Light Magic for Dark Times: More than 100 Spells, Rituals, and Practices for Coping in a Crisis

I have more than one friend who will be receiving this book as a gift, and that says something, because normally I just recommend them. I bought the Kindle version because I had some digital credits - but I'm thinking an ACTUAL book is gonna be a nice addition to bookshelves, because (and I don't mean to make light of it at all by using this word) the book is DARLING. Really. Clean, fresh layout and great illustrations, with the kind of feel that will age in all the best ways. That's really a side-note, because the sweet self-help practices in this book are what's of most importance. Anyone experiencing one of life's many moments of frustration will appreciate these gentle, frank encouragements to step back for a minute, refocus, and reconnect. The "exercises" (if you will) are short and sweet, so even if you've found yourself in a moment of inability to get off the couch, there's something in here you can do (I speak personally, here). Modern witchery with a focus on self-care - the title COULD NOT BE MORE PERFECT. I put my ritual-witch self on a shelf for quite a while for a variety of reasons but I am now back in business. Lisa Marie Basile hits on so many of those "dark moments" so many of us encounter, and how to work through them in a simple, beautiful and intentional way. Materials required are really accessible. You won't need the fat of a child, toads, knowledge of ancient magic words, expensive witchy accessories or any of that for these practices (if you don't have a mortar and pestle, they're not expensive - and hey, here's Amazon, with plenty)... This book has grit and comes from the real world, from a writer, editor and woman whose personal life experience has infused this book with empathetic perspective. This is light magic for our dark times, indeed. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I adore this book. I'd been looking for a book that focuses on mental health with a dash of self-care and magic, and this covers all the bases and more. I find myself reaching for it like a favorite blanket. I'm a secular eclectic witch and I don't connect well with books that focus a lot on connections with deities and traditionalism. I struggle with chronic health conditions and I've had some negative life events that come up from the past to drain the energy from my present. I try my best to maintain a positive outlook, and some days that includes taking some time to dispel that negativity with a ritual or something similar. I love having a grimoire that targets specific events (Exhaustion after doing social justice work, depression, etc.) and it's easier than having to come up with my own rituals every time I feel like trying something new or different. I also feel that many of these could be easily adapted to suit other purposes, and the materials needed for the spells and rituals aren't significantly expensive. The author also gives meaningful alternatives and substitutions if you aren't in a place to buy something new or if you don't have access to the example materials (or if you're a particularly lazy witch, like me!). All in all, I highly recommend this and I think it's a beautiful and useful addition to any witch's library.

Can we talk about this book for a second? It's presence in my life this past year has been so healing. At this time a year ago I was sensing something about my life was off. I thought I was having a midlife crisis. I kept telling my friends, "I don't know what it is but it feels like something massive is about to shift." Then it happened. My husband left me and my world flipped. I refer to the months immediately after the separation as "the dark times." My bruised ego and the loss of companionship paired with learning to be a single parent and all the financial stress had me feeling a mess. Plus, my beloved cat of 14 years died at the same time. My grief was overwhelming. That's where this book stepped in. I was too tired and grief stricken to create my own rituals and find my own words. I needed something to lean on. "Light Magic for Dark Times" was there for me. Lisa Marie Basile wrote the book so many of us on a journey of healing need. Self love, forgiveness, shadow work, even loss of a pet...there's a healing ritual here for you. I continue to turn to this book. Lisa's words are a salve when I feel raw. They are written with cosmic kindness. Sometimes a book has such an impact on you that it feels impossible to describe adequately. That's how I feel about this book.

Update: I decided to return this for an exchange. I just couldn’t shake the icky feelings from the condition this came to me I . I’m updating to 4 stars because I do appreciate the beautiful work the author put into this book. It’s not her fault I got an icky one. Original review: I ordered this “New” and what I got has scratch marks on the front cover and something sticky and crusty all over the back. Soooooo gross!!!! I’m sure it’s a lovely book. I’m just totally turned off at this point.

