This collection of essays is very interesting and great for 'dipping' into. I read one each night before bed and they certainly left me with lots to think about. I would recommend this for ANYONE interested in witchcraft and how it can be applied to everyday lives.

I loved that this book made me sit and think after each essay, and yes it took so much longer to read(i received this book before publication so I really have been slow to review) but I think that it was better to take the time and thought than just skim read and review in a rush for publication.
Not only did I come away from this book having, I feel, learned a lot I came away with a huge reading list! Some of the authors mention other authors or books that I've ended up putting on my tbr pile.
It's defiantly a book id recommend to others in the community because we lack books on the subject of witchcraft ethics and this is defiantly a good one to start that section off with.

The Modern Craft provides a collection of unique marginalized experiences and their relationships to their pagan paths. As with most of these essay collections, I found one or two not to my tastes and ended up skipping ahead. But overall this is a great collection, with informative view points that all could benefit from reading.

A good book for different views or things not really thought about. A collection of essays from different authors. A nice addition if wanting something like this.

The format of this book really appealed to me. It was done in essay format, featuring different minority voices. I liked getting different points of view and how certain aspects have affected people. But like with all books featuring a collection of essays, there were some that did not have my attention at all, and I found myself skipping to the next. It was a good read, that made me stop, think and consider the world around me.

It's an interesting book, a collection of essays, and it's full o food for thought.
Not all the essay are related to witchcraft but I found them all interesting.
I discovered some new to me authors that I will follow.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Book Review: 'The Modern Craft - Powerful Voice on Witchcraft Ethics'
Editors: Claire Askew and Alice Tarbuck
Publisher: Watkins
Release Date: 14th June, 2022

I am really excited about this book review, because I truly believe it’s quite unique; there are not many books out there, if any, that focus on Witchcraft ethics.

As soon as I found out about it I knew I had to read it. Not only is it a really important topic, but I find this kind of stuff super interesting!

ABOUT THE EDITORS
Dr Claire Askew is from the UK and lives in Cumbria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh, where she is also their Writer in Residence. Claire has written four novels: 'All the Hidden Truths', 'What You Pay For', 'Cover Your Tracks' and 'A Matter of Time'. She also has two poetry collections, 'This Changes Things' and 'How to Burn A Woman.

Dr Alice Tarbuck is based in Edinburgh. She is an academic specialising in Witchcraft and Environmental Humanities. Her work has been featured in 'Nasty Woman' and 'The Dangerous Women Project'. Her debut book is called, 'A Spell in the Wild', which has been on my reading list for a while!

ABOUT THE BOOK
The blurb:
“An eclectic and radical collection of essays on witchcraft practice and the ethics of magic - a must read for anyone engaged with the occult, witchcraft or magics of any kind.”

I was also sent an information/promo sheet which captures what the book is about;
“It offers a fascinating snapshot of contemporary occult practice viewed through an intersectional lens. Touching on a number of timely conversations, essay topics include:

- the ethics of decolonisation
- meditations on what it means to honour Mother Earth during the Anthropocene
- the reclamation of agency for working-class and queer witches through spellwork
- a gender-fluid perspective on breaking down hierarchies and magical symbolism
- a day in the life of a disabled Pagan Irish practitioner

As well as the editors Claire Askew and Alice Tarbuck it also features essays and contributions by;

- Lisa Marie Basile
- Stella Hervey Birrell
- Jane Claire Bradley
- Madelyn Burnhope
- Lilith Dorsey
- AW Earl
- Henry Josephine Giles
- Simone Kotva
- Iona Lee
- Briana Pegado
- Megan Sudden
- Sabrina Scott
- Em Still

MY THOUGHTS
Opening with a powerful message; ultimately asking, how the ‘old ways’ and traditions fit into today’s society and Witchcraft community. There is a lot to break down, even in Witchcraft and the Occult practices, to ensure we are being inclusive and that we do not perpetuate harmful beliefs or practices. The topics covered in the book are at the forefront of social movements and discourse generally so I think it’s great to have a book that focuses on important topics in relation to the Craft. 

