Traditional Witchcraft for the Seashore

Ugh. I gave up on this book about a quarter of the way in. I'm so glad I only paid for the cheaper Kindle version, instead of a paperback. Just a few pages in, the author proposes littering (in the form of throwing a plastic pill bottle into the ocean). There is enough trash in the oceans already, we don't need to add more. The author also advocates taking things from the shore several times throughout the book -- mud from tidal flats, ocean water, sand, and a pebble "amulet". I am not opposed to taking things from nature every once in a while, but I believe that if we do so, we should have some awareness of how it is likely to influence the remaining environment, that we should be careful never to take to much, that we should have a strong sense that it is permitted and even encouraged to take whatever it is, and also I strongly feel that we should give back in return for taking something away. However, the author repeatedly mentions taking without any talk of giving back over the course of several examples. When the author finally does suggest an offering it is to leave food for seagulls or other animals. I have lived near the shore for almost my entire life and in almost every shore community I have been to, feeding the seagulls is illegal and with very good reason. While seagulls are scavengers, it is not natural or healthy for them to eat human food and some can even kill them. Feeding wildlife also acclimated them to humans, which is not safe for humans or animals. Seagulls have become so emboldened by being fed in coastal areas that they will swarm and steal food, often mobbing people to do it. It's kind of like Hitchcock's "The Birds". Leaving food in nature disrupts the local ecosystem and can harm or kill local plants and animals. Additionally, while I was hopeful, I was not expecting much in the way of talking about Spirits and certainly not much useful information pertaining to them because the premise of the book is Witchcraft. While I still consider myself a witch, I am also a polytheist and animist and so far, I have found that while books on polytheism unfortunately neglect other types of Spirits besides God's, such as land Spirits, books on witchcraft often leave out or gloss over Spirits entirely. In that same vein, the author did things like put the word powers in quotes (I'm paraphrasing that because I can't go back to find the exact passage right now) and other things that gave the impression they don't really believe in the Holy Powers as real and independent entities. Again, it's something I've come to expect in some books on witchcraft and general Paganism, as opposed to books on Animism, Spirit-work, or polytheism, but it was still disappointing. The only things close to spells that I came across so far in the book were excerpts from poems by poets other than the author, who as far as know were not Pagan poets. I'm a big believer in a "use it if it works, as long as it doesn't cause harm," philosophy, but using exclusively the work of other poets as ritual in a book purporting to explain how to do something seems lazy and probably non-functional. I'm not saying that a line from , or even an entire secular or Christian poem can't work in a spell or ritual, but I think that it should really mean something and that careful thought should be put into why and how it will work. The parts of the book that I've read so far are science (often poorly cited or not cited at all) mixed with history and folklore -- some of which may be valid, but some of which is suspicious or dubious at best -- and peppered with the occasional one sentence suggestion on what type of magic a certain are or type of tide is good for performing. There is also a lot of talk along the lines of, "you must," or, "first you need to," as if someone absolutely can not be a sea witch unless they have a pebble amulet. About the only positive thing I can say about this book is that I have read other books that are more potentially dangerous from a magical or spiritual standpoint, however besting those types of books is a very low bar to set for success and this book does contain some things that could be magically or spiritually dangerous. There is certainly plenty that is environmentally dangerous and also parts that could be physically dangerous as well -- there is not nearly strong enough of a warning about reptiles, for example, or how to recognize them or other types of coastal dangers. For instance, it suggests taking mud from tidal flats. Tidal flats are incredibly fragile ecosystems and tramping all over them is hazardous to the plants and animals that need them to survive, but they are also dangerous. You can put your foot on a tidal flat and just keep sinking. Along those same lines, while it seems obvious the author did at least some research into the environment about which they speak, it seems abundantly obvious that they either don't have actual physical knowledge of it, or at least not intimate practical experience with it. I try not to leave unwarranted negative reviews and I feel bad for leaving poor reviews at all, but I have read many books on Pagan subjects and this is one of the worst I've read so far. I'm very disappointed and even disgusted. If you are looking for a book that covers working with the environment around you, I would suggest "Nature Spirituality from the Ground Up" by Lupa -- it isn't specific to the shore, but it can be adapted. "Gaia Eros" by Jesse Wolf Harden is good from a more Gaia centered and animist perspective. Again, it isn't based at the shore, but it does give a sense of what it is like to live with, love, and understand one place deeply. If you are interested in the science of the coast, I recommend looking into books like field guides and natural history. "Atlantic Coast Beaches" is a good but dry book on the subject if you are on the East coast of North America. "The Atlantic Coast" is another good one that is less dull covering the same region. Unfortunately, I don't have any books to recommend for sea witchcraft. However, with a sound and working basis in magic, and a familiarity and intimate knowledge of the local ecosystem, better books on magic than this one can be combined in your practice or path and adapted to working at the coast.