There are many things I've loved about this book. The simple, charming illustrations and general aesthetic, the use of monochrome with hints of other colors more than harsh splashes of bright color, the philosophical stance on witchcraft and magick...there are many things old yet new that as a fellow witch I appreciated. It is especially well-suited to those of us with little to no collective practice of witchcraft, the eclectics and elementals, which is perfect not only for inclusivity, but as a nod to shifting realities in the worldwide Practice. I love how it still can introduce you to herbs, crystals and the like in a way that, if it is your first list, you will most likely come to rely on this and often find it confirmed. I am yet to try any of the spells formally, but I already have my eye on a few. You are encouraged to get this for any and all the reasons one would get a spellbook, but especially if you want something current, friendly and close to radical feminist praxis.

This is a charming and poetically-written book full of accessible rituals for self-care and healing. While there's something in here for anyone who wants to bring more ceremony into their lives, this book is especially good for people who are just getting into witchcraft, or who want to try some rituals but aren't ready for the whole Wiccan scene. I appreciated how doable all of the spells were (no expensive ingredients). I also really liked that Basile was careful to discuss intersectionality and the fact that people may be dealing with legitimate unfairness in the world; a lot of "spiritual" books kind of gloss over that, and I think it's something that's important to acknowledge. The book is also physically beautiful; it's well designed and I love the illustrations. I definitely recommend this book, either to buy for yourself or to give as a gift.

This book is not only a collection of personal curated spells & rituals but it a book written from the heart and THAT is what truly brings the magic within the pages to life. You can not only read but FEEl that Basile means what she says... these rituals, meditations, and self-care practices are powerful when you do the work and self-reflection they involve. Ritual helps us move through grief and this book has helped me assess, sit with, and gain perspective on my own struggles with mental health and relationships with family. On top of that, is it a beautiful artifact to hold in your hand. The soft pink cover is not on soft in hue but to the touch. There is something comforting in this wholly tactile element. The illustrations that accompany the words are spellbinding in their own right. You will find yourself entranced by simplicity, yet powerful, appearance. Get this book as a gift to a friend, loved one, witch, writer, and yourself.

Clear and concise, uplifting and empowering. The best time two start your magical life is now. The author has suggestions for pretty much anyone and everyone. Recommended reading for witches young and old, energetic and tired.

