Summoning Forth Wiccan Gods and Goddesses: The Magick of Invocation and Evocation

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: Very neat book, if you are intrested in communing with divinity, ANY divinity i would reccomend it....however! I have a few complaints 1. the author makes refrence twice to something called "left-shift" i have no idea what this is, i tried researching it, found nothing, i have asked magickal practioners with 30+ years of experience and they have no clue. I wish she would have explained what she meant! 2. Although she "bashes" Bardon and ceremonial magickians i can look past that. However she is blatantly wrong on Bardon doing enochian, ask a Bardon student about enochian and they will most likely laugh at it. Bardon teaches evocation but not enochian!! If she would fix those two problems than i would give her five stars.

Also it seems she was abused or has had "problems" from her past. a bit of the work seems as if everyone should have emotional problems. I understand the need to purify the self to invoke, however self transformation is better than energy exercises and doll making any day! I would say if you got Bardons first book initiation into hermetics got to step 3 (step 5 would be best but hey!) than you can do this work. Another good book for this work would be undoing yourself with energized meditation and other devices by Dr Christopher S Hyatt. Just MHO.

Rating:
Summary: Good, solid book...with one flaw
Review: "Summoning forth the Wiccan Gods and Goddesses" is a solid manual for doing just that. A large portion of the book is made up of psychic preperation for the actual rituals. This is important, since the technique described here involves actual communication with dieties, which requires a psyche that is both unfettered by old traumas and open to the Universe. Common sense and experience permeate the work, as does the assumtion that all people have the right to directly communicate with the dieties. That being said, it is unfortunate to have to point out this book's major flaw. An intolerance of other religions, and a refusal to evaluate them outside of the author's framework, creeps through this book and adds to it a combative undertone that is totally inappropriate. The main point of her criticism of other faiths is that they deny the sacredness of the flesh, and that many of the world's holy books constitute "viscious, world hating manifestos". To properly evaluate the attitude of the "major" religions toward the mundane world would require a book of its own. With many, especially the myriad religions lumped under the classification of "Hinduism", the question is far from a simple either-or proposition. In any case, the book is about how to summon Wiccan dieties, not the benefits of yoga or lack thereof. As an adjucnt to the above objection, the author states quite unequivacably that "Ceremonial (Enochian) Magick doesn't work". First, the terms "Ceremonial" and "Enochian" Magick are not interchangeable. Enochian Magick is a very difficult, somewhat dangerous, form of magick which falls under the umbrella of Ceremonial Magick, but is by no means the only variety. Again, the topic is far too intricate to get into its finer points here. It should be stated, however, that the author presents very little evidence for her thesis other than a very bad experience with a con-artist posing as a real Magus. As for the argument against such feats of metaphysical athleticism as "invisibility" I would encourage any interested to seek out the Rose Cross Ritual, which does indeed confer a species of invisibility when performed correctly. Even with this flaw, this is a very good book. The irony is that the beginning work for the techniques described seems to inavdertantly follow the advice of a renowned Ceremonial Magician. Israel Regardie, a student of Crowley himself, suggested that anyone interested in Magick should undergo a program of psychotherapy before embarking on the path. The intent of psychotherapy is precisely the intent of the poppet exercise: to release old trauma and become a healthier participant in life. There is much to learn from this book, and it would be unfortunate to miss out on its benefits because its occaisionally antagonistic tone. Perhaps, in future edtions, such comments and biases could be editited out. Until then, brace yourself and read with an eye for the diamond in the rough that this book has to offer.

Rating:
Summary: I was starting to doubt my ability to be a real "Wiccan"...
Review: But this book came in the nick of time. For a few months I've been reading all the "required" beginning Wicca books, and even some more advanced ones. They all very beautifully talk about Drawing Down the Moon, bringing Goddess into the sacred circle, calling on God during the casting of a spell. I love the idea of nature worship and knowledge of the gods, but as a former Christian I really didn't "GET" how to "make it happen." I'd meditate, call on the Goddess, and it was never the connection I long for. THIS BOOK takes you from the very beginning to the "how" of God/Goddess Worship. How to create a state of real connection and belief. Not a lot of formula and rules--Rhea trusts that you know yourself better than "The Almighty Author" might. I somehow..."trust" Rhea as an author, and truly feel that with this book I was handed the key I so desperately needed. I was truly beginning to doubt my ability to be a real "Wiccan," with all the webweaving of belief, connection & self-understanding that is implied. This book is the breath of fresh air I needed.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Important Book
Review: I have read the other reviews and I am very disappointed in the ones who think that this is a bad book. This book has worked wonders for my 2nd circle students. This is one of the few books that i have found that actually get the reader ready with exercises to invoke.

I'm also impressed with the way that it covers Invoking and evoking. For students who have not been exposed to both concepts this book explains and gives exercises to get one ready for each. It gives them a basis of what to expect. I do, however agree that this book is not for beginners. I don't believe that beginners should be invoking period. I also must say that the feeling of invoking a deity is different for everyone. I do not go to another place. I am here but a presence has come within me, inside of me.

I was relieved to find someone who also saw deity the way that I do. nit to offend anyone who worships a Goddess because I do but Deity does NOT have a gender. I have read countless books that tell me that I can not inoke a male God because I am a female and that is ridiculous. I've been doing it for 14 years and it's never hurt me. There are many different Gods and Goddesses. The some Greek Gods are alot more feminine than some female Sumerian Goddesses so the difference isn't the gender, it is the person calling and who they are.

