Confession time: I did not buy my copy at my favorite witchy store. I bought it at Half Price Books. It was the one good book on the shelf smashed between Conway and Cunningham. Sorry Magus, I’ll spend money at your place next time.
This book is written to be accessible for the beginner, but has some tips for the more advanced magick worker. (Sorry Mr. Hughes, I like the K spelling.) Magic for the Resistance starts with a brief history of magick used for political purposes, basic grounding and centering skills, and instructions on making your own activist spells. It also includes many spells written by the author.
Magic for the Resistance succeeds in the first goal—being accessible and informative for all levels. I’ll admit to being more of a casual magick user. I embraced hard Polytheism a few years ago, and as my practice deepens I feel less need to use magick. But then again, you can argue we are in a dire situation now. The author clearly states his magick ethics, and I do agree with him that magick is to enhance mundane action or as a last resort when mundane actions has failed. The author knows his stuff when it comes to magick, and I like his attitude of flexibility—experiment, use what you can find and what works for you.
My nitpicks are probably more personal taste than anything. I would have liked more discussion of the use of magick for politics—there is a juicy example I read about in my baby pagan days that isn’t included. But I understand this is a book more focused on action than history. Also, the ceremonial magick foundation is clear in the use of psalms and Hellenistic deities—which personally aren’t a part of my practice. I could see using parts of different traditions for the wording, like poetry or the Eddas. I can’t fault the author for not discussing deities he isn’t familiar with. The “pick a deity from this correspondence list” of pagan books in the ‘90s leaves current me cringing.
While Hughes lays out his logic and ethics for when to use magick, I don’t think he does a great job of pushing the reader to do the soul searching needed to be honest with yourself as to your real motivations and intent. Before doing major workings, meditation and divination are both necessary. Hexing the NRA– an organization—has different implications than hexing a person. Moving a conflict from the mundane world to the magickal will have consequences. I agree it is sometimes necessary, but not something to be rushed. Many bad things have been done by people with good hearts who thought they were doing the right thing. So always understand why you feel compelled to use magick.
I do recommend this book for anyone with an inkling to use magick for progressive causes. But it shouldn’t be the only book you read.