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Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft
In this one-of-a-kind guidebook, award-winning Wiccan author and scholar Raven Grimassi presents an insightful portrait of the spirit of the Witch. He explores the spiritual element of the rituals, practices, and beliefs of Witchcraft, and how these elements apply not only to the seasons of nature, but also to the mystical seasons of the soul.
Literate and positive, Spirit of the Witch examines the oral tradition of Witches, as well as the cultural, literary, anthropological, and historical roots of Witchcraft. Revealed within these pages is the fascinating secret life of the Witch-guardian of the sacred mysteries, channel of magical forces, and keeper of the doorway between worlds.
Literate and positive, Spirit of the Witch examines the oral tradition of Witches, as well as the cultural, literary, anthropological, and historical roots of Witchcraft. Revealed within these pages is the fascinating secret life of the Witch-guardian of the sacred mysteries, channel of magical forces, and keeper of the doorway between worlds.
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
37 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
Raven Grimassi
47 books112 followersRaven Grimassi was an American author of over 20 books, and a scholar of paganism with over 40 years of research and study in the genre of Wicca, Stregheria, witchcraft and neo-paganism.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 16, 2015
This book is full of history and reads like a text book. Meaning that sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming with information. While I did enjoy his writing I did not enjoy the name dropping of his previous works. This book seemed like an introduction to witchcraft but with references to most of his past works it was awkward. But I did learn a lot.
On another thing I noticed. For an author who talked so much about the feminine aspects of the witch he didn't write much about the maiden, mother and crone which I would have liked to learn about.
On another thing I noticed. For an author who talked so much about the feminine aspects of the witch he didn't write much about the maiden, mother and crone which I would have liked to learn about.
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May 24, 2012This book is a primer for understanding spirituality in modern witchcraft traditions. However, in the usual style of Grimassi, it's not simplistic in tone or language. So this probably wouldn't be the right book for a dilettante (as so many new books seem to desire), but the reader who is seriously interested in a detailed view spanning many topics would love it.
Now, I am probably not the right person to write this review since I did not find it by choice. It was one of the terrific featured items in the first-hundred-in-the-door goodie bags at the Salem Witches Ball in 2010. I was very excited to meet Grimassi in person and overjoyed to see the gift bags contained a book of his I had not yet read. Due to my stack of books waiting to be read, "Spirit of the Witch" didn't see daylight until recently. Despite being written in his usual hefty style, I read this one rather quickly. I'm not one of those people who seeks out books that are "easy reads," but rather those with the most amount of information I want, no matter the effort. But it was quite refreshing to see that this book contains both substance and simplicity.
I am not a newbie so much of the information came as no surprise to me. But there were still a few passages that really affected me since they shed a different light on a topic I thought had been played out. I lead a coven, teach my own students, and have written two of my own manuscripts, so you can imagine what a nice surprise it is to be surprised!
In short, this would be a perfect book for one who wants inspiration on spirituality in witchcraft. I was inspired.
Now, I am probably not the right person to write this review since I did not find it by choice. It was one of the terrific featured items in the first-hundred-in-the-door goodie bags at the Salem Witches Ball in 2010. I was very excited to meet Grimassi in person and overjoyed to see the gift bags contained a book of his I had not yet read. Due to my stack of books waiting to be read, "Spirit of the Witch" didn't see daylight until recently. Despite being written in his usual hefty style, I read this one rather quickly. I'm not one of those people who seeks out books that are "easy reads," but rather those with the most amount of information I want, no matter the effort. But it was quite refreshing to see that this book contains both substance and simplicity.
I am not a newbie so much of the information came as no surprise to me. But there were still a few passages that really affected me since they shed a different light on a topic I thought had been played out. I lead a coven, teach my own students, and have written two of my own manuscripts, so you can imagine what a nice surprise it is to be surprised!
In short, this would be a perfect book for one who wants inspiration on spirituality in witchcraft. I was inspired.
November 20, 2012
While this is a very clear, very straightforward and no-nonsense introduction to the novice, it is ultimately little more than a list, with none of the eloquence, poetry, or scholarship of Starhawk's "Spiral Dance" or Robert Graves, "The White Goddess." I was disappointed because I was hoping for a more sophisticated read on the unique history, metaphysics, and ethics of Neopagan spirituality. I enjoyed the last chapter on seasons and the metaphors of life's seasonality, but I was looking for a very different book. Also the author's style and constant referral to his own previous works was tediously unpolished. I wouldn't recommend this to any but the beginner or the teenager who would benefit from such simple clarity.
December 1, 2011
An excellent book. I found it most helpful. Raven Grimassi writes with wisdom, respect, kindness and sensitivity.
June 19, 2019
Eh...
I like the writing style of this author, but the book seems too fractured. The author references his own work many times, as if trying to advertise previously published books, and that put me off, but more than that is how many actually interesting topics get touched on, and that's all. Several of the topics probably needed a book to themselves, but since they were lumped in with other topics, some of which also could have done with much larger sections to explain them properly, there isn't enough space without making this book into a huge volume.
I think I would like to read something else by this author and perhaps this wasn't a good place to start in regard to his work. I have heard good things about this particular author, and so when I found myself so disappointed, I was honestly surprised. But I won't let that disappointment cloud my opinion of him just yet. I'll try another book by him and see if I change my mind.
I like the writing style of this author, but the book seems too fractured. The author references his own work many times, as if trying to advertise previously published books, and that put me off, but more than that is how many actually interesting topics get touched on, and that's all. Several of the topics probably needed a book to themselves, but since they were lumped in with other topics, some of which also could have done with much larger sections to explain them properly, there isn't enough space without making this book into a huge volume.
I think I would like to read something else by this author and perhaps this wasn't a good place to start in regard to his work. I have heard good things about this particular author, and so when I found myself so disappointed, I was honestly surprised. But I won't let that disappointment cloud my opinion of him just yet. I'll try another book by him and see if I change my mind.
July 25, 2018
This book was very poorly written. It read like a list of random things related to witchcraft that the author threw together in a book. I was looking for a far more learned, eloquent, and sophisticated treatment of Paganism than this book provided.
October 20, 2015
A very good book for beginners looking at witchcraft as a whole and going into detail with how-tos and the why behind them. Would recommend.
October 15, 2020
This is my third Raven Grimassi book. Though I still enjoy his writing and appreciate that he wrote an entire canon dedicated to the history, religion, worldviews, and practice of witchcraft, I have noticed that he did often repeat things across his body of work.
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September 21, 2022Awesome!
October 7, 2012
If you are on the path, I HIGHLY recommend this book as one to OWN. I learned more from it than almost any other in the years that I devoured material on the subject. I also keep my copy close by. It is one of the books that gets packed close in the times I have moved. It is also the one with coffee and bathwater stains...because I love it.
September 3, 2008
A fairly decent book
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June 7, 2015I want to not have to pack and move another book more than I want to finish this. So since someone on Paperback Swap has this on their wishlist, AWAY IT GOES.
June 3, 2016
Good historical information and well organized overview of the concepts within Witchcraft. The spiritual aspects didn't resonate with me so I ended up skimming some near the end.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews