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Summary: Excellent Place for Solitary Pagans to Start
Review: This book is a great place to start if, like me, you live in an area where covens are well hidden or you prefer to practice your beliefs alone.
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Summary: It helps!
Review: I have just started my interest in this religion. I have read this book and it helped me to understand. It was easy to read and the first book I have read. If you are interested and are just starting out, read this book.
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Summary: Wonderful Start
Review: Great for those without access to covens. Good information and philosphys. Although if you are a complete beginner, one tip: don't beleive and immeadetly stick to everything in this book. Find out some things for yourself.
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Summary: A Superb Buy For Wiccans Of Any Age Or Experience
Review: BUY THIS BOOK! It is my ultimate source of knowledge in the Craft. It explains everything in detail, and contains everything you need to know before choosing your path, be it Wiccan/Druid, etc. I am a 16 year old Wiccan, and this book changed my life.
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Summary: Great For The Newly Interested
Review: What a great book! It's well organized - just look at the Table of Contents or the index, and you can find anything you want! It is one of the first books on the Craft that I read, and one of the few geared towards solitares! A wonderful reference for those who live in areas where others on the same path are scarce, and where an established coven is not readily available to teach them. It is written in a way that is comprehendable to both the experienced and the inexperienced Wiccan. From the basic altar set-ups and guideline Book of Shadows (which he even suggests adding to on your own) it is one of the few books that really lets the reader know that it is okay not to agree with everything it says. Cunningham himself attempts to give the reader the very important message that the reason Wicca appeals to so many is because of its ability to be tailored to the individual. A must-have in any Wiccan library! Bravo!
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Summary: This Book Changed My Life
Review: This is probably the best book ever written about American Wicca. Scott's down-to-earth but mystical style leads you through all the basics of Wiccan practice, and the information in the book is just as valuable for the advanced practitioner as it is for the novice. Anyone who thinks they have "outgrown" Scott needs to go back and re-read this one; you'll find your spirit filling with joy just as it did the first time you opened it. I recommend ALL of Scott's works.
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Summary: A Practical Guide for the Solitary Wiccan
Review: Mr. Cunningham has written a book for the Wiccan who is solitary either because s/he knows no existing local compatible covens, or because s/he has no compatible person with whom to practice Wicca. The book is very well-written. It is suitable for true beginners, but contains extensive detail making it valuable for the more advanced Wiccan.Mr. Cunningham's Wiccan philosophy differs from other Wiccan authors. Other authors stress Wiccan history, Wicca's established rituals, coven membership benefits, and the apprenticeship required before Wiccan initiation. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy emphasizes attitude rather than organization. Specifically, Mr. Cunningham discusses specific Wiccan beliefs and goals: belief in the Goddess and God; concern for the Earth; social consciousness; and the right not to be dominated by others. He states that sincere living and supporting these Wiccan beliefs is more important than perfect performance of dogmatic rituals: "Ineffective ritual kills spirituality." This philosophy seems trivial, but it mirrors (British philosopher) Bertrand Russell's statements that ethics are more important than religious dogma. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy is very relevant to individuals who have fled the dogma of organized religions and who seek a more personal form of worship within Wicca. Mr. Cunningham's approach offers much flexibility. A sincere practitioner can perform their own Wiccan initiation or have no initiation. Brutal physical ordeals are not required within an initiation rite. An initiation rite uses spiritual tools (chanting, visualization, meditation, etc.) to achieve ritual states of consciousness. The book's first section discusses Wiccan Theory. This section discusses the Deities; Magick and Magickal Tools; Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar; the Days of Power (Sabbats and Esbats); and Reincarnation (a topic not discussed in other Wiccan books). The Deity discussion includes both the Goddess and God, and also the minor deities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.). The Magick discussion differentiates between the types of magick performed by magickians and shamans, and Wiccan magick: "Wiccans don't perform destructive, manipulative, or exploitive magic." The discussion of Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar describes ritual preparation in detail. Mr. Cunningham's book contains a Wiccan color chart (pg. 50) that I found both unique and interesting. The Wiccan color chart differs *greatly* from the West Coast "popular culture" color scheme so widely propagated by the entertainment industry. For example, in the Wiccan color chart Black signifies protection, the Universe, and lack of falsehood. In the popular culture color scheme Black symbolizes evil. Many individuals misinterpret Wicca's symbolic use of the color Black with *unfortunate* consequences. The book's second section covers Wiccan Practice, and discusses exercises and magickal techniques, self-dedication, and ritual design. Exercises include breathing, meditation, and visualization. The Self-Dedication Section presents a self-dedication ritual, and (pg. 89) also encourages solitary Wiccans to participate in community activities that are compatible with Wiccan goals. The Ritual Design Section shows how the solitary Wiccan can modify the book's rituals to better meet their own philosophies and goals. The book's third section is a Book Of Shadows. It includes collections of rituals, invocations, and recipes; and a guide to using herbs, plants, crystals, symbols and runes in Wiccan ritual. The discussion of Sabbat and Esbat rituals is especially detailed. The book contains Appendices listing suppliers and publications. A Glossary is included. An extensive Suggested Reading List organized by Pagan/Wiccan topic also is included. Mr. Cunningham is an excellent author, provides excellent detail concerning Wicca and its rituals, and provides a practical approach to Wiccan worship. His approach allows the solitary Wiccan to support community activities compatible with Wiccan goals while not being dominated by religious dogma. This nice and valuable book is useful both for the true Wiccan beginner and also for the more advanced Wiccan.
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Summary: What are you waiting for ?
Review: If you're a beginner, click ADD TO MY BASKET, if you're not click ADD TO MY BASKET; in any case you'll not regret it. He's no longer amongst us in phisical shape but he left us a pletora of good books and thoughts.
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Summary: The FAQ on Wicca!
Review: Even though Wicca has no "Bible" or "Koran" it has several simple rules. This book not only introduces people in remote areas the basics, but gives some insight on the difference that exist amongst fellow Wiccans. Although it does glorify Wicca to a point if you follow up this book with Cunningham's secound book, you'll find a good complete view on Wicca (don't get me wrong, read as much as you can, we are always learning new things!) But Cunningham has done an excellent job!
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Summary: Great Beginner's Guide
Review: Being relatively new to the Wiccan faith, I find Cunningham's works to be excellent places to start for those just beginning to exploring Wicca. I can see where his style may not be viewed as 'worthwhile' to someone already steeped in the Craft, but this book (and his others) aren't really aimed at the already-initiated. He often says that if the reader truly feels that the Wiccan path is the right one, you should read all you can about it, and not just take his word on Wicca as "gospel", no pun intended. As I delve further into it, I intend to explore other authors' viewpoints on both Witchcraft and Wicca, but I heartily endorse Cunningham to anyone wishing to get started, to find out if Wicca is the way for you.
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