White Magic is a term carrying deep historical and cultural significance. It refers to the practice of using supernatural powers or forces for beneficial and ethical purposes. Unlike its counterpart, Black Magic, which is associated with negative intentions and harmful effects, White Magic aims to bring about positive outcomes and promote harmony in the world. One of the defining characteristics of White Magic is its focus on healing and helping others. Practitioners of White Magic often dedicate themselves to the welfare of others, using their spiritual abilities to bring relief from pain, suffering, and misfortune. These individuals are often seen as healers, advisors, and guides, using their knowledge and skills to bring about positive transformations in people's lives.
Washuta is a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and a nonfiction writer. She is the author of Starvation Mode and My Body Is a Book of Rules, named a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. With Theresa Warburton, she is co-editor of the anthology Shapes of Native Nonfiction: Collected Essays by Contemporary Writers. She is an assistant professor of creative writing at the Ohio State University.
She interlaces stories from her forebears with cultural artifacts from her own life TwinPeaks, the Oregon Trail II video game, a Claymation Satan, a YouTube video of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to explore questions of cultural inheritance and the particular danger, as a Native woman, of relaxing into romantic love under colonial rule. Then the bostons the word people up and down this coast used for white men turned places into property terminals, shipyards, mills, railroad beds, dumps, cesspools, homesteads, parks, streets, wharves, trestles, bridges, canals.
These individuals are often seen as healers, advisors, and guides, using their knowledge and skills to bring about positive transformations in people's lives. White Magic is also closely associated with nature and the natural world. Those who practice this form of magic often draw inspiration from the Earth, the elements, and the cycles of nature.
White Magic (Paperback)
Selected as a Best Nonfiction Book of the Year 2021 by Bookshop staff:
Millennial, writer, Cowlitz Indian Tribe member, witch, popular culture consumer - through these individual but interconnected essays Washuta has formed a sampling of her very soul. In these funny, poignant, sincere yet self-aware, and at times painfully familiar essays, Stevie Nicks, Twin Peaks, and Red Dead Redemption share equal time with childhood memories, oppressed heritage, adult heartbreak, and magic in ways that will have you demanding more beyond the last page.
Description
Finalist for the PEN Open Book Award
Longlisted for the PEN/Jean Stein Award
A TIME, NPR, New York Public Library, Lit Hub, Book Riot, and Entropy Best Book of the Year
“Beguiling and haunting. . . . Washuta's voice sears itself onto the skin.” —The New York Times Book Review
Throughout her life, Elissa Washuta has been surrounded by cheap facsimiles of Native spiritual tools and occult trends, “starter witch kits” of sage, rose quartz, and tarot cards packaged together in paper and plastic. Following a decade of abuse, addiction, PTSD, and heavy-duty drug treatment for a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, she felt drawn to the real spirits and powers her dispossessed and discarded ancestors knew, while she undertook necessary work to find love and meaning.
In this collection of intertwined essays, she writes about land, heartbreak, and colonization, about life without the escape hatch of intoxication, and about how she became a powerful witch. She interlaces stories from her forebears with cultural artifacts from her own life—TwinPeaks, the Oregon Trail II video game, a Claymation Satan, a YouTube video of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham—to explore questions of cultural inheritance and the particular danger, as a Native woman, of relaxing into romantic love under colonial rule.
Bracingly honest and powerfully affecting, White Magic establishes Elissa Washuta as one of our best living essayists.
About the Author
Washuta is a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and a nonfiction writer. She is the author of Starvation Mode and My Body Is a Book of Rules, named a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. With Theresa Warburton, she is co-editor of the anthology Shapes of Native Nonfiction: Collected Essays by Contemporary Writers. She is an assistant professor of creative writing at the Ohio State University.
Praise For…
Necessary and magical.
— NPR
Exactly what you need right now.
— O, The Oprah Magazine
A web of honest examination of self and context. . . . A vibration that asks the body to listen, and rewards it for doing so.
— The Seattle Times
Nobody in the country uses more innovative nonfiction forms than Washuta.
— The Stranger
A well of invention and imagination.
— The Believer
A fascinating magic trick of a memoir that illuminates a woman's search for meaning.
— Kirkus, Starred Review
Her skill at transforming writing clichés and well-worn cultural signifiers into fresh insights is alchemical.
— The A.V. Club
Incredible.
— Book Riot
Seamless and scalding.
