Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft

Rating:
Summary: Egotistical and Overbearing
Review: Raymond bucland is an egotistical author claiming it was him that brought witchcraft to america. This book is terrible for a begginer and you should avoid it like the plague. if your goal is to form a facsit coven then this should be your handbook. you are better off with scott cunningham. the only good book by buckland is practical candle burning.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and Worthwhile
Review: This book is a very good overall look at the practice of Witchcraft. I found the questions and exams at the end of each lesson to be of special value, allowing the beginner to look back and keep their knowledge sharp. (Though I have studied for more than a decade, read many books and am a founder of a coven, and a teacher myself, I still found Buckland's book to be informative and use from it extensively in my teaching.)

I've read the other reviews of this book and found myself wondering if one or two reviewers even read the book. Buckland does tend to teach from the Celtic-Saxon tradition, as that is where his training and early study was focused. He does not, however, limit himself or the reader to that orientation, actively encouraging students and Witches to study many different traditions, as he has (including his own Seax Wicca tradition and his inherited Gypsy Tradition). One must begin somewhere, and this is an excellent first book for those who have gotten beyond the looking stage and are ready to learn the workings of the craft.

Special attention is paid to proper mechanics of casting a circle, "calling quarters" and many other things necessary for safe magick. There are lessons on herbs, dedication and initiation rites, coven work, and solitary practice. I highly recommend it to the beginner and teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Not impressed.
Review: I feel that this book is written well for a beginning pagan student but for my taste I prefer something a little less dry. I have been studying for 11 years now and when I bought this book I kicked myself because I felt like a twelve year old discovering my rebellious side.