Symbols of the craft [Paperback]

M. A. Madigan (Author), P. M. Richards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2003

Witching Stones is a unique and fun tool for novice Witches. It is also an effective divination method for advanced practitioners. As you learn the meanings of each of the thirty-five Witching stones, you will grow to understand the basic beliefs and knowledge of the Craft. The stones eliminate the need to carry your cauldron and other tools when travelling light. Like a tiny altar in your pocket, you can discreetly cast spells and perform rituals anywhere.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Preface We created this book and the accompanying stones primarily as a divination method. We believe they will provide a means to help people begin to understand and touch the untapped energies slumbering within themselves. When we chose to use the symbols of the ancient Craft now often referred to as Wiccaas a divination method, we also created an excellent teaching aid and starting point for anyone interested in learning about the Craft. There are many fine books already available that explain the Craft in much greater detail than we could ever attempt here, and we do not claim that this book is the ultimate authority on the subject, only that it serves as a convenient starting point for novice witches and pagans. In writing this book, we have chosen to use the words witch and pagan as interchangeable. While this may offend some pagans who do not consider themselves witches, and vice versa, it avoids the confusion that would have been caused trying to differentiate between the two groups, as definitions for these two words vary wildly in the traditions themselves. It has often been remarked that there are just as many definitions for the word witch as there are people who call themselves witches. While researching this book, we gathered an incredible amount of conflicting information, as each pagan tradition seems, in varying degrees, to hold different beliefs. For example, some traditions will tell you that an esbat is strictly a full moon ceremony, while others insist that any non-sabbat ritual is technically an esbat, full moon or not. If you ask any three witches to define a Book of Shadows, the first one will tell you that its a record of coven activities, the second will say that its a journal of your own personal growth, and the third will insist that youre wrong and its actually called a Mirror Book. The magical properties attributed to certain plants often vary from witch to witch as well, even when they live as neighbors within a small town. This may be a source of confusion for novices, but this also demonstrates perfectly the concept that is at the heart of our pagan heritage: that it is the intent of the practitioner or spellcaster, not the physical format of the spell, that really matters. No one tradition can be said to be more correct than any other, and we have tried to draw from as many sources as possible. In cases where conflicting information was gathered, we have attempted to provide as many differing viewpoints as seemed appropriate, without becoming overly confusing. We apologize if your particular beliefs are not represented here, but we welcome you to contact us regarding them. Within the pages of this book you will find complete instructions on using the stones as a personal divination method. The stones may also be used as symbolic tools in the included rituals and spells. We have also provided some of the historic backgrounds of the symbols used on the stones to help you better understand their use in the Craft. We hope that you find these stones to be helpful tools in your journey toward self-enlightenment, toward your discovery of yourself, and toward your discovery of the ancient Craft. Blessed be to you all, P. M. Richards & M. A. Madigan

Product Details

• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (September 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738701947
• ISBN-13: 978-0738701943
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,879,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Very Well Thought Through, January 25, 2004

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Symbols of the craft (Paperback)

There are so many different forms of divination, and we are constantly looking for a way that relates to us on a level we can easily understand. The opening preface of the book that accompanies these 'stones' reinforces this belief.

This kit includes 35 'stones', a bag for storage and a book for interpretation of the stones. The symbolism on the stones draws from the Craft, both ancient and modern, and for those who find Runic symbols a bit hard to interpret and who focus more on witchcraft rather than Norse interpretation, you will find these symbolisms interesting.

While I did have problems with some of the information in the book, such as the reference to Wicca as an 'ancient Craft' and the use of 'witch' and 'pagan' as an interchangeable term, the idea of using more familiar symbols for divination seemed a sound idea. A set of stones for someone beginning to practice and study forms of divination is a good way to get a feel for the art.

Going further into the book, there are the basics of setting up your working space as well as laying out the stones for readings. Then there are the meanings as laid out by the authors.

The symbolisms on the stones include the phases of the moon and a sun sign, symbols for the God and Goddess, various tools to represent points in your life, some universal symbols, such as the sign for infinity to represent Rebirth, or the Pentacle, and symbols for the seasons.

What is disappointing is that the 'stones' are not stone, but plastic. Not very environmentally friendly nor does plastic hold any natural feel for me. They sound dull when they bump against each other in the bag and have no energy on their own even when attempted to be charged. Poor choice on the part of the manufacturer.

