The Elements of Spellcrafting

Amazon review Jason Miller continues to be a breath of fresh air. He’s like your gruff uncle in Jersey who calls you on your stuff, but only because he has your best interests at heart. Even the annoying typos pointed out by another reviewer (and for which I debated taking off one star) just reinforce his image as a down-to-earth, practical guy. I really, really like this book. The author zeros in on essentials with a minimum of fluff. Despite his folksy writing style, he’s obviously thought very deeply about the whole magical continuum, from high spiritual development to getting the cash for that new sailboat. And like any true expert, he knows the landscape well enough to steer you in the right direction, with a minimum of lengthy explanations. Miller knows you need to make “mundane” efforts to get to that tipping point where magic can send you down the slopes full-speed toward your goal. As such, this is a book of advice Uncle Jason could be giving anyone starting out “adulting,” whether they are interested in magic or not. He weaves magical and mundane advice together seamlessly—and beautifully. Scaffold your goals. Plan your work and work your plan. Take responsibility for your desires (oh, and figure out what they really are). Which brings me back to the point about “starting out.” The author presumes you have already figured out how to do magic, but you aren’t getting the results you want. That may be true for experienced readers, but wouldn’t it be great to have this advice right from the beginning? Miller is clear that this is not a beginner book, yet I have a (very small) bit of sympathy for the negative reviewer who complained about the lack of “basics.” Some kind of road map (appendix or an expanded reading list), while not strictly necessary, would expand the book’s usefulness to the beginner. I gather the author got his knowledge the hard way, by trying a lot of things and getting burned a few times, so perhaps this is why he isn’t more directive in this area. He does take a stand on a few practices he considers unethical. (Since they tend to be illegal, too, they are not very practical anyway, and thus a non-starter for Miller.) If you are a beginner, get this book (and some other source for how-to information). If you are experienced, get this book and rethink your approach with every chapter. If you aren’t interested in magic at all, you might still want to read this book. You’d get a sane and practical outlook on living that would serve you very well, courtesy of your Uncle Jason from Jersey. Full disclosure: I received an advance pdf of this book for review. I liked it so much I purchased a hard copy of the book.

Jason Miller’s latest book, The Elements of Spellcrafting: 21 Keys to Successful Sorcery is absolutely fantastic. I devoured this book and read it a few times after the first reading. It’s that good. But anyone who knows Jason Miller or his work already knew it was going to be. While there’s lots of spell books on the market and even a good amount of “how to” in crafting spells, this book stands out as extremely unique. Jason has always been focused on results within his teaching, and this book is no exception. This book is like having your own personal magick coach to help you craft and cast spells effectively. As such, Jason helps you edit your magickal goals so that you can get the most out of your spell’s result. One of the major differences with Jason’s approach and that of others is his focus on trajectory for spells instead of goals for larger manifestations. He approaches magick as a strategy (hence his book Strategic Sorcery) and offers the insights of one of the most experienced and respected men that I know of in occult communities across the board. The book is divided into three parts; setting up the spell, execution and advancing your craft. Within those three parts are 21 keys to successful spellcasting. Each “key” in the book opens with a one panel comic featuring a misguided sorcerer and the spirit he’s summoning, which has the perfect amount of snark to it. Seriously, they’re great. As a seasoned magickal teacher and magickal practitioner, Jason understands a lot of the pitfalls and mistakes when it comes to spellcasting and this is part of what makes him such a wonderful teacher as he understands how to troubleshoot common difficulties when it comes to the occult. This Jason’s insight, methods, and perspectives are so fresh compared to other’s, this book will enhance anyone’s spellcasting, whether a complete beginner or the most seasoned practitioner.

Jason Miller is such a great Magician and explains complex concepts super easily! This book is a JOY to read! He even adds humor. He breaks down a usually overcomplicated topic of spell crafting into 21 "Keys", (which just means points or concepts). He adds his real world experiences to his teachings and is super easy to umderstand. This is a MUST HAVE book for beginners. Also for intermediates and adepts to compair to their current style of spell casting and see if there is any room for improvement. It is one of the most FUNdamental books for spell working! (I couldn't resist that pun..haha) This book is fundamental, but rarely was I wanting more on each concept he presented. It was presented fully and understandable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A book to keep

