Customer Reviews

Wiccan Warrior: Walking a Spiritual Path in a Sometimes Hostile World

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a military veteran and Wiccan. So, I was surprised and pleased when I saw this book, and even more so when I read it. Here is a fresh viewpoint on Wicca- from a spiritual warrior's point of view. The Wiccan mainstream has tended to marginalize the Warrior aspect of the Craft- and those who practice it. We who are veterans and police have a valid path, too, and understand the true role of the Peaceful Warrior.

This book rang all the right bells for me- bringing in aspects of Eastern disciplines, myth-busting, and plain old common sense. I think every Wiccan and Pagan student should read this. Even if you don't agree with all he says, his extensive notes and contemporary bibliography are well worth your time. No 'fluffy-bunnies' here- just down-to-earth common sense.

This is not a beginner's guide to Wicca. Anyone reading this book should have prior knowledge of the basics of the faith, otherwise it's not going to make a lot of sense.

That being said, this is one of my very favourite books. While there are lots of beginners' books that describe what Wicca is, how to practice it, and the history behind it, this is a book that takes a good deep look at philosophy and reasoning behind it.

My husband, a pacifist, just shook his head when his military wife (me) brought this home. In fact, this book is not about violence or conflict much at all. It's about the warrior's principles, the soldier's ethics, the martial artist's philosophy, and how it can be used by anyone to live a better and yes, more peaceful life.

I don't find Cuhulain to be hateful towards organized Wiccan traditions. Stating that it's okay to do your own thing (whether that thing be traditional or otherwise) is not hateful. I think the world needs more independant thinkers and less people who do what they're told because "everyone else does it." Question everything. Then, if you do what everyone else does, you do it for your own reasons, not because you don't know any better.

This book, more so than any of my other Wiccan material, really made me think. I wish there were more books like this, for those who, having finished the basics of Witchcraft, were looking for "second degree" material. Very philosophical, very insightful, very honest, very brave.

The author of "The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca" presents us here with what I feel is probably going to be a most controversial book, and I love a good controversial book.

Kerr Cuhulain examines the path of the Warrior Wiccan. Though many books have been written on the basics of Wicca and magic, the three aspects of the God and Goddess, healing and such, none have really done a good job examining the path of the Warrior. Kerr Cuhulain covers here how to be an everyday Warrior while living the Wiccan Rede.

If you have read Kerr Cuhulain, you would know he is a former Air Force Officer and a police officer as well as being a Wiccan. He is a Wiccan of thirty years and his education and understanding of both worlds is evident in this book.

He examines the evolution of Wicca, how it has grown, changed and continues to grow and evolve. For many, we can read his words and see how these changes have indeed come about in all the Earth Religions. Others will read this and disagree completely, holding that Mysteries never change. Whatever your view, you will be challenged as you read this book.

Kerr Cuhulain approaches being a Wiccan Warrior in a wonderful didactic style. He covers balance, creativity, energy, dreaming, magic, ritual and rationality all as pertaining to being a Warrior. His training in the martial arts shows in his approach to discipline and wisdom.

I am impressed greatly with this book, and find myself picking it up often to refer back to some of his material, contemplating it as it applies to myself, and how can it be applied to everyday life.

Maybe, in a way, those of us who stand up in our world as different, following the less traveled path are really warriors at heart. I find myself in this position often. This book will probably sit on my desk for a while as I ponder this further.

This book is filled with more than just basic material and is not fluff by any means. Kerr Cuhulain offers meat and potato information, discusses intelligently the foundations he lays for his material and offers a well researched, well put together book on a path less traveled, being a "Wiccan Warrior".

Wiccan Warrior was just facinating. It was all about how to access the "warrior" archtype. Not the Conan the Barbarian kind of warrior, but the warrior energy that makes a hero a hero. The kind of person who wins fights by avoiding them, who is balanced, who is self reliant, creative, and rational. This is a book by a grown up. He shines an intense light on the Pagan path and forces us to see it in this light, and shows us a better way to follow the path we are on. He debunks pagan myths about dogma, ritual, tradition, hierarchy and lays out an approach accessible by everyone. We really needed this book! I found after reading it that I was examining all aspects of my life for ways to bring the warrior to the fore, and I'll be a better person for it. I loved the fact that this book incorporated wisdom from other philosophies in it, oriental martial arts masters, Indian Shamans, even Carlos Castenada and related it all to the practice of Wicca. It's like "Chop Wood, Carry Water" for Wiccans. In a genre in which every book is somewhat like every other, this book stands alone. A must have for every serious Wiccan, Pagan or New Age Seeker's library. In fact a must have for every young person's library.

