Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Starlight Witch

Home
Pagan
Review of Lisa Lister’s book Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic.

Review of Lisa Lister’s book Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic.

Last updated on: February 12, 2018 at 5:12 pm by Astrea Taylor

Review of Lisa Lister’s book Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic. 2018-02-12T17:12:39-04:00 Astrea Taylor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In the book Witch: Unleashed, Untamed, Unapologetic, author Lisa Lister incites the rebellion that today’s Trump-era society needs.

Creative Commons

Photo by Max Pixel, Creative Commons CC0

In this bold, incendiary book (published May 9, 2017 by Hay House), author Lisa Lister combines personal revelations, paganism, a buffet of love and support, and a rewriting of history into a strong herstory. The result is nothing less than a manifesto and a road map to women’s personal power.

Witch is the book all women have longed read. Lister has written the words all women long to speak aloud —

“It is safe for me to be powerful.”

Although Witch may contain some maxims you’ve likely read before (if you’re a good witch), Lister does a good job of reminding and rebranding women’s power.

Perhaps the biggest feat of Witch is the celebration of the word ‘witch,’ which has been unjustly dragged through the proverbial crap for centuries as a result of patriarchal and religious tyranny. She points out the power that lies dormant in reclaiming the word.

Magic Circle by John W. Waterhouse, from Wikimedia Commons

“The more we fear the witch, the more we fear our own power – which was, and still is, exactly the point of patriarchal propaganda… Fear is the most powerful torture of all.”

The book’s prose is conversational – it’s almost melodic. Lister builds a rhythm that resonates in the heart and excites the mind. Her personal stories, sprinkled throughout the chapters, make the book sing with soul.

Although some may find value in Chapter 8, The Force of Nature, it’s a bit ‘begginer level’ for me, as it merely goes over the basics of solar and lunar holidays. I skimmed over it, having understood most of the concepts already, and you might too. It sticks out a little in the collection of chapters, simply because it reads more like a textbook while the rest of the book seems so personal and inspirational by comparison. However, I think many people who are new to the witch’s call will find great use in it.

Witch is geared primarily toward women – I say this because she often encourages the reader to love their lady parts. She also refers to witches as women, with quotes such as:

“The witch is a woman fully in her power.”

The cover of Witch, from Amazon

This makes sense if you consider that the witch’s holocaust was geared more toward women, and women have long been oppressed, and still are. Even though Lister does not acknowledge that male and non-binary genderqueer witches have also existed alongside their female counterparts, and are our allies, I believe any witch who loves the Goddess and is not easily disempowered could gain some perspective as well, if they can get past the many references to lady parts.

I rated this book 5/5 stars. Lister effectively loosens society’s collar on women and witches, and encourages us to escape the bonds that bind us to an inauthentic life. Not only that, but she encourages us to run free and make our own paths. In this day and age, Witch is exactly what we need.

Lisa Lister also has a fantastic instagram account.

Previous Post

August 2, 2017

Working Out with the Gods: Running with Artemis, Dancing with Kali

Next Post

August 4, 2017 The Highly Sensitive Witch

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book and Tarot Reviews Energy Articles Pagan Articles (General) Pagan God/Goddess Articles Pagan Holidays Pagan Pop Culture and Politics Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2023 June 2023 November 2022 December 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary trade good in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Purple cloth Wheat Olive oil Spices