Customer Reviews

Witchcraft: Theory and Practice

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Witchcraft: Theory and Practice is actually an expanded version of a book the author wrote as a primer over a decade ago. That book was one of the first that I read on the Path and I am glad to see that it has been expanded.

The author stresses the seriousnes of comitting oneself to the Old Religion in a way that makes you understand that this is not a game. There is an entire section devoted to self exploration, including a Book of Elements to help you find an order in those sometimes chaotic personality traits. The work serves as a caveat that the first step taken on the Path is one you can never take back.

The first section of the book focuses on fundamentals: self exploration, meditation and visualisation skills, and basic grounding in the thought process of an occultist and Witch. Section two is ritual and religious instruction, and the third part is a collection of unique spells.

Kabbalah informs much of the work, although I'm certain many Kabbalists would object to the author's interpretation. There is a series of guided journeys designed to open up understanding of the Spheres for the reader.

Finally, the most impressive aspect of this book is its poetic nature. Angeles clearly has the soul of a poet in her, which is far more important, in my opinion, than endless lists of tools and correspondences. Her language drips with imagery, and takes the reader into the realm of the Witch the way few books do.

This is a brilliant work. Truly a book one would save if they had to pick their prized possesions on the way out of a burning building.

After having been a witch for 7+ years and going through the usual gammit of Wicca 101 books, all of which have great information and give one a foundation in the craft, I found this book actually made a valid attempt beyond the basics. I haven't seen the level of work from Llewellyn authors before. Usually they follow a set formula which leaves much to be desired in the form of oh... letting the reader think for themselves. I was surprised!

Though Ly's work is obviously an extension of wiccan belief (i.e. the constant reference to the goddess and god, the attention to the sabbats and esbats, not all ceremonial witchs follow either belief or practices), it covers topics of such things as direct energy manipulation, what subconscious and consious thoughts (realized or not) can do to a spell, the general forms of initiation and why they should be undertaken (as solitary or coven oriented), Then goes on to explain some aspects of the Qabbalah (this gets obscure because without an indepth knowledge of hermetic or golden dawn traditions I highly doubt this would make much sense with the brief gleaning given here, and Ly rightly says so on page 123).

From section three of part two, onward is where the book becomes interesting and goes beyond some of the basic ideas of what any basic witch (worth their magick cauldron and salt) should know. Entered into here are topics such as energy manipulation, psychic vampirism and attack, warding, seals, astral projection, hauntings, dreaming, familiars, and something less talked about the three degrees of initiation. It's the degrees of initiation I find interesting as there seems very little derivation from what I have heard from the community and what is written here through the years. It is obvious from the work she is coming from a definite coven/group work background, but this does NOT make the meaning of the work difficult to understand nor does she talk down to or insult the intelligence of the reader, and this by far is the best aspect of this book. She has gone to covering topics which are readily applicable but rarely talked about between witches in the community and in the craft. She makes you have to think for yourself, and DOESN'T just give you a list of spells to do verbatim. This is unique to llewellyn and a real first. I would recommend this book to anyone who has had several years in the craft and does not consider themselves wiccan, but has incorporated some ceremonial magickal practices to their ritual/belief retinue. The only reason I gave it four stars is that in places it does get a little fluffy, but then she redeems herself later on (IMO only in a few choice spots), otherwise it was a good quick and easy read.

So many new age books on witchcraft and the wiccan beliefs somehow lose something along the path to completion. Not so with this work, it is at once complex and simple. This book will provoke thoughts from both those new, and old to this way of life. If you are just starting out, be ready, this book will demand you THINK, give you some very important tools, but more important, guide you so that YOU learn to use them. If you are one old in knowledge - read with an open mind and remember the night that you rode to the sea, danced under the moon, embraced the flames, or whatever that moment was for you.

This is a book I think few who study this way (and aren't we all perpetually "studying" our chosen way?), will not expand from. I found it touching me in ways most only wish to.

I've never been a fan of Llwellyn's on witchcraft, but I have to give kudos for this one. The first few sections show you what it takes mentally and physically to be a witch. You need to be level headed and in control of your life and she WILL tell you that if you can't handle your own feelings, then you best get out of Witchcraft. Great exercises in balancing the mind and its possibilities. I only give it three stars because I don't think you should include such powerful spellwork (as contained in the book) until you have a year or more experience. De Angeles has content that some teachers wouldn't want their students practicing until MUCH later. If you are an advanced witch, however, I think you'll get something out of it.

