Customer Reviews

The Craft - A Witch's Book of Shadows

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I do not give many good reviews, but in my belief, this book deserves a great, glowing, FANTASTIC one, even though I did not agree with some of the correspondences and dream meanings( who ever does?). Most Wicca 101 books have the same thing over and over: history, tools, ethics, sabbats, and a couple of spells. This book covers each of these subjects in *complete* detail, (in all my time of Wicca, I have never seen a book have the entire Book of Law, Rede, creed, and analyses each throughly) but it also includes research on the elements, time influences, color meanings(goes beyond basic colors), wind, flower, herb, tree, and stone meanings. She includes daily activities and "lesson plans" in each section, which I found incredibly helpful and soothing.

It talks about *each and every* full moon esbat and how to celebrate each one! I have studied for years and never found knowledge on the moon esbats! I didn't even know they had names, let alone specific rituals! When she covers sabbats, it gives research/celebration ideas, a ritual, and it's correspondenses. Her chants and rituals are well thought out and poetic. In the back, she lists specific herbs, flowers,trees, and deities for specific types of spells so you can write you own! She includes a suggested reading list in the back for even more extensive research. If there is one book on Wicca to get, this would be my choice. Blessed Be.

Dorothy Morrison has given us a lot of really great books, but in her book "The Craft" she has provided the beginner with everything in one place. Even the experienced witch will find some information in this book that is a "gee, I didn't know that".

She mixes the basics with history, theory, and something that is badly needed in our community... ethics. While a lot of books approach the "how to", Dorothy examines the "should you" aspect of walking the path called "The Craft". She looks at Wicca as a Spiritual path, with all the associations connected with working in a religion.

If you are looking for a great place to start, this book is a wonderful beginning point for anyone looking to walk the path of Wicca. Included is all the info you are going to need on tools, spells and Deities.

The workbook "The Craft Companion" is a lovely addition too, as it is a place for you to keep your progress as you walk the path of the Craft. Personal Journals are always a good way to measure how you grow as you learn.

This book is one of the best books i have come along
in my study of the craft. This book contains information on Wicca
(ex. The Wiccan Rede, principeles, creed) including the book of law in the Appendix. There is information on the elements, and exercises to help you with them, correspondences, herb/flower/tree information, and rituals to help you with Sabbats. It even provides information on ritual tools, but gives information on how to make them! It explains magickal timing, like the different moons, Sun and Moon times and the connection to the God and Goddess. Although dream symbols are different for everyone, it provides
information for some basic things that helped me. This book has things that i before had no clue about and I've been studying for years! All in all, GET THIS BOOK! Whenther you're just starting out or have been studying for years!

"The Craft" is a basic 101 introduction to Georgian Wicca (The form of Wicca practised by Ms. Morrison).

I wish to commend Ms. Morrison on the following sections of "The Craft".

"The Craft" is one of the best Wiccan books I have read dealing with the ethics of magick. (I wish more magick books dealt with the ethics of magick)

Page 3-4: "The Craft is accepting, generous, and loving. It's gentle, unobtrusive and supportive. It's an ethical way of life
that, once embraced, brings immeasurable joy and wonder to everyday living. Simply Put, the Craft is a serious religion."

Page 4: "Magic on the other hand, is defined as the change of any condition by ritual means. It's nothing more than a simple manner of channeling focused energy toward a specific goal. In fact Christians do it all the time. They pray for something and they get it. Whether God answers their prayers or not is anybody's guess" (I wish to thank Ms. Morrison for having the courage to put this in print, and taking magick out if the supernatural arena.)

Page 7-8 lists a fairly complete version of the Wiccan Rede.

Ms. Morrison Suggesting that people use what they have as substitutions. Here is one such example.

Page 61 "If you can't find dried chamomile, don't fret. Just pick up a box of Celestial Blends Sleepy-Time Tea at the supermarket. It's made of chamomile and will work just as well."

(Scott Cunningham (another Wiccan author) in one of his books relates the story of using a butter knife to cast a circle after forgeting his athame. The power is in you. Not in powerful spells or that you use expensive tools. If the Wiccan path resonates with you. Start where you are.)

Throughout the book Ms. Morrison cautions people about various herbs that are dangerous. ( I am very glad to see that. Just because herbs are natural; doesn't mean they are always safe. A little digitalis from the herb Foxglove can save a heart patient's life. Too much would be fatal.)

Page 97: "This tool isn't something we purchase. It isn't something we cull from a tree or create of our own accord. Yet it holds unsurpassed magical power -- magical power so advanced that nothing else comes close. This tool, of course is the human brain." (Well put, and I could not agree more! I will only add that meditation and visualization exercizes will enhance your mental focus.)

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I do question the following sections in the book.

1. Why does Ms. Morrison place the spells in the text of the book? (In my opinion a separate section of spells would make it easier for people to find what they are looking for.)

2. Why are there 13 complete Esbat rituals in the book? (One Esbat ritual with a seperate chart of colored altar cloths, candle colors. flowers, etc used on the altar would have been sufficient.)

3. Why does Ms. Morrison list a chart of dream symbols on pages 179-184? (Everyone's dream symbology is individual to them based on their previous life experiences. If two people dream of dogs, the dream interpretation may be radicaly different; especialy if one person always perceived dogs as loyal companions, and the other person had been attacked by a dog.)

