Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A to Z gets an A+, January 5, 2000
By A Customer
Whether you are new to the Craft or have been practicing for awhile, you are sure to find this book highly informative. Well-researched, it covers nearly every aspect of Wicca and Paganism imaginable. I was especially impressed with the section on goddesses from around the world, and I found the detailed information on the various Wiccan traditions to be enlightening. I have been a practicing Pagan for well over 30 years and did not really expect to find anything new in this book that I hadn't already read elsewhere, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned from it. However, the title is a bit misleading, as the book covers much more than just Wicca. Astrology, ceremonial magick, hexcraft, Satanism, and other paths are also included. It is nicely illustrated with old black and white drawings and woodcuts. It is one of Gerina Dunwich's better books to be sure. However, it is an alphabetically-arranged mini-encyclopedia. It is not a book of Wiccan rituals or spells. If you are looking for rituals and spells, look elsewhere. But if you are looking for an excellent guide to the many facets of the magickal world, be sure to add this book to your collection!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wicca A to Z, January 15, 2000
By A Customer
Gerina Dunwich, an authority on the ways of Wicca, is a highly-respected spokesperson for the Wiccan/Pagan community. She is deeply concerned about the negative stereotypes connected to Witches and the many misconceptions the general population has about the Craft. In an effort to educate and to help foster religious tolerance for Wicca and other earth-oriented spiritual paths, Dunwich has impressively combined her many years of experience with in-depth research to create this unique encyclopedia that strips away the myths and mystery to reveal the true beliefs and practices of both Wiccans and contemporary Pagans. No aspect of the Craft, from ancient times to present day, is overlooked in this remarkably comprehensive book. Featuring well over 500 alphabetically-arranged entries and a good number of black and white illustrations, no stones (not even the ones of Stonehenge) are left unturned here. Students of the magical arts (esp. beginners) will be enriched by the wisdom contained within this compendium, and most readers will find refreshing the author's down-to-earth style (she is a Capricorn after all), straight-forward honesty, and occasional hint of wry humor. This book is divided into 2 parts. The first one explores "Magick, Myth, and Mysticism." Alot of territory is covered here, including Sabbats, Wiccan traditions, sacred rituals, spellcasting, and Pagan jargon. As Wicca is primarily "a Goddess-oriented religion and craft," it is appropriate that the second part of the book, "Goddesses From Around the World", covers in detail the countless female deities who collectively represent the power, beauty, and magick of the divine feminine. Every major goddess appears to be represented, with each entry explaining how that particular deity has influenced contemporary Paganism. (Many of the popular male deities are listed in the first section of the book.) The honesty and insight provided by WICCA A TO Z make this one-of-a-kind encyclopedia an excellent guide for all who take a sincere interest in Goddess worship, folklore, the New Age movement, the metaphysical sciences, and the Wiccan Craft as a positive spiritual path and way of life.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Wiccan's point of view..., January 31, 2000
By A Customer
WICCA A TO Z is very enlightening. It is much more detailed and Witchcraft/Wicca-focused than Gerina's earlier work, THE CONCISE LEXICON OF THE OCCULT, which may be somewhat helpful to a beginner but is not incredibly informative for many occultists who have been into the scene for awhile. WICCA A TO Z, which covers many esoteric subjects in addition to Wicca, is educational but not boring, like so many encyclopedia-format books tend to be. The author talks honestly about Wiccan beliefs, traditions, ethics, etc without being preachy or fluffy the way many contemporary authors of this genre come across in their writing styles. At times Gerina's views on certain aspects of Wicca differ a bit from the majority, but there is nothing wrong with being different. Some reviewers tend to criticise her for this, but if everyone in the Craft was identical what a sad, boring this world this would surely be! Gerina has written a number of books on Wicca, and, on a personal note, I credit her with helping me to find my present path. {I had never heard of Wicca until I found a copy of her WICCA CRAFT at a local bookstore.} Thank you Gerina for your splendid contributions to the Craft.
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by Gerina Dunwich
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