Witches are forever learning and adapting. It’s important that we know where our traditions and elements of our practice come from. For example, when I first started out I didn’t fully understand smudging. I know this is the same for a lot of people. I thought the simple act of cleansing my space with a bundle of sage was the thing to do. It wasn’t until later that I learned of the cultural appropriation attached to this. Smudging is a ritual that is a lot more complex than I first realised and one that I have no right to. As soon as I was aware of this I stopped, and it was no longer a part of my practice. It’s important for us as witches, and humans, to own our mistakes and learn from them, but also to ensure we have a full understanding of what it is we are doing within our practice. 

The point of the book is not to make you feel bad or chastise you but to help you grow, learn and ensure your Craft is authentic to you. As I said, we are always learning and the point is to change and better yourself; acknowledge when you have done wrong, or harm, and make appropriate changes

The first essay, 'Witches and Wordsmiths, Sorcerers and Storytellers' was slightly disappointing. It was a brief glance at women as witches and their persecution during the Witch hunts and oppression throughout history. However, I feel like it offered nothing new to the topic. It was well written, but I felt like I was waiting for a point, some new ideas or a 'what’s next; take. It was too brief to have any real depth to it and it felt like the repetition of ideas I’ve read countless times before. 

However, the second essay definitely redeemed it. It was called, 'Brass Knuckles, Broken Mirrors, Binders and Glitter Bombs'. It explored Witchcraft on a very personal level from a queer, working class Witch. They explored Witchcraft in poverty, when access to books, tools and other paraphernalia is just not possible. It was really interesting because it showed how having to adjust and tailor your craft, because of personal circumstances, means that it becomes something else - something totally personal and unique.

By the third essay I realised the that this book was not at all what I expected and in most ways that was a good thing. It’s not going to spell out to you the ethics of Witchcraft; what’s right and what’s wrong. It’s more personal than that. These are real people. People of colour, queer people, trans-people and they are telling their very personal stories and sharing their Witchcraft practices that mostly are not what may be seen as mainstream. It’s about what the Craft means to them.

At this point I would usually give an example of someone’s story to explain what I mean, but by the third essay, by trans woman Harry Josephine Giles, I realised it’s not up to me to sum up or summarise these stories. I feel like I have no right to shorten or alter their words. We should all read the words as they were written and how they were intended to be read. I should not pick and choose what I think is important from their story. 

I realised that the book allows us to explore our own ethics through the stories and personal experiences of others. It’s up to us, as the reader, to listen to their stories and establish our own ethics. For me, having all of these different perspectives from marginalised voices, that are different to mine, allowed me to understand my privilege and I can appreciate other experiences that are not like mine. That’s important for everyone.

I won’t talk about every single essay but I did take something away from all of them and they are all so different and diverse. Here are a few that stood out to me.

I particularly enjoyed Lisa Marie Basile’s chapter about magic and mental health. It was probably the aspect or area that I identified with the most on a personal level. It was during my own struggles with mental health that I got deep into my magic.

One of the most interesting chapters was, 'Witchcraft, Indigenous Religion and the Ethics of Decolonisation'. A HUGE topic and this essay only skimmed the surface of it; looking at one aspect of decolonisation. It focused on the term ‘Shamanism’ and how early Witchcraft books (think - Cunningham, Gardner, Valiente) referred to Witchcraft and Wicca as Shamanism or as a type of Shamanism. I remember when I was doing my early reading, particularly Scott Cunningham, he referred to Shamanism and it did confuse me. I never saw Shamanism and Witchcraft or Wicca as being the same thing. They were separate things and I unconsciously chose to keep Shamanism elements out of my practice because it just didn’t feel right. I wasn’t sure why at the time, but looking back I knew that those practices didn’t belong to me. Saying that some aspects of Shamanism have been blended with Witchcraft practices and we may not have even realised it. For me, it’s about decolonising my own Craft, by learning and unlearning. I think that’s why reading and research and listening to other voices is so important. 

