Dr. Alice Tarbuck is an academic, writer and literature professional based in Edinburgh. A 2019 Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardee for Poetry, her debut A Spell in the Wild: a Year (and six centuries) of Magic was published in 2020. Learn more at www.alicetarbuck.net Instagram
About A Spell in the Wild: A Year (and six centuries) of Magic by Alice Tarbuck
Explained simply, A Spell in the Wild is the first-hand experience of a contemporary, urban Witch passing through the year, month by month. But this is not a simple book; Tarbuck has created a seasonal, and yet encyclopedic, guide to witchcraft in the 21st Century, based on the journey she takes in one year.
A Spell in the Wild begins with an alluring tale in the Introduction, and from the first line it is apparent that not only will you accompany Tarbuck on her journey, but you will be privy to her most personal insights. The author examines who we are as Witches, considers what magic is, and where it can be found. She gets real about the world we live in, relaying her experiences from the view of a British Witch. She is all about finding the magic and letting it in, and encouraging others to do the same, regardless of the shape of our lives, and the environment surrounding them. .
Before launching into the year, the author pens a note on spells and magical conduct. She talks wisely about the benefits and pitfalls of performing others’ spells, and it is here that we learn that each spell or activity given at the end of each chapter is designed to be adapted. It is also here, amongst the beautiful and wordy descriptions that invoke crystal-clear pictures in our heads, that we realise the author is an experienced practitioner who really knows her stuff. This part of the book has a sense of “coming home”; it helps the reader recognise and understand herself more deeply, and what better way to start a book?
“Witches are pragmatists. We are interested in effect, not in the minute and careful construction of rituals, however brilliant and fun that might be. We make magic as best as we can, with what we have, acknowledging that everything in the world from the most beautiful thing to the least, exists in relation to us.” - A Spell in the Wild
We jump into the author’s year, starting with September. The subject is foraging, and the reader is bound to recognise herself in Tarbuck’s descriptions of bottled magical items, and jam created with berries collected on an autumn day. In this chapter, we learn all about foraging; doing it in the city and the country, the risks, the joys, and who is driving its popularity. We hear about the apple harvest, wood ear fungus, and the ghosts of the buildings that overshadow the author’s own foraging trips. We learn about the fantastical associations of broom to witches’ flying broomsticks, and we are offered great and responsible practical foraging advice, which we pick out, like blackberries, from the author’s personal stories. Tarbuck analyses our relationship with plants and our interconnectedness with everything in the natural world. She explores some of the things available in September; guiding and educating us in a way that feels like we’re in the company of a favourite aunt.
This is the way of the next eleven chapters; before we end up back in September again. We learn about Samhain and talking to the dead, fairies, objects with power, demonologies, smelling the weather, sex magic, and so many more wonderful topics that are relevant to the author’s journey, but cleverly map out all there is to know about Witchcraft. We are encouraged to learn about the origins of the festivals that we celebrate; and some of the traditions associated with them. We learn about the blurred line between fairies and Witches, about unseasonable weather days and how they relate to folklore, and how weather knowledge has found its way into some of our most popular, classical reads. The simple activities offered at the end of each chapter give us an opportunity to make an impact on the world, be it for us as individuals, or for the greater good.
The Book’s Strengths
A Spell in the Wild is a richly woven tapestry, where the author delves not only into the wild spaces of the natural world, but also into the wild spaces of our hearts and minds; often asking (and answering) the questions we have always wondered about ourselves, witchcraft, and magic. Deeply personal; every word, every sentence, every page is placed perfectly. It makes the reader want to write; to pour out their own heart and soul onto paper. The delightful, easy-to read, no-nonsense way that Tarbuck weaves her words, and the comprehensive content, makes for a compelling read.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is the sheer amount of history and information that is included over 380+ pages. The author takes an academic and scholarly - but not stuffy - approach, and blends it with an intimate window into her world, expertly fusing the mundane and magic into one. There is no romanticism - yes, we’d like Witchcraft (and our lives) to look a certain way, but we learn that it’s better to accept how things really are, and adapt our magic to suit.
The author has an entirely intersectional approach. There is something here for the foraging Witches, the activist Witches, and the fairy Witches, but there is also enough history, science, pop culture and anthropology for there to be something for everyone, magical or otherwise. The spells and activities are inclusive, adaptable and non-prescriptive; not everyone has access to a bath, not every Witch is highly organised throughout the year, and not everyone has the money for expensive Witchcraft supplies.
What You Can Learn...
This book is an absolute triumph. It is so much more than one person’s trip throughout the year. It is simultaneously a history lesson, a science lesson, a therapy session, and a diary. It is an honest account of a modern witch’s life, cleverly connecting the reader to the folklore and land that surrounds them. It is a treasury of information; multifaceted, enjoyable, and accessible.
This book helps the reader to understand the natural world better, making comparisons to our everyday lives to guide us. We are continuously reminded how very special this planet is, and the precariousness of its position. Not in a way that lectures or chides, but in a way that actually makes you want to listen. It makes the reader want to be more conscious and present in their life; certainly in their magic.
It is sensory enjoyment without the sensory experience. Through Tarbuck’s words the reader can taste, see, sense, smell her experiences. Gentle, warm, welcoming, and reassuring, it’s an incredibly comforting book, where, with every word, we are transported to a place where we recognise ourselves, and feel vindicated in our humanity, and in our Witchhood.
Gliding beautifully between each subject, it is littered with helpful information and deep insights about our place in the world; and how we can relate this to building our magical practice. This book will make you laugh, it will definitely make you think; and it will tell you that although the world might be changing and running at 100mph, the magic is still there.
