Customer Reviews

Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have read many, many books on Beginner's Wicca and WitchCraft and this is one of the best and is the first beginner's book I give five stars. This is a very spiritual book and includes an abundance of information as well as many of Laurie's own personal experiences which I enjoyed. This book contains in-depth historical information. Some people have questioned its' accuracy. I found most of the history to accurate, but no, like one book reviewer said, she doesn't really give a bibliography. After the history, Laurie gets into the Craft of the Wise. This book contains good information on Covens and Solitaries, and also good information on the Pentacle and the Magic Circle. This book contains a section on the Wheel of the Year. I was a bit disappointed on the area where she describes each sabbat, but she includes enough, she wrote a whole book on the Sabbats, that's why I was suprised she didn't write more. There is also good information about altars, crystals, stone circles/sacred sites, herbs, and Divination. The next chapter is excellent. It speaks about the Science of WitchCraft. She explains how magick and items (such as herbs and stones) work (finally, someone does, she also mentions light, and the seven hermetic laws. Her chapter on Alpha is excellent and very accurate. It is also very fascinating. Very well worth your time to give her practices a try. I'm not sure why other Wiccan authors don't get into this area more deeply. Her chapter on everyday magic is good, but she should have mentioned that not all Witches fix their altar like that. I'm afraid mine looks little like hers. Her information on Protection, Prosperity, and Healing magick is good, but her area on love magick (another area she wrote her own book on) was less than appealing, and she forgot to mention you shouldn't target a specific individual although she does speak about that area. There are some great spells in here, just have good luck finding some of those ingredients like wolf's hair, off a live shedding wolf for protection potion. The next chapter is also excellent, it's entitled "A Witch's Life: Milestones". It speaks about such things as marriage, handfasting, a large section on Witch Children, and an interesting section on Death. The final chapter, Witchcraft Tommorow is good, but in a sense, unrealistic. Laurie speaks about her plan to educate others on WitchCraft. Yeah, I liked this book, Yeah, I was very impressed with this book, and if you are a beginner, this is what WitchCraft is all about. Thank you.

Laurie Cabot has written a very informed albeit highly condensed book on the topic of modern Witchcraft. Not the best--DRAWING DOWN THE MOON by Margot Adler is the best--but this is almost as good, and in many ways the two books complement each other. Like Adler, Cabot frequently appears on television and radio shows so her voice is attuned to the ear--clear, concise, informative, and articulate. And, she knows her subject.

Cabot's history of witchcraft is reasonably accurate, and unlike some, not hysterical, just factual. As a result, she gets the story straight, and considering she wrote her history in the late 1980s, and tons of recent historical research was done in recent years (much of it refutes and/or recasts works which would have been available to her when she wrote the book), she is quite good. Of course Ms. Cabot has other means of "knowing" about the past than by digging through musty tomes.

I particularly enjoyed her section on the science of witchcraft. As it happens, my husband has a physics background so I could turn to him and say is this so, and is this so, and is this so...to which he replied yes, yes, and yes. I gained a great deal more insight into the workings of crystals and gems from Ms. Cabot and my husband. Take the clear quartz crystal. She says it emits energy. So I said to my husband, is this true to which he replied, sure, I once built a crystal radio. Quartz is a great conductor of energy (he works at the Patent and Trade Office today and patents computer related thingys, he used to work for AT&T and before that he was with the Army Signal Corps).

For years my husband has been reading about the wholistic universe and I figured it was some old scientific fiction junk, and lo and behold, here's Ms. Cabot saying witches knew this stuff all along and it seems science is corroborating it. And, she's on the record as saying so before science "discovered" it. I especially liked the part about the witches and the National Geographic spread. "Witches say Jupiter emits a blue light!"

I found a few mistakes--not all individuals have "x" and "y" chromosomes. At least that's not what I learned in biology. Ms. Cabot may be ahead of the times however, who knows. She is correct in saying all individuals have both estrogen and testosterone, however. I remember Dr. Estelle Ramey saying it was too bad men didn't have more estrogen in their systems.

Ms Cabot is quite funny in places. And, it is rather awesome how one can conceive and believe and achieve. The really neat thing about witchcraft is that it is open to all. It is our oldest form of religious expression. Why just the other day, they found another 10,000 year old cave painting in Italy. Of course it was a "horned" man. I thought of Laurie Cabot when I read the news.

If you don't read another book on the Craft, read this one! "Power of the Witch" gives an excellent overview of this positive spiritual path, going into plenty of depth on the history, practices, and scientific basis for the Craft and dispelling the disinformation that has been spread about its followers. Laurie Cabot's explanations are clear for those with no background in Witchcraft, but are still fluff-free and chock-full of information for those sincerely seeking the roots behind this belief system. I recommend it highly as a "first read" to anyone interested in the Craft, whether for the spiritual seeker or the merely curious. It will give an excellent foundation for all-around understanding, and open the door for further study to become a serious "Witch."

I can't describe how much it has opened my understanding, and helped me along my spiritual path! This is the best $13.00 I've spent at the bookstore in a long time!

If you read only one book on witchcraft, this should be the one!

One of the reasons "Power of the Witch" is such a great book, is that it gives a logical and calm presentation. This book does not preach, but deals with certain truths. It is also well documented. It is downright scientific. It is insightful, analytical, intelligent, and historically accurate.

"Power of the Witch" opened up an entirely new world of understanding, and revealed FACTS. I thought I knew a lot about this topic, until I read this book!

Reading "Power of the Witch" was an enriching and enlightening experience. Higly recommended!

