An Interview with Deborah Castellano

1. Your new book is Glamour Magic. What exactly is "glamour magic?"

Glamour has two dictionary definitions. The first definition is the one that most people think of: a falsehood, fake magic. The second definition is much more useful: it's what makes you interesting and exciting to yourself and others.

2. Is there more to glamour magic than clothing, jewelry, and makeup?

Definitely. While style is an aspect of glamour, it's also about your personality in equal measure. How we present ourselves externally is important, too; we're very quick to be dismissive of that part. But human beings decide how they feel about someone new in the first seven seconds of meeting each other. That's not a lot of time to show off your sparkling personality.

3. Since it has historically been a feminine practice, how can it be practiced by those of all genders?

Historically, women practiced glamour because they couldn't generally declare war if they weren't on the throne, and even then, many times they still couldn't for a lot of reasons. But women were still shaking up empires using glamour even without direct access to arms and financial means. Joan of Arc and Anne Boleyn were not born royal and they really changed up the political landscape.

In America, we don't have royals, but there are still many systems of oppression keeping many of us (of all genders) down. We can use glamour like women of the Middle Ages did and use it to gain traction in the things we are working magically and mundanely to accomplish.

4. Are there benefits of glamour magic for those that don't necessarily identify as Pagan? Or do you see it as being focused largely on the Craft and increasing personal power?

I think there are people who are more charismatic and who have an easier time in life getting their "to-do" list accomplished, and I think that's true of both people who are Witches and those who aren't Witches. We all have that friend who seems to always get what they want and come out on top.

If you don't practice Witchcraft, I think you can take a lot away by learning about finding what makes you interesting and exciting to yourself and others, but I think there's a lot to be said for the Witchcraft in glamour magic. Glamour magic demands that you are seen by the universe herself as well as your goddesses, spirits, ancestors, coworkers, friends, loved ones, and influential strangers.

5. What do you hope your readers will take away from Glamour Magic?

Glamour isn't about looking and acting a certain way, and it's not about conventionally fitting into a cookie cutter mold. It's about you and your own personal glamour and learning how to leverage that to accomplish your Great Work.