EVERYDAY WICCA Magickal Spells Throughout the Year
Written by Wiccan expert Gerina Dunwich, Everyday Wicca is both an essential gateway for anyone seeking to add magick to their life and a thorough examination of magickal living for longtime practitioners of the pagan arts. A fascinating study of spellcasting and a thoughtful survey of the Wiccan calendar, this insightful work will guide the modern witch through everyday rituals, spells, and Sabbats celebrated during the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. A handy glossary and an invaluable resource section are also included for both the solitary witch as well as those in a coven.
Gerina Dunwich is a professional astrologer, occult historian, and New Age author, best known for her books on Wicca and various occult subjects. She is also involved in paranormal research and is the founder of the Paranormal Animal Research Group, which investigates cases of alleged hauntings by animal spirits.
This is a study in the religion of Wicca, an Earth based belief system that embraces pantheons of deities. It is written by a practicing witch who has authored several other books on the subject. Meant for solo as well as group practitioners, it takes the reader through a full year of Sabbits and holidays (for the US), and outlines rituals for them all. The one thing that comes to mind when reading this is "Lists." There are multiple lists in this book, cataloguing everything from the days devoted to the various deities to the uses for different colored candles and scents of incense. There is an extensive glossary in the back that defines all the words used in the text, and therefore supplies a good introduction to the terminology of the religion. Relatively short but thorough, this is a good reference book for any who wish to follow the belief system as well as those who study it.
There were some things and verses that I liked, and some I disagreed with. I liked that she focused on incense, but I did not like how she described the initiation rites, it felt too constricting and not at all how I imagine it, but then it is a very personal thing and everyone views it differently, not to mention if you're in a coven or solitary. I think it's time for me to read a book that is not beginner-level.
I recently became interested in Witchcraft. Well, I've gone through waves of being curious, but it wasn't until now I decided to do an actual deep dive. I liked the sound of Everyday Wicca as a way to learn about all of the important days and times of year. I knew about Samhain, of course, and the equinoxes and solstices. Of course, I know the phases of the moon, but not their meaning and significance. This book reveals all of that and more. I never realized how many holidays were observed by witches, or that there are even certain spells, incense, and colors for the days of the week!
However, I don't think Everyday Wicca is totally beginner friendly despite what the description says. Yes, I was happy to learn the importance of certain days, seasons, phases, and even colors. But this book does lean heavily on spells and rituals. I'm not that far along my journey, so I felt quite overwhelmed at seeing pages long incantations and step-by-step guides. I was just hoping for an overview and explanation. The glossary at the end was more of what I was expecting, as that definitely cleared up confusion about witchy terms I had heard before but wasn't exactly sure what they meant.
Everyday Wicca is a book I'll return to in the future, if I do decide to continue down this path. But at this point, it was too detailed for me.
Short little book giving a short overview of spellcasting with some short correspondence lists like color associations, incense, moon phases-the usual. I really liked the calendar in the appendices and I do enjoy her writing. Of course there is the usual historical misinformation concerning the "Burning Times". I will mostly use it as a reference for correspondences (because the info is short and simple) and inspiration.
Simple and to the point. I would assume it's great for absolute beginners, and for someone wanting a basic understand of the craft (though I don't practice, so don't take my word for it).