Customer Reviews

The Witch's Magical Handbook

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I've been in the Craft for many years. I'm used to having honest differences of opinion on the "right" way to do things but this book goes beyond differences of opinion.

I have serious ethical questions not to mention safety issues as regards materials recommended for casting a circle. I've been concerned enough to contact the publisher about the issue of recommending the use of Copper Sulfate, a toxic chemical, to cast a magick circle. I did research on this with both a master gardener and the Cornell University website dealing with toxicology and there's no way that anyone could safely use this material without the use of protective equipment/clothing.

I don't personally know the Frosts and have no axe to grind with them, but this book concerns me and I cannot recommend it as it stands. If it were nothing more than a difference of approach to The Craft, it would be different.

There is some good information in the book, but it is so interwoven with inaccurate information - or even potentially dangeous information as in the case of the Copper Sulfate issue -that I find it to big a risk to recommend to anyone else.

I've met Gavin and Yvonne Frost at Pagan festivals and they seem like nice enough people with delightful senses of humor. Frankly, however, I am among those many Pagans who find their Craft teachings very disturbing. I have been a practicing Witch for well over 35 years and, notwithstanding the enthusiastic recommendations of younger Witches that you might read here, I would not recommend this book to a new Pagan. I believe that its emphasis on manipulative magick is dangerous to anyone, not only novices. It might have value to a student of the Craft who has already absorbed such works as Starhawk's The Spiral Dance and other modern Craft classics. If they have the wisdom to discern what is useful about the Frosts' variation on Witchcraft, leaving the questionable material alone, it might be an interesting addition to their growing library. I would never advise anyone to avoid reading a particular book -- all knowledge is useful -- but I would never recommend to a student of Paganism, Witchcraft or Wicca that they begin their journey on the Frost's path. It could lead them into a forest from whose darkness they might never find their way back. Blesséd be.

I agree wholeheartedly with the argument that this is a poor book on Wicca as a religion. Scott Cunningham's "Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" and Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance" are much better books to read if you need an overview of "traditional" Wicca as a religion.

On the other hand, if you are actually trying to practice magick as a practical "science" and you want to know WHY you do things and HOW they work, this is an excellent book. This is the ultimate hands on approach. They summarize a technique, tell you how others have applied it in actual case histories (which they claim are avaliable to researchers)and then go into detail on a proceedure for you to try it yourself. Far from being an advertisement to go out and spend money on more of their books or to join their church, it seems to me that this book says, "Go out and do this, prove it to yourself, and you won't need us or anyone else - you will be self sufficient."

I found their attitude to be entirely positive. They warn carefully about the dangers involved and how to protect yourself, spiritually, mentally, physically, and legally! The book seems to follow the Wiccan Rede, and the Law of Karma is pointed up, however they keep the ideas of Deities (the most diverse subject in Wicca) out of it for the most part, allowing you to believe whatever you want and still use their book. It is open enough that even Atheists and members of other religions could make use of it without significant alteration.

In short I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of magick. Blessed Be!

If you have read this book, then you know that the authors use the wyrd frequently when describing what they call the web of the wyrd (which could mean 'word' or 'wierd', I haven't decided) Although some sections were odd, they would balance out with useful sections. They may describe magick as the 'Force' from Star Wars, but that was probably to give the average non-witch an idea of what magick is like. Besides, magick is different to each person. A person can better attain magickal skills by likening it to Yoda if that is what it takes. Perhaps Star Wars was the person's only imaginaitive outlet, having been in tune better with science fiction better than fantasy. If that is what it takes for the new student, fine. The point is to open Wicca to the average, modern person. As for their use of 'mind links'. Some people might not associate certain colors and symbols with their traditional meanings. Thus, the Frosts attempt to show that these are not set in stone. If black to you means money or prosperity for some reason, then that is what it means. Again it is to open up Wicca to the average person. They do not tell you to visualize a car crash to hurt anyone as one reviewer suggested. They say this to spread that psychic energy to a car that you want so that no one else buys it. Sure, this may be a bad example in the use of the Craft, but it does not neccessarily spread negative energy, only energy that would repel someone from an object. To the Wiccan that is afraid to kill a cold germ, this may seem bad, but you are free to not use any particular knowledge that you gain. That is the beauty of it all. They do give a nice short section on herbs, also saying that it is better to look elsewhere for a more concise source. They also give a very good section on having a hearth god/dess, which I would also recommend. They give warning about the legal implications that may be involved in Wicca, such as healing others outside your coven or church. They also give a decent section on 'soul pieces', parts of you taken by parents, former spouses, and other authoritarian figures that may have taken from you to leave behind guilt or other negativity. Like most books, the Wiccan should take what feels right and discard what does not. There should be no "one true" way to practice. After all, if it were a set of rigid rules, then it would be no better than any organized religion.

