The Book of Spells

139 pp. Illustrations by Scott Russell throughout, including images of various herbs. A fascinating and practical guide for the would-be sorcerer, The Book of Spells instructs the beginner in such arts as stocking a magic pantry and laying out a magic garden. Some ingredients in the larder are as simple as the marigold or the nettle, others include brimstone or camel oil, which are more difficult to procure. Common or bizarre, these substances are essential to successful spellcasting and the authors insist that every effort be made to obtain them. The book also lists the secret properties of many ordinary flowers, plants and trees, and explains how these can be used in everyday life. It contains recipes, formulas and potions designed to safeguard the house and its inmates against evil intrusions. No wall, we are told, will guard the home as effectively as a rowan, an apple, an almond and a medlar tree, grown at each corner of the garden. But spells also require ritual cooking and mixing, the right words in the right order, the correct times and movements. All of these have to be faithfully observed and respected. Ancient remedies for common ailments are followed by a loving and hopeful selection of aphrodisiacs. Baldness, bites, headaches and fevers can all be cured with the aid of certain spells or herbs. So can love be awakened, adultery discovered and passion fanned.