Editorial Review

Silver RavenWolf is one of the most widely recognized names in circles of witchcraft, and with good reason; she has written some of the best guides to contemporary Witchcraft available. Read more

Reviews (376)

Surprisingly Good!!!To Coin A Phrase, Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover!!!
I have the original version of this book, the one with the picture of the Broomstick Babe on the cover.I wasn't willing to pay full price for this book because of the picture, so bought it at my local Half-Price Books for a few dollars.Because of the picture, as well as Ms. RavenWolf's reputation, I really didn't expect much.
Okay...So are we Wiccan or Catholic?
Wow! I just read a few reviews on here for this book and lets just say that I am ashamed to call myself apart of the Wiccan Religion right now! I have never been so humiliated before! People think this book is bad...its not real witchcraft...shes "fluffy"...Gardnarian Tradion is the ONLY way...you SHOULD read THESE authors and no others...is this sounding familiar? Unfortunatly, YES! People get so wound up in these so called "Witch Wars" that Wicca, once a religion that promoted "PERSONAL FREEDOM" to suit YOUR practice to YOUR needs is being transformed into a dogmatic "ONE WAY RELIGION". I was raised Catholic, hated the dogma and constant fear, To Ride a Silver Broomstick was my first book on The Craft given to me by my Wiccan girlfriend in High School. Silver showed me the way!
I definately reccomend this book!
Silver delves into so many things I love. I guess my only regret is the lack of pre-outlined ritauls. I read this after TeenWitch and I think that that's her "fluffiest" book. This is so good and it rounded it out very nicely. I use both books when doing rituals, spells, and meditations, and even did the TeenSeeker ritual outlined in TeenWitch. Buy this book, and you will forever understand. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Christianity - Ritual & Practice    3. Comparative Religion    4. Inspiration & Personal Growth    5. Magic    6. Neopaganism    7. New Age    8. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    9. New Age / Parapsychology    10. Witchcraft    11. Witchcraft & Wicca    12. Body, Mind & Spirit / Witchcraft & Wicca    13. Magic & alchemy    14. Mind, Body, Spirit    15. Wicca   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (18)

Despite a couple of weird problems, a good resource book
This book is full of information and ideas. They are well-organized and well-presented. The writing is easy to read and the book is suitable for people in many different traditions. The only problem was I found a couple of glaring errors. There weren't enough to totally turn me off to the book but they sufficed to make me read it more critically than I had planned to and check references I normally would not have worried about. The error I use as an example when asked is the reference to yellow being such an important springtime color that the Jews use yellow coloring in their challah for Passover. Since Passover observance prohibits the consumption or even possession of leavened bread, this claim is just silly. However, it wasn't so silly that I dismissed the rest of the book on the spot, and I did enjoy reading it.

Perfect for the whole year
What I love about this book is that it not only covers the Sabbats, it talks about the rest of the year as well, and gives ideas on things to do during the other months-- like November, January, etc..Directions are easy to follow, and nothing too extravagant.Wonderful addition to the library for everyday Wiccan living.

Cycles
If you're looking for spells and formal rituals, this book is not for you.If you're looking for ideas to help you get closer to nature, this is the book you want.
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Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Magic    3. Magick Studies    4. Neopaganism    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Religious calendars    8. Rites and ceremonies    9. Rituals    10. Witchcraft & Wicca    11. Body, Mind & Spirit / Witchcraft & Wicca    12. Magic & alchemy    13. Mind, Body, Spirit    14. Wicca   

Reviews (1)

Good solid fare!
This book is about exactly what it claims on the cover, a general history and lore of Heathenry, as compiled from the writings of members of The Troth, a modern Heathen organization, as well as contributions from the wider Heathen community.
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Subjects:  1. Asatru; Odinism; heathen; heathenry; paganism; Norse; Viking; Germanic;Anglo-Saxon; Troth    2. Religion / Ethnic & Tribal   

