The Wicca Handbook

by Eileen Holland

Describes the basics of Wicca, presents lists of correspondences, and provides guidelines for creating spells, rituals, and tools to help with issues such as love, health, and money.

Genres: Wicca, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Paganism, Spirituality, Religion, Occult

309 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Joseph Salvatore Vitale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book in my High School years I am now 24 and have picked it up again to reinitiate myself to my craft recently going through two years of terrible times, it has given me hope, information, and love for being a Wiccan and the hell with all the haters "God and Magick don't mix" silliest statement ever uttered, oh ignorance! Eileen writes as if she is speaking to you and it's a great comfort even if your hard on cash and don't have your Witches tool box.

[Chloe Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, as stated, a Wicca handbook and a brilliant one at that! I bought this book a couple of years ago, had skimmed through it, and set it aside to collect dust. Having recently found it again and read through it, rekindling my passion for magick and deities, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's certainly a book you have to own, as I found that it works best as a reference book for a practising witch. Everything is separated and chaptered wonderfully, making it easy to find what you're looking for exactly. Forgotten which moon phase is best for a protection spell? Just flip to the easy-to-find chapter! This handbook focuses more on spells and offerings than the religion of Wicca itself, so if you're looking for an extensive book exploring the religion, this isn't for you, but if you're like me and are endlessly curious about all things magical and spiritual, it's a wonderful book to own. I've delved into the world of Wicca and my intrigue is consuming me once more, and I have the utmost trust and faith in the words of Eileen Holland to guide and teach me.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the greatest book on the subject but not completely terrible either. If you are thinking of getting this book don't buy it.

[saturn daughter ☾ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is horrible, and I am going to list all the nonsense stuff the author wrote just down below.

1. "The Goddness is the universe itself, not something separate from or superior to it." p.7

Are you okay? From where did the author get that? There is The ONE and the ONE is Unity together with the female and male principle. The ONE is not a Goddness! It is both together! And Wiccans worship the both sides of the Unity. The author did read Scott Cunningham's book, because she mentions him in her book.

2. "A pentacle that is drawn or written is called a pentagram" p.37

A pentacle that is not drawn is what then? If it is in my imagination it is a pentadream or what? lol

Moreoever, pentagram is a pentacle, but a pentacle is not only a pentagram! There are many types of pentacles! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentacle) It is wrong the idea that Pentacle and Pentagram are exactly the same thing! A Pentagram is a five pointed star, it is a pentacle, but there are many other pentacles!

"In Gardner's 1949 book High Magic's Aid and 1954 book Witchcraft Today, Gardner defined a pentacle as a "five-pointed star", intending to mean a pentagram. In his 1959 book The Meaning of Witchcraft, Gardner defined a pentacle as a synonym of 'pentagram'. Major dictionaries have taken their definition of the word 'pentacle' from Gerald Gardner, being unaware of its historical inaccuracy. For example, the Online Oxford English Dictionary (2007 revision) states that the words 'pentacle' and 'pentagram' (a five-point unicursal star) are essentially synonymous."

3. "Witches make magic circles and invoke the Lords of the Watchtowers because it works, because this is an effective way to make magic." p.52

Wow...so you make it because it works, that's all? And what are Lords of the Watchtowers? No explanation was given lol.

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The author is constatly interchanging the words witches and wiccans! Witches are not necessarily Wiccans! Is it so complicated to understand that? Stop using both words as if they were synonyms. Please!

That book is horrible, I will not spend my time reading the rest of it. The author did seem to read good and safe source books, but it doesn't seem like she learned anything from them...

[Artemis Stardust · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book was helpful for me, it was only because I am at a point where I can read with some skepticism. I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction for new witches who don't understand that you should actually know the backstories and cultural sources of different deities. For example, she mentioned Yahweh several times as a name to be invoked alongside clear adversaries of the Abrahamic monotheistic deity, like Baal and Ishtar. Because it is written as an exhaustive reference book, it should have been more cross-referenced than it was. Colors and plants were listed underneath certain spells, but I would have liked to also see more than just an index of recurring terms. There are better books out there that go into more detail about what herbs and plants to use and HOW to use them, whereas Holland mostly has lists with a large chunk of the commentary being "do whatever feels right." Which isn't a terrible philosophy to live by as a private witch, but it makes a resource book less helpful than it could be. A few other things I didn't like about Holland: she was very fearful of black or gray magick, and spoke in an uncharitable and uninformed way about BDSM at various points within the book. I found my copy at a used bookstore and it called out to me, and I was mostly able to use it for finding names to look up elsewhere for further research. I would recommend it only to intermediate witches who want a broad base of deities, herbs, colors, and other such elements for further research. I took a good number of notes and had to fill in the blanks myself. A more advanced witch would probably already know what was in this book, but it would be misleading for beginners. I'm going to keep my copy around for reference, but it won't be cherished among the books I could never bear to part with.

