The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts [Paperback]

Judika Illes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2004

A comprehensive reference book for witches, historians and anyone fascinated by the occult.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Previous publications: Earth Mother Magic: Ancient Spells for Modern Belles (Fair Winds Press, 2001) Emergency Magic! 150 Spells for Surviving the Worst-Case Scenario (Fair Winds Press, 2002) Spells: The Anthology (Seventh House Publications, 2002)

About the Author

Judika Illes' introduction to magic and mysticism was at 6 years old. She became a professional tarot card reader in 1988, became certified in aromatherapy in 1999, was a tutor at the Australasian College of Herbal Studies, and has taught multi-cultural studies, world mythology, tarot and magic to children and adults. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1108 pages
• Publisher: Element Books Ltd. (March 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007164653
• ISBN-13: 978-0007164653
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.6 x 2.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Mythology & Folklore
  • #26 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Art
  • #31 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Religion

More About the Author

When I was six, my older sister brought home a deck of tarot cards. I took one look at them and fell in love. Around the same time, I heard (and loved) the Rolling Stones' version of Benny Spellman's song "Fortune Teller." Either or both of those experiences may have been what started my career. I have been a student of metaphysics and the magical arts ever since.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

210 of 215 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recomended Book of Spells. The Ultimate!!!, June 19, 2004

By 

El Brujo "Brujo Hechisero" (Lowell, Ma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts (Paperback)

Destined to be a classic. The Only Book on Spells You Will Ever Need.

This Book is not a Book on "Wiccan Magick" , although Wiccans who are not fluff bunnies, and are more open mided to learning could use it, and benefit greatly from this Book. It is a book on Folk Magic, from Brujeria, Santeria, Espiritismo, From Latin America, To Egypt, and other ancient cultures, from around the world. Many of these Earth-Magico Cultures do not believe in the concept of "Karma" so many of these Spells would be shunned by Wiccans. With that said.. I Love this Book. I hope the Author does a similar book on Magical Ceremonies and Rites and Passages.

There are little books of spells, cheap book of spells, and so so book of spells, well this is the Ultimate Huge Tome of Spells. An Encyclopedia of Magical Spells from around the world, this book defiantly belongs in every Witches bookshelf. Over 1000 pages of spells, baths, infusions, the spells range from everything from Santeria, Strega, Vodou, Spiritism, Brujeria, Shamanism, and traditional Witchcraft. Unlike other spell books, this will defiantly be of great usage to its owner. One of the best Book of Shadows ever printed. The Tome, because it is Huge has everything from Banishing, Cleansings, Baths, Protection Spells. Everything from Seances, to calling on Spirits of Nature, from White Magic, to Black Magic, and everything in between. Here is a preview of the table of context.
Spell casting, - Ritual and Tools, - Animal Spells - Banishing Spells - Business Success Spells - Cleansing Spells, - Court case, Legal, Justice Spells - Death Spells (Yes there is much on Black Magic, for those weak of heart) Ghost, Necromancy, and Vampire Spells. - Divination Spells - Domination, Influence Spells - Dream, Astral, Nightmare Spells- The Evil Eye - Fertility Spells - Safety Spells - Gamblers Spells, and Charms - Happy Home Spells - Healing Spells - Hexes and Curses - Invisibility, and Transformation spells - Love and Seduction Spells - Luck Spells - Marriage and Divorcee Spells, - Money, Wealth, Prosperity and financial spells - Children Spells - Protection Spells - Psychic powers - Summoning Spirits - unblocking spells - weather spells, and trust me, so much more...
A person would have to spend allot of money, on many books and still would not get half of what this book has to offer.
I have to give much praise to Judika Illes; this book will defiantly be one I will use for many years. This is my first book by this author, and know I have to purchase her other works. But I can not recommend this TOME enough, it is defiantly a must have for all Witches, and brujos. For all that you get in this huge book, the price is excellent, and very affordable. The Spells are simple and traditional spells that were used by our ancestors and are still effective today. No where will you get a book like this. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would.

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Potions, Charms and Ritual than merely Spells..., December 16, 2004

By 

S. Ferraro "Feminist Media Fan" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts (Paperback)

but very, very good.

I first came across this book while killing time in a mall bookstore. I was intrigued by the information listed on the cover and promptly came home to look up the author and the book. While Ms. Illes' website didn't contain as much information as I'd hoped for, it did give me enough insight into the author that I felt I could trust her work. The reviews I found online were also helpful. I returned to the bookstore and found a comfortable spot where I could sit and study the book in more detail.

