Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe - Softcover

Penczak, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1578632811 ISBN 13: 9781578632817

Publisher: Weiser Books, 2003

Synopsis

When Christopher Penczak was introduced to Witchcraft, he found a spiritual path that hononred and embraced his homosexuality. Now he has written a book of clearheaded theory and practice that is bound to become a classic. With Gay Witchcraft, Penczak joins the ranks of his forebearers in spirit, gay writers who have taken a tradition and made it home. This is a complete book of theory and spiritual practices of Witchcraft for the gay community. Penczak's writing will make it much easier for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people interested in practicing any form of Witchcraft. Exploring the history of Paganism and offering a compendium of spells, meditations, ceremonies, and affirmations that will enrich both the novice and the experienced practioner seeking out new views of myth, ritual, and healing.

About this title

Review

Author and "gay shaman" Christopher Penszack created an outstanding and groundbreaking resource for the gay Wiccan community in this thorough and heartfelt guidebook. Despite the fact that homosexuals often found spiritual nurturance and respect within the Wiccan cultures of the past, modern day practitioners usually avoid any discussion (or even acknowledgement) of gay witchcraft. Thankfully, Penszack not only breaks the silence, he does it with grace, clarity, and enormous integrity. When speaking to spell-casting ethics and the laws of magick, Penszack emphasizes the Wiccan Rede: "We believe in the Rule of Three, meaning all you do comes back to you three-fold, or three times as strong as your original intent," he explains. "As a result, all your intentions, even if directed at someone else, eventually return to you, so keep your intentions with the highest of morals." From this foundation of causing no harm, Penszack gets down to the nitty-gritty of gay witchcraft, such as meditation techniques, animal totems, altar-building, auras, spells, and invocations. His writing stays tasteful yet candid as he delves into the tantra-like section on "Sex Magick" where he suggests spells and activities to encourage connection and healing (including a "soul baring" exercise of massaging and/or licking a partner’s chakra path and then maintaining eye contact during orgasm). Penszack sprinkled many fascinating facts into this magick manual. For instance, he offers a list of "queer positive deities," including Adonis (often invoked for lesbian love spells) and the Native American/Inuit goddess Sedna (a gynandromorphous creation deity). He also provides an extensive bibliography and list of online resources. --Gail Hudson

About the Author

Christopher Penczak (New Hampshire) is an award-winning author, teacher, healing practitioner, and eclectic Witch. His practice draws upon the foundation of modern Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystical traditions from across the globe. He has studied extensively with renowned Witch Laurie Cabot and other Witches, shamans, yogis, and healers in the New England area which have influenced his eclectic path of personal Witchcraft. Penczak is an ordained minister of the Universal Brotherhood Movement, is a certified flower essence consultant, and is a certified Reiki Master (Teacher) in the Usui-Tibetan and Shamballa traditions. A popular public speaker, he tours extensively throughout the year at bookstores and major gatherings. Penczak is the author of City Magick (Red Wheel/Weiser), Spirit Allies (Red Wheel/Weiser), and Gay Witchcraft (Red Wheel/Weiser'nominated for a Lambda Award). A columnist for newWitch magazine, his work has also been featured in publications such as Genre, InnerSelf Magazine and Kaleidoscope, and his writing appears in the recent book I Do, I Don't: Queers on Marriage. Penczak is a faculty member at the North Eastern Institute of Whole Health and a founding member of the Gifts of Grace Foundation, a non-profit organization in New Hampshire made up of individuals from diverse spiritual backgrounds dedicated to service to the local communities.

Edition details

• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1578632811
• ISBN 13: 9781578632817
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288