20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Truth & Some Fiction, August 9, 2002
This review is from: Gypsy Witchcraft and Magic (Paperback)
...
The myths and mysteries of the Gypsies have been with us for centuries. You may be familiar with the romantic stereotypes--traveling the countryside in painted wagons, cooking over campfires, living by their wits. But what of this is true?
Nobody is better able to share the realities of gypsy life than Raymond Buckland, a half-blood Romany and respected authority on Witchcraft. In Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic he reveals the folkways, beliefs, and magical practices of this vanishing culture.
In this award-winning book you will get a glimpse of traditional life in the vardo (Gypsy wagon) and find out how Gypsy ways live on today. Here you will learn to work real magic as practiced by the shuvanis (Gypsy Witches):
- Cast binding spells to prevent harm to yourself or others.
- Perform love spells to bring your true love into your arms.
- Have a reference for traditional herbal cures.
- Learn the secrets of performing hands-on healing.
- Learn to make traditional Gypsy charms for protection and exorcism.
- Discover how to tell fortunes with cards, stones, coins, and omens.
- Uncover the secret ways Gypsies used sex to enhance their magic.
- Learn about the peg-knife, or choori.
- Discover how to make a large bender tent that can be set up quickly and used to practice
shuvani magic.
- Make a breadboard to use in divination.
- Find out about Gypsy Shamanism, the inner mysteries of the Gypsies.
Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic shares Gypsy life, lore, and magic. It is written in a personal style that is fun to read as you learn the truth about these charismatic people. This book shares techniques, which you could not have found elsewhere. To learn the truth about the Gypsies and their system of Witchcraft, get Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic.
So much for the write-up by the publisher; now let's have a look at the book with more critical eyes:
In the introduction, unfortunately, we encounter the usual misconceptions regarding the origin of the Romani and the time of departure as well as arrival in Europe. But those "errors" are not the author's fault but are due to the usual academic sources from which they are taken, and that also keep perpetuating the myths that all Romani are Roma, and that groups such as the Sinti and Cale/Kale are just a sub-group of the Roma, which, however is not so.
The aforementioned aside, however, GYPSY WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC by Ray Buckland, is a well-presented book full of facts on the subject matter concerned and which I, as a Romano shivano, can truly recommend to all those of our fohki who have little or no knowledge of our religious practices (and witchcraft, divination, etc. is part and parcel of that) but who would like to get a basic understanding of them, with one of few reservations. In the main it does appear that Ray Buckland has dealt with the Romanichal practices but he has also intermixed some Roma practices here and there and that could be confusing to some.
There are certain "revelations" - if I may call them that - in the book that will come as something of a shock to some Romani readers and many will deny those fact but that does not make them less of a truth that they are. There is one thing that has to be rectified and that is that no Romani shiovani or shiovano would ever think of engaging in an act of sex with a "client" for the purpose of magic. That, I am afraid, is complete fabrication by the author. There are certain aspects that are being used, I admit that, however much some might refute that but there are other aspects that are mentioned by Mr. Buckland that are total fiction in this regard.
If you, as a Romani reading this book will do so with an open heart and allow the spirits to speak to you, you will come to understand more even than what is written here in the book. Suddenly your Race Memory will clock in and things will fall into place. Your own spirits will guide you to what is true and what is the author's imagination or something of which he has been misinformed.
There is one other most unfortunate "error" - if we can put it this way - though, which detracts rather a little from the otherwise well-written and well-presented book, which I being a churimengro (knifemaker) and shiovano felt I had to point out, and that is the matter about the "choori" (or "churi"): On page 136 Mr. Buckland writes "At fourteen, a boy will also make a knife (chiv or choori) for himself. This is often made from an old file or cut from an old saw blade. It is shaped like a small sickle and the tang is fitted into a slot in the hand-carved, wooden handle. This is used for making wooden flowers, clothespins, and for any other tasks around the campsite" and less than 20 pages further on, on page 151, he more or less contradicts himself on the subject of the churi when he writes "The Romanes word to "knife" is choori. ... The "peg-knife", as it is sometimes called, is usually made from and old kitchen knife. The blade is pulled from the handle and a new handle, made from wood, carved to comfortably fit the owner's hand. The blade is ground down until it is about three to four inches in length." The truth is that the second statement is correct and that is indeed the way the churi is made in the majority of cases, i.e. from an old kitchen or table knife with a spike tang. Most of the statement on page 136 is incorrect in that (a) most chavos would make their first churi for themselves well before the age of fourteen, more like at the age of six or seven as they will already then have to be part in making koshters, etc.; (b) the shape would not be that of a "small sickle" but that of the standard sheepsfoot blade (see small photo); a sickle-shaped one like the blade of the so-called French paring knife is rather limited in it's uses and is also very difficult to sharpen well; (c) the knife would not be made from an old file or saw blade, as it is rather difficult task. Making a knife from an old file or saw blade is a very difficult undertaking and would therefore only be done by proper knifemakers, as it requires the facility to anneal and later to re-temper the blade. One other point: the Romanes work for "knife" is "choori" while the word "shiv/chiv" refers to a double-edged blade, i.e. a dagger.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Have you no shame, Mr. Buckland?, January 13, 2004
This review is from: Gypsy Witchcraft and Magic (Paperback)
Disclaimer: I am not Rom, but I have done a bit of research on the subject. I welcome comments or corrections from anyone who knows more than I do... I suspect they will have seen many of the same errors I saw, and probably point out a few that I missed.
First of all: many people consider the word "Gypsy" to be an ethnic slur. I doubt that Llewellyn would have released "Secret Magic of the Coons," "Dago Spells for All Occasions" or "Hebe Witchcraft." As a self-proclaimed "Half-Romany," I'm surprised that Buckland didn't know that.
Second: the reason many Rom travelled from place to place was not because of their wild, nomadic spirits or their psychic connection with nature: it was because the authorities kept running them out of town. ("Gypsy Hunts" were part of European history as late as the 19th century; an 1835 roster for one German hunt lists "a Gypsy mother and her suckling babe" among the kills). Playing up to the "noble savage" image is degrading to a people who have been among Europe's most persecuted for centuries, and whose struggles continue to this day.
Third: the "Sex Magic" chapter is a complete abomination. Buckland plays yet another riff on the "noble savage" -- the idea that Rom are given to "free love." (He even claims that many Rom children have their first sexual experiences with their siblings... just like in Appalachia. No, I'm not making this up). In fact, the Rom have numerous taboos concerning sexuality and virginity is cherished and expected of a new bride. Buckland doesn't mention this, or the stringent menstruation taboos -- was he afraid of a backlash from Pagans who didn't want to hear about "repressive, sex negative cultures," or was he so busy trying to pimp the myths that he ignored the reality?
The only good thing about this book is the bibliography which Buckland helpfully includes: it's a pity he didn't actually read many of the works which he cites.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romany Magic, November 30, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Gypsy Witchcraft and Magic (Paperback)
Buckland incorporates elements of Romany culture as well as the Craft. There are brief translations of the Romany language, which is helpful if the practitioner wants to use the original incantations to cast. This book goes in depth about the beliefs behind the various methods of spellcasting. It tends to reflect some of the beliefs of Wiccans, and can act as a supplement to those wishing to branch out. There are recipies for natural remedies and the magical uses of different items, herbs, and stones. Novices can use it, but only after much practice, so it is almost better for those a step higher than Novice, who have mastered the basic techniques. It is an interesting read for the non-practitioner as well. There are patterns and pointers for traditional Romany dress, though not extensive, for those who want a basic idea for costuming. Overall a good book for those interested in the subject.
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