Book Review: The Words of the Witch

Title: The Words of the Witch: Writing and Speaking Your Magic

Author: Ember Grant

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications

Copyright: 2024

Rating: 5/5

Today, I will review 'The Words of the Witch' by author Ember Grant. As I stated in my "Mythology for an Everyday Life" review by Ember Grant, she is a teacher, and her writing shines because of this. She uses simple, easy-to-read language but uses a lot of notations to back up her words. I love the extensive bibliography in the back of her books. I always find many books I'd love to read to continue on a specific subject. The book is 219 pages long, including 35 activity lists for the reader to practice. I am writing this review as I read the book, so I hope you're ready for an in-depth and perhaps long-winded review.

Part 1

The beginning is mostly a history. I love the quotes that she chose for each Part heading. There was already a lot of new and interesting information here. For example, I loved learning about the Roman bath curse tablets. I had never heard about them before, so I went on a side quest to hunt down some more research on them. I also love that she takes the time to explain the difference between amulets and talismans. It's small, but it always frustrates me when people use them interchangeably. Same as warding and banishing. Different purposes and uses have different names. So, I think it's a good distinction to make for new witches and to correct some intermediate witches. 

Part 2 

In part 2, the author explains the differences between blessing, prayer, spell, and affirmation. I enjoyed how Grant demonstrated how to alter an existing chant or song into a spell. Many people feel daunted at the prospect of creating their own spells. This technique would be an easy way to ease a new witch into spell writing. She further shows the reader how to adapt that same spell into a prayer, invocation, etc.  

When the author began explaining stanzas and couples, I was transported back to high school, learning about Shakespeare and reading the Canterbury Tales. Her career as a teacher definitely shines through in part 2 of her book. Grant explains rhythm, repetition, sound frequency, diction, and tone and how they can all enhance the readers' spell-writing abilities. I appreciate her section on taboo words and how they can heal or hurt. That is a powerful notion that a witch making a spell should consider. 

"A whisper can be powerful: a shout can lack conviction." Pg 71 

In chapter 10, I found the information about Christian sermons to be fascinating. I often wondered about that because most poor peasants were illiterate, and all of the Christian texts were in Latin, and the sermons were in Latin. But it was just the strange sounds that were felt as holy to these people. They evoke a reverent feeling in them. I find myself like that today. K-pop enthralled me from the first time I heard a song in 2009. Now, living in Italy, I find myself gravitating to certain Italian songs. There was one called "Due Rose" by Tiromancino ft. Enula. I had no clue what it meant, but it pulled my heartstrings every time it played on the radio. At one point, I even had tears in my eyes singing along because you could feel the passion in their words. That girl sang like it was her last day on earth, and I FELT IT. So, it was a small comfort to me to hear that others can be affected even when they don't understand the words. I always thought I was alone in this.  

Part 3 

"Sometimes in our magical practice, we become so concerned with the herbs or crystals, the timing, or the color of the candle that we forget the power of the words themselves; they are conduits for our will and intent." Pg 109 

Now that we've learned how to formulate a spell or chant, part 3 discusses the materials used to write it. I enjoy that Grant brings attention to the materials because that often gets overlooked. I could easily write my spell on a printer piece of paper with a regular ballpoint pen, but there is something extra satisfying about using tea-dyed paper and a fountain pen. While not necessary, you must admit that it gives an extra feeling of 'witchiness.' And I especially loved the recipes for homemade ink and paper. I made walnut ink in college for an art project, and this reminder made me smile.

Personal Image taken by FoxDenCurio of Celtic engravings on animal bones at the Ireland National Museum of Archaeology in Dublin, Ireland.

This section also dives into unusual materials for writing a spell, such as writing on ethically sourced bones or even your own skin. These alternative materials broaden your mind to what is possible. Even though I have seen Celtic carvings on old animal bones, it never crossed my mind to do the same. Perhaps I'll try on a chicken bone? Even the idea of a tattoo as a spell is fascinating to me. I know some witches tattoo sigils on themselves, but it never really sunk in that it's a spell. Even Otzi the Iceman had tattoos covering his body 5000 years ago that were thought to be a form of pain relief. The tattoo associations also fascinated me. I've never even considered that putting a tattoo in a specific place or side of the body could make a difference magically. I should have, though. I know that rings have a particular side or purpose on their hands.  

I did have a major chuckle when the author suggested that signs such as 'Live, Laugh, Love' could be a type of spell. I understand the logic behind it (words you see every day become a subconscious mantra), but the mental image I received of telling some Southern Baptist that her sign is witchcraft absolutely sent me. 

Part 4 

The last part of 'The Words of the Witch' is a hodgepodge of different things that didn't fit into the rest of the book, such as names, numerology, ciphers, and magical alphabets.  

I loved this book. Even though I learned poetic structure and writing styles in high school and college, The Words of the Witch still surprised me with the new knowledge I gained. I can't begin to describe how often I stopped reading to google more information on a subject or topic that Ember Grant mentioned. The author kept me hooked from the very beginning. I would consider this an intermediate book due to the amount of information I have never encountered on the internet. However, I highly recommend this to a beginner because it explains so much that I think it should be foundational information. I repeatedly clapped when the author would take the time to explain things so no appropriation would occur and to include as many different cultures as possible. You can see her teaching experience come through to be clear, concise, and inclusive. 'The Words of the Witch' by Ember Grant is a book that I plan on gifting for both new and experienced witches.