There were a few "what the heck" moments in this book. The author seems to have less of a grasp on Lunar Goddesses, and at one point provides a working where she instructs you to toss a plastic bottle into the sea. I know shes' providing what she sees as a traditional form of witchcraft, but she should really adapt it to the world we live in. The ocean has enough plastic in it. The book is good for basic workings, and it was an ok read, but I don't think I'll suggest this book to anyone who asks.

This is my first book on witchcraft (while originally I was most interested in learning about Druidry), the title seemed appropriate because I live by yhe seashore in a warm country. Most other books on both subjects of druidry and witchcraft seems to be adapted to England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland or North America cold regions. Where am I going to find a forest and seasons on a small island?I have not yet practiced any of the spells mentioned in Traditional Witchcraft for the Seashore, only understood the importance of the Circle of Protection, gathering one's own wand, magical implements and the like from the seashore one walks by, and I will probably let the ideas simmer for a while before starting what I consider walking on a new fork in the road of life.Experience has proven to me that once knowledge has been imparted it is not easy to shake it out, but once new knowledge is internalized and used one can never turn back.So, a few personal questions will have to be answered satisfactorily first before I engage in this new "tradition": will it enhance life as I enjoy it already? Will it allow me to be closer to the creative forces of the universe and the environment I live in? Will it give life a new and more profound meaning?Those are, or course, very personal dilemmas applying uniquely to my life experience, but since there was a need for a good book to raise these questions, then this one is a good introduction to the subject of traditional witchcraft.

Traditional Witchcraft For The Seashore is a wonderful guide for witches just beginning their journey, as well as those further along their path. I've always felt kind of like I'm floundering around figuring things out on my own as I go, since I live by the sea in a warm climate. We don't have Spring or Fall here, only Summer and Winter. The only difference between the two, really is about 15 degrees(F), and a few more clouds and wind. I am not a farmer, and feel the Wheel calendar has little relevance to me. To celebrate Litha or Lughnasadh feels like I am going through the motions and have no connection to the reason for the sabbat. It makes much more sense to work with local seasons & weather patterns than to try to make your practice fit in with someone's practice in Maine, for instance. Melusine Draco's book provides a variety of ways to do this and more, while not being too stodgy.

If you are a serious seeker, if you are prepared to work at seemingly insignificant things, then this book is for you.If you are in it to display outwardly, confront other beliefs, buy lots of pretty, pretties as evidence of your choices prepare to be disappointed.As one who began with Marian Green, and who lives by the sea, this little book is excellent.

Having read her book Traditional Witchcraft for Fields & Hedgerows, I liked her no nonsense approach & throughout this bookthis is what you mainly get, her weather lore, fishing lore etc were very good & encourages you to take up the same. It also gives you ideas to take the seaside home with you if you are not a coastal person but have a draw to the ocean. However I found this book to have a couple of drawbacks, throwing a plastic bottle into the sea should not be encouraged, also I found that the sections on the deities of the sea need to be expanded beyond Classical Mythology as those who aren't really drawn to Greek & roman mythology may find it more than disappointing, I also feel that she could have expanded more on the familiars section as it lacks the potential it could have had, it could have done with some seaside recipes & finally the correspondences she put in to the element of water seemed a little out of sorts with the book. It does however give you a chance to explore & find out what works for you & does give you some sensible & practical advice.

A lot of dry scientific facts about the seashore and tides etc mixed in the witchy stuff. I would have preferred more actual traditional witchcraft for the seashore, like the title says.

Swift arrival. Wonderful little book. I haven't put it down since arrival. Easy to read and very informative. Everything written makes perfect sense. I wish I had bought this book ages ago. A must for anyone interested in the craft regardless of proximity to the Sea as the information contained should be mandatory learning.

It’s okay. Provided some interesting info I hadn’t heard before