— Guernica
Incantatory, impassioned. . . . [A] wholly magical look at learning how to recognize the power that rests within you.
— Refinery29
Resonant and weighty.
— BuzzFeed
An innovative and deeply felt work to sink into.
— The Millions
As an essay collection, White Magic is as beautifully complex as it is illuminating. Washuta is a conjurer here, able to effortlessly showcase her talents while simultaneously pulling you close, as if she might suddenly reveal all her secrets. She is a genius at the art of subtle misdirection. Reading this book felt like being shown an expertly performed magic trick: deftly, flawlessly. No loose threads revealed. The work is funny and wry, it's thought-provoking and tender. It's a sleight of hand performed by a true master of the craft. White Magic is magnificent and Elissa Washuta is spellbinding. There is no one else like her.
— Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things
Elissa Washuta is exactly the writer we need right now: as funny as she is formidable a thinker, as thoughtful as she is inventive—her scrutiny is a fearless tool, every subject whittled to its truest form. White Magic is a bracingly original work that enthralled me in a hypnosis on the other side of which I was changed for the better, more likely to trust my own strange intelligence.
— Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart, Abandon Me, & Girlhood
White magic, red magic, Stevie Nicks magic—this is Elissa Washuta magic, which is a spell carved from a life, written in blood, and sealed in an honesty I can hardly fathom.
— Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indian
In brilliant, clear-eyed prose, Elissa Washuta maps a magical passage into (and back out of) the underworld, through knotty legacies of violence and longing and love. Part history, part riddle, part portal: this book worked on me like a spell. I've never read anything like White Magic, and will be returning to it again and again.
— Claire Comstock-Gay, author of Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars
You're going to feel like you’re drownfloating reading this diary of pain and meditation and wish for magic where every word helps Elissa Washuta’s soul return to her body. White Magic is as haunting as the work of Beckylane’s Where The Rivers Join and as eerily hypnotic as Kate Schatz’s Rid of Me. These pages are windows into a black lodge where Twin Peaks and Fleetwood Mac are on repeat—sometimes forward, sometimes backwards, sometimes in blackout blur. I stand in awe of everything here. What an incredible and wounding read.
— Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed and Godless but Loyal to Heaven
- Literary Collections / Essays
- Literary Collections / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
- Literary Collections / Women Authors
- Kobo eBook (April 26th, 2021): $17.95
- Hardcover (April 27th, 2021): $26.95
They believe that the forces of nature can be harnessed and directed to bring about positive change, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. This connection to nature is seen as a source of power and wisdom, and a means to establish a harmonious balance between humanity and the environment. Moreover, White Magic is deeply rooted in ethics and the moral code of its practitioners. It emphasizes the importance of acting with integrity, compassion, and respect for others. Unlike Black Magic, which may involve manipulation and coercion, White Magic operates on the principle of free will and consent. It seeks to empower individuals, encouraging them to tap into their own inner resources and make choices that align with their highest good. It is important to note that White Magic is often misunderstood and misrepresented. Many misconceptions stem from popular culture, which often portrays magic in a negative light. However, it is crucial to approach White Magic with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Throughout history, White Magic has played a significant role in various cultures and societies, offering solace, hope, and support to those in need. In conclusion, White Magic represents a rich and ancient tradition that seeks to harness supernatural forces for positive and ethical purposes. It embodies healing, connection to nature, and a strong moral code. By understanding and embracing the principles and practices of White Magic, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of spirituality and contribute to the well-being of both themselves and the world around them..
Reviews for "The Mythology and Folklore of White Magic"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I found "An Essay on White Magic" to be highly disappointing. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any substantial insights on the topic. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their own spirituality rather than providing meaningful analysis. The writing style was not engaging and at times felt pretentious. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a serious exploration of white magic.
2. Ryan - 1/5 stars - "An Essay on White Magic" was a complete waste of time. The author's arguments were vague and lacked any real evidence or examples to support their claims. The book seemed more like a personal manifesto rather than a well-researched exploration into the subject. The writing was convoluted and confused, making it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Samantha - 2/5 stars - "An Essay on White Magic" failed to deliver what it promised. The author's ideas were scattered and poorly articulated, making it hard to understand their main points. The book lacked cohesion and depth, leaving me unsatisfied and wanting more. Additionally, the author's writing style was dry and lacked creativity, making it even more challenging to stay engaged. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive exploration of white magic.