The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes (2004, Hardcover)

My wife and i are librarians and have an extensive collection of rare books, but this one was a hard to find from the start. It is a strong book, well bound. good paper and you can open it without fear of ripping a page. We have other books from Judika Illes and we like the way she writes and the way her books are organized. We went to many troubles to get this book because no library or book store had it available. The Elemental Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells has a great introduction with many accurate historical facts. It contain many explanations on how to proceed with the book and many warnings to deter any person who wishes to cast a spell without knowing the final result of his actions. In many entries, the spells are identified by geographical, social and cultural location as well as known period of practice. No spell included in this book uses animal parts or sacrifices. Great for the curious or the real practitioner of the great arts.

I purchased this book after my daughter gifted me with the companion book, The Elemental Encyclopedia of Witchcraft. I must recommend it to anyone who has an interest in magicks. It is the most thorough reference I have ever used. Judika obviously took a lot of time compiling the information that is in this reference. I have yet to find a topic not covered! When I need to find a spell or blessing, I just go to the index and then flip to the page referenced. There is always something on the topic that I am looking for. It is definitely a one stop reference for any magickal practitioner.
I highly recommend this book~

This is one of the most well used books in my magickal library. The Element Encyclopedia has not only spells, potions and recipes that can be used in every situation, but historical references, excellent commentary by Ms. Iles, and practical cautions about spellcasting.

This is a hard to find book, and can be a bit cost prohibitive. If you can find a copy, new or used, within your budget, get it! You will not be disappointed.

Blessings,
mama C

it does not matter your persuasion, your path, your faith, if you are into magick, this is the end all, be all book for the discriminating spellcaster.

i have never found a better collection of this many spells. i have tried many from the book, much to my satisfaction...some are obscure, but the vast majority are workable. there are even recipes in the back for all the curious oils required for the listed spells.

you cannot go wrong.

It was a very informative book, from the most complicated to the simplest way to get the same effect. It touches on everything you really could ever think of and I am sure I will be using this for years to come.

This is a great book. It was suggested to me by a friend who is in a coven, since I am solitary and always looking for good spells to tailor for my own Book of Shadows. Plenty of ideas, and from what I am told, there are some spells in this book that have been used by covens for generations, that are just now being documented in this particular book. It is a well spring of information to be sure. If you make your own spells, this is a good reference. If you are new to the craft and feel called to spell crafting, this is a good starting place. It has a lot of Earth Magick spells, some interminglings there of, but all very easy, and even shows you how to make your own oils for the spells listed. It won't leave you hanging for sure.

This is an absolute must have for any practicing witch. It is chock full of the old and the new and has been a reference for myself on many occasions. This book is well written and informative as well as entertaining with the authors insite in the beginning and the resources with in.

There is no other book quite like this one on the market and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain!!

Very thorough and informative. Wide variety. Easy to understand. A must for any beginner or expert. Excellant reading.

I really enjoyed the Encyclopedia, there is a lot of information for the new and old that practices the craft. I highly recomend this item to all the interested parties. This book is a A+ in all catagories.

This book is excellent! A must have for all Witches! It has practical tips and information. It covers just about everything.

This is one information pack book that is a must on every witch's shelf! Filled with every spell you could imagine. Simple Encyclopedia formate and easy to use! Great for the beginner or adapt!

This is a brilliant book. Unlike many of the books on witchcraft and the occult, THIS book is one of the most accurate I have come across. Judika Illes is a wonderful writer and everything is well researched. It is a great reference guide as well. THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR CHILDREN. Many of the spells in this book may call for dangerous ingredients and it is advised that these spells are not reproduced, however if you are to attempt any within, ever mind the rule of three. This book is not for novices.

I cannot tell you how happy I am with this book. The book is easy to read and the format is extremely easy to follow. Of course, there are disclaimers on the book (always a good idea when you have stupid people performing magic they don't understand). Anyhow, it is a great read which deals with many, many traditions.

The book begins with a primer section which includes some common ins and outs of magic, very easy to follow and understand. Section 2 begins the spells and there are thousands of them. One is sure to find the right spell for the right occasion. Now I am sure you have heard of spells for certain occasions which may/may not be in the book, but this is a great beginning and a superb reference.

Some weaknesses with the book are that I think more visuals could have been included. For instance, in the section of herbal magic the author could have included diagrams or pictures of the botanicals used. Also, I am a visual person and enjoy seeing some type of visual related to the text. As a result, I think pictures/diagrams of the botanicals is extremely useful, especially for a novice.

I think you will not be disappointed if you purchase this book. This book is a must have for a collector as well as a practioner. I am extremely pleased.

I am a hereditary witch and I love this book. Some of the spells seem very silly to other people but years ago there were many poeple that tried those.I usually copy a few spells out of a book I find useful. Not this one! It is a whole grimore already and all you have to do is look and find what subject you need help in. There are many to chose from but most are out of date spells that would not be usually done are practiced these days. Unethical to a lot of people. I love this book because of the spellcraft but also the history and knowledge of knowing how spells were done that many years ago. To this day many call a lot of these spells wise tales..But I have seen and done enough to say in my opionion they are not..Enjoy the book!! It's so Fun!! I'm sooooooooooo glad I found it!!!!!!!!

I could not believe how much is in this book. Great book on for the shelf as a total reference guide. There are things in here that one would have never thought of. great find.

I love this book gives you everything that you need to make the perfect spell. Everything from A to Z and that is the truth. I recomend it to anyone who knows how to work a spell and has total belief in it.

Thats all there is to say. Track this book down! You will find spells and folklore from over 5000 years of magickal history!

Easy to Use: Quick adn easy reference for spells and rituals. A must have for pagans... library addition!

This book has the largest compilation of spells that I have found, and gives the reader information needed to safely cast spells. Obviously Judika Illes has spent years of research in this reference book and has taken several faiths that do cast spells into account. Incants are broken down into category's that allows the user to quickly find just the right spell for a particular need. This book will never find its way to my bookshelf as it is used daily. I recommend this book to anyone studying the magical arts, or event to those just starting in the faith. Judika has provided the ultimate reference guide bound in 1100 pages of what would take a person years to compile. THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK.

There is way to much hype about this book. If you are looking for a "true" spell book, then you will be disappointed. The book offers no "real" information and provides more comment than actual spell casting information.

Please remember, this book, is not the end all be all, there are many more authors out there that provide the "theory" of spell casting which will prove extremely helpful for you and not just the spell.

The cost of trying to get this book can be prohibitive. If you really must have the book, be patient. There have been instances of price wars that have been going on in trying to bid for this book; some have won or winning only to be told that the auction was withdrawn, etc.

In closing, The Element of Encyclopedia of 5000 spells, is in my collection, only after being extremely patient and multiple bids-just the way Ebay was intended :O).

It's a great resource book, but not the "definitive" on spell casting.

Have Fun With It


)O)

This book has it all!! I was looking for a book that had a multitude of spells, potions, ingredients, etc. all together so I could find what I needed easily. This is the book. It not only has all of those things but it is also educational. It provides history to all the different types of magic and the people that preserved what they could down through the ages. It's a must have for anyone that practices the craft.

I realy wanted this book, just to find out they reimbursed my account. Did they did not have the book at all?

Amazing book for those interested in Spellcraft and Witchery. Very informative and specific. Even thought it manily focuses on the spells themselves, it also teaches you a bit about the history behind them. I highly remend it for those who love spells and how they work.

Great Book, has everything you need. It was full of different spells. It have everything from banishing unwanted guests to little bugs like ants.