Light Magic for Dark Times

Light Magic for Dark Times by Lisa Maria Basile is the modern-day witch’s guide on magic. No there aren’t any spells for winning the lottery or making someone fall in love with you, but there are spells on how to empower yourself…in a confident and feminist way. What I most loved about this grimoire was that the spells all featured ways to alchemize negative emotions and states of mind into positive healthy vibes. I have never actually read a spell book that emphasized personal growth so this book was a lavender breath of fresh air. The spells and rituals featured help you to cast a shining light upon those parts of yourself that you have hidden away, much like the woman healers of the past (whom we call witches), who had to hide themselves away to avoid persecution. Society today can often times feel as though we are being burned at the stake, and Light Magic for Dark Times will help you realize that a little self-care is the magical potion you need so you can brew some positive changes in your life.

If the point of witchcraft is to bring about practical change, this book is revolutionary. Modern day grimoires focus heavily on traditional magick such as creating love potions, protective amulets, and so forth. What’s missing from those spells are a modern and relatable context. In Light Magic for Dark Times there are spells for saying no to labels, to end loneliness, to recharge after doing social justice work, and rituals for going with the flow, to celebrate yourself after you’ve lost confidence, releasing parental resentment etc. I was particularly drawn to the lunar rituals being the moon-child I am, and I plan on performing the new moon rituals this month. The spells and rituals are categorized under Love, Grief and Trauma, Negativity, Regeneration and Recharge, Identity and Body, Shadow Work, Writing Magic, Last-Minute Light, and Finding Your Craft.

The beauty of magic is that it doesn’t require a lot of tools or objects. What is required is self-awareness and a willingness to grow, which are the key tools needed in this grimoire if you expect the spells to work. Sure a piece of rose quartz is recommended, along with some basic candles, but the essential materials required for the spells are a few moments of silence, a comfy chair, and a paper and pen. Basile’s writing background comes across strongly throughout this book as the majority of the spells and rituals require journaling. This book is the perfect companion to Basile’s Luna Luna Magazine which is of the same essence.

The luminous thread that bound this book together was self-care and personal empowerment. Being a modern-day witch is less about pentagram necklaces and black cats and more about honouring thyself through meaningful intentions and sacred work that makes a difference in a time when it’s becoming harder and harder to find the light. Even if you don’t identify as a witch or spell caster, read this book anyways, because if you are a woman trying to navigate her way through the murky waters of 2018 and beyond, Light Magic for Dark Times will become a very handy paper familiar.

The  self-loving ritual is worth the purchase by itself. 

This book has a specific audience and that's okay. The way Basile expresses herself through her guidance and suggestions will soothe the mind, body and spirit. This is not some teenage girl wanting to mimic The Craft asking you to call on the elements with your coven to summon the Devil, this author is grounded and practical offering advice on how to use certain materials to process, heal, and transform your trauma into positive energy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not realizing the true focus of this book when I requested it, I feel a bit out to sea in terms of doing a review in my own words. So I will quote the Publisher’s Note here, while granting LIGHT MAGIC FOR DARK DAYS a 5/5.

Light Magic for Dark Times offers inspired, easy-to-do spells to be cast when your world is descending into chaos and darkness, or to help prevent it.

Having a hard time finding that light? Need to manifest strength or conviction in the face of trauma and division? Want to send healing vibes to a friend—or a group of people who need it? Luna Luna Magazine’s Lisa Marie Basile shares inspired spells to be cast during a crisis or to help prevent one.

“Spells and practices in this book include:A binding spell to combat social burnoutA seashell spell to protect a loved one or a groupA lunar light ritual to welcome new beginningsA bathing ritual to heal from griefA three-candle spell to find strength in the face of trauma
Accompanying the spells are informative sidebars about the cultural and historical background of witchcraft and spellcraft. 

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine. 

#LightMagicForDarkTimes #NetGalley

light Magic For Dark Times is an amazing book that explains how to do rituals, what to use and why. It is not a book on politics, thank goodness as many are. This book is about you and how to help yourself using different  techniques.  It has everything you need to write spells, cleanse yourself prior to rituals, loving yourself and working with candles, crystals, essential oils and so much more. Too many ways to write about them all. I brought so much away with me that I am so excited to try them all. I received this book from Net Galley and Fair Winds Press for a honest review and no other compensation.

Light Magic for Dark Times is not your typical spellbook. Author Lisa Marie Basile focuses on magic for self-care,.  The rituals included are not like your stereotypical spells: they include crystals and candles of course, but add journaling as well as baths. Basile aims at helping you love yourself, love others and balance your dark side.. A fresh and easy read, Light Magic for Dark Times helps ground yourself when times get tough.

This is a neat book full of different ways to help, heal and honor yourself and others. Using everything from meditation and journaling to symbolic tokens and drawings, Lisa Marie Basile demonstrates how setting intentions, facing things head-on, deciding on a course of action and following through, and using creativity and imagination can help us let go of and/or invite various things into our lives. Love it!

A ver good and intersting book, different from the usual spellbook. It talks about self care and it’s full of clear expectations.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC!

I have yet to try the spells, but just by reading the book I already feel much better. We all have magic in ourselves, we just need to find ways to use it. Lucky for us, the author does a great job here explaining everything in a very easy way to understand. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Empowering. 

That is the word that comes to mind when I think of this book.  

I haven't had the opportunity to make use of everything in this book yet but I am really looking forward to doing so. 

Highly recommended.

One of the most important facts about this book is stated in the introduction, this book is not about magic and witchcraft, this book is about self-care. And that is exactly what it is. There are rituals to ground you, rituals to promote self-love, to get comfortable with the idea of loss or even death, to make time for yourself, for your self-care, ... 

