Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft (Paperback)

by Raven Grimassi (Author) "The following story is fictional, but the truth it conveys is real viable..." (more)
Key Phrases: offering phase, other traditional symbols, shadowed hour, Winter Solstice, Wheel of the Year, Harvest Lord (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.


About the Author
Award-winning author Raven Grimassi is the author of seven books on Wicca and Witchcraft, including Wiccan Mysteries (awarded Best Book of the Year & Best Spirituality Book 1998 by the Coalition of Visionary Retailers), Wiccan Magick, Italian Witchcraft (previously titled Ways of the Strega), Hereditary Witchcraft, Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft (awarded Best Non-Fiction Book 2001 by the Coalition of Visionary Retailers), Beltane, and The Witches' Craft.

Raven Grimassi has been a teacher and practitioner of the Craft for nearly 30 years. He is trained in the Family tradition of Italian Witchcraft (also known as Stregheria), and is also an initiate of several Wiccan Traditions, including Brittic Wicca and the Pictish-Gaelic Tradition. He is currently the Directing Elder of the Arician Ways. Raven considers it his life's work to ensure the survival of ancient witch lore and legend along with ancestral teachings of the Old Religion.

Grimassi has worked as both a writer and editor for several magazines over the past decade, including The Shadow's Edge (a publication focusing on Italian Witchcraft) and Raven's Call (a journal of modern Wicca, Witchcraft and Magick).

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738703389
• ISBN-13: 978-0738703381
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #241,965 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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.

25 of 27 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 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.