Customer Reviews

Wicca For Men: A Handbook for Male Pagans Seeking a Spiritual Path

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I find myself trying to break away from the unforgiving, intolerant religion of my fathers, only to be shunned by the largest, fastest growing pagan religion in the U.S. It seems that after several millennia of abuse from the "patriarchal" religions, women have taken the only religion that does not oppress them or make them look like Jezebels and tried to make it their own. Thing is, they made it almost exclusively their own, projecting the same attitude toward men as has been shown to them for so long. Well, this book sets the record straight by pointing out that there is a room a plenty at Gods (esses) table. This book embraces all that is male (The Horned God) and introduces HOW TO EMBRACE THE GODESS AS WELL. This book is a true reconciliation between the two sexes. I started reading this book to affirm my place in the Wiccan religion. Only to find out it had already been done, and now know the real difference between a REAL witch, and these scissor-happy, man hating, neo-feminist "earth mothers" I always seem to run into. This book not only points out the incorrect way many Wiccan covens practice this religion, but also assures the curious and spiritually destitute man that Wicca, in fact, means MALE WITCH. (Sorry, ladies) However, this book takes it one-step further. I now realize the true beauty in seeing a gender duality in divinity because I found out that the Goddess (portion of Divinity seen as female) has never hated me nearly as much as I feared her.

Guys, I am happy to report that SHE IS NOT A THREAT and will welcome you with arms open, not closed. She loves and cares for our father and the reverse is true. THEY ARE THE SAME. I feel the Gods rage in this book as he explains through the author the hurt and outrage he feels to this day when it came to be that man had forsaken his wife, his partner. His best friend, his soul mate. OUR MOTHER.

Now that I have digested and assimilated this new philosophy and religion, I see God and myself in a very different light. In doing so, certain things have happened almost literally overnight.

I have come to know a peace I have never known before and it is through tears of joy that I can now release a lifetime of bigotry, sexism, rage, hate and pain. Simply put:

The Goddess has helped me heal.

Now I understand the conceptual philosophy of gender duality attributed to all things divine and profane, I feel that I know now who my mother is.

And she is so...very...beautiful.

I have been shown that to accept my mother DOES NOT MEAN I MUST FORSAKE MY FATHER. It is the piece missing from the myriad of one-side confusion myself and others have been raised to believe. I now see women in a completely different light as a result of seeing myself differently the product of seeing The Almighty differently. This book IS NOT MEANT as an affirmation for men to reassure them that their conception of divinity must be REPLACED, but EXPANDED. Things began to click with me instantly while Ishtar smiled. All she wanted was for me to know who she was. Moreover, to know that although I may have never known WHO or WHAT she was, she has never forgotten who I AM. More is the pity. Better late than never I suppose.

This book is a calling to all male pagans Wiccan and non-Wiccan alike, to now join our sisters in reuniting the planet as a family and not strangers. Though I would venture to say that a reference to the Goddess as the "consort" to the God would be met with equal disdain from the True Wiccan Woman and earth-mother alike, it also serves to show them how equally distasteful it is to us to have the God referred to by the same title. Unless of course, you mean consort as "partner," that is.

That IS what you meant, right?

THIS BOOK IS FOR MEN AND WOMEN BOTH. To enlighten the man about the Ways of the Wood, while setting the record straight with our fairer counterparts as to equality and "practice what you preach." Ladies, I love you all. Please know that we (men) are coming from the same battle torn, madhouse that is modern religion and we are just as bruised, bloody and hurting as you were when you left. We are glad you have capitalized on a little known secret and exposing it to the world, but please remember that those who started this ball rolling in the 20th century meant to re surface something beautiful and a LOT of those pioneers...

WERE MEN. Buckland and Gardener to name but a few. Remember the witch who helped repeal the anti-witchcraft laws of England in 1951? O.K. that, my dearest sisters was a MAN. Quite a few of these guys were in fact, freemasons, like myself. And it is by no means a coincidence that our initiation rituals are so similar. No coincidence at all, ladies. So when you see one of us staggering toward your camp, hungry, beaten and torn, understand that a kind word, a hot meal and a warm bed can do more for a person in that condition (male or female) than a closed door ever could. See what I have come to understand is that the God (or the conception thereof) did not do this to all of us. HIS INSANE FOLLWERS DID. They took off his horns and replaced them with guns. THIS IS NOT THE GOD. This wrongful conception of masculinity must stop and this book subtly points that out. Even if you are a soldier and have been to war, you want to show me how brave you are?

Try changing a diaper tough guy. Lets see how bad you REALLY are.

We are not just soldiers and conquerors. We are husbands, fathers, lovers and protectors. We are the hunter, the farmer and the Holy Man. When did we loose sight of our roles and responsibilities AS MEN?

When did the farmer become the executive, the warrior a soldier? When did the hunter become a poacher, and the father a deadbeat dad? When did the husband become a tyrant and the father become just a picture on somebody's wall. But most importantly:

What about Mom?

WHEN DID WE KICK HER OUT OF THE HOUSE?

When we did that, we kicked out our wives and mothers as well, tossing out the baby with the bathwater, turning our women into slaves and thus begun the Ruination of the World.

Read this book. Because it can change yours.

Blessed Be :-}

I recommend this book to men (AND women) that are curious about Wicca and would like a good general background on the Craft - especially those who are attracted to Pagan ideas and concepts but are put off by the sometimes overly female-oriented direction of many books on Wicca (an understandable reaction to Patriarchal Monotheism, but...). Wicca is an old (perhaps the oldest) religion, re-emerging in the modern day. It is growing explosively - and is evolving at the same time...it is good to see a viewpoint mature enough to realize that Goddess and God are equal sides of Creation - and brave enough to say so in public! This book fills a true need within our community.

