The Real Witches' Handbook: A Complete Introduction to the Craft for Both Young and Old

I'm still waiting to see if I'm going to get this or not. Not sure how to rate this right now.

I did not find this book to be very helpful. I found the author's tone to be very condescending, and they also use witchcraft and wicca as interchangeable words, which is not accurate. All of the guidelines are very Wicca centered, and come across as bossy. It irritated me, and I would suggest beginners look elsewhere, at least if you're not Wiccan. I think I'm the only reviewer since the early 2000s, so maybe this book just doesn't resonate as well with a more modern audience.

This was the 3rd book I read on Witchcraft, and frankly I wish it would've been the 1st. Being new to the craft, I had a lot of questions and didn't understand some of the principles I'd read in other books. The author does not try to be pretentious or talk over the reader's head, but comes across in a very direct and down to earth style. This strategy makes The Real Witches Handbook the perfect beginner's primer. Those looking for more advanced study will be sorely disappointed. The Real Witches Handbook outlines the basic beliefs systems held by most witches, which is not an easy task because there are so many different traditions in witchcraft, which all have different practices and beliefs, it's difficult to define the craft for the novice even in a general way. As they say....'If you ask 10 different Wiccans what Wicca is, you'll get 12 different answers'.Ms. West, a British High Priestess, does a wonderful job of tackling the many myths and stereotypes that surround our religion right from the get go. The words "witch" and "pagan" carry with them many negative connotations. It is the responsibility of every Witch to help others realize we are not the evil, sacrificial, card-carrying satanists they might assume we are. It's very important that witches work together to help show our inherent goodness to the rest of the world so that witches everywhere will not be feared or treated like 2nd class citizens. Unfortunately, we live in a world where most witches are still in the broom closet because they fear retribution in their personal lives, careers, and towards their families. West does a good job dispelling myth from fact, after which she dives right in the nuts and bolts of Witchcraft.This book covers all the basics including the Wheel of the Year, an introduction to the Gods, and basic principles and beliefs of Wicca. I particularly benefited from the explanation of the God and Goddess. Ms. West explains we all wear different hats in our lives: we can be a parent, a sibling, a child, a career-oriented person, an artist, a musician, and so forth. Although we all play these different roles in our lives, we are all still 1 being. Such is the Spirit. West uses the example of a disco ball in explaining the Gods, while each individual square of glass might equal a different god with different specialties, they are all together one Great Spirit. This is the duality of the God and Goddess, and this descriptive example really led to my beginning to understand some of the most basic concepts in Wicca. West also introduces the reader to the Summerlands and the Wiccan belief of death and rebirth, a subject some books tend to overlook.Included are a few rituals and spells to help the beginner get their feet wet. West, understanding many Witches aren't able to openly practice the Craft or use certain elements due to allergy or physical restrictions (such as using fire in spell & ritual), is clever enough to provide alternatives to

This is one of the best Wicca 101 books out there. Kate West is a very down-to-earth Witch, and her writing is the same. If you want to give this book to your parents so they could understand that Wicca/Witchcraft is not evil, then please do.The one of the best and interesting chapters was the one about the Sabbats. All in all, this is a great begginers book.

Kate West has done a wonderful job with this one. I have been researching the craft for a couple of years in books and on-line and have found most of it too ceremonial and over-the-top at worst and impractical at best. This book is different. It is the basics, no frills, no fluff. Instead of feeling bogged down and uninspired after reading this book, I feel excited and energized. I certainly hope Ms. West writes again, because I would love to hear more from her point of view. Newcomers should definitely read this one! Bright Blessings!

I am new to the practice of Witchcraft. I have been reading and studying for many months now and so far this has to be the most infomative book I have read so far. It is very spiritual without the fluff. I have found that there is a lot of intro to witch type books out there that are missing much of the point of witchcraft. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE BOOKS. If you are looking for a true introduction to the craft this is a must read. Thank You Kate West.

This book is a refreshing insight into the practice of witchcraft, and exceptionally easy to read and understand. It is well presented and details magical and herbal spells, folk law, the changing seasons and festivals of the year. Kate West is the High Priestess of the Hearth of Hecate; she has been a practising Witch for over thirty years. Her extensive experience becomes apparent in this book, which contains sensible and practical information that is aimed at both the newcomer and experienced practitioner of the craft. The author's claim that this is a book for real people with real lives is well founded; it is very rare to find a book suitable for those in shared accommodation or living with their parents. This book shows you how to practice Witchcraft with a minimum of fuss and props, perfect for the busy student with no private space. In conclusion this is an excellent book and great value for money, I highly recommend anyone to read it.Merlyn Children of Artemis...