Embracing Diversity: Witch Communities Around the World

A community of witches is commonly referred to as a coven. A coven is a gathering or group of witches who come together to practice their craft, share knowledge, and support one another. The term "coven" can also refer to the physical meeting place where witches gather for rituals and other activities. In a coven, witches often work together to explore different aspects of magic, such as spellcasting, divination, healing, and ritual ceremonies. They may also study together, learn from one another's experiences, and exchange magical techniques and teachings. Covens can vary in size, ranging from just a few witches to larger groups with dozens or more members.

I'm not a fan of how the save DCs work now. it seems like the spell that's right for a particular job, will have a save that you know the target can make. For example, Shadow Spray does 4 strength damage in a burst. fort save negates. So, the grouping of wizards over there, yeah, they'll fail the save (probably) but who cares if they have a strength of 4? They'll still cast spells. But that mob of ogres over there, reduce their strength by 4 and that'll be a real help. Oh, wait, they can't fail the save unless they roll a 1.

Magical realism as a genre should be easily defined a movement of Latin American authors, led by such greats as Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel García Márquez, and Isabel Allende, that seems to mix myth and reality in order to battle back against the staunch realism of Western literature. This has been a house rule instituted in our campaign - it makes sense because most creature abilities are generated off the same calculation, so not allowing it using RAW for spell lvl actually weakens the PCs in comparison.

Covens can vary in size, ranging from just a few witches to larger groups with dozens or more members. They may have specific guidelines or traditions that govern their practices and membership, such as initiation rituals, codes of conduct, or required study materials. The goals and beliefs of a coven can also vary, depending on the interests and preferences of its members.

100 Must Reads Of Magical Realism

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Leah Rachel von Essen

By day, Leah Rachel von Essen is the editor-in-chief of Chicago Booth Magazine at the University of Chicago. By night, she reviews genre-bending fiction for Booklist, and writes regularly as a senior contributor at Book Riot. Her blog While Reading and Walking has over 10,000 dedicated followers over several social media outlets, including Instagram. She writes passionately about books in translation, chronic illness and bias in healthcare, queer books, twisty SFF, and magical realism and folklore. She was one of a select few bookstagrammers named to NewCity’s Chicago Lit50 in 2022. She is an avid traveler, a passionate fan of women’s basketball and soccer, and a lifelong learner. Twitter: @reading_while

This list of the best magical realism books is sponsored by Penguin Random House Audio.

Listening to an audiobook can transport you to a galaxy far away, lead you to an ancient land full of magic, or help you time travel. From The World Lore: Monstrous Creatures and A Plague of Giants to William Shakespeare’s The Force Doth Awaken and The Bear and the Nightingale, the worlds created in science fiction and fantasy come to vivid life with audiobooks from Penguin Random House Audio.

There’s a tremendous amount of disagreement out there about what magical realism is, and in many ways, it’s easier to outline what it isn’t. Genres are tricky, fickle beasts, but some things magical realism is not include: urban fantasy, “the presence of magic in a realistic setting,” and fantasy or science fiction that happens to be very literary.

The conflicting definitions of magical realism emerge from the reality that what some scholars call “magical realism” is actually a mash-up of literatures that are difficult to categorize. Magical realism as a genre should be easily defined: a movement of Latin American authors, led by such greats as Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel García Márquez, and Isabel Allende, that seems to mix myth and reality in order to battle back against the staunch realism of Western literature. It is inherently postcolonial.

Other cultures have had similar or influenced movements of magical realism. Authors such as Toni Morrison, Louise Erdrich, Yaa Gyasi, and Arundhati Roy tell the stories of the oppressed through this mix of reality and non-reality. The Western canon is obsessed with realism, but that’s not how so many live their lives: to so many, fantastic things happen everyday, both horrible things and incredible things, and the magical realist tales they tell may seem fantastic but are, inherently, grounded in what happened.

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Mixed in the timeline with those novels are what came out of magical realism. In reality, these novels are usually surrealism or fabulism (for example, I would call Murakami’s novels surrealism), but many people call them magical realism books as well, so I usually refer to the phenomenon as the “magical realist mode” to differentiate it from the genre. As the postcolonial tales inflected postmodernism with a questioning of reality, authors all over began to push the boundaries in their novels. If the reader or main character asks, “Did that really just happen within the world of the novel?” and isn’t sure, it’s a moment of magical realism or surrealism.

In this list, I’ve included magical realism books out of all of those categories. Some of these books have just a single moment of surrealism and are by Western authors; others are surrealist or fabulist; others are classics of the magical realist genre itself, and their pages live and breathe magical realism. If you want to know why I’ve included a book in my list, or you know one that you’re sure I’ve missed, please feel free to reach out through the comments.

1. Eva Luna by Isabel Allende. Allende is magical realism royalty. Eva Luna the storyteller tells her tales as currency to those who are kind to her, telling the story of her life and introducing the reader and listener to a wealth of incredible characters.
2. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. Allende draws significantly from Márquez to tell the tale of three generations of the Trueba family, which begins with patriarch Esteban and the ethereal Clara, and continues to Blanca’s forbidden love, and Clara’s granddaughter, Alba, a beautiful and ambitious girl who will lead her family into a revolutionary future.

What are your favorite magical realism books? Hit the comments with your recs! And, if you’re just getting started with magical realism books and want to know where to start, we got you covered.

This has been a house rule instituted in our campaign - it makes sense because most creature abilities are generated off the same calculation, so not allowing it (using RAW for spell lvl) actually weakens the PCs in comparison. It also allows wizards to memorize 1st lvl spells other than Magic Missile (OK, maybe not).

Some covens focus on a particular witchcraft tradition or path, such as Wicca, kitchen witchcraft, or herbal magic. Others may have a more eclectic or eclectic approach, incorporating a variety of magical practices and beliefs. Covens can provide a sense of community, support, and camaraderie for witches, who may otherwise feel isolated or misunderstood in mainstream society. They offer a space for witches to connect with like-minded individuals, engage in magical activities, and deepen their understanding and practice of witchcraft..

Reviews for "Witchy Business: The Role of Commerce in Witch Communities"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "What is a community of witches called". I expected a deep exploration of witchcraft and the concept of a community, but instead, I got a superficial overview that left me wanting more. The author barely scratched the surface and failed to provide any meaningful insights or engaging stories. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to delve into a fascinating topic.

2. Sarah - 1 star - As someone interested in witchcraft and the occult, I was excited to read "What is a community of witches called". However, this book was a huge letdown. The information provided was basic and easily accessible online. I expected a more in-depth analysis of the topic, but the book felt more like a Wikipedia entry than a valuable resource. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a comprehensive exploration of witch communities.

3. Michael - 2 stars - "What is a community of witches called" lacked substance and failed to deliver on its promises. I wanted to learn more about the inner workings of witch communities and the dynamics that shape them, but the book barely touched on these topics. It felt rushed and poorly researched, with a lack of original insights or unique perspectives. Overall, it was a shallow read that left me unsatisfied.

4. Emily - 3 stars - While "What is a community of witches called" had some interesting tidbits, it fell short of my expectations. The book lacked depth and failed to truly explore the diversity and complexities of witch communities. It felt incomplete, leaving me wanting more comprehensive information and analysis. Although it provided a basic understanding of the topic, it left much to be desired for those seeking a more in-depth exploration.

Moonlit Gatherings: The Power of Rituals in Witch Communities