Customer Reviews

In The Circle: Crafting the Witches' Path

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I was at the stage of having read quite a lot about wicca but not yet putting it in to practise when I got this book. I want to say right away that its a lovely book which I believe would appeal to anyone whether or not they understand the subject. Elln's descriptions of the seasons and how to perform lunar rites are easy to follow and give you a real feel for the spiritual coloration of the sabats and esbats. She makes everything seem possible...no more wondering where you can find all the tools you need, she gives you lots of sensible friendly advice. The way the book builds up, weaving in the rituals and the moons with practical chapters about what to do, and sacred sites, and first hand accounts of her coven at work...its very skillfully done...the writing is beautiful. flowing and inspit=res you. Shear poetry. I was sad when the book ebded and would love to read anything she writes in the future.

This book is one of the best and most clearly laid out i have seen, with easy find lists and sections so that you can cross reference as you read. But the real strength of the book is in the depth of knowledge and spirituality and in the beautiful way its written. All the necessary ingredients are there: working with the moon and the seasons; an excellent and reassuring section on magikal equipment; the wheel of the year; goddesses and gods; how to build a shrine and cast a circle. An unusual feature is the section on sacred sites. Though these are mostly British, they are wonderfully describes and show the Celtic basis which after all is important in Wicca, though this isn't a book heavy on Celtic symbolism by any means. if you are looking for a beginners intro to Wicca then this is definitely for you, but don't overlook it even if you have been practising for years as I believe In The Circle will have much to offer and something new for all of us.

This book was so beautifully written that it took me right out of myself. As a newcomer to witchcraft and wicca it was a joy to read something which not only answered all my questions, but was a pleasure to read. Here you will find information on every aspect of the craft including ritual, moon phases, magical equipment and the sacred seasonal festivals. Ellen Hawke manages to give detailed and reassuring information without talking down to the reader. The book flowed beautifully from start to finish. I particularly liked the personal approach which gave you a glimpse into the way the author works including her covens, celebrations and the way she celebrates the eight sabbats within her community as well. This book is accessible, poetic and inspiring. I look forward to her next offering.

Elen Hawke's 'In the Circle' is a beautifully written adventure into British witchcraft. It is easy to follow, colorful and evocative. Reading some of the rituals, I felt I was actually there, participating in them. The book covers the basic principles of magick, along with descriptions of major Sabbat workings. Hawke also describes English sacred sites such as the Uffington White Horse and Rollright Stone Circle with a lyrical detail that made me think, if I can't visit right now, at least I can dip in and out of 'In the Circle' and get a breath of that fresh air! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Craft, and especially in British sacred sites.

After about 6 months of looking at this book at a friend's house, I finally have a copy of my own. My friend told me she didn't want any of MY ju-ju on her study book, which I could totally understand. It isn't the first great work from Elen Hawke, she also wrote "The Sacred Round," and another personal favorite I've recently discovered called "Praise to the Moon." (But that's ANOTHER review!) This book is full of great lessons, but at the same time is very comfortable. The writing makes it hard to put down, it has ritual descriptions that are full of texture. I enjoy her questions, such as "What would the Goddess look like to a rat or a snail, or a being from another galaxy? Is she separate from ourselves?" In the Circle has a chapter describing sacred land in England, you'll never find info like this from a travel agent. It makes me want to plan a month there, magical tools in hand and power of the earth at my feet. This is a great study book that even lends encouragement to those wondering why their magic doesn't always work well the first time. Elen suggests patience and persistence, and this book has knowledge that will benefit anyone practicing either alone or in a group.

This is a great and "unusual" book because the author actually has chapters on how she celebrates Sabbats and the Moons. She talks about how she and her coven of four (with her husband)
celebrate different seasons of the year. I think that was a very "spiritual" part of the book.

This is basically a "Wicca 101" book with the authors personal expiriances. A great book if you are feeling down and need some spirituality to make you smile.

Read it slowly and it will help you.

I liked this book. It does read like a "first work" in that it has quite a few "tag on" sentences at the ends of paragraphs, and the pace of the book was a bit stilted.

However, I did appreciate the organization of the chapters, each one focusing on a specific Sabbat, Rite, or Moon Phase. This separation of spiritual aspects is nice for easy reference and allows the reader to really dig into a specific area of the Craft.

Seekers of "Traditional" Wicca may find Hawke's use of Yoga and Tantric references a bit jolting; but she does a good job of blending her own spiritual experiences to bring forward another unique interpretation of an ever-evolving religion.