The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
simazhi's review
5.0
An essential witchcraft classic. Yes, some of the ideas presented here are outdated, such as the idea that they couldn't see a gay coven work. But also, yes, Janet (and Stewart) have openly revised their stance on this. And even now the Craft is evolving with the times.
I find it sad that some people were apparently put off by some of the language in the beginning, such as the "as a man loveth a woman by mastering her" that is mentioned a few times here on Goodreads. I can't find this phrasing so perhaps it has been left out in subsequent prints? It would have been helpful if the other reviewers had left the page number as is customary when citing. But on the other hand, even a cursory familiarity with what people now call British Traditional Witchcraft involves knowing that the High Priestess is at the top of hierarchy in a coven, so yeah, if only those reviewers had actually read the book and contextualized it...
On the book itself, I find the rituals quite wordy and lengthy. I don't know if that's for me, but there is enough other meat in this book to feed one's religious appetite for quite some time. Will definitely return to this classic in the future. I'm also equally interested in seeing how Janet's ideas have evolved in conjunction with Gavin Bone after Stewart's death.
I find it sad that some people were apparently put off by some of the language in the beginning, such as the "as a man loveth a woman by mastering her" that is mentioned a few times here on Goodreads. I can't find this phrasing so perhaps it has been left out in subsequent prints? It would have been helpful if the other reviewers had left the page number as is customary when citing. But on the other hand, even a cursory familiarity with what people now call British Traditional Witchcraft involves knowing that the High Priestess is at the top of hierarchy in a coven, so yeah, if only those reviewers had actually read the book and contextualized it...
On the book itself, I find the rituals quite wordy and lengthy. I don't know if that's for me, but there is enough other meat in this book to feed one's religious appetite for quite some time. Will definitely return to this classic in the future. I'm also equally interested in seeing how Janet's ideas have evolved in conjunction with Gavin Bone after Stewart's death.
lannan's review
3.0
I was first exposed to this book almost 15 years ago, having only recently considered myself knowledgeable enough on the subject to form an opinion on it.
And that opinion is that... it's ok. It has its place in the library and going through it now and again usually yields something. It's an extremely Wiccan book, though, and not all that geared toward the actual craft. Very "love and light" stuff, very highly structured and ceremonial.
It's also a product of it's time, I guess? It's an extremely homophobic and transphobic guide to this stuff, so reader beware.
And that opinion is that... it's ok. It has its place in the library and going through it now and again usually yields something. It's an extremely Wiccan book, though, and not all that geared toward the actual craft. Very "love and light" stuff, very highly structured and ceremonial.
It's also a product of it's time, I guess? It's an extremely homophobic and transphobic guide to this stuff, so reader beware.
kellylynnthomas's review
5.0
From both a practical and historical standpoint, this is an excellent and essential book. Not only does it provide the coven with a solid working framework for ritual and coven governance, but a realistic context and history of Wicca and modern Witchcraft. Doreen Valiente, who worked very closely with Gerald Gardner and wrote many of his rituals and much of the Wiccan liturgy in use today, worked with the Farrars closely on this book.
And aside from the practicality and historical accuracy, the rituals contained herein, re-constructed from Gardner's Book of Shadows with Doreen's help and with embellishments and additions made by Janet, are absolutely beautiful. I used their handfasting ritual as a basis for my own wedding and changed very little (though I had to adapt it for a crowd and not a coven).
For practitioners of Witchcraft and/or Wicca, this book is a must-read. For occult-minded people and those who are curious, I highly recommend it.
(Although I've set my read date to 2010, as that is the most recent date I've read it, I've read bits and pieces of it going back to 2007. This isn't the kind of book that I read front to back, but rather the kind of book I read in chunks, as I need, and then use as a reference guide. But that's just me.)
And aside from the practicality and historical accuracy, the rituals contained herein, re-constructed from Gardner's Book of Shadows with Doreen's help and with embellishments and additions made by Janet, are absolutely beautiful. I used their handfasting ritual as a basis for my own wedding and changed very little (though I had to adapt it for a crowd and not a coven).
