Whenever I visit a metaphysical store, I leave with the impression that some people must need crystals the way the rest of us need food, water, and air. Otherwise, I just can’t understand how they justify spending so much money on pretty paperweights. Saying that might make me sound like Scrooge, yet it also sums up the bias I had towards crystals before starting this book. In other words, I was interested, but price tags had broken my heart too many times.
Grant’s chapter on salt showed me another way. Didn’t think of salt as a crystal? Neither did I, despite the number of times I “grew it” as a child. I’m unlikely to forget again, however, as Grant wove both scientific and historical trivia seamlessly into her spell suggestions.
More importantly, I believe I could now go to the supermarket and choose from among the many colored salts available with confidence, based on what I’ve learned from Grant about both their physical makeup and magickal correspondences. Even better, I also know now which of the cheaper salts to substitute for the more expensive ones. With this knowledge, I can adapt any idea in the salt chapter so it fits my budget—and the chapter is so full of ideas!
I like to define myself as a “witchcrafter,” meaning the majority of my spell work produces arts and crafts. At least in theory. In reality, it means that I’m obsessed with putting bits and bobbles in little glass bottles for weird and wonderful purposes. Thanks to Grant’s salt chapter, I have plans for protection bottles, blessing bottles, even cursing bottles… and when I get bored with those, I can move on to making baths, washes, and perhaps edible salt mixes. I can’t wait to get started.
All this said, poverty-stricken witches like me might find the rest of this book frustrating. There’s no doubt about it: Grant writes fantastically and knows her stuff. After reading The Second Book of Crystal Spells, I feel like I know this stuff too. Nevertheless, knowing about crystals does nothing to change the fact that I still cannot afford to buy most of the ones described in the book. Many of the Pagans I know cannot afford to do so. We are not its target market.
As for the lucky wretches who have money…
…well, I hate you a little bit. But just a little. That doesn’t mean I begrudge you pretty things. Buy pretty paperweights. Then buy this book so you can use the hell out of them. While the knowledge that The Second Book of Crystal Spells contains is purely theoretical for me, I understand what I can’t afford so much better now! In the meantime, I’ll be in my grocery aisle, counting pennies and grumbling.
Four stars.
I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.