Customer Reviews

Wicca: The Complete Guide to the History and Practice of Witchcraft

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is not a how too book. You won't be able to practice wicca just by reading this book. what it is though is an incredible book on wiccan theory.There are many things about this book that could of turned me off. For instance it is extremely traditional, and is heavy on gender polarity. But in the context of the book, i was not in the least offended (and i am easily offended)The book starts off with a brief discription of the variety of wiccas that are practiced today. this is included mainly to give the reader knowledge that crowley's view is of a particular kind of wicca. it seems to me that she practices a alexandrian form. that said, this book is valuable to any practicioner regardless of tradition.it next gives a very realistic view of the origins of modern wicca. no fantasy here--the real deal.the rest of the book goes through all aspects of coven witchcraft viewed through the lenses of jungian psychology, spirituality, magick and personal experience. the author goes into detail describing exactly what goes on when for instance you are casting a circle or drawing down the moon. she includes what you should be thinking, feeling, and visualizing. this is stuff that is almost never included in wicca 101 how to books. starting out on my own as a solitary 13 years ago, i could have used this information. back than i pretty much went through the motions ignorant--and had to figure all this stuff out along the way. the book does assume prior knowledge of the subject and if you are a beginner i suggest you read a good lewellyn wicca 101 book along with this to learn the "what" along with the how and why that this book provides.i think this book is a good read for anyone regardless of how experienced you are, what your tradition is, or whether you are solitary or in a coven. it really makes you think, and think deeply, about every aspect of the craft. it is based on coven work--but the insights really don't rely on you being in a traditional british coven.if you are used to reading llewellyn books, this book takes a bit more effort, and might be difficult for teenagers. don't get me wrong, i love llewellyn books but they are usually a simple read--a good thing for a how to book. i fouund this easy but i am 29 and an avid reader. i'm not saying this is james joyce or anything but i am trying to write a review that can help everyone--and want to let young people, and people who don't lik to read know what they are in for.for me the jewell of this book was the invocations and charges written by the author. the are very poetic and beautiful. you can tell the writing comes from deep within her soul. i am really glad i read this book and wish i had read it sooner. i wouldn't think i would have liked it so much, its traditional, coven based, and i am very ecclectic and very feminist, so the craft the author practices is not my cup of cocoa. so if i could love it, i think everyone will love it.

The religion that Vivian Crowley describes in this text is extremely representative of the Wiccan traditions that I have observed and participated in throughout my lifetime. Although people like Buckland and others try to address a more "generic" witchcraft, this text is designed to explain the esoteric craft, its nature and the psychology behind it. A very valuable book for those who wish to learn about the root traditions (Alexandrian and Gardnarian) and understand the psychology and magical theory that exist behind the actions of the outer trappings of the religion.

This book is not so much for those who wish to learn wicca, but for those who wish to understand it. A valuable resource for the student as well as the cultural anthropologist.

I had heard lots of good things about this book so when it was available at the library, I quickly picked it up. This book has a lot of information on the history of Wicca and Witchcraft (she acknowledges that they are NOT the same) and is a very interesting read if you want to know more about how covens work. She thoroughly explains the difference between the first, second and third degrees and also describes the basic rites that you go through to get these degrees.

I had some trouble reading this book. (I'm 19) The text is small and Crowley uses complex wording. It is definitely not the first book you should read on Wicca. I wouldn't really call it a beginner's book but it does have some basic information in it. I would say that you should probably be able to read at the Grade 12 level at least to fully comprehend this book. I often had to re-read a paragraph and you may want to put a dictionary beside you as you read. Despite this, it is very interesting and informative.

It isn't necessary to own this book but it is a good idea to read it thoroughly. What I mean is, you probably won't be going back to it very often once you understand the information in it. It's not a resource.

V. Crowley uses a LOT of quotes from C. Jung and it may be a good idea to read a bit about him yourself, although this is not required.

In THE OLD RELIGION IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM: WICCA, Vivianne Crowley suggests Wicca is the religion of the Age of Aquarius. She says religions of the book, concerned with the sacrifice of the self, were dominant during the Age of Pisces (symbolized by the fish). Wicca, concerned with the search for the Self, is the religion of the new millennium. "Religion must evolve to meet the needs of the developing human psyche." In the new millennium, the developing human psyche is faced with the task of integration or what Jung referred to as the process of individuation.

Crowley's writing is forthright, honest, clear and helpful. She combines material from many sources, including the writings of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, and presents an in-depth portrait of the ancient Goddess focused religion. She says Wicca is balanced. Unlike many religions, including those of the book (Christianity, Islam) or Zen Buddhism, Wicca along with Hinduism, recognizes the balance between the light and the dark, humanity and nature, male and female. Wicca is not an evangelical religion. Those called to Wicca respond to the silver harp-whisper of the Goddess and the horn of the Hunter. Wicca is based on attraction, not promotion.

In the early sections of her book, Crowley describes the history of Paganism and Wicca (all Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan). She says Wicca is an ancient religion whose name refers to the accumulation of wisdom. She suggests much Wiccan material was handed along by "hiding" it in plain sight within the liturgical practices and doctrinal writings of dominant religions. She refers to the Tarot, the Kabbala, and works of literature.

