Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner [Kindle Edition]

Scott Cunningham (Author)

Book Description

Cunningham’s classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God. Wicca also includes Scott Cunningham’s own Book of Shadows and updated appendices of periodicals and occult suppliers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is the essential primer from one of the best known authors on Wicca. Focusing on the importance of individualism in your spiritual path, Cunningham explains the very basics of Sabbats (holy days), ceremonies, altars, and other nuts and bolts of Wicca that a solitary practitioner may have trouble finding elsewhere. While Wicca shouldn't be your sole point of reference when considering Wicca as your way of life, it is one of the best starting points. --Brian Patterson

About the Author

Scott Cunningham (1956-1993) practiced magic actively for over twenty years. He authored more than thirty books covering both fiction and nonfiction subject matter. Scott's books reflect a broad range of interests within the New Age sphere, where he was very highly regarded. Winner of the prestigious Audie Award for his recording of Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic by Gordon S. Wood, veteran actor Robert Fass is equally at home in a wide variety of styles, genres, characters, and dialects. A four-time Audie Award nominee with over sixty audiobooks to his credit, Robert has also earned multiple Earphones Awards, including for his narration of Francisco Goldman's novel Say Her Name, which was named one of the Best Audiobooks of 2011 by AudioFile magazine. Robert has given voice to modern and classic fiction writers alike, including Ray Bradbury, Joyce Carol Oates, Isaac Asimov, Jeffrey Deaver, and John Steinbeck, plus nonfiction works in history, health, journalism, and business.

Product Details

• File Size: 3605 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (January 1, 1993)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002AS9S80
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,518 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Folklore & Mythology
  • #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Comparative Religion
  • #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Wicca & Witchcraft

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

844 of 854 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical Guide for the Solitary Wiccan December 6, 1999

By Richard Ballard

Format:Paperback

Mr. Cunningham has written a book for the Wiccan who is solitary either because s/he knows no existing local compatible covens, or because s/he has no compatible person with whom to practice Wicca. The book is very well-written. It is suitable for true beginners, but contains extensive detail making it valuable for the more advanced Wiccan.

Mr. Cunningham's Wiccan philosophy differs from other Wiccan authors. Other authors stress Wiccan history, Wicca's established rituals, coven membership benefits, and the apprenticeship required before Wiccan initiation. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy emphasizes attitude rather than organization. Specifically, Mr. Cunningham discusses specific Wiccan beliefs and goals: belief in the Goddess and God; concern for the Earth; social consciousness; and the right not to be dominated by others. He states that sincere living and supporting these Wiccan beliefs is more important than perfect performance of dogmatic rituals: "Ineffective ritual kills spirituality."

This philosophy seems trivial, but it mirrors (British philosopher) Bertrand Russell's statements that ethics are more important than religious dogma. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy is very relevant to individuals who have fled the dogma of organized religions and who seek a more personal form of worship within Wicca.

Mr. Cunningham's approach offers much flexibility. A sincere practitioner can perform their own Wiccan initiation or have no initiation. Brutal physical ordeals are not required within an initiation rite. An initiation rite uses spiritual tools (chanting, visualization, meditation, etc.) to achieve ritual states of consciousness.

The book's first section discusses Wiccan Theory.... This section discusses the Deities; Magick and Magickal Tools; Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar; the Days of Power (Sabbats and Esbats); and Reincarnation (a topic not discussed in other Wiccan books). The Deity discussion includes both the Goddess and God, and also the minor deities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.). The Magick discussion differentiates between the types of magick performed by magickians and shamans, and Wiccan magick: "Wiccans don't perform destructive, manipulative, or exploitive magic."

The discussion of Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar describes ritual preparation in detail. Mr. Cunningham's book contains a Wiccan color chart (pg. 50) that I found both unique and interesting. The Wiccan color chart differs *greatly* from the West Coast "popular culture" color scheme so widely propagated by the entertainment industry. For example, in the Wiccan color chart Black signifies protection, the Universe, and lack of falsehood. In the popular culture color scheme Black symbolizes evil. Many individuals misinterpret Wicca's symbolic use of the color Black with *unfortunate* consequences.

The book's second section covers Wiccan Practice, and discusses exercises and magickal techniques, self-dedication, and ritual design. Exercises include breathing, meditation, and visualization. The Self-Dedication Section presents a self-dedication ritual, and (pg. 89) also encourages solitary Wiccans to participate in community activities that are compatible with Wiccan goals. The Ritual Design Section shows how the solitary Wiccan can modify the book's rituals to better meet their own philosophies and goals.

