To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft

Rating:
Summary: Definately aimed at younger readers
Review: So many of my pagan friends said they have read this book so I decided to pick up a copy to see what all the fuss is about. Ravenwolf's book is good and in some ways motivating, but it is definately a book aimed at the 15-25yr old crowd, as well as the "dress in black and cast spells on my ex-boyfriend" crowd. Although it gives a decent introduction to the science of withcraft it deals very little(to not at all) of the religion or witchcraft. A young beginner in Wicca might come away from this book saying she is a Witch and, oh yes, she worships the Goddess and God without really understanding what this means or who the Goddess really is. I one is going to read this book, If would suggest supplimenting it with Starhawk's The Spiral Dance which includes two chapters on the nature and worldview of witchcraft as well as two thourough chapters on the Goddess and God; or with Scott Cunningham's Wicca which is a little more religion-oriented. Otherwise, an okay work, but definatly not a stopping point.

Rating:
Summary: Fluff.
Review: I am currently a begginer in the craft,and I have read 3 books:The Spiral Dance by Starhawk,Teen Witch and To ride a silver broomstick both by silver ravenwolf.I found parts of this book useful,and other parts,well,fluff.I would recomend this book for a beginer only if read with other books,and taken with a grain of salt.I felt that the God and the Goddess weren't mentioned enough and too much focus was placed on the magical aspects of the craft,which could lead some to think that this is what wicca is about,and adds to the impression aome people have that this beautiful religion is imaginary.Over all,there were some useful ideas in this book,but there was also a lot of fluff.

Rating:
Summary: Good information about science and technology, not religion.
Review: I don't even know where to start, sometimes when I was reading the book, I felt as if the author was the sweetest friend guiding me along in my spiritual path and other times I felt like I was talking to a friend who thought they knew everything. This book almost doesn't seem like an introduction, she kind of jumps into things, like if she is already expecting us to have some basic knowledge of the craft. She explains and defines so many things, yet doesn't speak about other common things like trancework or even fairies really. This book gives poor information about rituals and how to perform them. If you are new to the craft, you may have to read more material, just to practice any ritual. She gives pretty good information about some types of magick, yet doesn't even get into other types of magick which she admits in the end. Her information on Tattwas is poor, i'm not sure she should have even put that in there. She doesn't give the best information about travelling into the astral plane either, she just kind of talks as if you just have to let your body go and take it back, well, it's not that easy and that explanation isn't the greatest if you are new. The biggest problem I had with the book is that she defines so much, yet doesn't explain how to do them. In some things, such as the tarot, she does. Yet others, like graphology and fascination she doesn't. She doesn't consider religious prejudice much, and she doesn't consider the fact not everyone can create permanent sacred space or do all the horribly impractical and inconvienient things she says she does. I don't like how she talks about gems. She speaks about them as if they are a quarter to buy, gee whiz, some are hundreds of dollars, and to her, if you lose them, it's for a good reason. If I ever lost a diamond, I would lose it! She also doesn't seem to consider that not everyone who reads the book is going to practice the religion, i'm sure there are many who are just wishing to learn about the religion, and not everyone may stray off to other magickal religions as she says. Some reading it may not even consider pracitcing it and could be Christians for all she knows, but I doubt it? In some parts of this book she seems to only be speaking to women, doesn't she realize there are guys out there too like me who are interested. She is usually pretty fair about the gender thing and doesn't blab like Starhawk, but I felt in some places she was directing the book directly to women, but I could be wrong. I am going to defend this book though, for those people who think she makes the religion look foolish with full of fairies, you are wrong. She is pretty straightfoward about some things, so you are pretty wrong. About the deer thing, get over it, to me she wasn't really breaking the Wiccan Rede, because they were going to use the meat to feed their family. And I have read complaints from people who say there are two many spells in this book, wrong! There are no spells, just like only two full rituals from what I remember and some magickal tid bits which are not spells. Although I have a lot of complaints, this is a good book that keeps you on your toes and does give you the information you need to continue on to further study, that's why I gave it four stars, but if you really want to practice rituals soon, you may want to start somewhere else, but otherwise it is a good, interesting, and informative book!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Another must-have for a Wiccan bookshelf
Review: Silver RavenWolf's straight to the point, no nonsense style of writing is refreshing. Her use of personal stories to make a point gives a personal touch to all of her writing.

Rating:
Summary: Most informative book I've ever read
Review: This book teaches you everything you need to know about the Craft. This book gave me the confidence to believe in my work in the Craft. It's good for people in a Coven or a solitary practitionar. Silver RavenWolf is one of the best teachers I've come across. This book is perfectly fit especially if you're just starting out and know nothing of the Craft. But if you don't like assignments, don't buy it. You have to have self-discipline to do the assignments in order to learn the best from this book. Good Luck!!

Rating:
Summary: Great reference and study guide!
Review: When asking the first witch I ever met what book she would recommend me starting off with for my intro to the Craft she gave me her copy of this book to read. Later since my stay was short she bought me my own copy. It has helped me delve even further into a world that until recently I never really knew was so vast. Even Silver knows the importance of using the vairety of books offered since she includes a list of reading at the end of every chapter. This is a definite for a starter book up to advanced.

Rating:
Summary: I think it was a great book for new people to the craft
Review: I think that "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" was an excellect book to teach people about wicca. The author was informantive and very personnal w/ her past experiences. It is now my favorite wiccan book.

Rating:
Summary: Clear and concise, very captivating!
Review: This is the first book of Wicca I have ever read. As a person begining in Witchcraft, I found it extremely motivating and uncomplicated for a beginers book. Although I didn't neccessarily enjoy all the requested writing she suggested, I am still delighted.

Rating:
Summary: A very down to earth way of starting off the little witches.
Review: I was very intrigued by the very everyday way Mrs. Ravenwolf delivered her teachings. I have read the teachings of Mr. Ramond Buckland, and his style is about as stiff as an old moldy board! This was my first time even daring to read anything like this(I had a christian up bringing). I am well satisfied with the way she is trying to bring up witchcraft beginners. I also like her annotations (hey, I'm a person all for gossip!). Keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book for the Beginner in Wicca
Review: I have been in the Craft almost 2 years now. This was my very first book on Wicca. I was not disappointed. Silver is now my favorite Wiccan author. To Ride a SilverBroomstick is now my reference book. Thank you Silver and Blessed Be.