Occult Book Reviews

Amazon.com Review
This 1986 classic is not only an excellent introduction to the Wiccan religion and earth-based religions in general, it’s also a workbook that can take the serious student to the equivalent level of third-degree Gardnerian. Though Raymond Buckland was a student of the late great Gerald Gardner, this manual does not adhere to a specific branch or denomination of witchcraft, but rather seeks to teach the elements and philosophies common to all, whether Celtic, Saxon, Finnish, or what have you. Buckland is credited with bringing the “old religion” to the U.S., and covens and solitary witches practicing the craft in the U.S. today have him to thank for getting it out of the closet. While Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft is a must-have for any serious Wiccan practitioner, it is full of down-to-earth spiritual wisdom, which makes it a wonderful addition to the library of any broadminded seeker on the path toward the One. –P. Randall Cohan

Product Description
Here is the most complete self-study course in modern Wicca available, written by the person who first went public with “The Old Religion” in the United States. For group or solitary use, it includes rituals; exercises for developing psychic talents; information on all major “sects” of the Craft; sections on tools, beliefs, dreams, meditations, divination, herbal lore, healing, ritual clothing; and much, much more.

Even those who have practiced Wicca for years find useful information in Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, and many covens are using it as their textbook. Profusely illustrated and full of music and chants.

From the Publisher
In the New Age book field, it is impossible to guess which book is going to be popular and which one is not. But when I looked at the manuscript to Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft I knew it was going to be something special! Few books have been as needed, and as anticipated as this one-it’s the first totally comprehensive, eclectic, and sensible guide to the art and the practice of modern Wicca!
I say “Wicca” rather than “Witchcraft” because it includes not only the Craft of the Wise but gives you a firm foundation for understanding the spiritual dimension that is the essence of this born again Old Religion for the Modern World.
There are so many Wiccan traditions today that it really doesn’t matter what we call it any more. What matters is that it is a real, growing, living religion filled with love of the gods, magick, divination, healing and much more. And Ray’s book has become the premier guide for all of those who wish to follow this spiritual path!
Beside the breadth of information covered in this book, the real key to it is the design. It is a workbook. You can use it by yourself or you can use it as a text for a coven. In fact, we have heard from many covens that use this as the source of their secret Books of Shadows.
Wicca, by nature, is a simple faith that has great depth. You can pick up this book and use it as a source for the external aspects of Wicca, or you can study it and plumb the magical depths of this spiritual path.
This book has become a key resource in the rebirth of the Craft. It is a must for your personal research and practice or for your coven’s library.

While watching television three years I came across a news report about a man who had just won the lotto. Apparently he had a premonition the night before that he would win. He said he was a Wiccan and had premonitions before. So he purchased the ticket and sure enough he won.

I knew very little about Wicca. Why would this man attribute his good fortune to it. I was intrigued.

I turned on my computer and began surfing the web to learn all I could.

One thing i figured out , is that it is very difficult to find good information about Wicca, because unlike Judaism and Catholicism, Wicca has different meanings to different people. There is no book like the Bible or the Torah. In my mind this is a good thing as I never believed that there is one set of rules to follow when it comes to religion.

The next problem I encountered in my search for answers was that Wicca has been underground for so many years because of persecution it has attracted many people who simply want to take advantage of people like me. These so called experts spread miss truths and use false knowledge for power and control. There are however many good people filled with knowledge and they are just waiting for you to find them.

So how do you find them?

Finding good information is no longer hard. All you have to do is search on Google and you will find many communities filled with good knowledgeable people. Sites like these tend to weed out the people trying to spread misinformation. In these communities you will find people at every stage of learning from beginners like me to life long second and third generation practitioners.

Following Wicca no longer has to be a solitary pursuit. You will be welcomed with open arms and have plenty of resources to begin or further your education.

Blessed Be.

Learn more about Wicca. Stop by Brian Kleiner’s site where you can find out all about Practicing Wicca and what it can do for you.

“When the essence of the shadows and darkness empowers you, yet you don’t feel evil, you are good-dark,” writes Konstantinos (Vampires; Summoning Spirits), as he calls believers to the practice of Nocturnal Witchcraft. Konstantinos writes for people primarily within the Wiccan tradition who feel at home with the night and lunar energies. He reiterates throughout this manual, however, that to draw one’s strength from the energies of the night is not at all the same as intending to do dark deeds. In fact, this guidebook might be regarded as a fundamental Wiccan primer save for the fact that Konstantinos turns to night-based rituals and primarily, but not exclusively, to the pagan pantheons of Egypt, Greece and Sumeria to harness good human desires to the yoke of such deities as Hypnos (Night Personified), Pasht (Dark Moon), Nanna (Full Moon), Kali (Protection), Persephone (Descent and Rebirth) and Annubis (Underworld and Death). His ceremonial instructions are clearly described, but the book’s chief flaw is that readers must recognize themselves as “good-dark.” They are imprecisely beckoned with not much more to go on than “Do you dress in black? Favor silver jewelry? Does being surrounded by the shadows, by the essence of the night, appeal to you?” For those readers self-identified with the night whatever that means his text may offer just the words they have been waiting for; others will find it as obscure as its subject matter.

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