This is a perfect first read for any aspiring witch or anyone with a curiousity. It is beautifully simple and straightforward, and Cabot is always honest about who witches are and what they do. She goes into a little background of the craft, as well as the basis for the recent resurgence of positive religions in general. The book is full of personal experiences and general truths. It not only explains Wicca to the observer, but also gives basic "getting started" advice to anyone interested in taking up the craft in earnest. This is wonderfully informative, and leaves one with a feeling of self-empowerment and confidence. Excellent for anyone. When I decided to practice as a solitary, I gave this book to my friends and family to explain what I was doing, and to expel any negative preconceptions that they may have had. It worked like a charm.

I honestly believe that RhiannonBTaylor is far too harsh on Laurie Cabot and her life-transforming book "Power Of The Witch".

Point 1: She did not appoint herself as the "Official Witch of Salem" but was so-appointed by the, then, Gov. of Mass. for her work with dislexic kids.

Point 2: Regarding the novel, "The Mists of Avalon", it was based on research regarding the myths of author, and some of the feminist theories of the time (none of which have, according to scholars, been disproven; they are merely unfavourable). It was also Starhawk, author od the acclaimed work, "The Spiral Dance", who had a heavy hand in aiding Miriam Zimmer Bradley in her research. Also, Cabot did not, exactly, turn to it as a source. And, she certainly did NOT, as you seem to infer, "quote" any portion of this title. Having read all the books meantioned, thus far, I can claim this with absolute certainty.

Point 3: Frankly, poking fun at the way one dresses or their appearence is unbelievably shallow, and shows merely grammer school mentality. One must also understand that this book is based upon her Tradition, of which she is the Founder (obviously). And, this should have been abundantly clear. So, when she sais it is "traditional Witch clothing," she is speaking about her own Tradition. I feel that this is far more clear in the British subtitle of this book, which is, "A Witch's Guide to Her Craft".

Point 4: I feel that you have utterly misread the section wheere she discusses "whitelighters". She does NOT refer to Pagans who doi not practice magick as such, but uses this term to connote those who are all New Agey and "think happy thoughts" and object to using magick for protection (such as bindings), etc...

Point 5: She also NEVER stated "that witches invented 'language, writing, metallurgy, law, agriculture and the arts'." I, personally, suggest that you re-read this book with an open mind.

Point 6: Regarding the Gimbutas' theories... These are unproven, but they are NOT disproven. And, for the record, they are largely due to schastic misreadings. Gimbutas' NEVER proported a Matriarchal theory. Rather, she proported an equalitarian society. One would be aware of this had one actually bothered to read her books. Also, Gimbutas' theory for a millenium of peace has recently been archaeologically proven by R. Brian Ferguson.

Point 7: Granted, Cabot could have researched the Burning Times myth, because it *was* available. However, it was widely inaccessible to most people, until the mid-to-late 90s. One cannot hold a grudge based on a dated book. However, Cabot's feminist stance stems from Starhawk's writings, certainly. But, there is nothing so objectionable in this. One cannot lambaste an author for believing what another author proports, whilst the latter author is supported (ie. Starhawrk) and Cabot is reprimanded. This makes no rational sense!

Point 8: The Salem Trials... Actually, she never said what you rather crudely paraphrase. I suggest, again, that you re-read her book. It was fair AND compassionate and showed those who died NO dishonour.

Point 9: Actually, this book is most certainly NOT as full of "psuedo-science", "'crap' research" and "disinformation" as you'd like it to be... In fact, her proported science is well supported by the latest physics (called the New Physics) and various acclaimed physicists. I *HIGHLY* suggest that you, and anyone else interested in this, read the works by the following physictcs and science writers: Fritjoff Capra, Michael Talbot, Itzhak Bentov, F. David Peat, John Gribbin, and DEFINATELY Brian Greene!

Very few books and authors, these daysm teach one how spells work; Cabot is one of the few authors who does! Because of this, alone, ot remains one of my most highly recommended books...

I read this when i was very new in wicca and just researching. I thought it was majorly helpful and very interesting. She doesn't just put down facts about wicca/witchcraft, she also adds a personal and spiritual side. Using this book, i learneed how to enter Alpha. I think if you are just starting out, this book is THE BOOK to read!

...and one of my favorites. I've been in the Craft over 21 years now and Power of the Witch is still at the top of my "recommended" list. Laurie Cabot was partially responsible for my realization that magick and Witchcraft were far more than rote words spoken in a ritual aimed at 'changing perceptions'. I couldn't find many books about magick when I first entered the Craft and as a solitary practitioner, I latched onto those few that really *clicked* for me. Now, years later, with a number of books under my own belt, I still haul out Power of the Witch and read through it, and I still recommend it highly as a guide to the Craft. Grounded, non-fluffy, intelligently written, this book is a good reference for anyone who is out to buck the trendiness of modern Wicca, without leaning on the stuffiness that can accompany traditionalist views of the Craft. Yasmine Galenorn--author of Embracing The Moon.

This is a great author. Just as you shouldn't fall into the trap of being influenced by people who look like the stereotype, you should also be wary of the mind-set that everyone who does not look plain and un-threatening is fake. Many Female practitioners of magic love exotic eye makeup, black velvet and beautiful jewelry. They are proud of the magical tradition and do not care what others think of their dress style or demeanor. I don't care if people think witches are scary. That's their problem, i'm not trying to win them over. The bright light bambi wiccan movement is saddening.

this book was very good laurie really hit home for us witches.This book may be confusing to the begining witch but i strongely reccommend the more advanced witch to read this. Laurie has many other great books that are easy for the new-coming-witch to follow so read those! be sure to call laurie wiccan store in salem mass. here's the number 1-978-744-6274the store is ran by witches. well gotta go blessed be!