Customer Reviews

True Magick: 2nd Edition

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I have been a practicing pagan for 6 years and read for about 3 years before that (I know not long but give me a break I'm only 21 lol). When people are interested in witchcraft and want to know where they can find more information this is ALWAYS the only book I recommend to start people out. I own almost all of the traditional reads; Cunningham, Buckland, Starhawk, etc and most of the more prominent modern authors Ravenwolf, Conway, etc. If had known about this book to start out with to be honest I probably would have skipped most of the others. This book beats out all of them for EVERYTHING. I can't recommend it enough. It has 19 Chapters and can be used as a workbook or you can read it all the way through. The Chapters are as follows

Ch. 1 About Magick- and You
- a brief introduction of what magick is and isn't
- notably missing are the council of American Witches Principles of Belief but remember it was never meant to be a guide towards just wicca.
Ch. 2 A Brief History of Magick
- Covers mostly Western and American magick from prehistory through modern times.
Ch. 3 First Steps in Magick
- exactly what it says it is very briefly covers timing, space, book of shadows, purpose, magickal name, ritual clothing, etc.
- has a dedication ritual
Ch. 4 Magick and Science
- perhaps the only confusing chapter in the book but you have to expect that if you try to explain quantum physics in 18 pages
Ch. 5 The Path Lies Within You
- Getting to know yourself; discusses middle, younger, and higher self and how to get in touch with them
Ch. 6 Ethics and Hazards
- Karma, the Law of Return, Wiccan Rede, Permission, Charging money
- Energy imbalance, spending too much time in the astral plane, power crazy, persecution, and spirit interference
Ch. 7 The Pyramid of Magick
- To know, to Will, to dare, to be silent
Ch. 8 The Energies of Magick
- All about energy
- Raising power, charging things, grounding power, the power within you, the power in the earth, balancing
Ch. 9 Magick and Your Health
- More down to earth guideines on eating right, exercise, sleep, etc
Ch. 10 Creating the Magickal You
- taking an honest look at yourself, what to improve and how to improve it, beginning to connect with a god(dess) or pantheon.
Ch. 11 The Varieties of Magick
- styles of magick (nature, ceremonial, intrinisic, hermetic)
- traditions of magick (Wicca, Qabalistic, Shamanism, Voodoo)
- how to connect with a certain tradition and a wonderful quiz to help you determine what style of magick is for you.
Ch. 12 Nature Magick
- Nature Divination, Herb and Garden Magick, Water Magick, Tree Magick, Sun and Moon Magick, Weatherworking and working with animals and stones
Ch. 13 Intrinsic and Inner Magick
- working magick with no tools
- working magick only in the mind
- ways to use your mind in all types of magick
- One goal 5 ways of working towards it
- pros and cons of not using tools
Ch. 14 Getting Ready for Ritual
- more in depth discussion of purpose, tools, altar setup, timing and how to understand correspondences (note not a list of correspondences just what they mean and how to use them)
Ch. 15 Creating and Performing Ritual
- outline of steps of a ritual then a longer explanation of each step
- Sample ritual
- analysis of what happened during the ritual
Ch. 16 Spellcraft: The Techniques of Magick
- Lots of Useful Sample Spells for you to try
- Some examples of techniques to try ie: candle magick, cord magick, herbal magick, totem animals, runecraft, gem and stone magick, dreamwork, dancing, drumming etc
- what to look at before you use somebody else's spell
Ch. 17 Everyday Magick and Daily Spiritual Practices
- grounding and centering
- meditation
- visiting your astral temple
- raising energy quickly
- protection and travel spells that you need to be quick
- portable ritual tools
- lots more stuff that I didn't include
Ch. 18 Your Magickal Education Continues
- contact points (how to meet other witches)
- schools that teach witchcraft
- evaluating teachers, fees
- learning from books
- learning from nature
- how to experiment
Ch. 19 Change, Death, and Magick
- what is death
- past lives
- how to confront your fear of death
She also has a brief conclusion, a very good glossary and then some appendixes (elemental and color correspondences, meditation ideas, magicians through the ages) and a recommended reading list divided by topic.
She has exercises at the end of each chapter for you to work through and a recommended list of books on the topics discussed in that chapter in addition to the list in the back of the book.
If you want a complete course without spending tons of money and searching forever I would recommend Dorothy Morrison's The Craft. She goes alot more in depth on the practical aspects of witchcraft. Ann Moura's Green Magic for a more in depth discussion on spells and spell crafting. After you decide what types of magick you want to concentrate on the buy a couple (not too many books on that subject) I recommend Gem and Stone magick for beginners because it can be inexpensive (stones are generally a one time purchase as opposed to herbs which even if you don't use them need to be replaced every 7 months to a year) and generally is easier to start out studying than herbs or animal magick.
I'll be doing more lists and reviews so please check those for more information.

