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Rating: 
Summary: Totally Cool!
Review: Anyone interested in magick in any form should be careful with this volume. It contains many powerful spells, to be sure, but whenever you practice gray magick (any magick not solely focused on the good of all) you HAVE to consult an oracle such as tarot cards, I Ching, etc. And then whatever the oracle says will be your outcome, make your decision to perform the exercise or not and TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for your actions. Be full willing to take the heat for what you do, because no fooling it comes thrice back to thee.
Rating: 
Summary: For Witches...not Wiccans--WHAT!?!
Review: I have to disagree witch what the woman from Chicago said. She said that all that the wiccan books say is that we rant and rave about chistians and the fires of hell. Although I can't talk about all of the books, but of the books I have read they say that we sould respect all other religions. NOT put them down as she was saying. Anyway, back to the book. I thought most of it was good and it goes hand in hand with the rede. But some doesn't,But-hey nothin' is perfect. Some GREAT healing spells, good recipes. and many good spells. So overall, a good book for both witches and wiccans-even if it says it is for witches and not the Goddess and God aspect of wicca!
Rating:
Summary: The good outweighs the bad.
Review: I must disagree with the reader from Massachusetts who said "The spells in this book are useless to anyone who practices the Rede of Harm None." Granted, there are a few spells in this book which violate the Rede, however, it is unfair to put all of its spells into this category. I've read this book and while I don't agree with everything its author says, I've found that it does contains some wonderful healing spells and love spells, and much that can be used even by those who live according to the Wiccan Rede. There are also a number of spells to protect one against evil and psychic attack, and there certainly isn't any negative magick to be found in the Amulets and Talismans section of the Spellcasting Chapter. This book also has some very good (and interesting) Pagan recipes and directions for making sachets, incense, and candles. There is also an entire section on how to use herbs to heal various ailments. This may not be the best book on the market to accurately reflect the beliefs and practices of the average Wiccan, but in all fairness, it is far from being the worst.
Rating:
Summary: Great For Beginners & The More Advanced
Review: I started out with this book years ago and it is just as wonderful now as it was then. It's filled with many things that every witch should use and enjoy. Notice that I said witch, meaning in general and not necessarily Wiccan. If you are like me, you will study an explore all magic of all religions, in which case, this book would be great for you. Is is very heplful in many different ways and I recommend it to anyone interested or practicing witchcraft. Always, ~Tara~
Rating:
Summary: For Witches...not Wiccans--WHAT!?!
Review: This book, like _WiccaCraft_ is also an indispensible reference tool. I have a really old copy, so well-used and worn it is held together entirely by luck, magick and duct tape. The pages are dog-eared, stained with cake batter or spilled herb tea, highlighted, underlined and scrawled with notes, with mugwort or basil pressed between chapters, or torn bits of notebook paper or cash register recipts used as improptu pagemarkers here and there. My copy of this book is a mess, and there is a reason for this. It is in constant use. At least until it falls apart and I have to get a new copy. As a reference tool it is unsurpassed. Her recipes are delicious, although some of the wild ingredients might be hard to find if you're living in an urban environment. They are easily adapted for those who like to improvise on a given theme, or for those who prefer to use whole-grain or vegetarian ingredients, although for the most part they're already healthy. Her cake recipes may be successfully baked with whole grain _pastry_ flour, and/or using honey in place of sugar; I've done much experimenting with her "Esbat Cake", which I actually use for Sabbats and children's birthday parties. It is a big hit with children and adults alike, and made with whole grain pastry flour, honey, and yogurt, it is a light, moist, and richly flavored cake, perfect with either a whipped cream or light cream cheese frosting, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar over a lace doily. Back in the days when I was a Bright-Eyed Little Apprentice Witchling, my first teacher introduced me to this book. Since then, I've heard other new students complain that it doesn't give "enough" information on certain topics; yet I believe it was one of the most valuable learning tools I had. It is not, nor does it claim to be, a Complete Book of Everything You Need to Know to Become a Witch. Expecting that from _any_ book would be unwise on the part of any student or teacher. What it _is_ is one of the most excellent _supplemental_ texts I encountered during my own early training. The glossary in the back is a useful tool for any student, of course, as are the various reference lists for herbs and candle colors. Ample space is provided at the ends of recipes, spells and chapters for the student's questions, notes or their own spells and rituals. The resources in the back may be a little outdated (at least they are in my copy, which is older than dirt anyway) but nonetheless may prove useful to the student with the patience to shuffle through them, and take the time to write letters. The spells and rituals themselves provide excellent examples for the student to analyze. Ms. Dunwich does covers the Rede, but leaves it up to the student to interpret the rede and make responsible decisions in regard to ethics and