Bewitchments

Presented as a collection of love spells adapted from multicultural folklore, the author asserts that the book is meant to help the interested reader bring new love or new relationships into a person's life. Bewitchments is a prime example of one of the many books that bring down the overall quality of what is offered to Pagans.

Documentation was poor. The bibliography only offers material printed by Llewellyn, she does not indicate where she got her ideas from, and the bibliography conflicted with the text itself about where she obtained her information.  While she claimed that the spells were provided for historical interest only, the substitutions and alterations indicated that most of them were fabrications based on modern Wiccan spellcasting format, as did the recommended phrasings of spells and the symbolic associations. As well, McCoy referred repeatedly referred to learning from a cuarandera without explaining how she came privy to the woman's teachings, nor did she make distinctions about the types of Mexican witchcraft practiced culturally, and how it differs from Wicca.

The high point of her material was covered in the beginning of the book when McCoy offered tips on using body language to attract a mate, as well as basic maneuvers gleaned from self-help books for finding a partner. The rest of the book consists of spells, organized according to a table format that indicates whether or not the spell is manipulative, as well as a point scale that indicates exactly HOW manipulative the author considers the spell. Materials suggested are easy to obtain, and enacting the spells are simple enough. At the end of the book is an appendix listing correspondences and herbs, but it again has the flaw of not explaining where or how McCoy determines her associations.

There is at present an abundance of book on love spells for the seeking Seeker. So many, in fact, that chain bookstores offer their own versions and editions of love spell books on their bargain racks. Those bargain books are a much better buy than Bewitchments.

~review by Diana Rajchel