Editorial Review

Celtic scholar Jean Markale explores "the shadowy zones" of All Hallows' Eve in Read more

Reviews (8)

An Exhaustive Book About Halloween, Originally Called Samhain
Samhain.This is a word that many people are not familiar with today.It is the ancient Celtic name that was transformed (by converts into Christianity centuries ago) into what has become known today as "All Saints' Day", "The Day of the Dead", "All Hallows Eve" or the better known name of Halloween.
From the viewpoint of an Historian, a Poet and a Philosopher
Jean Markale is described as a poet, philosopher, historian and storyteller.His field of specialty is pre-Christian and medieval culture and spirituality.He is a very well known French author of over 40 books and is a specialist in Celtic studies at Sorbonne University in Paris.
Very scary...
...that anyone could think this book is hard to read. Whoever does must have been home-schooled by Scooby-Doo. There's nothing difficult to grasp in this book, least of all the language. I couldn't find a single word on any page that I had to look up in the dictionary, for Heaven's sake! Although it was written by a formidable scholar with stellar credentials, it is a concisely-written page-turner for readers who are interested in the mythic roots of Halloween, the origins of the Eve of All Souls, the pagan festival of Samhain. The only criticism I have of it is it uses words such as "carnival-like" and "manifestations" a bit too often, an easy oversight to forgive considering it is a translation. Come on kids, if it's a book about how to carve pumpkins you want, you can pick that up at the dollar store. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Halloween    3. Holidays (non religious)    4. New Age    5. Sociology    6. Spirituality - General    7. Spirituality - Paganism    8. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Paganism    9. Customs    10. Occultism & quasi-religious beliefs   

Reviews (25)

Where's the Dark Magick
I might have been expecting too much, but I was disappointed with this book. I did not learn anything on Dark Magick per se. The first half of the book is about a variety of subjects like, Goths, Vampires, Lost Souls, the Collective Unconscious, Dark Deities, Satanism and some other stuff. The second half is about Magick, but it sounds more like High Magick to me. Where's the Dark Magick?

I like..
I like this. It is good and dark and Taylor Ellwood says good stuff that's true about this. Yup..Dark and good..Exploring all dark paths that many books do not do, not just linked to one dark path. This is good, and his column in New Witch is..also good. Take care, Vanes

Excellent exploration of an all too often taboo subject
Like the title and introduction of the book says, this is an exploration of dark paganism, magic, and also other darksiders in general. Written by a man whose personal aesthetics have been interwoven into his personal spirituality, he has a unique perspective.
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. New Age    4. Spirituality - General    5. Spirituality - Paganism    6. Mind, Body, Spirit   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Ancient - Greece    3. Ancient - Rome    4. Essays    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Jewish - Ancient    9. Ancient Greece    10. Ancient Rome    11. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    12. Hellenistic World; Maccabean Revolution; Jesus; ancient Syria; ancient Egypt; ancient Greece; ancient Rome; Islam; Judaism; Paganism; Christianity;    13. History / Ancient / General   

Editorial Review

Author and illustrator Brian Froud offers believers a chance to consultwith the magical wee folks. Using a deck of 66 "oracle cards," believers conductreadings as if interpreting Tarot cards. Each of the cards features Froud'ssignature faery pictures. Some of the cards have specific faeries, like thenaked leaping "Spirit Lancer"--a feminine card that represents "self-expression,freedom, and exploration," according to the accompanying text written by JessicaMacbeth. Others are more abstract, like the "Guardian of the Gate," a blue- tinted card with splaying silver-white streaks that look like tendrils of faeryhair.Read more

Reviews (66)

Labyrinth
I used to have this deck, it's amazing and beautiful and I've also noticed that Froud, who worked on Labyrinth, included some of the goblins from the movie in them!

Best Oracle set I have
I have a number of Oracle card sets, this one is the best I have seen.In the way it is explained and the exercises that you go through to learn how to use the cards. I recamend this for anyone. Beginners will find it easy to understand and learn from and thoses of us who have other cards sets will truely lean to value this one.

