Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body

by Laura Tempest Zakroff, Muhina Mariya (Translator)

Overview

Embodied Witchcraft for Wisdom, Connection & Power

This book is a guide to the most magical tool in your possession—your body. Not just your physical flesh-and-blood body, but also your symbolic Witch body, the conduit for bringing the material and metaphysical worlds together. Within these pages, you will explore hands-on magical practices, exercises, and sigils related to your Witch Lungs, Heart, Bones, Mind, and the spiraling path of your inner Serpent.

Magic flows most freely when you are in tune with your intuition and the power of your true self. Through dozens of activities, prompts, spells, and rituals, Anatomy of a Witch helps you connect with the seen and unseen worlds, your ancestors, and your living community. Discover the profound correspondences between your body, the mythos of tarot, and the five elements. Practice rituals and activities for protection, warding, rebalancing your home, and embracing your body, despite the limiting beliefs that society foists upon us. This book teaches you how to tap into your personal power as you make a pilgrimage to the inner workings of your true self.

Includes a foreword by Christopher Penczak, bestselling author of The Temple of Witchcraft series

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9785957338406
Publisher:	Ves
Publication date:	01/11/2022
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	16 Years
Language:	Russian

About the Author

Laura Tempest Zakroff (she/they) is a professional artist, author, performer, and Modern Traditional Witch based in New England. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and her artwork has received awards and honors worldwide. Her work embodies myth and the esoteric through her drawings and paintings, jewelry, talismans, and other designs. Laura is the author of several bestselling Llewellyn books including Weave the Liminal, Sigil Witchery, Visual Alchemy, and Anatomy of a Witch, as well as the artist and author of the Anatomy of a Witch Oracle and The Liminal Spirits Oracle. Laura edited The New Aradia: A Witch's Handbook to Magical Resistance and the Gorgon's Guide to Magical Resistance from Revelore Press. Laura is the creative force behind several community events and teaches workshops online and worldwide. Visit her at LauraTempestZakroff.com.

Christopher Penczak is a Witch, teacher, writer, and healing practitioner. He is the founder of the world-renowned Temple of Witchcraft and the Temple Mystery School, and he is the creator of the bestselling Temple of Witchcraft books and audio CDs. Christopher is an ordained minister, serving the New Hampshire and Massachusetts Pagan and metaphysical communities through public rituals, private counsel, and teaching. He also travels extensively and teaches throughout the United States. Christopher lives in New Hampshire. Visit him at ChristopherPenczak.com.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations xiii

