Rating: 
Summary: A book on Spellcraft that is actualy Wiccan
Review: After reading a dozen books on spells, this is the first that I found had something to do with Wicca. Sexist? Well yes if you think that men having testicles and women having breasts is sexist. But to any Wiccan male that has accepted the simple fact that men and women are different, this book is right on. Reclaim that which swings between your knees and read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Really good book!
Review: First off I wanted to give A.J. Drew a lot of credit for he actually helped me find my path agian. However I would like to bring something up with an earlier review that tried to call A.J. cruel? In what way? Because he's direct and speaks from his heart which isn't always pretty but tells you how things really are? Get real man.
Another thing, I'm sorry but TRUE musk oil does indeed come from an animal and ALL magic involves maniplation in one way or another whether you choose to admit it or not. Whether for good or bad is how you look upon it.
Anyway enough with bashing lovey dove New Agers. It's a good book and I recommend it for the beginner or those who might have lost the meening that the craft really is.
Rating: 
Summary: USELESS
Review: I found this book absolutely useless. And I am a Man.
Rating: 
Summary: An OK book. Some good points and bad.
Review: I liked this book, but I liked the first one, Wicca For Men much better. It appears that this book is highly sexist, almost making you feel like you are back in the arms of male-dominated Christianity. It does have some good points in it, but a lot of it is simply the author's personal opinion about things. First of all, I don't really get the whole male/female thing, seeing as how the spirit is neither male or female at all. I believe that men have just as much Goddess in them than women.
I also disagreed with the author on certain points, one of which was astral projection. He describes astral projection as being nothing more than exploring your mind (almost like dreaming), where as I believe that astral projection is actually the leaving of the body. Ofcourse, he is certainly entitled to his opinion on everything. I also did not like how he calls other people "stupid" and "gullible". That was one part of the book that really urked me.
However, apart from sexism and arrogance, this book does have a nice selection of oil recipes as well as incenses.
An OK book, but I would recommend the first one much more.Blessed Be!...
Rating:
Summary: Maybe I am backwards
Review: I read this book this afternoon / evening after reading Wicca for Couples (same author) the night before. I am absolutely hooked. It's like this, I work for a living & life isn't always easy. I look at the kids I see at the local pagan book shop & coffee house and all I see huge volumes of people that are completely misserable in thier lives thinking burning a green candle will make it all better. This is the first book that I have ever read on the subject that tells you that no, just burning a green candle won't bring you money. That spellcraft is indeed a method of improving ones life, but without hard work it just isn't going to happen. Why? Well because the laws of spellcraft are natural laws and nature simply insists that you do something for your rewards. To sum up, if you want to live in fantasy land and confuse playing Dungeons and Dragons with religion and spellcraft, don't read this book. But if you are willing to work for what you have, this will do your heart good.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe I am backwards
Review: I read this book this afternoon / evening after reading Wicca for Couples (same author) the night before. I am absolutely hooked. It's like this, I work for a living & life isn't always easy. I look at the kids I see at the local pagan book shop & coffee house and all I see huge volumes of people that are completely misserable in thier lives thinking burning a green candle will make it all better. This is the first book that I have ever read on the subject that tells you that no, just burning a green candle won't bring you money. That spellcraft is indeed a method of improving ones life, but without hard work it just isn't going to happen. Why? Well because the laws of spellcraft are natural laws and nature simply insists that you do something for your rewards. To sum up, if you want to live in fantasy land and confuse playing Dungeons and Dragons with religion and spellcraft, don't read this book. But if you are willing to work for what you have, this will do your heart good.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't Even Diserve 1 Star
Review: Okay, now, I know that I am in the minority here. But...I really did not like this book at all. Not because it wasn't about 'spells,' because that's not why I bought it. But, because it seemed so full of contempt, just plain arrogance & 'meaness' (and this from a man who'd queried, 'Where's the love in Wicca' in a later text, yet seems to be unable to demonstarte it himself; hypocracy is unbecoming, especially when it only serves the Anti-Fluffy Fundie fringe, allowing them to pat themselves on their back). He left me feeling, which gives me pause for the concern of other self-identified Wiccans, that if you don't believe as A.J. does than you are really fooling yourself and are not 'a real Wiccan' (eg., a 'playgan'). And, that is why I so strongly object to this particular book. He fills this book with insults such as calling people 'gullible,' 'simpletons,' and saying that if they believe a certain Wiccan 'tenets' that they 'must have checked their reality at the door' (sic.) He presumes that various common Traditional Wiccan beliefs are not Wiccan at all!
