Customer Reviews

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)

5 star:		(154)
4 star:		(86)
3 star:		(48)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(40)

 

 

When I teach beginning students, I give them three books: this one, Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and the Farrar's Witches' Bible. I have seen a lot of reviewers saying they recommend using Buckland's book together with Cunningham's and I think this is excellent advice...the lessons are very good and quite thorough. I know of no other book that covers so many aspects of witchcraft. True, he covers so much ground there's not much room for depth, but it's a good starting-off place. He presents all the technical info: tools and divination and herbs and altar furniture and history and circle construction and dreams and meditation -- whew! Cunningham is a good balance for the more spiritual aspects. I think this is a good book to read through once or twice, using it as a starting point for further study. I think you'll also want to keep it on your shelf as a handy reference.

As with any book, remember to think for yourself and you'll get a lot out of it...

One last note -- the book covers so many different subjects, so many MECHANICS, that I sometimes forget how beautiful his Sabbat rituals are. He has included an entire book of shadows here, including seasonal rites, esbats, even a New Moon Rite. They are well-written and very poetic; for these alone I would recommend the book.

Although Ray Buckland's book lacks a lot of information on the spiritual side of Wicca it is a great reference book. Although very Gardnerian and coven based, the rituals can be easily adapted to fit the solitary practitioner who is of a different tradition.

I wouldn't recommend this book for those just starting, but for those that are more familiar with the basics and have had some prior exposure to Witchcraft. I suggest starting out with Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner." If interested in Alexandrian or Gardnerian Wicca, then move on to Silver Ravenwolf, this book, and then try the books by the Farrars.

One downside to the book was the quizzes. The quizzes were a bit knit-picky, but they at least helped get some of the information across to the reader.

As others have mentioned, Buckland does quote himself quite often, but usually these quotes are in the margin and if they don't reenforce and idea, they at least make for a good laugh.

I will give Buckland a lot of credit for not "dumbing-down" the material for the average 13 year old as some writers have. Wiccan books don't always have to be written for the teenager and I'm glad Buckland maintained a writing proficiency level that agrees with most adults.

Although not a "complete" book, it is a good starting point for many subjects like talismans, tarot, astrology, and herbalism.

Overall, a great book. I recommend it to any student of Wicca, particularly ones interested in Gardnerian and like traditions.

This book is set up like a workbook. After each chapter is exerices and/or quizes, with the answers in the back of the book.
There is an appendix of Wicca deominations--with a breif history and beleif summery of each, songs, and recommended reading list.

This book has all the basics, like the Wheel of the year, basic philosophy, tools, spells, and rituals. It also has some things that are not so basic (and that I don't recommend and the author strongly cautions!) like what he terms "Witches' Cradle", a form of sensory deprivation using a form of binding of the body. There are other historical tidbits as well.

This book also has several magickal alphabets, a bit on herbs, a dream interpetaion section I still find very useful, and ideas for covens or solitary practice.

This book is for the novice, or a refresher. Would probably be ideal for the person who has 'looked into witchcraft', and has decided to start studying in depth. It does make a GREAT refrence book, as Mr. Buckland has provided with extensive basic knowledge with the 'lingo' to aid in finding resources for further studies.

This book is just what it is supposed to be: a guide and instruction book for those who wish to learn more about Witchcraft. From a very basic view of Witch history to modern Neo-paganism, this book allows the reader to develop their own beginnings in Witchcraft. Buckland "pushes" no one direction or path, but draws upon his own experiences and those of others in order to present a more "politically correct" open-minded lesson book. I enjoyed reading this book, but would like to state that it is not intended for the more advanced practitioner. A great novice or entry level instruction guide...let your heart be your guide. Remember, Wicca is based from within, there is no wrong way to worship the God and Goddess, an' it harm none. Wicca is a way of life, not just declaring oneself to be a Witch. Blessed be.

I read this book when I first became interested in the practice of magic. I still refer to it from time to time. It is a good book for learning some of the basics. Please don't take this book (or any other) as the 'be all-end all' on the subject of magic (or any other). One big problem I have with the 'big blue book' is its lack of a good index. What's the deal with that? It's also very Wiccan in its approach. A good book on magic should not be so narrow.

I have seen that some other reviewers blast Buckland personally. I refuse to pile on. I do, however, agree that Buckland's tone is a little messianic.

Speaking of messianic, I'm sure that those interested in reading these reviews would rather that Christians expressed their opinions elsewhere. God(dess) knows there are plenty of Christian forums! This is a collection of book reviews...not a platform for the fundies. That off my chest....