For practitioners of Witchcraft and/or Wicca, this book is a must-read. For occult-minded people and those who are curious, I highly recommend it.
(Although I've set my read date to 2010, as that is the most recent date I've read it, I've read bits and pieces of it going back to 2007. This isn't the kind of book that I read front to back, but rather the kind of book I read in chunks, as I need, and then use as a reference guide. But that's just me.)
alexiasophii's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very interesting book and a must read for all those interested in Wicca, especially Traditional branches. This book approaches several topics which are important for any Wiccan and even any Modern Witch, it focus a lot on the Wiccan POV and method of working. If you dislike the Wiccan method (coven work, male/female polarities, initiations, sky clad, etc) then you'll probably not enjoy this book. Personally I'm not Wiccan but I find it very interesting and I consider this a must-read for any student of Wicca. Not only it is a classic from very important and respected authors but also it sums up perfectly all needed aspects of this path and a great starting point for beginners.
abookishone's review against another edition
2.0
When I was 13 and wanting to learn more about Wicca, my mom and I went bookshopping and got this. GAH! Naked old people!
Once I got over that, I realized that what is called "traditional wicca" was not for me, and that neopaganism was more up my alley.
Once I got over that, I realized that what is called "traditional wicca" was not for me, and that neopaganism was more up my alley.
hrusewif's review
5.0
This is still a very solid book for anyone wishing to learn about the fundamentals of Traditional Wiccan faith and practice, and I highly recommend it. Some things have changed over the decades, of course, but the information contained within maintains both relevancy, coherency, and tradition without feeling stagnate.
There should be one note, however, that the Farrars take (along with Valiente) the original stances that eventually led to the creation of NeoWicca by authors like Scott Cunningham- and they do make that well known throughout the book. This opinion crops up often in published texts, of course, as an antithesis to the attempts to solidify what Wicca "was" against the growing changes made to it as it took root in America. But NeoWicca and Wicca still became two very different traditions- and that difference has been maintained. Modern readers should keep that distinction in mind when reading these older texts.
There should be one note, however, that the Farrars take (along with Valiente) the original stances that eventually led to the creation of NeoWicca by authors like Scott Cunningham- and they do make that well known throughout the book. This opinion crops up often in published texts, of course, as an antithesis to the attempts to solidify what Wicca "was" against the growing changes made to it as it took root in America. But NeoWicca and Wicca still became two very different traditions- and that difference has been maintained. Modern readers should keep that distinction in mind when reading these older texts.
g_valkyrie's review
3.0
Not quite what I was expecting. honestly I'm not sure what I was expecting but it had some good information and it did reference some books that I haven't heard of before so I will be looking those up for further information.
eve_xo's review
Very very heteronormative, I was surprised to find the pushed one man one woman mantra in every step.
It's so much different and much more constrictive than Slavic ways of witchcraft.
It's so much different and much more constrictive than Slavic ways of witchcraft.
a_h_haga's review
3.0
Another dive into Wicca but compared to Wicca For Beginners, I got a somewhat judgmental feeling from this book. Like their tradition was the only right one?
The reason I picked up on this may be because I don't think Wicca is right for me. I didn't think so when I was a teen and started looking into it, but I think it less now.
Anyway, to the book!
This book didn't really bring much new to the table compared to what I already knew, but it had a lot of info that I didn't know.
Like backstory on the Sabbaths and such, which was really interesting. It also had rituals for the lone practitioner that might want to start up by themselves.
The reason I picked up on this may be because I don't think Wicca is right for me. I didn't think so when I was a teen and started looking into it, but I think it less now.
Anyway, to the book!
This book didn't really bring much new to the table compared to what I already knew, but it had a lot of info that I didn't know.
Like backstory on the Sabbaths and such, which was really interesting. It also had rituals for the lone practitioner that might want to start up by themselves.