Customer Reviews

Mastering Witchcraft: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks, and Covens

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For most of the past four decades, Paul Huson's seminal work "Mastering Witchcraft" has remained in print. That alone should be a testament to its worth on the subject of witchcraft. An early reviewer in the 1970s called it a "genuine vade mecum" (do it yourself guide). The reviewer? Catholic Weekly.

From the opening pages to the resources and bibliography, this book contains much to set your mind thinking and your magic brewing.

Yes, parts of it are dated somewhat (the recitation of "the Lord's Prayer" backwards as a breaking ceremony has fallen much out of use to my knowledge, but back then it was fairly common) and the book is very much Not Politically Correct, which is just fine with me!

It is my firm belief that without this book, it is unlikely that we would have other fine texts such as those by Mike Howard, Nigel Jackson, and others who write on the subject of traditionalist witchcraft.

If you are looking for yet another Wicca 101 book, head over to the Big Ll Publishing Company and find the latest by Ravenwolf. If you are looking for something with substance, you will likely not find anything better than this to begin with.

Mr Huson is a Genius in my eyes. Mastering Witchcraft has nothing to do with Religious Witchcraft movements, it has nothing to do with Karma or the Three Fold Law, in fact it has nothing to do with the New Age Witchcraft movement of modern times. This book does not hold its punches back, the book is well balanced with both positive and negative magic, what New Agers label as Black and White Magic.
I am a big fan of Mr. Huson's work and enjoy his other books and novels. "The Offering" is a must read for those who want a Horror based on African Macumba (Vodou) magic, laced with Santeria.
But this by far has to be one of my favorite books of all time. While more receant books on Witchcraft have to do with Religion, and Karma, Mastering Witchcraft has to do with the ancient art of Witchcraft, leaving the religion aspect out of it. There is one part of the book though that made me laugh a bit. The "Our Father" backwards. Being Hispanic a Santero, Espiritista and a Brujo I often use the old Padre Nuestro, "Our Father" as is, because in itself it is a very powerful prayer in working Magic as are may Psalms. But besides the Our Father backwards, this is your choice if you use it backwards or not, the book is a must have for all Witches.
Many people ask me if I could recommend an English book on Brujeria as practiced by Hispanics, well this is as close to brujeria as you can get. Many people who gave it a negative are basically Wiccans. I respect Wiccans I just hope that they someday realize that all that is Witchcraft does not make it Wicca. One Wiccan reviewer talked like a Christian when he stated. "The Book tells you that in order to practice Witchcraft you have to sell your soul-- and that the book never tells you to whom. Basically as a Brujo we are taught that God rules over all things, Negative and Posative, Good or Bad. When you decide to practice Magic and Witchcraft you are in a sense selling your soul. Or dedicating your Soul. If you are a Christian Witch you sell your Soul to Yhvh, if you practice Lukumi you sell your soul to your Ruling Orisha. (Selling your soul is dedicating your soul.) In the same if you are a Satanist you sell your Soul to Satan. But all things are of God, evil and good. So if Satan is of God, and you sell your Soul to Satan, you sell your Soul to God.
Anyway this is a good book, a bit controversial, but a must read to all Occultists, Witches, and yes even modern day Warlocks, they exist in Spanish they are called Diableros.
I someday hope Paul Huson one day writes a second book on the subject, but until then, check out his other great books.

I'm one of the oldsters who purchased this very book in the early '70's. I was (and still am) entranced by the soaring prose that this book embodies. It set me on a life course that meandered ofttimes, only to return me to itself. I recall very well how the myriad burgeoning neo/pseudo-Gardnerians of the '70's and '80's turned their noses up at it and always bashed both the book and its highly knowledgeable author.

