The Witch at the Forest's Edge: Thirteen Keys to Modern Traditional Witchcraft

One of the interesting aspects of the book The Witch at the Forest’s Edge is there is a Self-Assessment at the very beginning. The author asks the reader to reflect on where they are at this moment. I loved the approach as it literally starts the readers off thinking about what they hope to receive from the book and the teachings. The writing is fit for both the novice and advanced practitioner. However this is not a witchcraft 101 style book. If someone is brand new to the path, they might want to brush up on basics first.
 
To give some insight on what to expect within the pages, the book is broken into thirteen chapters. These include: Worldview and Spirituality, Communing with Spirits, Spiritual Ancestry, Intuition, Cultivating Spirit Senses, Creating Ritual, Hedgeriding, Divination, Theology, Green and Local Craft, Practical Use of Magical Theory, Spellcraft, and Magical Ethics.

After each chapter is a section for reflection. These thought provoking questions after each section help deepen subject and journaling the answers is recommended. The book feels more like an instructional course with each chapter covering a specific subject. A novice should read all the chapters in order but if the reader has been practicing for awhile, they may skim or select the chapters of most interest.

One of the things this book is not is a spell book. If the reader is looking for a book to skip to a page with a listed spell, this is not that book. This book is more about honing in your practice and relationship with the wild world around us. There is no defined set of rules or specific deities that the reader is asked to work with. It is simply looking inward to form your own path and relationship with nature.

I really enjoyed the book and feel that no matter where the reader is in the path, this book holds something for all. I recommend for anyone who feel the call of the forest and the magickal secrets she keeps.

~review by Amber Barnes

Author: Christine Grace
Weiser Books, 2021
pp. 224, $16.95