| In your own words, compare and contrast, and | | | | more. The 5th and final Part shows the practical |
| review some of the best books on Witchcraft | | | | application of Magick in everyday life. |
| out there. | | | | The book is written in a friendly tone and uses |
| Fifteen to twenty years ago good books on the | | | | everyday language, which makes it an absolute |
| topic of Witchcraft were as rare as hens' teeth. | | | | pleasure to read. As with all Ravenwolf's books, |
| The subsequent increase in religious tolerance | | | | this one too is logically structured, highly |
| towards the pagan community and the steady | | | | informative, entertaining and well researched. In |
| re-emergence of Witches from the broom closet, | | | | spite of its size, the book comes in at the |
| have resulted in an abundance of really good | | | | reasonable price tag of around US$30.95. "Solitary |
| books on the topics of paganism and Witchcraft. | | | | Witch" is an excellent buy for anybody who would |
| Selecting the best three or even the best ten | | | | like to own a single book containing everything |
| would be an impossibility. Each author has his or | | | | conceivable about the Craft. |
| her own unique way of relating the philosophy, | | | | The Spiral Dance 20th Anniversary Edition by |
| history, tradition and practical aspects of the | | | | Starhawk (ISBN 0-06-251632-9: Harper San |
| Craft. The Craft is very often practiced by | | | | Francisco) |
| Eclectics, each having incorporated their own | | | | Starhawk is definitely one of the stalwarts of the |
| special elements into their practice, thus creating | | | | Craft. Her first edition of this definitive work was |
| greater resonance with their respective beliefs. | | | | in 1979 - a time of great prejudice against all |
| I have my favorite authors, much like the next | | | | things pagan. She is a peace activist, an |
| Witch. So, the three books I am about to review | | | | eco-feminist, Gaia rights campaigner and forever |
| were written by Cunningham, Ravenwolf and | | | | in the front-line when it comes to the reinstitution |
| Starhawk respectively and available in most | | | | of the title "Witch" in its rightful place in society. |
| countries world-wide. The books are very | | | | Starhawk never misses a beat. |
| different - one from the other - in some ways. | | | | Her book is no different. Over the first 41 pages |
| Ravenwolf writes for the young and the young at | | | | offers a brief, concise and interesting overview of |
| heart. Starhawk writes for the serious Witch. | | | | the modern history of Witchcraft and the |
| Cunningham writes for the gentle. Although | | | | worldview on Witchcraft. After that, in true |
| diverse, these three authors and their many | | | | Starhawk fashion, she accurately covers all the |
| works over the years are probably some of the | | | | practical aspects of the Craft: Rituals, Invocations |
| best available on bookshelves today. It is | | | | and Magick. Starhawk goes further than most |
| however up to each individual to decide which of | | | | authors in offering exercises (61 in all) to assist |
| the books (if not all) are the "right" ones to buy. | | | | Seekers, Novices and Initiates alike in developing |
| Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf (ISBN | | | | the subconscious mind. This development is a |
| 0-7387-0319-2: Llewellyn) | | | | critical aspect of magick. The exercises in "The |
| This hefty 590-pager comprises of 5 Parts and | | | | Spiral Dance" are, in my opinion, the best of the |
| takes the format of a Book of Shadows. | | | | best out there. |
| Ravenwolf covers all aspects of the Wiccan | | | | She concludes the 326-page book with a glance |
| Religions and Mysteries in Part 1. Part 2 is | | | | at the future - the future of the Craft. This book |
| dedicated to Objects and Tools. Part 3 provides | | | | is a must in the library of any serious Witch. It is |
| detailed information on the proficiencies and | | | | written in Starhawk's typical no-nonsense and |
| expertise a Witch needs to acquire. Magick and | | | | no-sacred-cow style and underpinned by the |
| Enchantments in Part 4 covers everything from | | | | absolute love and passion she has for the Lady, |
| Alchemy to Faeries, offers information on | | | | for everything of the Lady and for the Craft. At |
| correspondences, astral travel and much, much | | | | US$17, one can't afford not to buy this book. |