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The Beginner's Guide to Wicca: Practical magic for the solitary witch
A compendium of Wiccan knowledge, ideal for the novice witch.
The Beginner’s Guide to Wicca is the essential companion for anyone new to the ancient practice of magic. Whether by necessity or choice, many witches start out on their spiritual journey alone. Kirsten Riddle provides the solitary witch with a friendly, straightforward introduction to witchcraft, filled with practical tips for incorporating the Wiccan way into every aspect of your daily life. Kirsten dispels common misconceptions, explains the peaceful ethos of this nature-based spiritual practice, and provides a quick and easy quiz that allows you to discover your Wiccan strengths. Chapters cover topics such as herbal, moon, and kitchen magic, and include simple spells and rituals using everyday objects and household items. Kirsten’s easy-to-follow, modern spells can be used to boost your creativity, improve your health, and revive your love life. With The Beginner’s Guide to Wicca you will discover how to tap into the powerful energy of the natural world and take your first steps on the Wiccan path.
The Beginner’s Guide to Wicca is the essential companion for anyone new to the ancient practice of magic. Whether by necessity or choice, many witches start out on their spiritual journey alone. Kirsten Riddle provides the solitary witch with a friendly, straightforward introduction to witchcraft, filled with practical tips for incorporating the Wiccan way into every aspect of your daily life. Kirsten dispels common misconceptions, explains the peaceful ethos of this nature-based spiritual practice, and provides a quick and easy quiz that allows you to discover your Wiccan strengths. Chapters cover topics such as herbal, moon, and kitchen magic, and include simple spells and rituals using everyday objects and household items. Kirsten’s easy-to-follow, modern spells can be used to boost your creativity, improve your health, and revive your love life. With The Beginner’s Guide to Wicca you will discover how to tap into the powerful energy of the natural world and take your first steps on the Wiccan path.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
January 6, 2018
3.5
This is a very basic introduction to Wicca with beautiful images. It includes various definitions and descriptions of the tools, plants/herbs, and "spells" used, as well as of the various followers of Wicca throughout history (Egyptions, dryads, etc.). I would have enjoyed this more in my teen years, but I liked this quick, easy read nonetheless.
This is a very basic introduction to Wicca with beautiful images. It includes various definitions and descriptions of the tools, plants/herbs, and "spells" used, as well as of the various followers of Wicca throughout history (Egyptions, dryads, etc.). I would have enjoyed this more in my teen years, but I liked this quick, easy read nonetheless.
September 14, 2015
I would recommend this to someone with a cheerful and colourful personality, because the full colour pages in this book will appeal to them. It is a book that doesn't go too deep with any subject, but rather provides you with a broad overview of many aspects of Paganism (specifically Wicca) so it is great for beginners who can feel overwhelmed by too much information at once on a single subject. It also looks into different types of witchcraft (like hedge witches, lunar witches, and kitchen witches) so that you can get a sense of the variety of ways in which you can practice. it even provides a handy quiz to help point you in what direction you already lean when it comes to magic types.
September 16, 2017
The Beginner's Guide to Wicca was another library whim when I decided to learn more about witchcraft. I'm not really sure how to review this book as Wicca is certainly not part of my personal beliefs and the idea of spellcraft is definitely not up my alley. But if I was a teenager again, I think the graphic illustrations and lists of astrological and herbal connections would have appealed to me. If you are into Wicca, this does give some very basic overviews of spells, though doesn't do a great job of really outlining what this belief system actually entails.
June 20, 2019
I don't recommend this to a beginner. Which means I don't really recommend this to anybody trying to learn about this religion. The reason for that is because it doesn't properly explain anything. It brushes on topics, but then gives very, very little information about those topics. The book is cute and has nice, full-color illustrations, but as with another book about Wicca that I read recently, pretty drawings do not a good book make.
...unless the book is specifically about art, but that's not what we're dealing with here...
I admit that I was put off immediately by this author because she refers to "widdershins" as "walking backward". That isn't what widdershins is. Widdershins is moving in a counter-clockwise direction, not backward. For a fresh-out-of-the-box beginner, such incorrect descriptions can cause confusion and may lead to other little troubles later if they take that to heart.
There are some very simple spells and rituals in here, and I will grant that a very new beginner probably should start with "baby steps" in such a manner, but nothing is really mentioned of how to call the quarters and properly cast a circle or how to then dismiss the quarters and close the circle when you're done. For Wicca in particular, casting a circle properly seems to be a very important thing when you're doing rituals or spells, and that the author didn't bother to tell her readers how to do this properly and effectively left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. It may not always be necessary to cast a circle, granted, but in my experience, it seems that such a thing is done more often than not.
There are much better guide books than this one. MUCH better ones. And, yep, if you've followed any of my reviews of other Wicca books, you'll see a very common theme. I'm going to do it again right now, too, in case a newbie is reading this. Read books by Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland to get the best information as to the ins-and-outs of this religion. They may be older books, but nearly every blasted time I keep going back to them because they did it well. I don't agree with everything they say about what it is to be Wiccan or a witch, but I do think they offer the most in-depth and accurate information about witchcraft and Wicca. I have yet to find another author whose books I would suggest alongside theirs, so that says something.
