The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells for Modern Problems (Paperback)

by Dixie Deerman (Author), Steve Rasmussen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The authors, Gardernian witches and co-founders of Coven Oldenwilde, offer hundreds of spell recipes for healing, protection, discernment, concealment, repulsion of evil and attraction of good (not just romance, but also prosperity, fertility and wisdom). Before they get to the spells, however, they lay a solid foundation for practice with an introductory essay on the history of spellcraft, followed by short sections on practical matters like gathering ingredients, creating a magical atmosphere and living ethically. They also delve into specific magical techniques such as geomancy, chanting and kitchen witchery. Beginners will appreciate hands-on chapters like "How to Know You're Doing Spells Properly"-successful spells, the authors say, often make the caster's ears ring and spark an "inner tingling." The spells are presented in a straightforward manner with specifics on the best times to cast them, the necessary ingredients and the right deity to invoke. Some spells are quotidian, even prosaic-such as a compress to heal computer eyestrain-while others are momentous and difficult, like a spell to prevent evil people from entering a home or workspace. Well-organized and comprehensively indexed, this reference book will be useful for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Here is the thoroughly comprehensive, absolutely definitive guide to spells—the basic handbook for anyone looking to practice some hands-on magic. Delightfully well-written and practical, filled with atmospheric illustrations and diagrams throughout, it encompasses all the principles and philosophy of spell casting, and gives recipes for charms to solve common contemporary problems. This offers what witchcraft and Wicca books don’t: an in-depth understanding of what’s behind the spells and why they work. It’s amazing how much magic is in here: Geomancy, Elemental Scrying, Tree Divination, Mystic Dance and Drumming, Kitchen Witchery, and lots more. From healing, protection, and attraction spells to spells for discernment, repulsion, and concealing, not a topic goes uncovered.

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402753748
• ISBN-13: 978-1402753749
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #760,632 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Goodly, November 25, 2005

By	rantboi (Dayton, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells For Modern Problems (Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

First off, I've got to say this: this book is beautiful! The outside cover is ugly, in my opinion, but the interior design more than makes up for it.

Besides looking beautiful on the inside, this book is also written beautifully. These authors have a way with words, and they know it! Although the title has "spellbook" in it, only half of the book is devoted solely to spells. The other half has various chapters on spellcraft history, correspondences, divination, numbers, chants, magical alphabets, singing, dancing, knot magic, kitchen witchery, making poppets, making amulets and talismans, and much more! There are illustrations throughout that show the steps for the dances, musical notes, sigils, etc. that are discussed in the book. This book is exploding with spellcraft wisdom and I think that any spellcaster could find something of interest inside.

The spells themselves are quite interesting as well. Some are taken from ancient sources and are made useful for the modern witch. To show you how versatile this spellbook really is, the spells range from "To Reveal the Identity of a Thief" to "To Lure People to Your Website." There are also some personal stories of how some of the spells worked. That was an added plus and I think that every spellbook should include those. If you buy a spellbook, wouldn't you be interested if the author actually tried their own spells? I know I would.

In conclusion, a wonderful addition to any spellcaster's library!

-Ater

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it now. Brag about owning the First Edition later., July 1, 2006

By	Sabra Stein "Truth Speaker" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells For Modern Problems (Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

Sometimes, rarely, a classic can be recognized from the moment it is published. "The Goodly Spell Book," like "The Art of French Cooking," or "The Elements of Style," is such a work.
As Julia Child did in the former, Deerman and Rasmussen organize, consolidate and instruct without condescension. And like "Elements" author Strunk, they take refinement of written language to a pleasurable max.
The result is a readable compendium of the dustiest, rarest and hardest-to-fathom old books . It's an instruction manual that takes readers from spellcraft 101 to the outline for their graduate course. And it's a cookbook that can be followed by anyone with a few tools and the daring to try.
"Goodly"'s clear tables and copius footnotes make it an excellent reference for fast look-ups, and an index to the old classic works. Its introduction to magickal principles -- the first half of the book -- makes basic principles clear to any novice, yet covers a breadth that will abash most initiates.
Sections like the correspondences of planets to musical modes and specific sound, make accessible layers of power previously unknown to all but a few.
"Goodly"'s second part is stuffed with historic recipes enhanced by long use, and new spells adapted from time-tested charms. Annotated with shopping lists and "why it works" explanations, it's perfect for browsers-of-oddities and the I-know-it-alls who read books from the back page to front.
For most readers interested in magick, this single title will replace an entire shelf of difficult to read, rambling tomes. The rest -- esoteric wizards and fanatic bibliophiles -- will buy it to be sure their collection is complete.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've read hundreds, and this is the BEST!, February 21, 2006

By	Elder Minx (Calcutta, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells For Modern Problems (Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

The woman who gave this book 2 stars (below this) can't spell and made up false quotes from it.

I love this book, you've got to buy it! This is the best book I've ever read about magic and I've read hundreds.

Its woodcuts haunt me (like the one of Miles Standish pointing angrily at the pioneer Pagans dancing around a Maypole in early American colonial times).

These people know what they're writing about. Their personal stories of magic experiences, teaching, and helping others are fascinating and inspiring.

They worded the history section (Scope) explaining the class, economic, and political upheavals that caused magic's persecution so well, I can now say I really understand (I never really got it before).

The how-to section (Skills) has stuff I've never seen before. Off the top of my head... I was glad for the Witch dance steps, the secret Witch words. Now I know how to make people mad, sad, or happy using music and how to make my own herbal medicines.

The Spells section has charms that are really useful and make sense because they explain the reasons behind them, instead of just giving the recipes like so many other books. They're real spells from all over the world (some I even recognize from my grandmother).