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A review by jessica_lam
Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment by Tom Cowan, Laurie Cabot
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.