This is a pretty good book despite its tone, lack of good index, and narrowness. A WAY better, more 'complete' book, you ask? The Magician's Companion by Bill Whitcomb is much broader, more complete, and...well...bigger (though not blue); yet, still okay for a beginner. Go check out the reviews there. Then decide.

Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft is just what it says it is, a COMPLETE book of Witchcraft. Obviously made for the student, it covers many important points in the whole of Witchcraft such as Herbalisism, History, Craft Names, Sabbats, Divination, and most importantly, the many practices of Magick. After a lesson, there are workbook questions given on the learning points covered in that lesson. This makes it extremely hard for a beginner not to understand the lesson, while also making it easy to remember the lesson. One note: a serious student may wish to buy a tape recorder or digital voice recorder for the questions as it is much easier to talk than write. If any person has bought the book and found it too technical, I suggest also buying beginner's books from Scott Cunningham, as he covers more of the spiritual aspects of the Craft. Overall, this book must honestly be considered a "must-have" for a Witch's bookshelf. -Ingrid

Raymond Buckland is the man who brought Alexandrian Wicca to North America in the '70s, and one would hope his book would be better than it is. This is a rank beginner's book which is a good reference for how-tos, cookbook-style rituals, and very little of the spirituality and connection with Goddess and God that is the foundation of that ritual. If you're a beginner, it's not a bad place to start--it'll tell you the basics, clearly and succinctly. But you should also try Starhawk's "Spiral Dance," and maybe even Babe on a Broomstick (whoops, I mean "To Ride a Silver Broomstick") by Ravenwolf, even though that's not much better. That one's got more philosophy and feeling, this one has more "how-tos." If you want a solid grounding in eclectic Wicca, try Scott Cunningham's "Wicca for the Solitary Practioner."

This was the first Buckland book I bought, and will probably be the last. I cannot say this book was not full of information because it was...on various subjects. However, I would suggest that if you're a beginner you start with something a little simpler.

I enjoyed the information in the book, but took most of it with a grain a salt (no pun intended)--mostly the herbal information. Always check with a doctor before taking any herb internally.

This book covered a lot, and it gave me some ideas about things I wanted explore more. However, I felt put out by Buckland's "my way (tradition) or the highway" attitude throughout the book. His constant quoting of himself bothered me as well.

For a somewhat in depth look at lots of areas of study, or an introduction to one tradition, I'd suggest this book. For a beginner or someone not interested in a tradition I would not. I do feel I got my money's worth...even if it was only to help me realize some of what I didn't agree with, along with the basics for other areas of study.

Yes, he does have an egotisical flare in the book. He does seem to push Seax-Wica ideals in this book. But, Raymond Buckland does give the bare basics to this religion in a quasi-classroom text. The beauty of that is, he takes people by the hand and guides them through the generic beliefs to which all traditions adhere. My warning, READ THE BOOK THOUROUGHLY. THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON ALL STYLES AND DENOMINATIONS TO TAKE ANYTHING BUT THE MOST BASIC DOCTRINES AS "GOSPEL." He was gardnerian, so he tends to be ritualistic in his view. Yet, the rituals are great to know in case one ever finds himself worshiping in a coven tradition. He also has to sell books for a living, therefor, he pushes Seax-Wica a little too strongly. Just as an fyi, my first coven made me study this book to get a handle on these precepts, and we were not seax. This book is not intended for those who wish to learn about how to cast spells, or join the O.T.O., but rather for those who have chosen Wicca as a religion, not as a game.

I even thought about doing some of the things he says are rituals. But I could never see how being naked, blindfolded, and my hands bound, with a man touching me with a sharp knife all over my body had anything to do with how I felt about the universe and the earth. Even though it's supposed to. I feel, like all other man-made religions, Buckland just made up his own rules and rituals. Some I feel are highly misogynistic. I find his claims on "Tradition" suspect and arrogant. He did not invent the universe, the earth, or how people learned to live with both. Neither did Gardner-or Gardner's family. If I could, I'd give this 0 stars simply because I don't want people just learning about Witchcraft to think this is the be-all and end-all of their journeys just because it's a "classic".

In the ensuing years as I learned just what I do believe in, I have read many books on Paganism, earth magic, Wicca, Witchcraft, etc. I have concluded I am my own religion, and books and other people can be guides and signposts. As well as cautionary tales. Please don't feel you HAVE TO believe any of these authors(especially Buckland or anyone who claims to be a Traditionalist) or anyone else to know where you fit into the universe.