Llewellyn's 2023 Witches' Companion: A Guide to Contemporary Living

Flying Under the Radar:

How to Disguise Your

Interest in the Craft

James Kambos

Ihave a crystal ball. Genuine crystal. I love to pick it up and feel its heft. Its smoothness. When I’m not scrying with it, I’ll stop and admire it. I even love the inclusions trapped inside the otherwise smooth, clear sphere. On the hottest day, it still feels cool to the touch.

But, as I handle it and admire it on this summer afternoon with sunlight streaming through the window, I realize something. If I had possessed a magical tool such as this centuries ago, or any item that could be used for magic, I could have been burned at the stake. Or drowned. Or put on trial for witchcraft. Or ostracized by my community. At the very least, I could have been blamed for a bad harvest—or blamed because Miss Annie’s cow down the road stopped giving milk. And who knows what else!

We have to become skillful at blending our magical tools/supplies into our surroundings so we don’t raise suspicion that we might be practicing some type of black magic.

It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But the sad thing is that even now in the twenty-first century, many of us magical folk still have to be careful. How many of you feel the need to hide your magical tools, or anything that could be remotely associated with magic, before family and friends come to visit? Sad but true. Many of us still have to stash away our pointed black hats so we can fly under the radar, as I’m fond of saying, without being detected as a magical practitioner. Even sadder, people other than Witches and Pagans have been targeted. I have even had teachers tell me that they’ve faced backlash from parents for reading a Harry Potter book aloud in class, or for even having a Harry Potter book in their classroom.

So, just as Witches of times past have had to do, we have to become skillful at blending our magical tools/supplies into our surroundings so we don’t raise suspicion that we might be practicing some type of black magic.

What follows are ideas, tips, and advice on how to live a magical life at home or work, complete with your magical tools at hand—but maybe camouflaged a little. You can still practice your magic and spirituality while flying discreetly under the radar.

To make it easy, I’ve grouped magical tools and supplies. Under each heading, I give advice on how to use or display your magical items without causing a raised eyebrow. When practical, I also mention how to use some of these items at work.

Brooms

Brooms, or besoms, as they were once known, are a cleaning tool. But they’re also a common magical tool. A broom is also the form of transportation that has traditionally been associated with Witches in occult lore. Being a typical household item, it’s a magical tool that can easily be left out in plain view without raising suspicion. Some Witches use their magic broom as a regular cleaning broom as well. They feel it strengthens their connection with their broom. So no one will ever know the broom leaning by your back door is actually a magical broom.

Candles

Candles are easy to blend into your décor without drawing attention to them as a magical aid. However, you probably won’t be able to use them in the workplace, considering the many fire safety codes that are in place. At home, though, candles can easily be both practical and magical. Before burning, simply dress or rub your candles to magically charge them, then safely light before company arrives. Your guests will never know that your candles are working their magic in the background as they burn. Scented candles, even when unlit, can infuse a space with magical energy.

Cauldrons and Bowls

You may think a cauldron would be hard to disguise as a regular household item, but it isn’t. I have an antique, black iron cauldron. I painted the exterior black. When the cauldron is not in magical use, I simply place a potted plant inside of it. Presto—instant planter! When the cauldron is needed on the altar, just remove the potted plant. In the fall, it looks awesome with a potted chrysanthemum sitting in it. The best part is that no one knows its true magical purpose.

Bowls, especially dark bowls, make a great stand-in for a cauldron. And, when filled with water, they double as an effective scrying tool. When an ordinary bowl is left out on the kitchen counter, no one will ever suspect it leads a double life as a magical helper.

Crystals and Gems

Crystals and semiprecious gems in the form of beads or crystal clusters are highly potent magical tools. Luckily, they’re also easy to incorporate into everyday décor. They’re very portable as well. If you feel the need for a specific crystal or gem, just put it in your purse or pocket, and you have mobile magical energy. Besides, this is the one magical accessory you can have safely on display at home or work. A crystal cluster on your desk or shelf at work won’t draw attention to you. Today, many people collect rocks and crystals. Also, the mystical powers of crystals and gems are known and accepted by many non-magical people. You can leave them out at home or work, and no one will know that you’ve magically charged them. For example, a rose quartz crystal will release calming energy at home or on your desk at work. A dish of aquamarine beads will bring peace to the most stressful home or work environment.

If you’re afraid a genuine crystal ball may out you as a magical person, try this. In place of a crystal ball, magically charge an attractive glass paperweight. Use it in place of a crystal ball. Glass paperweights are great to use for scrying at home or work.

