Review by Eric Page
Enfys J. Book has crafted a luminous grimoire that is simultaneously a spiritual guidebook, a love letter to queer identity, and a reimagining of magical practice. Queer Rites emerges as a transformative text that does more than instruct—it celebrates the intricate, vibrant spiritualities of queer lived experiences.
This work is a meditation on ritual as a form of radical self-affirmation. Book seamlessly weaves together magical traditions with contemporary queer narratives, creating an accessible framework that demystifies spiritual practice without diminishing its profound emotional and cultural significance. The author’s meticulously crafted prose feels simultaneously scholarly and conversational, ensuring that readers across various spiritual backgrounds and magical skill levels can engage meaningfully. Complex concepts are translated into inviting, digestible language, making esoteric knowledge feel wonderfully approachable.
The book’s structure mirrors its philosophical core: fluid, inclusive, and deeply respectful of individual journeys. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a spiritual novice, the rituals and guidance feel like an intimate conversation with a wise, compassionate friend. The pagan elements in Queer Rites are excellent. Book reimagines pagan traditions not as static, historical practices, but as living, breathing spiritual ecosystems that can dynamically respond to queer experiences. Rituals for honouring chosen family, navigating gender transitions, and celebrating sexual diversity are presented as sacred acts of self-creation.
The inclusion of diverse deities and community ancestors—particularly queer activists and leaders—transforms these rituals from personal practices into collective acts of remembrance and resistance. Each suggested ceremony becomes a nexus where individual transformation meets broader community healing. The book frames queer milestones as inherently magical experiences. Coming out, changing pronouns, attending one’s first Pride, entering queer relationships—these are not just personal events, but profound spiritual transitions. The author invites readers to view these moments as sacred rites of passage, imbued with transformative potential.
Specific rituals like hosting a funeral for one’s deadname or creating a drag persona ritual are presented with a beautiful blend of reverence, humour, and deep emotional intelligence. These are not prescriptive ceremonies, but generative frameworks for personal meaning-making.
Queer Rites ultimately offers more than a magical handbook—it presents a liberatory vision of spirituality. Here, magic is not about controlling external forces, but about cultivating internal power, celebrating diversity, and creating intentional, affirming spaces of becoming. For queer readers seeking spiritual resources that genuinely reflect their experiences, this book whispers a profound truth: your journey is sacred, your identity is magical, and your spiritual practice can be as wonderfully complex and beautiful as you are.
With a foreword by Ariana Serpentine, author of Sacred Gender, and rituals by guest writers Storm Faerywolf, Misha Magdalene, Brandon Weston, and Rev. Ron Padrón this is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of queer identity, spiritual practice, and radical self-love.
Out Jan 2025, RRP £16.99.
For more info or to order the books see the authors or publisher’s website
