New Moon Magic
13 Anti-Capitalistic Tools for Resistance and Re-Enchantment

Risa Dickens and Amy Torok

Witches are trending. It’s not hard to understand why if you think of a witch as someone with the power to make their own fate. Of course, that’s all of us, really. But in today’s culture, it doesn’t often feel that way. The damage done by a patriarchal, capitalistic mindset is felt by so many, from the rise in burnout to the proliferation of people with mental health issues.

Witches have gone from being the persecuted to being the rebels. Leave it to two of them to take on the resistance to the violence of capitalism.

The book grows from the concept of praxis – actions, craft, practices that help us do in line with what we believe. The coaching world might call it values-based action. In New Moon Magic, the praxis is revolution through enchantment, calling on a connection to the more-than-human world, whether that be ancestors, spirits, or plants. At a minimum, this book can ground us, assure us we aren’t alone, remind us of what we have been taught to forget. At its best, it’s a call to action.

Each of the 13 chapters, titled for one of the full moons plus the Thirteenth Moon, is dedicated to a tool such as dancing, music, gardens, and art – tools that can help us “conjure forth our power to resist and re-enchant. That’s what adds depth to this book. It’s not a screed about resistance, it’s an imagining of resistance through wonder and awe. Refusing the violence and oppression of capitalism helps us reimagine what a society, even a capitalistic society, can look like. These tools help get us there.

The story behind each of the tools is told through historical events and people. We see their power in how they’ve been used to shape our world and how they can be relevant and useful today. In Moon Magic, the history is strongly – and deliberately – feminist.

…that is, not just a history of women but of women’s ideas, their spiritualities, their rituals, their methods of forming and healing communities. Approaching a feminist history of ideas means making space for knowledge that comes from different ways of being in different kinds of bodies.

From Hildegard in the 12th century and Audre Lorde to Brené Brown and Terry Tempest Williams, theirs are the stories not only of disruption but also deep caring and joy. They lend weight to the tools and give us shoulders to stand on as we begin this new journey – that really isn’t so new.

As much as the history enlivens the practices, in some chapters, it can get dense. I nearly gave up on the book in Chapter 1 on Needles and Knives. The history was too long and the metaphor of sharp edges and cutting things out of your life felt thin. But the authors find their rhythm quickly and by Chapter 4 on Dance, the relevance and connection to resistance is not only clear but powerful.

Many, if not all, of the Chapters present tools that were once forbidden, demonized, or somehow seen as a threat – dancing, certain types of music (think rock-and-roll), mathematics and science, potions and herbal practices, divination, and especially relevant now, women’s bodies.

There’s a suggested Ritual for practice at the end of the chapters as well as an Incantation. This engages us, nudges us into reverence and awe, helps us take ownership.

There is magic in connection, in feeling our way towards a culture that values people over profit, in resistance that seeds equality. This is magic as a call back of our own power, a conjuring of joy and caring.

At the end of the Dance chapter, Risa Dickens tells the story of dancing with a Witches’ besom, not a broom but a tool for spiritual sweeping, the night before taking her driving test after failing many times as an adult. Amy sent her a sing spell, “Man in Motion,” from St Elmo’s Fire.

That night I played it loud and danced laughing in dizzying circles with my besom, all around the living room, sweeping my fear of failure, my frustration with myself, and all the misogyny from past inspectors that had tripped me up... And it’s a silly story, but every time we make our own lives better, we liberate our power to re-enchant the world.

“This is a book of tools,” the authors write, “for collectively deciding out fate.” If that’s witchcraft, more please.

This was a thoughtful book that featured reflections on each new moon - with a theme for the moon of that zodiac symbol and in-depth discussions. I really liked how the authors used both historical and more modern-day individuals to discuss what that respective theme and new moon could mean for an individual and how to draw inspiration from the work of others. I also enjoyed how the authors called out areas for white and non-marginalized witches to do more research and to recognize the work of Black activists and others. I think this book is a good meditation for anyone looking to broaden their relationship with their craft. A good way to read this book would be to read the chapter associated with the month’s zodiac sign and then reflect on it and complete the associated ritual (or one of your own). This way you can get a lot out of this book over the entire year and absorb it all in your own practice. 4.5/5 due to the shear density of the material that can be prohibitive to some newer readers/witches.

This is a really interesting book for a really specific type of magic and rituals. I've never seen a book about this before and I think the information was good. I also liked the inclusion of the personal stories of different people. Every New Moon in the year is attached to a specific sign and topic in the book. There are 13 chapters, 12 for every month and the thirteenth moon; discussing things like divination, technology, art, etc. I found it really insightful. It is a bit dense with a lot of text, but if you are interested in this topic I 100% recommend checking it out

I think maybe I’m not the target audience for this book. There were definitely some empowering quotes about being a powerful person and witch, but not as much on how to use your tools to do so which is what I was expecting. It’s filled filled with a lot of history. I’m not into history at all so I wasn’t really enjoying those parts. I guess I was looking for and expecting more practical/functional knowledge on using tools within your craft. I do like the writing voice the authors use and it’s filled with some very useful, inspiring quotes that I took notes of.

An insight into moon magic from an angle I didn’t expect. Packed with thrilling history and intertwined stories, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece.
I would like to revisit it at the new moons in order to harbour its magic and remind myself of these new patterns it encourages.
While the topic of manifestation is popular at the moment, it’s hard to decipher what to read to get the best info necessary. This book is a great place to start, while cutting through some crap and highlighting issues within the craft from unexpected orientations.