i really liked this book because it explained the science of magick. how & why it works and effective ways in which to use it without all the religious overtones. i recommened this book for anyone who already has a solid belief system and just wants an advanced course on the fundamentals of magick.

I found the book to be very useful. It was written, for the most part, in an easy to understand language. I think the Frosts have more experience (not to mention, education) than most authors of books of this nature. Others speak of certain aspects of rituals based on tradition or superstition. The Frosts back up theirs up with scientific results on most of them. I felt comfortable with the authors because they seemed very down to earth. They have gone through many of the problems that they now are helping others with. They helped me to understand that magic comes from within us. They clarify "how" things work rather than making the reader figure it out. The rituals are quite simple to understand and preform. They make magic like seem less of a mystery and more an extension of meditation. I think that the Frosts make good representatives for the Wiccan movement. I recommend this book to others who want to bring changes in their lives.

This book was very boring, and had a lot of pointless stories about the authors in it. It also seemed to be targeted at silly teenagers who are interested in "Wicca" (quotes, because that's not really what they're interested in) only because they like to fantasize about spells that will make others do what they want. This is not Wicca at all. The worst part of this book even made me laugh-vampires, indeed!

This is the question I asked myself when I had picked this book up. I did not know anything about them, but after reading the book I know more than I care to admit. This book contains some good knowledge, don't get me wrong, but it also contains what I disagree with that I want to mention.

Anti-Christian attitudes run rampant throughout the chapters. They speak of Christian close-mindedness. Nothing can hurt the cause of Witches wishing to be taken seriously as a religion more than bad mouthing more "mainstream" religions. I am anti-badmouthing any group of people because of stereotyping.

Anti-Male sttitudes peak through once and awhile as well. The Frosts, particularly Yvonne, doesn't mind voicing their opinion that women are higher ethically (for lack of a better term) than men.

They use the book as a means to brag of their personal power and accomplishments. Their lack of noting where their facts and figures comes from leads me to think that some if not all may be made up (conjured if you like puns)

There is also a sections where they state being gay is the spirit not deciding whether it wants to be male or female, am I the only one who sees something wrong with this.

However, I do find the cover pretty (thats why I bought it)

The "Witch's Handbook," offered by the Frosts is in no way representative of any other group or solitary witch I've ever seen. The complete lack of ethics in this book is astounding.

Magick is discussed more as a means to an end than anything else: find something you want, use magick to get it. There's a passage whereby the authors suggest inundating a car with imagery and psychic energy of crashes in order to make sure no one else buys it. Any other witch I know would see that as a negative act, not a positive one.

I've been practicing for nearly eight years, and though I'm an ecclectic sort, I've never come across any other book this empty of virtue or knowledge. This is not witchcraft as I've ever seen it before, and while disagreeing paths are a wonderful thing, this book became the only one I ever returned in my long history of wicca/witch/pagan bookbuying.

Don't waste your money.

I spotted Gavin and Yvonne Frost's Church and School of Wicca online and thought I'd better get one of their books to read before investing the "tuition." I have never been happier to have bought a book only to learn it was a jumble of ridiculous notions.

As a practicing pagan of over 15 years, I was astounded at the lack of ethics presented by this book. Their use of "The Force" from Star Wars to describe the magic around us may be considered helpful by beginners but it is for those very beginners that I most fear. If this book were your first exposure to "Wicca", I use quotes because I don't feel this book exemplifies Wicca at all, you are likely to be a danger to both yourself and others.

Please, consider Scott Cunningham or even Silver Ravenwolf as alternatives before buying anything written by the Frosts.