The cost of this book, while not outrageous or unjustified, was high enough to make me cautious. When I purchase a book I do so with the long term in mind. I rarely get rid of books once I've bought them, so it's important that they be well worth keeping around. And this book is definitely worth keeping around. The majority of my books spend most of their time on the shelf, this book sits next to me at my desk. I reference it, use it, or just skim through it at least once a day.

The organization of the book is absolutely wonderful. If, for some reason, I can't figure out which section to go to from the Table Of Contents, I need merely flip to the index to find precisely what I need. Both Index and Table of Contents are very thorough and logically arranged. In particular the sub-heading feature of the Index makes finding things ever so much easier.

As the title of my review indicates, I found the book to be less a 'spell' book than a 'potion' book. Not that this is a bad thing. In fact, I was rather looking for just that. The included Formulary, that gives you the instructions for making War Water, Black Cat Oil, Graveyard Dust and so very much more, is utterly invaluable. If there was anything I'd change about this book it would be to quadruple the size of the Formulary. However, the Formulary is quite large as it is.

One of my other favourite things about this book is that the spells/potions/etc are not all 'white light'. There are Hexes and Curses and so forth along with ways to counter such things. I find this important because I'm non-dualist and I find dualistic thinking to be limited and...well, childish. So that's another area that makes me cherish this book.

On a purely silly note, having this lovely big book (which is a lovely green hardcover under the paper sleeve) around is just plain fun. If you're a fan of some of the modern witchy type shows/movies such as Harry Potter or Charmed, having a large tome of spells allows you to play pretend.

And finally, I'd like to mention the author's tone of voice that comes through in the book. It is very friendly, often humorous and always knowledgeable. When necessary, very clear and direct warnings are given. The author treats the reader as if she had a good head on her shoulder and was past the novice stage in her training. I find that remarkably refreshing.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sit Down For A Spell, November 15, 2005

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts (Paperback)

"Magic is concerned with the immediate needs and desires of the practitioner in the here and now, or at least in the immediately foreseeable future. It is not about `pie in the sky'. The average magician doesn't want to wait for the possible rewards of the sweet hereafter. Magic is not for the passive..." - From the book

What is magic? Is it evil? What are spells? Where do magic spells come from? Author Judika Illes addresses these questions and more in the book The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Comprehensive and engaging, this tome spans 1,108 pages and explains the nature of spell-casting as well as key concepts and techniques. Covering magical spells from a multitude of eras, traditions, and places, this exhaustive reference book also includes some spells using deadly poisonous botanicals that are provided for historical reference. (In other words, don't reproduce these spells and keep the book out of the hands of children.)

So what is magic and spell-casting? According to The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells:

* Magic is the manipulation of Earth's naturally occurring powers in an attempt to provide the spell-caster with the success and happiness she or he desires
* Magic spells are deliberate, specific attempts to harness and manipulate this energy, following some sort of formula or direction
* Magic power is inherent on Earth: people didn't create it, imagine it or make it up. By various means, they learned how to use it: magic spells are the result
* Every magic spell was created by at least one person and probably refined and improved by a thousand more

The spells in this book are arranged by theme, making it easy to locate the appropriate information you need. Sachets, candle magic, baths, oils, dolls, conjure bags, powders, potions, charms, pomanders-they're all here. Some of the themes for these myriad spells include:

* Banishing Spells
* Marriage and Divorce Spells
* Healing Spells
* Better Business and Professional Success Spells
* Divination Spells
* Happy Home Spells
* Theft, Lost Objects, and Missing Persons
* Protection Spells
* Fertility Spells
* Psychic Power Spells
* Court case Spells: Legal Spells and Spells for Justice

And much more.

Three pages of associations for colors, planets, astrological correspondences, numbers, and Seven African Powers are also provided as is four pages of botanical classifications.

Ms. Illes intersperses useful tips, fascinating lore, and sober admonitions throughout The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. For example, here are some tips she provides for Money Spells:

* Primary Colors: green and gold
* Primary Number: 2, because it encapsulates the concept of doubling
* Planets: Jupiter, because it's the planet of good fortune; the Moon, because it's the planet of magic and fulfilled wishes; and Mercury, because the Roman god whose name it bears is involved with prosperity and finance
* Spells for financial growth, to increase money or business, should coincide with the waxing moon

Ms. Illes is obviously an excellent researcher but she also has the gift of making esoteric information both understandable and intriguing. Whether you're seeking spells for Craftwork or just have an interest in occultic books, The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells imparts a wealth of historical, magical, and practical information to the reader.

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)