Wicca Demystified: A Guide for Practitioners, Family and Friends
by Bryan Lankford
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bryan LankfordEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-03-10
ISBN: 1569243808
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Book Reviews of Wicca Demystified: A Guide for Practitioners, Family and Friends
Book Review: Very Tradition Specific but not bad
Summary: 3 Stars
While it is nice to see someone attempting to write a book that is not a hand book or not a "Wicca 101" book, you have to ask... is this really an advanced study book on Wicca.
In this book you will not find spells and incantations. You will not find rituals, altar tools, calling of the quarters or anything else that most associate with handbooks and "Wicca 101" books. Yet the book calls itself a Guide.
What you will find is one man and his Traditions thoughts on what it is to truly be "Wiccan". The Tradition is the McFarland Dianic Tradition, founded in the early 70s. And I enter the caveat at this point - Your Mileage May Vary - depending on the Tradition of Wicca you practice.
The opening paragraph of chapter one "The Beginning" entitled "What is all this about anyway?" gives us this line: "The best place to start with any explanation is at the beginning, and the beginning of Wicca dates far back into antiquity." There are those who will "hmmmm" at this point. Again, the caveat. There is more that will give you moments to pause and consider. There are those who will "hmmmm" at this point. Again, the caveat. There is more that will give you moments to pause and consider.
If you can get past all this, the book is an interesting read. But I was confused by its purpose. On the one hand, I saw an attempt to explain what Wicca is. But if I am already walking the Wiccan path then I already understand what Wicca is. I return to the subtitle: "Guide for Practitioners, Family and Friends" - and it becomes clear. While trying to work with those who are knowledgeable and appear as more than a 101 book, it still has to revert back to 101 basics to be a guide for those who do not practice.
As a guide in that respect it works. We have basic discussions on the Wheel of the Year, Rites of Passage, Can Children and Teens be Wiccan and more. There is lots of discussion on this Traditions ethics in spellwork, what the Rede means and then we move on to "pointy hats, black cats and brooms... "
It is nice that the book sidesteps the usual cookbook/crafters handbook/basic ritual 101 material. The discussion, in my opinion, has to and does fit into a 101 category. When trying to explain what Wicca is to anyone not familiar with Wicca, you still can't venture too far past the basics.
I came away with the idea that this book would be best suited to give to someone who knows a Wiccan and is interested in learning more. While we don't proselytize (see the chapter "If Wiccans think their beliefs are correct, why don't they try to convert others to their beliefs?") this book might be good to give to someone who is not sure what some of us might be all about.
I think if you find the material agreeable and in line with what you believe, then this book could be an aid to helping you explain Wicca to others. However, as this has been done before and this tradition may not be in line with your own personal beliefs, you may want to review the material before passing it along.
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