Goth Craft: The Magickal Side of Dark Culture (Paperback)

by Raven Digitalis (Author)
Key Phrases: industrial music, Musical Tastes, Green Witches, Aleister Crowley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Many people associate Goth with either the Columbine massacre or Marilyn Manson. But Digitalis, a neo-pagan priest, provides readers an opportunity to expand their horizons about Goth culture by starting with the basics: What is a Goth? Digitalis not only provides a history of Goth culture, but also includes a cheeky, fun catalogue of Goth types (complete with corresponding photographs) that span the spectrum—from CorporateGoths and Fetishists to MopeyGoths and PerkyGoths. Goths are dark witches, Digitalis explains, who practice the magick of the Middle Path, the balanced path between light and dark that includes intense, sometimes unpleasant magickal workings, but should not be confused with black magic. The remainder of this handbook is devoted to witchcraft—from rituals to a glossary of tools—Goth-style. Digitalis also spends a good deal of time advising readers how to handle sadness, suicidal thoughts and frequent crying, even suggesting traditional therapy as a way through Dark Emotionalism. Perhaps most fun for the uninitiated is Digitalis's thorough guide to obtaining Goth style with advice on clothing, the all-important makeup and piercings, among other things. Primarily, Digitalis wants readers to understand that Contrary to popular belief, doom and gloom does not penetrate every aspect of Goth culture. (Sept.)
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Review
"An insightful, honest, and spiritual exploration of the intersection of witchcraft and goth culture not only for those who have a foot in each of these worlds, but also for those explorers on one side, seeking to know the ways of the other." ???Christopher Penczak, author of the Temple of Witchcraft series -- Christopher Penczak "book blurb"

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738711047
• ISBN-13: 978-0738711041
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #525,703 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, September 21, 2007

By	Michelle Belanger "author, lecturer, and avid... (NE Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I first heard of this book, I was a little leary. Over the past few years, there has been a spike in interest in all things dark as it pertains to magick, and there are some books out there that seem to have been cranked out sheerly to fill that marketing need. Not so with Goth Craft. Raven is writing from the perspective of someone who loves both magick and the Gothic subculture. He is steeped in the music, the aesthetics, and the philosophies of Goth, and this clearly comes through in his treatment of the subject of how and where Goth intersects with magickal practice. The book is genuine and well-researched, with a wide range of information. The very visual presentation of the book is an added bonus, and it really serves to underscore the fact that Goth has a strong aesthetic component. If you've ever wondered what those somber, black-clad souls were doing at your Pagan Pride Day, this is the book to help you understand.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful first publication from a promising new author, August 21, 2007

By	Lupa (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This is one of those books that had the potential to be either really good, or abysmal. Fortunately, Raven managed to stick to the former, avoiding a trainwreck of trendiness and black-dyed fluff.

If you're unfamiliar with the Goth subculture beyond a few outward trappings, this book will give you a solid introduction to the whys, hows, and manifestations of what it is to be Goth. However, like the introductory material on witchcraft that he presents, Raven manages to avoid dogma and snarkiness. This will make Goth Craft a particularly good guide for teens and early twenty-somethings who are just getting into both the Goth subculture and witchcraft, though people who are more established in one community or the other shouldn't turn away, either.

What I really liked about this book was the fact that it doesn't shy away from potentially controversial material. The ritual use of drugs, sex (vanilla and otherwise) and gender issues are some of the topics that are covered in a respectful, intelligent manner. Raven also includes a good collection of rituals and spells aimed at the appreciation of the darker end of the spectrum of life, and provides some refreshing ideas to work with. He also shows the magic in "everyday" elements of Gothic culture, including conscious application of makeup and clothing, and the use of dance for reaching altered states of consciousness.

I would consider Goth Craft to be primarily 101 level material, but it's on the higher end of 101-there are explanations of common pagan symbols and correspondences filtered through a Gothic worldview, but there's also a good collection of further resources. And I learned quite a bit about the Gothic subculture that I hadn't known before. So while the target audience seems to be younger folks in the Goth community who are interested in witchcraft, I suggest giving this book a chance if you're interested in a darker approach to magic that is well beyond the ooga-booga spookiness and sensationalism that some prior texts have fallen prey to.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not fluffy in the least, October 8, 2007

By	Aradian (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Raven has done it! This is one of the books that will make modern magickal practitioners think.

The Gothic subculture, and the pagan community have been related and yet so far apart for a long time. Many Goths identify with pagan beliefs, yet many pagans are pushing Goths away for fear that we will become less accepted if the "modern world" finds that we are exactly as they have portrayed us to be, no matter how untrue that would actually be.

Raven have finally wrote a book from the perspective of an initiated Witch and Priest, who is also a Goth, who knows what he is talking about regarding both communities. Plus, he covers controversial topics such as sex, drugs, and body modification. It is time for us as pagans and Witches to start evolving our Craft, and to do that requires new thinking. I believe Raven has given us that opportunity.