I’m writing this review from a cramped office cubicle, counting down the seconds until I can rip off my cheap, itchy headset and go the hell home. When I get home, I’ll have to make a choice between re-heating some three day old rice or actually bothering to cook something. My wife and my cat will both want snuggles, my business contacts will want replies to their emails, and my online friends will no doubt have tagged me in a dozen stupid memes that I don’t want to see, but I still need to comment on them to be polite.

The TL;DR is that I’m too damned tired most nights to perform the kind of flamboyant, in-depth rituals that I desperately want to.

So what’s a burned-out witch to do? Deborah Blake has some ideas.

Everyday Witchcraft: Making Time for Spirit in a Too-Busy World by Deborah Blake, 2015.

Everyday Witchcraft is a book of witchy activities that aren’t full-on rituals: meditations, prayers, observances, journaling exercises, small mindful gestures, and simple spells that’re designed to be done in just a few minutes. The main idea is to help you maintain your spiritual practice, even on the days you can’t whip out the cloak and cauldron.

“For most of us, life is a matter of racing from one obligation to another…It is easy for your spiritual practice to get pushed to last place on the to-do list we all struggle to accomplish every day.” Pg 8.

The book’s written very sincerely, with a focus on inclusivity. Blake doesn’t presume to know your path, and offers plenty of suggestions to tweak different activities to your personal beliefs. You can watch the sunrise to reach a deeper understanding of The God, or maybe Apollo, or maybe to marvel at how cool it is to live on one of the few habitable rocks in the Solar System. Whatever works.

This easy-going philosophy is Everyday Witchcraft’s biggest strength, although its lack of focus may turn some people off. A good chunk of the advice can be boiled down to: “Do you do a thing? Keep doing the thing, but with intent“. There’s not a lot of hardcore magical theory here, and if you’re the kind of reader who’s already in “Witch Mode” 24/7, you’ll probably the book’s advice more trite than charming. I was charmed as heck.

“In the case of the protection/cleaning mixture, I usually use geranium, rosemary, lemon and sage…Put some of your magickal mix into a spray bottle…and use it as a room spray.” Pg. 140.

Blake offers all kinds of simple suggestions: knitting loving thoughts into sweaters, putting good luck sigils on greeting cards, and even modifying recipes to give your homemade dishes a pinch of protection magic. If there’s a “real life thing” you think is taking time away from your magic, chances are there’s a life-hack in here that makes that thing magic. There are chapters on housework, pet care, socializing, personal development, community service, and finding time to talk to trees when you live in a depressing urban environment.

“When I make my hot chocolate…As I place each ingredient inside, I focus on its magickal qualities: milk for health and healing, chocolate for prosperity and love, a spoonful of honey for healing and energy, a pinch of cayenne pepper for energy and creativity, a bit of cinnamon for prosperity and love, and coffee for energy.” Pg 32.

Each chapter’s concluded with a random tip or musing from a prominent Pagan author. Most of ’em aren’t particularly relevant to the main book’s content, but it’s nice to read these short op-eds in between the longer sections. The book itself ends with a write-up on thirteen different books that Blake found particularly useful during her witchy studies, followed by a list of over fifty she suggests for further reading.

Everyday Witchcraft is not a particularly groundbreaking book, and at times, it seems like there’s more cutesy anecdotes than concrete advice. But for what it’s supposed to be, it does the job perfectly.

If you’re in between “serious” witch books and want a nice, cozy read with lots of little life-hacks, then check out Everyday Witchcraft.

Happy Friday, and be well, my witches. ❤