The book's third section is a Book Of Shadows. It includes collections of rituals, invocations, and recipes; and a guide to using herbs, plants, crystals, symbols and runes in Wiccan ritual. The discussion of Sabbat and Esbat rituals is especially detailed.

The book contains Appendices listing suppliers and publications. A Glossary is included. An extensive Suggested Reading List organized by Pagan/Wiccan topic also is included.

Mr. Cunningham is an excellent author, provides excellent detail concerning Wicca and its rituals, and provides a practical approach to Wiccan worship. His approach allows the solitary Wiccan to support community activities compatible with Wiccan goals while not being dominated by religious dogma.

This nice and valuable book is useful both for the true Wiccan beginner and also for the more advanced Wiccan. Read more ›

219 of 225 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Starting Point December 16, 2000

By Beki

Format:Paperback

I have to admit that, when I started my exploration of the Wiccan Way, this book wasn't the first on my list. I went through several other beginner's guides before finally ending up with Cunningham's work, and I definitely wish I'd come across it sooner.

Scott Cunningham makes an excellent portrayal of the core philosophy of Wicca, although accentuated with his own shamanistic bent. Cunningham's clear, crisp writing style makes reading his book seem like there's a teacher in the room with you. Truly, if you have any questions about the religion and practice of Wicca, it won't take you long to find your answers in "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner."

Possibly the greatest aspect of Cunningham's book, however, is that over half of it teaches through demonstration. After detailing Wiccan theories and common practices, Cunningham delves right into his own Book of Shadows, giving you a real-life example of the spirituality. This, if nothing else, makes the book a unique and essential part of any neopagan bookshelf.

For those of you with no real knowledge of Wicca, I would suggest another book, such as Amber K's "True Magick" or Silver Ravenwolf's "To Ride a Silver Broomstick." However, if you've just started on the Wiccan Way, I highly recommend this book to round out your beginner's training and start you towards greater wisdom.

117 of 119 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solitary Practioner, a MUST on pagan/Wiccan bookshelf! May 1, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Cunningham's Guide to the solitary practicioner is an absolute must. With this book and "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk any beginning Wicca or pagan can learn the essential basics of practicing non-christian traditional earth based religion.
This book clearly outlines the principles of practice, but leaves specific interpretation up to the reader. This is a must, as in pagan religions there is truly no "right way". The standing stones book of shadows is an excellent guide to creating your own solitary tradition. What is truly impressive about this book is that all of the information can easily be trnsformed into group or coven practice.
An excellent supplement text is "Incense,Oils, and Brews", also by Cunningham. It will help spur your creativity with wonderful recipes for all kinds of concoctions from alter oil to magical soaps and powders!
Whether you are an initiate/novice, or third level priestess, this book can offer you insite into the solitary practictioner's world. I can not praise this book highly enough. I have been practicing for many years, and no longer am I solitary. Yet, my dog eared copy of Solitary Practioner is always a welcome sight, comfort, and wealth of basic information.

dakotahblu
:)

Merry Part and Merry Meet Again!

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction, but not too much more September 14, 2000

By Annette Hrisko-Allen

Format:Paperback

This was one of the first books on the Craft I bought (along with his earlier work, "The Truth About Witchcraft Today"). Cunningham does a nice job of presenting Wicca as a positive, pre-Christian, Earth-centered religion, and gives a very general (sometimes generic) overview of the Dieties, Tools, Symbols, and High Holy Days.

The book is for those who are very new to the Craft and do not have access to, or a desire to associate with, a working coven. Cunningham's descriptions of the primary magical tools are very brief (i.e. the athame and the bolline together barely take up a page of text), and really only serve to merely introduce the objects to the reader, rather than delve into the magical properties of them.

The Chapter on Magic attempts to disspell the myths of what Wiccans actually do during ceremony, that they do not cast spells of manipulation and harm. Cunningham also outlines a very basic prosperity spell in order to pay his bills. He strongly advocates the ideal of infusing one's magic with love.

Yes, it's all very "white light" and rather saccharine at times, but it is an early work and many authors have simply lifted from what Cunningham wrote about and put their own spin on it. This is not a book for advanced students; but, for those who are just starting out in the Craft and are still unsure where to look, it can serve as a useful tool.

More About the Author

Scott Cunningham practiced magic actively for over twenty years. He was the author of more than fifty books covering both fiction and non-fiction subject matter; sixteen of his titles are published by Llewellyn Publications. Scott's books reflect a broad range of interests within the New Age sphere, where he was very highly regarded. He passed from this life on March 28, 1993, after a long illness.