Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft [Paperback]

Raven Grimassi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2003

In this one-of-a-kind guidebook, award-winning Wiccan author and scholar Raven Grimassi presents an insightful portrait of the spirit of the Witch. He explores the spiritual element of the rituals, practices, and beliefs of Witchcraft, and how these elements apply not only to the seasons of nature, but also to the mystical seasons of the soul.

Literate and positive, Spirit of the Witch examines the oral tradition of Witches, as well as the cultural, literary, anthropological, and historical roots of Witchcraft. Revealed within these pages is the fascinating secret life of the Witch-guardian of the sacred mysteries, channel of magical forces, and keeper of the doorway between worlds.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Raven Grimassi is a Neo-Pagan scholar and award-winning author of over twelve books on Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-Paganism. He is a member of the American Folk Lore Society and is co-founder and co-director of the College of the Crossroads.

Raven's background includes training in the Rosicrucian Order as well as the study of the Kabbalah through the First Temple of Tifareth under Lady Sara Cunningham. His early magical career began in the late 1960s and involved the study of works by Franz Bardon, Eliphas Levi, William Barrett, Dion Fortune, William Gray, William Butler, and Israel Regardie.

Today Raven is the directing Elder of the tradition of Aridian Witchcraft, and together with his wife Stephanie Taylor he is developing a complete teaching system known as Ash, Birch and Willow. This system is the culmination of over 35 years of study and practice in the magical and spiritual traditions of the indigenous people of pre-Christian Europe.

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (October 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738703389
• ISBN-13: 978-0738703381
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to an Italian immigrant who married an American soldier at the close of World War II. My earliest training was in what I call a "peasant witchcraft" tradition, which consisted of Witchcraft and Folk Magic practices of Old Italy. Over the past four decades I have been a practitioner of several Witchcraft and Wiccan traditions. At present I am the directing Elder of the Ash, Birch & Willow tradition, which is a system of "Old Ways Witchcraft" not originating from any single region of Europe, but instead embracing what is held in common among many lands.

I currently have over 14 books in print and write on the topics of Witchcraft, Wicca and Magic. Many people seem to peg me as an author on Italian Witchcraft exclusively, but in fact only two of my books are about that specific subject. The primary focus of my work is about pre-Christian European beliefs and practices that appear in contemporary systems. In doing so I look to the commonalities of European traditions that appear in various regions instead of just one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Step, October 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft (Paperback)

Unlike a number of other books on witchcraft, Spirit of the Witch is about the spirituality of witchcraft and the author, Raven Grimassi, takes us on a journey to discover the basic principles that unite all witches, our "commonality."

Ask any long-time witch and she will most likely tell you that spell-casting is but a small part of being a witch. We spend alot of our time doing "normal" things: dishes, laundry, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, and cursing at the computer. Spell-casting is usually set aside for occasions of great need.

Grimassi displays our strong connection with trees, stones, fire, and the natural world quite admirably given the non-comformiality of our character. Symbolic meanings are given for mytho-magical items such as the cauldron and the broom. There are also the meanings and the use of the tools of the Craft as well as dedications for each: the pentacle, wand, athame, and chalice. Nearly all of the basics of the Path are covered here.

So what makes a witch? Who is allowed to be a witch? As Grimassi well knows, the answer to those questions changes with each witch you ask. Despite this little glitch of ours, Grimassi walks the noble path of self-discovery and gives the reader an example of a dedication to perform.

White, grey, or black witches; the Sabbats, Solstices, and Equinoxes; responsibility for our own actions, and self-discipline are all discussed within the pages of this book.

After you have gotten your fill of spell-crafting and beginner's books, Spirit of the Witch offers the reader the next step into the realm of witchcraft.

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book., February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft (Paperback)

If you're well past the more basic Wicca 101 books, and even have read some more "in-depth" or "intermediate" books on Witchcraft, this book is still set apart from all the rest.

More than a "how-to" (although Gramassi does give some instructions on various subjects I'll point out later) the author gives a depth to subjects many readers already know about.

You know that Witches use a chalice, athame, wand, and pentacle while practicing, but have you been able to make the historical connectrion as to why? Why do specific elements correspond to these tools? What exactly does a witch do BESIDES cast spells?

What makes a Witch? Who can become one? Is the Path of the Wise for you? Gramassi devotes more than just a chapter to these questions and some how-to's on where to get started. He details a ritual to guide you on your quest for knowledge in order to find out if Witchcraft is for you, and proceeds to take the next logical step in outlining a dedication ritual if you decide it is.

How do you go from a monotheistic religion to a polytheistic religion such as Witchcraft, without the awakward feeling of "abandoning" your religious roots? Gramassi also covers this, and is the one author I have found that does so in a helpful, positive way. In fact, he's the only author I have come across that actually discusses the issue.

This is truely a great book, especially for those who are looking into Witchcraft, and to those who need to be reminded of the spirtuality that drew them to it in the first place.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be THE first book anyone chooses on Witchcraft, May 24, 2005

By 

B. Couture "BSC" (Ellicott City MD.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft (Paperback)

This book touches on how the practice of Witchcraft is a philosophy 1st a religion 2nd and a magical system 3rd. Magic only plays a small part in witchcraft which really suprised me. A majority of the people curious about witchcraft or someone who just merely wants to educate themselfs on the topic of witchcraft (like me) thinks its all about magic and spells and getting the material things you need and or desire by using magic. This book disects the philosophy , spirtual and religion aspects of withcraft as it also touches on magic as well. He talks about the tools used in witchcraft (wand , pentacle , chalice and athame ,). Other books I have read talk about them also , but not as in depth and in glorious detail as he does. He talks about how they relate to the elements of air ,earth,fire and water. Basically , they are a tangible metephor for the metaphysical nature they symbolize. He goes in further depth on the subject of tools and it makes you more aware of why you use them. The author goes on to say how vital it is to participate in the eight sabbats of the year as well as the full moon rituals of each month and the solstices and the equinoxes. This is done to empower the witchs strength and maintain it through an unbroken participation with ritual(s). This is because the witch is bathed in magickal energy that is inherent at these specific times of power. After reading this book you come to know how vital it is to be involved in the changing of the seasons and cycles of the moon and celebrate them. The author makes it known that it is paramount that you get involved with nature and their energies. The "magical craft" and "capturing the magic" area of the book (chapter 8) really gives you good insight on how magic really works and he gives excellent verbal examples concerning the magical craft and capturing the magic with a class that he taught. If one finally decides that witchcraft is their way to spiritual enlightment for better living he gives you a dedication ritual that you will perform out in natural earth surroundings with stones,herbs and water while sitting in a magick circle under the goddess of the full moon. Once you decide that witchraft is the path you choose , he sugggests that you should practice/get involved with divination of some sort i.e. , the tarot , scrying with a mirror , making incense from scratch , herb magick or crafting/making magikal tools. As my title says , this should be the 1st book anyone gets on the practice of witchcraft. I wish it would have been mine.