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The Heart of Wicca: Wise Words from a Crone on the Path

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One of my gripes with the rapidly-expanding literature of Wicca is how so many books are either re-hashes of introductory material, or else "cookbooks" for spells. As far as the introductory material goes, I've yet to see a book published after 1985 that added anything to the masterpieces by Starhawk ("The Spiral Dance") or Janet and Stewart Farrar ("The Witches' Bible"). As for spell books, they're a joke, in my opinion. Wicca is not about lighting a green candle to get more money or a red candle to find a lover -- it is a mystical path of interior transformation grounded in reverence for nature and for the Divine as Goddess and God. Magic is not about "getting what you want" so much as it is about interior transformation and self-empowerment.

So, imagine my delight to find Ellen Cannon Reed's thoughtful new book, "The Heart of Wicca." The subtitle says it all: this slender volume is a wise commentary on the current state of affairs in the Goddess community, written not for the beginner or the curious onlooker, but for those who have made a commitment to pursue Wicca as their chosen spiritual path. Let me warn the reader: this book takes a clear stand for Wicca in its traditional form as an initiatory mystery religion, and as such may not appeal to the do-it-yourself, make-it-up-as-you-go-along varieties of "Wicca" promulgated by the likes of Scott Cunningham and Silver Ravenwolf. It even attacks the Starhawkian politicization of Wicca, arguing that as a mystical path, Wicca does not need to be involved in the temporal affairs of state (I disagree with Reed on this point, but that's a minor quibble compared to the overall positive message in this book). Basically, Reed affirms and celebrates Wicca as a mystical path of interior transformation, of personal growth through the mysteries of the Goddess and God as revealed through ritual, through community life, and through the process of initiation. This may not be the sexiest or most glamorous portrayal of nature religion, but I think it is honest and true; furthermore, it's a message that needs to be proclaimed -- loudly -- as a corrective to all the books that seek to pervert Wicca into some sort of spiritual fashion statement.

So this is not a book for beginners. If you're new to the craft, stick to the aforementioned "Witches' Bible" (to give you the traditional perspective) or "Spiral Dance" (to give you the eco-feminist perspective). But if you've already practiced the old ways for more than a year or two, don't waste your money on yet another "Wicca 101" book from Llewellyn Publishers: buy and read this book instead.

Heart of Wicca is not a very long book, only about 135 pages, but one I will use and refer to often. It is one of the best Wiccan books I have read in a long time.

Ellen's style is straight forward, brutally at times, and interspliced with her wonderful sense of humor. I found myself nodding constantly and at times laughing out loud at her wit.

She explains to us, in the introduction, that Wicca is an "initiatory Mystery religion" akin to shamanism. Included in the first chapter, is an excellent article, "Paganism at the Crossroads" by Skytoucher, expanding on the idea of an initiatory path, and calling for the preservation of "multi-headed Paganism", and the avoidance of a unified Pagan movement, which will stifle our diversity and flexability.

Ellen worries that traditions may be lost in a world where instant Wiccans are popping up everywhere, and calls for "Preservers of the Path"

She explains to us that "tradition" does not mean that there isn't room for growth. All Wiccan traditions have grown and changed over the years. These evolutionary changes have come about because they have been proven as practices to work, not just because someone has decided that they might look good or be fun to add

She knows that tradition is not very popular these days--that people want to do their own things, but wonders why folks want to "hack their way through the underbrush when there is a paved road just a few yards away". She also wonders why people seek out schooling and teachers in almost every facet of life, but when it comes to spirituality, especially Pagan spirituality, many prefer to go it alone, even though there are elders and teachers everywhere who would be more than willing to lead and guide.

Ellen says "You are either going to be fascinated by what we have to say, or you are going to throw this book down. And that would be a shame"

I agree-- that would be quite a shame

"Tarty Rating" *****

For those who know Ellen Cannon Reed, she is the author of "The Witches Qabala" and "The Witches Tarot". She has also done a book on pagan music.

For those who really know Ellen Cannon Reed, they have learned that she is a fiercely Traditional Wiccan and and a die hard traditionalist at that. That is why she is so valuable to the community at large. She keeps the flame of the original, unwatered down Wicca for all to see.

Her book, "The Heart of Wicca" attempts to explain why she is such a Traditionalist, explores Traditional Wicca and shows the pure roots of the original foundation of Wicca. She looks at initiation, symbology, Deities and all the other elements that comprise Wicca.

The Wicca Ms. Reed practices is not for everyone, and this book does explain why. Ms. Reed brings up very valid points worth reading and exploring.

Her call for standardized initiations is probably her best suggestion. Initiation used to be something to be proud of. However this, sadly, is not the case anymore. Ms. Reed approaches the subject with intelligence and presents her facts accordingly.

She also makes a good argument that all who choose the Wiccan Path should spend some time in a Coven, learning the basics of Wicca. If you are going to do something, do it right.

If you want to see where we came from, create a good solid foundation in your own life and learn this from someone who knows her business well then this book makes a great starting point.

Ms. Reed is a good teacher, with a solid, no nonsense background. And though not all will agree with everything she says within her book, she does give you a good background of what Traditional Wicca is. Understanding leads to tolerance and that is something that we all need within this diverse community known as Paganism.

I have taught traditional Wicca for many years and I am now requiring this book for all my students - past, present and future. It is the first and only book of its kind which explains quite clearly the volume of knowledge which is left out of most modern books on Wicca.

