Enchantments: A Modern Witch's Guide to Self-Possession

by Mya Spalter

Caroline Paquita (Illustrator)

A wise, witchy, and welcoming guide to living life magically

Mya Spalter has spent years among candles, herbs, cats, and spells as an employee at New York City’s oldest occult shop, Enchantments. Since it would get crowded in there if all of you visited, this beautifully illustrated book will be your guide to its secrets and stories; in the process, Mya will introduce you to some mystical concepts you can use to build spells and rituals that resonate with your own personal style, including:

• Create and maintain altars Even people who aren’t spiritually inclined seem to be able to get down with the beneficial function of an altar as a place to model beauty and balance in their lives. It’s aspirational. 
• Save your love magic for yourself Because casting a love spell on someone else is pushy and far too easy to mess up. 
• Clean your filthy apartment Fine, maybe you make your bed every day, but Mya’s talking about the kind of grime you can’t necessarily see. 
• Money magic for need, not greed Hint: It starts with tipping well; it doesn’t pay to be miserly when asking the universe for abundance.

Mya reveals the power of colors (Louboutins wouldn’t have the same status if their soles were lavender), the keys to banishing unfriendly spirits (with cleansing rituals or even a dance party), and invaluable instructions in the timeless arts of astrology, tarot, and finding a parking spot downtown.

Open up this book and enchant your own life!

Praise for Enchantments

“Hilariously conversational, deceptively deep, and phenomenally illustrated, Enchantments will blow your mind and make you laugh while imparting expert knowledge of witchcraft and why it’s so needed today.”—Natasha Lyonne, actress and producer

“Imagine that your best friend, a supremely cool, funny, and irreverent person, is also a witch willing to educate and inspire you toward your own witchy practice with humor, sass, and intelligence. This book is magic—literally!”—Michelle Tea, author of Modern Tarot

“Part memoir, part recipe book, and part poetry collection, Enchantments lets readers in on the great secret of all witchcraft—that being a witch is about being free to be yourself.”—Dorothea Lasky, author of Milk and co-creator of Astro Poets

“We can all use more magic in our lives in these trying times, and Enchantments will help us get started.”—Kimya Dawson, singer/songwriter, The Moldy Peaches

• ISBN10: 0525509658
• ISBN13: 9780525509653
• Publish Date: 9 October 2018
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 21 December 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Random House USA Inc
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 256
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780525509653

Reviews

[Jo]

Enchantments by Mya Spalter is another book that I discovered simply from following other witches on social media, rather than one that came up in my own research. And it's bloody brilliant! It seems to me that I'm finding the books I really need through recommendations are simply putting out into the world. Just like with Light Magic for Dark Times by Lisa Marie Basile, Enchantments has been a bit of a game changer for me.

While it's another guide to witchcraft, and covers pretty much everything I've read in other books, what makes this book stand out is Spalter herself. Enchantments is written very much like a conversation Spalter is having with you. She's not just telling us about the various elements of witchcraft, but relating it to her own practice, offering examples from her own life to explain certain things further. Enchantments is just such an accessible book because of Spalter's down to earth, friendly, and approachable vibe. She cracks jokes, and is also very encouraging in regards to readers and their own practice. I'd actually say this is a pretty awesome book for those interested in practicing witchcraft to start off with, specifically because of how Spalter has written it.

But Enchantments specifically made a difference for me because of Spalter sharing her own practice. She has quite a versatile approach to witchcraft. She gives an example of a money spell, and how she would do it. One of the herbs required is orris, which is quite difficult to get hold of, but orris is a root of a particular iris, so she cuts an iris from her garden, puts it on her alter, and considers it represented, even if it's not within the money powder she's creating. When she discusses altar set up, and representations of the various elements, she goes through the chalice, the wand, the athame, the pentagram, but then she goes into how she does things.

'I love to discover the purpose and reasoning behind the ritual choices that other people make, but what excites me about magic and witchcraft is figuring out the nature of my own ritual choices. My way represents water with... water. In some kind of vessel, of course, but I don't keep one in particular for the purpose, even thought I just told you that your ritual items should be set aside for spiritual work only. I do what I want! I tend to choose the vessel to suit the day, the mood, the purpose I have in mind at the moment that I'm setting up. I have two of my great-grandmother's champagne glasses, and they can become chalices whenever I desire. If I'm working on some kind of new apartment spell for a friend, I have been known to use a mug that looks like the classic New York "We Are Happy to Serve You" coffee cup because it reminds me of the three of cups in tarot a card that often represents sharing in joyful abundance with friends. But I only mix it up like that because I love hunting around for the perfect little thing. You might not! In which case, it is totally fine to just rock the same altar items no matter what you're doing.' (p8-9)

These are just two example's of the many Spalter gives from her own practice, but these are the two that stick out for me. While all books talk about finding your own path, and how it's your intent that really matters, rather than what you use, and to use your intuition, they all tend to follow a specific way of doing things - which led me to think there is a specific way of doing things. But Spalter's way of practicing magic has opened my eyes to the fact that it really is your intention that matters, and that and your intuition should guide the how and the why. I keep mentioning my fragrance sensitivity, and how I can't use incense, essential oils, or most herbs, but with Enchantments, Spalter pretty much says, "That's ok, use something else." I didn't realise I was feeling a little overwhelmed about the "right" way of doing things until Spalter showed me there is no right way, and I started to breathe a little easier. Enchantments has just made me feel much more confident in adapting and altering as I need, and going with my gut, my intuition, and making my magic work for me.

With this in mind, I really couldn't recommend Enchantments enough - especially if you're really new to witchcraft. It's a fantastic introduction, and, I believe, will make readers feel at ease.

[Beth C.]

Written by a long-term employee of the New York store, Enchantments is...not your typical "how-to" guide for any sort of witchcraft. There are no strict "you must do it this way" rules set down. Rather the whole book is a guide on how to make a practice that suits you, rather than trying to make yourself suit the practice. There is a bit of language, but nothing more than what you might overhear walking on the street. The attitude is very laid-back and encouraging, and frankly, I sort of like how I felt encouraged rather than inhibited. I will say - I wish I lived closer to the store, because after reading this, I'd love to go in!