Herbs and Flowers

You may have herbs, flowers, or other plants already as houseplants or in the garden. While they aren’t exactly a household or magical item, they do have a direct link to magic. For that reason, I think they should be mentioned.

Herbs and flowers are the one area where you can cut loose and plant them for beauty as well as magic without having to explain. You can also feel safe having potted plants on display at work without drawing attention.

Since most plants have some magical properties, many herbalists and Witches of times past grew cottage gardens overflowing with magical plants. And they did so without fear. Who could tell if those roses spilling over a fence were being raised for their beauty or were leading another life as components in love spells? What about that patch of sage by the kitchen door? Was it only used as a flavoring in tasty recipes? Or, on a moonlit night, was it used to contact spirits of the dead? The point is, herbs and flowers are the one area where you can cut loose and plant them for beauty as well as magic without having to explain. You can also feel safe having potted plants on display at work without drawing attention.

Drying herbs in your home is another way to activate magical energies without anyone knowing. For instance, drying basil is a good way to banish evil. Mint drying near a window helps to draw protective energies into the home. Hanging a bunch of beautiful yarrow to dry in the home creates a loving atmosphere. It can also be used in love spells.

Dried herbs can also be used to bring calm, protective energy to the workplace without anyone noticing. Here’s a situation I found myself in, and how I used dried herbs to change the situation for the better. Years ago, a difficult coworker was fired. After the firing, the entire workplace was filled with tension. That night at home, I blended a mixture of dried sage (a cleanser) and dried rose petals (for calming). I arrived at work early the next morning. I put the herbal mixture in a small dish, placed it in a secluded spot, and said some Words of Power. When anyone asked what it was, I said it was potpourri. The situation improved. We filled the position with a great employee, and I was able to use my magic and my magical supplies while remaining under the radar.

Final Tips and Tricks

As you’ve been reading, you’ve probably thought of some other tricks to disguise your magical ways. Here are a few final tips of my own.

One of the easiest tools to hide in plain sight is a magic mirror. You can use it as an everyday mirror. Then, when it’s needed for magic, spray a soft cotton cloth with some bottled spring water and simply wipe the mirror off. This will remove any negative energy from your mirror. Now you can use it as a magic mirror. Also, a small hand mirror kept at work is a great way to deflect any bad vibes coming your way. Just place it so the mirror is facing away from you.

Finally, a word about cards for divining. Tarot cards are a sure sign that you probably practice magic. To avoid this, have you ever thought about learning to read ordinary playing cards? That way you can leave them out, play with them, and divine with them.

It’s not easy living a magical life. Until magical folks are completely accepted, we’ll have to keep our magic under our pointed hats and fly our magic brooms under the radar.

James Kambos has written essays and articles about folk magic, herbs, and spellcrafting for twenty-five years. He has a degree in the social sciences and geography from Ohio University. He gardens, writes, and paints from his home in the beautiful hill country of southern Ohio.

Illustrator: Tim Foley

[contents]

The Ethical Witch and the Noble Quest for Knowledge

Laura Tempest Zakroff

At the heart of magic is relationships: how we are connected to the universe and each other and the transfer of energy between us all. Knowledge is an energy exchange. It is offered and received, taught and learned—crafting community and building experience. We can see this exchange clearly in classes and workshops, between teachers and students. But what exchange happens with books and other media?

Books play a major role in learning Witchcraft and magic. I like to refer to Witches and other magical practitioners as people of the books. There is no one singular source for inspiration and guidance. There are of course traditions that have a specific book that’s been crafted to hold their traditions, rituals, spells, myths, and other practices, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a Witch who believes that should be their sole source of information. Instead, we tend to be bibliophiles with overflowing shelves and nightstands.

Why is that? Because there’s always something to learn and books tend to be one of the major accessible sources of information. This particularly became true with the rise of early Modern Witchcraft, where it wasn’t so easy to join a coven, discuss the occult out in the open, or find reliable resources.

[The internet] provides a platform for more voices, especially those that have historically been neglected or underrepresented by traditional publishing houses, such as women, people of color, indigenous folks, queer people, etc.

While reading can’t take the place of actual hands-on experience, books can help us get enough of a background and understanding so that we’re as prepared as possible and can make smart choices. A good magical herbal can tell you which herbs are safe to use, which are harmful, and what metaphysical attributes they may have.

In addition to books, the internet has brought us a new age of sharing information—for better or worse. It provides a platform for more voices, especially those that have historically been neglected or underrepresented by traditional publishing houses, such as women, people of color, indigenous folks, queer people, etc. The internet has helped to make material more accessible on multiple levels to more people.

