Customer Reviews

A Witch Alone, New Edition: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There are so many beginners' books on Wicca that many Wiccans refer to them as "Wicca 101" books. The information in them is usually very basic, and the ease of reading and how interesting they are depend on the author's personality. But they all say pretty much the same thing. "A Witch Alone" stands out from the others for two reasons. Firstly, it is written in thirteen chapters, each a lesson. At the end of each Ms. Greene gives you a project and a reading list. These have specific goals that open the student up to the mysteries of this ancient religion in an easy, gentle way. While guidance is always preferable, if you have no teacher near you, this is nearly a substitute. Secondly, there is a flexibility about each chapter/lesson that teaches something else -- the ability to use your own intuition, a very important resource to any Wiccan. It helps the person develop a sense of spiritual self, and does so in the most effective way.

I ask my students to use "A Witch Alone" along with with Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and Laurie Cabot's "Power of a Witch". The late Mr. Cunningham's book has a wonderfully clear way of organizing the practical things of this religion and some lovely and clear explanations of Wiccan beliefs. Ms. Cabot's book is not only a journey of what it is to be a Wiccan, it is also the only book that talks about the science behind what we call magic.

"A Witch Alone" is a beautiful gift from Marian Greene to those seeking to walk the path of the Wicca.

As one who is very familiar with the Charge of the Goddess, I can attest that nowhere does it contain the phrase 'ye cannot be a witch alone'. I find it upsetting that something so erroneous is attributed to a text that is as sacred to Pagans and Wiccans as the Lord's Prayer is to Christians. Having said that, I can highly recommend this book to anyone following the solitary path. I found this book shortly before I left the coven of which I was a member and found it not only helpful but comforting. While the energy of a coven can be a great shared experience, the quiet freedom of the solitary can be just as rewarding. The book is full of good advice and suggestions and is a great memory refresher with regard to spells and chants. The author lives in England and so some of the natural sites she describes are unfamiliar to American witches. One thing that I have never seen in any other book of this kind is her admonition to not rape the earth any more than is necessary in order to obtain one's tools. For example, taking one crystal from nature is enough, leave the rest be. A most refreshing viewpoint especially for one who lives in a place where occult and New Age shops sell crystals by the hundreds.

This book would be my first choice, along with Rae Beth's "A Witch Alone" for anyone interested either in learning more about witchcraft as it is and has been practiced in the UK during the 20th Century, or in taking first steps into the practice to see if it is for them. Marian Green is one of the most long-standing, informed, and responsible teachers and researchers into this path, and the directly experiential route of her "lessons" is for me at the heart of being a witch. After all, this is not a "religion of the book" but a mystery religion, where knowledge and insight are gathered largely through direct revelation from the "Old Ones". Marian emphasises this, and provides a wonderful set of lessons, in the form of direct questions (to which she provides no answers; crucially, these must be directly experienced by the Seeker rather than read in a book). Her year and a day structure of lessons and reading, and especially her thought-provoking comments on the possible history of witchcraft, are superb. If you follow her careful guidance, you cannot but enrich your practice.

There are so many books out there on Wicca, but traditional "low magic" witchcraft- the path followed by the ancient wise woman of the country village- has been largely overlooked. Until this book. Ms. Green takes the reader on a year long journey (based on the 13 moons) to mastering such skills as healing, guided imagery, divination, and the ever important re-connection to the god and goddess. Each moon is spent concentrating on one particular subject, instead of throwing it at the beginner all at once.

This book is a must-have for those who are drawn to Wicca and/or coven practice, because of the wealth of resources and straightforward lessons- but for those who "...have heard wilder music, playing to an older beat..." it is nothing short of a gift from the gods.

This book *is* written for "A Witch Alone". It presents a different view of Witchcraft for solitary practitioners.

Many Americans won't care for her style of writing, and those who live in places that are environmentally different from England might find some of her 'simple cost-effective supplies' a bit daunting (many of the trees and herbs she lists in her book do not grow in southern Arizona, for instance. And here it is quite illegal to go out and cut a staff from a tree (at least not without paying for a permit, if the state even decides to issue one for that purpose in the first place) unless it is on your property and is not a 'protected species') she is a strong proponent of not paying for magickal supplies, which makes sense, but it doesn't make sense if you can't get something she suggests getting yourself in the woods, if you don't have woods (or if it takes 2 hours of driving time at least to reach 'woods'. Most wild areas in this state are state parks, and there are rules regarding cutting of trees).