A book on "light magic" in its title seemed to be the best option for me. This book isn't on light magic, but says you should also tap into the darkness. That doesn't mean it isn't a good book, but it's a book written from the point of view of the practitioner, and not those that the magic is practiced upon. The clarity of language however is a reason I would recommend this book. Than I would also urge you to think for yourself and consider what it means that L.M. Basile writes with what may be the best of intentions. Her emphasis on first sight is on the protecting by shielding of the self. I would argue that if you don't give away but share your happiness by radiating it, instead of shielding it, it increases exponentially. She seems to mistake shielding for protectiveness, even though it radiates that the current situation is threatening, which in itself may draw people to attack. When you remain calm, friendly, and open, even by simply saying "Hello," people get you aren't a threat, may still find you or the situation stupid, but they'll leave you be. She does make clear what people say, also when they employ neutral language. A simple example as I've also found it on the Internet, is the question whether you're an empath. I always felt this was a strange question and that those that say they are aren't, because they displayed a lack of empathy. Please keep in mind that the book defines it, but doesn't necessarily promote it. As it turns out, "empath" means that they absorb your energy, not that they just feel it. This means that they suck your lifeforce out of you and your light turns off. People have done this to me on occasion and sometimes simply poisoned me with tainted drinks. I've had to resurrect my spirit and turn on my light thus often that I've developed resistance to those turning their lights off, that mean to suck the light out of me. The question remains, do they know what they are doing? The book officially does also illustrate the immediate punishment the "empath" suffers, meaning that their system doesn't just absorb your lifeforce, essentially it drowns in it. When they are without their light, they see everything through pure relations, but without content to what they see, in that good and bad are just symbols without meaning. This also means they don't understand and can't handle feelings. So, should you read this book? Definitely. You need to be able to guard yourself against dark practices. On top of that you are just as connected to the universe, even more so with your light on than with your light off. This book does show you what you can do, but you need to keep your light on to know what you should do. L.M. Basile can be right and can be wrong as she seems to be struggling with the meaning of her intentions. Just being born, but also with the advent of the DarkWeb, I have been presented with thus many strange sights and events, that I saw no other option other than to assume that the limits of reality are a little less clearly defined than I was taught. With this I don't mean the enacting of hell loops some tend to do. If you want some photographic examples of what I do mean, I recommend taking a look at the "Magic 1400s - 1950s" book published by Taschen. The photographs on uncovered sawing in half of human beings are telling. I can give you real life examples of people defying the laws of gravity in gym class and phase shifting universes with the universe putting people in place where they feel they fit most, with the architecture suddenly changing and all that, but I can't prove it. I can't make you witness it for yourself (as of yet). I get to see it differently on a need to know basis, so that makes it less accessible to you, contrary to this book. I also can't tap into it (maybe "yet"). Everyone that's into magic where I'm at seems to say they researched consciousness before entering the realm of "magic." They also all seem to turn their lights off to perform their feats and tricks. I for one would argue you need to keep your light on. Turning your light off like the author did leads to the disintegration of the self and the reality of identity. It's a quick hack to get to practice what people mislabel magic. Learning to do it with your light on will take considerably more effort, but adds meaning and a sense of self and identity to your life. Disintegrating the self and switching selves isn't positive and shouldn't be considered, nor encouraged like the author does. So read this book and figure out how to do the things that make life better for everyone with your light on, instead of turning your light off. Any book on white or dark magic teaches dark magic, this does too. It's not light magic, but it's a good read and opens up a view to the possibilities of the universe that underlies natural physics that most people seem to prefer to evade. I say, learn to do it with your light, so you are not tempted to turn it off. For Lisa Marie Basile, I hope she'll find the meaning of her intentions and learns to drop her shield when a day is just a day to enjoy. If the threat isn't already there, there's no need to shield yourself. If you do shield yourself, consider the parry tends to be followed by the riposte, meaning that you attack people that didn't threaten you in the first place. The voice of the narrator aims for high school students, but when you listen to what's said, it enforces certain pathologies and compulsions, also making decisions for others. For instance, you can't force your family to stay together from a moral and ethical point of view. If you love someone you sometimes have to let them go. This makes this read PG rated in that you read it together and reflect. To the reader: keep your identity ego intact and stay with your senses, also respecting the identity egos and senses of others. Respect people's private spaces. There is a substrate universe that underlies natural physics and we are a part of it, not one universe, but many. I hope you find yours.

A beautiful book. Print and design are very fine, delicate and meticulously aesthetic, and more than 100 of self-caring spells and rituals collected here are simple and straightforward in psychological, also poetic manner. It includes neither barbarous names of ancient spirits nor myth of goddesses. Instead, crystals, bath salt, mirror, a bit of paper are used for the personal, emotional and precious moments of witchcraft in daily life. Some old school Wiccan or so-called "Serious occult practitioner" may overlook the essence of this book at a glance, but this small beautiful book surely reminded me of the new phase of modern witch culture. Nowadays witches are naturally WISE WOMEN without any necessity of manbojumbo, but with deep insight, infiltrated knowledge and compassion, expressing and sharing their wisdoms in gently words of actuality. Highly recommend for beginners, veterans of witchcraft and all kinds of poet. Foreword by Kristen J. Sollee, author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists. Again, very beautiful book sufficient to keep beside.

This is the kind of spell book that I've been looking for! You could call the spells and rituals that are presented here as "spiritual self care" - you will use crystals and herbs and candles but the book teaches that the real power lies within your intention. I love the idea of conecting with the mythical to feel powerful and strong. This book treats magic as something serious - it's not one of those funny spell books that someone just came up with - it shows that magic is within everyone and everyone can use rituals to help feeling self love, or to feel empowered and strong. It's a lifestyle that conects you with nature and with your ancestors and with your own self. I loved that it's intersectional and mentiones cultural approriation as well - because there are actually some practices that we should have respect for and not simply adopt because it's "trendy". This is something that is very clear in this book: the respect for magic, for these rituals, and for the history magic has. In every culture and religion, you'll see special rituals and you could say that these people are practicing their form of magic. It's part of the human experience to want to conect with higher forces, and the beautiful message that you get in this book is that you have this force within you, ready to be used. This book includes beautiful illustrations, helps you figure out which essential crystals and herbs you might want to get - but always making sure that the materials used aren't too exotic as to not be too expensive or difficult to find - explains the use of the materials and has specific instructions for spells. It's beautiful and really nice to use and follow along. Very glad I purchased it!

