Essential Wicca

I just began studying in solitaire (after being in a group) and about to start my coven with my initiation sisters. This book is excellent for beginners and excellent for people who already have a degree of knowledge of Wicca. It explains so many things in an easy and comprehensive matter. Almost half of the book is a fantastic and descriptive glossary. Kudos to the authors!!! A Mexican Wiccan :)

If you are planning on becomming either a solitary or a coven-bread wiccan, I can't stress this to you enough - PURCHASE THIS BOOK! Its the most comprehensive I have seen as of late, I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for this single purchase.It begins with explaining what wicca is and isn't, then moves on to the studies of wicca - and even includes a large glassary on the end of the book!

I am not Wiccan, though I am sympathetic and exceedingly interested in this fast-growing religion. As such, I wanted a book that would be informative, easy to absorb and broad. This book was actually recommended to me by a high priest in my area, and it did not disappoint. I learned everything I needed to know, which is not to say that I've learned it all...but I think I have the broad strokes. Were I ever to aspire to be a solo-practitioner, this book would no doubt guide me quite adeptly. Highly recommended. I have been told that the late Paul Tuitean and his wife were (and are) extremely well-loved and highly respected in the Wiccan/pagan community. From what I've gleaned and what I've learned, this book is accurate, fair, and a reference you can trust. Peace.

I am not Wiccan. I am a Shaman; but Wicca was one of the many faiths I explored.I have several positive, negative, and neutral things to say about this book, so I will seperate them into three lists.Here are some of the things I like about this book. I am limited to 1000 words. ;-)1. The altar layout illustration on page 64 is nice and complete. (You should not allow this to cause you undue concern. Start where you are; even if you have nothing more than a birthday candle, matches, and use your finger to cast a circle. You can always add tools as you find them, or feel the need to add them.)2. This is one of the very few books to correctly identify the invoking, and banishing pentagrams. (I can count the number of books that got something this simple correct on one hand. Banishing prntagrams are always drawn widdershins (counter clockwise).)3. I HIGHLY praise this book for teaching the shielding exercize on page 77. (I wish more authors would teach simple shielding techniques to assist against psychic attacks.)4. I praise the authors for discussing the belief factor on page 82. (It is impossible to have faith in something you do not believe.)5. I HIGHLY praise the authors for discussing the perils in some forms of divination as in Ouija boards, spirit tapping, etc. (If you are interested in divination; I would HIGHLY recommend that you set up a shield (as described on page 77) before practicing divination to protect you from evil and negativity in the area.)Here are the problems I have with the book.1. The book is heavy and cumbersome. (I would have preferred for the book to be in a smaller format with more pages. The wide pages put a lot of stress on the wrist when trying to hold the book.)2. On page 108; the authors claim that Wicca is a nature worshiping religion. (Uh... ahem... er... ;-) I don't think so. I have never heard of or saw a Wiccan worshiping a tree or a stream. They always cast a circle and invoke Deity.)3. On page 74; the authors discuss white and black magick. (In my opinion; magick is simply magick. the white or black connotation only comes in depending on the magickians intent.)Here are some of the things I am neutral about, and I hope you will consider.1. On Page 75; the authors discuss a visualization of roots growing from the base of the spine into the ground. (I would recommend you switch the visualization of roots from the feet growing into the earth (because your feet are already on the ground).)2. On page 80; the authors talk of cleansing the athame with salt water. (Salt is corrosive and could lead to the blade of the athame rusting. I would suggest that you channel your energy into the athame to bless it and raise it's level of vibration, or smudge it by passing it through the smoke of a purifying incense as in Copal, Frankinsence, or Sage.)3. On page 116; and others; the authors refer to the energy used as chi. (Ch'i is only one of the dozens of names this universal lifeforce energy has been called over the past 5,00

I have been a Pagan since the mid-70s and have a very extensive library (over 300 books, some of which I have even read ). If I had to recommend just ONE book to someone just starting out, this would be the one. Is it the "one true book"? No, there is no such thing. Will it tell you everything you want to know? Probably not, which is why most Pagans/Wiccans never stop reading and researching. Does it have lots of spells? Nope. So why do I recommend it?When I first started out, there were very, very few books around and information was very hard to come by, especially for a solitary Pagan like myself. During the last decade, information about Paganism and Wicca has exploded. Sometimes too much information can almost be as bad as too little. Most of the newcomers I talk to are overwhelmed and confused and don't even know where to begin. Conflicting information makes it even more difficult. Should athames be sharp or dull? Should I do rituals robed or skyclad (naked)? What is a ritual and how do I even start? And the one that can keep a discussion going on for days, how do you decide when something is harmful or not?Essential Wicca takes you step-by-step through the basics. What Wicca is, what it isn't, casting a basic circle, magick, rites of passage, sabbat and esbat rituals, explanations about covens and what they do, and an extensive glossary. It is written from a "centralized" view, not Tradition-specific. All in one very readable, very sound book. I got this book from the library because I was curious about its contents and to see if after all these years I would "learn anything new". I will be buying it this weekend to add to my library as one of the "core books". I feel it should be the first book that any new Pagan or Wiccan reads and that they will have a very good grasp of the basics after reading it. And then everything else you read will start to make more sense. The other book I would recommend for those just starting out is "Your Book Of Shadows" by Patricia Telesco. Most newcomers want to start their BoS as soon as possible and this book gives you some ideas on how to organize it (so you don't have to redo the entire thing later like I did ).Bright blessings!