The Witch’s Guide to the Paranormal is a relatively short introductory book that touches upon witchcraft basics, mediumship, paranormal investigation, types of hauntings and entities, what to do with each types of hauntings, and working with potential clients.
The book contains great advice regarding the importance of cross referencing other books to gain the most accurate and agreed upon information. It also contains fab plant, smoke, and fire safety, along with mental health safety, and provides great alternatives to visualisation techniques for those who cannot do this, which is really helpful for those with mental health conditions and also those who are neurodivergent. I really appreciate a paragraph that explained that mental health issues and paranormal issues can occur simultaneously (even if it doesn’t appear to be happening simultaneously), and if one was to ever suspect someone is struggling with mental health concerns then they should be directed to a professional. The book offers support and comfort at times, which I did like. It was sprinkled in sparingly, and wasn’t overbearing in the slightest. It flows well, easy to read and to maintain concentration. It also contains lots of rituals, recipes, and guides, and best of all: citations and a juicy bibliography at the back which is really appreciated!
There were a few areas in the book that I personally disliked, although only a few and far between. Even though it started off strong talking about mental health and how it can be mistaken for a haunting, there is a small section which explains that having a hole in one’s aura results in being extremely tired, very raw and ‘energetically sunburned’, which can be true. I think it should have been mentioned here that this isn’t the only cause, as there are many mundane causes for this which should be considered first. There is a section later on in the book where it mentions that addiction, homelessness, and debilitating mental health concerns are commonly caused by an entity attached to the back of one’s head, and again doesn’t mention other much more common mundane causes. Furthermore, during the section going through causes of hauntings and different entities, the book mentions that if the haunting is caused by a child, then you are required to tell the child that they’re the cause. Granted, the book mentions to not pressure them, however I would worry this could traumatise the child, especially if they’re particularly sensitive or are victim of abuse at home. I feel like it needs to explain how to approach this a bit better.
There was a very small section explaining how to rid attachments, and it mentions you can bury conduits into the ground, which is true, however it doesn’t mention it needs to be environmentally safe (no glass or plastic!), or safe for the local plants and animals (no salt!). Lastly, when discussing how to approach paranormal investigation for those coming from different religions, the book mentions you have to tailor your approach to the beliefs of the family (which I really appreciate!), however it ends this sentence with “and as a witch, you really should feel comfortable walking in all religions anyway”, which I personally disagree with. I think it’s great to be open to religions around us, however there are circumstances where witches cannot or feel uncomfortable with participating in certain religions, for example those with religious trauma.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. It had a very paranormal investigator vibe at the start of the book but it swiftly moves into actual witchcraft-related paranormal investigation, and contains lots of helpful advice. I would recommend this to those who would like to start seeking out spirit communication.
Last reviewed: 06/06/23
Disclaimer: Anything stated within these book reviews are based on the writer’s opinions, beliefs, and life experiences and should not be taken as universal truth. The writer’s opinion of said books are subject to change over time and reviews may be amended in future to reflect their most up-to-date opinion. It is generally recommended for you to read these books for yourself so you can form your own personal opinion.