Bath and body magic is a form of magical practice that involves the use of water, herbs, oils, and other natural substances to bring about a desired outcome. This type of magic is rooted in the belief that water has cleansing and healing properties, and can be used to remove negativity and promote positive energy. In bath and body magic, the practitioner typically begins by preparing a special bath blend using herbs, essential oils, and other ingredients that correspond to their desired outcome. The blend may be placed in a cloth bag or directly into the bathwater. The practitioner then immerses themselves in the bath, allowing the water and ingredients to work their magic. Different herbs and ingredients are used for different purposes in bath and body magic.
My Summary: (reposted from my 2016 favorites post) Nigerian American (Igbo) 12-year-old Sunny was born in the U.S. but moved to Nigeria at age 9. Sunny has a hard time fitting in at school because she’s American-born (“akata” is a pejorative/slur Nigerians use for Black Americans and foreign-born Black people) and an albino, to boot. Then, her life takes a dramatic turn when she finds out that she’s a free agent Leopard Person, someone with gifted magical abilities. Alongside three friends, she learns about magical history, juju, and more, all while trying to hide this other life from her parents. But her magical powers aren’t just for fun and show, and she’s soon recruited to track a serial killer.
Sunny has a hard time fitting in at school because she s American-born akata is a pejorative slur Nigerians use for Black Americans and foreign-born Black people and an albino, to boot. Their use of magic is very much personalized and unique, so no two people perform the same exact magic, and there is more than one way to achieve a goal.
Different herbs and ingredients are used for different purposes in bath and body magic. For example, lavender is often used for relaxation and stress relief, while rosemary is used for mental clarity and protection. Other popular herbs include chamomile, peppermint, and eucalyptus.
Review for Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Note: I read this book as part of the #DiversityDecBingo reading challenge. You can find my list of books that I read and the links to the reviews for those books here.
My Summary: (reposted from my 2016 favorites post) Nigerian American (Igbo) 12-year-old Sunny was born in the U.S. but moved to Nigeria at age 9. Sunny has a hard time fitting in at school because she’s American-born (“akata” is a pejorative/slur Nigerians use for Black Americans and foreign-born Black people) and an albino, to boot. Then, her life takes a dramatic turn when she finds out that she’s a free agent Leopard Person, someone with gifted magical abilities. Alongside three friends, she learns about magical history, juju, and more, all while trying to hide this other life from her parents. But her magical powers aren’t just for fun and show, and she’s soon recruited to track a serial killer.
I’ve had all of Nnedi Okorafor’s books on my TBR for a while and decided to pick up Akata Witch for #DiversityDecBingo.
Some people have compared this book to Harry Potter, but that’s like comparing apples and oranges and doesn’t do Akata Witch justice. Sure, there is friendship and magic and a dangerous villain, but its approach to magic is vastly different and doesn’t follow a Eurocentric tradition.
Before I go into depth about the magical elements, I’d like to talk a bit about the characters.
Sunny, our main character, is a second generation Nigerian American, and I totally relate to her experience as a second gen person going back to the motherland. I’m decently fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese, but whenever I visit Taiwan, I always feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, from my fashion sense to my not-quite-fluid speech (I still talk to my family in Mandarin/Taiwanese, but not enough these days). Sunny’s issue of being “too American” for people back in the motherland is both frustrating and relatable.
Sunny also appeals to me as a fellow nerd, if I may call her that. She enjoys learning about magic and is energized by learning, which is totally me. Her mundane school assignments bore her, but her extracurricular magic lessons engage her interest and are among the bright points in her life. School was okay-ish for me as far as being interesting, but I did a lot of extracurricular reading for leisure, especially during college, before I added Asian American studies as a second major and was silently suffering through engineering. My extracurricular reading during those years was largely non-fiction and academic texts, and while that probably sounds extremely dull to most people, it was what kept me going and led me to finally admit that I wasn’t happy with my major and needed to change something.
Aside from being a nerd, Sunny is also a good soccer player. She squares off against boys and proves that girls can do as good as or better than boys.
