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Book Ends
Just because reviewing books can be a very subjective process, the G&C staff decided to present their respective (and sometimes opposite) reviews of the same book. The Frater's views are at the top, while Quill's views follow.
Isaac Bonewits, Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach (Earth Religions Press, 2003), paper, 269 pp., $17.95, ISBN: 1-59405-501-7
Many within the Pagan community have been a positive enough influence in an enduring sense that they’ve certainly earned the right to step up on a soapbox every now and then without appearing heavy handed or overly opinionated. Bonewits undeniably fits this criteria, but unfortunately in his latest book, he paints his sentiments and attitudes, which are often inflexible and abrasive, unnecessarily thick on the first sixty or so pages. On the one hand, his blunt honesty and unflinching self-responsibility is somewhat refreshing when many authors deny or don’t even realize slights, intolerance and judgementalism within their own works. On the other, it serves as a strong deterrent for the invaluable information that rests beyond those first sections.
If one can make it through the aforementioned forest of subjective commentary, the remainder of the book is a true gem, ranking up there in importance with Colin Low's Ritual Theory and Technique and Phil Hine's Prime Chaos in terms of providing a full and complete understanding of the considerations, demands and seemingly limitless boundaries of practical ritual. Despite the early challenge, this book is most definitely worth having. It should be read again and again... but feel free to skip around a bit.
*********
The thing found to be most bothersome about this text is the author's excessive self-confidence in his own skills. From the Introduction onward, he assumes every Neopagan practitioner "will enjoy reading this book, since Neopagans will eagerly devour... any text that deals with improving their religious practice." If that is the purpose of this book, then why does the author spend so much time criticizing practitioners of other religions? He is quick to point out how boring mainstream religious ceremonies can be, and how theologians of these systems are erroneous in their viewpoints. It is almost 60 pages into the book before he actually begins to describe how a Pagan "liturgy" (the term he uses for a public ritual) should be constructed. That the author also presents himself as "North America's leading expert" on Druidry, Witchcraft and so forth also leads one to believe Bonewits intends every word included in these pages to be taken as gospel. All in all, if one can get past his egotistical presumptions, some useful information can be found in the later chapters of this book.
John Michael Greer, New Encyclopedia of the Occult (Llewellyn, 2003), paper, 555 pp., $29.95, ISBN: 1-56718-336-0
Over the past two years, several encyclopedias, dictionaries and such concerning magick, witchcraft and the occult have made their way onto the market, some with strong, exhaustive content, some which rely on superficiality alone. John Michael Greer's contribution is not as bad as the latter, but the research potholes and untapped subjects of importance which are missing from its pages leave it far short of the former. For instance, Stewart Farrar gets a lengthy write-up, while Janet is mentioned only in passing and has no individual entry. The same is true of Alex (who is erroneously called "Alec") and Maxine Sanders. Aidan Kelley, co-author of the pivotal Crafting the Art of Magick, is overlooked, as is Ed Fitch, Philip Carr-Gomm, P.E.I. Bonewits, Marion Weinstein, Margot Adler, Selena Fox, the Zells and the Church of All Worlds and, of all people, Starhawk (though the Reclaiming Tradition gets a quarter-page entry). Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan have separate entries but The Temple of Set has a single write-up and neither Michael Aquino, Don Webb nor Stephen Flowers have personal entries. It seems that if the author sees fit to dedicate two and a half pages to Satanic Ritual Abuse, he could surely have made room for a few of these pivotal individuals.
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Gerina Dunwich, Dunwich's Guide to Gemstone Sorcery (New Page, 2003), paper, 221 pp., $14.99, ISBN: 1-56414-672-3
Scott Cunningham, Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic (Llewellyn, 2002), paper, 268 pages, $14.95, ISBN: 0-87542-126-1
Nothing seems to touch the hearts and pique the interests of Pagans so much as natural magick, the magick that in channeled through the fruits of the Earth herself: gems, crystals, metals and the like. And no two books outline the basics as well as the nuances of the elemental craft as well as these two practical and approachable tomes. Included in their pages are Cunningham's fascinating "stone Tarot" design and Dunwich's wonderfully researched tables (yes, I said "tables", plural, not simply "table" - they include the curative powers of gemstones, crystals and the chakras, the stones of the Zodiac, a calendar of daily stones, magickal correspondences of the stones, Pagan Gods and Goddesses and their gemstones, and much more). Clear, concise writing, ample and accurate correspondences and impressive bibliographies make these two volumes absolute must-haves for any Craft practitioner's bookshelves.