List of Rituals, Witchuals & Other Exercises xv

Foreword Christopher Penczak xvii

Introduction 1

Discovering the Magical Body 3

A Witch Is More Than Parts and Pieces 4

Fivefold Form and the Tarot 5

Elemental Considerations 5

Body Realism 7

Better Than Basic 10

Enter the Fool: Begin Again 12

Chapter 1 Witch Lungs 15

The Magician 16

What Are Witch Lungs? 16

The Influential Invisible 17

Interconnectivity and the Spirit of Everything 20

Sovereignty of the Witch 25

Breath Gives Rise to Voice 27

Wise Word Sigil 29

Creating and Being Magical Space 30

Aroma and the Magic of Smells 35

Considering Pollution 38

Witch Lungs Sigil 39

Chapter 2 Witch Heart 41

The Priestess 42

I Like to Move It, Move It 43

Symbolism of the Heart 45

Magic in Our Blood 46

Bloodstream: Entering the Ritual 47

The Tides of the Body 50

Initiating Ritual 52

Muscle Memory 56

Practice Makes Power 58

Heart Vision: The Eye of the Beholder 60

Be Still, Breath and Blood 64

Witch Heart Sigil 65

Chapter 3 The Serpent 67

The Empress 68

Finding the Serpent 68

Hiss… 70

The Sacred Serpent 71

Serpent Wisdom 73

The Water Serpent: Cleansing and Purifying 75

Preserving and Building Energy 77

Devour Like a Snake 82

Following the Serpent 83

Serpent Sigil 85

Chapter 4 Witch Bones 87

The Emperor 88

The Bone Way 88

Song of the Bones 93

Connecting with the Spirits of Place 95

Houses with Good Bones 97

Broken Bones 100

Witch Bones Sigil 101

Chapter 5 The Weaker 103

The Hierophant 104

Hey, Star Stuff 104

Magic and the Electric Chariots of Thought 105

Making Emotions and Experiences 107

Receiving Signals: Connecting with the Divine 108

Be the Weaver 109

Sensational Details 113

Sigil to Enhance Psychic Vision 115

Listening to the Silence 116

Tackling Aphantasia 117

Sigil of the Weaver 119

Chapter 6 Losing the Magical Body 121

The Lovers 122

Reconnecting the Body 123

A Body of Magic 124

Temple Time 126

Outer Layers 127

Sigil for Healing Body Image Issues 128

Grow Your Own Magical Components 129

Adorning the Temple 131

Enchanting the Tongue 136

Building the Temple Within 139

I Could Pee on That 141

Magical Maintenance 143

Familiar Fabulosity 145

Practical Love 146

Chapter 7 Touch the Sky, Kiss the Earth 149

The Chariot 150

The Ecstasy of Dance 151

Touch the Sky 152

Gestures of the Hands 155

Kissing the Earth 157

Chapter 8 Tending the Gauldrons 165

Strength 166

A Ritual to Tend to Your Cauldron of Warming 166

A Ritual to Cleanse Your Cauldron of Motion 168

A Ritual to Connect with Your Cauldron of Wisdom 169

The Cauldron Fountain Ritual 171

Chapter 9 Home within the Temple 173

The Hermit 174

Come into the Dark 174

Illuminate the Path 179

Be the Witch (I Know You Are) 180

Witch Anatomy Sigil 184

In Conclusion 187

Acknowledgments 189

Bibliography 191

Resources 193

Editorial Reviews

04/26/2021

Witch Zakroff (Weave the Liminal) delivers an alluring “metaphysical owner’s manual” that encourages practitioners of witchcraft to “fully embrace our bodies and tap into our personal power.” She organizes the work anatomically—with sections devoted to lungs, heart, bones, and mind—and suggests handcrafted sigils (symbols with magical power) for each, along with ritual and exercise suggestions, and charms for specific actions (such as one to “ward against pollution”). The segment dedicated to lungs includes breathing exercises for interconnectivity and focus, while the bones section features alignment stretches and ancestor magic for structure and stability. More broadly, Zakroff recommends formulating one’s daily intentions while “making your morning brew,” honoring one’s body through gratefulness during showers, observing connections to others in one’s neighborhood during walks, and nightly gratitude meditations. Experienced pagans and newcomers alike should take a look. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"An alluring 'metaphysical owner's manual.' ... Experienced pagans and newcomers alike should take a look."—Publishers Weekly

"Does a masterful job of bringing us back to the roots of our practice with fun and practical techniques, all while reminding us that we are made of more than just flesh and blood, and that our bodies are often the best tools we need to be magical people."—Dana Newkirk, Hellier

"Using a full array of tools—tarot, sigil magic, journaling, knowledge lectures and ritual—Laura takes the Witch on a journey that leads to full body acceptance and a deep encounter with both the physical and spiritual bodies. A wonderful interplay of wit and profound knowledge act as guideposts for a journey that every aspiring adept should take."—Andrew Theitic, publisher of The Witches' Almanac, LTD

"There is no better guide to embodying Witchcraft than Anatomy of a Witch by Laura Tempest Zakoff. From breathwork, to acknowledging your body as sacred space, to feeling into your sacred physical centers, this book will bring your Witchcraft practice to the next level. Tempest shares this work in a conversational style that makes you feel like you are hanging out with her."—Phoenix LeFae, author of What is Remembered Lives

"In this book, Laura Tempest Zakroff reacquaints readers with their bodies, reconnecting them with breath, blood, bone, and that sacred temple through which we both experience and act in the world. Through exercises involving images from the tarot, sigils, everyday rituals, daily practice, and movement, readers will rediscover their Witchy bodies and the magic that flows through them and permeates the world around them."—Sabina Magliocco, author of Witching Culture

"Laura Tempest Zakroff fills an important gap in what can often be a very heady and overly mentally focused practice by anchoring it into the vehicle which we actually do all of our magic with: the human body."—Aidan Wachter, author of Six Ways: Approaches & Entries for Practical Magic and Weaving Fate

"Zakroff guides Witches of all paths in working with the most indispensable tool available to them; the self. Though this book is about the body, and the energetic portals and magick available through this, what it's really about is living a soul-centered and magick-centered life, rooted in the intelligence of the flesh."—Gabriela Herstik, author of Inner Witch, Bewitching the Elements, and Embody Your Magick

"Laura Tempest Zakroff in her masterful style, does a brilliant job of taking the ethereal life of the Witch, and bringing it into the sacred, grounded, body of Anatomy. This book is a fantastic read for anyone seeking new levels of communication with their Witch body as a whole, complete system of magick."—Najah Lightfoot, author of Good Juju

"Anatomy of a Witch deftly weaves together ideas, reflections, and practical exercises that deepen and expand your connection to the greatest of spiritual vessels, your body. If you would like to more fully become your magick made manifest, then read this book and do the work that it offers."—Ivo Dominguez Jr, author of The Four Elements of the Wise

"This book is a resource, an affirmation, and a gift. Every subsequent page settles me further into what I’ve always felt to be true, that my own heart and mind and hands are the most powerful magical tools I could ever have."—S. J. Tucker, musician & magical practitioner

"Destined to be another classic, Anatomy is recommended for anyone who wants to fully embody their magickal practice. Want to take your Witchcraft practice to a whole other level? This is the book."—Jason Mankey, author of The Horned God of the Witches

From the Publisher