Edit: Upon further consideration, I am adding one star. The reason is who Jason Miller may be referring to when talking about the issues I mentioned in my review. Witchtok. Okay, there's a free-for-all of wanton misinformation and attention seeking. If that is who Jason is referring to, then I whole heartedly agree. Perhaps he wasn't speaking to seasoned practioners or chaos magicians. I still think talking down to people and calling names is beneath someone with so many credentials behind his name. Jason Miller is a well-respected member of the occult community who has racked up several credentials in different schools of magick. Some of which include Ceremonial Magick, Witchcraft, and Druidry--among others. Impressive, to say the least. However, I get the feeling what Jason is attempting here is to come up with his own brand of magick. His approach appears hostile to anyone who performs magick in a way that differs from his system. In-so-much as reverting to name calling and pompous attitudes. Something I feel is uncharacteristic of one who has attained so many credentials. I also believe Jason conflates summoning with spellcasting. There are many examples where the two appear to be used interchangeably as examples. These two aspects of magick have very different approaches, which lead to a confusing read. He considers allowing magick to find its best way to resolve your request is to be hyper-specific in its construction. However, as has been taught in most of the occult books I've read over the last several decades, being this specific will almost assuredly cause the spell to fail. This is because we are concentrated on specific results. If what we have outlined is not possible at that time, then the spell will fail. When you allow a more organic path for magick, it is more productive. Jason even admits to using this system for decades, which means it must have worked. Jason also dedicates two chapters to telling the reader they are stupid if they interchange any number of correspondences during a ritual. This I believe springs from a behavior many Ceremonial Magicians suffer from; hyper-specificity. Listen, I get it. Use the correspondences that rituals recommend. Does he really need to berate and talk down to your reader because they cannot possibly obtain a tigers pelt (as is called for in some of the Solomon operations?) Admittedly, I am halfway through the book, and finding it difficult to read further due to much of what I've described above. While I do agree with much that he says, with the caveat that we are speaking about summoning spirits and not spellcrafting. His tone could be less high-minded. I don't know if he thinks this method is being plain or "real," but it was certainly off-putting to me. In short, approach this book as if he meant "The Elements of Summoning," because I think that truly is what the subject matter is about. Spellcraft is casting spells, performing rituals, and there is much success in improvisation and emotion. He downplays that magick is not based in the mental or emotional. A method he said he used for decades (again, with supposed success.) When you can have mind mansions, when great sorcerers and sorceresses can perform great magick from a wheelchair, don't tell me that element is not a driver for magick. I'd really love to hear his take on chaos magick, a movement in the occult which has had great success by not adhering to tradition. Should you have a basis to work off of? Why, yes. It makes magick easier to understand the basics, but even Israel Regardie lamented that if he had to do it all over again, he would've come up with his own correspondences for magick as they would be more potent because it was personal.

I enjoyed this book as I do all books by Jason Miller. He is knowledgeable and very accurate in almost everything he says. The one thing I disagree with in this book is a section called Hack The Planets, as I follow traditional esoteric astrology by the book, I would not stray from those rules of the 1st century grimoire. Miller’s magical guides are definitely a page turner, never a dull moment!

It’s always a delight to find an original thinker in any field, but particularly in magic, a subject which seems to invite a great deal of theorizing and pontificating, too much of which is simply regurgitated material. This book, based on the author’s extensive, cross-cultural adventures, decades of magical practice, and what is clearly a long-term habit of thinking things through, offers both beginners and advanced magicians a lot to consider about their own magical practices and methods and how they can be improved. This is a book of concepts, not spells. Ideas, not lists of materia. But the advice is eminently practical, and the book is streamlined, well organized, and fun to read. It’s not a beginner’s magic book, though I think all beginners should read it. It is definitely a book that belongs on the shelf (or e-reader) of anyone who takes magic seriously.

This book is definitely for any Practitioner, of whatever background, who really wants to make their Magic WORK in their lives. I'm glad I read this book early on in my studies. Like many new enthusiasts, I had bought the candles, the oils, the altar items, etc,, but then found myself thinking, "Well now what?" Mr. Miller makes that one of his key points. If you want Magic to work, then be prepared to work at it. We can't use blanket statements like "I want Prosperity" and then expect the forces we work with to deliver tangible results. In his 21 Keys, Jason Miller calls out many of the mistakes we, and he himself, have made. This book isn't a book of spells. It is a book on how to make your own spells work plus (most importantly) the work you will have to put in for making them work.. His writing style is honest, down-to-earth, and practical. Whatever background you are from, this book will help train you in the mode of thought and the practical steps needed to make Magic Work.

Such an easy and relatable read, I felt like if I was having a candid chat with a more experienced fellow practitioner. Plus the information and explanation is top notch. I'm convinced that it's a great aid both for beginners and seasoned practitioners. 5 out of 5!

Un libro estupendo, como todos los de Miller, está cargado de ese tipo de consejos y material para la reflexión que solo un practicante real podría aportar.

As always Jason Miller has created another amazing book. Full of information and guidance for the untrained witch. Even those experienced witches can forget the important factors of the craft and how to cast spells properly. Here he teaches techniques that will increase your spells success rate, and trust me the techniques work! Thank you Jason, for another wonderful book.

Veramente bello e mai banale come tutti i libri di mister Miller. Grazie Jason

Fantástico, es muy buen libro para comprender el arte de la magia. Da las reglas básicas con ejemplos y el humor que caracteriza al autor. Muy recomendable.