As a whole the most interesting essays for me centered around gender identity. Witchcraft is littered with masculine and feminine references. In the tarot, when working with deities and in astrology to name a few examples. I’ve always been of the mind that these energies were universal and applied to anyone no matter how they identified. However it’s more complicated than that. We can’t ignore the fact that the binary is there, so how do we work with this to make it more inclusive? I’m really interested in this developing area of the Craft, especially from the trans and non-binary community.

FINAL THOUGHTS
One of the great things about the book is that it is so diverse and covers a range of topics. There will be something for everyone, and something for everyone to learn from or relate to. 

It’s one of those books that is useful for beginners and seasoned practitioners. Things such a cultural appropriation and the effect your Craft has on the environment should be fundamental considerations for all Witches.

It would have been nice to have some closing words or a little bit of a summary from the editors at the end, but it’s not a necessity. It would have just been a nice way to end the book.

I enjoyed the book and I would definitely recommend it.

*Book was gifted by the publisher, Watkins, in exchange for a review. [Note: I read an advanced reader's / uncorrected proof copy of the book therefore their may be some differences in the finalised published copy.]

I enjoyed this book, and I definitely learnt a lot.
There were some chapters that I enjoyed more than others. Some chapters really intrigued me, while others just felt so loosely connected to witchcraft it was like clutching at straws.

Overall the book was very dense and I found myself having to re-read some parts that didn't 'go in' straight away.

I liked the book, but as a whole it just didn't excite and intrigue me as much as i was hoping. Each chapter was a bit hit or miss.

The Modern Craft is an excellent collection of thoughts on the topic of witchcraft as it is practiced in our multicultural world.
What I liked
The nature of this book as a collection of essays lends its self well to providing multiple view points on complex or controversial topics within the witchcraft community. The Essay writers while remaining respectful of differing opinions flesh out well their perspectives and did not stray away from potentially making other practitioners uncomfortable.
What didn't work for me as well
There was an instance of using wikapedia as a source in one of the essays. The information as far as I could find is correct but it sat ill with me from an academic standpoint. There was also a strange discordant moment were cultural appropriation and the harm it does is discussed almost immediately before a very positive essay on American shamanism in which the potentially appropriation portions of the practice are basically ignored.
Who I would recommend this book for
This book is a good fit for more seasoned witches wanting to step outside of their own potential echo chambers as well as for novice practitioners looking to have a starting point in understanding some of the more commonly controversial topics within witchcraft spaces.

This is the second book I have read lately that is composed of a series of essays from numerous witches and pagans, and I have to say I am enjoying hearing from a number of voices in a single book. The Modern Craft: Powerful Voices on Witchcraft Ethics edited by Claire Askew and Alice Tarbuck is a radical collection of essays on the ethics of witchcraft. Essays include such topics as decolonizing your practice, practicing witchcraft while disabled, gender-fluid hierarchies, cultural appropriation, and the problems found in online witchcraft communities. Essay contributors largely belong to marginalized groups, their voices being amplified in this publication, and include such witches and pagans as Lisa Marie Basile, Lilith Dorsey, AW Earl, Iona Lee, Simone Kotva, and Briana Pegado.

Since this is a collection of essays, each chapter or essay deals with a different topic centered around ethics, inclusivity, and intersectionality. This is the first book that has come across my shelf dealing specifically with these issues, issues that desperately need to be addressed in our community if we want to continue to be able to call ourselves welcoming and open to those in need. Witchcraft and magic have traditionally been used by the marginalized to attain some control over their life situations, fight injustice, and otherwise make life easier. If we, as a community, want to continue this tradition, we need to recognize that cultural appropriation, white supremacy, homo- and transphobia, and ableism have no place here. It feels like every day we are fighting a new battle, but it's one we need to continue to fight. This book is a great place to start if you are just coming to witchcraft or are looking at ways to make your own life and practice more inclusive.