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Charles G. Leland, A Modern Introduction and Commentary by A.J. Drew, Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches (New Page, 2003), paper, 160 pp., $10.99, ISBN: 1-56414-679-0
There is no denying the importance of Charles Leland's Aradia in the history of magick and Paganism, but since so many editions of the classic have been published over the last two decades, it's often the complimentary material that determines the noteworthiness and value of a given printing. The latest version, with commentary by A.J. Drew, offers little in terms of revelatory insights or intuitive distinction. Drew's commentary, though spirited at times, is more superficial than substantive. (and I have to comment, it seems as though Drew has not acquainted himself with any of Leland's other important works: Etruscan Roman Remains, Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling, etc.) If one is able to find a copy, I would much more heartily recommend Phoenix Publishing's 1998 edition, translated by Mario Pazzaglini, Ph.D. and Dina Pazzaglini with additional materials provided by Chas S. Clifton, Robert Mathiesen and Robert E. Chartowich, with a foreword by Stewart Farrar.
Anthony Paige, American Witch: Magick for the Modern Seeker (Citadel, 2003), paper, 223 pp., $12.95, ISBN 0-8065-2511-8
This book is a mixture of Wiccan/witchcraft history and the author's meetings and interviews with "modern witches". Unfortunately, those interviewed are "big city" witches, quite a few from the New York area (the author's home) and the East Coast. As anyone who has traveled will realize, the way Wicca is practiced in smaller urban communities, or in remote areas, is vastly different from what happens in a large metropolis. Thus the author does not offer an accurate presentation of what he terms the "American Witch" at all. Besides this, knowing the ongoing struggle of Wiccans for acceptance in modern society, Paige places what might be the worst example of a witch at the beginning of the book - one of darker beliefs (nothing wrong with that) who slices himself with a razor during his rituals. Hopefully, not too many teens will consider this account standard Wiccan behavior and imitate it, bringing harm to themselves.
Of course, the obligatory section on spells is included. The way the material is divided up in the text detracts from the flow of reading, as well. Another drawback comes in the Appendix, when the author lists resources for Wiccan materials by state. The information may have been accurate when it was gathered, but by the time of publication, some of the shops were no longer in existence. Perhaps, someday, an author will actually take the time to do a thorough job on a project of this nature. It would really be an asset. This book, however, isn't.
Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, Progressive Witchcraft: Spirituality, Mysteries and Training in Modern Wicca (New Page, 2004), paper, 288 pp., $15.99, ISBN 1-56414-719-3
This book ventures where few other books on the subject dare to tread, and that is a good thing. The term "progressive witchcraft" is not used to describe a new tradition within Paganism, but as the evolutionary path needed within the Craft for the 21st century. Though the order of the chapters is a bit odd, the content on the pages still merits serious reading, and the lessons learned serious practice. Farrar and Bone present Wicca for the thinking person, with some non-standard ideas which are, nonetheless, quite valid. For instance, the idea that not all initiations take place within the circle, but are the product of an individual's own spiritual progress, has been little mentioned elsewhere, though the grain of truth is evident. There are also some welcome insights into the organization and working of covens. The bibliography is decent, though the list of deities in the appendix is somewhat limited. Those who want to take their practice of the Craft to the next level should definitely grab this book.
Jane Raeburn, ed., The Pagan's Muse: Words of Ritual, Invocation and Inspiration (Citadel, 2003), hardcover, 211 pp., $15.95, ISBN 0-8065-2440-5
This is a book of poetry, mostly submitted to the editor by Pagans, and divided into sections dealing with nature, grief and remembrance, invocation, magick, and so forth. It is difficult to comment on the value of the poetry - some is intense and deep, some is rather inane. The book is meant as a reference for those who wish to create their own rituals using such poetry, or as an inspiration to write poetry of their own on these subjects for ritual workings. For those who tend to use such poetry as part of their Wiccan or Pagan rituals, it serves its purpose. For those who do not include such aspects in their circles, it might prove useless.
