Customer Reviews

Spells and How They Work

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

 

 

I like the Farrars, and I enjoy reading their work. But I have to say that I was a little disappointed in this book--because it was not what I expected. I expected a book that really goes into practical advice, looking at how to design spells, what works best, why they work. While these topics are treated, they are treated quickly and lightly. The bulk of the book is basically a folklore collection of spells and superstitions. That stuff is interesting, but there is little analysis of how the traditional spells work. For someone just starting out in magick, I thought it was light on practical advice.

Greetings. I recommend this book to anyone who is either beginning to learn the mechanics of SpellCraeft on an etherial and energetical level, or to those who are just discovering the Craft and would like more information about Spells in particular rather than direct philosophies.
I am pleased they cover some philosophies, real-life examples of spells manifesting, understanding the similarities of spells vs. prayers, and examples of old, 'folklorish' yet still valid methods of specified sorcery.
It's a classic! But don't get this before you learn your own inner workings and have a sense of the Universe's Will beforehand. Only a small portion of True Craft lies in spells.
~OakRaven~

This is the only book that I have read so far by the very well known authors. I certainly liked the first few chapters and even copied parts into my BOS. But the book went downhill for me when it started focusing primarily on traditions. It's to bad that they didn't go into more detail on spells and magic as they did in the first part because it would have been a good opportunity for them to impart more of their wisdom, especially on ethics.

This along with Raymond buckland's guide to the supernatural were the first books that i ever read on this topic. I was quite young at the time and it gave me all the information that that i needed to want to further my studies in this area of pursuit. Basics on spells and information on history and tradition. If you are just starting out and want something to whet the appatite, this is for you, if you are looking to further your knowledge on this subject then i would look else where.

This book is mainly a compilation of the results of a poll the authors made (which is not surprising given the fact that most of their work stems from other sources and people with more literary talent, i.e, Doreen Valiente's witches rune, Dion's Fortune's invocation to the God Cernunnos, etc, etc,) and a collection of superstitions and spells of dubious origin, such as the so called spanish-moorish "ojala" spell in which they pompously claim the word is "a local form of the name Allah" ojala simply means "I hope that..." in spanish, and I know because I'm mexican, in other section they recommend a spell given to them by a practitioner of Santeria which includes the trespassing of private property!
A much better introduction to spellcasting and magick in general is Amber K's little book "True magick" despite its size,it covers all the aspects necesary for the successful practice of magick and you won't get arrested! It is an excellent step in the path of self knowledge, and will help the practitioner to establish a better relationship with nature and Deity, which after all, those should be the main purposes of spellcasting, and are even more important than the magickal goal.
After reading comments in their books such as one appertaining the careless inclusion of Enochian calls done by entertainers during their stage performances, in which they state they have to be "very ready" in case those people request their aid, one wonders what was the real motivation these authors had when they decided to become occultists.

hello everyone it is a great book you hve to read it relly just read en then see what you think about it

I DID IT OF MY OWN .. IT'S TAKE ALOT OF TIME TO DO IT A RIGHT THINGS FROM THE BOOK .. AND I DID MEDITATION AND SPELL .. FROM MEDITATION WAS WORKING GREAT TO ME .. AND THE SPELL .. IT IS PART OF HEALING AND OTHERS BY NATURAL MAGIC .. IT DOES WORK FOR ME .. CAN'T PUSH IT OR FORCE IT TOO HARDER . JUST LET IT FLOW AND IT WILL COME TO YOU A RIGHT TIME AND PLACE .. THAT IT ALL I DONE IT FOR MYSELF