Customer Reviews

Hereditary Witchcraft: Secrets of the Old Religion

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Unlike many authors on the modern practice of Witchcraft, this author provides historical documentation that supports his claims. His presentation of Italian Witchcraft, as he reveals it, is rooted firmly in the classical era writings on Roman Witchcraft as well as trial transcripts from the Inquisition in Venice and 19th century writings by primary Italian folklorists who investigated Witchcraft in northern and central Italy.

What I found of particular interest is the historical documentation of aspects of Italian Witchcraft involving ritual circles, cakes & wine, elemental spirits, full moon gatherings, and the classic altar tools, all of which pre-date Gardnerian Wicca by several centuries in Old Italy.

It is refreshing to see historical documentation back up the claims of a modern writer on Witchcraft. If you are interested in an authentic system of old Witchcraft, supported by the facts, then Grimassi's book is the one to pick.

One of the advantages of reading an author like Raven Grimassi is that you don't have to worry about whether or not the information is correct or not. He is the Grimass, the head of the clan, and a leading authority on the subject of Italian Witchcraft. His information is accurate, timely, and well-written. Each book he writes, you think he couldn't do another and yet he has a wealth of information for todays student.

This book is presented like a Book of Shadows. He begins with a historical presentation of the Craft and of Strega. Next are some brief myths and legends concerning the God/desses of the Old Religion and a discussion of familiar spirits. do you know what a Lara Shrine is? Why they use fava beans? What are the Blood Secrets of the Craft?

The next section has spells that are more than 100 years old! Including a charming spell for Fairy Dust and a Fairy Sight Stone. The chapter devoted to Rituals is done in great detail with complete scripts, altar layout, gestures, and explanations of the Sabbats. It is highly useful and interesting presentation.

Much of the book is devoted to divination, sigils, talismans and more. Can you read the Tuscan Runes or the Sea Magick Runes? Learn the influence of the lunar mansions and more by reading this powerful book!

Thank You Mr. Grimassi, for giving us a view of what it is like to grow up in the Old Ways. This book is amazing! In one book, we get a deeper persective of the historical and cultural background of Italian Witchcraft, solitary rituals for those of us who are out there alone, and the further tales of Aradia!

There is more than one Italian Tradition out there..no one can claim a definitive version of stregheria. Mr. Grimassi makes that very clear in his introductions. Anyone who thinks this book represents *italian wicca*, obviously hasn't read it. And, who cares if his real name is Grimassi or not?

Unfortunatly he does not reveal any real secrets of Sicilian Strega. The secrets are still safe. Maybe one day the public will know, then again maybe not. Is this book still worth it? Oh yes. Raven Grimassi is one of a kind with the Italian tradition of Strega (Strega=Witchcraft) He made up his own tradition the Araidian tradition from an older tradition. Here in this book you will learn about the history of the witchcraft of Tuscany and Italy. He teaches about the diffrent aspect of the Goddess Diana. He also teaches about her consort Dianus. He gives out wonderful rituals and spells. He also gives a bit of info on the Lasa and Lare (the fairey folk) and how to make your own Lara and Lasa shrine. This is a good primer on Italian Witchcraft and wonderful for the beginners of the Craft as well. The auther does a wonderful job.

In this book Grimassi draws upon the works of several folklorists who investigated Italian witchcraft during the late 1800s. He also incorporates traditional material that once resided exclusively within family traditions.

Although the author does refer to Leland's Aradia material, there is less of this in this book than appeared in his previous work - Italian Witchcraft. One reviewer complained that Grimassi is "intent on proving that Leland's book is a big fat lie." This is incorrect. Grimassi claims that although Leland's material is based upon pre-existing Italian Craft material, Leland's account is an altered version with Judeo-Christian overtones. The myths and other material that Grimassi uses from Leland's book are the pre-existing portions with which Grimassi agrees was in the original form. Therefore Grimassi presents it in order to educate the reader as to what is authentic Italian Craft lore. The portions with which Grimassi disagrees, he attributes to Christianization of the older material.

This is a great book for a look at authentic Italian Witchcraft. But a warning, if you skim read this book (which is always a pointless way to try and learn anything) or don't have the ability to comprehend intellectual text, you'll most likely come away with a sense that you've found some treasures but see some flaws.

Hereditary Witchcraft is a look at an older and authentic form of Witchcraft. This book contains information not found in any other book on witchcraft. It is perhaps the only book in print today that provides real clues as to the old ways of witchcraft.

As an initiate of this tradition myself, I must correct the erroneous conclusions drawn by the reviewer who stated that Grimassi "admits he was not taught strega by his family and he wasn't raised in a strega famly." What Grimassi says on his website is that he does not directly mention his family in the Hereditary Witchcraft book, nor in THIS book does he make any claims as to being raised in a Strega family (and nowhere in the book, nor on his website, does he deny being a hereditary witch).

Grimassi does NOT ever say on his website, nor in any published material, that he is not a hereditary witch nor that he never learned witchcraft from his relatives. On his website he is simply correcting book reviewers that incorrectly claim he makes statements specifically in his books 'Hereditary Witchcraft' and 'Italian Witchcraft' as to being raised in a family tradition, which he does not. Grimassi intentionally does not discuss his family in any of his published writings, as it is a private and personal matter.

