Customer Reviews

The Goddess and the Tree (Llewellyn's Modern Witchcraft Series, Witches Qabala, Book 1 Formerly the Witches' Qabala) (Bk. 1)

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I use this book in teaching the Tarot to my students. A grasp of the Qabala is essential to an in-depth study of the Tarot. Many Western people find the Qabala hard to digest though because it is shrouded in Jewish mysticism which is a study all of its own. Reed makes the Qabala accessible to the Western mind. Her essays are well-written and easy to understand. She provides personal experiences to bring the reader to a greater understanding of each sphere of the Tree. Many of my students have claimed a better understanding of the Qabala after reading this book and recommend it to friends. I'll be happy to see Weiser bring this book back into print.

After reading a couple traditional books on the subject, I had almost given up on finding any use for the Qabala in my spiritual practice. Being a non-affiliated, neo-pagan practitioner, I found the male-oriented (and I happen to be male) judeo-christian foundation too restrictive. I was hoping to find some way of working with the Qabala in a balanced way. This book did a terrific job of helping me bridge that gap.

It introduces the traditional basics of the system, while at the same time offering thoughtful re-interpretations and a logical re-analysis of it's formation. After reading this book, I felt far more comfortable in making the system my own, without fear of diminshing it's original integrity with my own personal beliefs.

Understandably, a lot pagans and witches are passing up on the Qabala as a "patriarchal" and therefore incompatible practice. I don't blame them, I used to feel the same way. I hope anyone reading this review who feels the same way I did, will give the Qabala another chance by reading this book.

I like the writing style of Ms. Reed and her understanding of the "elements" wand, cup, sword and pentacle. Ms. Cannon switches the sword to the element of fire and the wand to the element of air-- she displays multiple trees of life all depicting various gems, animals, plants, and categorical information pertinent to the "tree". It is a book that blends and integrates the concepts of the Tree of Life with serious students of pagan/witchcraft. Excellent book!

I like the writing style of Ms. Reed and her understanding of the "elements" wand, cup, sword and pentacle. Ms. Cannon switches the sword to the element of fire and the wand to the element of air-- she displays multiple trees of life all depicting various gems, animals, plants, and categorical information pertinent to the "tree". It is a book that blends and integrates the concepts of the Tree of Life with serious students of pagan/witchcraft. Excellent book!