My review may be viewed as overly harsh, but sometimes truth isn't nice. If you happen to have found this book at a very lost cost, at a library, or are just into collecting books about witchcraft or Wicca, then have a look at it, but don't put a lot of stock in what's written in it. Or, if you do see something in the book that strikes your fancy, please, please be sure to look up other books and information resources related to that topic so you can get a fuller, better understanding of it that this book will not offer you.
...unless the book is specifically about art, but that's not what we're dealing with here...
I admit that I was put off immediately by this author because she refers to "widdershins" as "walking backward". That isn't what widdershins is. Widdershins is moving in a counter-clockwise direction, not backward. For a fresh-out-of-the-box beginner, such incorrect descriptions can cause confusion and may lead to other little troubles later if they take that to heart.
There are some very simple spells and rituals in here, and I will grant that a very new beginner probably should start with "baby steps" in such a manner, but nothing is really mentioned of how to call the quarters and properly cast a circle or how to then dismiss the quarters and close the circle when you're done. For Wicca in particular, casting a circle properly seems to be a very important thing when you're doing rituals or spells, and that the author didn't bother to tell her readers how to do this properly and effectively left a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. It may not always be necessary to cast a circle, granted, but in my experience, it seems that such a thing is done more often than not.
There are much better guide books than this one. MUCH better ones. And, yep, if you've followed any of my reviews of other Wicca books, you'll see a very common theme. I'm going to do it again right now, too, in case a newbie is reading this. Read books by Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland to get the best information as to the ins-and-outs of this religion. They may be older books, but nearly every blasted time I keep going back to them because they did it well. I don't agree with everything they say about what it is to be Wiccan or a witch, but I do think they offer the most in-depth and accurate information about witchcraft and Wicca. I have yet to find another author whose books I would suggest alongside theirs, so that says something.
My review may be viewed as overly harsh, but sometimes truth isn't nice. If you happen to have found this book at a very lost cost, at a library, or are just into collecting books about witchcraft or Wicca, then have a look at it, but don't put a lot of stock in what's written in it. Or, if you do see something in the book that strikes your fancy, please, please be sure to look up other books and information resources related to that topic so you can get a fuller, better understanding of it that this book will not offer you.
September 16, 2021
I have mixed feelings here and I need to be pretty clear about that to avoid being irresponsible in either direction.
For reference, I am speaking as an extremely novice witch, and at this particular moment in time something like this book is exactly what I needed. And it was very helpful! It helped me understand what a Wiccan path can look like and helped clarify that yes, this is the right path for me. And I don't want to understate the importance of that. I wrote so many pages of notes from this.
I need to be equally frank about its shortcomings, though, and explain why while this was a very important book for me personally it is difficult to recommend it without serious qualifications.
I know this is a problem often encountered in Neo-Paganism, but I would be remiss if I didn't say that this book is rife with cultural appropriation. The most egregious of this is that it frequently cites "Native American" spirituality. Never once is a specific tribe or nation referenced, which A) homogenizes disparate people and B) makes it pretty clear that no actual indigenous people were consulted about whether they were comfortable with their beliefs being used in this way. At one point the author even suggests buying items used in indigenous people's rituals "from a magical supply or specialty store." This is the most basic and unacceptable form of cultural appropriation, directly profiting off of other people's cultures. I cannot state in clear enough terms that this is completely unacceptable, and I am very upset to find this kind of thing being recommended to people who, like me, are new to the Craft.
Before we move on from racism, this book also uses the G-slur to refer to Romani people. It only happens once, but yeah. Worth noting, and fits into the larger pattern described above.
Finally, this book mentions weight loss and dieting and other related concepts numerous times, and just... sigh. It casually endorses a moralistic view of food by describing sweet food as "naughty but nice" and indicates that they "may not be good for the waistline." And this sort of thing is just littered throughout the book. Can we just... please not?
In spite of all these issues, this book really was invaluable to me, and the good far outweighs the bad in my opinion. And it does follow the tenants of Wicca in saying that your path is your own and you don't need to include things that don't work for you. Obviously I will not be including any of the above-mentioned in my practice, but I am nevertheless dismayed to find these kinds of messages in a book that is explicitly aimed at beginners like me.
For reference, I am speaking as an extremely novice witch, and at this particular moment in time something like this book is exactly what I needed. And it was very helpful! It helped me understand what a Wiccan path can look like and helped clarify that yes, this is the right path for me. And I don't want to understate the importance of that. I wrote so many pages of notes from this.
I need to be equally frank about its shortcomings, though, and explain why while this was a very important book for me personally it is difficult to recommend it without serious qualifications.
