While I was away from The Wild Hunt due to immigration limitations, I was still reading, practicing, and seeking ways to improve myself. Books were obviously a big part of it, and as a result there are some that I want to write about. The first one is A Witch Is: 13 Keys to Witchcraft, by Raechel Henderson.
A Witch Is… by Raechel Henderson [Lleweyllyn Worldwide]]
- Print Length: 256 pages.
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications.
- Publication Date: January 8, 2026.
- Genres: Non-Fiction, Paganism, Shadow Work, Spellcasting, Witchcraft.
- Rating: 5/5 stars.
A Witch Is…
Resourceful. Resilient. Creative. Confident.
A witch is all these and so much more.
This innovative book presents a new perspective on witchcraft, one that will help you make richer and more meaningful magic. Sharing thirteen hallmark traits, Raechel Henderson guides you in creating your personal vision of what it means to be a witch.
A witch is kind, patient, and intuitive. A witch is self-aware, knowledgeable, and purposeful. A witch is honest, respectful, and curious. Each of these traits is explored in its own chapter, complete with practical exercises, engaging stories from Raechel’s life, and inspiring advice on building skills that embody that trait.
Create your own correspondences, build an astral residence, and establish an ancestor altar. Discover if it’s okay to hex, what to do when obstacles make you want to give up, and how to vet your resources. With these profound lessons that were hard-won over decades of practice, you will better understand not only witchcraft but also yourself.
While it’s true that, generally speaking, we should stay well away from whoever tries to tell us who is a Witch and who is not, we can and should stay close to those who say “if you are a Witch, it would be good to keep this in mind.” Such is the case of today’s author, Raechel Henderson. She doesn’t aim to exclude anyone from Witchcraft, but she does encourage everyone in the Witch-sphere to cultivate certain values.
With a direct, friendly style that allows the reader to follow her ideas effortlessly, A Witch Is presents one value per chapter, along with ways to explore them and create meaningful connections with each of them. This makes it easy to digest. There’s also space to break the rules as the Witch see fit (being responsible above all else, however.)
Be advised, however, if you’re looking for a spellbook, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. This is a book of shadow work, inner healing, introspection, and self-help. There are few spells, rituals, or incantations – the idea is that you work on your own, that you discover what is it that vibrates the most with you.
One of the first things I learned as a Witch is that if you are an active participant in the works you do, instead of just following someone else’s instructions, you will have more success. Experience has proven this to be true. Correspondences exist for a reason, but we also need to remind ourselves that historically Witches didn’t always have everything at hand. Whatever they did have at hand, they made work. They adapted so they could survive.
Raechel Henderson is a total advocate for that. She insist on the reader doing their own research, comparing ideas and results, and experimenting on their own, so everyone finds the best path for themselves. All the exercises and exploration that we do as you read are targeted towards that result.
Useful for both experienced and new witches, A Witch Is… is like a talk with a kind teacher that ends up being a friend. She gatekeeps nothing, encourages readers to explore, and has our best interests always in mind. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy!
TWH thanks Llewellyn Worldwide for a review copy of this book.
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