Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality

The book does not simply redress the same old same old stuff in gothic stylings. Digitalis' latest book in fact addresses areas of magick well beyond the beginners level that majority of books on the market barely if at all touch on (let alone in any advanced manner). His comparative religious study of "Shadow as the Holy Child" is phenomenally well researched and written. In fact Digitalis makes numerous cross religious comparisons to elements involving work the the shadow and magick through the book which contributes to the overall strength of the volume. From self-sacrifice to fasting. While the Shadow and Shadow Magick is indeed nothing new to Witchcraft and Wicca, a book that properly and intellectually discusses them is! And we can thank Digitalis for finally providing us with just such a book. Finally a volume that all in one place properly addresses animal totems, guides, herbcraft, and astral work as it applies to the Shadow. This book is not mediocre fair. It's a volume belonging in any well rounded library of the intermediate to advanced practitioner.

Shadow Magick Compendium A Review by Melanie Harris Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality By Raven Digitalis Published by Llewellyn Publications, September 2008 ISBN: 9780738713182 Those in a spiritual rut, prepare to be wrenched out. Going where fluffy bunnies fear to tread, Raven Digitalis takes us on a breathtaking walk in the dark in Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality (Llewellyn Publications, 2008). Looking into the shadows can help us progress spiritually, and this second title by the author of Goth Craft (Llewellyn Publications, 2007) is a vehicle to do just that. This is NOT a book about "bad" magick; the focus here is on spiritual balance and magickal development. Shadow Magick Compendium is a book about acknowledging and examining the dark side of things, those characteristics of self and nature and life and death that are more often feared, misused, or ignored than they are understood. There are lots of interesting things lurking in the darkness, and this book is divided into five sections to take you there: The Internal Shadow, The External Shadow, The Astral Shadow, The Shadow of Nature, and the Shadow of Society. Each chapter presents an overview of the particular aspect of shadow, and offers practical exercises to apply the knowledge in your own life. It's a good mix of solid information, progressive ideas, and creative techniques - one of the signature flairs of this author. Despite his hip-sounding name, young age (mid-twenties), and modern eclectic Neo-Pagan identity, Raven Digitalis hearkens back to the old school days of magick, a time when well-reasoned creativity, logic, research, practicality, tradition, and plain old studying were a bit more often valued in magickal circles than they are today. This kid does his homework, and even seasoned occultists and witches will pick up new perspectives and new modes of magick from Shadow Magick Compendium, while beginners won't be, dare I say, left in the dark. Chapter 1, The Internal Shadow, takes a look at negative behavior patterns and offers tools for getting out of them, including a self-evaluation checklist to discover just where your imbalances and repressed feelings might lie. The checklist is frank and cuts to the core; readers evaluate statements such as, "I stress about my obligations and requirements more than I should," and, "I tend to manipulate other people," to see if they feel the statement applies to them. This sort of soul-searching is essential, Raven teaches, for anyone hoping to spiritually progress. The book states, "We can only change the external world by transforming the internal; both simultaneously co-create each other. Every single one of us has behavioral and perceptual patterns that somehow hinder our full spiritual development - or else we wouldn't be here!" A ritual meditation for "Purging the Shadow" is given, followed by a positively fascinating tour of the mystic exp

A wonderful book that introduces the basics of many ideas and practices that are seen to be along the darker side of paganism. Digitalis is a very well written author who puts a lot of time and thought into his works. And he provides a wonderfuly long bibliography for those wishing to pursue their own research on the subjects he presents. For those looking for balance in their spiritual lives, this is a good book to help you on that path.

Looking for an interesting, and most often left out, take on the Craft? Read this book, and make sure to read "GothCraft" also! Raven is not a fake. He is not a fluffy-bunny. Sure, he's gothic and bisexual... Who cares??? "All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals," said the Goddess, so let people be who they're going to be! This book, and GothCraft, have brought us new material, something that the pagan community has needed for a long time. So many of the books out on the market are nothing more than Wicca 101... Raven's books go above and beyond 101 and force you to think outside the box, and thank Goddess for that! Thank you Raven, for another fabulous book. Love and Light, Aradian