Customer Reviews

Advanced Witchcraft: Go Deeper, Reach Further, Fly Higher

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A number of "advanced witchcraft" books have appeared in the last year or so, and I for one am rejoicing, since they're long overdue! Those of us beyond our first steps on the path have had to scrounge everywhere for new ideas, and while the challenges help us to grow, it's always nice and comforting to know that others are having the same experiences.

Edain McCoy's _Advanced Witchcraft_ is a good addition to the field. It's not really a how-to book; I agree with "reader from USA" that it would make a lousy beginners' book. Instead, it serves as a kind of "field guide" to the sort of things you might be experiencing if you're becoming an advanced witch.

For example, McCoy examines the paradox of an advanced witch's magical skills: an advanced witch has the know-how to throw together a big fat elaborate spell, but is often more likely to integrate little magical acts into the flow of his/her life instead of doing that fancy spell.

Much of the rest of the book is devoted to information about the astral and spirit realms: astral projection, remote healing, shapeshifting, past lives, and such. Again, there's not much in the way of how-to, and while I miss McCoy's talent for writing meditations, she points out that an advanced witch is probably designing their own journeys. The information given is more along the lines of "OK, these are some of the sorts of realms people have seen; these are some of the types of spirits you may meet; here are some of the types of shapeshifting you might end up doing." The information can be useful to someone who experiences something weird and doesn't know whether it's a spiritual experience or a sign of "craziness". McCoy touches briefly on each subject and recommends other, more in-depth books that can help someone with a more than passing interest in these subjects.

Also included are instructions about creating an elemental, and a lot of information about the "Dark Night of the Soul", including symptoms that you're experiencing it and an all-night vigil ritual for emerging from it.

My biggest complaint about _Advanced Witchcraft_ is that I wish the bibliography was divided into subjects. At times, McCoy will say "Good books about blahblahblah are listed in the bibliography," without saying which of those books relates to which subjects. I would have enjoyed a bibliography with a section for reincarnation, a section for totem animal information, etc.

Usually, I find Edain McCoy's books interesting and full of helpful information. This one, however,fell flat. It is more like a checklist of what the advanced Witch should know and what to consider exploring next. She was very thorough in relating what she considered necessary knowledge for beginning, intermediary, and advanced Witches. One must remember,however, that this is her opinion. Some people consider astral travel intermediate and advanced level practice while others agree with Ms. McCoy and teach it at the beginning.

There were a couple of parts worthy of her name on the cover and those were the questions she asked of advanced Witches and the Dark Night of the Soul material.

The bibliography would have been more helpful if it had been divided or labeled by subject matter.

She mentions a few times in the book that she has been ill. I hope she takes time to rest and regain her strength and write some indepth advanced Witchcraft books.

Finally someone has produced a book about advanced Witchcraft that is not just another spellbook with more complex rituals and tools. Edain McCoy's gem connected with me on a soul level and addressed many of the issues and questions that had been dancing around my head for several years. When I read Edain's words I actually found myself shouting YES! THAT'S EXACTLY IT!!! When you reach a fork in your path of the Craft and aren't sure what should come next read this book. You'll never be sorry. I think I will still be reading it ten years from now or whenever I need some advanced direction.

I have read all of McCoy's books, some very good, others that just didn't reach me. But that's my subjective viewpoint. As Witchcraft grows in scope and knowledge, so does the liturature available to us, or at least it should. Advanced Witchcraft is an incredible piece of work directing readers to find their own inner tree of the universe and encourages them to climb to the top using their own inner-gifts and by finding their own challenges. I've already read parts of this book twice. Advanced Witchcraft has raised the bar as to what Witches must now expect from writers and elders. As always, McCoy does not dictate what is or is not right for anyone else, but with this book she has opened a huge door for us to enter and she points us in the direction where we may seek our own wisdom on our own spiritual path.

The sectioning of this book is excellent! This isn't a read it through once book, but has continueing exercises for witches of all levels. A guide for the intermediate witch of what the next natural step is, and for elders who are bored with the same ole' stuff it stimulates new ideas for not only personal path workings but also group work. This book was both stimulating and a joy to read.

While this is a book meant for the advanced, there are quite a few very good points made that should be covered in Wicca 101 books which are sadly left out.

I really like how the book is laid out with the chapters corresponding to the various elements. A nice touch I have not come across in other books.

The only reason I did not give this book a 5 is because I thought some of the subject matter verged on "how to", which detracted from the very good (and wise) advice given and points made about BEING an advanced Witch.

This author really gained my respect by what she says in the second paragraph of the afterward. It certainly differentiates her from the other authors of the Llewelly stable that are coming under sharp criticism.

This is a interesting book. I teach classes with my High Priest and High Priestess and a lot of what she is saying is advanced we are teaching in our beginners classes. It is really not that advanced.

I am a solitary witch, and I have bought numerous books from different authors on witchcraft. This book has become one of my favorites, along with another book Edain McCoy wrote called Celtic Myth and Magick. I think that this book is excellent for a solitary witch, especially if you have already read some Wicca 101 type books. This book goes beyond the 101 stuff and the author explains her ideas and thoughts really well. At times it felt like I was listening to her speak in person rather than reading out of a book. Some of the concepts in this book will make your head spin and your brain crash, such as her ideas of multiple realities and non-linear time. But once your brain reboots, every thing starts to fit together. As a matter of fact, I just was flipping through it and got stuck reading it again. No matter how many other books you have, buy this book, it is unique and worth every penny.

I thought the concepts that McCoy brings up were great, but a previous reviewers stated, she assumes alot. I had no teachers, no coven, just books and free time. It's dissappointing to hear that because I learned from books, I learned too fast. Also very very vague topics. VERY vague. There is little to no detail in things like shapeshifting, and meeting your shadow self. These are advanced and she only gives us three paragraphs? Not so advanced seeming then. Go Deeper? Maybe not. I just wish there was less, rambling down a coven taught memory road, and more learning about advanced craft working. Also she disregards the use of catalysts for magick. As and advanced witch you should use less sure, but not none at all.

Advanced Witchcraft my foot. I was so tired of reading "WHen you began your journey, you blah blah blah" This book is basically a checklist of what someone should know to be labeled as an "advanced practioner" by the author. WHen I saw the title, I was excited. I thought finally something new for us who have been practicing for a long time to chew on. I read about half way through and took it back to the store demanding a refund. Ms. McCoy was a good author with several of her first books. I feel she is becoming like Silver Ravenwolf and pumping out books because she has a famous name in the community and can make money by her name alone.