A Grimoire of Shadows: Witchcraft, Paganism, & Magick (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Witchcraft is the most ancient religion known to the human race..." (more)
Key Phrases: fetched hame, thirteen heartbeats, priestess shall, Old Ones, Horned God, Outer Court (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An introduction to magical studies, with a full cycle of rituals and training in magickal circles, indoor/outdoor ceremonies, invocations and banishing. This book provides a complete system of magickal training based on Tibetan and Austrian ceremonial sources.

About the Author

Ed Fitch is one of the major figures in modern Wicca and neo-Paganism.  He has traveled the world as an Air Force officer, an aerospace engineer and a private investigator.  He spends as much time as possible each year in the California wilderness exploring mines, caves, and old ghost town sites.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567186599
• ISBN-13: 978-1567186598
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #701,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for those who like an ordered approach...., January 2, 2000

By	Kirsten M. Houseknecht "[e-mail]" (philadelphia, pa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"A Grimoire of Shadows" was origionally written as a training book for those just entering the Gardnerian tradition of Wicca. It has been added to, and expanded, for publication, and should prove very useful to the new, or advanced, student. None of the secrets of the Gardnerian tradition are revealed, and this book can stand as a tradition in its own right (and has, many eclectic groups started with this book).

The training excersizes are very good, and it does an excellent job of teaching students how to avoid the common energy working pitfalls. If the suggested training regimen is followed then the student will develop an admirable level of both discipline and control.

If you are looking for a simple spellbook, then this is NOT the book for you. Likewise, if you are not interested in a disciplined approach to magic, or in magical/psychic excersizes which require practice, then your money is better spent elsewhere. If, however, you find clearly written and organized structure and excersizes useful, then you will be very pleased with this book.

The structure and discipline should be able to be incorporated into anyone's practice.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading, much information, and some fun along the way., January 22, 1999

By A Customer

This book is designed for a beginner, and makes no assumptions as to any previous knowledge the reader may bring to the text. In that sense, Mr. Fitch has produced a remarkable volume. For the more experienced practitioner, however, Mr. Fitch may come across as a bit stiff and stilted. While his Gardnarian influence is ever-present, Fitch avoids the pitfall of saying his methods are the only methods. But one thing is clear. The Craft requires discipline and learning and patience (facets most beginning books on the subject gloss over in their "find your own path" disregard for self-discipline). It is not a perfect book, but it is a great stepping-stone for the curious or novice in the Craft.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful collection of Pagan Rituals, November 6, 2001

By	Troyce Wilson (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ed Fitch wrote some of the first outer court rituals for The Pagan Way which have since found themselves in countless eclectic Books of Shadows. With this book, he takes some of the material previously published in THE BOOK OF PAGAN RITUALS and expands upon them, and bringing in other material he wrote in the early years.

This isn't Wiccan, but rather is a collection of Wiccan-style Pagan rituals to be used with non-oathbound outer court students. As such, it gives someone a good feel of Pagan ritual and a complete set of rituals to use. I used some of this material myself many many years ago when I started, and I still recommend his works to beginners.