Traveling can leave the traveler feeling out of their element. On the road, the variety of environments or the disconnect from the familiar can leave you wishing to ground, protect yourself, and seek guidance for the journey ahead. Have you thought about how to do magic on the fly? What items would you need and what can you easily take with you or find wherever you are? Maybe you want guidance on eco-friendly travel that aligns with your spiritual values. A Traveler’s Guide to Making Magic responds to travelers’ requirements whether commuting in town or overseas.
Basic magic for beginners and sympathetic magic correspondences in the first two chapters is foundational information. Correspondences are used when designing spells for sympathetic magic, seeking plant allies, working with planetary influences, seasons and stone allies. For quick divination, playing cards and tarot for yes-no card readings and travel specific Tarot options are explored. Sigil magic is relatively easy to do without need of special materials and was inspired by the work of Laura Zakroff. The rest of the book goes into travel themes such as considerations for doing magic in unfamiliar settings and distinct spells and charms. The back contains appendixes, a glossary and references.
The author does not assume that readers are on a specific spiritual path. She draws from sources that are primarily Western European and North American witchcraft but branches out to Shinto, Mayan and Hindu based practices. The reader should be open to the idea of magic and willing to adapt materials to their own world view. McSherry discusses that even non-deists work magic and she finds that valid. Some spells and charms do call upon specific deities.
Expect a balance between magical spells, charms, talismans, divination practices and practical information on preparing for travel, packing advice, avoiding scams, and consciously making eco friendly choices. Even if only commuting, protection spells for vehicles meet the everyday travelers’ needs. For the armchair tourist, take a flight of fantasy through suggested virtual museum visits or music from around the globe.
Some things I particularly liked were the list of the most sacred sites on earth, giving ideas for dream trips; Tarot and playing card layouts for travel questions; the mini magic travel kit with a tiny birthday candle and sewing needle as candle and athame. The snow magic was something I had not considered before and found rather funny. Magic of the elements and four directions features in many spells.
There’s not much to critique in this book. The book was born out of McSherry’s experience as a witch and world globetrotter. I found a couple of typographical errors and contacted the author who advised that any corrections or updates can be found on her website www.lisamcsherry.com. I was a little confused about a spell that calls on Holy Sin, which for the record, is a Babylonian God, and this took some time to figure out. An internet search is far more likely to pull up Abrahamic faiths than ancient Babylonian Gods! I noticed that there was a contact for American travelers abroad to reach the US State Department in times of emergency but no similar information for other nationalities who might read it. This is a minor point as I expect people in emergency situations will probably not reach first for their magic books but seek out their embassies. If this book becomes a beloved travel companion, write that emergency info on the back page.
Melding the life of magic making with holiday making, creates a unique travel guide with good information for both practical and spiritual concerns. May the road rise to meet you on your way!
~review by Elsie Smyte
Author: Lisa McSherry
Crossed Crow Books, 2025
258 pages, $19.95
Another review is available here.
