A wraith donning a witch hat adds an intriguing twist to the concept of this supernatural creature. Traditionally portrayed as a ghost-like entity, a wraith is often associated with death and the afterlife. Their haunting presence is enough to send chills down your spine. However, the incorporation of a witch hat introduces an element of magic and mysticism. The juxtaposition of these two elements creates a captivating image. The wraith, with its ethereal and ominous aura, takes on a new identity as it adorns a witch hat.
A well of invention and imagination.
— The Believer
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. 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.
The wraith, with its ethereal and ominous aura, takes on a new identity as it adorns a witch hat. This symbol of witchcraft brings forth ideas of spellcasting, potions, and enchantments. It adds a layer of complexity to the wraith's persona, hinting at a potential connection to the world of magic.
White Magic (Paperback)
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 27th, 2021): $17.95
- Hardcover (April 27th, 2021): $26.95
The wraith's transformation into a witch-like figure sparks curiosity. It prompts questions about the motivations and intentions of this supernatural being. Is the wraith embracing its dark powers, using witchcraft as a tool of manipulation? Or, perhaps, the witch hat signifies a shift towards a benevolent or misunderstood nature, casting spells to protect or guide lost souls. This visual portrayal of a wraith donning a witch hat presents an opportunity for a fascinating narrative. It encourages exploration into the possibilities and stories surrounding this creature. It challenges preconceived notions and urges us to delve deeper into the realms of the supernatural and the unknown. In conclusion, the addition of a witch hat to a wraith's appearance injects an enticing blend of intrigue, magic, and mystery. It opens up a world of possibilities for interpretation and storytelling, captivating our imagination and leaving us eager to uncover the secrets and hidden depths of this enigmatic being..
Reviews for "Mystical Elegance: A Guide to Wearing a Witch Hat as a Wraith"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wraith donning a witch hat". The concept seemed interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. The writing was uninspiring and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I didn't feel any connection to them. Overall, I found the story underwhelming and it didn't live up to my expectations.
- Sarah - 1 star - I did not enjoy "Wraith donning a witch hat" at all. The plot was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow along. The dialogue was forced and unnatural, and the pacing was extremely slow. I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story and ultimately, I couldn't wait for it to end. Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me.
- Alex - 2 stars - "Wraith donning a witch hat" was not my cup of tea. The writing style was too flowery and overly descriptive, making the story drag on unnecessarily. The characters lacked depth and development, and their actions didn't feel realistic. Additionally, the plot felt contrived and predictable, leaving me uninterested in what was supposed to be a suspenseful read. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it.
- Laura - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Wraith donning a witch hat". The story had so much potential, but the execution was poor. The writing was confusing and hard to follow, with many unnecessary and irrelevant details. The characters felt flat and their motivations were unclear. Additionally, the pacing was off, with the story feeling slow and bogged down by excessive description. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book.