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Summary: A Look into Our Wiccan History!.............
Review: ...........Raven Grimassi searches out our Pagan origins and traces them back to the Old Religion of Europe. The book begins with an actual tracing of the Wiccan Mysteries from Celtic Britain, back to ancient Gaul, to the Romans, the Etruscans, the Greeks, to the ancient Minoans, and finally to the far south of Europe. It was here, during the Neolithic Period of Old Europe where Wicca had it religious origins.The book analyzes, in an in-depth fashion, the Old Ways from a variety of different angles, looking into basic principles and beliefs, sacred texts, Wiccan deities, the Watchers, cycles of rebirth, planes of existence, psychic centers, magical arts, rites, the Celts, Mystery traditions, and more. Often Grimassi shows us the Neo-Wiccan belief or practice alongside the Old belief or practice and carefully analyzes the similarities and changes and possible reasons for them. I found this reading so valuable and different from other books I've read on Wicca because Grimassi has really made an attempt to show us our history and clarify for us the circumstances under which the Old Ways were developed and how and why they have evolved. Additionally, I feel that I've developed a greater feeling of pride in myself as a Wiccan (even though I do not specifically follow the Wiccan Mysteries) because I see our rich history and have a better understanding of my faith. I think books such as this one also give a certain "legitimacy" to Wicca that is, of course, always deserved, but not always shown us. Therefore, when non-Wiccans read this book, they will have a clearer understanding of what it means to be a Wiccan. This will hopefully reduce prejudices against Pagans in general. This book really is a must for anyone wanting to better understand the origins of Wicca and the Wiccan Mysteries. This book is well researched and very readable. However, if you are looking for spells or rituals this is not the book to buy (try Starhawk or Scott Cunningham).
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Summary: No mystery is closed to an open mind
Review: As someone who has studied and practiced the Craft for over two decades, and has read more books on the subject than my house can hold, I have never before encountered a book of such depth. Grimassi deals with subjects no other book on the Craft has even comes close to scratching the surface on. Grimassi explores the meaning of classic Wiccan verses, and provides the reader with enlightening spiritual insights. As with all books written by this author, the research is very sound. Grimassi provides a balance for reader by quoting the works of scholars that are highly revered and those whose theories are uncoventional. This helps the reader come to his or her own conclusions. Grimassi goes into great depth on the origins of the god and goddess concepts in Wicca, as well the historical evolution of Wiccan concepts. He also explores women's and men's mysteries, drawn from reliable anthropological stuides. Unfortunately there will be those readers who are not yet unable to understand the mysteries in Wicca. The mysteries guard and protect themselves from those whose emotional and mental maturity is not ready to receive them. For such readers this book will seem like another pseudo-pagan potboiler.
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Summary: one of the best, one of the worst...
Review: During the first half of this book I was mentally composing a letter to the author begging him to take me in as a student. By the end of the book I was contemplating what childhood trauma would lead him to such warped ideas about men, women, and sex. I was enticed by the fact that Grimassi believes in passing on knowledge without watering it down or letting the student pick and choose. It makes perfect sense that (regardless of the history of Wiccan theology) we should pass down the knowledge in order to preserve it. There is always room for exploration later. I also liked that he believes that the taboos against drug use and sex in ritual stem from Judeo-Christian neurosis. I was so sick of reading some "say no to drugs" Pat Robertson crap in my beginner Wiccan books. Same goes for sex. Not everything has to be symbolic! So why do I end up dialing the men in white coats? Well, I didn't mind that Grimassi believes that everything Celtic originated in old europe and that he keeps going back to Italy. I'm not so concerned myself with the "true" origins of Wicca. I think that the religion is new and the ideas old. This seems to be the author's take too. But I started to tire of his continual insistance that everything is Italian. Finally he just started speculating (with a bunch of sources to back him up) on what "people" were doing in neolithic times. He proposed that women completely controlled men's sexuality, completely controlled the transition to agriculture, and even went so far as to say that women created taboos against sex with close family members so that the men would be willing to go to the hunt and wouldn't be jealous. Hmmm. How about the fact that incest doesn't make for great evolution! Also, he keeps complaining about how men's sexuality isn't honored in our modern society, but then paints a picture of our male ancestors as having so little control over their urges that women had to take control. I saw a good deal of hatred for women (ie. they control everything) and hatred for men (they need to be controlled). Then I really lost it when he said that before "we" were bipedal sex was always from the back and that's why men like to gawk at women today. Well, "we" were never bipedal, because then "we" wouldn't be "we". I could go on and on but I'll spare you! Worth the read for the great knowledge he imparts on magic.
