Name: The Modern Guide to Witchcraft
ISBN: 9781440580024

Skye Alexander

Provides information on creating a sacred space, promoting good energy, and creating incantations, potions, and charms.

Your Complete Guide to Witches, Covens, and Spells

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft

Maggie Gordon

Short Review: Any book that cites "The Secret" in a positive manner is not a book you should waste your time on. 

Long Review: While The Modern Guide to Witchcraft offers a lot of overviews of basic magical areas that some may find useful, I have a really hard time giving any credit to a book that starts beginners off with some really harmful ideas about witchcraft and magick. Witchcraft is largely about intent and one's purposeful relationships with the world around us. Unfortunately, this book (as well as several others) seem to suggest we have more control over the universe than is reasonable to expect. Sure, set your intentions and work for something, but a desire and wish, even when mixed with work, does not mean you get what you want because you thought about it really hard. If so, the world would suck far far less (for example, I can't intention my way out of multiple sclerosis). The best witchcraft spells use intention as a way of focusing our movements and actions. I accept that I am applying my own definitions of witchcraft and spirituality to this and not all may agree, but my own flavour of magick is really not down for this type witchery. Save your money for other books that make you look further into yourself.

Fiona Coffey

This is the second Wicca book that I've read, and I really enjoyed it! It was a really good introduction and I've sort of been reading it here and there over the last year (until I finished the final half when on a camping trip recently). The author incorporates astrology, chakras, crystals, plants, aromatherapy and a lot of other things in her chapters, as well as other things I am interested in and will likely check out other books about. Many of the ideals that Skye Alexander mentions in the book align with the beliefs I've had my whole life, but I never acknowledged them as part of something bigger. 

Since a lot of the reviews I read were negative, I'm going to list some things I really enjoyed! 

- the overview/history of Wicca (as this is what the book primarily covers) at the beginning of the book was really informational and helpful (admittedly, references would have been nice) 

- I liked the chapter on Gods and Goddesses and wish it had been longer 

- I liked the emphasis on the fact that witchcraft and following your own path does not have to be and should not be confined by labels if you feel that they don't really fit you/your practice 

- I liked all of the explanations of the symbolism in everything and the mythology that traditions are based off of, and the emphasis that you have to make things your own so that they feel right for you. 

- I liked how all of the spells relied on the spell caster's energy and direction put into the spell, and were less about just hoping that the universe will do stuff for you, than changing your own attitudes for the better. 

- I loved that she included so much information on different aspects of witchcraft (crystals, chakras, stuff I mentioned earlier) 

Again, I thought this book was a really great overview! I'm definitely no expert, but I think that one of the best parts of wicca/witchcraft is how you can pick and choose the things that are important to you, and if something doesn't fit your beliefs, you don't have to do it. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is just getting into Wicca!

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft Your Complete Guide to Witches, Covens, and Spells