Jennifer Reif and Marline Haleff, The Magical Crone: Celebrating the Wisdom of Later Life (Citadel, 2003), paper, 213 pp., $12.95, ISBN 0-8065-2501-0
This book may well provide those women approaching their "wise years" a bit of information on the transition as it applies to Pagan traditions, but there are some flaws and omissions which are almost unforgivable in their scope. First, Dion Fortune's name is misspelled "Dione". The authors should know they weren't writing about the quintuplets who bore than surname. Also, when writing of the Greek Goddess Hecate, the phrase, "You open a gate of immense energies when you play with her," (page 132) is ludicrous. Playing with Hecate would be like playing with dynamite. The authors amend their statement in the same paragraph, warning readers "You must be sure of your motivations when dealing with Hecate," but why make such a foolish statement in the first place? The book, as a whole, contains its fair share of sappy recipes, rituals and craft ideas which, for the honest-to-goodness crone, would seem quite shallow. The age of cronehood is a time of maturity and wisdom, of understanding the truth about life, not looking for distractions in the form of dream pillows or cloaks. While there aren't many alternatives currently on the market for women of this age group, one might be better off writing one's own book about the subject.
Jean-Yves Leloup, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (Inner Traditions, 2002), paper, 178 pp., $14.95, ISBN 089281911-1
One of the documents found at Nag Hammadi in 1945, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene is a sort document, with a number of fragments missing, due to deterioration and other factors, but the translation offered, and the commentary which connects it to other key texts of the era relating to the sayings of Jesus Christ provide an added and invaluable dimension to the stories. It also makes clear how the Christian churches have discounted the key role of women in the founding of their religion, which is sad. This book is an excellent addition for the libraries of religious researchers or those who study Gnostic traditions.
Cornelius Rumstuckle, The Book of Wizardry: The Apprentice's Guide to the Secrets of the Wizard's Guild (Llewellyn, 2003), paper, 325 pp., $12.95, ISBN 0-7387-0165-3
Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard (New Page, 2004), paper, 270 pp., $18.99, ISBN 1-56414-711-8
Books like thess should make serious magickal practitioners angry. Taking advantage of the current Harry Potter enthusiasm, the authors - Zell being the founder of the Church of All Worlds - have lowered themselves to creating manuals geared toward teens, a la Silver Ravenwolf's Teen Witch. In the Grimoire, other writers - Buckland, Telesco, and his own wife, Morning Glory - appear as a "Grey Council" of elders to act as mentors for the apprentice wizards. Indicative of the presentation of the book, the period after cakes and ale are passed in ritual is called "Sacred Bullshit" (page 180). The "Wizard's Guild" is reputed to be centuries old, and the fictionally named author aged nearly 500 years himself. Sigils for the planets and talismans are included in detail, giving readers the opportunity to get themselves into deep trouble with their misuse. Shudder to think how the young readers of this book will fare with their future endeavors - magickal or otherwise.
Timothy Roderick, Dark Moon Mysteries: Wisdom, Power and Magic of the Shadow World (New Brighton Books, 2003), paper, 219 pp., $16.95, ISBN 0-9718377-2-4
This "revised and expanded tenth anniversary edition" of Roderick's book may help some seekers better understand their darker natures but, as with so many volumes on this subject, the line between "light" and "dark" is drawn so distinctly, practitioners are almost forced to make a choice between the two. The fairy tales used to highlight the concepts are unnecessary, and the spells and descriptions are so basic as to almost insult the reader's intelligence. What the author claims magick of this type helps the practitioner accomplish - acceptance, surrender and resonance, for instance - and the way it's arranged in the book, ends up adding more confusion to the topic.
Donald Tyson, Familiar Spirits: A Practical Guide for Witches and Magicians (Llewellyn, 2004), paper, 259 pp., $14.95, ISBN 0-7387-0421-0
The latest book by Donald Tyson is a mixture of exhaustive historical research and practical ritual instruction. He has developed unique system of summoning spirit familiars based upon similar methods utilized by Cornelius Agrippa and Austin Osman Spare. The Power Glyphs, which enable the beginner or adept to summon, control and dismiss familiar spirits, are derived from the English alphabet. This makes the often-difficult practice of spirit contact accessible and readily mastered by the novice, who may not yet be intimately familiar with the Hebrew alphabet utilized by other magical systems. Clear, concise ritual instruction, comprehensive tables of correspondences, combined with fascinating historical research, and ease of use make this system an innovative alternative approach.
- Qetesh
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