The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Us) [Paperback]

Rae Beth (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Crossing Press (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895947447
• ISBN-13: 978-0895947444
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,143,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent writing on the heart of Wicca, August 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Us) (Paperback)

We come across many "how to" books on the Craft these days, but seldom do we find one that also delves into "why." Rae's book is one of the best examples I have come across of a Witch writing from her heart rather than from her head. Yes, she does give examples of how she would celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats, of how she would work certain spells, and other "technical stuff". But more importantly, for me at least, is that she shares how she feels about what she does, about her celebrations, her personal magick, and her realtionship with Deity. We in the Craft are so paranoid about having so-called "sacred texts", that most of the works we do publish are very dry, passionless manuals of technique, that are themselves hamstrung by trying so hard not to offend or exclude anyone or anything. It takes courage, I think, in our milieu for a Witch to write about exactly what she thinks and how she feels about our religion, and to do so unapologetically.

I do not agree with everything Rae puts forth in her book, nor do I practice the Craft in the way that she does. But I do applaud and admire the vitality and passion with which she writes about her understanding and experience of our religion.

If you like the way Rae writes about the Craft, I recommend "Spirits of the Sacred Grove" by Emma Restall Orr.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book of study for the solitary witch, September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Us) (Paperback)

Many books written on the craft deal with coven work, or are adapted from covenwork to attempt to fit a solitary. This one, however, is written by a solitary, for solitarys. Also, unlike other books I have read which seem to be more of a 'How to' and 'Follow steps 1, 2 and 3', this is a collection of letters written to two people interested in becoming witches. It's a more stream of consciousness approach which really seems to get you involved in the reading, where you actually begin to feel that the letters were written to you. I think it's an absolutely wonderful book for anyone interested in the craft, and especially for us solitary witches.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take what you need...., October 20, 2001

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Us) (Paperback)

THE WICCAN PATH by Rae Beth consists of a series of letters Rae Beth wrote to two friends who wanted to know more about Wicca. Her correspondence is not very different from exchanges I have had with various friends over the years -- a Christian Scientist friend who explained her religion to me via phone calls and letters, a Quaker friend who explained her religion to me over various meetings for coffee, and a Morman male friend I saw for over a year when I was younger (and did not marry) who explained his religion to me.

I read voraciously about religion--histories, documents, letters, books, and other material. Although I was raised Christian in a Protestant-Catholic household, my mother and maternal grandmother attended seances every Friday night, and my maternal grandfather was descended from Dutch Jews. Knowledge of my family's mixed religious affiliations caused me a great deal of concern when I was a child because I was sent to Catholic schools where I was taught only RCs could enter heaven. I have tried to understand other religions ever since.

Like other reviewers of Rae Beth's book, I have read Scott Cunningham, Raven Grimassi, Silver Ravenwolf, and many others and I enjoy what they have written. Rae Beth is the first Wicca who "spoke" to me on a personal level however. These days, I find myself growing closer and closer to this ancient system of beliefs. Wicca is a lovely practice that operates from the perspective of attraction, not promotion.

I can continue to celebrate the holidays I grew to love as a child -- Father Christmas or Santa Claus; the Green Man (who may be Robin Hood or the Holly King); The Lady (Mary for me and Kuan Yin for others); Jesus (the Lord and the great Magus -- a Hindu friend tells me she believes Jesus one of the incarnations of Shiva); the Great Spirit; and all my saints who are not lost including Saint Anthony who has helped me recover more than one lost thing and who probably had previous incarnation as some deity or other. I believe in a higher power, and I don't think anyone has the final answer (well Shirley McLean may).

This is a wonderful soothing book written by a gentle soul who is fully in touch with her own nature and the natural world around us. The best part of Rae Beth's discussion for me is in part two where she explains how to go into a trance. As she puts it, you can do it many ways, even with rosary beads.