A.J. also makes a number of factual errors which could result in the loss of businesses whom sell either real Musk Oil or Strawberry Oil (perhaps Pagan owned & operated; it is also note worthy that he owns his own Pagan supply store!). He states that Musk Oil involves the killing of an animal, and I know to be false (it is no longer mandatory that the animal be harmed). Although, cosmetic companies have since replaced authentic Musk Oil in their products with Musk Ambrette Oil, which bears a similar scent (and is just as expensive). He also warns his readers to avoid sellers which sell real Strawberry Oil, because, as he tells it, there is no such thing. This is also false! Strawberry Oil is pressed from the skins and seeds of strawberries (though it may not necessarily smell like 'strawberries').
He even backs up one of his claims that it's alright to perform manipulative magick (regardless) using one of Scott Cunningham's incense recipes: Business Incense (which can be found on page 61 of Scott's "Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews"), because 'the sense of smell is connected to the brain,' saying that Scott wrote that this incense is to be smoldered near an open window to attract customers. Well, this statement is entirely false, as Scott Cunningham never included such an 'instruction' in his brilliant book. I checked this out for myself, as it sounded odd to me that I didn't recall reading such a direct instruction in Cunningham's book, or I would have surely remembered it.
Over all, this book seemed incredibly belligerent, which is quite a divorce from his previous book ("Wicca For Men"). I don't understand it, myself! And, I really didn't mind his last book, even though it was a bit dry. But, there's nothing wrong with that! However, there's absolutely no need for such name-calling, and a book on spiritual practices certainly is not the place for them, IMNSHO. Be well, and take this review for what it's woth, just a review after having read this particular book. I was absolutely upset when I read all of nasty words that were being thrown around. Granted, I will fight for freedom of speach until my dying breath, but...he could have DEFINATELY written this book without all the insults!!! SERIOUSLY!!! He could have gotten his point accross completely unaided by such words as "simpletons," and much worse... So, please, take heart.
You know, it's just like he's really trying to make his grandparents suck eggs, and in a sort of defaming way (I've even heard that in his book regarding couples, he'd went about scathingly airing the Farrars' private business, and defaming Ray Buckland severely out-dated facts)! Highly unbecoming, imho... But, I skimmed through one of his titles, one day, and he'd dedicated it to his Goddess, Eris. And...looking back over his attitude and writings, his behaviour kinda' makes a little more sense, now! *shrugs* Though, this far from any sort of excuse, in the LEAST! Furthermore, it seems like he's purposely being controversial just to sell a product.
Rating:
Summary: Can you say wow?
Review: Quick and to the point, Drew points out that there are two distinctly different forms of Wicca available to the reader. He then presents a Wicca that you do not often see, one for non-fadists! Finaly, a book written by an author who doesn't confuse Dungeons and Dragons with heart felt religion and a desire to improve ones state of being. Perhapse the first book ever written on Wiccan Spellcraft that points out that spellcraft is a time honored and sacred tradition which can be used to improve the world in which we live. I have never felt as good about being Wiccan as I have since I read this book! Finaly, a book on Wiccan Spellcraft that doesnt make the reader seem like a child. Blessed be and live free!
Rating:
Summary: Can you say wow?
Review: Quick and to the point, Drew points out that there are two distinctly different forms of Wicca available to the reader. He then presents a Wicca that you do not often see, one for non-fadists! Finaly, a book written by an author who doesn't confuse Dungeons and Dragons with heart felt religion and a desire to improve ones state of being. Perhapse the first book ever written on Wiccan Spellcraft that points out that spellcraft is a time honored and sacred tradition which can be used to improve the world in which we live. I have never felt as good about being Wiccan as I have since I read this book! Finaly, a book on Wiccan Spellcraft that doesnt make the reader seem like a child. Blessed be and live free!
Rating:
Summary: A down to earth book that focuses more on the masculine side
Review: This book was a huge refresher from the majority of the wiccan books I have picked up. It seems that the majority of the wiccan specific books are written by females and I have found many slanted to the point of feminism to exclude but the slimmest positive mention of the masculine aspect, if not at times male bashing, talking about how horrible the males made society.
This book doesn't go into masculine vs. feminine... or the history of our culture. What it does though is fill in the areas that are soo often skipped over by the other books. It has a wonderful chapter on the Gods, a good review/introduction to spellcraft, great recipes for Oils/Incenses... and most importantly a great wealth of knowledge and experience that filled a spot for me that many books seemed to never mention.
This book should be in anyones reading list, it definately does not try to engulf all of the masculine aspect of the craft, as it is written less about the strictly masculine side then just about his view that wicca is a religion and not a fad and it is for men just as much as it is for woman, but I would recommend it full heartedly to anyone male/female or other.
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