The first essay introduces the concepts of what is a witch, the language we use to describe witches and witchcraft, the historical implications of these words, and how language can help marginalized groups because witchcraft is an act of rebellion. This essay will certainly pump you up and get you ready for the coming essays. This is followed by an essay on practicing witchcraft while poor. This is a topic near and dear to me because while I certainly grew up with enough, I have not always had enough as an adult. Furthermore, constantly participating in capitalism degrades our environment and disconnects us from the world around us. You do not have to purchase expensive herbs and crystals to practice witchcraft. You can create your own correspondences and use materials you find and they will work just as well if not better than ones imported from far-off lands. I felt this essay paired well with the final essay on practicing witchcraft while disabled. The final essay, however, takes a different approach than the others. While the vast majority of essays are guides, the final one is written as a day in the life of. It was really eye-opening as an able-bodied person to see how those with a disability that limits mobility celebrate and practice witchcraft and paganism. Reading this essay made me rethink some of the spells I have written, and how I can make future spells more inclusive to those lacking the means or ability to practice as I do.

There are several essays addressing LGBTQIA issues, such as transitioning and using ritual to aid in this process, finding LGBTQIA friendly deities, raising non-binary children in witchcraft, rethinking masculine and feminine, and trans-exclusion in the occult community. As someone who has volunteered at LGBTQIA homeless shelters, mentored LGBTQIA youth, and worked to create a safe and inclusive environment in my classroom (of which I currently teach at least 2 transgender and 6 queer students), these essays really spoke to me, especially the essay discussing trans-exclusion. So many people attempt to use 'biological' sex to dismiss transgenderism without having any idea what they are talking about. As a biologist, I can tell you biological sex is so much more complicated than X and Y chromosomes and the idea that science is being used to be exclusive is disgusting.

Other essays include online occult communities and the problems associated with these groups (why I am no longer a member of many of them), how to decolonize your practice and the word shaman, the ethics of animal sacrifice and how racism has been used to distort actual African traditional religions and practices, cultural appropriation, the ethics of witchcraft capitalism and ecology which dives into the ethics of the crystal industry and potential alternatives.

While I took extensive notes on each essay, my thoughts and feelings simply cannot be summed up in such a way as to make a great blog post. Instead, I encourage you to purchase and read this book yourself. Hopefully, you come out the other side more empathic and open to changing your own practice. I cannot recommend this book enough and highly encourage you to pre-order your copy of The Modern Craft: Powerful Voices on Witchcraft Ethics edited by Claire Askew and Alice Tarbuck now. with that being said, I did have one issue. One author said that white sage and palo santo were the same things (not true) and that palo santo is better because it's sustainably harvested from dead trees (both true and not true). I feel like this mistake was a big oversight on the part of the editors, but its easy to overlook in light of the rest of the book.

This has the potential to be a really good book. It is a series of articles on modern witchcraft focusing on marginalised voices: women, indigenous, working class, disabled, black, trans and non binary. It sounded right up my street and there was a lot I enjoyed.

There is a good discussion to be had about cultural appropriation and colonialism in witchcraft and this book addressed that from several viewpoints. However, there was not much depth and a whole discussion on the appropriation of shamanism is then followed by a chapter on American shamanism, but with no analysis of this. I feel that sometimes the articles were a little too short and lacking rigour: who uses Wikipedia as an academic source?

As with other books of short articles, some are much better than others. I found the article on the ethics of crystal mining and the problems of witchcraft in late capitalism was fascinating. On the other hand, as someone interested in disability I found the article from this perspective didn't really have much to say on the specific issues disabled practitioners may have.

Unfortunately the weaker chapters have pulled down the star rating of a book that is a really interesting concept with some interesting articles.

Eassys based of contemporary occult practice viewed through an intersectional lens. Interesting read but will say I didn't take anything away from it. I didn't enjoy the format.