Queen of All Witcheries: A Biography of the Goddess

by Jack Chanek

Enhance Your Connection to the Goddess through Historical Writings & Hands-On Rituals Who is the Goddess and how did she become the iconic figure we know today? Queen of All Witcheries explores the mythology of the Goddess through a historical lens, introducing you to influential voices that shaped the modern Goddess movement, including Charles Godfrey Leland, Margaret Murray, Dion Fortune, and Gerald Gardner. Jack Chanek examines classic titles that build upon each other, like The Golden Bough and The White Goddess , showing how they impacted our contemporary understanding of the Goddess. Each chapter includes a solitary ritual, a group ritual, and a hands-on exercise to deepen your devotional experience. You will reenact the witches' esbat, light a divinatory ritual bonfire, make flying ointment, and more. Sharing extensive research and his own experiences, Jack provides you a richer understanding of the goddess and her evolving mythology.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Paganism, Occult, Spirituality, History

240 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2023

Reviews

[Justin Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intellectual and Inspirational

I must admit going into this book I was unsure of what to expect from a “Biography of the Goddess”. Thankfully I was not disappointed. Jack does an immaculate job laying out the history of Goddess spirituality and pointing out the key players that were involved in Her influence on the world. Jack does not shy away from pointing out the historical inaccuracies of which there are many. Yet looking at how those ideas helped inspire others to build a better tomorrow for the Goddess and her devotees. Some of my favorite moments throughout the book were the personal touches Jack would add about his own experiences with The Goddess and reading his story helped myself reflect upon my own experiences. This is definitely a must read for all who are looking to have a better understanding of The Goddess in their own lives.

[Yvonne Aburrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Queen of All Witcheries: A Biography of the Goddess” is an excellent book which explains complex ideas in an accessible way. It’s also beautifully written.

Each chapter is a reflection on one of the influential writers and thinkers who shaped the modern view of the Great Goddess: JJ Bachofen, JG Frazer, CG Leland, Margaret Murray, Dion Fortune, Aleister Crowley, Robert Graves, Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente, and modern Goddess feminists such as Carol Christ, Starhawk, and Lasara Firefox Allen. He also points out areas where these ideas are now problematic, such as when people subscribe to an overly biologically essentialist view of the Triple Goddess, or where Crowley’s views were colonialist.

Chanek demonstrates how each of the writers examined contributed to our contemporary view of the Goddess, draws out the key themes from each one, and offers a ritual for exploring the themes associated with that author and era, first in a group format and then in a solitary format.

I will be adding this book to my recommended reading list. An excellent complementary resource to “Dreams of Witches” by Christina Oakley-Harrington and “Triumph of the Moon” by Ronald Hutton.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book.

If I have one gripe with it, it's that it's too short. Basically it ends in the 1970s but like, what with the following 50 years. Sure, there are some paragraphs on that but they really should have been their own chapters.

What I *immensely* appreciated were the insights into Chanek's life at the opening of each chapter. Insightful and relatable. The naming ritual was my favorite.

If I have to give a critique it's that the author's background as a philosopher shines through in the way he treats definitions, which are of a very necessary and sufficient conditional slant and which I don't agree with. This is perhaps remarkable, as the whole book is built around a dynamic view of the Goddess, with features that change in salience as the book (and time) progresses.

Would/will read again.

[Elhoim Leafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An outstanding book about the history and transformation of the Mother Goddess. A literary journey to take you through the myths―and books―historically used to build and shape the face of the goddess cult, but it does not end there. Jack Chanek takes the assignment of analyzing and deconstructing the sources of these cults, leading the reader to understand their origin and the deep connection between them. Jack gives you everything you need to know in a very well-researched book filled with stories, folklore, and marvelous rituals."
― Elhoim Leafar, author of "The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags" and "Dream Witchery".

[Jennifer Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this twice now, and will likely do so again.

The writing style makes this complex subject easy to approach. Using a conversational tone, the narrator is thoughtful, balanced, well-versed in his subject, and considerate to readers. He's also a lot of fun to read! Each chapter contains a group ritual and a solo ritual, so there's plenty of value here.

This book is now on my list of 'most recommended reading' for anyone interested in goddess-based spirituality and/or modern pagan witchcraft.

[Lisa Eirene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive history. I enjoyed the chapter on Thelema. It was interesting to read some of the history and to brush up on the stuff I'd forgotten about.

[Ashleigh Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tedious at times, but overall interesting. I'm not certain that Jack really got the pinit of what he was encountering.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Jessica Nightshade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like Queen of All Witcheries much more than I actually did. Jack Chanek clearly knows the history, and the sections tracing how figures like Leland, Murray, and Gardner helped shape the modern conception of the Witch Goddess were easily the strongest parts for me. There’s useful context here, especially if you’re interested in understanding where modern ideas about the Goddess actually came from rather than simply accepting them as ancient tradition.

Unfortunately, the book never really came together for me beyond that. The combination of historical analysis, personal interpretation, and practical material sometimes felt awkward, and I found myself much more interested in the history than in Chanek’s own theological conclusions or rituals. Practices like flying ointment and esbat work sound intriguing on paper, but I rarely felt inspired to actually stop reading and try what was being presented.

I also wanted considerably more complexity from a book devoted entirely to the Goddess. The subject is enormous, but the treatment often felt narrower than the title suggested, particularly once the focus moved from historical development into contemporary practice. There are worthwhile pieces scattered throughout, and I’m glad I learned more about how the modern Witch Goddess was constructed and developed, but overall this was a slog for me. I’d recommend the historical sections selectively, but as a complete book it just didn’t hold my interest.