I recall reading all of the literature that began to appear under the aegis of Mother Ll and felt a pervasive sense of disappointment in that not one other book resembled in any way Huson's masterpiece, neither in content nor in the soundness of his recommended practices. And this was before the (so-called) "Wicca" emerged in the '90's, striving to "teach" those good little girls and boys who actually wanted to be like the "good witch" Glenda: behold - a great tradition trivialized and emasculated to serve a number of sociopolitical agendas that have nothing to do with true Traditional Witchcraft, such as that which Mr. Huson promoted.

I am gratified that in this first decade of the "new millenium" various and sundry exemplars of bona fide European, particularly British, Traditional Witchcraft groups of great antiquity are coming forth and challenging all the pink fluffy bunny crap and rhetoric we've been subjected to for over 3 decades. Mother Ll has tried to keep up with this challenge by its offerings in "goth" and "nocturnal witchcraft," but these too fall short. "The emperor in new clothes" and all that.

Over and over again Huson's original work continues to enthrall new audiences just as it did me over 35 years ago. As I said, the hauntingly beautiful prose that one finds in "Mastering Witchcraft" stands in sharp contrast to the teddy bear writings of the self-styled "Wicca" authorties. The book appears in a few editions but (as far as I can tell) it has never had to be edited or modified in any way. Its longevity and ability to stand on its own merits attests to its great value for all Trad Witches, new and long-established.

If you're a newcomer, read this book first. Then go to authors like Cochrane and others who have expanded our understanding of Traditional Witchcraft where Huson left off.

Mr. Huson outlines his book in the traditional european manner of witchcraft, no fluffy bunny milk-and-water nonsense. There is also a hint of hoodoo. As you can see from the book description, this is an excellent book for beginners wanting to follow the the true old ways. This book presents all the basics, including consecrating and charging tools, ritual preparation, tips on spellcasting, and some very useful talismans, amulets and sigils as well as some basic divination methods and some not-so basic methods such as a conjuration of the demon prince Vassago from the Lemegeton (Lesser Key of Solomon) and some old qabalistic spells as well, many derived from the old grimoires. Highly recommended.

Let me say two things before going indepth. Firstly, this book is a wonderful insight to Wtichcraft practiced as a working of power separate form moral and cultural implications instead of the usual Wiccan routine most modern practitioners are so accustomed to. Secondly, If you are a parctitioner, understand that this is an absolutely invaluable guide for the adept, for experienced practitioners, and for those who generally know what they're doing.

I do not reccomend this as your first 101 book. Most of the magical practices are more than a little dangerous to the inexperienced witch. Read "A Witches Bible: The Complete Witches Handbook" by Janet and Stewart Farrar if you want a basic cover-all of traditional Wicca; it's far less controversial and far more detailed. Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, Christopher Penczak, and Raven Grimassi are also good starter authors in addition to the Farrars. If you want to read this immediately AFTER getting a good grounding in more traditional practices, I highly recommend it as a comparative work and guide to less conventional craft, and to any student of more advanced workings,it's an invaluable, informative, and actually quite entertaining read.

Understand that this book contains hexes, curses, protective magics, love magics in the older sense of philters and spells targeting a specific person, divinations, and a goodly amount of things dragged from the older ceremonial grimoires, along with some very interesting innovations that are quite amusing and more than a little useful. It is a must-read for any serious student of magic, Witchcraft or otherwise. I highly recommend it to anyone who isn't too new to Wicca, Witchcraft, or other magical practices.

Thank Amazon.co to begin with.It was share excitement the way the package arrived in time in Nigeria.As for what i would have wanted to know before i purchased the book,it all has to do about ways of freeing myself and mankind from the bondage of ignorance imposed by the worldly powers we are forced to worship right from childhood,especially the church and the priest craft.it is particularly disturbing here in Nigeria and by extension all over Africa.Mastering Witchcraft will and can help indeed,only that some of the items mentioned are impossible to have in this part of the world.All the same the book is a real wonder and help.It is so refreshingly bold, fearless and straight to the point.I recommend it to all seeking ,what i may call soul freedom.An unintended exposition on the hidden wisdom, knowledge and neglected practices in Africa by a european.bravo.

