Customer Reviews

Witch: A Magickal Journey

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have been practicing the Craft for over ten years and have seen book after cookie-cutter-style book come out. In their fierce attempts to be nauseatingly politically correct while highly marketable, they have left out any hint of spirituality and simply rely on rediculous spells and superficial rituals. I'm sad to say that books on Wicca and modern Witchcraft have become a cliche!

Having nearly given up all hope, I was pleasantly surprised at the content of Fiona Horne's book, "Witch". It dives in to topics that would make uptight fundies (fundamentalists) hold on to their hats and run; (even Wicca has it's fundies) topics that frankly, I've been wishing to read about! With chapters like "Witches' Brithches: Withcy Style and When to Take Your Clothes Off!", "Bitchcraft: Hexing, Psychic Attack and Protection", "Cosmetic Conjurings: Making Your Own Witchy Cosmetics", "Bed, Knobs and Broomsticks: Magickal Sex", "Flying High: Magickal Drugs", and "Cyber-Sorcery: Making Magick with Your Computer", Fiona Horne clearly demonstrates how very hip and daring she is. She truly has her finger on the pulse of the twenty-somethings of the witchy world.

But don't let all those fun chapter titles fool you. Horne really knows her stuff and throughout the book, lays a clear, ethical and solid foundation. Her writing style is easy, fun and often times quite funny. Horne writes in a way that enables the reader to feel as though they are having a lively conversation with her. Her explanation of things is direct and completey void of any mental-masturbatory dribble. The book is easy to read (I ripped through all 358 pages in two days) and the graphics throughout and section of color photographs in the middle of the book are well thought-out, nicely designed and appropriately augment the text.

Fioan Horne, from Australia, is also a jounrnalist, rock singer (Sister Sledge, The Mothers, and most recently, Def FX), and TV and radio personality. Because she is from "down under", she gives correspondences for both hemispheres - something 99% of books on Wicca neglect to do. I would recommend this book to any open-minded student of Wicca from the age of 18 to 118.

Okay okay...so I'm only on chapter 5. But the way this is looking, I just might return this borrowed book before I finish it! Horne has some good 'facts' in here...but most of her writing consists of her personal view on everything and generalizing Witches today. To be honest, someone who believes makeup is "announcing to others that I am ready to enter into a realm of mystery and enchantment" is a bit too spacy and "hip" for me. I also do not enjoy the fact that she begins "explaining" 'how to make your own spells' by page 31. She certainly didnt spend enough time explaining our history or any 'traditional laws' (ie Wiccan Rede, Three Fold Law). I'm not talking Burning Times here, but more of the past 75 years and how we've evolved. Instead, she's busy explaining from head to toe what she wears, what her tattoos look like and how her single 'risque' piercing experience just seems to sum up Witchcraft for her. I think we need something a little MORE than that to base our religion on....(yes I know..I'm only on the 5th chapter...but I'm thinking this stuff comes FIRST....I'd like to think most of us enjoy being educated..)

Her personal experiences with wicca were both insightful and entertaining. I loved her stories about climbing trees by the light of the full moon and such! Although this book gives only a general overview of wicca, it serves as a wonderful inspiration for pursuing this path. Some people have a problem with the fact that she writes about hexes and hallucinogens and sex during ritual. However, I loved that she was willing to talk about these things! Many of the topics she covers are practically taboo in the wiccan community and it was wonderful to find someone willing to talk about the more subversive elements of a magickal life (she's not telling you to do these things, she's just letting you know what's out there -- besides, knowledge is power!) This book, together with The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca & Witchcraft make for an excellent introduction to wicca.

Out of all the books on Witchcraft I've read, this one takes the cake.
First of all, I was totally blown away by the author herself...I met her before I read the book, which made it ever-more pleasing. I was first a fan of her music (Def FX...very Witchy and delicious!!) and then when I met her...well...nevermind. This is a review about the book, right? Just know that she's as sweet as she sounds.
Its all there. Fiona skips over nothing. No sugar-coated euphamisms for sex, hexing, or drug use. Its blunt, to the point, and informative. Its the best, least complicated book I own, and I wish I could thank her for it. And I LOVE the stories! Makes the reader feel like they know the author, and, as a writer, I know thats a very important thing, especially in a non-fiction, reletively personal book.
In reference to a comment made about it being "all about her", keep in mind that this is a compilation of her autobiography, "Witch: A Personal Journey" which of course was about her, and "Witch: A Magickal Year" which was more of a guide. Therefore, there are stories AND info. I for one found it a refreshing change from the somewhat dull "this is this, that is that". She made me laugh, and I learn best when I can actually enjoy a book. I looked forward to reading it, and was actually sad when I was done.
That said, I HIGHLY reccomend this book. Cleared up so much for me. Thank you Fiona...you don't have any idea of what you've done!

