Customer Reviews

City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells, and Shamanism

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book for my son but after it came I couldn't help but take a peek...

This an excellent resource for any Wiccan/pagan/witch who wonders what to do when the only trees in the neighborhood have fences around them so they cannot be touched. Is it possible to get in touch with the rhythm and power of the Earth when there isn't a blade of grass to be seen? The answer is a resounding "YES!" and the author proceeds to reveal a whole world of power and magic waiting to be discovered. With the information in this book one could write their own Book of Shadows for the City-dweller and not feel one whit lacking if they bothered ever again to compare with their pagan country-cousins.
I recently borrowed a book from the library by a different author trying to write a book geared to the urban Witch but it was a dismal failure compared to this book. I haven't read any of the other books by Penczak but this book is certainly worth the price and makes me curious about the rest....

As previous reviewers I do agree that you will not look at a city the same way again. I was recommended this book by a friend and I could not be any more pleased.

Intermediate and above need to read this book. Great for inspiration, new options, and learning that cities are as powerful as any natural setting. Being a city girl (and I have tried living in the country) I have become more connected to the energy of the concrete jungle. Energy and inspiration is not just for the country dweller.

I really, really liked this, for reasons mostly already given by previous reviewers. My one quibble with it is that, like almost every other Pagan book I've read that deals with magic or shamanism in a practical manner, it has a lot of beginner-level exercises that I've seen in numerous other books, but I suppose that's part of its appeal. Newbies and those experienced at magic alike can get a lot out of this one. I particularly liked his ideas for creating sigils based on city street maps, the uses of magical and non-magical graffitti, and his re-casting of the Otherworld as a city. Also found his dictionary of modern symbols interesting.

In truth, anybody who's been at it for a while will probably pick this up and think, "D'oh! Why didn't I think of that?" upon reading certain passages, but in my opinion, the whole idea that one has to be focused entirely on wilderness, agricultural calendars, and seasonal Sabbats to successfully be a Wiccan, Pagan or Witch is flawed. You have to grow where you're planted, after all. I highly recommend this to those seeking to reconcile their Craft/Pagan ideals with the realities of city life.

This book is a phenominal piece of craft lierature. It brings paganism from the forest into the concrete jungle. As an avid Techno-mage, I have found it informative, useful, and pleasing. I would recommend this book to any practitioner who lives in the city, and can't always get to a forest or a stream to perform their rituals. I have already tried many of the exercises in the book and have found that they have really opened my eyes to the spirit of the city. I look forward to reading this book many, many times in the future.

I have been practicing and studying Wicca/Paganism, Tarot and many other tools of Divination for seven years now and this is by far the best book I've laid my hands on. Maybe it's because of the way he writes, the fresh new look and the way of thinking he has on the subject. I am getting very, very irritated from all the fluffy commercialized books I keep seeing and the tacky stuff people do like teen spell kits, velour covered love spell books and whatever else they can think of to take advantage of the fact that Wicca/Paganism is a fast growing path. Anyway, enough of that. Sorry but I had to say it but to let you know his book is not like that at all. It is clear (to me) that this book is not for beginners but for intermediate to more experienced practitioners of the Craft but it's not hard to digest at all. Excellent!

...and beat me to it also LOL! Honestly folks, he could not put it better and I know I can't but wanted to second that review wholeheartedly. I am still reading City Magick and could not agree more with his review. This book is what I have been looking for, both consciously and subconsciously, for some time. It is useful, practical, and above all- REAL LIFE for most of us living in cities. I no longer feel guilty that I can't go out and do the things in "A Witch Alone" by Marian Green or many of the "get back to nature or you are not a 'real witch'" type of thought process books, sorry but I have to work and live and cannot just pick up and move to the country, that just does not work for me and is not likely to anytime soon. I've always hated to hear or get the idea from other books or teachings that my Craft is less "worthy" or respectable or whatever as compared to others who are able to live differently than I by choice or chance. I really appreciate the author's support and change in tactic, thought, etc. This book poses none of that country-dweller-necessity garbage and truly empowers us city witches and magick users. If you live in the city or feel disconnected from your Path because of it, get this book now. I've learned more and had my eyes opened more in the first half of this book alone than in a dozen of the other "witchy" or otherwise magickal books I own. Simply wonderful, thank you Christopher Penczak!

The previous reviewer couldn't be more wrong. Yes, if you're looking for a book full of arcane, antiquated, silly rituals written over a hundred years ago by a bunch of people trying desperately to be pagan but unable to shake their Judeo-Christian upbringing, then this book is not for you. If you are insecure enough to want a book to say, "This is the way you MUST do things if you want it to work," then this book is not for you either. If you think that in order for magick to be effective that you must run around naked in the woods, hugging trees and pretending to be something you're not, then this book is definitely not for you. But if you want to learn how to develop magickal techniques that are effective, personally significant, and completely capable of being integrated into your daily life--techniques that really WORK for you, rather than techniques that will make you seem all weird and witchy to your friends--then you really should get this book.

I have read many books on magick over time (most of which were rehashes of someone else's ideas or just outright junk), and I got more new ideas from this book than any other book I have read in years. I think fans of Phil Hine and Pete Carroll will especially like this book.

It seems that recently every single author I love is somehow into chaos majick and postmodern occultism. So I gave this book a chance. The concept sounded nice, after all.

Well. You can start thanking me. I've suffered this book, so you won't have to.
Basically, this is everything your mom warned you against when she pointed out those awful new age cooks at you. Simplistic, pollyannish, improbably "let's put everything occult we've heard of together and shake" completist, unsubstantiated and so on.

The central concept is: if you do every illogical thing the writer matter-of-factly states, you'll be magical. Which, the author warns, might well be just self-delusion.

Oh well. You could have gone mad without any magical benefit. I guess this is better, after all.

One of the most relevant and timely books out today, Christopher Penczak's City Magick serves to prove that natural spirituality and paganism can be practiced and enjoyed deep in the rush of the urban jungle. Penczak has taken city life and opened it to the energies and rhythms of a "different" way of life for practitioners of magic.

With simple language and rich tones of personal experience, Mr. Penczak explains sources of energy, symbols and details of a magical life surrounded by concrete. He teaches us how to use limited space more efficiently for temples, altars and magical storage. Drawing on details from urban life, we're shown how the simple uses of tools, herbs, stones and graffiti sigils can bring us closer to a co-relationship with our environment. He introduces the reader to "Neon Devas and Electric Gods", beginning a new and refreshing open dialogue for those pagans who must or by choice, reside in cities.

Covering such subjects as "metropolitan spirits, urban magic, tools, language of the street, techno temples" and much more, this book delves deep into the heart of the city to unearth the powers that lurk there, waiting to be summoned. Included in the volume are twenty-three good illustrations and twenty-seven practical and simple exercises to enhance your magic and spirituality, while making your home within the steel and glass of an urban environment.

If you reside in a city, this book is a must-have. It will help alleviate the notion that magic can only be effective in a natural setting. Feel "at-one-ness" with the beat of the urban heart. Connect with your surroundings. Use the energy around you to strengthen and enhance magic. Practice urban magic and embrace the pulse of city-life.