I stared at this book for several minutes, several times at the book store. I kept coming back to it and I didn't know why. Finally, I had to buy it. I even put off reading it, but it wouldn't go away. I was pleasantly surprised with all the material in this book and recommend it highly to beginners and the experienced both. It makes you think about motivations and consequences in ways you may never have thought about before which is a good thing. It's not fluffy, it's not boring and its not a dust collector. I have even found the time to re-read it more than once. It's a great read and a great source. Thinking is not a bad thing at all.

I recently read "Wiccan Warrior" and attended a workshop by the author. His persepective is fresh,insightful and in many ways parallels parts of my own path. He debunks the concept of initiatory secrecy and tradition fixation, instead offering a fresh prespective in which the individual utilizes what works best for them. His reference to "Chi" energy as a form of magic, a magic that is easily accessible and practically used is refreshing, as is his connection with not the "founders" of Wicca, but with the ancient spiritual traditions of which modern Wicca is an offshoot. A great read, and one which make the reader reexamine how they can maximize the energy flows in their own life.

This is a no-nonsense, practical guide to accessing the Warrior archetype. Although the title is "Wiccan Warrior," as a non-Wiccan Pagan I felt that this book applied equally to me. Would recommend especially to beginners as it contains some important commentaries on Wiccan basics such as what Wicca is really based on and how modern the religion really is ... views that are often left out by other authors in preference for a more glossy, photogenic image of Wicca being the "ancient" pre-Christian "craft of the wise." Would also recommend this book to the more experienced, as it presents a wonderfully fresh view of Wicca and how to apply one's spiritual/religious beliefs to everyday life.

As other reviewers mentioned, this book is a short read, but well worth it. I especially enjoyed the chapter "The Initiated Warrior" - the initiation ceremony was beautiful!

OK I confess I orginally bought this book for my hubby, he hasnt read it yet. I have and I like it a great deal because it isnt the usual book on Wicca. Cuhulain is obviously not a Gardner fan, which is fine by me as I am not either, I am not even Wiccan simply Pagan Pantheist. He bunks alot of the myths about this new religion at several opportunities.

The author seems to be more in touch with the natural side of energy usage and spirituality and I really liked that a great deal. This is not a book for those who like to buy pretty "tools", cast elaborate circles and call directional quarters, but is more for those interested in daily attunement to nature and self.

I truly loved the energy advice, however be prepared for it coming from a martial arts expert who thinks everyone needs to be "fit". As with all reading absorb what hits home and discard the rest.

This is a great book for those who have read a couple beginner books and might need some direction, or long-time practitioners who might want to adjust their focus, without another recap of the basics.

Kerr Cuhulain uses his personal experiance and the teachings of many others from Bruce Lee, to Socrates to explain what the warrior path means to him. The book places a great deal of emphasis on personal responsibility, and taking action. There is a lot of discussion on wiccan tradition, how the author interprets certain key parts of being wiccan, and how his beliefs mesh (or don't mesh) with a lot of what people consider wiccan "dogma". He has strong opinions on certain aspects of the wiccan religion today, including the lenghths some covens are going to so that they can be considered a "legitimate" religious group.

The key to the path seems to be determination and enthusiasm in every aspect of your life. Fans of Scott Cunningham will find Wiccan Warrior complimentary to Cunningham's work, while refreshingly different. Devout Gardenarians may find the book far outside their path.

I once said that Scott Cunningham's books "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner and Living Wicca were the two main books to be found on any Wiccan's shelf. I now add Kerr Cuhulain's book "Wiccan Warrior" to this list. He urges the reader to think for her/himself, to question everything and not to fall into the conformity of what other's say is "the" way to do something. It is obvious from his writing that Kerr Cuhulain researched deeply into the past of mythology and the "re-creation" of the Wiccan movement.

Regardless of what your profession, if your a baker, a healer, a mother, father, brother, sister. This book helps you find the mental discipline to follow the path of a "warrior" in the present day. Ask questions, facing changes, being magickal, ...simply living day to day. It is a wonderful, easy to comprehend book. I highly recommended it for one and all.