In fall of 2018 – just ahead of the US elections, the New Aradia: A Witch’s Handbook to Magical Resistance was released. Created as a collection of ideas to teach, share, inspire, empower, protect, and guide, found within its pages are sigils, spells, recipes, essays, invocations, rituals, and more – all gathered from experienced magical practitioners from around the world. In addition to being a reference guide, a portion of sales from the New Aradia benefited the Southern Poverty Law Center and Emily’s List (over $3500 collectively as of Fall 2022.) 

While change is afoot, we continue to exist in a timeline rife with conflict and crisis. The need for another collection to help address the changing landscape has become clearly evident. And so The Gorgon’s Guide has been called into being. 

The Gorgon’s Guide follows in the footsteps of the first volume of New Aradia, digging deeper into magical work that is relevant to our times. Magical resistance happens both through physical means and metaphysical works—mind, body, and spirit. We seek not only to survive, but to thrive and craft new possibilities for tomorrow—for humanity, for the planet, for all. For this edition, we have worked to center the voices of queer, trans, and BIPOC practitioners and related issues as much as possible. 

And like New Aradia’s proven financial commitment to ushering change, with every purchase of this book, $1 will be sent to a national and a local non-profit organization, rotating on a quarterly basis. Our first two chosen groups are: Indigenous Women Rising (https://www.iwrising.org/) and Holler Health Justice (https://www.hollerhealthjustice.org/)

Why is this volume called Gorgon’s Guide? Emerging from Greek mythology, the Gorgons are beings often described as having snakes in place of hair, large eyes, scaly skin, teeth like boars, claws for hands, and golden wings. They could petrify anyone who looked directly into their eyes. The number of Gorgons varies, but the most popular mythology describes the Gorgons as three sisters. Some say the Gorgons represent perversion in its three forms: Medusa (intellectual), Euryale (sexual) and Steno (moral). For centuries, witches have been said to be the perverse ones, upsetting the order of society. But what if society needs upsetting?

Right now, we are under attack: the truths of science and logic are being undermined; queer, trans, and reproductive rights are in grave danger; and the powers that be turn a blind eye to climate change, environmental destruction, and basic human rights. If fighting against these violations is perverse, then Gorgons we shall be. 

We may not have snakes in our hair, but we hold the power of the Serpent within us. The primal voice within us, the Serpent speaks of creation and change, power and protection, venom and vision. It reminds us that the path of living is serpentine—in moving forward we must also be prepared to spiral back, as well as knowing when to rest and when to strike. The Serpent says to the Witch, “Kiss the air with your tongue, move your body like water, let your spirit burn like fire, and glide upon the earth with ease.” 

Remember the strength and power that resides within you, for you are a being of change, a child of Gorgons. 

Laura Tempest Zakroff
Providence, RI
October 2022

Introduction
Laura Tempest Zakroff

Martyrdom is the Last Resort
Alicia Vervain

The Offering to Persephone Praxidik
Terrance Gamble

Invoking the Ancestors of Revolution:
A Spell to Support Your Radical Dreams & Actions
Lex Ritchie

Servitradis: A Servitor for Warning of Physical Danger
The Order of the Gorgon Shield

Bringing Sun to Earth: A Tetrad++ic Protective Amulet
P. Sufenas Virius Lupus

Consecrating a Protective Charm to the Gorgons and Hekate
River Enodian

The Quartz Pentacle: A Spiritual Tool to Sustain the Work of Restoring the World
Enrique Gomez

Political Money Magic
Star Bustamonte

The Reproductive Rights Sigil
Laura Tempest Zakroff 

Tongues, Vulvas, and Open Eyes:
Apotropaic Magic Against Patriarchy
Rev. Christian OrtÌz

The Rite of Abominations:
A Sacrament of Sacred Termination
Georgia van Raalte

The Phallus Tree: An Historical Artifact
and a Contemporary Inspiration
Cory Thomas Hutcheson

Everyday Hexes and the Publicly Contested Body,
or, How to Get Clean to Do the Dirty Work
Jessica Della Janare

Hail to the Women
Heka deAuset 

To Curse in the Name of Nemesis
Sara Mastros

Uerymurc: A Servitor for Undermining
Harmful Communication
The Order of the Gorgon Shield

A Thought-Form for Disruption
Philip Kane

Masks of Our Time
K.A.H

Heedless and Headless: The Witchcraft of Laverna
Thumper Forge

The Apotropaic Power of Medusa’s Blood:
Red Coral Charm to Ward Off Evil
Emiliano Russo

Transforming Anger Sigil
Laura Tempest Zakroff

Magick of/for the Fierce Hearts
Irisanya Moon

Cycle Breaker Sigil
Sidney Eileen

To Bind the Cruel
Ivy Senna

Boldly Reclaiming “I am”
Nova Pax Thrasher

Shadow Work with Snake Energy:
The Gorgon’s Mask, Shame, and Self-Empowerment
Joey Morris 

Flower Essences for Spiritual Activation
Lindsey Pszwaro

A Sigil for the Protection of Transgender Rights
Laura Tempest Zakroff

A Sigil to Defend Transfolx
Laura Tempest Zakroff

Invocation of the Outlander
M. Belanger

Opening Hearts Ritual
Fr. Sean Wilde UE

Citadel of Stone, Roots, and Ivy
Gwynevere Kipling

Deep Green Witchcraft and the Spirits of Place
Dodie Graham McKay

Three Workings for Protection
Estara Sanatani

Reclaiming Power: An Apple Charm
M. Belanger

Separation and Recuperation Spell
Rev. Laura Gonzalez

Strength in Stillness
The Weavers

Acknowledgements
Contributors
Resources