Her suggestions are wonderful for those in England or places with four definable seasons, and for those who don't live in cities. (I don't have a garden. I wish I did. Gardens are hard to maintain in the desert - I know folks who do, but they have their own houses, and can afford the water bills.)

There *is* a lot of useful information in here. The section explaining the tools makes a lot of sense. She's not a proponent of lots of fancy Ceremonial magick tools (neither am I), and suggests a staff, cup and serviceable knife (like a Swiss Army knife). No pentacles, athames, swords, altars, or anything else.

Note that she does tend to criticize the modern Craft movement, esp. that in the US, but it may be deserved, and she doesn't 'bash' anyone.

Her history is a bit skewed, but a lot of Witch/Wiccan authors have their own version of Witchcraft history. (History, cultural or otherwise should be gleaned from history books and scholars, not from religious authors IMHO)

*I* can't use the book (There isn't much in here I haven't already been doing by myself, so I don't have much use for it, and at $16, it's too expensive to sit on my shelf gathering dust), so I'm reselling it.

That doesn't mean you might not be able to. ;)

Blessings

"Ye cannot be a witch alone," the Charge of the Goddess goes, but that text meant something different from what many opposed to solitary practice seem to think. You can, in fact, be a witch alone, and Marian Green provides what turns out to be a pretty good sourcebook for those who choose that way.

Green's got some excellent ideas for spiritual practice and attunement that work quite well no matter what your path. Her insistence on exploring the history of the region where you live, for instance, is well merited. Much of what's written about modern witchcraft practice is based on British practice and British folklore, and doesn't fit very well for many who live in the United States and elsewhere. Really learning the properties of various herbs and substances is also a good idea, and much more thorough than following someone else's set of correspondences.

However, I have a few quibbles with this book, the major one being that Green herself is no historian. Her comments on history and folklore often blur one into the other, resulting in errors that anyone who's read a bit of either will spot. This reduces the credibility of her work, which is a shame because so much of it is so good.

Green is emphatically not addressing Wiccans here, or at least not solely Wiccans. That's fine; we Wiccans have enough 101 books to last us until the universe grows cold. Her ideas, though, are interesting no matter what your path, and are useful for those who are Wiccan as well as those who are not.

I regret that it took me so long before I discovered and read this wonderful book! Divided into monthly chapters, the book explores the wonders of natural magick and the nature of wicca. It is not written to be read cover-to-cover, but rather to be gradually digested, each chapter discussing an aspect of wicca with ideas and concepts to be meditated on and thought about over the course of the moon before the reader goes on and reads the next chapter.

If you are interested in wicca or natural magick, or are simply curoius about the goddess tradition, this is the FIRST book I would recommend you read. (After which I strongly recommend Starhawk's The Spiral Dance.) It is easy to read, the concepts are clearly written, and it is an excellent starting point for a solitary practitioner.

If you are already a practicing witch, A Witch Alone is a fantastic book for reconnecting and recharging one's spiritual energy, as well as for providing focus points for meditation and thought. Truly a great book.

Marian Green is one of the few writers and teachers recognizing that true Witchcraft isn't about dancing naked in circles with knives and swords or taking on fancy titles. She knows that Witches dedicate themselves to the study of the earth and cycles of nature, doing all they can to recreate that knowledge in their own lives. Her books are wonderful, and I highly recommend them to any that are truly serious about pursuing actual Witchcraft.

Careful reading, re-reading, and application of the information and suggested exercises in this book will prove invaluable, no matter if you call yourself Wiccan, Witch, or anything else. With a deliciously relaxed pace to the writing, just reading this book can help you slow down and realize what beauty and serenity--and of course magic!--is to be found in the natural world. This would be the perfect companion for those who prefer to take gentle steps into a new philosophy, as well as those who are rather stressed and burnt out by their current practice and wish to renew their centeredness and love of the Craft.

This book "communicated" with me from the first page. It is presented in a down-to-earth manner. She presents and carries through with the theme of "harm none." She also reaffirmes my belief that "religion" is a personal matter. And that there is no wrong way of practicing the Craft. i can not reccomend this book highly enough. This book played an instrumental part in my finding my path. i have had to replace my personal copy twice (from wear and tear.) It is also the first book i reccomend to nonpractioners, when the express an interest in my path.