This is a beautifully written book,full of rich poetry & a treasure trove of information that is useful for anyone intrested in the craft.
Ly has a wonderful gift for delivering information without any kind of sugar coating,egotism,or bull s**t that is so commonly found in witchcraft/wicca books these days! She gets right to the point with no beating about the bush...she writes more in the style of how books about witchcraft were written before it became "cool" , "trendy" or "fun for teens" & so on....
If you are a beginner reading this book,I would say most definitely go ahead,you will learn a lot about the beauty & simplicity of the craft...however,some of the spells may be too advanced for immediate practice (Ly talks about shapeshifting as if it were the easiest thing in the world!).....rather,learn what becomes clear to you on the first read,then continue your research however else you choose to & come back to the book whenever you feel drawn to it.(I find that happens a lot!) As you become more advanced in your skills,the spells will become easier to understand.
I highly recommend adding this wonderfully inspiring & empowering book to any collection,or indeed to begin your studies with what I believe to be one of the most straightforward & beautifully written books on witchcraft available today.

Like good poetry, this book is one to return to over and over again, as each reading yields more meaning not previously gleaned. It does not lay everything out in prosaic terms (as do most Wicca books nowadays), thus leaving the revelation of a lot of knowledge and wisdom up to the reader's psychic expansion. The book's ability to expand along with the reader's growth is a rare quality which so few writers (writing on the same general subject) are able to accomplish. This book calls to one who is drawn to the beauty of mystery. Definitely not for those drawn to the Craft by the gung-ho exhortations of teen wicca books, which for me do not accord the Craft with the proper dignity and degree of seriousness. And contrary to what an earlier review claims, the author does not contradict herself in providing for self-initiation while saying that Witchcraft is in the blood. As she said, one would KNOW('knowing' --- 'wise ones', right?). The self-initiation is a rite with certain consequences, not one of which is the 'creation' of a Witch. Rather, it is more in the concept of setting out on the path that is open to one by virtue of his/her being innately a Witch. I hope the author publishes a new book soon. Hers is a voice that is not carried by the breath of fresh morning air, but by the drafts occasionally echoing through deep, dark caves, issuing from an even deeper source.

I found this book to be a refreshing change from the typical books on Witchcraft published over the last 5 years. How many times will authors rewrite Cunningham's and Buckland's works? At any rate, this book is very well written. If I had one complaint is that the author has a VERY good command of the English language and pulls no punches in using it. Not that that's a bad thing but I found myself pulling my dictionary out once or twice while reading it (and stumping me on a word is no small feat). If you're an experienced practitioner of the craft and looking for something that goes beyond your typical "this is Witchcraft" book, this one's for you. I'm glad I bought it...

The thing that I noticed when begining to read this book was the author's way of being able to set an almost mystical mindset for the reader virtually from the start. Her way of presenting the material in this well-written book makes it seem as if it flowed from hand to pen with effortless ease. Yet with that being said I also state that this is no "fluffy Bunny' approach to Witchcraft, either. In reading this book it does not take much to realize that the author is a Craft practitioner of the highest calibre. She approaches the material in her book in such a way as to teach the reader her material from the heart. There was information in this book of a nature that in 14 years of intense Craft training from MANY mentors I had not seen before. All I can say is that this book shall become a much appreciated member of my personal library for years to come.

Ly De Angeles has done a wonderful job on putting this book together -- if you are interested in the Craft of the Wise, the Occult, or anything related, I recommend for you to purchase this. However, if you are a beginner, you may find this book bereft of any knowledge you could (currently) comprehend.

To understand this, you should have a beginners foundation in your past. When I was a beginner, this novel only confused me -- it served as a dust collecter for months. Today I enjoy skimming through the novel for a good reference/refresher guide.

The sections that were of benefit to me were the information on mulengro, the notes on human nature and the hermetic quaternary. I'm sure that in purchasing this book it will benefit and enlighten you also. Take care!

Nothing really new here. Essentially this book is comprised of common "outer-court" Gardnerian material mixed heavily with mystical Hebrew concepts found in the Kaballah. It also contains a fair amount of non-Craft "self-help" style material, which appears to be the only original stuff contributed by the author.

If you have a couple of beginner's books already, then you have most of the material this book contains. The only difference is that this book is written with a bit more maturity than most Llewellyn books and is therefore not as sickly sweet.