Outstandingly Accurate
I picked up the Faeries' Oracle here on Amazon, and expected much due to all the wonderful reviews. The minute i opened the box i got even more than i expected. The art is beautiful, the cards are accurate, and the book is written in a way that is so simple to understand. Within 2 days of reviewing the cards, I was giving accurate and precise readings. I now have been practicing for well over a month, and a handful of the readings have already turned up true. Words cannot explain my love for these cards, and once people realize that the land of Faery is around them, they will get this unbreakable connection. I now KNOW that faery exists, and you the reader can learn how to use their advice to create a better life for yourself and others. To create a strong relationship between you and Faery just do these simple things.
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Divination - Fortune Telling    4. Divination - General    5. Divination cards    6. Fairies    7. Fortune-telling by cards    8. Inspiration & Personal Growth    9. Miscellanea    10. New Age    11. Spirituality - Paganism    12. Body, Mind & Spirit / Divination    13. Fortune-telling & divination   

Reviews (29)

review
"Paganism, also called neo-Paganism, is a new religious movement..." first sentence, Chapter 1, P.1
Good broad introduction
This book does a good job of giving a general description of paganism as a whole.The authors don't go into very much detail about the different disciplines though; so if you are looking for information regarding a specific type of paganism (like druidism for instance), then you should probably look elsewhere.The content is geared towards people who have had no contact with pagans before.The Higginbothams are very knowledgable and they make excellent arguments for their points, but there are two criticisms that I have:
Great for Beginners
I've known Jim (River) & Joyce for over 10 years now, and I'm so happy they finally put to text some of the knowledge that I've seen them regularly share with new initiates into the craft here in their home-base of St. Louis, MO. I can't wait to see what they write next as they expand their writing into more advanced texts.
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Comparative Religion    4. Neopaganism    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Spirituality - Paganism    8. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Paganism    9. Paganism   

Reviews (8)

Unique Approach
I have been obsessed with names/their meanings/spellings ever since I can remember! By the time I was 10 I think I had 5 different name books and could rattle off to you what almost any name meant and various spellings for it.
A Name Book That Goes Beyond Typical Traditional
This is the best book on names that are magic related that I have everread. I use this for creating stories and and for spiritual reasons.It is the only book I have found that is truly dedicated to names not related to theChristian or Classical traditions, but rather to Druid, magical, or Pagan names.It includes a whole bunch of origins that I had forgotten.

This is the one for you
This book has all the names you need for whatever reason. I love it. You can't go wrong with The New Book of Magical Names. IT has a name for every need, water names, earth names, air names, fire names, and much more. She even has a listing of famous character names. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Magic    2. Magick Studies    3. Miscellanea    4. Names, Personal    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Body, Mind & Spirit / Magick Studies    8. Paganism    9. Personal names    10. Wicca   

Editorial Review

In her sequel to Read more

Reviews (100)

A wonderful book!!!

A Great Read, Lots Of Information
I had to read this book several times to have everything sink in.I suggest reading one chapter at a time and performing the exercises she suggests for each chapter before you move on.I got a little confused because I breezed through it.Not recommended for "light reading".This book goes very deep into the different aspects of Wicca and how they affect our lives, and the lives of everyone around us!Take your time.Definitely worth the read!