I wish this book had existed fifteen years ago, when I first encountered modern Wicca - it would have been of great assistance to me then. I think it is a great read for all beginning - or considering - the Wiccan path...male AND female. And for anyone in or out of the Craft that has an interest in being exposed to a fresh and insightful viewpoint on contemporary Wicca and one of the directions in which it is heading. I may not agree with everything Mr. Drew says, but I am glad to have read his book...it made me think, it made me laugh....and it reminded me WHY I chose this Path.

Blessed Be and Live Free!

I picked up this book after considering it for quite some time. I am glad I finally did. This is a good book for males or females interested in the Wiccan path. A.J. Drew starts his book by reviewing the history of Witchcraft, which I really thought was enlightening. Though I had heard it all before, he puts in ways that I hadn't. This book would be a good beginners book, so I think the title is misleading. It's not just about male Pagans. This book could really be a book for all Pagans seeking a spiritual path.
I do think it is unfortunate how a few Wiccan groups have gone to embrace only the Goddess. I suppose that is just because of years and years of male-dominated religion. This book does help bring it back into balance.
It also contains some sample spells, and rituals for the eight Sabbats.
Very good read. Enlightening and Informative.

Blessed Be!

Personally, this was one of the first books that I bought on the subject of Wicca. It is a fairly small book, but I thought is was very appropriately themed, being a man just then learning about Wicca, what seemed (at the time) to be a very female dominated religion. It was nice to find, however, that the book would be very useful for anyone reading it. The author does a very good job at forming the base philosophical and theological concepts of Wicca for the reader.

The author has a very supportive and informative tone throughout the book, making it a useful resource without getting a know-it-all tone.

This book is especially useful for Wiccans just starting. It provides multiple Wiccan philosophies, and allows the reader to choose what he/she is most comfortable with. In addition, it includes sample rituals for each of the major holidays, as well as some basic reference tables.

This is a very well thought out book with a good tone, enhanced by the author's individual perceptions. I consider it a welcome addition to my library.

It is refreshing to see a book dealing with the male half of the faith. 98% of all books on the faith deal only with the female half and with the Mother with only a passing mention of the Father. Dianic Wicca does not even mention the male spirit for the most part, if ever. I reccomend this book highly, particularly if you are becoming disillusioned with a lack of male spirit and power in the faith.

As a book of basic information on Wicca and on the specific tradition of Creations Covenant this is a fairly average book. It gives a solid overview of principles of magick and Wiccan beliefs. The specific information about the particular beliefs of the Creations Covenant tradition set it a little apart. This can be important to anyone interested in exploring the tradition.

There a some fresh outlooks and variations on ritual that I am glad to have been presented here. I have no regrets for having bought and read this book. I might even suggest it to people looking for information on the basics of Wicca. But there are many other basic books on Wicca some of which are better written many are more comprehensive.

I was nagged through out by one question, though. What sets this apart as a "Handbook for Male Pagans". The answer kept coming back to me, "Absolutely nothing!" There is no special perspective for men here. And despite Mr. Drew's comment there is nothing unique about the idea presented of a balanced Male/Female view of the divine. I hoped to find philosophical and mythological information to bring new insights from a male perspective and explore how Wicca can open horizons or some such. I hoped to find rituals and meditations to specifically enrich the male experience of our craft. None of this is here. I think that with a more fitting title I could rate this book more highly. But as it is I just find myself wondering why the author never got around to the topic his title promises.

The book's title leads you to think that the book is geared towards Men. As you read through, you quickly realize that it would be better titled Creation's Covenant's View of Wicca.

I'll agree that the book is great for those uninformed about the Craft, and looking for information. Unfortuately, someone looking to break away from the female dominated stereotype of Witches will not find much help here. It rarely seperates the genders and focus' on coven-work, as opposed to something a male solitary would find helpful.

I was looking for a book to take to my male friends to help explain what I believe. That would have proven to be a mistake because as I am not part of the author's group, and he doesn't stray from their beliefs very often.

A.J. did a good job writing this book. The book is an insperation to a man to not only get involved better in Wicca, but to treat his female counter part better, and vice-versa. This really sets the equality back into the religion, as it may be hard for men to go into a female dominated religion when we grow up in a male dominated world. It puts equality back to this life. There are some...'interesting'...views in the book about creation. I really enjoyed the book, and reassures the reader there is no one 'right' way. It gives examples for a coven, but reassures one that it can be used for the solitary Wiccan. I think A.J. did a great job on this book and look forward to getting his Spell Craft for Men book soon. Also I recomend heading over to his site neo-pagan.com as it also is a good community. This book will be on my recomendation list, and in my library for a very long time. Thank you A.J for this book.

The author attempts give much needed attention to the male aspect of the religion. Some good points are made, but too much of the book is ritual, which I did not honestly get much out of. It focuses on the authors own tradition of wicca.Even though this is adaptable to anyone, it also smelled too much like a beginner book,which I did not expect.I already have too many 101 books in my library.I only read it once and donated it. Sorry..

This book is among the best I've ever had the pleasure of reading . Very straight foward and an easy read . Pagans of today READ THIS . A J Drew has taken a very simple belief system and has written a beautiful guide for it . He has also emphasized tayloring it to each individuals comfort .