[Raven Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, this book was pretty mediocre. It didn’t add anything to the conversation. Perhaps, if you were looking into Goddess Based Wicca and were fine with the rose colored facts at times, this might be for you. I don’t think the majority of the book was explained well. This is definitely intermediate reading with an emphasis on Wicca/Goddess only. The lists of the deities was strange to say the least. It wasn’t bad, just strange. There was less common names and rarely a mention from where they originate. I’m guessing a majority are from the Middle East, Celtic, Africa, and Asia based off spellings and background knowledge (which is limited on a number of them). I can only say for the ones I know, I questioned it quite a bit. At times she lists Freyja for marriage, but later will include Frigg for something else. Typically, if you’re separating them into two different goddesses, Freyja is not for marriage. Frigg rules over that. And honestly, if you look into the myths more, I find that Sif is a better option for marriage than either of them. Also, the spell for Odin was strange. He hung on a tree to sacrifice himself to himself to learn the runes. So naturally, the spell pulls this myth to be for an intense binding spell…? It makes no sense to me. Again, things aren’t really explained much in this book. There are far better resources available and I’d stick to those than this book.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is full of tons of reference information, but I really couldn't get into the author's tone. I was expecting more personality, more enthusiasm and happiness. I felt like the author was condescending to her readers, with barely enough patience for them. There's a lot of detailed info about gemstones and the planets and such, but I wish I had got that information elsewhere instead of reading (cover to cover) a book that gave me bad vibes.

I will say that she seems very well-informed, so feel free to try this book and see if you jive more with the author than I did.

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely captivating- read it all in one sitting after school. Incredibly direct and drew me into a world of magic and knowledge. I felt like I was learning from perhaps a wise Wiccan mother, teaching me what she knows of the craft. I enjoyed the amazing expanse of information available for reference, but also the wonderful and memorable wisdom of the craft. I borrowed this book from a new friend; I hope to soon add this book to my collection one day.

[Natalie Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. My only qualm is that the author heavily favoured the Egyptian pantheon, probably since it’s the pantheon she is devoted to. It left many holes in an otherwise good body of work, that could have been filled had she paid a little more attention to the pantheons. Otherwise this book was excellent.

[Becci · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like it's missing a lot of information. I'm starting to research Wicca for my own journey into witchcraft and this book just gave me lots of lists of deities and herbs etc without any real information as to why they are used or how to use them. I'll potentially use it as a reference to further my research but as a stand alone book it's definitely not worth the money I paid for it.

[Lesley Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting & informative book, it’s well written and broken down into sections so that information is grouped together appropriately.
This book is useful for beginners and more intermediate readers, it’s also a great reference book as you develop your craft.

[Railynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a Wiccan, but this is a great reference book. The many correspondence sections are incredibly detailed and well-sourced. I read this in ebook format, but am thinking of getting a physical copy so I can dog ear pages and highlight sections for future reference.

[Kayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job in explaining the wiccan religion. Although I do not include dieties in my practice, it was great to learn about them.

[Caelisar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly divergent and yet a bit puritanical when it comes to altered states of consciousness.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently reading Eileens book on Wicca. Excellent tips for a beginner like me, so many handy tips and tricks :)

[Ashwini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book

[Josh Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably would’ve rated this 5 stars 10 years ago, seeing as how this is the book that first introduced me to Wicca and paganism at the age of 17, thus leading me to become a practicing Wiccan. But now that I’m somewhat older and an atheist who stopped believing in that sort of stuff years ago, I can’t give it that despite the massive nostalgia I get reading it now.

That said, if you want to learn about Wicca and its many practices, I highly recommend this book. Not only does the author do a good job explaining the religion and the history behind it, but there’s also lists of herbs used in different spells and the gods that are called on and what they’re called on for.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book exploring Wicca and Witchcraft: For newcomers, long-time practitioners or "Wise ones", and the merely curious. I read it in one day.

Personal and serious in language, but not alienating (Eileen Holland seems a very interesting person with very interesting experiences and stories to tell). Though I greatly oppose to using love spells of any kind and I'd never under any circumstances use one - no matter the loophole - or any other magic interfering with anyone's will and with nature. At least terms such as hexing and cursing are strongly advised against, as it is not the way and the law of a witch to harm others. They are doctors, teachers, philosophers and free-thinkers. Even self-defence spells should have the intended goal of helping and healing all who are involved. Be careful when working with or invoking the single-flowing Elementals and the energies of the known universe!

