Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment by Laurie Cabot, Tom Cowan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment
Book Review: Good technical info - but bad history
Summary: 3 Stars
Laurie Cabot has some very good technical info in this book - but forget anything she says about science or history. She has a tendency to present theories as fact, and some of what she says is just plain wrong regarding history. I was getting so annoyed by the incorrect or incomplete info, that I ended up having to just skip all the initial chapters and go straight to the magical info to reduce my stress levels. One of the main things to keep in mind is that most ancient history - particularly pre-history - has little to no records, so everything we think about these cultures is conjecture based on the little solid evidence we have found and the way modern cultures behave. In fact, some of the theories that she presented as fact have direct evidence against them. So basically I recomend you either skip all of the history chapters altogether, or read the history and science bits with a very large grain of salt.
Also, I would like to clarify one thing. While this is a common misconception - what Cabot is describing in her book (until the magic working bits anyway) is Wicca. In current usage, a witch tends to be a generic term referring to anyone using earth based magic. There can be christian witches, Jewish witches, Wiccan witches, and even Atheist witches. Witch is not really a religion - it merely describes the way some of us work.
Book Review: A bit more usable info and a little less gripe please!!!!!
Summary: 2 Stars
Laurie Cabbot is a well known and well respected Witch, and for good reason...She has taken her lumps and then some. She was/is a pioneer in the field of Witchcraft, and the instruction of same. And for that my hat is off to her, for all her hard work and sacrifice....BUT. If I wanted to read a book on Lourie Cabbots 'issues' I would most certainly have bought a book by that title! Thanks but no thanks I've got my own issues, I don't need to spend hours reading about hers...There is some VERY good information in this book...but it is sandwiched in between LARGE sections of venting and angry recountings of history....I get why you are angry Lourie, but I'm looking to make today and tommorrow better...not DWELL in yesterday. Don't misunderstand me..we must learn from yesterday, or tommorrow will look just like it. But I don't need any help living there, thank you. I have avoided books by Lourie Cabbot sinse reading this book. I have picked one up on occation but it seems she is consistant in using her books not only to instruct but to work out her personal issues.. sounds more like a job for a diary, really. Personally I recomend "Green Witchcraft" as well as works by Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland. Understanding there are pricipals in Witchcraft that should be strictly followed, there is no reason why they should be impossible ideals. And for goodness sake don't throw your brain in the bin while reading any instructional text in this genre, FEEL while you read, you will know when you have found what you have been looking for!! Blessed BeBook Review: An absolute MUST have!
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I read this book quite some time ago, I do remember the impact it left on me! As a beginner, this book gave me very important information about the Craft. It was empowering and magical! I consider Laurie Cabot to be my metor and, quite frankly, the Queen of Witches of our time. I highly reccomend this book to beginners and all who are interested in learning Wiccan ways! Blessed Be!Book Review: Give the left side of your brain something to chew on!
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked this book up as almost a joke, because a rather foolish and ignorant "witch" I'd encountered on a message board swore by this book. My thought in buying it was curiosity in why he was so obsessed with the book and Laurie Cabot. Upon first opening it, what caught my eye? Her picture on the inside of the dustcover (I have the hardback edition). Now that really got me thinking, "Oh my...she's just another one of those 'look at me, I'm a spooky witch' types. This is probably going to be a waste of money". Despite my initial reaction, I started reading....and was wonderfully surprised! I could not put this book down. Despite a few occasional snatches of narcissism (of which she is certainly no more guilty of than many other Pagan authors like Starhawk and $RW), I found Laurie's style to be quite refreshing and informed. Of course, one must keep in mind that this book was written in the 80's...before the "millions of witches burned" and the Great Universal Mother Goddess Society theories were refuted, so some historical information is going to be inaccurate. I think she can be forgiven this since she was going by what was known at the time and is not making up stories to support some sort of agenda like some Pagan authors tend to do (Edain McCoy, D.J. Conway, $RW, etc).
The usual altar setup, basic circle-casting, and spellcasting information is provided...however, the one difference that makes this book such a treasure is the fact that Laurie not only explains how to do these things, but why they work...complete with actual scientific explanations. I found this a wonderful change from the usual "You do this because that's just the way it's done...and I said so" style that most Pagan authors use. This may seem daunting to the wanna-be witch who just wants to be handed the usual lists of deities and correspondences and lists of tools, but it is a real godsend to those who want the meat of how this all works and ties in together. It was invaluable to me as someone whose left side of the brain is constantly telling me that magic is merely fantasy, that lighting candles and casting circles is useless nonsense. This is the first book on magic (and I own quite a few!) that I have read and come away from actually really believing in the power of magic.
An incredible must-read for anyone interested in magic.
Book Review: The Power of the Witch
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book. It's very informitive. I like the fact that my friend, who is very far from being pagan, read it and understood it. It does exactly what the man behind the counter told me it would do. TEACH. I even email Laurie and told her how much I loved it.