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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 28, 2024
I am always looking for new books and was excited because the author starts out sounding like this will be Celtic paganism. But then proceeds to make it sound very Christian. Lots of talk of demons and giving yourself over to God's higher power.
July 13, 2021
Despite this being the first formal occult book I’ve read and unsure what I ought to consider the standard, I've teetered between a 3 and 4-star rating, ultimately settling with 3 stars. Jessica B. Mitchell delivered excellent information, yet lacked what I felt was adequate historical context surrounding the topics (because it's helpful to know where we've been collectively as a community and how traditions survive or change within societies). Not useless or a waste of time, by any means, just some missing puzzle pieces.
For example, Mitchell briefly acknowledges paganism in the beginning, yet without warning transitions into references of “God” and bringing one’s practice under His authority rather than recruiting help from evil forces. At this point, I was unsure if “God” referred to a supreme deity within a hierarchy of gods as some pagan religions embrace, or the Abrahamic God. I had hoped to learn more about paganism and how its beliefs connect with the craft, as well as magick’s relationship with Christianity as the early church sought to rule over every aspect of life. Am I to assume that most practitioners, even after converting, incorporated their craft into their faith, at least during the early years of the Church? Other sources affirm that assumption, but I can’t claim to know what Mitchell hopes to communicate here. She then sporadically reference deities and their corresponding spell-casting tools throughout the book. I also wished Mitchell had included atheist witches, emphasizing magick as a practice rather than a religion. These are simply things I would expect from an "ultimate guide" of witchcraft.
When Mitchell touched on the Enchiridion of Pope Leo III, you know this Catholic witch flipped out in delight. A pope practicing witchcraft! However, a simple Google search revealed this detail is disputed and not always considered “fact” as Mitchell presented it. The ambiguity of this aspect made me question how thoroughly she had fact checked the other information she included.
Regardless of the aspects she left underdeveloped, Mitchell offers rich detail of spell-casting traditions from ancient Ireland and northern Europe. She describes protection rituals, divination, astrology, alchemy, runes and other disciplines. The reader receives thorough instructions on how to prepare for love spells, wealth spells, connect with the elements, interact with deities and much more.
Although many modern readers may not be able to follow instructions exactly or acquire the same material (goat skin, specific plants, etc.), the important underlying philosophies can perhaps be easily adapted to contemporary magick. While Mitchell asserts that various items correspond to specific properties that should connect to our intentions, she nevertheless emphasizes a spell’s overall goal, a witch’s purpose, the need for focus and concentration, and connectedness with spirit guides and the nature.
Published in 2020, this book has yet to acquire many reviews, so I will be interested as time passes to learn how the witchcraft community views this work.
For example, Mitchell briefly acknowledges paganism in the beginning, yet without warning transitions into references of “God” and bringing one’s practice under His authority rather than recruiting help from evil forces. At this point, I was unsure if “God” referred to a supreme deity within a hierarchy of gods as some pagan religions embrace, or the Abrahamic God. I had hoped to learn more about paganism and how its beliefs connect with the craft, as well as magick’s relationship with Christianity as the early church sought to rule over every aspect of life. Am I to assume that most practitioners, even after converting, incorporated their craft into their faith, at least during the early years of the Church? Other sources affirm that assumption, but I can’t claim to know what Mitchell hopes to communicate here. She then sporadically reference deities and their corresponding spell-casting tools throughout the book. I also wished Mitchell had included atheist witches, emphasizing magick as a practice rather than a religion. These are simply things I would expect from an "ultimate guide" of witchcraft.
When Mitchell touched on the Enchiridion of Pope Leo III, you know this Catholic witch flipped out in delight. A pope practicing witchcraft! However, a simple Google search revealed this detail is disputed and not always considered “fact” as Mitchell presented it. The ambiguity of this aspect made me question how thoroughly she had fact checked the other information she included.
Regardless of the aspects she left underdeveloped, Mitchell offers rich detail of spell-casting traditions from ancient Ireland and northern Europe. She describes protection rituals, divination, astrology, alchemy, runes and other disciplines. The reader receives thorough instructions on how to prepare for love spells, wealth spells, connect with the elements, interact with deities and much more.
Although many modern readers may not be able to follow instructions exactly or acquire the same material (goat skin, specific plants, etc.), the important underlying philosophies can perhaps be easily adapted to contemporary magick. While Mitchell asserts that various items correspond to specific properties that should connect to our intentions, she nevertheless emphasizes a spell’s overall goal, a witch’s purpose, the need for focus and concentration, and connectedness with spirit guides and the nature.
Published in 2020, this book has yet to acquire many reviews, so I will be interested as time passes to learn how the witchcraft community views this work.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews