Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life

by Mary-Grace Fahrun

Overview

Living Folk Magic emphasizes that folk magic is something alive, vital, and modern. Discover practical and helpful information, regardless of your ethnic or spiritual background, to create a fulfilling and successful folk magic practice.
 
Folk magic exists in every culture and has been practiced since the dawn of time. It is more than casting a spell or creating a ritual. It is a way of life, a way of living, a way of perceiving the world and all within it. Living Folk Magic explains how to build an entire folk magic practice—from cleansing and protecting to blessing and cursing—and provides instructions on how to build altars (whether openly or secretly), practice divination, communicate with spirits, and more.
 
Supported by the "four pillars of magic," these elements serve to provide stability, structure, and protection:
 
Cleansing: to remove negative energy
Blessing: to imbue with love
Protecting: to charge with energy that repels evil
Defending: to combat evil
 
In Living Folk Magic, author Mary-Grace Fahrun seeks to share her magical perspective and processes in the hope of inspiring both beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578638871
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	11/03/2025
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 6.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Mary-Grace Fahrun was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Italian immigrant parents and grew up in the Italian neighborhoods of Connecticut and Montreal. She is the author of the influential book Italian Folk Magic: Rue’s Kitchen Witchery and also the creatrix of Rue’s Kitchen, her website dedicated to the preservation of Italian folk practices. Mary-Grace resides in British Columbia, Canada. Visit her at rueskitchen.com, Instagram @rueskitchen, and YouTube @MaryGraceFahrun.

Editorial Reviews

True to the Craft, folk witch Mary-Grace Fahrun brings us a down-to-earth, approachable, and most of all, doable guide in her book Living Folk Magic. ‘Living’ resonates as a double entendre throughout this book. Fahrun presents vibrant, innovative, and traditional folk practices brimming with age-old wisdom. Through her stories and guidance, curious practitioners can learn to live by the folk magic of their ancestors, with respect for neighboring traditions, thereby keeping folk magic alive.”
—Priestess Stephanie Rose Bird, artist and author of numerous magical books including Motherland Herbal, African American Magick, and Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones

“Living Folk Magic is a lantern of ancestral wisdom, guiding us back to the everyday enchantment that has always been ours. With cleansing, blessing, protection, and defense as her four steadfast pillars, Mary-Grace Fahrun shows us how to weave these timeless practices into our kitchens, homes, and hearts. Her words feel like a blessing themselves—practical, heartfelt, and brimming with the magic of real life.”
—Laura Davila, author of Mexican Magic and Mexican Sorcery

“Living Folk Magic is about just that—living everyday life soulfully and with an intention that is at once magical and practical. Mary-Grace Fahrun teaches us that simple, heartfelt rituals often have a meaningful impact on our lives, that we are never separate from the spiritual wisdom of our ancestors, and that the world around us is thrumming with enchantment, wonder, and sacred mystery. From practicing divination and protection to communicating effectively with spirits, Living Folk Magic is not just a book; it’s an experience—and one that we would all do well to have.”
—Antonio Pagliarulo, author of The Evil Eye and Queer Saints

“Mary-Grace Fahrun has done it again. From the strong yet kind voice of Italian Folk Magic comes heartfelt stories meant to empower and uplift. Mary-Grace’s journey will help you see the structure inherent in her system and embolden you to create your own. After all, one of the few things in this life that we truly own are the memories that shape who we are. Dive into Living Folk Magic and remember who you are.”
—Amy Blackthorn, author of Blackthorn’s Botanical Shadow Work

“Drawing on her heritage, Fahrun shares her experiences with folk magic, as well as how she has adapted her practices because of necessity, availability, and accessibility. For example, she has aphantasia, meaning she cannot, or struggles to, picture things in her head, and visualization is a large part of folk magic. To make it easier for herself and others, she suggests writing it down in great detail, creating a vision board, or creating art about it. The author informs readers about useful objects and ingredients, explains how to identify and ward off the evil eye, and shares numerous other rituals. Her book also provides insight into building relationships with spirits and seeing the world in an enchanted way. It is easy to follow and understand, and it is also a practice that can be passed from person to person. This book is a guide, not an end-all, be-all directive on how to practice folk magic. Living Folk Magic is for anyone who is getting into or is curious about folk magic and how it can be used and customized individually.” 
—Library Journal

From the Publisher