What the Silver Bashers Don't Want You To Know
Ms. Ravenwolf has undeservedly aquired a reputation for writing fluff. If you actually read her books, they prove otherwise. Anyone who has actually worked through her books has also read the essential authors in the "recommended reading" sections and logged many hours doing devotions, ritual, magic and divination. They may well be someone to be reckoned with!
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Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Comparative Religion    3. Magic    4. Neopaganism    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Witchcraft    8. Witchcraft & Wicca    9. Body, Mind & Spirit / Witchcraft & Wicca    10. Occultism & quasi-religious beliefs   

Editorial Review

Tapping into Celtic, Roman, Egyptian, and other cultural traditions, Nigel Pennick explores the individual significance of almost every day of the year. Pennick reveals some of the mechanics, such as moon phases and equinoxes, underlying many important holidays, and he breaks the year into seasons, months, and even hours, offering a peek into the importance of even the smaller divisions of the year. Read more

Reviews (14)

Wow - now THAT'S a calendar!
There is not one book in my collection that I refer to more than the Pagan Book of Days. Filled with great information on many pagan holidays from a wide variety of cultures -this little gem is worth gold. Buy it and celebrate the Old Ones.

Wonderful Monthly Information
This book is chuck full of information for each month and encompasses many different Pagan cultures.A wonderful resource for the curious, newsletters, calendars, event planning and for teaching/lectures.I highly recommend this book for personal and group libraries.

A little disappointing
On the down side there are quite a few missing entries for days.On the upside there is some very interesting information on the tides of the day and other calendars.I would give this 3 1/2 stars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Festivals    4. History    5. Holidays - General    6. New Age    7. New Thought    8. Religious aspects    9. Religious calendars    10. Rites and ceremonies    11. Seasons    12. Spirituality - Paganism    13. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Paganism    14. Earth Religions   

Reviews (19)

Best Sabbat Book
This is the best Sabbat book you will find anywhere. It has everything you need to know about the Sabbats. And will help you plan for your Sabbat ritual, and gives you recipes, crafts and even rituals. A must have book in your witch's library. Blessed be!

Essential Sabbat Reference Guide
I have owned this book for years and find myself referencing it on a nearly ritualistic basis (no pun intended). McCoy does a magnificent job covering all 8 Sabbats, including the origins, histories (pagan or otherwise), the symbolism of each, diety relationships, and even ways to celebrate each holiday (menus, recipes, craft ideas/instuctions, etc). And she does it without the mundane, "this-is-the-most-serious-thing-you'll-read" voice that so many Pagan guides can't seem to avoid.It's easy to flip through to find the correct Sabbat, and just as easy to skim the chapter for the exact item you're looking for (recipes, craft instructions, symbols, etc). Even after years of owning this book and re-reading it again and again, I still find myself referencing it for celebrating the Sabbats more than any other book I own. The absolute best.

The Sabbats with a little 101
This book contains lots of material on the sabbats, complete with recipies, fun crafts for the pagan family, and sabbat rituals for both coven and solitary. If you're past the 101 stage, just ignore the those sections of the book, or read them anyway like I did, just to see Edain's point of veiw.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient Religions    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. Comparative Religion    4. Holidays - General    5. Neopaganism    6. New Age    7. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    8. New Age / Parapsychology    9. Paganism    10. Religious calendar    11. Religious calendars    12. Rituals    13. Sabbat    14. Spirituality - Paganism    15. Witchcraft & Wicca    16. Body, Mind & Spirit / Witchcraft & Wicca    17. Wicca   

Reviews (52)

It is the question whose answer is 42!Now in paperback!
Oh, the two-line naysayers.Sounds like they didn't even open the book, let alone slog all the way through to page 673.Anyone who gets to the part about the "gigantic sexual molecule with a female center" and still gives the book a bad review has no soul.

Sexual Personae
This book is not worth the paper it was written on, nor the ink it was typed with, unless one is an extremely narrow-minded misogynist.