I first bought this book because it was priced in my minimum wage budget (the original version). And after my 13 years of Wiccan study I find myself still finding somthing new every time I read it. And now that it has been updated it's even more informitive. This book does not lean to any one pagan religion but easily introduces its reader to the basics of many Magickal paths. This book is ideal for new students to the Magickal arts.

Amber K is a wonderful writer. The information in this book is geered towards beginners. It's also an excellent book to give to people who are curious about what Wicca is (and isn't). Everything you need to know to begin your magickal practice is in this book. I've given out several of the first edition of True Magick to people over the years, and, being the expanded/revised edition, this one is all that and more! I'm thrilled to see it continue on in the world in its next incarnation. Amber's writing style is always interesting. An added bonus to her wealth of knowledge is her sense of humor! (Which comes through in all of her books!) This ones a keeper, but you may want to buy an extra so you have one to give away too!

This is a really interesting primer on magick by Amber K. I bought the first edition of this book in pocket size format a long time ago. I didn't think on buying the updated second edition, but the lager paper back format was enticing, since the larget print is easier on the eye. However, were the updates excuse enough to justify buying this book again? It was for me as they represent a mayor update and expansion, and I can say I was not disappointed in my decision of buying this book.

The first edition was organized into 13 chapters. In contrast, the second edition was expanded to 19 chapters. This is how the chapters in this book have been organized:

1. About Magick - and You
2. A Brief History of Magick (new chapter)
3. First Steps in Magick (expanded from Your Preparation Continues)
4. Magick and Science (extracted from How Magick Works)
5. The Path Lies Within You (expanded from How Magick Work)
6. Ethics and Hazards
7. The Pyramid of Magick (expanded from Your Preparation Continues)
8. The Energies of Magick (expanded from Preparing Yourself for Magick)
9. Magick and your Health
10. Creating the Magickal You (expanded from Preparing Yourself for Magick)
11. The Varieties of Magick
12. Nature Magick (new chapter)
13. Intrinsic and Inner Magick (new chapter)
14. Getting Ready for Ritual
15. Creating and Performing a Ritual
16. Spellcraft: The Techniques of Magick
17. Every Day Magick and Daily Spiritual Practice (new chapter)
18. Your Magickal Education Continues
19. Change, Death and Magick

Notice that in some cases, old chapters were divided and expanded. A few were shuffled and relocated. For example, the excellent discussion about the different styles of magick once found in Chapter three, was moved to Chapter 11. This chapter presents brief descriptions of some Magickal Traditions such as Shamanism, Wicca, Norse Magick, Huna, Alchemy, Brujeria, Qabala, Voudun, Western Ceremonial Magick, and others.

The appendixes had been expanded as well. In addition to Glossary of Terms, Elements & Correspondences, Colors for Magick and Recommend Reading found in the first edition, the second edition includes, Seed of Meditation, Discussion of Ethical Scenarios, Magician Through the Ages, and Elemental Star Charts.

So if you are looking for a good primer on magick for the first time, or even revisiting this book a second time around, you may want to consider giving it a special place in your esoteric library.

If you really want a great introduction to Wicca, their really is no better book to read than this tried and true introduction to the path of Wicca. This book starts out by giving you a little history on what's what in the world of magic -- the different tradtions of magic and witchcraft and then goes into basics of circle casting and then into some great spells for you to try -- also with instructions on how to perform them.

