Customer Reviews

Wicca For One: The Path Of Solitary Witchcraft

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is probably one of the best Wicca 101 books that I have read. I had mixed emotions about the first chapter of the book. Buckland talks about TV witches and calls some questionable historical characters as possible witches. But then I proceeded to read the following chapters and I realized that the first chapter must be read without taking it seriously. I think what Buckland attempts is to reach the new wanna-be practitioner on a level that she/he can understand. The rest of the book is filled with plenty of content (no fluffy-bunny Wicca). The book has a good overview of Wicca (there is less focus on magic than in most of Wicca 101 books comming out these days) including rituals, Esbats, rites of passage, Sabbats, Divination, Healing, Prayer and Meditation, and Development. He also includes appendices of magical terms, magical properties of herbs, magical properties of stones, and magical alphabets. They are shallow overviews but more than I have found in many Wicca 101 books and enough for a begginer to decide if they wish to persue any of the topics with deeper study. I would give this book a 4.5 if I could because it is not perfect but it is a great introductory book to Wicca 101 and especially beggining solitary practice for someone who has never been involved with a coven.

Amongst Wiccans today, Raymond Buckland needs no introduction, as he can fairly be called "the Father of modern Witchcraft in America". He is the author of many books, this one turning his attention to the situation of the solitary Wiccan, that is: one who is not a member of any coven. He is careful to point out that the path of the solitary Witch is far older than that of coven Witches, and it is one that is both justifiable and fully legitimate. Thus the book is affirming and thoughtfully helpful in the various facets of Wiccan practice that are presented for the Solitary. I particularly enjoyed his debunking of a number of supposed Wiccan "dogmas" and his generally liberating "take" on the Faith and Practice. Given his background in the Garderian Tradition of Wicca(and his age), his flexible approach here was very refreshing. There are also several very good appendices and a bibliography to take the reader further and deeper into the Craft. With his reputation, and the book's quality, this volume by Buckland should be read by every solitary Wiccan!

Long time readers of the Journal will remember that I have a really soft spot in my heart for Raymond Buckland, mainly because he's the founder of my tradition of Wicca. I have a lot to thank him for and a lot to credit him for.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that he can do no wrong. But I do believe that he gets it right more often than not.

This book, however, tends to be a rehash of many of his other books. The only thing that sets this one apart is that it is developed specifically for those who are solitary.

All the information in this book has been published before in books such as The Tree and Buckland's Complete Guide to Witchcraft. However, those books, while being excellent sources of information, tend to be centered for those who are going toward covens. This book is modified specifically for those who will be practicing in their own backyards without others to practice with them.

I'm giving this a really high score since it has a lot of good information for you and is something that solitary practitioners should have in their library. But I'm also going to advise you all that if you have The Tree and Buckland's Complete Guide to Witchcraft you may want to skip purchasing this unless you have the extra money.

I think that this is the logical next step to purchase after Cunningham's books "Living Wicca" and "Wicca, a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner". If those are your only exposure to solitary practice, then you need to buy this book.

Buckland's clear and logical approach to this issue made things much clearer and nicely puts things into perspective.

This is one of the first books I picked up to learn about Wiccan spirituality. It gives great advice for small spaced rooms, solitary rituals, and how to honor the gods alone.

If you have not read Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner (by Scott Cunningham), this is a great book. However, if you have, they are really on the same level. I had not, I'm almost embarrassed to admit, yet read anything by Buckland and he is one of the greats in on our path. So, this was my first foray. I enjoyed his writing style, but it was not anything I had not read elsewhere. He does get a more involved in details and specific symbolism than Cunningham's book. I will keep this one on my shelf for the 'magical squares' in use in amulets.

One of Buckland's better books for the solitary or eclectic Wiccan. A must for bookshelf of any solitary's library, new or old.

The book gave me a lot of good ideas to help me along the Wiccan path. I would recommend it.

Being new to Wicca, I found this book to be a good introduction to solitary practice. Buckland covers everything you need to know to start you on your path. Well written and easy to understand, I recommend this book to anyone interested in Solitary Wicca.

This is an excellent book (answers many questions in a very easy-to-ready and light hearted manner) that has become a primary resource book for me in my study of Wicca. Anyone interested in Wicca, with no access to a coven, should own this book.
Shipping was very fast. I recommend both the seller and the book.