zombiewaldo's review
3.0
As others have said, a product of it’s time. The dated narrative of “light and love” and negative connotations of many BIPOC traditions were prevalent throughout the book, as well as many instances of “rule of three” and “do no harm” which are almost exclusively Wiccan ideals. The book mentions that not all witches are Wiccan, and vice versa, but then continues to drive home Wiccan philosophies as the gold standard.
It’s a good book to pick up, but read it through a cautious lens. And continue reading books from authors of varying backgrounds. There is great information and Laurie Cabot shares some great personal anecdotes.
It’s a good book to pick up, but read it through a cautious lens. And continue reading books from authors of varying backgrounds. There is great information and Laurie Cabot shares some great personal anecdotes.
alexiasophii's review against another edition
3.0
Well... I've been planning on reading this book for YEARS now but only recently have I gotten my hands on it. Not sure if it was because I read it in an audiobook format (I plan to re-read it in a physical format sometime later in life and my opinion might change) but this book was a bit... disappointing.
I know I must look at it from the POV of the time it was written and what information was available at said time. From the historical info POV, especially in the first few chapters, it's just.... terrible. So much wrong information and data that makes no sense to modern knowledge, especially when it comes to the Celts and the Prehistory and such.
However, ignoring that point, I do admit that the exercises for the Alpha chapters, meditations, healings and spells are very useful and have lots of interesting content into them (and are the main, if not only, the reason I plan to get my hands on a physical copy of this book).
Overall it's not a book I recommend as a beginner's guide. This book I would say is good for people who already know their way around Witchcraft and want to add more info to their practices and want some new exercises to apply to their paths.
I know I must look at it from the POV of the time it was written and what information was available at said time. From the historical info POV, especially in the first few chapters, it's just.... terrible. So much wrong information and data that makes no sense to modern knowledge, especially when it comes to the Celts and the Prehistory and such.
However, ignoring that point, I do admit that the exercises for the Alpha chapters, meditations, healings and spells are very useful and have lots of interesting content into them (and are the main, if not only, the reason I plan to get my hands on a physical copy of this book).
Overall it's not a book I recommend as a beginner's guide. This book I would say is good for people who already know their way around Witchcraft and want to add more info to their practices and want some new exercises to apply to their paths.
foxlyn_wren's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
jessica_lam's review
3.0
A decent primer for anyone interested in belief systems outside the dominant culture, but certainly a product of its time. Some of the history and science bears some fact checking, but it’s a snapshot of a witch’s perspective in the 80s prior to the mass popularisation of witchcraft in popular culture (honestly I wonder what she’d say about the Harry Potter series).
Though there may be some easily identifiable inaccuracies, Cabot briefly touches on a bit of everything, which makes it a decent starter book. From the history of persecution mostly in the Western world, media portrayals, to detailed descriptions of ritual and practices. The part that loses me quite a bit is the last chapter prior to the epilogue, probably because I’m in the future she was trying to predict.
I think while Cabot emphasised the importance of marrying science and witchcraft, this is in no way an objective view on the practice. Keeping in mind this is written pre-internet, pre-social media, I can see how she is invested in contributing a counterpoint to the more cliched portrayal of witches in the dominant culture, but it does veer on fanciful at times (though I suppose not any more grandiose and indulgent than other major religions that brought about mass executions and continued prosecution of oppressed peoples).
It’s fine and could be a good reference for basics.
Though there may be some easily identifiable inaccuracies, Cabot briefly touches on a bit of everything, which makes it a decent starter book. From the history of persecution mostly in the Western world, media portrayals, to detailed descriptions of ritual and practices. The part that loses me quite a bit is the last chapter prior to the epilogue, probably because I’m in the future she was trying to predict.
I think while Cabot emphasised the importance of marrying science and witchcraft, this is in no way an objective view on the practice. Keeping in mind this is written pre-internet, pre-social media, I can see how she is invested in contributing a counterpoint to the more cliched portrayal of witches in the dominant culture, but it does veer on fanciful at times (though I suppose not any more grandiose and indulgent than other major religions that brought about mass executions and continued prosecution of oppressed peoples).
It’s fine and could be a good reference for basics.
jessplanninglife's review
3.0
Worth a read / listen for the introduction explaining the historical destruction of the divine feminine in Western civilisations.
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