I've been learning most of my basic knowledge from this book, and I was curious what people thought of it. It's written by Denise Zimmerman, Katherine A. Gleason, and revised with Miria Liguana. Ted Andrews wrote the foreward... I'm not sure if the information here is based on any particular "sect" of Wicca (Gardnerian, Corellian, Feri, etc) or if it's an eclectic book. It talks about the history of witchcraft, and how Wicca got started, along with the little off-shoots within Wicca. It talks about all sorts of different dieties, what magick is, the moons, casting circles, setting up altars, cleansing your tools... Lots of basic stuff. It also has a Year and a Day study at the end of the book, with guidelines. Since I started my "Study" in the Summer, I'm supposed to choose my deities, practice magickal writing (Theban Script), learn herbs, dance, and observe the summer sabbats, like Litha (which I missed by a few days) and Lughnassadh. I'm also supposed to do the things for Spring, because apparently Spring is when you're supposed to start your study, since it's the birthtime of the new seasons (new plants, baby animals, etc). I'm supposed to do my dedication ritual, start my Grimoire and Book of Shadows, learn how to meditate, begin studying divination (through Tarot or Runes or Pendulums, etc), set up my altar, and celebrate the Spring Sabbats. It seems like a lot! Then theres more for the Fall and the Winter seasons.

So anyway, enough of my rambling... What do you think of this book, if you've looked it up or read it? I think it has a lot of useful information for a beginner like me, but I think it's also a bit complicated, because the rituals it expects you to do seem drawn out and more suited to someone with more experience.

I must admit I haven't read the bood but....

I'm sure every Witch/Wiccan didn't start learning in the Spring. I've never heard it said or read it anywhere that you have to start your studies at that time. To celebrate the Sabbats as they come up will be just fine, I'm sure.

I think the most important things in your first year are learning how to set up your altar and cast a circle, learning the meanings and mythos of the Sabbats, starting your Book of Shadows and learning how to meditate. Before you choose your deities you need to read and research the different pantheons and that takes quite a bit of time. I wouldn't worry about the choosing part for a while because as you go along you'll more than likely find yourself being drawn to one or two deities. Or, if you're lucky, a deity will choose you (if a particular deity doesn't make themselves known to you, though, don't worry about it, it sometimes takes quite a while).

Most of us enjoy learning the Tarot and/or other divination methods but it's not a necessity in your first year as far as I'm concerned. It's fun to try out everything but it's not a MUST.

The book sounds like it's quite comprehensive but don't worry if you don't accomplish every thing in a specific time, lol. You can drive yourself crazy by trying to do too much, things will fall into place if you work at your own pace.

Briganta

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Most of those things sound really good and sufficient for what you should be learning for your training. The only thing is that it seems like a few of those are required that shouldn't be required such as 'choosing your Deities' (which I disagree with - I believe that Deities choose you) and 'learning some form of divination'. I think it would be more useful to say that you should substitute 'learning about different pantheons' for 'choosing your Deities' and also substitute 'learning ABOUT different forms of divination' instead of 'learning a form of divination'. Not everyone likes divination.

Other than that it sounds like a great book

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It does sound like a very informative book...

But keep in mind that you do this at your own pace, with your own schedule! It's supposed to be an enjoyable learning process, and if you're overwhelmed, you won't enjoy it!

Another thing I might recommend is rather than reading something written by several different authors as a beginner, why not try to find one specific author that really resonates with you, just to keep down the confusion?

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"Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey" ~ Drops of Jupiter by Train

I have never read the book, but it sounds like a good guide. That said it sounds like you are trying to do an awful lot in just one season!!! Some of the stuff you mentioned will probably take much longer to accomplish than just a couple of months. Just remember to slow down if you get too overwhelmed and do your best not to rush things

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I am actually the opposite of this because I believe that reading one specific author often leads to author-worship lol But you have a good point about the confusion.

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You are right, Torey...

I should have phrased that differently...

When I read something that is composed by multiple authors, it feels 'disjointed' to me. It doesn't flow in my mind. I actually view it more as a 'short story' kind of read. Because of this, I probably don't get as much out of it as I would reading a book written entirely by an author that I really click with.

But I would NEVER want to stick with just one author's view!

(And I will NEVER again assume that just because one book by one author is good, they all will be good! I've got quite the Christopher Penczak collection going on, and most of them will never be read! )

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"Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey" ~ Drops of Jupiter by Train

I have the second edition of this book (the only difference between your third edition and my version I think being that there are a few more spells in it). It was the first book on witchcraft I ever bought (back in 2004) and it's indispensable. It's dogeared and tattered but I still use it on a regular basis. I've always recommended it for beginners, and I'll bet this third edition is even better! During my first year I aimed to fill my Book of Shadows with bits and bobs from the book to try and cover a broad spectrum of everything. Between sabbats (which I wrote a bit of info about for each) I dedicated a few pages to 1 or 2 topics (so it was 2 topics tops every 6 weeks - not overdoing it). As I say I bought the book in 2004 but only sat down and read it cover to cover in autumn 2007. If you've not reached the end I'd recommend just reading it through before you do anything. Autumn and winter 2007 I spent reading and absorbing and starting the Wicca Revealed course here, then dedicated at Imbolc 2008. So don't feel you have to rush into it. You could start at Samhain (given that that's the time I think that book says the new year begins), or like me, if I remember correctly it says that Imbolc is a traditional time for initiation and dedication. Actually I would recommend waiting till Imbolc to dedicate formally, which gives you plenty of time to read, learn and absorb. But yes I love that book (the version of it that I have), I would have been lost in the beginning without it.

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I just picked up this book from the library today, already half-way through, and it's helping me clarify some of the stuff I was confused with. This kind of book is the type I'll read 3 times over though, first time just to read, second to take notes, and third to pick up anything I missed. I'd like to be able to buy my own copy at some point too, but that's just not an option right now. It's a shame that it doesn't detail some of the things I wanted it to, and I'm still left with questions, but I'm sure I'll find the answers.

Also picked up the Scott Cunningham book, so I have a couple of weeks of hard reading ahead of me!

I second what everyone has said about taking your time and going on your own schedule that best suites you. There is no law in magick that requires you to begin or end your studies at any time.

As far as this book goes, I no longer consider myself Wiccan, but this WAS the very first book I ever read on the subject. It was the original edition and I was eleven at the time. I found it to be a very comprhensive beginners guide, but it is a tad bit narrow in its view point. All in all its a great book for the total beginner, imho, but not much to read if you have already progressed further. I recommend it for those who are just starting out.

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