The book, as I mentioned, does have 'sticky' points that I did not agree with in the matter of interpretation. But, as in all things, it is not the book that determines the interpretation of the stones; it is the person who is doing the divination and what they pick up from the reading. Interpretation is a matter of the who, not the reference book. One would do well to remember that and follow your own instincts when it comes to working divination.

All in all, a possibly good idea for a beginner who is looking for a starting place in divination. My opinion, though, stands that plastic stones have no place in my workspace and this would only serve as a possible teaching tool rather than a tool for proper divination. boudica

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Witching Stones, by Madigan and Richards, January 25, 2004

By 

Psyche (spiralnature.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Symbols of the craft (Paperback)

The Witching Stones kit includes a book, small velvet pouch, and thirty-five divination 'stones' painted with symbols familiar to neo-pagan witchcraft. In the preface Madigan and Richards explain that the kit is intended for novices, or those new to the Craft. They use the words 'witch' and 'pagan' interchangeably, while at the same time acknowledging that not everyone may see it that way (I don't). But as they note, 'no one tradition can be said to be more correct than any other' and mention that they have 'tried to draw from as many sources as possible', further stating that 'in cases where conflicting information was gathered, [they] attempted to provide as many differing viewpoints as seemed appropriate, without becoming overly confusing' (pg xii).

The book contains a purification/banishing ritual to cleanse the ritual space, as well as a blessing for the stones. Several different divination layouts are presented ranging from simple to more complex draws.

Each symbol is discussed in alphabetical order of the symbol name, with a bit of history detailing what each symbol represents and its divinatory meaning. There are no reverse meanings, and there is no blank or 'wyrd' stone, as the authors point out 'these stones are not just are not just another set of rune stones' (pg xvi). Instead each symbol has a past, present, and future meaning associated with it, depending on where it falls in the layouts offered in the book.

While the ideas represented in the symbols are explained in a neo-pagan paradigm, neo-paganism is not explained or discussed in much detail outside of a brief description of the Threefold law, and the Wiccan Rede. As noted, there are numerous books that do this already. The history of the symbols themselves is rarely discussed and it would have been interesting to see when and where each symbol originated from.

Toward the end of the book a selection of spells, divided into two sections, one for 'Simple Spells' and another for 'Advanced Spells' using the stones.

However, the 'stones' themselves are not in fact made of rock or even clay, but plastic. I don't equate the magickal properties of rock and oil myself. Those with a preference for tradition may like to simply buy the book, as it is available to purchase separately at a fraction f the cost, and simply make one's own stones. It might be fun for someone who wants to try something a little different.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as bad as the other reviews say, June 17, 2008

By 

Cherry Dumas "dumasc" (Duchesne, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Symbols of the craft (Paperback)

I received this divination kit a couple of years ago as a birthday gift. My copy is of the second printing in Sept of 2004. I just looked it up today to recommend it to one of my friends for a protable altar, and read the reviews that already exist. so I am not going to go into the product description. they already tell you how the stones are plastic, and what the book says.

The only reason I am giving this review a 4 star IS because the stones are plastic...and I do wish they were other material...but in my opinion, that does not detract much. one, I look at it as...the weight of the stones being anything other than plastic would have been HEAVY, and I don't know if I would have been able to work with them if they had been true stone. I have other runes that are true stone (largish too) and they are the Nordic runes, and the weight of them deter me from using them that often...I love them, but weight is a big factor on how often I use a divination tool. So these stones, I use a lot, because they are light enough that I can use them with ease. So yes, they are plastic, but they are light enough that you are not fumbling and dropping them because of the weight.

As for not being able to charge or connect with them because they are plastic...well, I have not had a problem with that. that is an individual factor. I am not saying that anybody who can't charge these are less than me, it is their energy works different than mine. In fact, I don't look at it as I am charging the stone, I am invoking the energy of the stone. not the stone itself. That might be why I can charge the stones and others cannot. I am working with the energy that the image of the stone represents...it is sympathetic magic. the stone is just a means to the end. The magic does not reside in the stone, the magic resides in the energy that is called TO the stone as you use it for divination, spell work, or whatever you are uing it for.

I have used these stones for divination, spell work, sympathetic magic, altar work, and to invoke the energy of a particular stone for a particular time period (for example, carrying a particular "stone" around in my pocket for a specific time period, and I have never had any problems with these stones...in fact, thse stones have given me some of my most powerful readings, giving me specific time-lies of events.

So, the other reviews are not too positive about these stones, but I have hada lot of success with these, and I would buy these again, for myself and for others, in a heartbeat.