All in all I would definately suggest this book to anyone who has studied the basics of witchcraft and wishes to move on.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: I really enjoy this book,especially the fact that she explains how to get ready for an invocation.

Rating:
Summary: A ver bad book on evocation
Review: In this book you have to do a lot of prepare work but you get results. I haven't tryed her techniques yet but she covers things beautifully.

Rating:
Summary: I was starting to doubt my ability to be a real "Wiccan"...
Review: The book is a fair account of one priestesses experiences. These experiences are no doubt shared by her and her coven and other covens and groups as well. I believe she is honest in her presentation and in her intent but in this honesty there is revealed a sad pathology that is actually a mirror image of the ones she condemns for having been abused and as a result created systems and constructs to deal with their lack of control. She has but to look in the mirror. She contradicts herself in her presentation of what she makes appear on the surface to be an acceptance of other faiths and belief systems and makes note of the oppression of the monotheistic religions against pagans. This later deteriorates into a rather shortsighted, hypocritical and psuedo Scholarly attempt at the condemnation of a number of religions ,magickal orders and Luminaries.Ie(Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, Franz Bardon, Madame Blavatsky, Meher Baba ect... All of which which were figures that have made great contributions to the Magickal community and with the acceptation of some of Crowley's Some time vulgar commentaries did so without the need to say "I am I am And I Teach What I am and they are not what they are for I am what I am."* Contributions that make her mere 300 maybe 400 pages of remedial finger pointing seem of little consequence. Even Ms Dion Fortune prefaced and summarized her critique with a reluctant homage to that which she did not completely agree with in Crowley's Work and or The Golden Dawn as well. She was also a Member (Golden Dawn)and an acquaintance of A.C. giving her License and a true understanding of the orders Shortcomings and strong points as well. She Was also a noted Psychologist of her day as was Mr Israel Regardie. This brings me to Maeve Rhea's unfortunate and irresponsible use of psychology to imply that due to the fact that some of the many individuals she mentioned had been abused ... as reason to invalidate the victims entire body of work or the organization that they may or may not have been driven to create as a result of exerting control when once they had it taken away. This is an interesting Hypothesis but her positing it as fact is truly unfortunate and is not of any real importance unless it being used for a very basis for a lukewarm Dissertation. I might add that she gives no footnotes or credit to any of her sources and may be the key to using her formula or the reason behind her devoting an entire section to Hebrew, ancient Greek and barbarous tongues to be nonsense and of no consequence and a hindrance to spiritual development on page 119 ( I have just given more notation and credit to an author than was given in her entire book). Though not necessary for spiritual progress on all paths the study of ancient languages brought her the form for many of the "rituals" for evocation and Invocation in the book She has written as far as I know given her notation. The study of Hebrew is suggested in it very most basic components in pursuit of the Kabala which she claims is of no use. Her opinions in many cases through out the book are based on her experiences and the way she has apparently dealt with various forms of stress and challenge is to throw out the baby with the bathwater. She has had some unfortunate events involving ceremonial magicians in her life and witnessed the conspiracy to create the Necronimicon ( I found it to be quite amusing. I give credit were credit is due)She has heard rumors or has taken information that was circulated by one of Aleister Crowley's Secretaries and blown that information and other information about the Order's founding members and Created an extremely dated and small minded Freudian Construct Of The Golden Dawn according To One Wiccan Priestesses Opinion. She also makes a statement about Reagrdie's Printing of The Golden Dawn Complete and That was that the Book was devoted to Evoking Demons this is quite the contrary ( No references exist). The Demons she speaks of were very often the Judeo Christian Constructs of the Very God Forms She Invokes and Evokes In Her Book and know doubt ran into as she was browsing The Complete Golden Dawn to find the material and format for her next Solstice celebration Invocation evocation. Look In the Mirror and one very often sees the past written in the lines of one's brow and those lines were the same lines that came from the mother and or the fathers that we said we would never become.

*Quote Note Popeye and Me

Rating:
Summary: Foolish hypocrisy.
Review: What a fool. I can only pity her, and those seeking true answers who go on a wild goose chase in this piece of trash. Please, if you are interested in evoking or invoking, visit occultforums.com for a free resource, or check out one of the great masters of magic, Israel Regardie, Aleister Crowley, Dion Fortune, Franz Bardon.

Rating:
Summary: Foolish hypocrisy.
Review: What a fool. I can only pity her, and those seeking true answers who go on a wild goose chase in this piece of trash. Please, if you are interested in evoking or invoking, visit occultforums.com for a free resource, or check out one of the great masters of magic, Israel Regardie, Aleister Crowley, Dion Fortune, Franz Bardon.

Rating:
Summary: When you're ready to get real, read this book.
Review: When you're ready to get real about Wicca and the Craft, read this book. I've read many books by such popular authors like Silver RavenWolf and Ray Buckland. Maeve Rhea finally gives us some meat to chew on. (not to cast disparaging remarks in those authors' books. They are good primers to get your appetite whetted!) But contrary to the "I've got to write another book to support my family" mentality of SOME pagan "authors", Maeve Rhea basically rips open her guts and shows us how to really really perform Magick and commune effectively with the Divine. If you're someone who obsesses on what color candle or phase of the moon is correct for any working, basically a "book" pagan, then keep reading the Llewellyn trash that is cranked out each month. But if you are serious about knowing how to really be a true witch and clergy, read this book.