Rating: 
Summary: This is a great book!
Review: I have been interested in and practicing Wicca for over twenty years. The first book I read about Wicca was Sybil Leek's book The Complete Art of Witchcraft. After reading The Charge I knew that this was for me and I wanted to learn more. Several years later I obtained the Witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar but I couldn't find anyone interested in starting a Coven in my area and although they pointed me to Doreen Valiente's Witchcraft for Tommorrow (which is also a book for solitaries), the Sabbats were lacking. I also read Spiral Dance at this time and again it is very well written but it was geared towards group work.I had been reading Scott Cunningham's other books and they were all very helpful but when I found this one I was forever grateful. He clearly showed how one could write their own ceremonies to perform and he gives many good exercises. Unlike To Ride a Silver Broomstick he doesn't ignore the Goddess or the Holy Days for that matter. Instead of just explaining them in one paragraph (the Sabbats) he gives actual ceremonies that can be performed and he says that you can also write your own with excellent pointers to other books for study. He will be truly missed by many in the Wiccan/Pagan community.
Rating:
Summary: Cunningham is a must for every Wiccan Library!
Review: Scott Cunningham was one of the most creative, prolific,and matter of fact of the Wiccan writers of his time..He wrote authoritatively and to the point. He helped to take the negative stigma out of "Solitary Practice".He left us a wealth of information, a joy of the craft,the wonder of magick,in his legacy of books & encyclopedias when he passed onto Summerland.We thank him for his gifts of knowledge! This book is a must for those seeking the solitary path and for the seasoned witch and beginning Coven member,as well. It is an easy comprehensive read which fully explains the bones of the Wiccan Path,specifically: various "Traditions",the Moon phases(and meanings),Sabbats,Esbats,Ritual and a list of tools.He also gives you the complete "Wiccan Rede","The Law of the Power", and touches upon Ethics and gives you an easy to follow Book Of Shadows outline. PLease read all of Cunningham"s books.They are a must for the "Earth Based Library"! Brightest Blessings!
Rating: 
Summary: Good gathering of information
Review: For a beginning solitary Wiccan or a different view for the initiated group Wiccan, this book is quite informative without being 'preachy'. Cunningham gives guidelines as well as examples rather than stating "This Is How It IS In Wicca, DO IT!" A good source.
Rating: 
Summary: Not your best option
Review: Scott Cunningham was a gentle soul and wrote some important reference books, but this book is not one of those. Commonly recommended as a beginner's first Witchcraft book, unfortunately it's just fluff. Cunningham is lily-white, childlike, and uniformative in this and his other "Witchcraft 101" books. If you're a serious beginner and have some idea about what witchcraft and magick are about, skip this book and travel straight through to The Spiral Dance by Starhawk and/or Natural Magick by Sally Dubats. If you're completely ignorant, or for some reason want a very slow, gentle, dull introduction to the life of a Witch, then this is your book. Otherwise, don't waste the money.
Rating:
Summary: Devoid of content & completely undeserving of its reputation
Review: I seem to be alone in a world that is blind to the obvious lack of content in this book. It is everything I hate about modern paganism, let me expand on this.The tool section is laughable, it lacks any decent explanation of the working tools of Wicca, especially as concerns their symbolism, and do people really need to be told that "the censer is an incense burner" or that the "cup is a cauldron on a stem"? Is this the great knowledge that the blurb promises? The rituals are also so dull & empty. To think that Wicca evolved from a synthesis of magical societies, freemasonry, cunning craft, occult philosophy, great literature & poetry etc and yet here ritual is debased into trite amateur prose with no theoretical background. After reading this book I can't see how anyone will be any closer to understanding Wicca, or anything approaching it. Where is the knowledge of casting circles, where are the Elementals, where is a serious explanation of anything full stop? I don't understand why beginner book has to equate with lack of content. If people aren't prepared to invest the time into understanding things properly then there's no point in bothering in the first place. Rather you spend time understanding fully & delay practice than rush into practice on flimsy empty foundations. I personally favour In The Circle as a better beginners book, as it contains a spiritual inspirational undercurrent whilst actually informing people as ot the whys & wherefores of practice.
Rating:
Summary: So...your'e ready to take the step walk in the "wiccan way"
Review: If so, take your time reading this book. Absorb each chapter at a time. Meditate on it. Scott Cunningham's easy going style makes this book an easy read but yet makes one mindful at the same time. What is so great about this book is that you realize, you can walk the wiccan path without having to join a coven which might be scary to some. You can find your own way and keep your spiritual convictions intact.. challenged but intact. Though some "kind hearted fundamentalists" may say otherwise, this book really helps to bridge that gap. You will very quickly be on your way to exploring the path of wicca to walking the path of wicca. Learning the practical rules of magic and how to bring that in your everyday life with steps that are easy to follow and plenty of room for creative exploration. A must have for every magical library.
Rating:
Summary: A good read but..
Review: The book was lacking something, but it had lots of useful information. It seems a bit misleading to me though. While it is a true asset to anyone practicing Wicca, it is not the Solitary's bible that people would have it played it up to be. However, what it -does- have is well written and and informative. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone, but not necessarily as a resource for a Solitary.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for neo-Wicca... but a bit too light and love...
Review: I'm a bit biased about this book - because about a decade ago when I first heard about 'Wicca' this was the first book I read, and it started me on the path. I still recommend it for beginners (those who know nothing like I did) - but there is still much lacking from it. For one, I think it introduces 'neo-Wicca' well enough... but will leave those with a more Traditional bend disappointed. I'd suggest going straight to the source for them - Gardner, Crowley, etc. (I don't like the Farrars or Buckland, personally, and I know that's like neo-pagan blasphemy - but oh well.) I also agree with the reviews that say Cunningham has been too watered down, and takes out all the un-PC aspects of Wicca. I also think a lot of people get the whole "Wicca is synonomous with Witch" from these books - which is NOT a good thing... but I think Ravelwolf is MUCH worse for that. Ultimately, still a bit too "New Age" and lite for my tastes... but a good place to start for solitaries, and much better than many of the other than many of the other Wicca 101 offerings. And maybe that's one reason why this book gets heralded as much as it does... look at the other options for beginners. Doesn't leave much to go to...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Guide For Beginners!
Review: Since I am completely new to the Wiccan path I realized that (obviously) I needed to study if I really wanted to take on this religion. This is the first book that I bought, which was only around five days ago. In this book their was great information that dragged me in. It had some wonderful basics that any beginner would need to know. For myself, I just found it amazingly helpful and I am very positive that Wiccan is the path I want. (My mother has given me the choice to pick any religion and she told me she would support me in any way.) One part of the book when it showed and told about an altar and it's layout was a nice touch. I also enjoyed the many symbols that I had no awareness of until after I had finished with this piece. I recommend this book for anyone who is trying to start off as a Wiccan or who wishes to just know more about it.
Rating:
Summary: Love it!
Review: Scott Cunningham's writing is easy to understand and is not "this is the truth and you'd better believe it". He is very liberal and understanding of people who were brought up in strict religions. He makes the transition to Wicca very easy. He is very "down to earth". Literally. I consult one or more of his books several times a week.
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