Customer Reviews

The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is like all of Scott Cunningham's books, easy to understand, helpful, creative, basic yet founded on deeper knowledge. It has a lot of interesting lore and folk magic and much Feng Shui type of ideas. It discusses correspondences in good detail. It has information on cleansings and purifications, pets and plants, the household altar, the hearth or "heart" of the home, furnishings, moving, protection, the bath and the kitchen...even the garage. It is useful and grounded and homey. It will aid in focusing intent and provide inspiration for making one's dwelling into one's truly magical and personal home. Most of us, whether witch or not, instinctively surround ourselves with little "magics" that help us to feel comfortable and in "our own space." This book puts some thoughtfulness and understanding to the concept of personalizing our space and encourages creative and harmonious atmosphere where good vibrations abound. Try it. You'll like it.

this is a excellent encyclopedia of house hold magic. i loved reading it and what i have tried in my home works very well

Ever had a bird fly into your house? So you know the significance of that omen? Do you throw salt over your shoulder when you upset the salt cellar? Do you hang dried ears of corn on your front door? Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you know how to hang a horse shoe to bring about good luck. Do you have a Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign? Scott Cunningham and David Harrington understand the significance of omens and portents, and why we engage in certain behaviors, and they have shared the information in THE MAGICAL HOUSEHOLD. The book includes many spells and rituals concerning how one might generally improve their dwelling and driving experiences.

Where in the past I might have used a Christopher medal, these days, I carry a quartz crystal in my car for protection. (I also have LoJack to protect against theft, and protective sealant to protect the finish against acid rain because I believe in practical Magick.

Some of the spells Cunningham and Harrington describe are funny as well as effective. Plagued with house guests who can't take a hint that you would like them to leave? Try hanging a pair of nail scissors on the front door handle. Also a pestle placed upright in a mortar placed in the fire place might do the trick. Or, the authors suggest sprinkling pepper under your guests chair. Your behavior may drive them away if the spells don't work.

Cunninham was an extremely knowledgeable man who died an untimely death. You can't go wrong with his informative books.

Scott Cunningham's books are always a lot of fun, and often very useful. His WICCA and LIVING WICCA are two of the best books on Wicca and earth-spirituality I've ever read, and many others agree. THE MAGICAL HOUSEHOLD (which, by the way, comes with a much better cover -- just a photographed blue door with a broom and a cat, very tasteful) is equally fun to read, if less serious.

It's basically a compendium of folklore surrounding houses and various household activities. It covers doors and windows, kitchens and cooking, bathing and dressing, candles and fireplaces, and a dozen other categories, supplying plenty of superstitions, celebrations, small rituals, and interesting thoughts for each. Some of the items are fun to incorporate into everyday life, others are good for special occasions, and many simply as folkloric knowledge. It doesn't say where most of the traditions come from, but it's informative all the same, and the information is packed in, so reading with a highlighter may leave you with pages entirely covered in neon yellow!

In general, Llewelyn books annoy me, but some of them are quite good -- choose by author;Cunningham is always a good choice. Be sure to take this one with a grain of salt (which Cunningham advises in the beginning) and enjoy.

I love this book! I really enjoy reading about all the different magical elements in a household. I'm Chinese, so I'm pretty familiar with the concept of Feng-Shui, and I thought Scott presented it very clearly. There are so many little folk lores in this book, and it's such fun to read that you almost forget that it's a book on the magic of the home, with many little rituals you can try. The best part of this book is that it doesn't require any hard-to-find ingredient because all the little rituals in here are simple to perform and everything is within reach. I highly recommend it.

Scott Cunningham's books are always a lot of fun, and often very useful. His WICCA and LIVING WICCA are two of the best books on Wicca and earth-spirituality I've ever read, and many others agree. THE MAGICAL HOUSEHOLD (which, by the way, comes with a much better cover -- just a photographed blue door with a broom and a cat, very tasteful) is equally fun to read, if less serious.

It's basically a compendium of folklore surrounding houses and various household activities. It covers doors and windows, kitchens and cooking, bathing and dressing, candles and fireplaces, and a dozen other categories, supplying plenty of superstitions, celebrations, small rituals, and interesting thoughts for each. Some of the items are fun to incorporate into everyday life, others are good for special occasions, and many simply as folkloric knowledge. It doesn't say where most of the traditions come from, but it's informative all the same, and the information is packed in, so reading with a highlighter may leave you with pages entirely covered in neon yellow!

In general, Llewelyn books annoy me, but some of them are quite good -- choose by author;Cunningham is always a good choice. Be sure to take this one with a grain of salt (which Cunningham advises in the beginning) and enjoy.

I like the book, but I miss Robin Woods' illustrations.On the other hand, Llewellyn probably suspected that R.W's illustrations were too foofie for male readers, but they should have gotten someone better.
Besides that, there's folk magick galore, and ideas ranging from useful to 'interesting'. Much humor, and doesn't get too hung up on Feng-Shui the way many many books of this ilk do. (not bashing it, it's just not for me. You can't do Jack with Feng Shui in an apartment) Something for everyone but the High Magick minded.

It's not a very long book, but if you're a Witch/Wiccan/Pagan, it really is a must have. It gives you so many ideas for making your home magickal, you won't know where to start! This is really important considering how we all can get tied up in the mundane - it's nice to know your home is a haven of sacred space and magick, and this book will definitely help you on your way to making it that way. I highly recommend it!

I am a big Scott Cunningham fan, and have a number of his titles in my library, including this one. I have to say that while this book contains everything it says it does, it is heavy on the folklore and superstition and light on the practical information. Although I recommend this book, if you were going to buy one magical household book, I would highly recommend House Magic by Ariana instead. I like this as a secondary volume for reference.

Bravo to the late Scott Cunningham for coming up with a book that speaks to everyone, whether one lives in an apartment, or owns a home, or even has the misfortune to live in a box. Cunningham and Harrington show us how to turn our potentially dull surroundings into a place we can call a haven, and look forward to being in, with a few simple tips that even those of us near poverty level can afford. I especially loved his ideas for plants, since I am no botanist or horticulturist, and yet the plants he suggested that cost me under $20.00 US(an ivy, an aloe vera plant, and two cacti, one round, one vertical) made such a difference in the surroundings it's astounding! His suggestions re: incense and scents made sense, pun intended, and I have only one regret, that he and Harrington are unable to collaborate on more books of this type. May Scott be forever immortalised by his words, and may he be at peace in the Summerlands or beyond. His and Harrington's(sorry if I forgot you, David)words have changed my life, and my home, and my outlook in general for the better. Let this book show you the way to come home and go "Ahhhhhh...." at the end of your tiresome workday. Thanks again, and to David Harrington, I envy you for knowing Scott Cunningham, I'd have loved to have met him just once, to ask but one question of him. May you, Mr. Harrington, emulate your friend and put pen to paper, as the neo-Pagan community hungers for more books of knowledge such as this.

My sincerest compliments on a book I am proud to display on my shelf, and one every person who enters my home for a visit picks up and finds they can't put down.