For me the dark moon represents endless possibilities and new beginnings. I automatically and immediately think of black moonstone and labradorite, of Vetiver and Oakmoss. In this book, encouraging us to weave together the living embodiment of our ideas for collective reenchantment — there is hope and wisdom.

“The tools you’ll find in this book might not be able to change lead into gold or water into wine, but they can transform the mundane into the sacred. They can transform us, our lives, and—with the rippling effect that we know magic has—our culture as a whole. As above, so below. As within, so without.”

Anti-capitalist and quick to convey that we don’t need to buy a damn thing to be magical, to own our inherent and phenomenal personal power. I like it! And simultaneously yes, I own many metaphysical tools, and work with tarot decks, crystals, oils — but, do I need them? Do I need these to manifest my best life and go boldly? To be a women who runs with the wolves? No.

Each chapter has some storytelling woven with historical figures (from Beethoven to Tesla), quotes and more ancestral stories — obviously well thought out and researched, including rituals and incantations. As a leader of women’s circles, I particularly resonated with the new moon in Scorpio chapter.

I love history and the craft is full of it. This book really went above and beyond and knocked it out of the ballpark with their historical research and the book that came to fruition as a result of their work.

If you read this book and don’t feel empowered by the content, we can’t be friends! Seriously, this book really, REALLY delivers and is a must read for anyone interested in the craft, whether practitioner or someone with just an interest in the topic!

Magic From a Different View

The authors have definitely provided and discussed some very different views, tools, and techniques worth noting. As they discuss each moon phase, a different ritual is provided with the introduction of a tool for each moon phase and ritual. As readers will come to realize, not all ritual tools are tangible, some are intangible, such as in the case where dance is discussed as a tool of magic.

This book is quite interesting and it offers various rituals to be performed during the different phases of the moon, in which one can connect or reconnect with their ancestors. Very good read.

Full of great information and beautiful quotes, but I do wish it was laid out differently.

Perhaps some headers for the incantations and spells offered, so they are easy to find and reference later after reading?

Great to read front to back, but doesn't make a sensical reference book. Which is really what I need from my books, so that they continue to be useful moving forward.

I love the concept and the ideas presented here though, and I will be recommending it to other witches.

New Moon Magic is a phenomenal book of magic and scholarship designed to help readers create meaningful change. The forward, written by Dr. Christena Cleveland, likens the book to the “magic of Gestalt psychology” which teaches that the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Cleveland, “enrobed in a Black and female body”, grew up feeling pressure to break down her sacred intersectionality into its simplistic parts, and she upholds this book and its magic as an antidote to harmful reductionism. Dickens and Torok, creators of the podcast Missing Witches, show readers how to liberate themselves from tyranny by fully embracing their identities and forging connections to each other and the bountiful world.

The book is divided into thirteen sections that correspond with the astrological new moons and the meanings of the earth, air, water, and fire signs. The introduction defines the word “witch” not as a person but as a discursive space, “a meeting point of politics, spirituality, and art.” The writers chart “a path beyond the violence of capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy” by hearkening to the voices and stories of marginalized people. Each month’s new moon offers readers the dark space to explore a new way of living as they contemplate what “our worldviews and world will look like when we reintegrate marginalized, obscured, violated, missing wisdom.”

I absolutely loved this book. Although it is full of thought-provoking ideas, it is easy to read and can be digested over time as each new moon rises. The book covers the magic of the body, the garden, song, dance, storytelling, geometry, and divination, pairing simple rituals and incantations with historical information and complex philosophies. In the section on the 13th moon, the writers issue a call to action, urging readers to understand that personal strength is political strength and that our greatest calling as humans is “to build a shared house of wisdom in community with all creatures of the earth.” Heartfelt, informative, and inspirational, this book reaches into a shared past to envision a brighter future, showing readers that true magic lies not in tools or aesthetics but inside ourselves. This beautiful book is full of ancient wisdom, personal stories, and innovative tips that will help readers to enchant their lives and, in doing so, change the world.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

This is a profound piece of work on how capitalism has caused us to become disconnected not only from nature and the universe, but from our ‘whole’ selves. It is structured very differently from the ‘typical’ witchcraft texts these days in that it is not a linear guide or list of ingredients/spells, but rather it is an encyclopaedia of knowledge and stories. The storytelling is impactful and it reminds us that although we live in a traumatic and oppressive society, there are infinite opportunities for us to reclaim our power and to turn our trauma into magick that moves us forward and heals us. It paints a picture of the harsh realities of racism, post-capitalistic society, oppression, and new-age spirituality. We are reminded that we are the magick - not the tools we buy or the content we consume for our practice. Capitalism has taught us that we need the ‘next new thing’, the best tools that are available on the market. In reality, the tools we need for our practice are more often than not right under our noses, free, and readily available. I definitely would recommend this book for someone who is interested in learning a different perspective on what it means to be a Witch, a perspective that is often not amplified enough within the witchcraft ‘community’.

This unique and profound book invite the truth that we are one with our bodies, others, nature and the universe. It contends that capitalism disrupts this unconscious harmony by inducing us to conquer our bodies, each other, and the earth. This book, although it is structured on new moon and Zodiac motifs, is not linear but an encyclopediac spiral of autobiographical materials, biographies of historical and current figures, research findings, provocative messages and instructions for magical rituals. Discusses how witchcraft can be a leading force in collective re-enchantment and political change. Illustrations. Notes. References.