Wicca: The Complete Craft

This is now my fourth copy. I highly reccommend this book for references and for dedicant study.

This book covers many topics that are important to know if you are beginning your studies into Wicca. Although some of her points are different than others ... a different point of view helps you understand that not all witches follow the same ideas. I strongly recomend this book to any and all just getting started.

I believe the author, D. J. Conway has gotten a bad rap given some of the material she's put out in recent years. There were only two books by this author that I really wasn't disappointed in. Moon Magick and The Ancient Shining Ones. I am glad that Wicca, The Complete Craft is another one I can add on my shelf and not feel silly about. Even if one DOES dance with dragons, it's not something that should be written about if you ask me...but then that's my opinion. Wicca, The Complete Craft really IS comprehensive. The chapters are broken down in a formula of ascending importance. I found some of her references a bit frustrating because she doesn't list page numbers. While I found the material in this book digestible in theory and practice, I cannot in truth say if all her references are intact. That will take a bit of research on my part or on the part of any other serious practioner that doesn't want get caught in an 'oops!!' situation in quoting something that doesn't exist. Believe me, it's happened. There are no listed references for any of the stones or herbal correspondences, though most are well known enough that it no longer matters. Still, one would like to know just whom the author patronized for knowledge when SHE was learning enough to fill a book this size with. To be honest, though, I would recommend this book long before I would some of the other more popular books by authors who think ALL children should be measured by the manners, maturity, and aptitude their own children may possess. I agree with Ms. Conway that to teach teenagers magick cannot be ethical because most lack the emotional maturity to make sound decisions involving the practice of good manners let alone the practice of magick. A good all around reference guide, but by no means the be all and end all to Wicca or Witchcraft reference. Worth the money.

While this book certainly is not "the definitive" Wiccan book (as if there was such a thing), it certainly offers a wealth of information about this ancient religion. This book was mentioned to me as a great place to learn more about "the Craft," in fact the person who first told me about it called it a "Wiccan textbook." While someone not new to Wicca may find this book covers a lot of material mentioned elsewhere, someone new to this as I am will find this book fascinating.What I liked about this book was that it provides a very nice overall reference to Wicca, which as someone new to this religion is something very important to me. There is a tremendous amount of information in this book, in fact at times it was almost overwhelming. Among areas covered are examples of rituals for various Sabats, handfasting, and Drawing Down the Moon and Sun, herbs, essential oils, candles, words and terms used in Wicca, pantheons of Gods and Goddesses of different cultures, nature spirits, and so on. Reading through this book gave me a sense that the information contained within it can be a source of "great power" if used correctly.As I said before, this may not be "the one true Wiccan book," and those with some knowledge may already know most of what in here, but still I found it to be an excellent guide to Wicca.

I can't say enough about this super informative writing. Never before have I encountered all of the information that he has packed into one solid book before. It dispels myths and legends in all aspects, defines Wicca and Pagan Pantheons, and gives us new and incredible ideas to "conjure" into our own practices! It's written so it is easy to understand for those new to the subject, yet has the "Elders" of us riveted so we can't put the book down!!!! ...