A collection of ancient spells and incantations, translated and interpreted for today’s reader, brings long-ago meanings closer for those engaged in magical practices of manifestation, prophecy, love, protection, healing, curses, and even vengeance.

Each page of Ancient Spells and Incantations holds verses adapted from text unearthed through extensive research—grimoires, letters, and trial transcripts from across the ages and around the world. Many of these were tucked away in university libraries not easily accessible even to one actively in search of them. Enid Baxter Ryce painstakingly researched this collection, finding fragments from across the centuries.

Translating some from Latin and Old English herself, Enid has made the spells accessible to today’s witches. What was once whispered or chanted, spiraling in cursive, or carved in stone, still echoes like a song. The words that survived connect us to that ancient magic, and we can feel the truth and power.

As we marvel at these ancient magical words, we think of our ancestors. Thanks to them, scraps of papyrus, shards of pottery, secret books, and hissed recipes can, hundreds of years later, still show themselves to those who seek them.