Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126345 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780806525549
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Customer Reviews

Wicca 101book...
This is probably one of the best Wicca 101 books that I have read. I had mixed emotions about the first chapter of the book. Buckland talks about TV witches and calls some questionable historical characters as possible witches. But then I proceeded to read the following chapters and I realized that the first chapter must be read without taking it seriously. I think what Buckland attempts is to reach the new wanna-be practitioner on a level that she/he can understand. The rest of the book is filled with plenty of content (no fluffy-bunny Wicca). The book has a good overview of Wicca (there is less focus on magic than in most of Wicca 101 books comming out these days) including rituals, Esbats, rites of passage, Sabbats, Divination, Healing, Prayer and Meditation, and Development. He also includes appendices of magical terms, magical properties of herbs, magical properties of stones, and magical alphabets. They are shallow overviews but more than I have found in many Wicca 101 books and enough for a begginer to decide if they wish to persue any of the topics with deeper study. I would give this book a 4.5 if I could because it is not perfect but it is a great introductory book to Wicca 101 and especially beggining solitary practice for someone who has never been involved with a coven.

The Solitary's Companion
I was lucky enough to get this book from my mother for Christmas. I've been walking the Wiccan path for 11 years now, so I expected that this book would serve as more of a refresher course in mainstream Wiccan beliefs than anything else. While it did glean over some of the more basic ideologies of Wicca, it also had some unique perspectives to Wiccan practice that I personally found intriguing. For example, I found the explanation of Karma to be succinct and easy to follow, perfect for many new believers, as Karma seems to be a subject that they have problems understanding. :) The section on Reincarnation was also very, very interesting. Being one of the few Wiccans who has trouble with the Reincarnation theory, I found this breakdown to really give light to a topic that I have trouble grasping spiritually.

Overall, this book is very good. It was a quick and easy read, designed for those Wiccans in the funny "in between" phase, where they're too advanced for the basics, but not advanced enough for the really complicated things. I like how Raymond Buckland manages to give a variety of topics his attention and explains them enough where you have a basic idea of their use and practice, but still leaves a lot of room for investigation and exploration on your own. For example, his chapter on Divination presents the reader with many, many forms of Divination techniques, and he explains them all in a manner that does them justice, but it will almost certainly leave the reader hungry to learn more and investigate on their own. The Healing section is also brilliant, very insightful, and I can't think of another "Wicca 101" book that caries anything like that chapter. I also like Raymond Buckland's style of writing, because it's personal enough to keep you interested, but not dripping in sugar or other "fluffy bunny" touchy-feely topics, which seem to be so widespread in Wiccan books nowadays. Even Scott Cunningham, though I love him, has those touchy feely moments that sometimes I could do without.

This book is outstanding for solitary Wiccans, especially solitary Wiccans who are still trying to find what particular tradition of Wicca they're interested in. It helps the solitary follower learn to adapt rituals and other Wiccan beliefs or practices to a solitary format. It's kind of like the quiet spiritual guide you've always wanted. :D However, I think that Wiccans of all types can really take a lot from this book. Even those in Coven settings do some work on their own, and sometimes it's nice to have a book like this on hand, for those who may be out of practice in working in settings other than group or full coven settings. I think that Wiccans who were part of a Coven and are now Solitary will find this book an unbeatable resource and inspiration.

I did have troubles, like the other reviewer, getting through the first chapter. I found it long and boring, too general to be of any help, but not specific enough that you can research the topics on your own. It did not match the tone of the book well at all. I also think that the Prayer and Meditation chapter could have been a lot more helpful than it was, and I was disappointed that there was so much information left out.

This book is a wonderful book to give to Wiccans who are just finding the Wiccan path, or those who are curious about Wicca. Of course, there is a lot of information to investigate on your own, as this book is more of an overview of Wicca and many Wicca-related practices, theories, and beliefs than an in-depth exploration of Wicca as a whole. However, I'd happily recommend it (and have recommended it) to others, especially Wiccans who work in a solitary environment or Wiccans who are considering the solitary path.

Aged Master; Ever Young!
Amongst Wiccans today, Raymond Buckland needs no introduction, as he can fairly be called "the Father of modern Witchcraft in America". He is the author of many books, this one turning his attention to the situation of the solitary Wiccan, that is: one who is not a member of any coven. He is careful to point out that the path of the solitary Witch is far older than that of coven Witches, and it is one that is both justifiable and fully legitimate. Thus the book is affirming and thoughtfully helpful in the various facets of Wiccan practice that are presented for the Solitary. I particularly enjoyed his debunking of a number of supposed Wiccan "dogmas" and his generally liberating "take" on the Faith and Practice. Given his background in the Garderian Tradition of Wicca(and his age), his flexible approach here was very refreshing. There are also several very good appendices and a bibliography to take the reader further and deeper into the Craft. With his reputation, and the book's quality, this volume by Buckland should be read by every solitary Wiccan!