Book Review: “Modern Magic” by Michelle Tea
Bewitching
I nearly gave this review the subtitle, “The Review in Which I Immolate My Christian Credibility and Become a Powerful Warlock.” I decided against it. For one thing, I’m lucky to be a member of a very liberal church that honors and acknowledges other faith traditions. Also, I’m fortunate to have another side hustle reviewing books about religion and spirituality elsewhere, where I’m exposed to all sorts of writers, both conservative and liberal, sometimes on the nose and sometimes … not. Thus, reviewing a book about witchcraft — and this book is being marketed as a companion volume to a book called Modern Tarot (and I do have a tarot deck that I sometimes fool around with from time to time — thanks, Mom!) — shouldn’t be too much of a big deal for my followers. Modern Magic is part memoir, part grimoire, and part history of various witches throughout history (and some who paid the ultimate price for being witches in history). The nice thing is that author Michelle Tea has a wicked sense of humor, which helps alleviate some of the fear that a Christian like me might have about reviewing a book about witchcraft. Don’t get me wrong: It seems that Tea takes her magic very seriously but not so seriously at the same time. So, nothing here (I think) will incite paranoia on the level of a Rosemary’s Baby or some such thing.
Part of Modern Magic is a coming-of-age story about the author’s upbringing. She hung out with an ultra-cool grandmother who slipped away to have her tea leaves read and kept a dream journal that she associated with lottery numbers (Tea’s book does a better job of explaining how this works). Part of it is a hilarious but also sobering account of how witchcraft came to be tied with the Catholic Inquisition. But you’re probably coming to this book for the spells and recipes the author includes. Now, I haven’t tried these spells out myself — the author concedes that there’s a level of “play” with these spells, and they sometimes don’t work as intended if they even work at all — but I found them fascinating. I just assumed witches had a magic wand and some herbs, and presto! they get what they want. No. A fair bit of prep goes into these spells, such as carving words or symbols into candles (and finding candles of different colors). If I learned anything from this read, being a witch can be hard work — and it helps to have a crafty flair. (For one thing, I’m not good with glue guns, so making my own broomstick wouldn’t work for me. I’d have to buy one from somewhere on the Interwebs.) That said, my mom would approve of this book because there’s a chapter on how to clean your house … of evil spirits. (Hi, Mom!)
However, this book also has a very human and poignant side. There are snatches of personal stories here and there that should resonate with most readers — even if they don’t aspire to be witches or warlocks. (And before I go any further, I should point out that this book is very femme-centered. I don’t think I’ll be rubbing any flowers or some such thing on my genitals, for one thing.) I loved the bit where Tea’s son does a little dance around the house to appease the spirits who would help him beat his mom at Bingo — and loses the next few games anyway. In some ways, Modern Magic is more a textbook about building an alternative lifestyle for yourself when people are more than happy to drive by you in the street and throw garbage at you for being “different.” (This happened to the author growing up, as recounted here.) Magic is also discussed in how it’s linked to 12-step programs for alcohol and substance abuse. Thus, a lot is going on in these 250-odd pages, and the book is enjoyable even if you have zero interest in the more how-to magical parts of the book.
For others, this narrative links not necessarily to a dark art but to a different way of life that is becoming more mainstream. That said, there are some dark arts here: one chapter deals specifically with hexes, and one of the hexes involves planting a bottle of urine mixed with some spices on the property of the person you’re hexing. Ick! Another spell uses soil from someone’s grave as an ingredient, which is meant to be honoring but comes off as a bit creepy. Still, these are minor blemishes. At its heart, Modern Magic is a spellbinding read that illuminates a quasi-religious tradition that many mainstream readers will be introduced to here. It’s a profoundly intriguing read, and members of any faith might find something of sustenance in these pages. While I don’t think I won’t stop attending church, maybe someday I’ll be tempted to try one of these rituals or spells. Or at least, for now, come to a greater understanding of a faith tradition different from my own — so here’s a Christmas gift idea: a black pointy hat.
Michelle Tea’s Modern Magic: Stories, Rituals, and Spells for Contemporary Witches was published by HarperOne on October 1, 2024.
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Get in touch: zacharyhoule@rogers.com
