Essential Wicca

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I am not Wiccan, though I am sympathetic and exceedingly interested in this fast-growing religion. As such, I wanted a book that would be informative, easy to absorb and broad. This book was actually recommended to me by a high priest in my area, and it did not disappoint. I learned everything I needed to know, which is not to say that I've learned it all...but I think I have the broad strokes. Were I ever to aspire to be a solo-practitioner, this book would no doubt guide me quite adeptly.

Highly recommended. I have been told that the late Paul Tuitean and his wife were (and are) extremely well-loved and highly respected in the Wiccan/pagan community. From what I've gleaned and what I've learned, this book is accurate, fair, and a reference you can trust.

Peace.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly comprehensive, indeed ESSENTIAL
Review: I am not Wiccan, though I am sympathetic and exceedingly interested in this fast-growing religion. As such, I wanted a book that would be informative, easy to absorb and broad. This book was actually recommended to me by a high priest in my area, and it did not disappoint. I learned everything I needed to know, which is not to say that I've learned it all...but I think I have the broad strokes. Were I ever to aspire to be a solo-practitioner, this book would no doubt guide me quite adeptly.

Highly recommended. I have been told that the late Paul Tuitean and his wife were (and are) extremely well-loved and highly respected in the Wiccan/pagan community. From what I've gleaned and what I've learned, this book is accurate, fair, and a reference you can trust.

Peace.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best.
Review: I am not Wiccan. I am a Shaman; but Wicca was one of the many faiths I explored.

I have several positive, negative, and neutral things to say about this book, so I will seperate them into three lists.

Here are some of the things I like about this book. I am limited to 1000 words. ;-)

1. The altar layout illustration on page 64 is nice and complete. (You should not allow this to cause you undue concern. Start where you are; even if you have nothing more than a birthday candle, matches, and use your finger to cast a circle. You can always add tools as you find them, or feel the need to add them.)

2. This is one of the very few books to correctly identify the invoking, and banishing pentagrams. (I can count the number of books that got something this simple correct on one hand. Banishing prntagrams are always drawn widdershins (counter clockwise).)

3. I HIGHLY praise this book for teaching the shielding exercize on page 77. (I wish more authors would teach simple shielding techniques to assist against psychic attacks.)

4. I praise the authors for discussing the belief factor on page 82. (It is impossible to have faith in something you do not believe.)

5. I HIGHLY praise the authors for discussing the perils in some forms of divination as in Ouija boards, spirit tapping, etc. (If you are interested in divination; I would HIGHLY recommend that you set up a shield (as described on page 77) before practicing divination to protect you from evil and negativity in the area.)

Here are the problems I have with the book.

1. The book is heavy and cumbersome. (I would have preferred for the book to be in a smaller format with more pages. The wide pages put a lot of stress on the wrist when trying to hold the book.)

2. On page 108; the authors claim that Wicca is a nature worshiping religion. (Uh... ahem... er... ;-) I don't think so. I have never heard of or saw a Wiccan worshiping a tree or a stream. They always cast a circle and invoke Deity.)

3. On page 74; the authors discuss white and black magick. (In my opinion; magick is simply magick. the white or black connotation only comes in depending on the magickians intent.)

Here are some of the things I am neutral about, and I hope you will consider.

1. On Page 75; the authors discuss a visualization of roots growing from the base of the spine into the ground. (I would recommend you switch the visualization of roots from the feet growing into the earth (because your feet are already on the ground).)

2. On page 80; the authors talk of cleansing the athame with salt water. (Salt is corrosive and could lead to the blade of the athame rusting. I would suggest that you channel your energy into the athame to bless it and raise it's level of vibration, or smudge it by passing it through the smoke of a purifying incense as in Copal, Frankinsence, or Sage.)

3. On page 116; and others; the authors refer to the energy used as chi. (Ch'i is only one of the dozens of names this universal lifeforce energy has been called over the past 5,000+ years. Here are some of the more common names (Akasha, ch'i, Itaki, Ki, Mana, Manitou, Nuwati, Orenda, Orgone, Prana, Qi Ruach, and many others.))

E-Mail me if you have questions or comments; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

Rating:
Summary: great for the beginer!
Review: This book is a verry well and verry informative book. I am just starting to go in the direction of Wicca even though i have been away from Christianity for so long, and this book is verry good for the young beginer like myself. It gives you a-lot of insite into the matter of alternate regigions. I am verry certain that Wicca is the way i will go.

also this was the first book in my library of "odd books" as my friends say, that i have on the subject, i have gotten a bunch more since then[about 10-20 books]