But there’s no filter or easy way to determine whether the information you’re getting is actually reliable, and now there are new kinds of piracy to watch out for. By piracy, I mean the illegal sharing—and especially the selling—of copyrighted content. What seems like too good a deal usually is, not only leaving the creator high and dry, but often delivering a substandard product to the end user. The energy exchange becomes broken, making it more difficult for folks to put their material out there and harder for readers to determine what’s real. Being behind a screen makes it easier to forget that real people are being affected.

Materials to Avoid

To help you make sure the material you’re getting is worth your time and money—while also supporting the people who created it in the first place—here is a list of red flags to avoid.

Pirated PDFs

These show up regularly on sites like Etsy and eBay. Unless an e-book is being offered on those sites for direct sale by the author themselves (and the work is typically self-published as well), it’s very likely an illegal copy. Neither the author nor the publishing house is compensated when e-books are sold this way.

Foul Fakes

Forged copies of books and especially Tarot decks have been making the rounds lately. These are cheaply made knockoffs of the actual work, sold for a fraction of the price. If that bargain deck is missing a booklet or some cards, the binding is falling apart on the book, or the pages seem extra thin or misprinted, you’ve been duped. Not only does this hurt the creators, but you’re getting an inferior product as well.

Phantom Books

These tend to be books that are more flash than substance, typically available only online. They often use fake names that sound similar to established authors in the genre, and the content is often plagiarized—swiped from websites or other books without much care for accuracy. These books target newbies and try to cash in on trends. Possible clues include scant information about the author or publishing house, multiple books released all at once recently, very low page counts, etc. If you’re unsure about a book, check to see if you can find that title anywhere else or know anyone who’s read it.

Quality Resources

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here is a list of resources that won’t break your budget while providing quality material to study.

Free Public Library

If you haven’t been to your local library in a while, get thee to their website! Even if your local branch doesn’t have the book you’re looking for on its shelves, it’s part of a larger system that may. You can request books to be delivered to your local branch and held for you. Most libraries also have e-book services. I like to check a book out of the library first to see if it’s what I need and then purchase a copy if I want to add it to my library. Libraries pay for the books they loan, so the author and publisher are getting compensated.

Private Libraries

These are specialized libraries that may require a donation or membership fee. There’s quite a few occult libraries out there that are easily found with a quick google search. You can also check with established traditions who may also have a lending library as part of their resources.

Used and Bargain Bookshops

Most of my early books came from used book stores, partly because I loved discovering whatever was there and partly because I was broke AF. They’re also often independent small businesses that are a vibrant part of the local community. Bargain bookshops often sell new books that have been slightly damaged in some way (or discontinued), so the publisher wholesales them at a bulk discount. Sometimes you can get quite a deal! You can also check out these used book websites: AbeBooks.com, BetterWorldBooks.com, alibris.com, Powells.com, or Thriftbooks.com.

Copyright-Free Websites

Many older occult books are now in the public domain, so you can read them online for free. Try the Internet Sacred Text Archive (www

.sacred-texts.com) and the Hermetic Library (www.hermetic.com).

Affordable Subscriptions

There are several online services that you can try for free and then subscribe at a low monthly rate that enables you to have access to a huge amount of material. Two options are Scribd, scribd.com, and Kindle Unlimited, https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/hz/subscribe/ku.

What about New Physical Books, Though?

My preferred way to find new material is from my local independent bookstore or favorite Witch/metaphysical shop. Sure I could maybe save a couple of dollars online, but having a local shop to visit that directly supports my community is worth far more in the long run. They’re the places that hold events, teach classes, carry local artisans’ work, and employ folks in your community. These shops can usually order anything you want as well.

Another great option is buying directly from the author (if available), and that can also score you a signed copy! Check their social media to see if they have an online shop.

If there’s nothing local to you, try bookshop.org, a website that helps independent bookshops sell their wares online. You can even support your favorite little shop a state away if they’re on there!

There are other ways you can help support authors, artists, and other creators. One of the best things to do is to post a review (such as on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.) or share a photo/video on your social media telling others what you liked or found helpful about the book, deck, podcast, or project. Creators can try to promote their work nonstop, but research has shown that folks often go with what their peers, friends, and family recommend. A simple review might not seem like much, but it works!

Lastly, an important thing to know is that the money you invest in books and other media craft the market. What you see on the shelves is largely the result of demand. Share with your favorite bookseller the authors and topics you want to see, and make a conscious effort to support