Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches [Paperback]

A.J. Drew (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2008

After years of trying Charles Leland met a practicing Italian witch by the name of Maddelena, who transmitted to him the teachings of Italian witchcraft. The words (stories) have become Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches. This manuscript, reportedly handed down in an oral tradition, was later translated and published in the late 1800's. While it is true that Maddelena's involvement with Leland cannot be proven, the fact remains that even with an uncertain origin, Aradia is one of the most important manuscripts available to the Pagan community. It most definitely presents such a powerful message that even today its words are found repeatedly in various literatures. It is the foundation for one of the most powerful and well-known documents in modern Pagan lore, The Charge of the Goddess. With an introduction and new material by A. J. Drew, this is Aradia as never presented before.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For anyone interested in Wicca this is the book of choice. It provides some information about magic but this is primarily the book about "La Vecchia Religione", The Old Religion that wicca is based on. This book is a main textbook in many wicca courses and justly so. -- Aaron Blumberg, Book Reviewer, Lulu.com, December 15, 2007 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Witchcraft is known to its votaries as la vecchia religione, or the old religion, of which Diana is the Goddess, her daughter Aradia (or Herodias) the female Messiah, and that this little work sets forth how the latter was born, came down to earth, established witches and witchcraft, and then returned to heaven. With it are given the ceremonies and invocations or incantations to be addressed to Diana and Aradia, the exorcism of Cain, and the spells of the holy-stone, rue, and verbena, constituting, as the text declares, the regular church-service, so to speak, which is to be chanted or pronounced at the witch-meetings. There are also included the very curious incantations or benedictions of the honey, meal, and salt, or cakes of the witch-supper, which is curiously classical, and evidently a relic of the Roman Mysteries... [From the Introduction] --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (May 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564146790
• ISBN-13: 978-1564146793
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,154,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Waste of Time, December 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches (Paperback)

Unfortunately, I must agree with most of the reviewers and say that this book has very little to offer. Leland's Aradia book is already widely available by the orignal author. Drew basically offers a reprint of what is already widely available elsewhere, but adds his name to the work. The only difference between the original is that Drew includes his comments, which actually contribute very little to the book as a whole. He does not seem to possess more than a knodding acquaintance with the material, and so his additions seem to serve little usefulness for the reader.

The promotional blurbs for this book purports it to be something new, informative, and refreshing for those already familiar with Leland's material. Sadly, the author provides nothing to substantiate the hype for this book. It is instead a lackluster presentation of some rather mediocre musings on the part of the author. As someone interested in Leland's Aradia, I was very disappointed with the book.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the money, but the publisher needs spanked., November 15, 2003

By 

SetIaM (Cyberville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches (Paperback)

If you do not already have one of the two dozen versions of Aradia already available, purchase this one. There is not much new in Aradia because it was written over 100 years ago. But if it is not already on your shelf and you do not want to spend forty bucks for the long winded much expounded upon version, this is the one that should be there. I found the new commentary very refreshing but too short. Fortunately, there was enough to bring Aradia up with the times. Prior to the new commentary, this book was an easy target for people who would use it to prove Wiccans worship Satan. Now there is a copy of Aradia that explains references within the book to Lucifer, the Devil, and other scary figures. However, the publisher is a bit misleading. Claiming the book has new material does not generally refer to commentary by a new author. I like the book, I like the new commentary, but it looses a star with me because I think the publisher tried to pull the wool over my eyes by implying there was more to the 100 year old publication than was previously published.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, September 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches (Paperback)

This book was really, really, disappointing. There wasn't much to it at all, and certainly nothing new. After reading it I had to wonder why it was presented as "Aradia as you've never seen it before!" When that is said, isn't it supposed to mean that the reader will receive something new and enlightening? I really hate the "bait and switch" game.

Mostly the author offered small tid bits, in a 101 style, about general Greek and Roman myths that were sort of related to the material. But it doesn't seem like the author had much to really say on his own. So basically, it's really just a reprint of Leland's widely available book with some common bits and pieces tossed in. Nothing here for the collector of Leland's work (unless you don't already have a copy of his Aradia) and nothing here of interest for the folklorist or reader interested in Italian Witchcraft.