Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition [Paperback]

Nigel Pennick (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Thoth Publications; 2nd edition (November 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1870450167
• ISBN-13: 978-1870450164
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,891,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indepth Introduction to the Beliefs and Spiritual Techniques Indigenous to the Northern People., February 7, 2006

By 

Michael Chesbro (Rainier, Washington USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition (Paperback)

In Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition, Nigel Pennick gives us an indepth introduction to the beliefs and spiritual techniques indigenous to the Northern People. The Northern Tradition encompasses the Germanic, Norse, Celtic and Baltic Lands, ranging from Austria and Bohemia, through Switzerland, Germany, and Northern France, and including Ireland, Britain, Iceland, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Countries, Northern Poland and Western Russia.

We begin by looking at the perceptions of space, time and direction. Nigel Pennick explains the solar year and the lunar cycles, and then the day and its tides. Next we learn the Natural Lore of the Northern Tradition. Crystals, Metals and Stones. Lore of the Living World ~ Bird Lore, the Raven, Robin and Crow. The Lore of Trees ~ Alder, Apple, Ash, Oak and Thorn, Mistletoe, Rowan, Willow and Yew. Nigel Pennick then goes on to explain the Mystic Mandrake, the Earth Spirits, Ley Lines, Fairy Paths and Holy Ground.

The Magic of the North is the third section of this book. Here we learn of Seidr and techniques of meditation. We also learn of magic in the Northern Martial Arts tradition... the Beserkers, the Ulfhednar, and the Svinfylking. This martial arts tradition also reveals techniques of the quarter staff and of the French "Canne and Baton".

Of course no discussion of magic in the Northern Tradition would be complete without a discussion of the Runes, and here Nigel Pennick offers a well-written introduction as well.

Protective techniques and objects are next discussed, including talismans and amulets, sacred pillars and wooden temples.

Finally we learn of ceremony and rituals of the Northern Tradition. This includes Yule, Wassailing, and the Wild Hunt as well as the Equinoxes, Imbolic and May Day.

For those who follow the Northern Tradition, Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition is a "must have" resource. Herein we find the spirit of the Northern People as it has been for a thousand years. Both well-researched and well written, Nigel Pennick has given us a guidebook for our journey on the road north.

A most informative, enjoyable and highly recommended book!

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Germanic folk magic at its best, December 21, 1999

By 

brian audin (Dayton, OH, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition (Paperback)

This book is an excellent study of the folk magic practices of the Germanic peoples. Most books on Germanic magic and religion talk more about the structure and form of the Germans, not what they practiced. In Pennick's book he talks about specific folk traditions and customs that have been practiced for hundreds of years, some of which are still observed. This book is more an interesting collection of folk magic than anything else and as far as I know, the only one on the Germans. It is and enjoyable read and an invaluable source for the Germanic praticitioner.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 13, 2010

By 

Elizabeth Vongvisith (New England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition (Paperback)

I didn't bother to finish this book. Here is why:

First, he doesn't check his facts. In the very first chapter, Pennick refers to Mani as a "moon goddess." Um, no. Mani is a MALE deity; this is even attested to in the primary sources! There are similar errors sprinkled throughout the book, which makes me very leery of trusting his information as being at all accurate. Differences of opinion about theological matters are not something I tend to get upset over, but if the author is capable of such a blatant, unacknowledged "creative interpretation" within the first few pages, it makes me wonder what else he's gotten wrong. I won't even go into the bit about Mani having rabbit ears...

Second, Pennick also regularly syncretizes deities from different pantheons. As a hard polytheist, this is a problem for me. I do not accept that, for example, Thor is the same deity as Perkunas or Taranis or Zeus (who isn't even "northern"), and I find his dogged insistence on conflating various deities to be disrespectful. Also, it's my impression that most Celtic recons and Asatruar are also hard polytheists, and unless he's aiming this book solely at eclectic Wiccans/Pagans, I can't imagine who he thinks his audience is.

Third, although this may sound strange coming from someone who's published a good deal of her own UPG here and there, Pennick dos not say where he gets any of his information. For example, he gives a list of "well-known" Northern star and constellation names, yet I can find no other source (save this book) for these names. Although I'm not a strict recon, I would've appreciated knowing where these bits of information come from, if only so I could look up the sources myself in pursuit of further knowledge.

Finally, he makes one grievous assumption about modern Heathenry, at least, that is not true. Pennick names a number of alleged Asatru holidays which I have never seen or heard of before. Granted, I'm not a member of Asatru, but I'm familiar enough with it to know that, for instance, the "Festival of Loki and Sigyn" is NOT a common, widespread Heathen holiday -- at least, not here in the U.S. (Admittedly, it could be something people in England do more frequently, but I've not heard of it being celebrated there.) I suspect that once upon a time, Pennick found or was given a list of holidays celebrated by a single, autonomous kindred, and then extrapolated that to apply to all Heathens. Whatever the case, it wouldn't have been that difficult to confirm these as universally applicable or not.

So to sum up, this isn't a bad book so long as you don't need to know your sources, are willing to accept the author's opinions as facts, and can overlook his tendency to syncretize deities like Mani and Eostre (I'm not kidding). There is some interesting information here and there, and a bit of research or checking out other references will probably help you determine where it came from. But I feel it's a shame that this book is so flawed. It would be nice if there was a useful book on folk magic and non-runic/galdor-based sorcery available for those interested in the Northern Tradition. I'm afraid that this isn't it, however.