The Craft - A Witch's Book of Shadows - Softcover

Morrison, Dorothy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1567184464 ISBN 13: 9781567184464

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, 2001

Synopsis

Celebrate the changing of the seasons and the beauty and power of the Moon, the Stars, and the Sun. Written by a Witch who has spent many years teaching the Craft of Wicca to newcomers, this introductory guide presents everything you need to know for successful witchery, including:

• An essential set of instructions and guidelines for beginning the practice of the Ancient arts
• An overview of Wiccan beliefs, laws, rules, and principles
• Directions for creating and using basic tools of the Craft―athame, wand, cup, pentacle, cauldron, broom, black mirror, and meditation
• Easy-to-follow instructions for altar setup, circle-casting, building power, Deity invocation, and more
• An assortment of miscellaneous spells, chants, and invocations for a variety of purposes

Walk the path of the Witch-live in harmony and balance, and discover the sacred within the natural world with The Craft.

About this title

Review:

The first thing Dorothy Morrison hopes to establish in The Craft is what the Craft is not. "It has nothing to do with canned magic, or flying through the air, or snapping lightning from your fingertips," she explains. And no matter how practiced you are, Morrison assures readers it won't give you the power to "turn your enemies into toads so you can set them on the highway." Explaining what the Craft actually is takes more time and thought--both of which Morrison offers in her typically warm, humorous, and concise style throughout this all-inclusive handbook.

Wiccans, who are the main practitioners of the Craft, have one overriding commandment, according to Morrison: if it harms no one, do what you will. It is a reminder that every action, thought, and spell has a ripple effect, so be sure that all your work is for the good. This responsible attitude seeps into every page of this practical magic handbook. Expect a highly detailed account of spells, wand skills, sample blessings, altar setups, invocations, and examples of how to use a cup, pentacle, cauldron, and athame (a double-edge knife that should never be used to draw blood). Morrison closes with a Craft calendar, listing celebrations and rituals for every month and season of the year. --Gail Hudson

About the Author:

Originally from Texas, Dorothy Morrison now lives the magical life in Maine with her family. Dorothy is a member of the Pagan Poet's Society and a charter member of M.A.G.I.C., a magical writer's and artist's organization. Dorothy is a Wiccan High Priestess of the Georgian Tradition, and has been an avid practitioner of the ancient arts for more than twenty years. She founded the Coven of the Crystal Garden in 1986, and spent many years teaching the Craft of Wicca to students both in the United States and in Australia.

A former state championship archer and bow hunter, Dorothy's current interests include Tarot work, magical herbalism, stonework, and computer networking.

Dorothy's work has been published in many journals and magazines, including Circle Network News, SageWoman, and Crone Chronicles. She is the author of the acclaimed Everyday Magic, Magical Needlework, In Praise of the Crone, Yule, Bud, Blossom & Leaf: The Magical Herb Gardener's Handbook, The Craft, and The Craft Companion, among other works.

About this edition

• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1567184464
• ISBN 13: 9781567184464
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240