The Study of Witchcraft: A Guidebook to Advanced Wicca [Paperback]

Deborah Lipp (Author), Isaac Bonewits (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1578634091 | ISBN-13: 978-1578634095 | Publication Date: October 1, 2007

The Study of Witchcraft is a compendium for Wiccans who want to deepen their understanding of their traditions. Advanced Wiccan reaches beyond Wicca, delving into topics as diverse as history, psychology, divination, and lucid dreaming, The Study of Witchcraft introduces the reader to these topics, discussing each in depth and offering a one-of-a-kind course of study-- including recommended reading, offering readers--increasingly, solitary witches--a self-study guide and a rich resource. The Study of Witchcraft includes information for all sorts of Wiccans; traditional, eclectic, radical, groups, and solitary. Wide-ranging topics also include Western occultism, myth and folklore, meditation, astrology, the Burning Times, history, herbalism, and much more. Deborah Lipp opens the book with a discussion of the past 40 years of Wiccan history and talks about the diverse people who call themselves Wiccans. Then, throughout the study guide portion, she offers information tailored to different types of Wiccans. Essentially, The Study of Witchcraft is a veritable master's degree in Wicca in book form! * Written for the needs of the modern wiccan, who learns primarily by self-study * Written by a noted and respected author, whose work is already used in study groups.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lipp, author of The Way of Four and Elements of Ritual, suggests that the reason there are not more advanced Wicca books is because advanced Wicca happens when you stretch beyond Wicca itself. She goes on: When I was trained as a young traditional Wiccan, I was expected to make an extensive study of topics that ranged far beyond Wicca and witchcraft. For Lipp, the areas beyond memorizing the elements of the pagan calendar and spell casting that young Wiccans ought to be exploring include such obvious topics as the evolution of modern Wicca from Freemasonry and the history of witch hunts. However, she breaks new ground when she encourages readers to explore such traditional spiritual practices as meditation and the study of comparative religion. She writes, Certain advanced Wiccan skills, such as deep trance or channeling, depend on a greater ability to still the mind, quiet the ego, and reach an inner balance. Indeed, Lipp invites readers to enter into psychotherapy in order to gain deeper self-awareness. Each of her chapters is supplemented with a helpful homework section and an annotated bibliography for further reading. Advanced practitioners of all stripes should be delighted with this enduring contribution to the literature. (Oct.)
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From the Inside Flap

A veritable master's degree in Wicca in book form.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578634091
• ISBN-13: 978-1578634095
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #706,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A big let down..., October 22, 2007

By 

coli0157 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Study of Witchcraft: A Guidebook to Advanced Wicca (Paperback)

I pre-ordered this book months ago because I loved the other books by Deborah Lipp. I was extremely dissapointed in the content of this book. The topics are barely discussed, the entire Western Mystery Tradition is summed up in 3 pages and thats generous compared to most of the other topics mentioned. The only good thing I could say is that this book points you to the other good books on various subjects in the occult. The majority of this publication is a bibliography...and not on that you couldnt get elsewhere. I would definately NOT have purchased this book if I had a chance to look at it before!

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guidebook to Going Further, October 25, 2007

By 

a person who reads (U.S.A, EARTH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Study of Witchcraft: A Guidebook to Advanced Wicca (Paperback)

Any time you put the words "Advanced Wicca" on the cover of your book, you are bound to be criticized. The problem is that you can't advance spiritually by reading 150 pages of someone else's words. That is why Lipp's book is a "guidebook" to the "study" of witchcraft.

I devoured this book the day i received it--i read it fast and didn't put it down until i finished it. I found it facinating. Each topic was written about intellegently and the recommendations for further reading has put this bibliophile's bank account in jepordy.

This is a book that asks you to think. I don't always agree with Lipp's oppinions (and she is oppionated--but I think its a good thing), but I enjoyed her exploration of topics both wiccan and not. Lipp rightly shows in this book that Wicca is about doing and stresses that advancing on your path involves branching out beyond Wicca 101 books and becoming well rounded and knowledgable on topics related to your religious path.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels that 101 books are becoming stale and boring.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners, November 30, 2007

By 

J. Stlouis (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Study of Witchcraft: A Guidebook to Advanced Wicca (Paperback)

The title of this book suggests that it is for more advanced Pagans, but I would recommend it for beginners. While it does expect you to understand the the spirituality and basic practices of the religion, it covers other aspects beginning Wiccans may want to know.
Outside of an excellent section covering the history of the religion, the rest of it is mostly the social aspects of the religion in our modern society. It is not a spiritual guide, more of a practical education. Lipp does have a more spiritual book, "The Elements of Ritual".

The thing that I really liked about this book was the study sections in the back of each chapter. It is set up so that a person can read and study the topics on their own, or groups can read and convene on a regular basis, sharing what they have learned. Having access to more references really rounds out the experience. Personally, I would recommend it to 1st year students of Wicca, preferably in a group, but not as a first book.