I know this is a problem often encountered in Neo-Paganism, but I would be remiss if I didn't say that this book is rife with cultural appropriation. The most egregious of this is that it frequently cites "Native American" spirituality. Never once is a specific tribe or nation referenced, which A) homogenizes disparate people and B) makes it pretty clear that no actual indigenous people were consulted about whether they were comfortable with their beliefs being used in this way. At one point the author even suggests buying items used in indigenous people's rituals "from a magical supply or specialty store." This is the most basic and unacceptable form of cultural appropriation, directly profiting off of other people's cultures. I cannot state in clear enough terms that this is completely unacceptable, and I am very upset to find this kind of thing being recommended to people who, like me, are new to the Craft.
Before we move on from racism, this book also uses the G-slur to refer to Romani people. It only happens once, but yeah. Worth noting, and fits into the larger pattern described above.
Finally, this book mentions weight loss and dieting and other related concepts numerous times, and just... sigh. It casually endorses a moralistic view of food by describing sweet food as "naughty but nice" and indicates that they "may not be good for the waistline." And this sort of thing is just littered throughout the book. Can we just... please not?
In spite of all these issues, this book really was invaluable to me, and the good far outweighs the bad in my opinion. And it does follow the tenants of Wicca in saying that your path is your own and you don't need to include things that don't work for you. Obviously I will not be including any of the above-mentioned in my practice, but I am nevertheless dismayed to find these kinds of messages in a book that is explicitly aimed at beginners like me.
January 31, 2020
3,5 ⭐️
Muitos dizem que é um livro básico para iniciantes, e em partes concordo. Mas confesso que achei básico DEMAIS para quem caiu de paraquedas e não sabe qualquer coisa sobre a religião. Há pouco ou praticamente nenhum aprofundamento em qualquer assunto. Obviamente muitos livros sobre Wicca para iniciantes apenas pincelam os assuntos, já que buscam trazer uma ideia básica. Entretanto, este em específico acaba sendo ainda mais enxugado.
Apesar disso, gostei de algumas dicas interessantes que marquei para retornar outra hora e tentar na prática. A arte do livro é bonita e bem desenhada. Recomendaria para alguém que já sabe algo sobre Wicca, mas procura por feitiços bem simples e fáceis para começar.
Muitos dizem que é um livro básico para iniciantes, e em partes concordo. Mas confesso que achei básico DEMAIS para quem caiu de paraquedas e não sabe qualquer coisa sobre a religião. Há pouco ou praticamente nenhum aprofundamento em qualquer assunto. Obviamente muitos livros sobre Wicca para iniciantes apenas pincelam os assuntos, já que buscam trazer uma ideia básica. Entretanto, este em específico acaba sendo ainda mais enxugado.
Apesar disso, gostei de algumas dicas interessantes que marquei para retornar outra hora e tentar na prática. A arte do livro é bonita e bem desenhada. Recomendaria para alguém que já sabe algo sobre Wicca, mas procura por feitiços bem simples e fáceis para começar.
September 26, 2019
This book is the reason I got interested in Wicca. I can't stand how Wicca is stereotyped to only be thought of as the "dark magic". Kirsten Riddle really opens your mind to the natural essence of the practice and the good, light side of Wicca that I really wanted to explore.
January 1, 2018
Good basic primer. The watercolor style illustration appeased my inner teen witch.
December 16, 2018
I've read several beginner's guides and this was the easiest to comprehend. I loved it
October 18, 2019
It was okay.
August 17, 2020
Loved this, discovered how much 'wiccan' is simply nature connection and so me.
November 14, 2020
This book is grate. It covers abit of everything to start you off on your Wicca journey.
February 22, 2022
Another good book to start with
January 6, 2023
fascinating and really helpful if you’re interested in witchcraft :)
December 28, 2023
I borrowed it from my local library but love it so much that I'm going to go out and buy my own copy.
May 29, 2015
This is an incredible resource for someone who is new to Wicca or is rekindling their spiritual side like myself. I absolutely loved the attention to detail in the writing and the care and beauty in the images included in this book! Riddle's easygoing approach was perfect for my sensibilities and I know this book is one I will reference and use again and again over the years.
My favourite thing about The Beginner's Guide to Wicca, was the quiz included at the beginning of the book. It was great to help better guide you on your personal path and identify the things that you're drawn to and that are drawn to you.
Another wonderful thing is that you don't have to read the book from cover to cover, if that's not your kind of thing. This book is perfectly set up so that you can dabble in each part of a magical life as you feel it suits you. I highly recommend it :)
My favourite thing about The Beginner's Guide to Wicca, was the quiz included at the beginning of the book. It was great to help better guide you on your personal path and identify the things that you're drawn to and that are drawn to you.
Another wonderful thing is that you don't have to read the book from cover to cover, if that's not your kind of thing. This book is perfectly set up so that you can dabble in each part of a magical life as you feel it suits you. I highly recommend it :)
January 14, 2015
this book has been very good for a beginner. it has given you an insight into different paths and has given a few basic spells for you too try. it has also explained about the seasons as well. very highly recommend
March 31, 2018
This book has a lot of information I didn't know, specifically on flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables and their powers. This is a perfect book for beginners.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews