Product Description

Popular pagan author D. J. Conway introduces readers to the religion of Wicca, or witchcraft, and dispels many common misconceptions about it. Conway offers a comprehensive overview of Wiccan philosophy and tenets and provides a useful primer for practicing Wicca as a spiritual guide. Wicca is an ancient nature religion that teaches respect for others as well as responsibility for one's actions. Conway emphasizes that it is not associated with cults, devil worship, or animal sacrifice. Wiccans believe in the sanctity of all life and recognize a dual deity, both a goddess and a god. Included are chapters on sacred space, ritual tools, holy days, meditations and visualizations, spells and the art of spell casting, as well as terms used in Wicca.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80443 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-09
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 460 pages

Amazon.com
It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive or well-written resource for students of Wicca than Wicca: The Complete Craft. D.J. Conway, whose earlier books include Moon Magick and The Celtic Dragon Tarot, speaks about the Wicca religion with seasoned authority, making this one of the best guidebooks on the market. She begins with an overview of Wicca, explaining its historical roots and dispelling common assumptions. For example, the practice of magic is not the focus of Wiccan religion, just a sideline, she notes. Conway also possesses a strong voice of integrity. Unlike some fad-feeding authors, she discourages teens from becoming involved in Wiccan magic without the explicit approval of their parents. In fact, even advises teens to avoid the practice of magic altogether, since "the vast majority of teenagers lack the life experience or emotional maturity to deal correctly with the ethics involved with magic." This sort of ethical vigilance is carried throughout the book. Conway offers over 500 pages worth of lessons and rituals, including the making of a witch (expect to study at least a year and a day), developing psychic abilities, protection and self-defense, puberty rites, breaking spells, astral projection, magical herbs, and ritual tools. This is the book for beginners, and is certainly a respectable resource for more mature witches. --Gail Hudson

Customer Reviews

Great Reference Book
I have many wicca books, but when I want to look something up I almost always turn to this one. I really like the way the rituals are worded and the way the book presents information. It's very informative and is a great starting point.

Nice enough in some ways, but could be better
This book gives an introduction to a broad range of topics. The explanations are complete enough to provide a basic understanding of the topic, without being completely overwhelming. That said, it is not a good teaching tool by itself (I have a Bachelors in Music Education and have taught school K - 12, so I do have some expertise in this area). It seems as if would make a good reference guide, but as a book, it's rather, well, boring. I have little experience with Wicca, so I am not qualified to comment on the factual aspects of the book, but most of what Conway says fits in fairly well with the few other books I have read on the subject; however, certain other aspects of the book cast doubt upon her reliability.

Her historical accuracy, for instance, leaves much to be desired. I am no historian, but many of the assertions the author makes prove to be untrue. For one example, she claims that all truly ancient civilizations were matriachies, but then evil patriarchies invaded and wiped those civilizations from history. To support this, she cites the work of Johann Jakob Bachofen. Bachofen was a sociologist/anthropologist who lived and worked in the nineteenth century, before the debut of modern anthropological tools and methods, and his work has since been refuted or debunked. Nevertheless, Conway uses him as the basis for some of her claims. This is analagous to claiming that the sun revolves around the earth on the basis that Aristotle believed it. This level of stretching for facts is the rule rather than the exception, at least in the historical section. The academic research in this book is a complete joke.

This writing is also strongly biased against men in general and Christianity in particular. In her chapter, "The History of Wicca", she writes that patriarchy - and by extension, men - are responsible for all the ills of society in the entire history of the human race.

When Christianity enters the picture, the book leaves Wicca entirely to spend most of the rest of the chapter blasting Christianity, a theme that continues throughout the rest of the book. This book will take any chance imaginable to blast Christianity - and only Christianity. It is clearly not horribly opposed to monotheism in general; in fact it avoids the subjects of Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam completely. Instead, it says such things as, "The deities and ideas of any ancient culture except Christianity can be grafted onto Wicca, thus forming a legitimate form of Witchcraft." The book only ever refers to Christianity negatively, and never makes any other reference to other monotheistic faiths.

Let me make it clear here that I am not a Christian, and that I bear the religion no love. It has caused more damage in my life than all other influences combined. Nevertheless, a bias like one shown by this book has no place in what claims to be an instructional guide for beginners.

To the author's credit, she states at the beginning that this book reflects only her opinions of Wicca, and that other Witches will have differing opinions. However, while allowing for more flexibility than a book that claims to be complete, undeniable fact, this only grants a certain degree of latitude in the things that can be claimed without falling into the territory of academic dishonesty, and that is this book's major failing.

In summary, this book has some good points, but there are better to be had for twenty bucks.

A very good 101 book
This book covers many topics that are important to know if you are beginning your studies into Wicca. Although some of her points are different than others ... a different point of view helps you understand that not all witches follow the same ideas.
I strongly recomend this book to any and all just getting started.