Power and resistance, that's what Feminist Witchcraft is all about. Witchcraft gives us the power to act, and resistance is that power in action, which makes it an excellent weapon in the fight against old patriarchal norms. As author Susan Harper insists, feminist witchcraft has been a political force from the very beginning. Through this book, she explores the topic on how to make 堵ood trouble・ through spell craft, ritual, and interacting with the body politic, and healing the damage done by patriarchy.
Her inspiring work explores multiple traditions of feminist witchcraft, including her own. She lays the foundations for a personal practice, and provides ideas for creating spells and meditations, and practices that heal the self, the earth and society as a whole.
One of the things that struck me is the idea that women experience the Goddess, that she is here with us in the here and now, and how observation of our surroundings is all we need to connect to her. In contrast, patriarchy's expectation of the Divine is one of separation and supplication. We all know the old tales, man falls, (usually through a woman's disobedience) which separates man from God. To attain forgiveness, God requires sacrifice and obedience.
Therefore, women are stripped of their sacredness and their power. This places her in a lesser role due to some mythical original sin. Feminism, connected to witchcraft, creates a holistic system that heals women and places them in equity with their brothers. Because of this, witches are empowered to speak their truth.
I had hoped that Harper would include more witchy activism. I would have loved to see more information about marches, non violent protests, volunteering in the community, and encouraging people to vote, along with spells and rituals for success; perhaps encouraging someone to seek office. Feminist Witchcraft gives the seeker an excellent start in developing a practice, healing and learning more about the Goddess within, but I wish it had gone just a little bit further. Anyway, I look forward to reading more of her work.
~review By Patricia Snodgrass
Author: Susan Harper
Moon Books, 2025
79 pp $12.95