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Summary: Good info, bad history
Review: For those who want to take their magick a bit fruther this is the book to get. Although its too simple for the more advanced this book is wonderful for those who are just beginning to learn witchcraft/Wicca. this is also good for those who have studied Magick and Wicca but it still is aimed for the beginner. It is a very good book and well written. By the end of this book Raven Grimassi teaches a little bit on working with your dreams and creating a dream gate for those who are interested in this, than this will be a good primer for you.
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Summary: Same drivel in a new shiny package
Review: I agree with a number of previous reviewers. Grimassi stretches a poor understanding of historical context to fit into what he bounces between "wicca" and "witchcraft". Wicca is not an old religion, indeed it is not much of a religion at all. It has always lacked definite theology (what is the saying about ask three wiccans what they believe and you'll get four answers...) and Grimassi does more damage than good by presenting historical materials is non-scholarly lights. In fact, the book is poor on all accounts. From confused terminology to "chopping" of source materials. This is a waste of money.
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Summary: Same drivel in a new shiny package
Review: I agree with a number of previous reviewers. Grimassi stretches a poor understanding of historical context to fit into what he bounces between "wicca" and "witchcraft". Wicca is not an old religion, indeed it is not much of a religion at all. It has always lacked definite theology (what is the saying about ask three wiccans what they believe and you'll get four answers...) and Grimassi does more damage than good by presenting historical materials is non-scholarly lights. In fact, the book is poor on all accounts. From confused terminology to "chopping" of source materials. This is a waste of money.
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Summary: The view from Colleges and Cauldrons
Review: I found this book to be an excellent presentation of the author's theory on how the basic beliefs and practices of modern Wicca/Witchcraft are rooted in the ancient mystery traditions of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. He theorizes that the essence of these sects were carried by the Roman legions into northern Europe (where they mixed with indigenous Celtic beliefs). Grimassi makes the interesting point that in the lands that the Romans did not conquer, we do not find the same core beliefs as are found in those they did conquer).
The Wiccan Mysteries may well be among the most misunderstood books available today. From reading other reviews I think part of the problem lies with readers who either have a personal issue with the author or with the cords he strikes in his excellent writings.
One reviewer remarks that Grimassi proposes that women completely controlled men's sexuality and created taboos against sex with close family members so that the men would be willing to go to the hunt and wouldn't be jealous. Actually, if you read the book, he is referring to anthropological studies that draw those conclusions. It's not his idea, it's a reference to academic research.
The accusation is made by one reviewer that Grimassi demonstrates "a good deal of hatred for women" and "hatred for men" which is ridiculous (and appears to be a misguided attempt at purposeful character assassination). The reviewer's remark that "he said that before we were bipedal sex was always from the back and that's why men like to gawk at women today" actually comes from a cited anthropological study, and again we find a misguided attempt at character assassination. If someone has a problem with the anthropological views, take it up with the authors cited by Grimassi. Grimassi is simply referring to published academic views.
Another complaint posted by a reviewer is that Grimassi continually insists that everything originated in Italy (or has Italian roots). This is again a misguided view, as Grimassi simply traces "Aegean/Mediterranean" origins of various Craft beliefs and practices to the Romans who brought such things to the lands they conquered to occupied. Aegean/Mediterranean beliefs are drawn from Greece, Egypt, and Rome (with earlier extended roots into Old Europe). Italy is only a small part or Grimassi's references.