i wouldn't say this is the most serious of books on this subject, but i did find that it had a lot more to say than some books on the craft out there. the emphasis is definitely on the "hip" part of the title (it's actually Witch: A Magical Journey, A Hip Guide To Modern Witchcraft), and consequently is a bit light and fluffy in places, but it does go into the darker side such as hexing which a lot of books seem to be afraid of even though it is a part of the craft and should be acknowledged. fiona gives a some great guidelines for beginners on how to structure spells and what incense/colours/materials to use. i would agree with some previous comments that she would make it appear that you can dive straight into performing spells with little or no preparation, and i think this book is lacking in a chapter or two on the work that needs to go into the theory side of things and practice BEFORE jumping in head first. a fun book with some interesting parts.

Maybe I'm A BIT biased, but I loved this book. I say biased because I too am tattooed, pierced, have played/toured in punk bands, am pro-feminist and pro-queer, and identify as a witch. I also happen to be blond, born in the 70s, and female. So, I identified with the author. But I believe that these facts nonwithstanding, this was still an excellent wicca/witchcraft book that combined personal experiences (like in Phyllis Curott's Book of Shadows and in Laurie Cabot's "Power of a Witch") with the necessary tools, spiritual message, and BoS spells/associations/circle casting-type info of the practical manual type books (such as by Cunningham/Farrar/Buckland/Morrison etc). My one minor disagreement was Fiona's dismissal of drugs. I'm the first one to admit that witchcraft and drugs don't usually mix, but to dismiss drugs in ALL capacities (as in, outside of serious ritual-working, with or without covens) seems a little shortsighted to me...especially considering the fact that illegal drugs and the widely-tolerated alcohol differ only in societal acceptance--and we as Wiccans/witches/pagans know how certain groups/people/activities arbitrarily seem to get an undeservedly bad rap, right? Anyway, I found this book to be more interesting and contemporary than most. It is a book that is fun WITHOUT being cloying or fluffy, and that is definitely a big accomplishment. This book also made me feel less alone as an 'indiewitch' (my own silly term, aka, a witch who happens to also be or have been a part of the underground/punk music counterculture). I heard that Fiona Horne was writing a book for teens...and that scared me, given the bad history of 'witchcraft for teens' books...but if anyone can do it without being condescending or cloying, she can...hope I'm not wrong!

This book was wonderful! Unlike a lot of the other books on Wicca/Witchcraft by some of the better known authors, this book by Fiona Horne is easy to understand and doesn't confuse the reader with a bunch of jargon that is impossible to understand. She's straight to the point, gives the basics, and gives examples. A must-have for the beginner! Wish I had this when I was just starting out!

If you take away the Mad Mad House, the Def FX, the general need for media whoring, you have a well written, easy to read book.

It's like any book - it is what you make of it. Despite the recent backlash in the community about her public career, he writing style is fun and friendly - it makes you feel as though she's telling you a story or relaying an anecdote as a friend. And trust me, after seeing years of the cookie-cutter, SR 101 books, it's nice to see something different.

What a load of tripe! Anyone who seriously uses this as a model is headed for heartache. This is a writer who has no trouble putting the Wiccan Rede on one page and a four page hex on the next! Full of "cutesy" chapter names, meaningless illustrations and decidedly nasty hexes, spells, and retribution this is an effort best consigned to the... We read this aloud at a Wiccan gathering and howled with laughter - until we realized that this was not a satirical piece and the author was serious.

Witch: A Magickal Journey- is just that, a journey, her journey. This book was such wonderfuly writen I cant specify enough about how good this book is. This truley is "HIP". Fiona Horne cover's about almost everything that she know's about the world of Witchcraft. From Hexing,Spells,going skyclad, to you name it, she cover's it all. I read it all in one day belive it or not. One thing I like about the book was that she dosnt have a feminist point of view. She makes sure that when she is useing she she alway's put /he or /him,ect. As a male Wiccan, I find it very conferting that she does that, because not that many Female Wiccan Author's do that these day's. To wrap it all up, Fiona Horne is a great and knowledgeable Witch, and im looking forward to buy her next book.