The House Witch Book is a fascinating exploration of the practice of domestic witchcraft. Authored by Arin Murphy-Hiscock, this book offers an in-depth guide to incorporating witchcraft into everyday life. It emphasizes the importance of finding magic in the home and using it to create positive energy and harmony. The book begins by delving into the history and traditions of witchcraft, providing readers with a solid foundation of knowledge. It then highlights the role of the house witch, who practices witchcraft within the context of their home. The author explains how to cultivate a magical mindset and set up a sacred space within the house.
So, essentially what we’re getting are four stories in A Witch in Time, each featuring different settings and characters, but they are all trapped in the same pattern cursed to repeat forever. It’s a bizarre structure, but somehow it worked. With each remembered past life, the details are wildly different—and Juliet/Nora/Sandra/Helen all have their own unique personalities, even if they do represent the same person. In fact, this point plays a key role in the novel, as Luke struggles with his feelings for the different versions of Juliet, watching someone he cares for very much die and live again, not knowing what the next cycle will bring. He’s perhaps the most sympathetic character in the book, because he’s the one constant who remembers everything from the past hundred and twenty-five odd years or so. While Helen’s character development feels disjointed because it is punctuated by all her dreams and memories of her past lives, we can track Luke’s motivations through history as he makes mistakes, learns from them, and tries to be a better guardian each time.
The basic structure of all of Helen s lives are the same Girl and or young woman meets older man she cannot fully have a relationship with for some reason or another. As the story progresses, Helen eventually recalls two more past lives, one as Nora Wheeler, a 19-year-old aspiring actress from the 1930s who had moved from New York City to Hollywood in order to become a star.
The author explains how to cultivate a magical mindset and set up a sacred space within the house. One of the key concepts in The House Witch Book is the idea of mindfulness and intention. It emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and approaching tasks with purpose and awareness.
A WITCH IN TIME
When Helen Lambert meets her blind date, Luke Varner, at a trendy D.C. bar, little does she know they’ve met before—over several lifetimes.
In this, her debut novel, Sayers cleverly twists the loves-lost-through-time motif. Helen and Luke are not star-crossed, or rather curse-crossed, lovers from the 19th century, doomed to an eternity of thwarted passion. Instead, Sayers binds them together in a complicated codependent triangle: Helen is certainly replaying a thwarted love affair from more than a century ago, but she did not love Luke then. It all begins in 1895, when Juliet LaCompte, a beautiful 16-year-old French farm girl, falls in love with her summer neighbor, Auguste Marchant. Marchant is a Parisian artist who adores painting Juliet, and as the summer progresses, their desires for each other grow. But Marchant is very much married with a heavily pregnant wife, and Juliet is betrothed to a boy whose farm abuts her father’s. Even worse, Juliet’s mother, a skilled herbalist and sometime witch, finds out about their affair. Enraged that Juliet has besmirched the family’s honor and terrified for reasons Juliet cannot understand, her mother casts a spell cursing Marchant. But the spell is sloppily made, and it not only catches Juliet in its web, but also saddles her with a demon administrator: Lucian Varnier (aka Luke), who begins to fall in love with her, too. Sayers builds tension between present-day Luke and Helen by plunging Helen into a dream world, where she relives her time as a 1930s Hollywood starlet and 1970s rock musician, and each incarnation of Juliet becomes more attached to Luke. Moreover, her own powers as a witch have grown, so perhaps this will be the lifetime in which she breaks the curse. But her own feelings for Luke may get in the way.
A smart, engrossing debut from a writer to watch.
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-316-49359-8
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Redhook/Orbit
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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The book provides numerous practical exercises and rituals that readers can implement to infuse their daily lives with magic. The author also explores various areas of the home and discusses how to bring magic into each space. From the kitchen to the bedroom, Murphy-Hiscock offers suggestions on how to create a magical atmosphere that enhances well-being and spirituality. She provides advice on cleansing and purifying the home, as well as creating altars and using herbs and crystals for magical purposes. One of the most valuable aspects of this book is its emphasis on finding what works best for individual practitioners. The author encourages readers to adapt and personalize the practices to suit their own needs and preferences. This approach promotes a sense of empowerment and creativity within the realm of domestic witchcraft. The House Witch Book is not just a guide to witchcraft; it is a celebration of the home and the magic that can be found within its walls. It encourages readers to embrace their living spaces as sacred and to cultivate a deep connection with their environment. By incorporating the practices outlined in this book, readers can transform their homes into havens of magic and spirituality..
Reviews for "Embracing the Witch Within: The House Witch Book"
1. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited to read "The House Witch Book" as I love stories about witches and magic. However, I was incredibly disappointed with this book. The plot was confusing and disjointed, and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The writing style was also lackluster, with the dialogue feeling forced and unnatural. Overall, I felt like the book had so much potential but failed to deliver an engaging and captivating story.
2. Daniel - 1 out of 5 stars
"The House Witch Book" was a complete letdown for me. The characters were poorly developed, and their actions often made no sense. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to stay engaged with the story. Additionally, the descriptions were lacking, making it difficult to visualize the world the author was trying to create. I was expecting a captivating and enchanting read, but unfortunately, this book fell short on multiple levels.
3. Sophia - 2 out of 5 stars
"The House Witch Book" promised an intriguing mix of witchcraft and mystery, but it failed to deliver. The story was predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the interactions between the characters. I also found the writing style to be flat and unexciting. Overall, I was disappointed with this book, as it lacked the depth and excitement I was hoping for in a story about witches and magic.