About the Book
A comprehensive, no-fluff approach to beginner witchcraft.
Sara Mastros has turned thousands of novices into practitioners of the Craft. For the first time, Introduction to Witchcraft: Thirteen Lessons in the Practice of Magic presents her decades of experience and material in an accessible form. Step into her classroom with a notebook and feather-tipped pen ready: it's time to advance your practice.
Inside Introduction to Witchcraft, you'll find practical exercises, simple but never condescending explanations of major ideas, and examples from Mastros's experience in the field. She covers a range of topics, from defining "magic" to curse-breaking and protection, and divides the material into clear and distinct sections akin to the lessons from her classes. Introduction to Witchcraft is a foundational title for all beginning witches and long-term practitioners looking to review the basics.
About the Author :
Sara L. Mastros is the author of The Big Book of Magical Incense, Orphic Hymns Grimoire, and The Sorcery of Solomon: A Guide to the 44 Planetary Pentacles of the Magician King. Recognized by her peers as a brilliant and original thinker, an engaging and inspiring teacher, a compelling and clever writer, and a generally decent human being, Sara spends a lot of time dreaming, thinking, enchanting, writing, and teaching about witchcraft, magic, and myth. But her true passion is raising up an army of inspired, educated, empowered witches prepared to weave weird new ways of being in a world that desperately needs us.
Review :
"Introduction to Witchcraft goes beyond the scope of a simple "how-to" manual of magic, becoming instead a love song to enchantment and wonder. Absolute beginners will find a spiral staircase of practices that gradually build upon one another, guiding them toward mastery while leaving room for experimentation and flights of fancy. Experienced practitioners, meanwhile, will discover countless new inspirations and fall in love with their craft all over again."
--Giulia Turolla, contemporary witch, Priestess and Teacher in the Ara Tradition
"Introduction to Witchcraft: Thirteen Lessons in the Practice of Magic is honestly one of the freshest and most refreshing takes on beginner to intermediate witchcraft that has come along in a very long time. Sara blends detail and purpose into each topic all while drawing connections between elements of history and everyday life, making sure we are all able to take something important away. What I was most impressed with was that she exposes the reader to lessons in the occult that are usually considered taboo for the beginner, and I support her vision 100%. Each of us are better off with books like this on our shelves. This is it, this is real magic."
--Devin Hunter, award winning bestselling author, AV Club/Cosmo favorited podcast host, and professional witch from TV
"Introduction to Witchcraft truly manages to capture the depth and breadth of topics that are part of rich magical practice, and Sara explains them with her usual down-to-earth humor and frank conversation. Her lived experience as a witch, and willingness to share the ups and downs of that practice make this book a must have for your library. Even with a couple decades of study under my belt, there are still lessons in here that I find myself drawn towards for new learning. Many books on witchcraft and magic are either so introductory as to be nearly useless to anyone except a brand new practitioner, or are a focused dive into a single topic. Sara has managed to thread this needle and create a truly magnificent learning tool with this book."
--Rev. Jan Avende, Archdruid of Ár nDraíocht Féin "Sara Mastros is one of the best teachers - magical or otherwise - I've come across during my journey on Earth. As a practitioner and lifelong student of witchcraft & magic, I am always on the look out for foundation-building resources to share with my readers and clients, and Sara's courses and books have always been amongst my go-tos for awhile now. So when she invited me to preview and read the book version of her Introduction to Witchcraft course, I was delighted and honored to do so!
"Introduction to Witchcraft is practical and rigorous but not dry, animated throughout by the spirit of taking the play (but not necessarily one's self) of magic seriously, while offering a grounding, clear, and deeply informed by hands-on experience set of tools for any practitioner to strengthen their own magical foundation. This book is everything I wanted when I was a preteen wandering around the adult shelves of my South Florida public library, and what the world needs from witchcraft teachers and magical stewards now. This book is an instant classic, and I am excited to witness the magical renaissance I hope it will inspire."
--Bunny Morgan-Brown, ancestral witch & diviner
"Sara Mastros has a gift for presenting occult information in a manner that is not only charming and engaging, but incredibly clear and practical. Her work here lays down a solid foundation for those beginning their journey into the craft or for any interested in enriching an already existing practice. Not only does Sara serve up valuable lessons on the craft with humor and ease, but it is very clear that behind all of her wit lies years of true experience and experimentation which will guide the reader towards a practice which is both enchanted and effective."
--Matthew Venus author of Ensouling the Effigy: The Witch's Arte of Enspirited Objects
"Introduction to Witchcraft is one of the best introductory books I have seen in a lifetime of reading books on Witchcraft. I have found her prose very accessible, and all of it is based on her firsthand knowledge. In this book she is like the Fairy Godmother we all wished we had when we read our fairy tales and dreaming about witches and magic as children. I recommend that you acquire this book and give it a good read regardless of your expertise - you will not be disappointed."
--Frater Barrabbas, author of the Magical Notary Art
"What I love about Introduction to Witchcraft: Thirteen Lessons in the Practice of Magic by Sara L. Mastros is that it is truly witch centric in its approach and perspective. Thoughtful guidance is given throughout on developing your abilities, gaining confidence, and refining your identity as a practitioner of witchcraft. Sara's mind has a knack for organizing and condensing techniques, spells, rituals, and esoteric ideas into modules that are readily learned and quickly useful. There are a wide range of cultures, time periods, pantheons, and lore presented in this book and they are placed in a respectful context with each other. A witch uses what works but must also know what harmonizes and what does not. Despite the title, this book is not just for those that are new to witchcraft. It is a book for anyone looking to improve their craft."
--Ivo Dominguez Jr. author of Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans
"Powerful, delightful, and deeply practical--this book is a complete introductory course in magic for students of any tradition. It touches on virtually every magical discipline and offers a treasure trove of original spells and rituals, inviting readers to practice, not just study, magic. Sara's pedagogy fosters wonder and play while building competence and confidence through well-structured lessons. Advanced practitioners will value the collection of workings and her inspiring use of the Orphic Hymns. Commit to a year-long journey with this book and, by the end, you'll truly be living the life of a witch."
--Gwendolyn Reece, author of The Waters of Mnemosyne: Ancient Greek Religion for Modern Pagans
"Introduction to Witchcraft: Thirteen Lessons in the Practice of Magic is a playful, practical, and profound guide to modern witchcraft. Sara brings decades of teaching and practice into these thirteen progressive lessons filled with rituals, exercises, and witchy wisdom. Both beginner-friendly and rich with depth, anyone at any level that tackles these lessons one by one will be a better witch for it. New practitioners who complete the curriculum will be decades further along than those who dither along on their own."
--Jason Miller, author of Consorting with Spirits and many other books and courses
