Diary of an American Witch Review: A Real Look at Modern Witchcraft
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Diary of an American Witch: An Honest Review
I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I picked up Diary of an American Witch by Witch of Southern Light. I had met Marshall at Salem Witchfest and immediately liked his vibe. and then over 6 months later later he was asking if anyone wanted to review his latest book so I immediately hopped on the challenge.
Diary of an American Witch by Witch of Southern Light is a modern look at real-life witchcraft, documenting one practitioner’s day-to-day life, magick, and spiritual experiences in real time.
Btw, this blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my dream!
A Real Look at Modern Witchcraft
As soon as you start reading Diary of an American Witch, Marshall takes you on a journey. Not a polished, curated version of witchcraft, but the actual day-to-day reality of living as a witch in 2023. He shares openly about his life, including growing up as a gay witch in suburban Texas, and the path that shaped him into who he is today.
The book itself was written as a true diary. He talks about how he knew it would span 13 months, but didn’t know what would unfold in that time. Inspired by older works like Diary of a Witch, he wanted to create something different. Not a retrospective memoir, but a living record. A real-time account of his life, his magick, his experiences, and even his regrets.
And you feel that honesty on every page.
Getting to know Marshall through his writing was honestly fascinating. What stood out most was how much of his practice is rooted in community. He’s constantly doing workings for his friends, for people he cares about, and for causes bigger than himself.
If you’ve ever wondered what magick looks like when it’s actually being practiced regularly, this book shows you. He shares moments where he performs a working and then, days later, you see it come to fruition. Not in a flashy or exaggerated way, but in a way that feels grounded and real. The kind of experiences that, if you practice, you just know.
He also doesn’t shy away from the harder parts. There are moments where things don’t go as planned, where the weight and responsibility of magick becomes very real. Especially when it comes to baneful work like curses or hexes, he’s clear about the consequences and the need for discernment. That balance felt important. It didn’t romanticize the craft. It respected it.
Why This Book Actually Stays With You
What impacted me most wasn’t just the spells or the personal stories. It was his perspective on the world. Marshall talks about real-world events, including humanitarian crises and global suffering, and brings forward this idea that witchcraft isn’t just personal. It’s collective.
That we don’t just practice for ourselves. We show up. We care. We act.
He speaks to the belief that witchcraft is inherently political. That we have a responsibility to use our practice to support others, to advocate, and to hold intention for something bigger than our own lives. And honestly… that hit.
Because it’s easy to fall into using spirituality as a form of escape. But this book gently calls you back into alignment. Back into remembering that your practice can be both personal and impactful.
I picked up Diary of an American Witch during a bit of a personal and magickal slump, and it genuinely reminded me how powerful this path can be and I appreciated having that perspective. If you’re looking for a book that shows what modern witchcraft really looks like, this is it. It’s not about aesthetics or escapism. It’s about practice, responsibility, and showing up for your life and your community.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of magick and reconnect with why they started in the first place. You’ll probably walk away feeling a little more inspired and a little more ready to take action in your own way.
And if you want to go deeper, I also sat down with Marshall for a conversation on bringing power back to the powerless over on my YouTube channel.
About Witch of Southern Light
Marshall, also known as Witch of Southern Light, is a practicing folkloric witch and content creator who shares his work across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In addition to Diary of an American Witch, he is also the author of Cunning Words: A Grimoire of Tales and Magic and The Red Mother, and co-hosts the podcast Southern Bramble, where he explores traditional witchcraft and lived practice through storytelling and conversation.
You can learn more about Marshall here.
If you’ve read Diary of an American Witch, or any of Marshall's works, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if there’s a witchcraft or spiritual book you think I should read next, drop it below. I’m always looking for something that actually deepens the practice.
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