Title: Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies
Author: Jason Miller
Rating: 4/5
Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller is an in-depth guide to working and forming a bond with different types of spirits. Since I work solely with my ancestors, I thought it would be beneficial for me to pick this book up. This book was a fantastic resource, but it is definitely geared towards advanced practitioners. I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of books I have read this year. After drowning in a sea of beginner and mediocre books, I have found more insightful and intermediate books being published that enlighten and expand the boundaries of my craft. I feel that CS is more on the advanced side of the spectrum, which is surprising since I have yet to encounter a book that I would label as such. Perhaps since witchcraft has become more mainstream, the acceptance from big publishing houses and bookstores is becoming more welcoming to our craft as more than a taboo hobby.
In the first chapter, 'What is a spirit?' Miller takes us on a scholarly journey into the history of a spirit, from its earliest notion as a separate individual entity to the belief that spirits are energies or thought projections and back to the original individual. This section reads very academically, but this useful information forms the parameters of what we view as a 'spirit.' When discussing categories and organizations, I like that Miller poses questions about spirits as a sentient consciousness I had never thought of before. For example, Hecate is a commonly known and researched spirit, but is our knowledge of her all there is? Does she not change and have thoughts and behaviors that are all her own that we, as mortals, are not privy to?
In Chapter 2, the reader is introduced to the different layers of the world: physical, etheric, astral, symbol, mental, causal, and perfection. I'm not going to lie; this is where I started getting a bit of a headache. I'm college-educated, but I hit a block when it came to mental and beyond. Don't give up on the book if you are frustrated like me. Skip ahead and read the rest of the chapter. When you've given yourself time, return to that section with fresh eyes and give it another go. Some high-level concepts in this book take some time to absorb.
Where I run into doubt is his use of force in summoning spirits in Chapter 3. I understand his reasoning: how can you force them to leave if you can't force them to appear? But that still chafes me as heavy-handed. I work with my ancestor's spirits. I would never force them to do my bidding against their will. Perhaps this is more important if you plan on working with demons, but I feel that this is a great way to make a horrible start. The spirit you summon will already hate you. The moment your bidding is done, what is to keep that spirit or demon from hunting you down and wreaking havoc on your life? Spirits don't have the same limits as humans. They are one group of people that I would never want to piss off. Then, the author continues by discussing conferred authority, where one is encouraged to evoke a powerful deity or saint's name to protect oneself. That only works if you have that deity's permission. Otherwise, you can call yourself Diddlyboo working with the powerful BooBookins, which will make no difference to the summoning spirit. Thankfully, Miller goes on to say that working with a spirit is preferable; however, I believe it should be the only way.
Consorting with Spirits was a challenging read for an intermediate witch like me. It felt like I was delving into literature for a college-level psychology class: doable but not entirely pleasant. This is not a criticism of the book, but a testament to its intellectual depth. I learned a lot, but I also grappled with new and unfamiliar concepts. The pursuit of knowledge should always push you into new realms, and this book certainly did that. If you're like me and want to deepen your craft, I highly recommend this book. It's not an easy read, but it's incredibly informative. Take your time with the concepts; I'm sure you'll find this book as rewarding as I did. Consorting with Spirits will remain on my bookshelf as a valuable resource for many years to come.
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