The first thing Ellen Cannon Reed does in this book is make an excellent point. Wicca, she says, is in danger of becoming something less than the personal, magical, spiritual path of initiation it is "meant" to be, and instead more of a traditional religion, with all the dogma, inflexibility, and lack of unique experience such religion tends to (un)inspire. She mentions this as a negative aspect of Wicca's growing acceptance in the larger world, but points out that it is accompanied by good things: more tolerance, more respect for the Earth, etc.

After this auspicious beginning, I expected a discourse on how to balance these positives and negatives, to find one's way in our changing world and our changing "religion," to find "the heart of Wicca." Instead, what I found was a thorough discussion of the author's coven and a similar neighboring one, covering their philosophies, dieties, ritual forms, and expectations for the student, leader, and aspiring covener.

While undoubtedly interesting and a worthy example of a good working coven, I do not consider this appropriate material for a book entitled THE HEART OF WICCA. As the author herself acknowledges, a single tradition can never be the final word on all things Wiccan. While I can see that Ms. Reed thinks the heart of Wicca is a personal and initiatory path (and I agree with her,) I don't see a lot of wide-ranging discussion about the various shapes that path might take, and how we can keep it alive day to day. I see only one path represented here, and it's represented as a instruction manual.

I also disagree with the book's subtitle: "Wise words from a Crone on the Path." Indeed, Ms. Reed is on the path and she has wise words to impart (I mentioned perhaps the most important in my opening paragraph), but this book reads much more like the literature that might be given to a prospective member of Ms. Reed's coven than like a book of the author's experience-born wisdom.

Read this book if you are interested in joining a "traditional" coven (particularly one that's Egyption-oriented), so that you will know what to expect, and so that you can decide if this is what you want. If you know that this is not you, or if you are already a member of such a group, just find this one in the library and read chapter one. This first chapter is the part that ought to be called THE HEART OF WICCA. The rest should be titled more factually: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A TRADITIONAL, INTIATORY COVEN is a bit cumbersome and not at all artistic, but at least it's accurate.

This was the first book on Wicca I read, and I am so pleased that I was able to get knowledge from a "Crone on the Path!" This book dives into the deep end of Wicca as a religion, not the "fluffy" new age stuff that so many books on Wicca are. While this book won't introduce the reader to the tools and "hows" of Wicca; the reader will understand the faith of Wicca.

I read this book from the perspective of a priestess in a young but comparatively rigorous tradition of Wicca. I have to say, from that perspective, that this book reaffirmed my faith that there is still a place for a Wicca that is deep, mystical, well-practiced, and transformative, and for that alone I will cherish it.

Ms. Reed says here many of the things I say to new students, along with many things I haven't thought to say but should have, and things I wish I dared to say. And she says them readably and with panache. I don't agree with every single word, but I would suspect one or both of us of being empty-headed if we touched on lofty subjects and never found anything to debate about.

So this book is, to my mind, the next best thing to actually sitting down with a serious priest or priestess and talking about what the Craft really means, and what a serious study of it will mean. It will be on my outer court's booklist from now on.

In _The Heart of Wicca_, Ellen Cannon Reed climbs into her pulpit and preaches a rousing, blistering sermon...to the choir.

Her contention is that most Wiccans don't take Wicca seriously enough. She lectures the reader about how we ought to be going more deeply into the religion than the gazillions of 101 books on the market. And I agree.

Here's the problem. The Wiccans who are only on the path because it's trendy aren't going to read this book. They'll toss it aside after a few pages. So will sincere newcomers to the Craft, once they realize the book doesn't provide much practical guidance for "going deeper", just a rant about how we should do so. The only people who are going to read this book from cover to cover are the people who agree with most of Reed's ideas. In retrospect, I think this book is just a feel-good book, allowing people who agree with Reed to pat themselves on the back for being better than Those Other Wiccans. And I reiterate, I agree with her points often. But after I read the book, I felt guilty for agreeing; I felt like I'd been caught acting elitist and stuck-up.

Don't worry, Ms. Reed--the kids who are only in Wicca because it's "cool" will leave as soon as something else becomes the rage--or maybe they'll stay and learn something. That's what happens to most of us. We start out as newbies in the Craft, often for the wrong reasons, and either move on or else go deeper into the religion and grow closer to the Gods. We've been doing it for years without this book to shame us into doing it. This book has one of two purposes--either it is written to shame newbies into practicing Wicca Reed's way, or else it is written as a bit of self-congratulation. Neither one seems healthy to me. We're not going to grow, spiritually, by getting smug about how far we've already come.

I have been Wiccan since 1978 and this book speaks more truly to what I believe is at the core of the Mystery of Wicca than any other book I have read. If your heart is called to take the more traditional route, then please buy this book. I have suggested that it be added to our training program in the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel. You may not agree with all of it but it will make you think. This book is a blessing.

The pagan communities of the world have had a long-standing division as to what 'The Craft' is all about. Wicca has been a sore point for many people, both those who are just getting started in the Craft, and those who have been in it for decades.

The Heart of Wicca is an excellent book which addresses that very subject. It opens our eyes to the purpose of both mystery and tradition in our teachings, through the eyes of the well known and well-respected high priestess and witch, Ellen Cannon Reed.

This book lays out in sensible language the reason why witchcraft is a mystery tradition, and not a religion, new or old. It explains the basis of the various symbols and methods of most common Wiccan traditions, and opens the wisdom of the Craft to both experienced priests and priestesses, and the newer generation of witches who want to know 'what it's all about.'

I highly recommend it to any and all who are learning the ways of the Craft. Reed has covered all the bases, and her 'no nonsense' perspective strips away a lot of the silliness that is the curse of modern Wicca.

Enjoy!