Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft

Rating:
Summary: Must have book.
Review: If you're well past the more basic Wicca 101 books, and even have read some more "in-depth" or "intermediate" books on Witchcraft, this book is still set apart from all the rest.

More than a "how-to" (although Gramassi does give some instructions on various subjects I'll point out later) the author gives a depth to subjects many readers already know about.

You know that Witches use a chalice, athame, wand, and pentacle while practicing, but have you been able to make the historical connectrion as to why? Why do specific elements correspond to these tools? What exactly does a witch do BESIDES cast spells?

What makes a Witch? Who can become one? Is the Path of the Wise for you? Gramassi devotes more than just a chapter to these questions and some how-to's on where to get started. He details a ritual to guide you on your quest for knowledge in order to find out if Witchcraft is for you, and proceeds to take the next logical step in outlining a dedication ritual if you decide it is.

How do you go from a monotheistic religion to a polytheistic religion such as Witchcraft, without the awakward feeling of "abandoning" your religious roots? Gramassi also covers this, and is the one author I have found that does so in a helpful, positive way. In fact, he's the only author I have come across that actually discusses the issue.

This is truely a great book, especially for those who are looking into Witchcraft, and to those who need to be reminded of the spirtuality that drew them to it in the first place.

Rating:
Summary: The Next Step
Review: Unlike a number of other books on witchcraft, Spirit of the Witch is about the spirituality of witchcraft and the author, Raven Grimassi, takes us on a journey to discover the basic principles that unite all witches, our "commonality."

Ask any long-time witch and she will most likely tell you that spell-casting is but a small part of being a witch. We spend alot of our time doing "normal" things: dishes, laundry, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, and cursing at the computer. Spell-casting is usually set aside for occasions of great need.

Grimassi displays our strong connection with trees, stones, fire, and the natural world quite admirably given the non-comformiality of our character. Symbolic meanings are given for mytho-magical items such as the cauldron and the broom. There are also the meanings and the use of the tools of the Craft as well as dedications for each: the pentacle, wand, athame, and chalice. Nearly all of the basics of the Path are covered here.

So what makes a witch? Who is allowed to be a witch? As Grimassi well knows, the answer to those questions changes with each witch you ask. Despite this little glitch of ours, Grimassi walks the noble path of self-discovery and gives the reader an example of a dedication to perform.

White, grey, or black witches; the Sabbats, Solstices, and Equinoxes; responsibility for our own actions, and self-discipline are all discussed within the pages of this book.

After you have gotten your fill of spell-crafting and beginner's books, Spirit of the Witch offers the reader the next step into the realm of witchcraft.