Great book

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book discusses trauma generally, mentions sexual assault. Also mentions that some of the spells/rituals/practices could be triggering, such as shadow work. I've seen Light Magic for Dark Times by Lisa Marie Basile mentioned online quite a few times, and so decided to check it out myself. I'm so glad I did; this book is fantastic! Firstly, Basile makes it clear from the beginning that this book isn't aimed at witches - it's for everyone. Whether you consider yourself a witch or not, whether you're religious or not, whether you've cast spells before or not. It's intersectional feminist magic, and incredibly inclusive, no matter how you identify. It mentions femmes, polyamory, disabled people and chronically ill, there is a nod to asexual and aromantic people - 'Romantic love is not the only kind of love--it's reductive to say it is, especially given that everyone has a different way of experiencing love and desire.' (p42) Several times Basile mentions social justice work, and fighting for the marginalised, and also mentions at the very beginning that we shouldn't appropriate from closed cultures. And for specific spells, there are various ways of doing things in order to be accessible to people of varying abilities. 'Although these spells, rituals, and practices can be used by everyone, I dedicate this book to women, femmes, and anyone who has been systematically marginalized or silenced. Witchcraft has long been a tool for the oppressed to use to achieve automony and receive divine guidance, and I want to recognize that.' (p12) I loved how accessible Light Magic is, considering how easy the spells, rituals, and practices are to get started (while not necessarily easy emotionally, especially when it comes to things like shadow work). While most of the books on magic and witchcraft I've read so far in my fledgling study, require herbs, essential oils, incense and crystals, in Light Magic, the spells, etc., for the most part, require things you will definitely have in your home. There might be a herb or two here or there, maybe a crystal or two, but you really wouldn't need to buy an awful lot to engage with it. Basile gives a list at the very beginning of the book of all the tools needed, in total, for all the spells, etc., collectively, and considering there are over 100, the list is pretty damn short; 11 items, not including a few journals, five different crystals, and candles in four colours (but potentially other crystals or candle colours in case you wish to swap things out). A lot of the time, all you really need is a pen, paper or a journal, and a candle. Basile also mentions that you can remove items or skip certain steps, or even swap items depending on what your intuition is telling you. Considering this, and that only very rarely is a herb needed, with my fragrance sensitivity, this is actually the first book I've read where there are more than two spells mentioned I can use myself. In fact, I can use every single one of them. There is a is a very strong focus on self-love and self-care - especially if you've experienced trauma or loss - and looking after yourself, and it's just so gorgeous. There is so much love in this book! Basile has written it with such kindness and empathy for those reading who may have experienced terrible things. It felt very much like a love letter from Basile to the readers, giving love, support, compassion, and understanding. While this isn't memoir, Basile occasionally mentions her own practice, or experiences from the past, just a couple of lines, here and there, but enough to show that she gets it, that she herself has experienced trauma. Because of that, there's also this element of trust; she knows what she's talking about, and therefore, her spells, etc. - that she has used or still uses herself - can be counted on to help. At the time of writing this, I haven't yet tried any of the spells, etc., because I prefer reading from cover to cover first, but even so, simply from just reading this book, I felt at ease with myself. There are questions about yourself, your experiences, your feelings throughout that Basile encourages you to consider and even journal about. While I haven't journaled about them yet - though I will be - just considering them briefly as I was reading brought up things that weren't so great, even without digging too deeply. And yet the way Basile has you question, and think about what comes up, comes from such a place of love, that even those brief seconds here and there, as I read the book, led to me finishing the book feeling happier in myself and about myself. This book is remedial, it's restorative. I can't even begin to imagine how I'll feel after I've actually dug deep and done the work. Light Magic for Dark Times is an absolutely incredible book, and it's perfect for anyone with an interest in magic, self-love and self-care, or who is struggling in the dark. I cannot wait for Basile's next book on magic, The Magical Writing Grimoire.