Customer Reviews

The Real Witches' Book of Spells and Rituals

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased this book as someone studying the craft as a solitary. The books I've read up until this one have been written for solitaries. I purchased this one because the books I'd read only briefly referenced covens or said that traditionally you had to be in a coven to be a witch. Since Covens were obviously a vital part of beleifs, history, and traditions, I saught out a book that would set the record strait on what covens really do.

This book delivers. It's written primarily as a guide for a High Priestess. It describes in detail the life cycle of a coven, what kind of rules a coven should have, how dicipline works, how advancement in the circle works, and which rituals typically require people to be naked.

She describes and suggests some common sabbat rituals, as well as an initiation ritual and a few other coven rituals. She talks a lot about the level of secrecy that should be kept about you coven. If you want to start a coven this is probably THE BOOK for you to read. It's also very informative if you want to join a coven. As far as information on the craft in general, there's some good stuff on the sabbats, but this isn't really a good book to read if you're "just curious about witchcraft"

As a pleasant surprise, I found that Kate West is quite probably the most practical author on Witchcraft you could find. She deals with the effects of real life on the Craft on how these two parts of your life can effect each other. (While many authors tend to simply mention that the craft will make you more confident in your daily life.)

A really good book, and I plan to read another book by the author.

I love the blurb on the front cover: "Kate West is the real thing. Her Witchcraft is about passion, not fashion."

Reading the book, you do get a good feeling about her passion. The material covered in her book is no nonsense and is rooted in traditional English Witchcraft. No fluff bunny material here, or new fangled junk. Her book is concise, with the details spelled out and she covers the material very well.

Everything is here to begin and maintain a good, solid working coven. The material covers background history, what witchcraft is, how to start a coven and keep it in a good order. She explores personal reasons for starting a coven, basic coven rules and how to develop them. There is discussion about traditional degrees, what they constitute and how they were meant to work. The task of finding membership is covered in a wonderfully put together overview of the different kinds of members you will find and how to deal with them. A Rite of Initiation is provided as an overview of how it is done in traditional covens and it can also be used as a blueprint for adapting it to your own situation. The Wheel of the Year is explored as well as the Full Moons or Esbats. Ritual is discussed in relationship to how a coven is based around these important events. Both indoor and outdoor rituals are covered and again, Ms. West is detailed in her coverage of these.

Ms. West covers the mundane workings of a Coven as well. She includes working together to establish basic rules that apply to your coven, the unavoidable paperwork and establishing training for the membership. She also explores the overall life cycle of a coven, covering such considerations as Daughter Covens, new and lost membership, "Boom and Bust" and how to be a good Covenor.

A lot of information is packed into this book. There is a glossary in the back of the book, and as well as a recommended reading and contacts section. Ms. West is delightful to read, provides a good solid background based on personal experience, and has organized the information well in this book, making it easy to follow.

Anyone who is considering forming a coven would do well to include this book in their list of materials they should cover and consider for their own personal information as well as for the benefit of their coven. And if you already have a coven this is another good reference book for your group. There are too few books that cover coven life as well as this one does and should be considered a must have for your reading list as well as your library shelf.

Boy, this ended up being another Wicca 101 book. I was really hoping for more from Kate, and I ended up being very disappointed. I belong to a Trad that is not caught up in Dogma and nonsense, although we definitely have our rules and (more of an eclectic trad). I'm a very advanced practitioner of the craft, and this book did very little for me, especially in the way of spellcrafting and ritual writing (been there...done that). Spellcrafting and ritual writing is VERY personal and should not be constrained to "rules" ... if you have the need and the intent, you have the basis for a spell or ritual. I would love to see someone publish a book on growth in the craft, more on ethics of the craft and karmic repercussions, and see fewer books on the "nuts and bolts" and rulebooks.

I found this book stuffy. Full of one sided rules. Wicca is about diversity to me not dogma. Not very helpfull on forming a pagan group unless you want to crontrol people. I've been a Wiccan for 11yrs and a member of a pagan group. This is not how things should be run at all. BLESSED BE

It is very good and provides what promess. I did not expect full witch craft with altar and offerings, so It can't really be used unless is by a wicca.

If you want to know what goes on in a coven, now you can.
Buy this book and find out in a very readable way what happens
and why it happens inside the coven. Once the mystery is removed
so goes any fear.

Reading this book I just didnt feel the spells take the craft seriously. It was a bit on the fairytale side of witch spells. Not for a realistic practing pagan, in my opinion.