Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft (Paperback)

by Aoumiel (Author), Ann Moura (Author) "It is my intention to discuss the Green elements of modern Witchcraft and neopagan practices as well as relate those elements to my own Craft..." (more)
Key Phrases: altar except for candles, envision the blue light drawing, libation bowl contents, Elemental Power, Elemental Earth, Elemental Water (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Green Witch is a natural witch, a cottage witch, and a solitary witch.  This witch does not fear nature and the woods, but finds a sense of belonging and connection with the earth and the universe.  Now, in this sequel to Green Witchcraft, hereditary witch Ann Moura dispels the common misunderstandings and prejudices against the "shadow side" of nature, the self, and the Divine.  She presents a practical magical practice and move towards spiritual wholeness



From the Publisher
Witchcraft is more than a religion, it is truly a spiritual way of life. Sometimes people focus on only one or two aspects of Witchcraft instead of appreciating it for the fullness of its beliefs and practices. I think you will find that if you study Green Witchcraft by Ann Moura you will have the basics in all areas of the Craft of the Wise.

For example, did you know that the ancient roots of Wicca can be traced all the way back to ancient India? You can find this amazing history in Green Witchcraft (the author majored in history and used to be a history instructor).

You will also learn the basic tenets of Witchcraft as focused in the Witches' Rede, the Charge of the Goddess, the Law of Return, and more. This book also teaches you how to do magical rituals and celebratory rites. Included are complete versions of rites for the major Wiccan holidays such as Imbolc and Ostara. Other rites – which include how to do the ritual and what to say – are rituals for the Full Moon, Paganing, Handfasting, and more.

Once you learn how to do the outline of a magical ritual, you need to be able to fill in the blanks. This includes the use of colors, candles, and herbs along with selecting the proper time and day and doing divinations. You'll learn how to use tea leaves, Tarot cards, and a crystal ball for this purpose.

In short, this book provides you with a complete understanding of all of the core elements that make up modern Paganism. Since this is non-sectarian, what you learn here can easily be applied to any tradition of Witchcraft. This is a book you'll come back to again and again.



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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; 1st edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567186904
• ISBN-13: 978-1567186901
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #228,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good book for further study., April 23, 1999

By A Customer

I have been practicing for over ten years and have seen many different attitudes in ethics and the Craft. While this book has many good and thoughtful things, many of which I found helped me take a better look at the world around me, I found that some of it held innaccuracies- the number of witches burned during the inquisitions and such(Which was not in the millions)- and I felt a degree of predjudice against other religions and outlooks on life held by others in her writing. As a book for advanced study I recommend it as a must read, but I don't feel Green Witchcraft is the kind of thing a beginner should read until she or he has a more balanced view on the world, the ethics of our Craft, and can read a book, draw what they need from it without being influenced by opinion, misconception, or predjudice. It is not my wish to seem harsh but I would not recommend this book to any in my Circle who have just begun practicing and perhaps it is best I let others know as well. The information was straightforward and well written and there was a lot of thought put into it but it does not belong in the hands of a beginner.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Starting Information, November 25, 1999

By	Horizon "[e-mail]" (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews

In the swamp of tripe that masquerades itself as information on Witchcraft, mixing fact with fantsay in a misleading amalgam, Aoumiel has created a lush, pleasant garden. 'Green Witchcraft' covers not Wicca, but Paganism -- the old ways, the way the ordinary person on the heath would have identified with them. There is no pretense of titles and degrees, no endorsement of dogma, just quiet affirmation that at heart, each of us knows where and how to find the divine. For they *are* in each of us.

Aoumiel visits more briefly than I would have liked on her family's blending of pagan traditions into a Judeo-Christian framework. But the examples she does give show how paganism isn't just a religion, it's a philosophy and a way of life that can work harmoniously with other religions. She is helpful to those wondering how to blend their Pagan faith with the largely Judeo-Christian world.

I liked the sections on each Sabbat, especially the earthy, traditional activities that she suggests can be incorporated into (or substitute for) more formal observances. Although it basically bulked out the book for Aoumiel to reproduce the basic suggestions for a ceremony each time she covered a sabbat observance, that was handy too. The appendixes were fascinating, and while again they did not have as much depth as I would have liked, they provided both an intrigue for more information and a jumping-off place to research it.

'Green Witchcraft' is an intelligent, commonsense, fact-based book that no one new to, or curious about, Paganism should be without. I applaud Aoumiel for providing an alternative to the Wiccan fantasy sci-fi convention nonsense that is out there confusing people.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The bad outweighs the good..., October 17, 2003

By	Zanetta Wilson "Sana Karine" (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First off, there are some good things in this book. Ms. Moura describes her personal path in a clear and readable way. And she presents a form of practice that will certainly strike a chord with a number of kitchen witches.

That said, there are many more things that prevent me from recommending this book - especially to beginners.

First, Ms. Moura presents her personal take on witchcraft as the basis for all forms of witchcraft, and blends this form of arrogance with an active hostility toward other religions (especially Judeo-Christian religions). Even though much of what she presents has a strong Wiccan flavor, she twists many elements of modern Wicca, using the problems she perceives from a rather odd mix of misinformation to belittle the entire religion and most of it's practitioners.

The "Craft history" she presents, and threads throughout many areas, is beyond questionable, and leans strongly toward highly imaginative. (It is the same speculative history that is presented in her "Origins of Modern Witchcraft".) While historical speculation is bound to come into almost any witchcraft work, I believe that it is inappropriate to present personal speculation as fact in a work aimed at beginners.

Additionally, Ms. Moura claims to be presenting practices used by simple, common people, but the rituals and spells she provides are more complex than almost anything I've ever seen. They're certainly not the clean, simple workings I would expect in a path claiming a shamanistic style. In addition to requiring inordinate amounts of preparation for very simple workings, she also calls for tools that she never explains or teaches how to prepare or use.

In short, there is little in Green Witchcraft that cannot be found in other "101" type books, frequently done much better. While there may be material useful for someone who has a good grounding in basic witchcraft, and there are some useful - if complex - rituals... the problems with history and prejudice as well as the amounts of basic information missing prevent me from recommending this book.