Wiccan knowledge was amassed over thousands of years. Some rituals date from the Paleolithic. Some rituals have been preserved as part of another religion. Some material has been preserved by Masons, Rosicrucians, and others. Wiccan archetypes are found in many religions. For example, the mother and father archetypes have been incorporated in many rituals and given many names. Crowley provides a brief overview of various myths from the Levant, India, and Southern and Northern Europe that tell about the Queen of Heaven and the Lord of the Underworld.

Much of the ritual material about witchcraft including the stages of initiation can be found elsewhere (Farrar or Buckland for example), but if you are unfamiliar with this material Crowley's book is a good resource. I found Crowley's synthesis Jung's thinking and the teachings of Wicca most illuminating and original. I have felt for many years Jung is the prophet of the New Age and once again Crowley reaffirms it. Some people know Jung had a profound affect on AA and other 12-step programs, that his thoughts are reflected in the writing of Joseph Campbell, and that his archetypes underlie the Myers-Briggs personality tests, but I venture to say, not many knew his thinking could be connected to Wicca.

This is one of the best books I have read on Wicca so far. She does a great job of explaining & giving examples. I highly recommend this book which has amazing illustrations as well. It is very enlightening & really gets you thinking.

In a word, this is the best book I have read on "New Age" sprituality. Despite its title, the book is not limited to discussions of Wicca-- rather, it extends its very intelligent discussion of Western paganism in general, and even touches briefly on some elements of eastern religion. I am not Wiccan-- rather, I am a kind of amorphous pagan, with spirtuality but no fixed beliefs and no formalized rituals. When I read a book about spirituality, I tend to accept some ideas and throw out others. Most "New Age" books never seem to answer my favorite question: "*Why*". Instead, they seem to favor unquestioning memorization and rituals, which I despise. Ms. Crowley's book goes farther than any other book I have read to explain the "Why" and "What" of neo-paganism. It offers a brief history of Wicca, which is interesting-- but it really starts to shine when it discusses things like the male and female aspects of spirituality. She brings a refreshing Jungian approach to the discussion, too, which makes the material much more accessible for someone who has not bought into any particular named religion. Too often New Age books assume that the reader believes as the writer does, but Ms. Crowley does not make that mistake.

I would recommaned this book for *anyone* interested in learning about Wicca, pagan spirtuality, or even their own beliefs-- be they Christian, Jewish, Wiccan, Druid, Asatru, or floaties like me. The points raised are good and well-made, which makes the book a joy to read. Thumbs and big toes up!

There are very few good introductory books to Wicca available about there that really go into the depth of Wicca. Most are just simple how-to books with all the style of a book on home plumbing repair.

Crowley has produced a thoughtful book that goes deep into what Wicca means, and how it affects the Wiccan Initiate. She writes about the very real, and sometimes scary, changes that one goes through as one progresses through the degrees of Wicca. She relies a lot on Jungian concepts, but then, she has degrees in Jungian psychology and lectures on it at a British university. In addition, Crowley is one of the few really knowledgeable authors on Wicca. She is both an Alexandrian and Gardnerian initiate.

If you want to find out what herb to mix with what oil to so you can win the lottery, this isn't the book for you. If you want to know how one grows within Wicca, and why mystical depths you can plumb, then this is your book.

That's the book in a nutshell. A simple-minded position based on conjecture. Instead of offering a realistic account of this so-called faith, this is a predictable rant against men and the Christian faith. Yawn.

I have more books on the Craft than any sane person would keep. The useless ones I get rid of. This is one of the few I've actually read more than once. It contains quality material and makes an excellent first or second book for somebody new to the Craft.

Vivianne takes Wiccan tradition seriously, and doesn't cheapen it by making wild & unsubstantiated claims. She introduces her own material and names it as such. This book is complete. Rituals, directions, poems & liturgy. Everything you need but a coven, a calling and a connecttion to the Goddess.

Not only does this book describe Wiccan practice, but it describes it in sociological, historical, and psychological context, too. It is an example of applied Jungian theory. She uses the psychology of Carl Jung to explain the sense behind magic and Craft rituals. She bats around phrases like "Our Gods are the archetypal forces which inhabit the collective unconscious." To the question of "Are the forms of the Gods 'real'?" she answers first with a quote of Jung "they are images of contents which for the most part transcend consciousness." and then adds "what lies beyond the images is a divine reality ... true experessions of the nature of the divine translated into human terms."

This book contains a great deal of Craft practice, along with solid, original thought. Index, footnotes, a bibliography and a glossary round it out. A magnificent effort--more than earns its five stars! Every Witch ought to have read this book at least once!

Vivianne Crowley's background in psychology allows her to offer a view of witchcraft that could appeal to all who think those who engage in witchcraft are fruitcakes. She doesn't totally ignore spells and circles, but rather emphasizes the spiritual and psychological significance of why people become involved in Wicca. She looks at the journey of one who becomes initiated into Wicca, and what being involved in this spiritually demanding practise really means. Thorough, thought-provoking, an intelligent look at human nature and spirituality.