Circle of Fire A Practical Introduction to the Symbolism and Practices of Modern Wiccan Ritual
By Sorita d’Este & David Rankine
Wicca is an initiatory magickal tradition incorporating both Pagan spiritual philosophies and witchcraft practices, with ceremonial magick. This book explores the core practices of the Wiccan Tradition, explaining how to perform all the techniques and ceremonies, and also providing insights on their symbolism and sources. Written from an initiatory perspective, but with solitaries in mind – this book makes an ideal guide for individuals thinking about seeking initiation who wants to try a few things out by themselves first.
Wicca is an initiatory magickal tradition incorporating both Pagan spiritual philosophies and witchcraft practices, with ceremonial magick. In doing so it combines magick, mysticism and spirituality into an experiential, practice based tradition, which works with the divine as both masculine and feminine, emphasising growth through balance and discipline. It provides a spiritual way of life, constantly growing and evolving, placing the responsibility for spiritual growth and fulfilment firmly back into the hands of the individual.
This book explores the core practices of the Wiccan Tradition, providing insights on the symbolism and the ceremonies, including:
* Ritual refinements (including the use of visualisation and voice)
* Purification and psychic protection
* Ritual timing (including lunar, planetary, solar and elemental)
* Elemental and other magickal gestures
* Elemental pentagrams and landscapes
Circle of Fire – A Practical Guide to the Symbolism and Practices of Wiccan Ritual by Sorita d’Este and David Rankine was first published in 2005. This second edition has been revised and expanded by the authors for this new 2008 edition.
Sorita d’Este is an author, researcher and priestess who has devoted her life to the Mysteries. She is the author of around 20 books exploring subjects related to the practice and history of magic, mythology, religion, folklore and witchcraft. Her previous books include titles such as Hekate Liminal Rites, Practical Elemental Magick, Visions of the Cailleach, Wicca: Magickal Beginnings and The Isles of the Many Gods. Her latest release is Circle For Hekate: Vol I. She lives on a hill in Glastonbury (Somerset, UK) from where she works as a publisher and writer. She is frequently distracted from her work by her love of gardening, exciting visitors and the promise of interesting esoteric knowledge.
Easy to read, practical book about Wicca with simple instructions on the basic ritual of circle casting. I think that many readers would like to see that book expanding. It is a basic book for beginners who want to start practicing Wicca. Make sure that you have read the two previous reads of the writers on the subject.
A simple instructional booklet that gets right to the point. Red this simple book and you are ready to practice. Of course you will need to support your learning with other basic books on Wicca to get yourself going into full gear as a solitaire.
Included are explanation aout the tools you will need to practice Wicca. In addition to a list of materials you are also given instruction on how to purify and consecrate your tool. THe symbolism behind the tools is explained very proficiently with no wasted words or wordy explanations.
Sorita'Este also gives instruction on how to cast your circle, begin a ritual and end a ritual. Excellent example of invocations are given along with various mediation practices to help strengthen the mind.
Through out the book the reader is encouraged to read on and discusses the need to further one's study of the God and Goddesses before working with them. Highly reccomended especially if one has not delved into the subject of Wicca before. A great follow up would be Scott Cunningham's "Wicca : A guide for the Solitary Practitioner" and "Living Wicca"
This book is Wicca 101, but it is set out in a fabulous manner. The information is concise and well written. It is a gem that I would definitely recommend to someone interested in learning more about the very basic practice of Wicca.