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Summary: Edifying
Review: Let me start by saying that I have a couple decades of Wicca and Witchcraft under my belt. Because I go against the grain, I am not talking out my..... well, lets just say that I have some knowledge of the workings of both and know the history and people who were part of the making of that history. I disagree with Ravens approach and offer suggestions as to why this is. Please do you own research to verify what I am saying. Raven tries very hard to link Wicca with something very old when in fact Wicca is something very new. Wicca, as a form of Neo-Paganism, did not exist before the 1940's when a man named Gerald Gardner put together bits and pieces of things (Ceremonial Magick, Free Masonry, Rosicrucians, OTO, etc.. .) and made a workable system based on the writings of Leland and Murray (of which she was later discredited by her peers). Gardner didn't even stick with cultural context when he birthed Wicca, using Cernunnos the Horned Pan-Celtic God with Aradia, The Italian Strega Queen of Witches. The word Wicca wasn't even used to describe the craft before the 1960's and was used to differentiate Gardners and Sanders traditions from the already practiced Trad Witchcraft and Fam-Trad Witchcrafts that were in existence before their time. Gardner didn't even use the word Wicca to describe his path. He used the word Witchcraft. Raven has done a lot of work, yes. He has also done a lot of stretching to get the pieces to fit too. His work does have merit, but is not factual in that one must be able to differentiate between the practices of Traditional Witchcraft and the Neo-Pagan Wicca. Big Difference. Search for Traditional Witchcraft on the web. You will find out quickly that Witchcraft is different from Wicca. If you want the real story on the history of >Wicca<, study the writings of Gardner and Valiente, study their history. Read Geralds BOS and get an understanding of just how fragmented his system was and how it evolved with the help of Valiente. Know that what is practiced today as Wicca is more ceremonial magick in practice than it is pagan in origin. I hope this will spur the reader to do their own digging and find out the real story. Peace.
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Summary: Bravo!
Review: This book is a thoughtful and detailed examination of the basic themes one finds incorporated into modern Wicca. The focus of this work details how the various elements found in modern Wicca also appear in many ancient civilizations, particularly Greece, Etruria, and Rome. It is the author's opinion that many pagan elements associated with modern Wicca were introduced, or at the very least influenced, by the Romans as they expanded into lands formerly held by the Celts. This is not an unreasonable theory, especially when one considers that Celtic lands were held by Rome for over 200 years. Unlike many modern writers, Grimassi does not avoid controversial material such as the theories of Margaret Murray. Despite those things worthy of discredit in Murray's thesis, there still remains a "core of truth" in her material, as was noted by the respected historian Carlo Ginzburg. Regarding Murray's claims, it is worthy of note to include a statement by historian Gustav Henningsen, in Early Modern European Witchcraft, that there existed in Sicily a "particularly archaic form of Witch-belief, almost identical with the 'witch-cult' that Margaret Murray attempted to demonstrate." Some reviewers here, who apparently took little time other than to skim read this book, have tried to paint Grimassi as alternating between grasping at straws and demonstrating episodes of a self-congratulatory nature. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book is very well researched and supported by the quoted works of many highly respected historians and folklorists. Curiously the critics of this book have conveniently failed to mention these authorities but have instead elected to address only the controversial ones. One reviewer here claims that the Wiccan Mysteries is not the type of book the neo-pagan community wants. However, since this book is in its 5th printing and has won several awards, I think this speaks of the book's popularity and wide acceptance by the community. If you're tired of poorly researched books, and the "traditions-of-the-month" variety, then you owe it to yourself to read this book. One word of caution though, this book needs to be read more than once to fully comprehend it. This is not the typical light and fluffy Wicca book.
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Summary: Award Winning!!
Review: This book was awarded "BOOK OF THE YEAR" and "BEST SPIRITUALITY BOOK" by the Coalition of Visionary Retailers at the International New Age Trade Show in Denver, 1998. After reading Wiccan Mysteries it is easy to understand why. The author goes into more depth in this single volume on Wicca, as a religion and a spirituality, than can be found in dozens of other Wicca books today. Grimassi covers the essential basics of Wicca, but unlike other Wiccan authors others who stop there, he goes on to introduce the reader to a vast store of pre-Christian European paganism. Grimassi excels at presenting the inner teachings of the Mystery Tradition as it appears in modern Wicca. Grimassi devotes an entire chapter to exploring the inner meanings of such Wiccan texts as THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS and THE LEGEND OF THE DESCENT. It is here, as in other parts of the book, that Grimassi demonstrates the rich spiritual tradition of modern Wicca. Unlike the majority of Wicca books, this one does not fall into the "making up Wicca as you go along" variety. Instead, Grimassi uses reliable historical and ethnographical sources to back up his claims. The bibliography itself contains almost 100 reference works (many of which are University Press books) reflecting the views of such noted individuals as Joseph Campbell, Carlo Ginzberg, Georg Luck, Larissa Bonfante, and Bengt Ankarloo. To sum up, Wiccan Mysteries is a pearl that has finally surfaced amidst the endless fluff and nonsense so prevalent in Wicca books today. If you're serious about understanding Wicca, from the basics to the advanced levels, then this is the book for you.
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