spellcraft. Invocations and words of power are written in caps, making it easy for the student to study them independently should they choose. Her spells and rituals themselves provide an excellent learning opportunity for the student; my first teacher had me break them down and analyze them, then rewrite my own interpretations. The instructions for the spells provide plenty of room for improvisation, yet are clear and concise and complete as they are. She gives examples of a wide variety of spells, from simple folk-charms to elaborate ceremonies, to older rites no longer in popular use, and all provide a wealth of information to the truly interested and motivated student. In short, unlike so many mass-marketed spellbooks and texts, _Candlelight Spells_ is writen with the assumption that the reader has a brain and knows how to use it. This book makes an excellent supplemental text for students taking correspondence or online courses, workshop leaders, Wicca 101 or 201 teachers, or experienced Witches considering taking on an apprentice. Beyond study, this is a book that will get _used_. Some of the contacts and resources _are_ still around, the glossary is always helpful as are the correspondence listings, and, as mentioned before, the recipes are delicious. This isn't a one-time read-through book, this is a book that will become a companion and guide for the long haul. Pity it isn't available in a more durable hardcover. Thank the Gods for duct tape.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended As a Supplemental Text for Teachers and Students
Review: This book, like _WiccaCraft_ is also an indispensible reference tool. I have a really old copy, so well-used and worn it is held together entirely by luck, magick and duct tape. The pages are dog-eared, stained with cake batter or spilled herb tea, highlighted, underlined and scrawled with notes, with mugwort or basil pressed between chapters, or torn bits of notebook paper or cash register recipts used as improptu pagemarkers here and there. My copy of this book is a mess, and there is a reason for this. It is in constant use. At least until it falls apart and I have to get a new copy. As a reference tool it is unsurpassed. Her recipes are delicious, although some of the wild ingredients might be hard to find if you're living in an urban environment. They are easily adapted for those who like to improvise on a given theme, or for those who prefer to use whole-grain or vegetarian ingredients, although for the most part they're already healthy. Her cake recipes may be successfully baked with whole grain _pastry_ flour, and/or using honey in place of sugar; I've done much experimenting with her "Esbat Cake", which I actually use for Sabbats and children's birthday parties. It is a big hit with children and adults alike, and made with whole grain pastry flour, honey, and yogurt, it is a light, moist, and richly flavored cake, perfect with either a whipped cream or light cream cheese frosting, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar over a lace doily. Back in the days when I was a Bright-Eyed Little Apprentice Witchling, my first teacher introduced me to this book. Since then, I've heard other new students complain that it doesn't give "enough" information on certain topics; yet I believe it was one of the most valuable learning tools I had. It is not, nor does it claim to be, a Complete Book of Everything You Need to Know to Become a Witch. Expecting that from _any_ book would be unwise on the part of any student or teacher. What it _is_ is one of the most excellent _supplemental_ texts I encountered during my own early training. The glossary in the back is a useful tool for any student, of course, as are the various reference lists for herbs and candle colors. Ample space is provided at the ends of recipes, spells and chapters for the student's questions, notes or their own spells and rituals. The resources in the back may be a little outdated (at least they are in my copy, which is older than dirt anyway) but nonetheless may prove useful to the student with the patience to shuffle through them, and take the time to write letters. The spells and rituals themselves provide excellent examples for the student to analyze. Ms. Dunwich does covers the Rede, but leaves it up to the student to interpret the rede and make responsible decisions in regard to ethics and spellcraft. Invocations and words of power are written in caps, making it easy for the student to study them independently should they choose. Her spells and rituals themselves provide an excellent learning opportunity for the student; my first teacher had me break them down and analyze them, then rewrite my own interpretations. The instructions for the spells provide plenty of room for improvisation, yet are clear and concise and complete as they are. She gives examples of a wide variety of spells, from simple folk-charms to elaborate ceremonies, to older rites no longer in popular use, and all provide a wealth of information to the truly interested and motivated student. In short, unlike so many mass-marketed spellbooks and texts, _Candlelight Spells_ is writen with the assumption that the reader has a brain and knows how to use it. This book makes an excellent supplemental text for students taking correspondence or online courses, workshop leaders, Wicca 101 or 201 teachers, or experienced Witches considering taking on an apprentice. Beyond study, this is a book that will get _used_. Some of the contacts and resources _are_ still around, the glossary is always helpful as are the correspondence listings, and, as mentioned before, the recipes are delicious. This isn't a one-time read-through book, this is a book that will become a companion and guide for the long haul. Pity it isn't available in a more durable hardcover. Thank the Gods for duct tape.
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