The Heart of Wicca: Wise Words from a Crone on the Path

For those who know Ellen Cannon Reed, she is the author of "The Witches Qabala" and "The Witches Tarot". She has also done a book on pagan music.For those who really know Ellen Cannon Reed, they have learned that she is a fiercely Traditional Wiccan and and a die hard traditionalist at that. That is why she is so valuable to the community at large. She keeps the flame of the original, unwatered down Wicca for all to see.Her book, "The Heart of Wicca" attempts to explain why she is such a Traditionalist, explores Traditional Wicca and shows the pure roots of the original foundation of Wicca. She looks at initiation, symbology, Deities and all the other elements that comprise Wicca.The Wicca Ms. Reed practices is not for everyone, and this book does explain why. Ms. Reed brings up very valid points worth reading and exploring.Her call for standardized initiations is probably her best suggestion. Initiation used to be something to be proud of. However this, sadly, is not the case anymore. Ms. Reed approaches the subject with intelligence and presents her facts accordingly.She also makes a good argument that all who choose the Wiccan Path should spend some time in a Coven, learning the basics of Wicca. If you are going to do something, do it right.If you want to see where we came from, create a good solid foundation in your own life and learn this from someone who knows her business well then this book makes a great starting point.Ms. Reed is a good teacher, with a solid, no nonsense background. And though not all will agree with everything she says within her book, she does give you a good background of what Traditional Wicca is. Understanding leads to tolerance and that is something that we all need within this diverse community known as Paganism.

I have taught traditional Wicca for many years and I am now requiring this book for all my students - past, present and future. It is the first and only book of its kind which explains quite clearly the volume of knowledge which is left out of most modern books on Wicca.

This was the first book on Wicca I read, and I am so pleased that I was able to get knowledge from a "Crone on the Path!" This book dives into the deep end of Wicca as a religion, not the "fluffy" new age stuff that so many books on Wicca are. While this book won't introduce the reader to the tools and "hows" of Wicca; the reader will understand the faith of Wicca.

Heart of Wicca is not a very long book, only about 135 pages, but one I will use and refer to often. It is one of the best Wiccan books I have read in a long time.Ellen's style is straight forward, brutally at times, and interspliced with her wonderful sense of humor. I found myself nodding constantly and at times laughing out loud at her wit.She explains to us, in the introduction, that Wicca is an "initiatory Mystery religion" akin to shamanism. Included in the first chapter, is an excellent article, "Paganism at the Crossroads" by Skytoucher, expanding on the idea of an initiatory path, and calling for the preservation of "multi-headed Paganism", and the avoidance of a unified Pagan movement, which will stifle our diversity and flexability.Ellen worries that traditions may be lost in a world where instant Wiccans are popping up everywhere, and calls for "Preservers of the Path"She explains to us that "tradition" does not mean that there isn't room for growth. All Wiccan traditions have grown and changed over the years. These evolutionary changes have come about because they have been proven as practices to work, not just because someone has decided that they might look good or be fun to addShe knows that tradition is not very popular these days--that people want to do their own things, but wonders why folks want to "hack their way through the underbrush when there is a paved road just a few yards away". She also wonders why people seek out schooling and teachers in almost every facet of life, but when it comes to spirituality, especially Pagan spirituality, many prefer to go it alone, even though there are elders and teachers everywhere who would be more than willing to lead and guide.Ellen says "You are either going to be fascinated by what we have to say, or you are going to throw this book down. And that would be a shame" I agree-- that would be quite a shame"Tarty Rating" *****

One of my gripes with the rapidly-expanding literature of Wicca is how so many books are either re-hashes of introductory material, or else "cookbooks" for spells. As far as the introductory material goes, I've yet to see a book published after 1985 that added anything to the masterpieces by Starhawk ("The Spiral Dance") or Janet and Stewart Farrar ("The Witches' Bible"). As for spell books, they're a joke, in my opinion. Wicca is not about lighting a green candle to get more money or a red candle to find a lover -- it is a mystical path of interior transformation grounded in reverence for nature and for the Divine as Goddess and God. Magic is not about "getting what you want" so much as it is about interior transformation and self-empowerment.So, imagine my delight to find Ellen Cannon Reed's thoughtful new book, "The Heart of Wicca." The subtitle says it all: this slender volume is a wise commentary on the current state of affairs in the Goddess community, written not for the beginner or the curious onlooker, but for those who have made a commitment to pursue Wicca as their chosen spiritual path. Let me warn the reader: this book takes a clear stand for Wicca in its traditional form as an initiatory mystery religion, and as such may not appeal to the do-it-yourself, make-it-up-as-you-go-along varieties of "Wicca" promulgated by the likes of Scott Cunningham and Silver Ravenwolf. It even attacks the Starhawkian politicization of Wicca, arguing that as a mystical path, Wicca does not need to be involved in the temporal affairs of state (I disagree with Reed on this point, but that's a minor quibble compared to the overall positive message in this book). Basically, Reed affirms and celebrates Wicca as a mystical path of interior transformation, of personal growth through the mysteries of the Goddess and God as revealed through ritual, through community life, and through the process of initiation. This may not be the sexiest or most glamorous portrayal of nature religion, but I think it is honest and true; furthermore, it's a message that needs to be proclaimed -- loudly -- as a corrective to all the books that seek to pervert Wicca into some sort of spiritual fashion statement.So this is not a book for beginners. If you're new to the craft, stick to the aforementioned "Witches' Bible" (to give you the traditional perspective) or "Spiral Dance" (to give you the eco-feminist perspective). But if you've already practiced the old ways for more than a year or two, don't waste your money on yet another "Wicca 101" book from Llewellyn Publishers: buy and read this book instead.