Men like porn
and of course they would LOVE a woman who said porn was OK.
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Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Decadence (Literary movement)    3. History and criticism    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Literature, Modern    6. Paganism in literature    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Semiotics & Theory    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Gender studies    11. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    12. Literary studies: general    13. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (9)

Finally, a book that helps you look within!
I like how the author of "Avalon Within" makes a connection with women cycles, earth cycles, nature cylces, etc. The other thing I like is how she presents each aspect of her tradition with not only legend and myth background, but also substance and historical facts, so that it is up to the reader to see for themselves what to believe in. She also references other books on certain topics for further reading. After reading "Avalon Within," I learned that in the Celtic Welsh tradition, they believed in 5 goddesses and that one could apply the goddesses to yourself, by having each one represent a certain aspect of the "whole" you. This is MY interpretation of the goddesses. Because of these analogies and interesting points of view, I was attracted to the book and Avalon tradition. It's just another way of helping women improve themselves, feel more confident about themselves, and become a better all-round person. The book takes you on a journey to look "within" and see what aspects of yourself you would like to change for the better: Do you want to be a better - healer, lover, mother, nurturer, etc. and what do you need to do to become this person? I enjoyed this book :)

Avalon Within--Mysteries resolved!
Ms. Telyndru has written a wonderful book that guides the reader through personal transformation!The energies, the guiding, the teaching within are all written with wisdom and love.I know this is a book I will refer to again and again.I am getting ready to do the first meditative journey this weekend, although I have read far beyond that point in the book.I know this is a book that any seeker will treasure as I do.

Fact Follows Path
Jhenah Telynoru captures fact as she teaches the pathwalking of the Avalonian Tradition.
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Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Self-Help    3. New Age (Self Help)    4. Religion    5. Celtic    6. Paganism    7. Neopaganism    8. Spirituality - Women's    9. Goddesses, Celtic    10. Celtic mythology   

Reviews (9)

Good Book for Pagan Personal Communion through Druidry .
This book is very good concerning the Druid outlook, and the personal keltic relationship one has with Earth-Worship.I would use it in addition to your Druid knowledge already.It's an interesting look into one man's Keltic journey and his own credo concerning Druidry.It's not the weightiest book on the solitudinarian Druid topic,yet it's a good companion book.This druid high-priest has not handed-down a "venire facias" ,allowing an ADF clerical review of this unique work.Yet,I think such a study, by the druid sacerdotalists, would approve of its publication 100% .Good book!

Some good information, but not extremely organized. . .
I did enjoy this books section on the Druid holidays and ritual. Although the ritual format is a tad dry, it gives many solitary practitioner's a starting point, which I'm sure was the author's intention. The reason I give it only three stars is because the rest of the book was laid out and organized kind of poorly, and I didn't walk away from this book with a huge amount of new information. It also covers only the ADF perspective, which is one of many. I would recommend reading it though, if you are interested in ADF style Druidry.

intresting book
A little to out in left field for my taste but I used it to write my druid paper with ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Body, Mind & Spirit    3. New Age    4. New Age Movement    5. Other Religions    6. Witchcraft & Wicca    7. Ancient Celtic religion    8. Paganism   

Editorial Review

This is a book that was recommended to me, and I have to admit that it is one of the best scholarly texts on the history of European Pagan religions. Jones and Pennick trace the evolution of Pagan religions in Greece and Rome, the religions of the Celts, Paganism in Germany and the Balkans, and the current Pagan revival. Filled with concise information and illustrations which add to the content rather than distracting from it, I'm sure I'll be referring to this book again in the future. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A great place to start
I have read many books on paganism, and unfortunately, a high percentage of those offer up history that is not at all well researched or accurate. This book is a good introduction and while no book is perfect, has some well researched information to get a person started. Get this book if you are not sure what pre-christian culture you would like to study and what to get a taste of many different groups - if something catches your eye, there is a bibliography to find out more.

