Amelia Airewood is a fictional character who is known as the "basic witch". She is portrayed as someone who embraces basic witchcraft practices and is unapologetically herself. Despite being called basic, Amelia is far from average. She embraces her love for crystals, tarot cards, and astrology, using them as tools for self-discovery and empowerment. Amelia's journey as a basic witch started when she stumbled upon a book about modern witchcraft in a local bookstore. Intrigued by the idea, she began researching and exploring various aspects of witchcraft, eventually finding her own path within the vast world of mysticism.
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Although we ve grown accustomed through popular media to thinking of magical books as cookbooks, full of recipes and incantations, the reality is far different. The site is still in beta, so to speak; in their Facebook announcement, the Ritman admits they are still improving the whole presentation, which is a bit clunky at the moment.
Intrigued by the idea, she began researching and exploring various aspects of witchcraft, eventually finding her own path within the vast world of mysticism. She learned about the power of intention, the importance of grounding oneself in nature, and the significance of working with the elements. One of Amelia's favorite practices is crystal healing.
1,600 Occult Books Now Digitized & Put Online, Thanks to the Ritman Library and Da Vinci Code Author Dan Brown
Back in December we brought you some exciting news. Thanks to a generous donation from Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown, Amsterdam’s Ritman Library—a sizable collection of pre-1900 books on alchemy, astrology, magic, and other occult subjects—has been digitizing thousands of its rare texts under a digital education project cheekily called “Hermetically Open.” We are now pleased to report, less than two months later, that the first 1,617 books from the Ritman project have come available in their online reading room. The site is still in beta, so to speak; in their Facebook announcement, the Ritman admits they are “still improving the whole presentation,” which is a bit clunky at the moment. But for fans and students of this literature, a little inconvenience is a small price to pay for full access to hundreds of rare occult texts.
Visitors should be aware that these books are written in several different European languages. Latin, the scholarly language of Europe throughout the Medieval and Early Modern periods, predominates, and it’s a peculiar Latin at that, laden with jargon and alchemical terminology. Other books appear in German, Dutch, and French. Readers of some or all of these languages will of course have an easier time than monolingual English speakers, but there is still much to offer those visitors as well.
In addition to the pleasure of paging through an old rare book, even virtually, English speakers can quickly find a collection of readable books by clicking on the “Place of Publication” search filter and selecting Cambridge or London, from which come such notable works as The Man-Mouse Takin in a Trap, and tortur’d to death for gnawing the Margins of Eugenius Philalethes, by Thomas Vaughn, published in 1650.
The language is archaic—full of quirky spellings and uses of the “long s”—and the content is bizarre. Those familiar with this type of writing, whether through historical study or the work of more recent interpreters like Aleister Crowley or Madame Blavatsky, will recognize the many formulas: The tracing of magical correspondences between flora, fauna, and astronomical phenomena; the careful parsing of names; astrology and lengthy linguistic etymologies; numerological discourses and philosophical poetry; early psychology and personality typing; cryptic, coded mythology and medical procedures. Although we’ve grown accustomed through popular media to thinking of magical books as cookbooks, full of recipes and incantations, the reality is far different.
Encountering the vast and strange treasures in the online library, one thinks of the type of the magician represented in Goethe’s Faust, holed up in his study,
Where even the welcome daylight strains
But duskily through the painted panes.
Hemmed in by many a toppling heap
Of books worm-eaten, gray with dust,
Which to the vaulted ceiling creep
The library doesn’t only contain occult books. Like the weary scholar Faust, alchemists of old “studied now Philosophy / And Jurisprudence, Medicine,— / And even, alas! Theology.” Click on Cambridge as the place of publication and you’ll find the work above by Henry More, “one of the celebrated ‘Cambridge Platonists,’” the Linda Hall Library notes, “who flourished in mid-17th-century and did their best to reconcile Plato with Christianity and the mechanical philosophy that was beginning to make inroads into British natural philosophy.” Those who study European intellectual history know well that More’s presence in this collection is no anomaly. For a few hundred years, it was difficult, if not impossible, to separate the pursuits of theology, philosophy, medicine, and science (or “natural philosophy”) from those of alchemy and astrology. (Isaac Newton is a famous example of a mathematician/scientist/alchemist/believer in strange apocalyptic predictions.)
Given the Ritman’s alacrity and eagerness to publish this first batch of texts, even as it works to smooth out its interface, we’ll likely see many hundreds more books become available in the next month or so. For updates, follow the Ritman Library and The Embassy of the Free Mind—Dan Brown’s own Dutch library of rare occult books—on Facebook.
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Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness
The “occult” is defined by knowledge that is hidden. The tradition fosters learning, both intellectually and spiritually, in ways that are often unconventional. It is best to approach the topic without any preconceived notions or biases (a habit that is best applied to most aspects of life). This way, what may have seemed dark, unapproachable, intimidating, or nonsensical may reveal itself to be of interest in your academic or everyday life.
She believes that each crystal possesses unique energies that can be harnessed for healing and spiritual growth. Amelia's room is adorned with a variety of crystals, each carefully chosen for a specific intention. Amethyst helps her connect with her intuition and promotes peaceful sleep, while rose quartz is used for cultivating love and self-acceptance. Tarot cards also play a significant role in Amelia's spiritual journey. She uses the cards as a tool for self-reflection and guidance. Whenever she is faced with a challenging decision or seeking clarity, Amelia turns to her deck of tarot cards. The cards provide her with insights and help her tap into her intuition, guiding her towards the best course of action. Astrology is another aspect of witchcraft that captivates Amelia. She eagerly reads her horoscope every day and studies the positions of the planets and their influence on her life. Amelia believes that understanding astrology can help her identify her strengths and weaknesses, providing valuable insight into her life's purpose. While some may dismiss Amelia as just another basic witch, she embraces her unique journey and takes pride in her practices. She acknowledges that her beliefs and practices may not resonate with everyone, but she remains unapologetically herself. Amelia's journey as a basic witch is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the importance of embracing one's true identity..
Reviews for "Amelia Aierrwood's Basic Witch Grimoire: Spells, Potions, and More"
1. John Doe - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Amelia Aierrwood Basic Witch" after all the hype it received, but I was sorely disappointed. The story felt predictable and lacked any depth. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development, making it hard for me to connect with them. The writing style also felt amateurish and left much to be desired. Overall, I found this book to be overhyped and underwhelming.
2. Jane Smith - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even finish "Amelia Aierrwood Basic Witch". The plot was extremely slow and uninteresting, and the characters were unengaging. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and I found myself cringing at the attempts at humor. I was expecting a captivating story of magic and adventure, but all I got was a dull and uninspiring read. I regret spending my time and money on this book.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 stars - "Amelia Aierrwood Basic Witch" had potential, but it ultimately fell short for me. The pacing was all over the place, with some parts dragging on for too long and others feeling rushed. The romance subplot felt forced and lacking chemistry, and the magical elements were underdeveloped. I wanted to enjoy this book, but it never managed to fully capture my attention or immerse me in its world.
4. David Thompson - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Amelia Aierrwood Basic Witch" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The writing lacked finesse and came across as amateurish, with awkward sentence structures and repetitive expressions. The world-building felt shallow, and I found it difficult to become invested in the story or the characters. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with this book.