4. Pages 189-191 about stones.

a. Green Agate. (Is this the Green Moss Agate?)

b. Blue Agate (Is this the Blue Lace Agate?)

c. Apache Tears. (This stone is also called Obsidian by lapidaries.)

d. Adventurine. (This stone is also called Green Quartz by lapidaries.)

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I perceive three weak areas in the book.

1. teaching the readers how to raise and direct power. Magick is like a bank. You can only get out what you put in.

2. Ms. Morrison uses word pictures to describe altar layouts. Many people are visual and need illustrations.

3. I don't recall Ms. Morrison encouraging readers to keep a book of shadows or creating their own spells.

Personaly; I would suggest that you add "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham to your library to fill in the weak areas of this book.

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I was disappointed to read on page 77 of "The Craft"; Ms. Morrison suggests using three drops of your blood in the consecration of your athame.

In my opinion; blood rites have no business in Wicca; ecause the rede stresses harming none (including yourself).

(...)

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

This book was to happy go lucky for my taste. She got her point across but not in the way I would like it to be presented to me. The best part and the redeeming quality of this book is the actual tool making process and how to go about obtaining and also creating them from scratch. I do not recall any other book that has this specific and detailed information in it as far as how to make/construct your ritual magic wand and pentacle. She also gives very good ideas/points on how to go about the process and stresses the point of taking your time while hand crafting the magickal wand and pentacle from natural earth sources. The author also gives tips on where to look for a chalice and athame which is also part of the witches tools. This is important because the tools of the trade are the witches way of directing and or banishing positive and also negetive energy. They also assist the witch in bringing out the desired out come/change by altering their conscious during ritual and spell casting. The value of this book is the tool part , the rest of the book is o.k. but I did not like the tone. It is , however , a beginers book so maybe that was probably the authors intent. It also had very good visualization excercises in it and that takes some practice/time to master which can be challenging to say the least. One may feel silly and stupid for trying/doing the excercises but they are for good reason. The reason for this section is to assist/gear the practitioner to "visualize/see" his/her desired goal/physical manifestation so clearly in perfect detail that it brings it (the goal) into frusion when coupled with appropriate ritual and spell casting. These mind excercises will take practice. They are a real mind bender. But that is what witchcraft/magic is , "The mind" and how you condition it an alter it from normal conditioned thinking.

I have been An active Solitary Pract. for 3 years now. When approached by a friend asking questions about how he can learn more about Wicca I dove into my vast library of books to find one that would help give a decent eye opening view. When I stumbled across "The CRAFT" and its companion (Which I forgot I had purchased years ago). Having never read it I was intrigued as to why, I opened it up and started reading could not believe what I had missed out on. A lot of the facts Mrs. Morrison covers where not explained as in depth when I first begin my path in a small coven years back. I loaned the book and it companion to my friend who when he returned it to me said "WOW I never knew how warm one could feel after reading a book and actually doing to exercises." I would suggest this book and its companion to any new comer to the craft. Not as a sole source but, defiantly as a starting point. A few others I have enjoyed are Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for Solitary Practitioners and Living Wicca a further guide. Good luck and Blessed be!

The Craft is, without a doubt, one of the best Wicca 101 books on the market today. Set apart by detailed lessons on magical and mental theory, this book does more than just explain the Craft. It gives interested parties an actual starting point, and that's something that other books of this nature simply can't boast.

While it's true that a Book of Shadows is a personal project and can't be purchased in a bookstore, this book reflects the knowlege that Ms. Morrison amassed over the years and is gracious enough to share with the world. It is, indeed, a Witch's Book of Shadows - her Book of Shadows - and provides an excellent guideline for those who wish to create their own. I will definitely be adding this book to my 101 curriculum.

This was the first book on Witchcraft I purchased/read. Initially, I found some of the excercises a bit daunting, but I pressed on and got some very interesting and rewarding results. Ms. Morrison does an excellent job of teaching the reader about the foundations of and methods of practicing Witchcraft. I still refer back to this book from time to time, and have incorporated many ideas from the text into my Rituals and Celebrations. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to really dig in and get started... whether you agree with Ms. Morrison's approach or not, at the very least you will gain an excellent understanding of the basics.

I guess I'm what you would call a solitary witch and if I would associate my craft to any known one, it would have to go with wiccan.
I gave this book the highest rating on here because I find that this woman took great time and responsibility to give detailed information in the most simplest of terms, and it was delivered in a light-hearted,humorous tone. It's simple and to the heart.
I know that there is a vast growing amount of people interested in witchcraft and there are many roads and choices to make. To have a clean start, simply buy this book. It is worth your money and time. Just reading a few pages will let you know if this path or any path in general is good for you.

after getting my first book on Wicca at the local library, I went looking for more. I found The Craft.It told me so much I wanted to know, and really led me along the path that was beckoning me. I've been a pagan for a long time, but I've only found out about Wicca a year (and a day) ago. Goddess bless the internet! If you want to learn how to make up rhyming spells, do lessons, and gather information, this is a great book. The only thing I found kind of fluffy was Dorothys repeated references to "doing good deeds" .Everything else in the book is very worthwhile.