I really enjoyed Deborah Lipp's Magical Power for Beginners and had high hopes for this books too, and it did not disappoint! Deborah Lipps has a way of getting to the heart of a matter in a thoughtful and friedly way.

I love how this books strings together and brings into focus several concepts often just called witchcraft, but puts them under the more appropriate umbrella of "The Occult". She starts with the humble folk magic that exists in all cultures, building up to witchcraft, astrology, numerology, alchemy, Kabbalah, ceremonial magic, and tarot.

With succinct clarity she spells out the general concepts associated with each area of study giving you enough information to understand where it fits into the wider occult pictures, but also gives resources for further exploration of the topics.

Concepts of open and closed practices as well as cultural appropriation are discussed thoughtfully.

The occult is an ancient field of supernatural study that was formed to help unravel the mysteries of the universe. The Beginner's Guide to the Occult helps you explore some of these mysteries for yourself, with simple explanations of different occult practices and their fascinating history. This guide is designed for any beginner who seeks to learn more about the occult and answer big questions about human nature as well as natural phenomena like the sky, the stars, and the Earth.

198 pages