It seems like there is a ritual for nearly every negative moment in your life. This book shall help you to focus your energy onto yourself or people you care about. 

By ritual, the author does not necessarily mean hours of preparation, drawing a magic circle, calling the elements, using thousands of strange herbal ingredients, anointed candles and so on. You can do that, but most of the rituals include a few household ingredients every woman has at home, or none at all. The rituals are easy to follow and all of them are supposed to make you feel better, be a better person, to empower you in yourself.

Mysticism is a path of deep study often traveled alone. To have Light Magic for Dark Times accompany you not only mitigates the lonesomeness but returns vigor to the journey. It is one of many ways to heal yourself from emotional and physical harm, to make yourself better.

This book is an outline of earth religion rituals, reframed for modern times and lingo. It is gentle and positive. Most of the spells and rituals require few things that you would not already have, the theme here is self care. The author pulls from a variety of earth religion traditions so the content is fairly eclectic. The graphics and paper color are all calming. I enjoyed it quite a bit and had no quibble with the content. Best for those in need of a self care regime.

I had been looking for a book focusing on this topic for some time, but as a novice in the field I had not found one both simplistic but illuminating enough for my needs. This beautiful little volume, however, delivered everything I required.

This began with an introduction to spellwork that was both simple yet instructive and gave me all the basis I needed to continue and practise the spells detailed for myself. The spells themselves were simple to carry out and focused on a disparate series of needs, so all readers could find the solution for almost any area they required help with.

I feel I can not give this book a full five-star rating without gauging the outcome for each spell but all I have so far carried out have been, let's just say, enlightening.

This book was actually very interesting!  The spellwork was easy to follow and the scenerios to use it were explained.

I like to study all types of things. This book is in my opinion is not about magic or witchcraft. It is a book about ritual and the process of ritual to make things happen and change your thoughts and ideas about things. Just doing something and thinking about what you are doing and why can manifest it to reality. This book helps with that with the setting up of candles, crystals or just a cup of tea, your mind is preparing and thinking good thoughts or how to change the situation. I liked the rituals for Saying Goodbye to Something You Lost, Comfort over the Loss of a Pet, Lightening a Bad Mood and Growing Love of Nature. These are all basic and easy to do and all directions are simple. I really liked this book and the way it is presented and written.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first spellbook I've ever read, and I was not expecting the simplicity and practicality of the rituals that were presented. 

So much of this book is acknowledgement and validation of big feelings about things that we as individuals cannot control, while simultaneously bringing the response of the individual down to a tangible act that roots the individual's response in a physical place and time. There is fire, and water, and attention to the body (not all at the same time, necessarily), along with words to focus thought and attention.

For anyone not interested in mysticism or ritual, there is nothing here to convince you any of this "works." You are not the target audience of this book; it was not written for you. This book was written for people who are looking for ways to ground their intentions and experience in something they can touch or do, and this fascinates me.

I expect this book will be very encouraging to the people who need it.

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to review a digital copy.

Incredible resource for the modern witchy woman or person! I loved the rituals Lisa Marie described in this book.  They were super relatable and accessible for people whether they had limited funds, were new to the craft or experienced in working with magic.  The topics were very relevant for today's political climate and social media driven world.  These are two huge things that have created a resurgence in all things magical as woman in particular are looking to empower themselves and people in general are trying to "connect" with something tangible instead of just digital. The "spells" are very easy to follow and even if you also practice a traditional religion they can be used in a mindfulness/self care way. I loved that she focused on working on your shadow self as this topic can be intimidating and is not as discussed as the "love and light" movement.  I did receive this book from net galley for review, but I will be purchasing it for myself to keep as a reference for my own spiritual practice. Highly recommended!!!

I enjoyed this selection more than I thought I would.  It does have spells for various things but it also explains how to do them and why you might want to.  I loved the Lunar light one to usher in new beginnings in particular.  The other thing that I found really welcoming was that the author really focuses on self-care using all kinds of methods including journal writing and baths.  Great book!

A beautiful self care resource for those interested in magic. The layout of the book is aesthetically appealing (in the digital version I received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review) and the spells feel straight forward and intuitive. There weren't too many required materials which is appealing to the beginner or minimalist who wants to learn something new without having to invest heavily in many new tools.

Light Magic for Dark Times is a book of spells for the modern witch. Don't feel comfortable with that? Then call it a book with rituals similar to meditation helping one to get through life's events such as grief or trauma, to learning to love yourself or simply send good vibes in the universe.

I admit I was surprised by this book as I am not familiar with any spells, rituals or practices, but I found most of them quite easy and harmless, although the skeptic in me is taking them with a grain of salt. At the end of the day, this book is about helping yourself.

I appreciate the author saying that it's not important to have all the materials needed for a spell or the exact color for your candle - it's the emotional value or the meaning we give to things that matters.

4/5

Solid, informative, and a no-nonsense book for the witches inside us.
If you need a little pick-me-up spell or even something to help you contemplate yourself/your life, this book would be the answer.
Easy to find, easy to use, and it even said that you don't have to buy every single tool listed (like, fr my broke ass couldn't afford sum crystals lol)
Cheers!

This is a feel good book and its very authentic. It allowed me to step down away from my rigid perception of what makes a witch and broke open the self loving pamper me witch who is a real person who is investing the same amount of energy into conducting her rites as someone who needs a rats tail. She is young, she is knowledgable and navigating the health and beauty department with increased zeal. Her interest are cropping up in the grocery store: aroma therapy, essential oils, rose water, all because it is her own heart pulsing  the vitality it feels at the sight of renewed life thru scent. Scent!

What other senses need rejuvenating? Will light magic for dark times illuminate the way?

These are beautifully written and easily understood spells. Sometimes books like this feel forced but the writing was smooth and the spells felt usable.