cordelyajade's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book! I learned so much about some topics that you really don't see talked about too much in the witchy community. I ended up buying this one for my personal library and I refer back to it often!
oisin175's review
medium-paced
2.0
It has some good information but ultimately it's fairly disappointing and a bit garbled in its message. It starts off saying that the traditional witchcraft path is non-religious and has no deities; then it goes on to describe the "witch mother" and "witch father" who rule over certain areas of life and death, have power, receive offerings, and are called for workings. This is basically a deity in the pagan path but the authors say these aren't deities...because. No other real justification. There's also a lot on the need to make regionally meaningful paths and engage in reverence for the natural world, but all of the herbalism calls back to European herbs (despite the authors being based in the US) and the spells frequently call for discarding glass and other waste in running water or in the ground. So the overall messages throughout the book don't really conform to the actual practices described. There is still some useful and interesting information in the hedgewitchery chapter and the lunar calendar chapter. Herbalism was interesting even though it doesn't comport with their overarching message. Not a bad book, but there are definitely better books out there that don't alternately preach a message and then tell you to violate it.
alexiasophii's review
4.75
I have been following the work of Chris Orapello and Tara Maguire for a long time, through their podcast Down at the Crossroads, and I even support them on Patreon. I love their work, and I was thrilled when I heard they were going to release their book. Although I don't practice Traditional Witchcraft, nor is it my focus on my personal practice, I love to read and learn about other paths and practices, especially when this knowledge comes from sources I trust, like these authors.
This is an excellent book for introducing Traditional Witchcraft and addresses many important topics that we rarely see covered in introductory books such as necromancy, herbalism with poisonous herbs, work with spirits, work without resorting to deities, etc. It is a fantastic book, full of clear information, with proper sources where they are needed and with various exercises for those who want to try or adopt these practices for their daily lives. Something I also loved in the explanation and throughout the book, is the way the authors (something I already knew, but I love to see!) defend the need to adapt our practices to the places where we live. It is a constant theme throughout the book that we should not base our practice on natural rhythms that are not present in our daily lives but yes in the place where we live and that the way to develop a better connection with what we do surrounds, with the spirits and energies of the places where we live, this is to ensure that our practice is aligned with the rhythms of these places, through celebrations, ingredients used, among others. Anyone who knows me and accompanies my work knows how many times I refer to the need to be in connection with the place we work and to see this reflected in a book is so comforting and fantastic!
This is one of the main books that I will recommend within the theme of Traditional Witchcraft and I can't wait to buy it in a physical version and have it on my shelf, so I can use it whenever I need it because it is one of those books that we want to read and read and consult several times. In fact, I believe that every time we read it, we will discover or notice something new that had previously gone unnoticed and I love it.
This is an excellent book for introducing Traditional Witchcraft and addresses many important topics that we rarely see covered in introductory books such as necromancy, herbalism with poisonous herbs, work with spirits, work without resorting to deities, etc. It is a fantastic book, full of clear information, with proper sources where they are needed and with various exercises for those who want to try or adopt these practices for their daily lives. Something I also loved in the explanation and throughout the book, is the way the authors (something I already knew, but I love to see!) defend the need to adapt our practices to the places where we live. It is a constant theme throughout the book that we should not base our practice on natural rhythms that are not present in our daily lives but yes in the place where we live and that the way to develop a better connection with what we do surrounds, with the spirits and energies of the places where we live, this is to ensure that our practice is aligned with the rhythms of these places, through celebrations, ingredients used, among others. Anyone who knows me and accompanies my work knows how many times I refer to the need to be in connection with the place we work and to see this reflected in a book is so comforting and fantastic!
This is one of the main books that I will recommend within the theme of Traditional Witchcraft and I can't wait to buy it in a physical version and have it on my shelf, so I can use it whenever I need it because it is one of those books that we want to read and read and consult several times. In fact, I believe that every time we read it, we will discover or notice something new that had previously gone unnoticed and I love it.
breelight's review
5.0
I loved it. I am going to give it some time to marinate and then write some thoughts down.
To start though...
I appreciate that there isn’t a focus in the wheel of the year. It never really resonated with me and the authors offer up some reasons why it may not for some and present an alternative.
I think that there is enough information to pull from to connect with your local landscape. The exercises are very good and can expanded on over time.
The recommended reading sections are on point. There are some excellent titles there that I’m familiar with and others I’m excited to dive into.
There is a breakdown of working with the moon and some insight that is helpful.
The authors are conscious of other traditions and their histories and are diplomatic and fair in that regard. Additionally, they don’t come across as their way is the right way.
There are a few other things that I’ll add later.
To start though...
I appreciate that there isn’t a focus in the wheel of the year. It never really resonated with me and the authors offer up some reasons why it may not for some and present an alternative.
I think that there is enough information to pull from to connect with your local landscape. The exercises are very good and can expanded on over time.
The recommended reading sections are on point. There are some excellent titles there that I’m familiar with and others I’m excited to dive into.
There is a breakdown of working with the moon and some insight that is helpful.
The authors are conscious of other traditions and their histories and are diplomatic and fair in that regard. Additionally, they don’t come across as their way is the right way.
There are a few other things that I’ll add later.
eilfiem's review
5.0
Will do a more in-depth review, but here are a couple good quotes.
“Not everyone can drop all of their responsibilities to lay out a Full Moon ritual with all the bells and whistles in the middle of the work week. Don’t beat yourself up if this happens to you. You’re still a witch; it’s still within you” pg. 276
“ You become successful at your craft through trial and error, not through someone else’s will or selfless good grace.” Pg.277
“Not everyone can drop all of their responsibilities to lay out a Full Moon ritual with all the bells and whistles in the middle of the work week. Don’t beat yourself up if this happens to you. You’re still a witch; it’s still within you” pg. 276
“ You become successful at your craft through trial and error, not through someone else’s will or selfless good grace.” Pg.277
_bxllxe_'s review
1.0
Besom, Stang, and Sword didn’t flow naturally; perhaps it tried to touch on too many different subjects to offer substantial knowledge on any of them. I DID really enjoyed the section on baneful plants!