An Illuminating Book
Jones & Pennick (J&P) present a well-documented text that provides substantial history for pagan culture, society, and religion.Their work does not challenge or argue with faith traditions.Their task is simply to offer available information about Europe's original socio-religious culture.(J&P speak only briefly to Asian and Middle Eastern influences.)Their point is to inform, not convert.
awesome overview
This ADF approved text proved to be very enjoyable. Not only was it more educational than it's slim 220 pages would lead you to believe, it was also well written and not at all dry. This book is perfect for anyone wanting a broad spectrum treatment of pagan europe as well as having descriptive chapters on the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Germanic, Baltic, Russian and Baltic.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient Religions    2. Ethnic & Tribal    3. Europe    4. Europe - General    5. General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. Paganism    9. Religion    10. HISTORY-GENERAL HISTORY    11. History / General    12. History of religion    13. Mythology, European    14. Pre-Christian European & Mediterranean religions    15. Spirituality   

Reviews (11)

Useful, Informative, Fun and Reverent
I just got this book last summer, long after it was originally written, so though I am a johnny-come-lately to this work, that doesn't diminish my appreciation for it. The cover shows a lovely woman with braided ribbons in her plaited hair, and on further refection I feel this is a perfect image to symbolize the book, as it weaves in lore, medicinal herb information and homeopathic information on the same entry.It's well organized around the Wheel of the Year, each holiday being a chapter, plus one on The Herbs of the Druids.Cross references to an herbs original placement reduce repition and make the book clear and very accessible. This book is most definitely is part of my permanent collection of "the lore".
A great book by a respected elder
Hopman is one of the most respected elders of the Druid community.This book is packed with information on various herbs and their corelation to Druidry.It weaves the herbs to and through the druidic holidays and other correspondances.It's an attractively presented book for the Druid who is yet a novice to herbcraft.

Necessary Reference for Neopagans Across the Board
I enjoyed this book and will be using it undoubtedly as I prepare for each season and seasonal holiday- or any other rite of passage I may be involved in! It is well written and organized, divided into sections by holiday or specific rite of passage, allowing the reader to use it as a valuable reference. My only complaint with this book was that the section actually describing how to make salves and tinctures, ect, was quite brief, although it did seem useable. I just wish a little bit more detail was used there to assist the reader in utilizing this beautiful book just a little bit more! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Druids and Druidism    3. Healing - General    4. Herbal Medications    5. Herbs    6. Magick Studies    7. Manners And Customs    8. Miscellanea    9. New Age    10. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    11. Occult Sciences    12. Paganism    13. Religious aspects    14. Religious calendars    15. Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Paganism    16. Complementary Medicine    17. Pharmacology   

Reviews (41)

Awfull
This is a true waste of money, those who walk the left hand path may buy it for humor value, but that's pretty much it.The author seems to be an imature, vain posseur who needs to never again put pen to paper.

Enlightening
Although most people have a misconception of witchcraft, it is only because they hate and fear what they do not understand.This book explains everything very well, and is easy to relate to if you are more of a "night" person that feels more empowered by the night.I related to this book so well because he makes references about his life habits and interests that seemed to be similar to my own.

Pseudo-religionism
I knocked this book from someone that ordered it, but got to the store after me :-).I made the mistake to buy the book by the sound of its title.And author.I fell for it this time..... It is not the first Konstantinos text I buy and must say, this one helped me make up my mind.It seems highly obvious that the author is abusing the commercial value of the "black arts" to get to the spectrum of rebellious teenagers that would "sell their soul" just to make a statement at large.Well well, if that aren't following the routes of the christian church we so dire to critisize.... The practical aspects are not well thought through and I suspect, just as unknown to the author as to the guys that made the front page.Practise is either made as difficult as possible, or serves as an example of the inability of the author to explain some basic concepts. It does show that the author is jack of all trades, but master of none. I would advise readers that are seriously interested in the topic to acquire the texts of Frater U.D., which I find much more fascinating, as well as educational.I would therefore advise this text for any pseudo-black-art-wannabe with little interest in the occult. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. General    3. Magic    4. Miscellanea    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Night    8. Religion    9. Spirituality - Paganism    10. Witchcraft & Wicca    11. Body, Mind & Spirit / Witchcraft & Wicca    12. Magic & alchemy    13. Mind, Body, Spirit    14. Wicca