Magic for the Resistance: Rituals and Spells for Change

Activist Hughes builds on the viral popularity of his blog post “Spell to Bind Donald Trump and All Those Who Abet Him” to create a radical, inspirational, and results-oriented primer on 21st-century resistance magic in this enthusiastic debut. Seeing himself in philosophical lineage with Virginia Woodhull’s antipatriarchal spiritualism, Gerald Gardner’s magic against Hitler, and Abbie Hoffman’s ritual to levitate the Pentagon as a Vietnam war protest, Hughes argues that hexing or binding magic has a role to play in protest movements, alongside more traditional activities, such as participating in marches. Hughes provides basic information on magical tools, spiritual self-defense, and self-care, and also offers creative ideas such as designing effective sigils and spreading them via stickers left in public places. Instructions for rituals for justice against police violence, protecting women’s reproductive rights, hexing the NRA, cutting ties to abusers, redistributing wealth, and keeping immigrant communities safe (not to mention a general “anti-bullshit” spell) are clearly explained and can be carried out with simple household items such as oil and candles. Readers interested in the power of magic and dismayed by the tumultuous current political moment will want to give this enticing guide a look. Agent: Matt Bialer, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Sept.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated the author's last name in one instance.