So, if you're interested in knowing something about an authentic form of hereditary witchcraft, then this is the book for you. It is written by one of the few authors both knowledgeable enough and willing to discuss the hereditary path.

When one reviews a book, one must first read the entire book (including the introduction) in order to understand it before writing one's review. Amazon's review pages would present more informed opinions if people simply employed this basic and appropriate approach. Also, in understanding a book, one must also take into account the Publisher's role. A book is packaged for presentation by the marketing department (not the author) and the enitre cover (front and back) is designed by the sales staff.

Bringing this light to bear on Grimassi's book, I offer the following opinion. The material in this book seems to be a sincere attempt at presenting edited teachings and concepts reflective of the author's training and personal perspective. I see nothing deceptive in that. As a professional folklorist, I do recognize authentic elements of the ethnographic material presented as Italian lore. I also recognize modern elements that appear to be the creation of the author, and I've found nothing in the book to indicate that the author is trying to present this specific material as anything otherwise. Instead, the reader is gifted with an excellent balance of old and new.

As an occultist, I know that one can only receive and understand what one is prepared to embrace. The fool laughs at what the master would readily bow to. In Hereditary Witchcraft the author has artfully veiled his teachings, as anyone truly knowledged in the Old Ways would quickly and clearly see. To be blinded to this reveals either one's personal agenda, or one's lack of preparedness. No mystery is closed to an open mind and heart. The sincere seeker will be rewarded in the pages of Grimassi's books. So, if you're looking for a guide to the Old Religion, the ways of authentic Witchcraft, then I highly recommend this book.

This book is an excellent blend of lore, history, and mythology, fully supported by excerpts from ancient historians, witch trial transcripts, and the writings of several prominent folklorists. A reviewer has suggested that Grimassi made up the system he writes on, however the documentation of a well established 19th century tradition of Italian Witchcraft is quite evident in the research material contained within Grimassi's book.

Italy, like most regions of Europe, has many diverse folk traditions and beliefs. For example, the traditions of Witchcraft on the island of Sicily historcially differ from the traditions on mainland Italy, as do many folk beliefs and practices. No one can reasonably lay claim to the One True path of Italian Witchcraft. Grimassi certainly does not, but simply writes on the tradition he knows best. Some reviewers have claimed that Grimassi's material is Gardnerian Wicca with Italian seasoning. However, anyone of reasonable intelligence (and not buried in their own agenda) will easily see the compelling counter evidence presented in Grimassi's book. Grimassi demonstrates that many of the so-called Gardnerian aspects of Wicca are found half a century earlier than the writings of Gardner. Grimassi draws on the 19th century writings of several key folklorists who wrote on Italian Witchcraft, fully documenting a pre-Gardnerian system of Witchcraft that resembles modern Wicca.

Like any credible author, Grimassi has pointed out revisions to his earlier work, stating that he wished to reveal more information in a less watered-down version as time passed. I think the author is to be applauded for his openess and willingness to share, instead of hiding behind claims of unspoken secrets he knows of but cannot speak of.

In Grimassi's book he focuses on Diana and Dianus as the deity forms for the ritual work contained in the text. First century BC writings, such as those of Horace, Lucan and Ovid, speak of Diana and Proserpina, often equating them as one and the same deity. The descent of the moon beneath the horizon was symbolic of the descent of the goddess into the Underworld, linking the goddesses together. Grimassi does an excellent job of gathering the ancient myths and legends into one cohesive system for modern practice.

This is a great book and a must read for anyone seriously interested in the Old Religion. The appendices alone are worth buying the book!

This newest book by this author gives us a real in depth view on the history, philosophy and practice of this ancient art. It covers a wide variety of fascinating topics from ancient Tuscan runes and the use of herbs, to the non-initiate rituals, the myths and folk charms. Many of these charms are even given in the original Italian. The author's writing style and frankness is a breath of fresh air. Hereditary Witchcraft is a credit to the edification of the Pagan community and beautifully serves to preserve this beautiful and powerful tradition.

In his book HEREDITARY WITCHCRAFT, Raven Grimassi reveals his family's secrets about the ancient religion inherited from Italian ancestors and known as "The Way of the Strega" or Italian witchcraft. Grimassi says his purpose in recording these family practices is to ensure they will not be lost to future generations.

Grimassi connects his family religion to the ancient Celtic religion of Europe which existed before the advent of patriarchial relgions from the east (Judaism, Christianity, Moslem). The old religion (La Vecchia Religione) was pantheistic and contained numerous gods and goddesses -- many known to those who study what moderns call Roman and Greek myths. The most important of the Goddesses was Diana the Queen of the fairies or witches and her consort Lucifer the God of Light. Grimassi says the true characteristics of Diana and Lucifer were distorted by those who sought to make the old religion appear evil.

Grimassi says his family religion is tied to the people known as the Etruscans, who once inhabited the land known as Tuscany. Many old relics from these times can be found in museums all over the world, and some artifacts have been handed on through families.

Although Grimassi bases much of his book on the oral stories and practices passed on to him by family members, he also refers to numerous texts about witchcraft and the old religion written by by Leland, Groves, and Frazier, and others. A bibliography is included for additional reading.