Reviews

Book of Shadows
by Phyllis Curott
Review by Laura Schmidt
Order this book from:
Barnes and Noble: Book of Shadows
or Amazon: Book of Shadows

I first heard about this book about a year ago, and was particularly interested in reading it after hearing Phyllis had graduated from Brown University--just up the hill from me. For some reason, I just never got around to actually getting it. After finding out Phyllis was going to hold a workshop at a conference I was merchanting at, I decided I'd better get her book and read it before I met her. And I was very impressed with it! It's very interesting to read the memoirs of a modern Witch and her fairly recent experiences in coming to the Craft. Phyllis, a very down-to-earth individual, provides a lot of background history and lends the reader her insights and conclusions. Though some of the information may be old news for timeworn Pagans, her personal reflections can very much help revive sparks you thought were gone....and for newcomers, this book is truly a treasury of solid experience and a valuable resource to learn from.

Natural Magic
by Doreen Valiente
Review by Laura Schmidt

In my opinion, any book by Doreen is worth getting, but if you're particularly interested in natural Witchcraft, and learning about where certain folklore, methods, and spells originated, I highly recommend this one in particular. Doreen really has done her research, and it flows effortlessly through her work. In this particular book, she discusses a wide range of magickal topics, from numbers and herbs to divination, weather, and the elements. This is a wonderful book that provides useful information that no nature-concious Pagan should be without!

The Rebirth of Witchcraft
by Doreen Valiente
Review by Laura Schmidt

If you've been wondering about what was really going on in the 1950's when Wicca was first surfacing to the public's eye, then you must read this book. Considering Doreen was there, working with Gardner and many other prevelant Pagans of the time, this is truly getting it "from the horse's mouth." She presents a very well-rounded fairly unbiased view of the times and provides tidbits you really won't find from any other modern writer. A must-have for the library!