A Grimoire of Shadows: Witchcraft, Paganism, & Magick

Most of the reviewers of this book have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, but then why should their reviews be any different from all the others commenting on Neopagan books one reads nowadays? People, why don't you do your research before opening your mouths and aimlessly letting your words fly? Listen to what reviewer Troyce of Texas has to say about this book, and ignore the people who talk about Druidism, balance, and rolling in their graves. This text is not Wicca at all, but an introductory course written for those seeking to learn non-oathbound material, PRIOR to learning Wicca. It is also the basic text of it's own for a later developed path called The Pagan Way, which still exists and originated in Chicago (use your search engine). The reason the material may appear "dated" to Eclectic Wiccans is because it was written many years before there WERE any Eclectic Wiccans. Llewellyn books did not exist at this time; nor did any other books by Scott Cunningham, Silver Ravenwolf, et. al. There was only British Trad Wicca and British Trad Witchcraft (Cochranites, etc.) in Great Britain; in the US there was added to these the California contingency dealing with Victor Anderson and Gwydion Pedderwen and co., and a few others. Everyone else who now has a book out on "Wicca" was probably either just a gleam in their Daddy's eye or in diapers- or at most, still making out with their sweetie in the highschool parking lot. Pick up this book or leave it alone, but at the very least make sure your decision is guided by some actual, solid facts; not just opinion based on the way some other uninformed reviewer "feels" about something. (There now, that lack of smell in the air is the absence of BS, which has just been swept into a plastic bag and carted away. Don't you feel that the air is a bit less pungent now? More conducive to clearer thinking this way, wouldn't you say?)

Ed Fitch wrote some of the first outer court rituals for The Pagan Way which have since found themselves in countless eclectic Books of Shadows. With this book, he takes some of the material previously published in THE BOOK OF PAGAN RITUALS and expands upon them, and bringing in other material he wrote in the early years.This isn't Wiccan, but rather is a collection of Wiccan-style Pagan rituals to be used with non-oathbound outer court students. As such, it gives someone a good feel of Pagan ritual and a complete set of rituals to use. I used some of this material myself many many years ago when I started, and I still recommend his works to beginners.

"A Grimoire of Shadows" was origionally written as a training book for those just entering the Gardnerian tradition of Wicca. It has been added to, and expanded, for publication, and should prove very useful to the new, or advanced, student. None of the secrets of the Gardnerian tradition are revealed, and this book can stand as a tradition in its own right (and has, many eclectic groups started with this book).The training excersizes are very good, and it does an excellent job of teaching students how to avoid the common energy working pitfalls. If the suggested training regimen is followed then the student will develop an admirable level of both discipline and control.If you are looking for a simple spellbook, then this is NOT the book for you. Likewise, if you are not interested in a disciplined approach to magic, or in magical/psychic excersizes which require practice, then your money is better spent elsewhere. If, however, you find clearly written and organized structure and excersizes useful, then you will be very pleased with this book.The structure and discipline should be able to be incorporated into anyone's practice.

I have yet to read a book that carries mind-power teaching to the extent/level that this book demonstrates. It goes so much farther beyond the usual meditation exercises and shows us what we are truly capable of. Amazing! (If anyone knows of another book that is similarly informative, please e-mail me!)

This book is designed for a beginner, and makes no assumptions as to any previous knowledge the reader may bring to the text. In that sense, Mr. Fitch has produced a remarkable volume. For the more experienced practitioner, however, Mr. Fitch may come across as a bit stiff and stilted. While his Gardnarian influence is ever-present, Fitch avoids the pitfall of saying his methods are the only methods. But one thing is clear. The Craft requires discipline and learning and patience (facets most beginning books on the subject gloss over in their "find your own path" disregard for self-discipline). It is not a perfect book, but it is a great stepping-stone for the curious or novice in the Craft.