With the Kindle Edition of Wicca Magickal Beginnings being prepared for release this weekend, we thought we would revisit some of the comments the print edition of the book received over the last 3 years since its release.
Most of what follow are short extracts from much longer reviews, some of which are available online and others from magazines, ezines and the like.
REVIEWS OF WICCA MAGICKAL BEGINNINGS
“What really has astonished me though is how much Thelema is in there, and has been from the beginning. Huge chunks of many of the most basic Wiccan rituals are lifted straight from Liber AL, the Gnostic Mass, and The Law of Liberty. Now I’d heard before that there were some parallels, but the sheer amount of OTO stuff in Gardnerian Wicca is phenomenal. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, given the letters that Gardner wrote re OTO round the time of Crowley’s death, which show that he was clearly more interested in OTO than was previously thought. Another interesting point is that the witches’ chant of “Eko Eko…” was apparently first published by JFC Fuller in 1921! Not only that, it was published in Form magazine, edited by Austin Osman Spare… Fascinating stuff. Definitely a book worth getting if you’re at all interested in Thelema and Wicca.”
Rodney Orpheus
Author of Abrahadabra: Aleister Crowley's Thelemic Magick------------------------------
“From their extensive research they conclude that Wicca is a continuation of the medieval tradition of grimoire magic, supplemented with material from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the OTO either by persons unknown before Gardner’s initiation into the New Forest Coven in 1939 or later by Gardner and his associates. They claim that when the GD and Crowley material is removed from modern Wiccan rituals what is actually left is ‘ a bedrock of grimoire materials with fragments of folk practices which would fit in with the idea of the continuation of a genuine tradition…’ This claim is of course, based on the assumption that the New Forest coven, which some die-hard skeptics refuse to believe ever existed, was not a figment of Gardner’s imagination and that he did not just cobble together the rites of Wicca from books. Personally, I would go along with d’Este and Rankine. Highly recommended”
Michael Howard, Editor of The Cauldron
Author of Modern Wicca and The Pickingill Papers
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“Long awaited, and sorely needed in both the academic and Pagan community... Wicca Magickal Beginnings is, in one word, brilliant. In another word it is ‘orgasmic’ for the academic in me, ‘scintillating’ for the Pagan in me, and ‘un-put-downable’ (okay, so it’s technically not a word…) for the avid reader in me. The writing style is open, fresh, and easy to follow, the book is packed with information, references, quotes, and sources, enabling anybody to find the sources for themselves afterwards. I am particularly fond of the textual analysis of the Charge of the Goddess found in the chapter “Adore the Spirit of Me” and the “Cernunnos” chapter. I take my hat off to both Sorita and David for this groundbreaking work, and highly recommend it to EVERYBODY.”
Kim Huggens
Editor of ‘Vs.’ and author of Sol Invictus: The God Tarot
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“Unfortunately, the answers aren't always going to be what wiccans want to hear. At one point the list reads "Crowley, Lesser Key of Solomon, Crowley, Christianity". For wiccans whose path may be primarily a pagan religion, this isn't going to go down well.
It doesn't have to offend, though. By emphasising the link to ceremonial magick, the authors actually reinforce Wicca's connection to original European witchcraft... "Magickal Beginnings" pulls together all the subjects that will interest wiccans, but which are usually too diverse to be found in one place... "Wicca: Magickal Beginnings" is going to become a vital part of many wiccans' bookshelves.”Stephen Blake
The Apple Branch (English Shamanism)
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“This is an excellent book, set to become a classic that will be found on every Wiccan’s bookshelf, alongside The Triumph of the Moon: a history of Modern Pagan Witchcraft and Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration. The authors work methodically through every major aspect of Wiccan liturgy, comparing all possible sources and showing where it all comes from. ... Nor did they shirk from exploring ideas that might be seen as uncomfortable in some quarters, such as the modern origins of some ideas and the ancient provenance of some others, and even the sources of ideas in the Christian tradition.”
Vogelbere
Author and Wiccan High Priestess
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“The book includes a very detailed index for reference, and a good table of contents. Overall, this is an exceptional book of references and one which I was hard pressed to find fault with. The material here will spark some interesting discussions, to say the least. But that is what this book is all about, and I found it to be exciting in it’s content and there were many "Ah, ha!" moments for me.
OK, it’s obvious. I love this book. I’ve been talking to some friends about this, recommending this book even before I finished reading it. Currently it is an English publication and is available in the US. A "must have" for anyone’s library and one that you will find essential to your studies. It’s a darn good read.”
Boudica
The Pagan & Wiccan Times (TWPT.com)
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“Wicca Magickal Beginnings marks a new dawn for the study of the esoteric tradition. I am certain that it will cause some ruffled feathers amongst those who are unable to accept that the practices are more important than the personalities. This book clearly illustrates that our practices are ancient and yet perfectly modern at the same time. Written with initiates in mind, this book will be invaluable also to practitioners of other forms of Pagan Witchcraft and Ceremonial Magic, as there is such a vast overlap of practices discussed in terms of its origins.”
Dr. Nina Lazarus
Wiccan High Priestess, 3*
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“With something of interest for both the newcomer and the scholar Wicca:Magickal Beginnings should find a place in any serious collection.”
Pagan Dawn Magazine (Pagan Federation)
Lammas 2008 Edition
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“It's important that people have looked, and continue to look, at the personalities and cultural effects in the history of the Wicca, but it is timely to have a book looking at the history of what is core to the Craft itself. If you are of the Wicca yourself, or if the practices of the Wicca has been an influence upon your practice, then this is may well be the most important book on our history, yet written. If you have an outsider's interest in our history, then the approach taken here should be more than novel enough to have plenty of interest.”
Jon Hanna
Author of What thou wilt: Traditional and Innovative trends in Post-Gardnerian Witchcraft
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For more information see http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/221/?page_id=350
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