'The Wicca Handbook' - As well as a study on Wiccan history (briefly), and on witches' ritual spell casting (for beginners and the experienced), and beliefs about the earth, the moon, the sun, the lifecycle, dreams, psychic powers, practical tools, and the spiritual planes of existence, it is also an extensive reference book on correspondents i.e. the multitude of Goddesses and Gods to respect and invoke, Zodiac signs, the planets, stones, animals, mythical creatures, and numerology.

Holland also quotes from the Egyptian Book of the Dead numerous times. So many references to magic and mythology I'd forgotten about a long time ago!

Despite being a cauldron full of wonderous information, this handbook does not spend much time talking about the Wheel of the Year and the traditional Sabbat and Esbat celebrations/festivals, or about herbs. But there's plenty of insight about divinities of many different cultures, as well as their correspondents. Additionally, Wicca initiation is up to us.


Blessed be.


Final Score: 4/5

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found that, although I am not Wiccan, there was much of use to me in this book. It is not a book about the Wiccan religion, really, but about spell craft. The wheel of the year is barely mentioned; she gets right down to doing things on your own. Basically, the book is an encyclopedia of correspondences for different aspects of spell crafting. The author includes correspondences for non-Wiccan paths, making them useful for many pagans. The lists cover everything from plants to stones to animals to planets. There are also sections on spells for different uses: protection, fertility, healing, and more. There is also a great bibliography for those who want to dig deeper

[DarkDungeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good reference for anyone beginning their foray into the world of Wicca, or for those with a passing interest in the subject wanting to know more. It gives you plenty of information on the religion without being too daunting, which is perfect for a beginners handbook. Plugged with references to many other Wicca guidebooks, and perhaps more importantly a considerable list of magical item references for specific spells and rituals, I would gladly recommend this to any new practitioner of the craft.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I hvae read on Wicca, and it was very interesting. I was reading more out of acaemic interest, rather than wanting to become a witch. The first section the most interesting, explaining a lot about the beliefs of wiccans and the history of the religion. The second and third contained a lot of lists, and are more for general reference rather than just reading straight, but still had some interesting informtaion. It was all very well written, and I'd recommend this book for anyone interesting in the Wiccan religion.

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be excellent. It was well thought out and the information contained in it was clear and complete. I loved the detail the author went into, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I refer to it all the time.

The Correspondences sections are amazingly full of detail. I love them. The information on the Wheel of the Year is easy to understand, which I enjoy. The section on Health and Healing is very good. And the section on animals is great.

This is an excellent reference book.

[Belfasterd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was unfortunately borrowing this book from someone. This seems like it would be a good book if you owned it and needed to pull it out to consult days of the year, herbs, crystals, or even ideas for spells. But because I was borrowing this book from someone I was just flipping through 90% of the book be cause it was all spells and charts. If that is the kind of book you need this one would be perfect.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eileen Holland is the single most authoritative voice in Modern Wicca since Scott Cunningham. If you are starting on the Wiccan Path or just merely curious about who Wiccans are and what they believe, this book is an absolute necessity to gain a thorough and accurate understanding of REAL witches. No flying lawnmowers here... an excellent resource.

[Tyler 🎀🌷🌸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

3/10 This was my first book about the craft, it’s good for correspondences and there’s a lot of information but it feels a bit daunting for new witches and a bit too basic for advanced ones. I’ll always appreciate it as my first introduction to witch craft but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it unless you are looking for a decent correspondence encyclopaedia

[Nikki Champoux · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a great source of knowledge but not any easy read. It is more sort of a reference book to Wicca, then a tool to learn what Wicca is all about. If you need to know which god or goddess to call upon it is great and completely well laid out and resourceful.

[Jessyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at about 17-18, I am now 33. It is still on my bookshelf & have read parts again. I have thought of sitting down & reading it again cover to cover. It was a great, informative book on Wicca.

[Empath Warrior · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be a great addition to my spiritual library. It goes over many important things like different properties of the different times of the day, year, seasons, etc. I recommend this book as a supplement to your other occult books.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book on Wicca I read when I was about 16. This is the book that really got me into Wicca and I have so many things highlighted and pages dog-eared, there's so much useful information in it and 5 years later I'm still going back to it.

[Linda]

This is a fantastic book, easy to understand, and she knows you questions before you actually ask them.
I recommend this book to all beginners in Wicca