Customer Reviews

The Wicca Source Book: A Complete Guide for the Modern Witch

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When i first bought the book I was overjoyed at the thought that I finally had the references I need to get my supplies and catalogs.When I would call or send for catalogs the business is no longer existing. It hard especially when you are living in a huge metro area. I need all the access I can get. It needs updating especially for the new millenia coming up. Please Ms. Dunwich update ASAP

It is recommended that this book receive an update. Of 21 Mail Order Shops that I sent to, 10 are nonexistant to the US Post Office and I have only gotten catalogs from 2. I haven't even sent for information from other sections of the book because I have been so turned off by my waste of paper and postage. The information in the Who's Who section is interesting but if you read the back cover of your favorite books, you usually get a bio.

I live in the Boston area, and believe me, this book is a must-have for anyone practicing the Craft in a urban area, even one as pagan-rich as Boston. I thought I had found every store in the area, but the wonderful Miss Dunwich led me to hidden gems, several not even in infamous Salem, MA. A vital addition to any occult/Wiccan collection.

This book was very helpful to anyone who wants to find magick shops or covens in your area. But it is a little out of date. We need one updated for 2000.

A fairly comprehensive directory of shops, periodicals, organizations, and mail order suppliers of interest to Wiccans and Pagans. The only problem with this book is that it will more than likely become obsolete as companies go out of business, or addresses change. But, for now, it is a good place to turn to for reliable Wiccan sources

To paraphrase the late Dorothy Parker "This is not a book to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown down with great force.".... A paint by numbers approach to a rich and meaningful way of life. It should be listed in the Young Adults section for adolescents seeking 'fads', devotees of movies like "The Craft". I would suggest "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler,. There are quite a few good resource books listed here for the serious reader, but this is not one of them.

Gerina Dunwich (born 1959) is a professional astrologer, occult historian, and New Age author. She is the founder of the Paranormal Animal Research Group, the Coven Mandragora, and also established the Wheel of Wisdom School, and the Pagan Poets Society. She is also the author of Wicca Craft: The Modern Witches Book of Herbs, Magick and Dreams (Library of the Mystic Arts), The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch's Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions, and Recipes, The Wicca Garden: A Modern Witch's Book of Magickal and Enchanted Herbs and Plants (Citadel Library of the Mystic Arts), Witch's Halloween: A Complete Guide to the Magick, Incantations, Recipes, Spells, and Lore, etc.

She wrote in the Introduction to this 1998 book, "This resource book was painstakingly put together for the purpose of connecting Wiccans, Pagans, and New Age spiritualists from around the world, and to help promote Wicca (the Craft of the Wise), Earth-Goddess religions, and all positive spiritual paths."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"Many individuals, myself included, believe that the heavenly bodies exert a mystical influence over the personalities, daily activities, and even the destinies of all humans. If astrology didn't work, I'm sure public interest in it would have died out centuries ago." (Pg. 129)
"Herbs are magickal indeed. From their use in the flying ointments and love philtres of olden times to their use in the healing remedies of modern Witches and Shamans, herbs have always had a strong tie to Paganism and the Craft of the Wise... What Witch's kitchen would be complete without its herbs for potions, spellcraft, and rituals?" (Pg. 138)
"Wiccans, Pagans, and other magickal folks have very special needs. We cannot simply walk into the local Kmart, supermarket, or religious supply store and find the items we need and want for our worship and spellcraft. Fortunately there are special shops designed just for us and our Witchy needs." (Pg. 149)
"It is important to mention here that not everyone who is connected with the Craft is psychic, and being a psychic is certainly not a requirement for being a Wiccan, pagan, Witch, or Magician." (Pg. 207)
"First and foremost, it is very important to note that the practice of Wicca is as distinct from the Left-Hand Path (Satanism, sorcery, Crowley, etc.) as it is from Christianity. In fact, the tailfeathers of most Wiccans become greatly ruffled when any connection between the two is even hinted at." (Pg. 225)

The WICCA SOURCE BOOK is one of Gerina Dunwich's finest reference books to date, and it is well-researched, concise, and entertaining. Just about everything imaginable for those seeking more information can find it in this book.A great little book to have in your home reference library, and one where the definitions are accurate. Simply put, good reading!This book should have appeal to all interested in matters of religion and spirituality, and the unusual!