I was recently approached by the publisher Crossed Crow Books to see if I would be interested in reading and reviewing an upcoming title, A Witch’s Book of Days by Victoria Raschke. This is auspicious timing for all of my readers here, as I did a deep dive on the sabbats last year and am planning to dive some into the Hellenistic festivals I observe starting next year. Let’s have a look.

At a Glance

Title: A Witch’s Book of Days
Author: Victoria Raschke
w/ Foreword by Cory Thomas Hutcheson
Publisher: Crossed Crow Books
ISBN: 978-1-968185-57-2
Page Count: 280
Release Date: 9/8/2026
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis from the Publisher:

❝In a world that often pulls witches and magical practitioners away from their craft, A Witch’s Book of Days offers a way to reclaim enchantment, one day at a time. Drawing from a lifetime of study, personal practice, and a passion for uncovering forgotten celebrations, Victoria weaves together a rich tapestry of observances, rituals, recipes, and reflections to inspire magical living every day of the year.

Unlike traditional seasonal guides that center only on the eight sabbats or the phases of the moon, this book opens a much wider door. It honors the familiar while also inviting readers to explore a vibrant range of modern, historical, and ancient observances from cultures across the world.

Victoria’s thoughtful curation encourages readers to see the sacred in the everyday and offers accessible practices to fit even the busiest schedules. Whether through a simple meditation, a kitchen spell, a crafted charm, or a meaningful reflection, readers are guided to create their own evolving Book of Days.

Carefully researched and extensively referenced, A Witch’s Book of Days is indispensable to witches and neo-pagans who seek to live more intentionally, honoring the turning of time with wonder and wisdom.❠

Some Quick Thoughts from Me:

Victoria Raschke describes herself as a “magpie word witch” (a concept which I adore) who studies and practices folk magick from various cultures of her ancestral lineage. She is an animist, initiate of the Forest’s Edge tradition, and host of a monthly podcast called WitchLit, wherein she has had discussions with many notable occult authors, such as Judika Iles, Jack Chanek, Jason Miller, Storm Faerywolf, and Madame Pamita, to name a few of my favorites. She is also the author of Verona Green: A Story of Art & Magic, the Voices of the Dead contemporary fantasy series and accompanying cookbook Renegade Tea, and numerous other short stories, essays, and poems.

Raschke calls A Witch’s Book of Days an “every day is a holiday” book, and it certainly lives up to that epithet. Seeing the research and attention to detail which has gone into it – and knowing that it was in the works for about 17 years before the final draft was completed – it strikes me as having been a real labor of love. Within its pages, you will find dozens upon dozens of recipes, rituals, etymological notes, insights into traditions and folklore, musings on various plants and minerals, recognition of key figures across history, and so much more.

I loved this book. I highlighted the heck out of it and added so many notes from my own thoughts as they arose. It’s given me a lot to think about both for my own practice and for my teachings here on this website. It’s a great read for any level of practitioner to help discover ways to be more mindful, grateful, and engaged with each day – something that I feel is especially important during a time when everything around us moves so quickly and loudly. I also think it would be well-suited to folks who are even simply interested in learning from a diverse sampler of historical calendars and traditions.

On the whole, I give it 4/5 stars, with that final star lacking only because, while recognizing it is impossible to cover all traditions in a single volume, I do crave, perhaps, an even more detailed and diverse array of global traditions or, at least, a list of other traditions that the reader could then go and research. This is small potatoes, though, and I would absolutely recommend A Witch’s Book of Days to all my readers – and especially if you enjoyed my sabbat series.

My Personal Review

“If you’ve ever been the sort of person who felt the urge while looking up at a particularly pretty moon to do something, but struggled to know just what to do, this book offers you options.” -Cory Thomas Hutcheson

I blame Sarah Ban Breathnach, but I am such a sucker for a book of daily musings. In the modern era, it is so important to take a step back, to slow down, and to always give ourselves something small to look forward to. A Witch’s Book of Days teaches us that every day can be special in some way and provides a deliciously detailed template to adapt to your own practice. Much of the information, insights, and recipes within these pages are going into my own commonplace collections for later reference, and as someone who walks a Hellenistic path, I am particularly keen on the idea of ritual observations throughout the year, as was the case in the heavily packed Athenian festival calendar. Beyond this, I do also tick a couple of relevant niche audience boxes that other readers may not. I am a fellow American Southerner, and there is a great deal of Southern American folklore throughout this book. I’m also a fellow English nerd and a big believer in honoring our personal heroes, so much of what Raschke shares of her own celebrations regarding key figures in her life resonated with me, as well.

