BOTW: A Wise Woman’s Guide

I found this book in my local library back in about 2006 or so, and since I only read it once, there isn’t a whole lot that I remember about it.  What I do remember, I’ll post here, but as it is an older volume, I would recommend checking your library for it as I doubt you’d be able to find it in a brick and mortar book store.

I remember liking this book pretty well.  It is a compilation that dates back to before the myth of ancient goddess religions fell out of favour, and there was a lot of what we now know is revisionist history in it.  That said, it wasn’t so blatantly anti-male that it was unreadable for a more moderate feminist, such as myself.

BOTW: To Stir a Magick Cauldron

To Stir a Magick Cauldron, originally printed in 1995.  This book, along with the rest of the Next Generation Witchcraft series, is always going to be controversial as it has been revised and edited and reprinted dozens of times.

It seems that as Ravenwolf grows and changes, her books do as well.  Rather than being a record of her teachings of the time, they evolve and all of the ranty crankiness that earned her a reputation of dangerous fluffiness is washed away as if it never was.  Personally, that alone is a reason to avoid learning from this person.

You want your Craft instructor to have a strong ethical character – to embody the ideals they mean to teach you.  If they are unwilling or unable to stand by what they have said in print in the past, then that should tell you something very important right there.

That said, this is a book review, not an author review.

BOTW: To Ride a Silver Broomstick

This book was originally published in 1993, and I believe it was Ravenwolf’s first book.  It has been reprinted many times over the years with updates and some of the more controversial portions removed or changed.  This is one of the reasons that there is so much debate over this book.

Some will claim that it is full of dangerous and unethical information, and others will claim that they found nothing of the kind. It all depends on which volume you happen to read.  The version I read for this review was published prior to 2000 (I wish I could check the copyright page, but I no longer have this book, so I am going by the year that it was given to me).

BOTW: Teen Witch

Even leaving my feelings about Silver Ravenwolf aside,  this is one of the very worst Pagan books that I have ever read.

It is presented as a Christian/mainstream parent-friendly guide, but smacks of a desperate attempt by ‘Mama Silver’ to appear cooler than the average mom.

BOTW: The Real Witches Garden

The Real Witches’ Garden by Kate West is filled with some great ideas for those who want to add a bit of the natural world to their magical practice.

If you have never had a garden before, then this is a good book to help you out in getting started in that direction. However, if you do know how to take care of plants, there isn’t a lot that is new in this volume.

BOTW: Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch

I really enjoyed this book. ‘Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch’ is a look at the little known path of traditional Irish Witchcraft.

This is not a how-to manual, or an Irish Witchcraft 101. Instead this book is a look at the myth and magic, history and fable that permeates Irish culture to this day. And also it’s a refreshingly practical take on contemporary witchcraft.

Lora O’Brien retells some of the better known Irish myths, discusses ways to contact and honor the faeries, and even takes on the topic of the European Witch Hunts. There is a wealth of ideas for rituals, life passage ceremonies, and ways for people to connect with their Irish heritage.

Book of the Week: Living Druidry

Living Druidry written by Emma Restall Orr is a glimpse at a religious practice that strives for total harmony with the natural world. The earth holds a romantic, poetic quality when seen through the eyes of a neo-Druid.

The guided meditations in this book are especially engaging, and if I found nothing else to love about this book, then I would have still gotten my money’s worth. The author puts forth some interesting theories concerning the divine that may appeal to those Pagans who have a difficult time holding on to the idea of personified deity.

Book of the Week: Wild Witchcraft

I was not as impressed with this book as I was with the author’s other works. On the whole I think that Marian Green is great for anyone interested in hedgecraft, but this book I found to be far too dogmatic for my tastes.

I find it prudent to mention that this is a reprint of an earlier work called ‘Elements of Natural Magic’. So it would seem that the author has since decided that a lot of the elements (if you’ll forgive the pun) she insists are ‘essential’ in this volume, are not really needed at all. Her attachment to tools and formal ritual work has also eased to a more fluid and natural practise in her later books.