In 13 Moons, Fiona Walker-Craven goes with the natural tides and changing seasons, according to Nature rather than any established calendar. Her spring ritual is timed to coincide with the flowering of the may (hawthorn) rather than some misaligned Celtic festival, or an official Bank Holiday.
Autumn comes when the air is perfumed with that indescribable fragrance which is instantly recognised and never forgotten. Her ‘wheel of the year’ takes us on a strangely familiar journey through the woods and hedgerows where age-old secrets and magic can still be discovered.
On an inner note, this will be an enlightening book for those who have always felt they were, in some way different, and yet found no solace in the established modern traditions. 13 Moons shows that it is not enough to want to be a Witch; the seeker must be prepared to live as a Witch – every day for the rest of his or her life.
The comfort is discovering that you are not alone . . .
This is a book I would highly recommend for anyone wishing to tread the path of a solitary practitioner of witchcraft. Ms Fiona Walker-Craven appears not to have taken the usual wicca-like line with her book, and, to my mind, is somewhat apart form other books on witchcraft, especially those aimed at beginners.
The book provides step-by-step instructions for exercises to be undertaken with each lunar cycle, each exercise building upon the preceding; the aim of which is to take the reader along the path of witchcraft. The work required may appear easy at first glance, but each undertaking requires far more effort and understanding than might be expected reading it on the page. Each of the chapters in the book begins with the name of the moon for that month and, if the reader follows the instructions, they will learn to tune in to the energies that surround them.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Should you be stuck in the middle of an urban centre, unable to access the countryside, or even disabled, Ms Walker-Craven has written a companion book called "High Rise Witch: Bringing Magic into Your Home".
After years of having this on my "to read when I win the lottery" list, I was fortunate enough to acquire a copy through a friend.
The earlier recommendations did not disappoint. Ms. Walker-Craven is down-to-earth and practical in her writing for the solitary witch. Gone are the "you must do it this way or you're doing it wrong" instructions I've seen in other books. Instead, she offers suggestions that are meant to be modified to suit the individual.
I especially liked that although the book is based on the 13 moons in a calendar year and she mentions the equinoxes and solstices, she also says to pay attention to how things happen where the reader lives. This, to me, is the epitome of being a "natural" witch, which is what she terms herself.
Well worth acquiring a copy if you're able. Mine won't be leaving my possession anytime soon as it's one I'll come back to.
This is a book about Traditional Witchcraft, not Traditional Wicca - there is a difference and explanations can be found all over the net if you are curious but back to the book. Fiona Walker-Craven takes the reader through the thirteen moons of witches year and more than that she leads the reader on a path of discovery, discovery of the self and of the craft. This is not a DIY spell book, it won't teach you charms or rituals but it will take you on a journey to reach into yourself and know what it is to be a witch. One of the best books on the craft I have come across and an absolute must if you need guidance to discover the truth of the craft. This book is out of print but if you can find yourself a copy it's worth every penny.
One of the best and most accessible books on Traditional Witchcraft. If you can find this book snatch it up (as it is now out of print). A great work showing how to really connect with the spirit world and have a great interaction within the world.
This is one of the thousands of DIY Wicca books that purport to make you a witch in easy lessons.I thought this one was different but that was until I was introduced to a lady whose family were privy to knowledge of the old country witches.She told me for example how the witches interacted with the natural world and that they saw three icons of witchcraft.These were a specific bird,an animal and an unusual flower.I was also told how the witches marked out their area,how they recognised one other along with other fascinating lore.The author of this book does not mention any of this.Most crucially the actual connection to witchcraft can only be made in two ways.This is not mentioned or even hinted at,which is odd considering the claims of this book.I also learned that the 13 Moons thing is derived not from any lore but from changes to the calendar.The idea of a secret 13th Moon is purely a new age Wiccan one.Again,witches did not celebrate Festivals or observe solstices or equinoxes as this book suggests. Overall if you see this as another Wiccan DIY book then fine,but witchcraft it certainly aint!