Book of Shadows [Paperback]

Migene González-Wippler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2005

Wicca is essentially a religion, as sacred and vital as other religions. Its central foundation is nature and all of its laws. Witches maintain a constant identification with the flora, fauna, the waters, the winds, and all other natural phenomena.

Yet Wiccan beliefs and practices are often unknown or misunderstood by non-Pagans and the uninitiated. Approaching the Craft from the Gardnerian perspective, Migene González-Wippler offers a friendly, straightforward introduction to the Old Religion and sheds light on what it truly means to be a Witch.

What goes on at coven meetings? How do Witches perform magic? Why does magic work? From initiation rites to invoking elementals, González-Wippler explains both practical and spiritual aspects of Wiccan traditions. Book of Shadows also teaches the significance of Moon phases, herbs, colors, crystals, common magical tools, and other implements when performing sacred ceremonies and rituals.

 

Praise:
"Those looking for a 'how-to' guide for becoming a witch will find this a useful, well-written resource." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 

"This tome compiles the necessary rudiments and formalized practices of a given tradition/coven—previously kept closely guarded within the confines of membership—into a single volume for reference."—LIBRARY JOURNAL

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A "Book of Shadows" is simply the title used for a witch's journal—the place where each witch chronicles all matters of spiritual relevance over the course of a lifetime. González-Wippler, a witch and devotee of the Gardnerian tradition, uses this idea of the "witch's journal" to introduce readers to the basics of witchcraft, creating an encyclopedia-like book of terms, initiation ceremonies and a glossary of herbs and incenses, all by way of mimicking what is normally detailed in a personal "Book of Shadows." Beginning with a brief history of witchcraft, González-Wippler then describes the witch's coven, major festivals and three initiation ceremonies. Her discussions are certainly knowledgeable and thorough, if not exciting. Those looking for a "how-to" guide for becoming a witch will find this a useful, well-written resource. Readers may find some material a bit risqué, since kissing features prominently in most rituals, in particular the erotic "Five-Fold Kiss" which involves a kiss each to the feet, the knees, the lower abdomen, the breasts, and finally the mouth. Or perhaps readers will be left wondering whether it's a good idea to practice "skyclad," or nakedness, in the backyard. Neighbors, beware. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Migene Gonzalez-Wippler was born in Puerto Rico and has degrees in psychology and anthropology from the University of Puerto Rico and from Colombia University.  She has worked as a science editor for the  Interscience Division of John Wiley, the American Institute of Physics, and the American Museum of Natural History, and as an English editor for the United Nations in Vienna, where she lived for many years.  She is a cultural anthropologist and lectures frequently at universities and other educational institutions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738702137
• ISBN-13: 978-0738702131
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,471,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Extremely disappointing, December 23, 2005

By 

Vinny Carbonari - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book of Shadows (Paperback)

I bought this book primarily because of the author's past writings. I'm very disappointing at how basic this little book is in light of the author's previously demonstrated knowledge.

This book is even more basic than most introductory books, and the information it contains is quite thin. I'm further disheartended to find nothing new here. Essentially the book is just another rehash of what has been commonly published over, and over, and over again.

What you'll find in this book is the typical sketchy rituals of the full moon and sabbats you've seen before, and the same lame initiation rituals that keep popping up in every book written since the 1960s. I'm afraid that if you have one or two of ANY basic book on Wicca then you already have everything you'll find in this book.

Argh, just when I thought it was safe to buy another Wicca book... :(

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T!!!!, February 22, 2006

By 

W. Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book of Shadows (Paperback)

There are many books with the title of Book of Shadows. This one takes the reader through what happens in a traditional Gardnarian coven. Ms. Wippler outlines the basics of First, Second and Third Degree Initiation ceremonies and what they entail in Part One of the book. Part Two contains brief descriptive chapters for many of the items and spell work that are common to witches. She titles this chapter "Magic of the Witches."

Ms. Wippler writes the book from an observer's prospective. She has never been a Gardnerian coven initiate, claiming to be self-initiated instead, and writes her explanations in third person.

I have serious reservation about this book and would hesitate to recommend it to anyone not already familiar with the precepts of Gardnerian Wicca.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on Wicca!, August 21, 2007

By 

Thorn Nightwind (Harrisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Book of Shadows (Paperback)

I thought think this is a great book on Wicca and the magic you can use in Wicca.

This book presents great information that can be learned in a Wiccan coven including spells, the witches ladder, the levanah necter, recipees, herbology and others.

Either skip the information about intiation or read over it ... If you are thinking of joining a Gardnerarian or Alexandrian coven, read over that part to familiarize yourself with some general traditional Wiccan information, you can skip over it if you are remaining solitary and go to the meat and potatoes of the book.

I really think the information presented in this book is excellent!! Don't buy it thinking you are going to learn the secrets of the Wiccan sabbats, circle castings or initiations -- because you won't .... it just generally covers that information -- buy this book for the magical information that is presented after those chapters .... It really is good magical information!!!

Much Love & Many Blessings,
Thorn Nightwind