A Witch’s Book of Days really is packed with information. The book pulls traditions and observances from antiquated calendars (predominately the French Republican calendar), offers notes on etymology and other background histories, and sits on a foundation of personal thoughts and experiences. In these ways, Raschke’s style of writing reminds me of my own. There was information in here which was new to me, as well – plants, traditions, and figures of which I wasn’t prior aware – and that which I was more familiar with was still quite a fun refresher of a read. There is, for example, a dive into salt sometime early on in the book that I quite liked because of the wide variety of salt discussed. In the case of herbs, I also very much liked the frequent referencing of well-known herbal sources like the works of Nicholas Culpeper and Scott Cunningham.

The traditions and folklore are handled responsibly and accurately. Raschke notes when she is not so familiar with something and where any personal knowledge she has may have stemmed from. I appreciate that she didn’t shy away from the topic of Catholic saints and observances, as it is such a large part of many Americans’ background, particularly in the south. I find that many witches avoid this topic for various – albeit, understandable – reasons. That said, I, naturally, did find myself wishing for a bit more in the way of Ancient Hellenic traditions, given my own religious leanings, but that’s just me nitpicking.

In fact, there was a sort of Hellenistic element to the book in its veneration of key figures throughout history, and as I said, I am a big believer in honoring our personal heroes. Reading about the lives of all of Raschke’s heroes and the things she does throughout the year to honor them gave me the idea to expand my ancestral observations to include more of those who have been of great influence to me in my life – especially many of the notable authors who have led me down the very fulfilling path I walk today. Without their words reaching out to touch my heart and mind, I fear I’d never have gotten to where I am today.

I also very much enjoy Raschke’s perspective on the more “mundane” aspects of a witch’s life. Something as simple as a cast iron skillet becomes ritual tool for ancestral connection. She honors the material from which it is made. This has highlighted, to me, some of the blind spots I’ve been missing to further romanticize my own life. Further, she also frequently discusses a topic that is very important to me (which I’ve mentioned here before) that I don’t see discussed in the witchy community enough: That the act of procreation and the fertility workings which go along with it apply to the creation of works of art and manifestation just as much as it can apply to sexual reproduction.

Finally, Raschke’s writing style is casual and approachable; it’s almost as if you’re sitting and having a conversation with her over a cup of tea. This compliments the many personal anecdotes she shares throughout the book, making it all feel like a rather intimate experience. I recognize this tone may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I would still, even to those who would fall into that category, recommend this book as an invaluable resource for expanding your bank of witchy knowledge and for helping to develop or inspire a more mindful approach to your day-to-day life.

As a Tool for Practice

A Witch’s Book of Days has given me a lot of material to brew on regarding my own day-to-day witchery. There are a lot of things shared within its pages that can further your own research and explorations, and with 366 days of content (as it aligns with the 2028 calendar year to account for leap years) it makes such a solid template for expanding your practice. There were things I read in this book that have given me ideas about ways to expand my teachings here, such as adding flower language to my eventual updated herbal section of the Digital Grimoire.

Should you decide to pick up a copy, a journal, commonplace book, or annual planner would make a worthy companion for both planning and reflection. You may choose to read it ahead of time to prepare for the year ahead, as I tend to like to do, or you may take it leisurely, exploring the entry for each day as that day arrives. Whatever your approach, it’s easy to take what you’ve learned and adapt Raschke’s teachings to what makes each day sacred for you.

Some Final Thoughts

A Witch’s Book of Days comes out on September 8th. You can preorder it now directly from Crossed Crow Books, and it will ship out on that date. I do very much recommend it to all my readers here, particularly if you are here to learn or expand your practice with the information I provide. If you enjoy Raschke’s work, you might also consider picking up a copy of any of her other books, like Verona Green: A Story of Art & Magic, the Voices of the Dead series (here are links to books two, three, and four, for your convenience), or its accompanying cookbook Renegade Tea. You may also like to check out her podcast, WitchLit.