Bewitching the Elements: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit

Gabriela Herstik

Penguin Random House, 2020

Agent: Jill Marr

Empower yourself by connecting to the five elements through meditation, breathwork, tarot, crystals, rituals, and journaling.

It’s the new age of enlightenment, and more and more people are embracing witchcraft and other spiritual practices to tap into their inner strength and resilience, while aligning with something larger than themselves. The tools that Gabriela Herstik offers in Bewitching the Elements will help you connect to the universe and your inner light.

Through earth, learn how to ground and create compassionate boundaries.
Through air, harness the breath, balance the body, and find presence in the moment.
Through fire, embody passion, burning away what no longer serves you, and learn to constructively work with anger.
Through water, explore your emotional depths and come back to the heart.
Through spirit, connect to your own sense of power, embracing all of the lessons of the elements.

Committing to a path that serves our authentic selves is a radical act. When we do this work alongside nature, by turning to the elements, we find a map back to our intuitive and energetic wisdom.

Reviews:
"Gabriela has once again cast a powerful resource for both new and seasoned practitioners. This book is written in elegant prose through her own specialized wisdom, in a way that blends both elements of self-empowerment and magick into one cohesive guide. I so appreciate the unique detail and love that Gabriela has infused into each and every page. A rare and precious gift to add to any library."—Danielle Noel, creator of the Starchild and Moonchild Tarot decks

Bewitching the Elements is next level magick brought down to earth in the most modern, practical way. Full of rituals, meditations, tarot, astrological insights, and more, this beautifully written book will help the reader learn how to craft a personal practice that empowers. Both old and new generations of practitioners will find something valuable in the pages of this book. Gabriela Herstik never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge. I’m looking at the elements in a whole new way!”—Theresa Reed, author of Astrology For Real Life: A No B.S. Guide for the Astro-Curious

"Fun, glamorous, informative, and... friendly! Reading Bewitching the Elements is like sitting in the living room of your magical bestie, sipping rose and cardamom tea, invoking the Goddess, anointing candles, and pulling cards to call in your dream life. Somehow, Herstik managed to create a comprehensive book, tool-kit and how to, that is as downright helpful as it is pleasurable to read. For all you burgeoning witches that have been looking for a partner in your practice, get this book, because Gaby Herstik is your new best friend. Grab your broomsticks, your lipstick, and your wand because this book is taking you on the wildest, most joyful moonlight adventure that you could imagine.”—Amanda Yates Garcia, author of Initiated: Memoir of a Witch; host of Between the Worlds

“An engaging and informative journey into your own soul. It will help any new or veteran magic seeker to foster a relationship with the elementals.”—Leanne Marrama, co-author of Reading the Leaves: An Intuitive Guide to the Ancient Art and Modern Magic of Tea Leaf Divination

"When I was a baby witch, the four elements confused me. How do I incorporate earth, air, fire, and water into my spellwork and altar? What the hex does calling the four corners mean? I wish I had a book as lovely, informative, and stylish as Bewitching the Elements to guide me, and now I do! Whether you're looking for glamorous new ways to enhance your practice or a thorough and sensuous guide to get you started, this book is for you."—Sophie Saint Thomas, witch and author of Finding Your Higher Self: Your Guide to Cannabis for Self-Care 

"Bewitching the Elements is overflowing with magical offerings that harness earth, air, fire, water, and spirit to conjure strength and self-love, or confront challenges and trauma. Through reverential yet playful prose, Gabriela Herstik reveals rituals, practices, and correspondences that are accessible for beginners, yet rich enough to explore for those with years of experience. Herstik is both a teacher and a seeker. Her witchcraft is so inspiring not because she has all the answers, but because she makes space for readers to cultivate the curiosity and self-awareness necessary to uncover what magical practice makes the most sense for them. A beautiful, (third) eye-opening guide to the elemental path of self-discovery."—Kristen Sollee, author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive and Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feline

“Gabriela Herstik has an energy about her that simply lures the soul to her work, and for great reason! It enchants your senses, adorns your hearts, and wakes the goddess from within your core. This book is an embodiment of all and more. Her take on the elements and how to connect to them, work with them, will elevate your practice to an entirely new heights. Bewitching the Elements is full of practical, much needed information that every witch should have.” —Juliet Diaz, author of Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within

"Bewitching the Elements will enchant you into falling in love with yourself, the universe, and your own divine sacred spark that is interwoven into the greater cosmic web of all that is eternal, infinite, and limitless. Herstik's endless well of knowledge and wisdom is thoroughly comprehensive, utterly accessible to witches of all experiences, and deeply inspiring.”—Yumi Sakugawa, author of The Little Book of Life Hacks: How to Make Your Life Happier, Healthier, and More Beautiful 

"Gabriela Herstik’s approach to magickal work is never elusive or intimidating, but warm and welcoming to any would-be witch who feels a call to the craft. In Bewitching the Elements, she teaches you the wondrous ways in which you can honor and connect with our sacred elements, so you, too, can tap into your own natural, witchy potential.”—Marie Lodi, journalist, witch

"Bewitching the Elements is a must-read for anyone wanting to explore or deepen their relationship with elemental magick. Gabriela Herstik masterfully weaves together astrology, tantra, crystal magick, energetics (and more!) to create a comprehensive resource for the aspiring metaphysical practitioner. She creates a strong foundation by beginning the book with the grounded energy of Earth and intentionally builds each subsequent chapter from that rooted place. The care with which she selects each tradition and technique explicated in these pages shows a thorough understanding of her craft. It is a practical and inspiring guide for all who seek to work in partnership with the energy of manifestation."—Ashley Manta, High Priestess of Pleasure and creator of CannaSexual® 

"Gabriela has an ability to make the esoteric accessible, inclusive, and fun, is this book is all those things."—Jerico Mandybur, author of Neo Tarot and Daily Oracle

"Gabriela introduces a whole new generation to the essentials of using the elements to manifest their desires and improve their lives. If you’ve been looking for an entry point into the world of witchcraft, you’ll find it between these covers.”—Damien Echols, author of High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row

“When it comes to modern day witchcraft, there are charlatans and there are witches. Herstik is a witch. Her approachable style to the craft gives every human a chance at mastering the elements. This is a must read for all lovers of the occult."—Gigi Engle, certified Sexologist, author of All the F*cking Mistakes

"Gabriela Herstik unites the historical traditions of spellwork, magick, and witchcraft with glorious practicality and accessibility in Bewitching the Elements. When you read her book, you will discover why Gabriela is at the forefront of today's renaissance in witchery: she is ethical, audacious, magickal, and empowering. So is this book."—Mitch Horowitz, PEN Award-winning author of Occult America and The Miracle Club