my words are all still here, right where I set them down.
I have been forced into silence, hibernation, reflection.
Many of us have.
Admittedly, on my part, some of it is pure escapism.
Some of it is the sheer surrealism of our current reality.
This year, oy, this year! 2020 has seriously been a year for the record books.
Between everything that has been happening on the world stage; political, social, and economical and with how that has affected each of us individually
ALONG WITH
Everything that has happened to each of us individually in our personal lives/worlds (I do not know a single person having a “great” year),
we are burnt tf out.
It is like the collective is holding their breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
As an individual with CPTSD, this is such a familiar space and feeling for me; not that it makes it any better or easier for myself, or the rest of the world.
We are held up in our homes, and even though we may be understanding, it does not change how we may feel.
Like many of my readership I did not have to make many drastic life changes when the pandemic started because, well, introvert for life!
I was, however, infected with CoViD in March (as was my Mother) and have since been through the ringer regarding my health.
Currently, I have Lyme disease and a broken foot and toe from an accident at home.
The message from the universe has been clear—slow down, work smarter not harder, make your work work for you, and most importantly, turn to Witchcraft and your Spiritual practices NOW more than EVER.
With all that said, here is the reason I am sitting down to write today:
I figured it is the perfect time to introduce a new feature to my blog: book reviews.
For transparency, some of the books on the roster to be reviewed have been because I was approached by Publicists.
I *do not get paid* to promote books, nor do I personally get anything out of it besides a copy of a book here or there.
The opinions expressed are my own.
If you have any books that you would like to be featured, please send me a message.
One of the main reasons that people reach out to me and seek advice is to ask for book recommendations.
I love to read, and I have been diving back into study since the Universe wants me to rest.
So, this is a happy medium, for me. I am still a Creative, after all, and create I must.
Today’s book is ‘The Power of Hex: Spells, Incantations and Rituals’ by Shawn Engel
You can find her on IG here
You can find her Publisher here
You can purchase her book here
If you know my work, you know that I am not against Hexing, or any kinds of Baneful Magick.
I believe it should be done ethically (I know, this can be debated as being subjective but, I digress..)
I also know, you’re probably thinking, “what the fuck, Jac? You’re literally hexing someone. How can that be ethical?”
Well, my reply would be, we have all met “hex happy” Witches who think that every little thing requires some jinx, cross, curse, or hex and I am just like…
So, before I get into my review of content let me say that aesthetically, this book is otherworldly! It is hardcover, easy to read, with beautiful illustrations and text throughout.
I admit at first, I thought this book was going to be a hot mess; not because of Shawn personally, whom I have been following on IG for a while, but because of the topic.
How could this topic be approached from a non-colonial perspective, as so many Witchcraft topics often are laced with undertones of Patriarchy, Capitalism, Misogyny and White Supremacy? How could ALL forms of this Magick (hexing) be covered, or attempt to be covered? How could this Author ARM WITCHES with knowledge and practical methods without giving *too much*?
Yes, there is such a thing as too much, and that line must be crossed by the individual Practitioner through their practice, not through a book. The journey into the Void is the most personal journey we take as Occult Practitioners.
However, this book can, and will, aid you in knowing what to do when that leap into the Void happens and/or you are faced with adversity.
This is a book that should be in all Witches’ libraries
Shawn has covered every single base in these 128 pages.
She goes over history, from many traditions.
She covers ETHICAL HEXING; when, how, why.
She talks about HEXING AS ACTIVISM: fuck yes.
This book is rich with information, spells, and it is one of those that you can grab, and because it is written like a Grimoire, you can just open to the page you want, and your spell is right there.
I do not want to give away too much because, duh, I want to support Authors and I want you to go buy this!
But all of the boxes have been checked in this book.
I have read it three times through so that my review could be honest, and I mean *really honest* even if vague.
Image: Jaclyn Cherie
Here is an excerpt courtesy of Shawn Engel and Chicago Review Press, copyright 2020.
‘To Hex or Not?’
“Whether a hex is necessary is something that you will feel in your gut, but there should always be a cooling off period before you perform the hex. Taking an example from everyday life to illustrate this, consider some of the gun laws in the USA: a seven-day waiting period is imposed between the time you buy the gun and when you actually own it. This is intended to curb the potential for crimes of passion. Hexing calls for a similar self-imposed waiting period. I know it may seem dramatic to compare hexing to gun ownership, but I can’t stress enough how powerful the act of focused intention can be when it is backed up by rage. So, if you’re a lover scorned who was just cheated on by her ex, take a break before you hex.
To make issue as clear as possible: when you are deciding whether or not to hex, consider the environment in which a hex may be appropriate. The approach should help you distinguish between actual oppression and merely something bad that has happened to you. It will take some dedication and forethought, but this approach should help clear away any confusion around whether the subject of your hex deserves to be locked away or is just a human being who acted unfavorably.
When deciding to hex, it can be helpful to ask yourself some basic questions. Did this person hurt you or others? And, if so, did they do so with malicious intent? Did this person continuously harm you or others? And, if so, did they do so with malicious intent? The key here is to define intention and willingness to change, and then you should be able to decide if it is worth hexing that person.”
Image: Jaclyn Cherie
Within the pages of this book, Shawn empowers her readers to safely hex, and to use this taboo form of Magick as both defensive and offensive Magick which is an imperative lesson.
This is the perfect book for personal and collective change in these tumultuous times.
Magick is activism.
Hexing is activism.
Witchcraft is activism.
I’m here for it.
Go support a fellow Witch and buy this book.
You will not be disappointed.
Blessed Are The Witches.
