Book Review: Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

This is one of those books that was recommended pretty much everywhere and looked pretty interesting so, it got wishlisted until I had available book money. I’ve had it for a bit, but it wasn’t at the top of my read pile until I saw Auryn’s next book. Because I really want to get to that book, this book got bounced to the top of the pile. Especially since I already picked up the next book and am itching to read it.

This first read through is pretty interesting. Mostly, I’m discovering that the way I’ve always visualized is how it’s supposed to be done, at least in Auryn’s view so, that’s nice. I feel like I’m a step ahead because I don’t have a lot to relearn. It didn’t take long to realize that this is one of those books that will take a couple of read throughs, at least in the sections with exercises. It can be really hard for me to move past those without getting them done (perfectly) but I really want to move forward with my reviews in the midst of an incredibly hectic rest of my life. So, I will be coming back to the exercises until I get them just so.

The writing itself is very intelligently conversational without coming off as too smart or as condescending. It can be a tough balance to both trust your reader to know things and also explaining things fairly thoroughly. Auryn seems pretty adept at walking that line.

There were some parts of this review I wrote and cut because it was more helpful vent than review. There were a lot of things in this book that I identified with on a deeply personal level. I do sometimes get the feeling like certain books were written with me in mind – maybe not specifically me as an individual but the in the looser sense of people like me, coming from the same sorts of places with the same sorts of outlook. It doesn’t happen all the time that I feel that way about a book.

It is interesting how frequently the number 3 comes up in religions and philosophies all over the world. In people related sciences also. I like how Auryn has walked through the links to Jung and how the “shadow work” we’re all encouraged to do might work in the scope of working with magic and understanding the full self as it is in pieces of a whole and finding ways to bring those pieces together in intuitive ways.

If I am upset with this book at all, it is purely in the number of books added to my wish list via the copious footnotes and source citing.

I am incredibly glad I bought this one in paperback rather than audio as doing the exercises works much better for me reading them rather than hearing them. I do recommend doing a total read through first and then going back and doing the exercises. You could do it as you go but I really prefer doing the full read and then going back mostly because of how I read, I guess.

I wouldn’t say this is a beginner book on its face. Yes, a beginner would get a lot of really great foundational information, but it’s not really geared for just beginners. This really does feel like one of those rare intermediate aimed witchery books. I love that.

And now, I am doubly glad to have Mastering Magick, Auryn’s next book, already on my kindle. It is totally my next read but probably won’t be the next one I review as I really need to finish writing up the books I listened to on audible before I finally cancelled as I really do prefer books in my hand – digital or paper, isn’t as big an issue.

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