Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, 2e

When I saw this on the shelf the first time, I must admit that I rolled my eyes. I thought, "Just what the community needs, an Idiot's Guide to religion."I was sorely mistaken. This book was much more than meets the eye. I find myself recommending this to friends who are just starting out as often as I do books such as "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham.This book starts the reader at the very beginning and presents the information in one of the most easy to understand formats I've found in a long time. The authors will take you on a journey through various facets of Wicca such as history, deities, magickal jargon, the basics of ritual as well as subjects like dream interpretation.What I really loved about this book was the authors ability to take complex ideas and theology and break it down piece by piece for people who haven't been praciticing for years.However, there are some omissions as well. The so called "darker" side of the Craft is not discussed. Some of the activities of covens (such as bindings, secret initiations) and such were not discussed and I feel that everyone needs to know these things before jumping right in. This tended to be a more of a "why" you would practice book rather than a comprehensive of "how" you practice. The ethics section left much to be desired in my opinion as well. But overall I was very impressed with this book. I would definately recommend this book to someone who wants a very general and basic overview of the facets of Wicca. I would suggest this as a starting point to finding out where your interests are beyond the basics. It's also a great refresher in the basics for those of us who get a little forgetful from time to time.

For those of you who are familiar with the format of idiot's books, this particular one is no exception. It's easy to understand with little side notes and examples.Here are just SOME of the things that the book has: All about Wicca and Witchcraft, History, Praciting Wicca, Deities, So you want to be a witch, Ritual, Magick, Magick Circle, Dedication, Preparing for Ritual, Pentagram, Esbats, Sabbats, Summon/Stir/Call Faeries, Dragons etc..., Nature, Witches Pyramid, Correspondances, Timing, Candles, poppets, potions, mirrors, spells, making spells, divination, dreams and more!! Since this book has info on lots of subjects, you can see what interests you and then pursue further books from there. E.g. If after reading this book you find you like the idea of working with candles, you could check out a book on Candle Magick. This book is well worth the price.

I found Denise Zimmermann's Book on Wicca and Witchcraft to be positively delightful! At last a simple primer that helps the "witchlets" of the world peek inside to see what a beautiful spiritual pathway Wicca really is!. Ms. Zimmermann breaks down the basic practices, legends, and lore into easy to understand language. She banishes misconceptions and myths in this easy to read guide. Kudos to both Denise and Ms. Gleason for a real "must read" for anyone who thinks they may have a bit of the craft in their heart!

An exceptional book. Easy to read and understand. Helped me to draw together all the information i've learned from other books and come to a better understanding of Wicca and the many different aspects of the old ways. Ten books of information all rolled into one. ....

There are so many books out there about Wicca and Witchcraft that beginners looking for something easy to understand yet filled with practical information have a hard time finding anything really useful. This book is a great resource for those who want to start exploring the Craft. It isn't biased one way or another--it simply gives readers a starting point from which to begin their own journey, and THAT is what Wicca should be about. Don't let the title fool you--this book isn't for idiots. It's for people interested in getting an overview of what Witchcraft is and isn't.