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Teenage Witch's Book of Shadows:An Introduction to Sympathetic Magic

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A "Book of Shadows" is a handbook by a witch of her learnings, experiences and spells. From the beginning of Wicca, these handbooks have been hand written, passed on from teacher to student, and expanded by the individual as they grow and mature in their own paths.

Anna de Benzelle and Mary Neashman are from the Suffolk park of England, and this book reflects the traditional English way of addressing "The Old Ways" as well as having some truly English words being used that may send some of us looking them up.

However, that is not detrimental to this book in any way. This book is a basic overview of witchcraft that is meant for the teenage audience. There is nothing in this book that is explored very deep or specific to any one path here. It is a thin book of only 94 pages. However, this can be very good for the starting teen that has some interest and is looking for a very general overview. This also can be a useful overview for anyone who is not looking to walk the witchcraft path but is looking at what it is, like a parent of a teenager who is interested in this path.

The book starts with a general introduction to witchcraft. Please keep in mind this book is written by British authors and the material is definitely of the older British traditions. But it is still good, basic information.

The book then goes into what I believe is a really well thought out and very well developed "13 Steps to Becoming a Witch" which is geared towards the youthful teenage practitioner. Very self empowering, very positive in it's message and just a wonderfully worked out grouping of ideas and ideals to strive for as you walk the earth based spirituality path. It is chock full of good advices, common sense and words of wisdom. Under "Self Respect" we have "It is very important to like yourself as a witch." Under "Traditions" we have "Explore traditions. Have a good hard look at all the many pagan paths that are open to you". And under "Essentials (Kit)" we have "Listen very carefully: you need nothings. Now read that again. You might however like the idea of acquiring some tools." These thirteen ideas are a good basic primer for any teen, or adult for that matter, looking at any kind of path in the pagan traditions.

The topics covered lightly in the rest of the book range from the Sabats, Moon Magic, color correspondence tables, candle magic, spells, incense, trees, sacred places, The Green Man (specific and special to the authors and they cover him here as a God figure), Faerie Magic, a section on Ritual eating and drinking (some very good advice on drinking in general aimed at the teen practitioner) divination including tarot, crystals, and Ancient British Festivals. The last section is a collection of pagan information website URL's (some of them are gone as this book was written in 2001) and a list of suggested reading.

All these topics are skimmed over briefly, and this may not seem substantial to the teen practitioner who wants to seriously pursue this path. But to the beginning teen, this may be all they need to get a good rounded out idea of what the pagan path is all about, and it will definitely help mom and dad understand what their teenager is looking at.

The British take on the material provided will also appeal to the British and Australian teen reader, and it will give a good rounded background to the American teen as well.

This is a fine little introduction to the pagan path for the curious. It would not make a good reference book to anyone taking this path as a serious life calling, but sometimes basic information is all we need. boudica