Customer Reviews

Witchcraft From the Inside: Origins of the Fastest Growing Religious Movement in America

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

 

 

This book was given to me by Raymond Buckland many years ago in one of the prior editions. The book's title seems quite clear that it has been written from the writer's view of his own experience over the years. I found it an interesting life experience to read about and also useful as a reference guide in a Sociology Thesis I wrote a few years back (in college). Incidentally I did get 100% on that thesis! It was the only 100% I ever got. My Sociology Professor then read the book and she commented that she also thoroughly enjoyed it. I have shared and loaned it to countless people who have all had only positive words. In other words, I thought the book was a great read.

There is not a lot in this book that hasn't been rehashed over by other authors. This book was probably more impressive when it first came out; but I didn't find any major revelations about the Craft. One can get the same info from Gardner, the Farrars, Valiente, or Patricia Crowther.

If this is one of the first books on Wicca you pick up, then it could serve as a good starting point. Including essays from other famous Pagans was a nice touch. I thought the ending chapter on trying to prove fairies existed was a bit much, though.

I absolutely loved this book and am suggesting that the visiters to my online bookstore (an Amazon Affiliate) buy this book. It discusses various aspects of Wicca, along with stressing the fact that you should practice it however you see fit, which is something people of Garderian background often do not speak about.

Ray Buckland studied Witchcraft under Gerald Gardner,and he lets you know all you need to understand ,about ancient times till now..! I recommend this book

This book is an acceptable book for the newcommers to the craft. One of the disturbing things is that much of the information on the first six chapters actually is well summarized in his book Wicca for One....as many already pointed out there is no way to produce really tangible evidence that all the ancient origins are really true...but remember there are two things in which we, humans, are never going to be peaceful one history and the other love

This book by Buckland gives a great concise history of witchcraft. As always Buckland writes his books in an easy to read manner. He allows the reader to be informed without being confused.
I use this book as a reference for the history of witchcraft when I was first started reading about the craft. And now I still go back and reread it. Its that good.

I read all of the reviews myself and than decided to leave one as well. I found this book delightful to read, and do not see it as it was described by other reviews. It might not be for beginners - but those with some knowledge of the craft should have open minds. It has a lot of wonderful information in it and even if it leans toward one tradition (even if you don't follow that tradition) it's not worth overlooking everything else.
Highly Suggest!

I read the book some years ago.It reminded me a lot of Robbins' book,'The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonolgy',from the 1950s.I do not understand what all the flakk is about.Buckland's book refers to proto-wiccans as followers of the 'Olde Religion'.The overall point is that the Christians were trying to destroy the cunning country folk,in order to appease the Jewish merchant-bankers.This has been the case since the dawn of christianity.The Salem area witches (or innocent peasant folk thereof) are still remembered today for their ordeals at the hands of the witch-finders.Close to four hundred years have passed,and we still study their names and lives.Will you be remembered in four hundred years time ? The May-pole may have started as a monolithic phallus created by the stone-age peoples of the pre-historic times.The german name 'Bohrman' ,i always thought was a 'drill-worker',who aided in the construction of ships and buildings.When in fact,the bohrman or drexler,were the ones who drilled the holes into 'May-pole' or 'May-stone'. The feastive may-pole is always the center-piece for Spring Beltane rituals today.Eventhough,it was surpressed and shunned for decades and centuries by the christians and later by the communists.The communists transformed 'May-day' into a national Labour day celebration,yet the rebirth of Spring has never disappeared.-When i was traveling through Austria some years ago,i saw the Kufstein castle.That year they had an interesting display of European torture instruments from the Middle Ages.I think most Europeans would agree that the devises were cruel and inhumane.Yet,this is what the christians did to the just and weak,in order to instill fear among the populace.-If you are not a Gardnerian wiccan,you probably would wince at this Buckland book.I would recommend at least reading this classic one,as well as,that of other wicca-craft authors.It will only broaden your vision on the topic,and therefor you can judge for yourself.

Ok I bought this book because I am, normally, a fan of Ray Buckland's work. However, when I read this I about choked on it. First off, the book was inredibly OVERLY simplistic and that would be great - if you are a beginner to The Craft. But - I wouldn't even recommend this to them due to the inaccuracies in the book. The photos that were included in the book were about the only thing that I found more interesting than the title of the book.


As a Practicing Witch for almost 17 years, I tend to shy away from the beginner books; however, I do feel a responsiblity to pickup a few a year to review them and give advice on them to my coven dedicants. This book will go into my library; however, will NOT get recommended to my dedicants. There is so much *QUALITY* literature out there - do not rely on this.

Buckland gets a lot of flack from time-to-time from the Pagan community; however, I have found his books to be informative - although reading like