In The Circle: Crafting the Witches' Path [Paperback]

Elen Hawke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2001

A wise and empowering guide to the 'whys' and 'wherefores' of Witchcraft * Take a step-by-step journey through the Moon's phases, the eight seasonal festivals, an understanding of the Goddess and God, and receive answers to many questions you might ask * Learn to apply the practical tools of the Craft in away both rewarding and sacred * Includes almost 30 beautiful illustrations drawn by the author * For the beginning witch and experienced practitioner alike Containing nearly thirty of the author's beautiful illustrations, In The Circle combines Elen Hawke's personal accounts of sabbats and moon rites with a clear, common-sense approach that makes witchcraft accessible to anyone. Whether you want to practise alone, with a partner or in a group, this book will be a wise guide, providing answers that are inspirational and empowering. Each section takes you deeper into your inner core, the place where you can connect to the spirit of Nature and to your innate knowledge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"* "To become a witch is to answer a call of the heart, and that call will be heard differently by each of us." - author Elen Hawke"

About the Author

Elen Hawke is a practicing witch who lives in Oxford  with her husband and a house full of animals.  She also has two grown children.  Elen is a photographer and illustrator, and has been doing professional astrology for 27 years and tarot reading for 10.  She divides her time between healing and teaching witchcraft, meditation, and chakra work.  She is Wiccan initiate in the Gardnerian tradition, a Circlework graduate from the House of the Goddess, and a member of the Pagan Federation.

Elen is of Irish, Welsh, Anglo-Saxon, and Jewish ancestry.  She remembers having psychic experiences since youth, and feeling an intense connection to the natural world.  Her love for reading began early with her grandmother's books on natural history and Greek mythology.

Elen has traveled through and lived in many other lands, including Iran, Afghanistan, and Brittany.  She believes that this cultural exposure and appreciation made the transition to Paganism easier for her than many.  She describes her spirituality as "eclectic," having explored Spiritualism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Druidry as well as Wicca.  She has achieved both the Bardic and Ovate grades in the Druid path.

Elen runs the email discussion group witchcraft_uk on behalf of the Children of Artemis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (January 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567184448
• ISBN-13: 978-1567184440
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,238,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that finally gets to the heart of witchcraft., April 28, 2001

By 

Mr. M. P. Duffy (Littlehampton, West Sussex United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In The Circle: Crafting the Witches' Path (Paperback)

There aren't many books that offer new material on witchcraft, with many authors deciding to rehash the same material, this book has broken that trend and offers not only information but the inspiration to get up and do it. I loved the easy to read style & the sharing of her own experiences of each Sabbat.

The volume of information & ideas for celebrating the Sabbats is a rare & pleasing find. This book not only passes on information about the Craft but really helps you understand the cycle of the year that is, after all, at the heart of witchcraft. The book focuses on a natural earthy based witchcraft & offers real suggestions & ideas as to what can be done to follow the path, from the ritual side to more spontaneous simple acts.

Gods & Goddesses are rarely covered in the depth that they are in this book, and sacred sites seldom, if ever. Elen has also managed to cover the subject with not only depth but also clarity, something that is again missing in many books.

If anyone is looking for a book that will give not only detailed information but also the important get up & go factor then this is definately the book. It far excels what many like to think of as the "standards", including Cunninghams, in that it is enjoyable but detailed, we've had more than enough airy fairy books & it's time more books like this were written.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know to get you started with wicca, January 6, 2001

By 

a j clarke (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In The Circle: Crafting the Witches' Path (Paperback)

I loved this book. It gave me confidence to start doing my own rituals, It explains evrything from basics to quite advanced rituals, magic and so on. There are descriptions of the deities of wicca, the tools you need like a chalice and an athame, how to cast a circle and do seasonal rituals, or work magic with the moons phases. The author gives first hand accounts of rituals and spells, and there are a lot of useful sections like colour correspondances. I loved the chapter on sacred sites. Although anyone could use this book, it gives very clear and useful instructions for people just entering witchcraft and wicca for tyhe first time. It would also be a good guide for working as a solo witch or equally for setting up your own coven. I've read several similar books, and this is the best.but my friend who has been a witch for a long time found the book helpful as well, it's very well written and beautiful.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Circle, February 7, 2001

By 

Groovy 1 (Largo, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In The Circle: Crafting the Witches' Path (Paperback)

I loved this book! It offers a more intense view of the theology of witchcraft versus the practice of it. It does have some spells in it, but that is not the main focus of this book. It is also arranged in more of a different order than most books on the subject that I've read. It will have a chapter on a Solstice, then a chapter on sacred sites, then another chapter on a different Solstice. Most books that I have read will have a ll of the Solstices in one chapter. I really like that about this book. Hawke also uses stories from her own practice and her coven's practice to illustrate whatever she is trying to explain. She is witty and informed. Th is is probably one of the best books since Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for thr Solitary Practitioner.