Customer Reviews

A Grimoire of Shadows: Witchcraft, Paganism, & Magick

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

"A Grimoire of Shadows" was origionally written as a training book for those just entering the Gardnerian tradition of Wicca. It has been added to, and expanded, for publication, and should prove very useful to the new, or advanced, student. None of the secrets of the Gardnerian tradition are revealed, and this book can stand as a tradition in its own right (and has, many eclectic groups started with this book).

The training excersizes are very good, and it does an excellent job of teaching students how to avoid the common energy working pitfalls. If the suggested training regimen is followed then the student will develop an admirable level of both discipline and control.

If you are looking for a simple spellbook, then this is NOT the book for you. Likewise, if you are not interested in a disciplined approach to magic, or in magical/psychic excersizes which require practice, then your money is better spent elsewhere. If, however, you find clearly written and organized structure and excersizes useful, then you will be very pleased with this book.

The structure and discipline should be able to be incorporated into anyone's practice.

This book is designed for a beginner, and makes no assumptions as to any previous knowledge the reader may bring to the text. In that sense, Mr. Fitch has produced a remarkable volume. For the more experienced practitioner, however, Mr. Fitch may come across as a bit stiff and stilted. While his Gardnarian influence is ever-present, Fitch avoids the pitfall of saying his methods are the only methods. But one thing is clear. The Craft requires discipline and learning and patience (facets most beginning books on the subject gloss over in their "find your own path" disregard for self-discipline). It is not a perfect book, but it is a great stepping-stone for the curious or novice in the Craft.

I am a bit appalled by the negative reviewers out there who say mean things about this precious tome of real magick! I suppose "pop wicca" by bestselling authors who know very little about real Witchcraft, the way it was meant to be practiced, is more appealing to these folk! I love this book and use it quite frequently. I feel it is very modern in its approach and contains some wonderful illustrations.

Mr Fitch is a modern guru of Witchcraft that is very underrated in the world of "pop wicca". It is interesting to note that many of his beautiful rituals appear in many other books published by Llewellyn. He is not even given credit! He claims most of these rituals are all public domain. Indeed, they should be.

His magical training section is very difficult and should be at least tried by anyone seriously interested in the craft. He personally invites anyone who masters these techniques to contact him through the publisher. Good luck to all who attempt them! Mastery is surely a sign that one is a real Witch!

Call me old fashioned, I feel this is the way that witchcraft should be practiced. A year and a day passes quickly. Why not savor them with study and reflection? Sadly, this volume has gone out of print. It should be required reading for anyone attempting the path.

I have yet to read a book that carries mind-power teaching to the extent/level that this book demonstrates. It goes so much farther beyond the usual meditation exercises and shows us what we are truly capable of. Amazing! (If anyone knows of another book that is similarly informative, please e-mail me!)

Most of the reviewers of this book have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, but then why should their reviews be any different from all the others commenting on Neopagan books one reads nowadays? People, why don't you do your research before opening your mouths and aimlessly letting your words fly?

Listen to what reviewer Troyce of Texas has to say about this book, and ignore the people who talk about Druidism, balance, and rolling in their graves. This text is not Wicca at all, but an introductory course written for those seeking to learn non-oathbound material, PRIOR to learning Wicca. It is also the basic text of it's own for a later developed path called The Pagan Way, which still exists and originated in Chicago (use your search engine).

The reason the material may appear "dated" to Eclectic Wiccans is because it was written many years before there WERE any Eclectic Wiccans. Llewellyn books did not exist at this time; nor did any other books by Scott Cunningham, Silver Ravenwolf, et. al. There was only British Trad Wicca and British Trad Witchcraft (Cochranites, etc.) in Great Britain; in the US there was added to these the California contingency dealing with Victor Anderson and Gwydion Pedderwen and co., and a few others. Everyone else who now has a book out on "Wicca" was probably either just a gleam in their Daddy's eye or in diapers- or at most, still making out with their sweetie in the highschool parking lot.

Pick up this book or leave it alone, but at the very least make sure your decision is guided by some actual, solid facts; not just opinion based on the way some other uninformed reviewer "feels" about something.

(There now, that lack of smell in the air is the absence of BS, which has just been swept into a plastic bag and carted away. Don't you feel that the air is a bit less pungent now? More conducive to clearer thinking this way, wouldn't you say?)

Though this book offers many rituals of the craft I would highly recommend this book for the magckal training section. Within these powerful pages you will find many great rituals and suggestions for your craft practice. I have been trying to complete his magickal training section for sometime now and I say any solo practioner no matter how long you've been practicing, should pick up this and try completing his magickal training if you already haven't. Viva la Wicca.

When Initiates of Wicca started on their path they were required to study for a year and a day, this would definetely be a top pick to give a new student!

one of the greatest books of the inner court. a great book for any pagan or follower of the wiccan ways.

The tone of this book is set in the opening pages of the introduction where Mr. Fitch describes why he wrote the book It was originally designed as a text to be used in teaching initiates in the Gardnerian tradition but to contain no real information or "secrets". The book was, according to Mr. Fitch, carefully edited to make sure it did not resemble the real Gardnerian Book of Shadows to closely. A Grimoire of Shadows does however maintain the rigid, posturing and sexist attitudes of the "true" Gardnerian Book of Shadows. The Priestess is, as always, in charge and the Priest is relegated to being little more than an alter boy. The rituals presented are stiff and full of stilted language that, I suppose, is designed to make it sound as if it were old and important. In reading these rites I felt no spark of spontaneity or real emotion. One of the most disturbing ideas contained in the book is the idea that the priestess and priest of a coven are selected for their good looks and winning personalities. "The most beautiful and most magnetic young woman shall act as the Priestess, and the most comely, dynamic young man shall act as the Priest." (page 17) This is certainly not a book I would recommend to the beginner or experenced individual. It is very simply an unpleasant book.

As with most Wiccan books, Fitch's writing contains informative pieces on Wicca's rituals, spells, and especially magickal training. However, some of this author's attitudes (mostly in the beginning sections of his work) that merge with his beliefs are archaic and disturbing, and discredits much of Wiccan philosophy. I would recommend it only for its magickal training, and I warn anyone to disregard Part 1 - and subsequent bits of other sections - of this book, if they chose to read it at all.