Unlike other spellbooks, this book teaches you that their is more than just performing a spell -- after you perform a spell, their are mundane actions you should be taking to help bring that spell into fruition and align yourself with the energy of the magic you've just cast.

A great book! Highly recommened for anyone starting out on the path.

This book was recommended to me when I began my studying and practice of the magick and Wiccan faith, and it was the perfect place to begin. While so many bookstore's have a mind-boggling number of books dealing with magick, it's difficult to tell what's helpful and what's not. Amber K's book is down to earth, easy to connect with, and certainly isn't full of nonsense or fluff. It deals with the realities of using magick, and encourages readers to be active in their responsibilities and their growth. It also has many helpful suggestions about continued reading, many exercises that are both challenging and encouraging, and also some tips on locating like minded people either online or through word-of-mouth. I recommend this for beginners and as a refresher for those who've been magick users for a while!

Before really getting into the meat of the content of the book, I want to discuss the organization of the book. I found the chapters to be logically ordered throughout the book with each chapter seeming to build on the chapters coming before while providing clear transitions to the next chapter. Within the chapters, bolded headings made it easy to have a general guideline of the breakdown of each idea presented while making the chapters infinitely more simple to search. Additionally, each chapter includes exercises to encourage a more complete exploration of the material covered. The exercises look at the ideas presented and offer a choice of multiple methods of exploration, so one can explore things in the method that most appeals and connects with them or with all the exercises presented. These exercises are followed by a list of books recommended if one wishes to further pursue the ideas presented in the chapter. Additionally, choice of vocabulary and the author's writing style makes the book infinitely readable and easily approachable. The appendixes provide valuable references including a master list of all the recommended texts.

As far as the material covered, the book presents an excellent introduction to the basic tenets of successful introduction of magic(k) and magic(k)al practice into one's life. By providing generalized information on the different forms that people use to practice magic(k) the author steers away from presenting one theory as more important than others while stressing that the most important part of magic(k)al development for the practitioner to focus on is the development of the self. She covers many methods used to develop the self and overall presents lessons followed with insightful exercises. Very few of the exercises suggested seemed trite or "busy work".

She presents a believable history for witchcraft that respects generally accepted history without insulting those who may think otherwise. She also incorporates current scientific theory into her explanations of the inner workings of magic(k) in a way that supports both and provides a more comfortable framework for the modern person to use to comprehend the theories presented in the book.

In conclusion, this book presents ideas essential for the new pagan to encounter in their development as magic(k)al persons. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly. While no book is perfect, this book presents many small synopsis of magic(k)al theories and systems with suggestions of where to begin to develop a more complete picture. That alone is worth the price of the book. The exercises just increase the value of this text. And this book could function well in the absence of a individual teacher as well as making an excellent supplement of a developed curriculum.

This book about magic(k) feels like it comes from a loving mother who has a strong dose of common sense, ability to laugh at herself, and who will take care to remind her children not to go out in the cold without a sweater on. Generally one feels affectionately taken care of, though sometimes, one may feel like taking the author to task when feeling condenscended towards and treated too much like a child, instances of which I will elaborate upon below.

Amber K covers not only the basics of magic, but also wants to make sure you eat well, take care of your physical body and deal with your addictions and your "yes, but" excuses for your habit of inertia. Shell get us off to a good, well-rounded start. One can count on AMber K for her marvelously rich sense of humor. I like the anecdote she gives here from comedian Steven Wright to illustrate the interconnection of all things in the world: "In my house there's this light switch that doesn't do anything. Every so often I would flick it on and off just to check. YEsterday, I got a call from a woman in Germany. She said, 'Cut it out.' " She also has many other bits of common sense, such as "If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else."

The book, like much of Wicca, may strike many of us as a bit too much on the New-Agey and hygienic side. Those feeling more linked with the more chthonic, or indeed more artistic, arcane or folkish aspects of Witchcraft may protest Amber's advice to keep working areas clean (actually she uses the word hygienic at least once) and instead try to cultivate dirtiness in at least ONE place in our lives.

