Customer Reviews

The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is like all of Scott Cunningham's books, easy to understand, helpful, creative, basic yet founded on deeper knowledge. It has a lot of interesting lore and folk magic and much Feng Shui type of ideas. It discusses correspondences in good detail. It has information on cleansings and purifications, pets and plants, the household altar, the hearth or "heart" of the home, furnishings, moving, protection, the bath and the kitchen...even the garage. It is useful and grounded and homey. It will aid in focusing intent and provide inspiration for making one's dwelling into one's truly magical and personal home. Most of us, whether witch or not, instinctively surround ourselves with little "magics" that help us to feel comfortable and in "our own space." This book puts some thoughtfulness and understanding to the concept of personalizing our space and encourages creative and harmonious atmosphere where good vibrations abound. Try it. You'll like it.

One of the things that I adore about this book is that I picked it up at a time when I had no idea what I was doing with Wicca and Paganism, but found this book so accessible that I began using ideas from it. The most important way that it was accessible to me was that I found things suggested in it that I'd already been doing unconsciously.

"I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet gone ourselves." I'm certain that E. M. Forster was right. I found Cunningham's explanations of certain things I'd been doing intriguing, even if those explanations didn't quite ring true for me. And from there, I was better able to take some of his other houselore seriously.

When he can offer them, Cunningham suggests multiple ways to address an issue, and different cultures' explanations for why and how a certain tradition works. Indeed, this book was the first I'd ever heard of Feng Shui, long before it became the popular money-making scheme Westerners have turned it into. He devotes as much time to it as he does to any alternative, which will probably keep this book on my Craft shelf for a long time.

Find this book, take your pick, and create your own path.

This is one of Scott Cunninghams's best. Each chapter covers a different area of the house, with a little background information, then a listing of spells, and where they originated from(almost EVERY spell is backed up with it's historical origin). The format is tooooooo easy to follow and none of the spells require elaborate ritual tools. A great book for Pagan mothers looking to add a flavor of the old school cottage Witch into their home.

Bravo to the late Scott Cunningham for coming up with a book that speaks to everyone, whether one lives in an apartment, or owns a home, or even has the misfortune to live in a box. Cunningham and Harrington show us how to turn our potentially dull surroundings into a place we can call a haven, and look forward to being in, with a few simple tips that even those of us near poverty level can afford. I especially loved his ideas for plants, since I am no botanist or horticulturist, and yet the plants he suggested that cost me under $20.00 US(an ivy, an aloe vera plant, and two cacti, one round, one vertical) made such a difference in the surroundings it's astounding! His suggestions re: incense and scents made sense, pun intended, and I have only one regret, that he and Harrington are unable to collaborate on more books of this type. May Scott be forever immortalised by his words, and may he be at peace in the Summerlands or beyond. His and Harrington's(sorry if I forgot you, David)words have changed my life, and my home, and my outlook in general for the better. Let this book show you the way to come home and go "Ahhhhhh...." at the end of your tiresome workday. Thanks again, and to David Harrington, I envy you for knowing Scott Cunningham, I'd have loved to have met him just once, to ask but one question of him. May you, Mr. Harrington, emulate your friend and put pen to paper, as the neo-Pagan community hungers for more books of knowledge such as this.

My sincerest compliments on a book I am proud to display on my shelf, and one every person who enters my home for a visit picks up and finds they can't put down.

This is a wonderful book for anyone, especially those who are interested in Magick and/or Wicca, but it is also good for anyone who wishes to bring more peace and spirituality into the home. Written in a personal and easy-to-follow style, this book gives ideas on how to empower and protect your home, yourself, and even your car with everyday Magick as well as ancient traditions and folklore. A must read!

This book would make a great moving gift. I just finished browsing through it last night. I liked how Mr. Cunningham addressed creating an indoor garden and suggestions for alters which can't be left up. I was intrigued by the idea that it is better to move on one day as compared to another. Reading books like this is new to me and I found this book to be an easy read. Mr. Cunningham even included a glossary of terms in the back.

I remember fondly using this book when I first moved into my first apartment. It seems a little outdated now and a little superstitious. These were not something he dreamed up back then.
These were handed down generations to generation. There was much folk magic here, but it actually means something. I think that is why his material has stood the test of time!

Now as a householder, I still used much of his advice on moving into my home. I guess he may have meant more to me than I thought, all these years later. One can only imagine the possibilities had he lived on...

Scott Cunningham's books are always a lot of fun, and often very useful. His WICCA and LIVING WICCA are two of the best books on Wicca and earth-spirituality I've ever read, and many others agree. THE MAGICAL HOUSEHOLD (which, by the way, comes with a much better cover -- just a photographed blue door with a broom and a cat, very tasteful) is equally fun to read, if less serious.

It's basically a compendium of folklore surrounding houses and various household activities. It covers doors and windows, kitchens and cooking, bathing and dressing, candles and fireplaces, and a dozen other categories, supplying plenty of superstitions, celebrations, small rituals, and interesting thoughts for each. Some of the items are fun to incorporate into everyday life, others are good for special occasions, and many simply as folkloric knowledge. It doesn't say where most of the traditions come from, but it's informative all the same, and the information is packed in, so reading with a highlighter may leave you with pages entirely covered in neon yellow!

In general, Llewelyn books annoy me, but some of them are quite good -- choose by author;Cunningham is always a good choice. Be sure to take this one with a grain of salt (which Cunningham advises in the beginning) and enjoy.

How wonderful it is to realize why we do the things we do in our homes. And to learn how to get back to the old ways. If you really want the positive energy potential in your home to reach full, read this and follow it! All the old home lore is fascinating, and as a new practicioner, I can't wait to re-energize my home! Definitely worth having in the Magickal household.

I bought this book in a bookstore in Salem, and lost it before I could finish reading. Consequently, had to get another one from Amazon. Its nice to have, even if you are not into witchcraft, wicca, spellcasting, as it gives tips and hints (some of which come from century old lore) for making our homes a place of love, peace, serenity and hapiness. Like "When you wish to sleep, kiss your pillow and tell it so". Or "when you brush your hair, you can brush in certain ideas or energies". Certainly not complicated magick, but it works.