A note from Andrew McCarthy:

If you’ve been following A.M. Costa Rica’s spooky series this month, you already know we’ve been exploring some of the country’s creepiest legends.

We kicked off our Halloween series with La Segua, a tale of irresistible beauty, unspeakable horror and the terrible price some men pay for giving in to their darkest desires. It was a chilling reminder that beauty can be deceiving, and that some encounters can haunt you long after the nightmare is over.

Next came one of Costa Rica’s most frightening legends: The Phantom Cart, known in Spanish as La Carreta sin Bueyes, or “The Cart Without Oxen.” Even its name is enough to send a shiver down your spine.

Now, the spooky series takes a different turn with “Your First Step to Witchcraft,” a book review by A.M. Costa Rica Editor Emeritus James Brodell. Inspired by "Book of Spells: 150 Magickal Ways to Achieve Your Heart’s Desire," the post explores a world of magic, mystery and the supernatural. Just in time for Halloween.

Your First Step To Witchcraft

A review by James J. Brodell

You still have time to become a witch before that magic-filled Halloween night.

If you need any help, a step-by-step guide is available: “The libro de los hechizos,” known in English as “The Book of Spells: 150 Magickal Ways to Achieve Your Heart’s Desire.”

I first encountered this book while browsing the Spanish language shelves of my local library. The author, Ella Harrison, describes herself as a dedicated practitioner of witchcraft. I later found that there is an English version available, too, both as print and as a Kindle. So if so inclined, you can download the digital version today in time for a little practice before Halloween.

The author, born in New Zealand, says she grew up in a home surrounded by tarot cards, crystals and a grandmother who practiced witchcraft and read palms. At the age of 11, she began practicing witchcraft herself after receiving an instruction book, she said.

Says the author of her book: “Whatever your hopes and dreams, learn how to successfully set your intentions, raise and direct energy, and manifest your desires with 150 simple rituals. From protection and banishment spells to empowering incantations and folk charms for good fortune — each page offers steps to enhance a different aspect of your life, allowing you to take the practice into your own hands and connect to the magic within.“

In her initial explanation, she outlines several paths of spells a new witch might take depending on magical abilities: ceremonial, popular, practical, traditional, and something called the magic of chaos. She further adds that a witchcraft practitioner must build an altar as a place to create spells. What follows is a detailed description of what a witch needs to know, such as the correct way to draw a pentagram, magical knots, runes, the alphabet of magic, caldrons and other magical signs. Travelers might be very interested in how to create a spell for protection on trips or for forging a protective amulet.


The spells vary in complexity. Some require elaborate utensils. She also elaborates on what she calls the ethics of witchcraft, including recognizing the consequences of magic before invoking a spell. Perhaps that is why there does not seem to be any spell listed to turn creditors into rodents or to infest spam callers with lice.

There are several spells to enhance prosperity available for any Spanish speaker for the price of the book: $24.99. Amazon lists the English print version at $16.50. Digital copies are less, of course.

The spells must work because the book is rated 4.7 out of five stars on Amazon. Or the book might cast a spell over readers who provide the ratings. If the spells do not work, the author has included a declaration at the rear of the book declining to accept any responsibility and urging those beginning magical medical treatment to first consult a physician or druggist.

The publisher is Penguin Random House Co.

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