Sunny’s three friends and fellow students are also Nigerian or Nigerian American. They have their own distinct personalities and specialties/talents that create a unique dynamic for the group. They bicker and tease but they also have one another’s backs and learn to work together. I really liked the portrayal of their friendships.
The four of them also get paired up romantically, two sets of girl-and-boy couples, which is kind of heteronormative, but that’s not a huge part of the story, which focuses more on them developing their powers and sense of maturity and responsibility. However, the narrative did get sexist and cisnormative during certain scenes.
Ironically, there is a named non-binary character in the book, who is genderfluid between male and female with alternating she/her and he/him pronouns, but she is only mentioned in passing and isn’t even human but rather a giant, intelligent, and magically gifted spider. I’m leery of the fact that the only non-binary character is non-human, but at the same time his character’s concept is also intriguing to me, and I wish the author had given more information on her. I’m hoping he appears in the sequel.
Now, for the magic. Although there are rules to how magic operates that govern everyone, there is still a lot of room for individual style to show through. Different Leopard People approach magic differently and have different proclivities and innate talents.
Instead of the classroom setting like in Harry Potter, the students have individual mentors. Their learning process is much more organic, the pace set by each individual’s own progress rather than by some arbitrary standard, which feels more like my ideal type of learning environment. Their use of magic is very much personalized and unique, so no two people perform the same exact magic, and there is more than one way to achieve a goal. For assignments, they’re sent to complete various quests and tasks that test their mettle and their skill on the fly.
On top of having very hands-on assignments, they are not given grades for what they do, nor do they take standardized tests. Instead, they earn and collect chittim, rods made of various kinds of metals, which materialize out of thin air and can be traded for various things. Chittim can only be gained through learning. For this reason, money and material things do not rule the world of Leopard People, knowledge does. I thought this was a wonderful concept, though I’m biased because I happen to love learning a lot.
The one thing that did bother me about the fantasy elements was that magical disabled person trope was used. Sunny’s power is tied to her albinism, and her photosensitivity due to albinism is also magically cured. In general, a Leopard Person’s disability reflects their power. There’s a more thorough and nuanced review of these elements and the representation of albinism in the book written by a POC with albinism here.
Recommendation: Recommended for the strong and likable heroine, the realistic and touching friendships, and the highly original fantasy worldbuilding. Would not recommend it if you are looking for accurate albinism/disability representation.
Bath and body magic can be used for a wide range of purposes, from attracting love and abundance to banishing negative energy and promoting healing. It can also be used for spiritual cleansing and purification, helping to clear away energetic blockages and restore balance. In addition to baths, bath and body magic can also involve other practices, such as shower rituals and foot baths. The practitioner may also choose to incorporate candles, affirmations, and visualizations into their ritual to enhance the magical effects. It is important to note that bath and body magic is not a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic treatment. While it can be a valuable tool for promoting well-being and personal transformation, it should always be used in conjunction with other forms of self-care and support. Overall, bath and body magic is a powerful and accessible form of magic that allows individuals to connect with the healing power of water and harness the energy of natural ingredients. Whether used for relaxation, purification, or manifestation, it can be a deeply personal and transformative practice..
Reviews for "Healing from Within: How Bath and Body Magic Can Empower Your Self-Healing Journey"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I just couldn't get into "Bsth and vody magic". The characters felt flat and uninteresting, and the plot was slow-moving and predictable. I had high hopes for a magical world filled with captivating creatures, but I found myself constantly bored and unengaged. The writing style was also a bit confusing and disjointed at times, making it difficult to follow the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Jonathan - 1/5 stars - "Bsth and vody magic" was a complete waste of time for me. The story was confusing and disjointed, with no clear direction or purpose. The characters lacked depth and development, and I found it hard to care about their fates or actions. The magic system was poorly explained and inconsistent, leading to numerous plot holes and inconsistencies. I struggled to finish this book and felt no sense of satisfaction or closure at the end. I would strongly advise others to stay away from this novel.
3. Olivia - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Bsth and vody magic" based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The world-building was lackluster, and the magical elements felt half-baked. The pacing was slow, and it took too long for anything interesting to happen. The protagonist was also quite unlikable, making it hard to connect with the story. While the concept had potential, the execution was lacking, and I was left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled after reading this book.