20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe not as bad as we might think............................, December 22, 2005
This review is from: Norse Magic (Llewellyn's World Religion & Magick) (Paperback)
This is my perspective on this book......
This book is filled with many errors. Here goes:
1. Djinni, Sylphs, and Gnomes are not a part of the Northern Tradition. Sylphs are Greek, Gnomes are Roman, Djinni are Persian. D.J. Conway, you have sinned!
2. Like many Wiccans, she insists on trying to merge Celtic and Germanic holidays. For an example, Samhain and Yule, all though celebrated on different months, represent the same thing. This is because the *growing seasons* for the Celts and the Teutons were different because they were located in different parts of Europe.
Shame on you, D.J. Conway. You have sinned!
3. Some Heathens may feel that "casting a circle" is not a part of Germanic Magic. Not true. This technique is mentioned in Anglo Saxon Manuscripts. See the Travelers Charm Anglo Saxon Magic by Godfrid Storms as well as Leechcraft by Stephen Pollinton. Therefore, this can be forgiven.
4. She made the error of mentioning Earth, Air, Fire, and Water as elements to be called in the corners. This comes from Greco-Roman sources. However, in the Prose Edda (the creation myth), there are five major elements mentioned: Ice (which is North), Fire (which is South) , Earth (which is "in the middle"), as well as Air and Water. The last two are not given any kind of directional qaulities in the creation myth, HOWEVER, the Vanaheim is said to be in the west and it is "watery" and their is a Storm Ent in the shape of an eagle the generates winds in Jotunheim, which is "to the east". She does say that one can opt to use the Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Ice elements and she does alot them in the appropiate directions and even mentioned the dwarves Nordhri, Sudhri, Austri, and Vestri. Therefore, she can be forgiven for this.
5. She mentions the "raising the cone of power". Many Heathens may disagree with this practice....I however, absolutely do not. In anceint germanic times there was a rite called the May Pole Dance in which participants dance around a pole while tying ribbons around it, this is done on "May Day" which is sacred to Freya and Frey. Here is the thing: A) energies ARE being raised, B) this is being done in a circular area and C) there is a pole in the middle. Therefore, if energy was being raised it would in fact form into a cone. This is basic geometry. Once again, this can be forgiven.
6. The last part of the book contains charms and various magics centered around herbs, stones, and metals. In all actuality, I actually didn't see anything that would contradict the practice of witchcraft as it was practiced by our ancestors. She also mentions the elves and the dwarves and there roles in the use of these substances. Don't see any problem there. Witchcraft, as a West Germanic magical practice (and not Wicca) is an ART, not a science. It is totally formless. ::makes a hammer sign:: You have been forgiven, D.J. Conway.
7. She mentions the use of an iron cauldron. This is non-Traditional because in anceint witchcraft it was beleived that iron is offensive to the spirits contained in the plants. This is beleived in alot of different cultures. I would not recommend burning herbs in them, and you may find that it has a distruptive presense when you try to raise power. Actually, this is why a "witch bottle" is used a a source of protection against witchcraft...it has nine nails made of iron inside of it. D.J. Conway, you have sinned!
What we have to consider is that some aspects of Wicca did in fact come from the West Germanic Tradition (like the casting of a circle and the raising of the cone of power as well as the use of metals, herbs, stones, and verbal chants), however it did get altered by ceremonial magic influences (ie the use of athames and the pentacle...but even then their is new evidence pointing to the use of a pentacle in the Northern Tradition, this symbol is found on belt buckles as well as arrangements of rocks in Northern Europe).
I think that this book would of been alot better if she did more research into West Germanic Folklore and covered things such as Familiars/Fetches (which were in fact used), Fith-Fath (or shapeshifting), the traditional use of the besom, hyde-faring (or "astral projection") through the Nine Worlds, Soul Lore, the role of the Dark Master and Scourging.
So really, this book has alot of mistakes. But it isn't totally worthless and has acted as a springboard for Greater Works for many people who are involved in the Northern Tradition.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A good start with a failed ending..., February 8, 2005
This review is from: Norse Magic (Llewellyn's World Religion & Magick) (Paperback)
While Conway's idea may have been in the right place, she unfortunatly did not do the required research. I am "Norse Wiccan" but luckily I did not base my Tradition on this book!
(I was forwarned before doing so!)
For those interested in building a Wiccan Tradition that is Norse or Germanic based I suggest the following books:
1) Wiccan: Beliefs and Practices by Gary Cantrell
- Not Norse, but a very good Wicca 101 book to serve as
a blueprint.
2) Witchdom of the True by Edred
- Shows how Gardnerian Wicca has its roots in Traditional
Old English "Wiccecraeft" and the Cults of the Vanir from
Scandinavia who worshiped the "Lord and Lady" (Freyr
and Freyja)as there primary deities. YOU HAVE TO READ
THIS BOOK!!! It's availible from Runa Raven Press:
http://www.runaraven.com/
3) Hammer of the Gods by Swain Wodening
- This is a book Anglo-Saxon Heathenism, but if read the
above book, you see why it is nessesary.
4) Germanic Heathenry: A Pratical Guide by James Hjuka Coulter
- This is the ultimate book on Germanic Paganism. A must
read!
5) Northern Mysteries & Magick by Freya Aswynn
- Aswynn is Asatru but with a Wiccan past, so her stuff
tends to be more on the "Vanic" side. Worth a read.
Using the above books, one can build a "Norse Wiccan" Tradition that is based on the historic folk traditions of Norse/Germanic Paganism, instead of the "fluffy bunny" and "New Age" stuff that Conway does with this book, which is basically a reprint of her Celtic Magic book with the names changed to Norse Gods and Goddesses.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Run away!!!, July 21, 2004
This review is from: Norse Magic (Llewellyn's World Religion & Magick) (Paperback)
I found this book offensive as a pagan. I have no problem with Wicca as a religion, nor with those that admit it when they plaster other people's gods and goddesses onto Wicca. What I do have a problem with is when one obviously did enough research on the Norse religion to know that it has very little in common with Wicca, and still claim that the Norse were Wiccan. Freya and Freyr as the main deities? Where did that come from? I guess Odin was too manly to be the principal male in her mind. The author not only ignored all research done by reconstructionists pagans, but she had to make Freyr, the most effeminate of the Norse gods, the principal male.
This was, unfortunately, the first book on the occult and Norse magic that I read. Luckily, I actually did some research on the subject, and was able to discard it as useless in under a week. I will say, however, the book is quite well constructed. I have ran over it with a truck, left it outside for weeks at a time, used it as a coaster, etc., and the cover hasn't even fallen all the way off yet.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