I am also puzzled by what seems, very early on with page xix, to be a dismissal of folk magic: "a great deal of folk magic is based on recipes handed down from traditional folklore and performed without understanding or preparation." Considering the intensity of my interest in forms of Folk Magic, I find this comment unsatisfying, as well as seeming over-generalized.

The chapter on Ethics seems well-intentioned but feels shallow and preachy. Amber states that "this book is about magick in general, not just Wiccan magick. HOwever, the same principles apply to all magickal practice, and the primary guideline is most concisely summed up in...the Wiccan Rede."

I find this generalizing gloss unacceptable. It simply IS NOT TRUE that "all magickal practices" are summed up by ethical guidelines such as the Wiccan Rede. In fact, quite the opposite is more the case. The most cursory of studies into the history of magic will find no evidence of anything like the ethical prescriptions of the Wiccan Rede in ancient times, or in the early modern era. Folk magicians simply were not afflicted by the sort of Protestant scruples many Wiccans now tie themselves into knots with, under the threat of karmic damnation multiplied three times.

See, for instance, the "Greek Magical Papyri in Translation", or "Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the ancient World" by Gager, the Goetia or LEsser Key of Solomon, The Norwegian "Black Book of Elverum", "Balkan Traditional Witchcraft" by Radomir Rustic, or peruse "The Visions of Isobel Gowdie" to read of studies of dark shamanism among the Yanomamo tribes of the Amazon, or the shamanic murders of the mazzeri in Corsica. The use of curses directly overtly intended either to harm or manipulate others is so much a part of magic in history that I doubt one could find a shamanistic or folk magical tradition without it. In her recent study of the 1662 Scottish Witch trial confessions of Isobel Gowdie, scholar Emma Wilby is unfazed by the squeamishness of other scholars with respect to malefic magic, and goes boldly where they've feared to tread, speculating that Isobel may well have been a practitioner of malefic magic, which would have been quite in keeping with the Scottish proclivity for cursing and revenge. Even so recently as the early 20th century with Aleister Crowley, the primary "rede" he presented was "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" a statement which rather obviously contains no ethics to it.
And in modern times, show me a work on traditional VooDoo or HooDoo which does not contain curses, sometimes intended to kill. See Denise Alvarado's books on the use of VooDoo Dolls with plentiful spells to harm others.

Ethically mature people do not need rules, redes or laws to understand or practice our own ethics: though perhaps we can well use these things as starting places from whence to contemplate, and then depart for more mysterious shores. Ideally, we rather so avidly and profoundly pursue the dictim "know thyself" that we come to know the inner ethical law found deep within, rather than merely following rules in some rede. Not having a rede does not mean we have no ethics: rather it may imply we have an ethics so complex and difficult to articulate, that it bears resemblance to our Mystery Tradition itself.

I also find quite unpalatable this advice Amber gives: "Accustom yourself to the idea that nearly everything in your life --every event, relationship, thought and material object-- is there because you chose it." Certainly it behooves us all to deeply investigate our part in things, and the corners of the shadows of our own psyche,and we can all certainly attempt to "let everything that happens to you be your teacher", but it is just offensive to suggest, for instance, that a victim of a crime had this happen to her because she "chose" it!! Such comments reflect a doltish aspect of New Agey Wicca that we can CHOOSE to do without. Also, visualizing glowing balls of energy, something suggested in this book which gives a feel of the style of it, never cut it for me.

Beyond these areas of my concern, where I believe more depth of exploration is needed, I enjoyed this book and found it to reflect an optimistic, creative, humor-filled, common-sensical approach to magic(k) which would be a good guidebook for young people or people new to magic(k). I also heartily recommend attending Amber K's workshops to experience her in person, as she is highly engaging, and very open-hearted. She inspires joy and wonder in the world.

I found this book to be well written and enjoyable to read. It was very informative, straightforward, and consistant with other books on the subject I've read.

I love the writing style and simplicity of this book. I am a huge fan of Amber K's books and this one is definitely perfect for those newer to the craft. This is also one of a few books I would recommend giving to those who are interested in what Wicca is about without offending the reader. Coming out of the broom closet is difficult and having some good books to recommend to those with questions or those willing to learn will definitely ease the process. This is one of those books!