Marina and the teenage witches

Marina Baker's home office is full of the clutter of a working mother.

Her desk is piled high with research for articles she is writing for The Independent and Junior Magazine, while her pinboard is a gallery of her two young children's artistic achievements.

But stuffed behind a bulging bookcase is a broomstick and candles, crystals and pebbles which make a subtle decoration around her home.

Marina is a witch.

Her first book, a collection of spells for teenagers, has been on the shelves less than a week, yet it is already one of the top 500 titles ordered through online bookshop Amazon.

But she is as far removed from the Hallowe'en image of a witch as you could get and is keen to dispel popular misconceptions about the Wicca religion.

Marina, 33, said: "The book's all about modern witchcraft for young people.

"It's not like the American spell books which offer ways to get your parents to buy you a car, and I have avoided clichd images of cats and broomsticks because that's not what witchcraft is about."

Spells For Teenage Witches was published on Thursday and is a basic guide to simple spells.

It does not touch on the Wicca rites and deities but offers spells to help people study, tidy their bedrooms, cure period pain and "get in touch with their inner self".

Marina said: "I am not there to be the teenager's parent. The book doesn't nag kids about what they should and shouldn't do.

"There is a section about getting rid of vices, and I mention things like smoking as a vice, but I want to be seen as a 'groovy auntie' type - someone who isn't judgmental but says, 'Hey, what can we do about this now it has happened?'."

Marina was first introduced to witchcraft through her mother, a practising white witch. She embraced the lifestyle but then rebelled as a teenager, becoming confirmed in the Church of England.

Only later, as an adult, did she begin to dabble in spells.

Marina said: "Pagans don't bring their children up in the religion. They believe in allowing people to choose it for themselves when they are old enough.

"But I had a lovely childhood. There were lots of country romps, birdwatching, crafts and dancing lessons, a healthy diet, respect for the environment and very little TV.

"Today, I'm not a member of a coven but I cast spells to help cope with stress or to ensure a job interview goes well.

"I believe there is powerful magic in all religions if you believe in them and most faiths have the same basic beliefs - there are just different forms of worship."

Witchcraft is growing in popularity and teenagers appear most interested.

TV shows aimed at adolescents, such as Sabrina The Teenage Witch, portray witches as positive role models these days.

Marina believes parents should welcome their children's interest in witchcraft.

She said: "The fictional witches today, while their spells are fantastic and impossible, are great characters. There are lots of morals learned in the stories about Sabrina.

"Witchcraft encourages teenagers to read books and think about the things they are doing and the repercussions.

"I would encourage worried parents to have a look at spell books, listen to what their children are saying and discover more about the religion themselves.

"In every religion there are those who veer towards the darker side. You only have to look at the Middle East or Northern Ireland to see people using religion to justify evil.

"But white witchcraft has two main tenets. Firstly, that if what you are doing harms no one you are free to do it, and secondly, that what you do will come back on you threefold."

However, Marina's book is much more innocent, offering directions for incantations using herbs, mirrors and candles to ward off people shouting, to ask for peace and to help with exams.

She is planning a second book, offering spells for older teenagers.