Mastering Witchcraft is a time honored book of Traditional (NON wiccan) Witchery. Paul Huson has given the novice witch or warlock ( a traditional word often used by "wiccans" to mean traitor when in actuality it does mean male witch for some) an excellent place to start and take her or his first steps on the crooked path.

Since 1970, this has been the standard neophyte text book for many covens in the United States and is still used widely today. If you only ever buy one book on the subject of witchery, this should be it.

This book launched my Horticultural career. I became intrigued with the info but had to look up all of the unfamiliar plants, many medicinal and historical. The book is good but lists some inaccuracies for 'Bronze-Age' Wicca such as the use of iron for Sacred Knives. Great source of homemade incense.

The first thing that must be said about this work is that it is not flakey, new-agey, or Wiccan. It is instead fairly dark, and very much grounded in the works of various occult traditions. Huson's focus is not theology but practical occult workings. If you are looking for white-light sorts of things, look elsewhere.

Now, I generally enjoyed this work because there were small pieces here and there which helped me to flesh out my own tradition (Runic magic). A lot of bits and pieces of older magic have made their way into this book and this goes well beyond hermetic or thelemic elements which are clearly present.

The only negative thing I can say about the book though has to do with the ethical angle. I am not one of those who is unconditionally opposed to wrathful magic. However, these things are best in their place and I didn't feel like this book explored this sort of issue very well. Instead we have (what I believe to be) confused discussions of fallen angels, etc. I think that the occult arts really do require some systematic considerations prior to wrathful or harmful magic, but this is one of the most difficult aspects to get right in any book.

All in all, recommended, but don't let this be the only book in your library on the subject.

Huson is an excellent writer who presents a type of Witchcraft with a classical, hermetic, and formal feel to it, though this variety of Witchcraft does not feel nearly as exuberant or life-affirming, or creative or inspiring, as other forms which have more recently (since 1970) emerged or are emerging, perhaps from the individual practitioner's own soul. Some aspects of the Craft presented come across as offensive, for instance, the recommendation to commit oneself to the Craft by reciting "The Lord's Prayer Backwards." This may have been a traditional practice (I find it mentioned in Randolph's 1947 book, OZark Magic and Folklore) but it is one which should be relegated to the garbage bin. Besides the offense to Christianity, defining one's religion or path as "anti" someone else's, weakens it energetically. Similarly, modern practitioners may find it distasteful to read Huson write of Witch's Magic as directed at a "victim." As is the case with much "traditional" Witchcraft, as well as much written circa 1970, there are offensive heterosexist presumptions throughout. The Craft presented utilizes some of the customs of High Magic, such as the "Conjuring of Vassago" or other of the 72 spirits of the Lemegeton, or Cabalistic archangels. Many modern Witches would consider it presumptuous and rude to summon or invoke a spirit being with whom one has not had the decency to first establish a relationship, and many now would feel reluctant in any case to have the pantheon of deities or spirits with whom they would relate, be imposed upon them.
Huson does an excellent job discussing Witch Tools, Witch Runes, Divination, the subtle aspects of Magics of Protection, COunterprotection, Vengeance and Attack, including "Fascination", and gives some wonderful ideas for Spells, particularly Love Spells, which heavily emphasize the use of herbs, (although the variety of Witchcraft presented by Huson is more "Dark" than "Green", and is not one which carries a high note of rejoicing in the beauty of the earth and the abundance of her gifts, plant and otherwise, such as is kindled with "The Charge of the Goddess".) Though initially Huson writes that a "virulent imagination" is central for a Witch, he doesn't carve room for the use of one's own imagination in his rites and spells. Creative souls may find his instructions formal and cumbersome, and feel frustrated at the lack of opportunity to utilize their own imagination in creating their own spells. They will no doubt choose to use this book as a springboard for ideas rather than as a literal guide.