Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)

I have had this book for several years. I have never read all the way through it. However, I do have a tendency to get sidetracked. I feel as if a lot of the information is good basic information, however he does heavily quote his beliefs going so far as to make a basic circle casting about his path. He teaches very little on writing your own rituals. I also feel less confident in it if for nothing else but because he quotes his other books every page or so. He also mostly recommends reading only from his books. I also Have his candle burning rituals book, which reads pretty much the same. If you can get over his arrogance and "fluff" there are decent tidbits of information. I have not fully read any of Penczaks books, but I do feel that over the long haul his books may be more informative spiritually. I don't know how he teaches hands-on though. However I would use caution there too, as I agree that anyone my age cannot possibly know all there is to know of being pagan or wiccan.

This is a solid book. There is a lot of information presented, but the author doesn't really go into depth, which leaves the book feeling a bit lacking; however, the basics are there, and they are a great starting point! If you want to start to get a good handle on what Wicca is and what it's about, read this book along with Scott Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and Janet and Stewart Ferrar's book, A Witch's Bible. Also, to note in this book (and others like it): when the author discusses the history of Wicca and the craft…take it with a grain of salt! Buckland's history about "the burning times" and Wicca being this ancient religion can easily turn off a reader because he's perpetuating a myth as truth. This book is good in that it teaches the reader about the spirituality and practice methods related to Wicca. If you want to find the history of witchcraft, read from scholarly sources!

This was the first book I read when I began on my path 12 years ago. I only had enough money to buy one book on the subject, so I did some comparison with other titles before settling on this book. What sold me on it is the wealth of information inside. Not a ton of detail on each thing, but enough information on just about anything you could think of to get me started.

There's history, rituals, information on herbs, candles, altars, runes, palm reading, divination, etc. I was really impressed with the book at the time, because I often had questions about certain things and was always able to use this book as reference to find the answer I needed. I personally skipped the quizzes, as I remember them being a bit difficult and maybe not that useful. I also don't remember minding him quoting himself, or feeling that the book was sexist, or anything like that. I can't say anything about it turned me off to the book.

I still have this book on my shelf, the copy I bought 12 years ago. I like having it there, knowing that if I have any questions, I'm likely to find the answer there. I also plan to reread it in the near future.

All in all, I found this book to be a great source of a wide variety of information and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone, beginner or not. In fact, I probably would recommend it as a first book to someone seeking to learn more about Wicca. There's just so much stuff in there to get you started, then when you have more questions or progress to a more experienced level, you can seek out more detailed books on the aspects that appeal to you.

I received this book in excellent condition, and quick. This is an excellent "student" workbook for witchcraft. I bought it to better understand the religion as an educator, and it was extremely helpful to me. I was very interested in learning about witchcraft, not Devil worship, and understanding the difference. Wow, it's definitely different. It is not Devil worship. The art of witchcraft, well, the lifestyle is more of an ancient earth worship. This book was amazing and I highly recommend it to any beginning student to the craft.

skip this book..and others by Buckland and do a search for authors like Cunningham or Marian Weinstein..Zee Budapest..the Campinelli's..sooo many other excellent writers. Though maybe it's only because so many folks were drawn in by the name of this book that it is one of the only books on the Craft you'll find at the library; "complete" is NOT what this book is; in fact as someone also in his age bracket, and a longtime teacher of the often misconstrued pagan path; it'd be a lively discussion between this Welsh Crone and this "Complete" book of Witchcraft writer.

After seeing some somewhat negative reviews, I decided to write my own. I have an older copy of this book--over a decade old now--and I have no idea whether or not the newer versions of this book have more information than my book. However, I'm somewhat let down that some would not appreciate this book because it is a great reference for those new to the Craft and those that are more experienced. This is a book that is of a lot of help to those that are in covens, those seeking covens, and those that are without covens (either by choice or circumstance). This is a reference for all interested or currently studying Wicca/Witchcraft.

This is a book written in textbook style so you have questions at the end of each chapter to answer, and of course, the answers are available in the book as well so you can check yourself. This is one of the best--if not the best--book on Wicca/Witchcraft for those just becoming or interested in becoming witches and those that have been studying for years. It is a must have for anyone interested in the Wicca/Witchcraft religion!

Many years ago, this was my first book I read on the subject. Back when Cunningham was first writing his books, we also had Buckland. Since then, the sources of reliable and credible information for those who are forced to learn on their own to start (or just the simply curious) has grown tremendously.

This book is what it is. It's biased towards the coven practitioner, and Buckland's attitude gets heavy and dare I say annoying throughout the entire book. The history is also out of date and severely needs a revamp. 12 years ago I would have recommended this book to someone starting out with absolutely no problems. It was the tried and true book everyone went to and pointed others to.

Now I just simply think there are better options out there now without having to put up with well .. Buckland. He's very snarkie and hard to swallow. There are better books and authors to spend the money on now.

I still give him a 3 rating only because of personal nostalgia purposes. If asked I would point the beginner to other books before I would tell them to read what Buckland has written.

Briefly introduces the history of Witchcraft and Wicca, the philosophy of Witchcraft, and the Principles of Wiccan Belief; discusses deities, the God and Goddess of Witchcraft; describes how to put together an altar and how to acquire tools you may need; provides rituals for self-dedication and coven initiation; describes the coven system; discusses Esbats and Sabbats; discusses meditation, dreams, and divination; describes rituals of birth, marriage and death; provides information on herbalism and healing magic; discusses several forms of magic, including correspondences; provides information on practicing in a coven or as a solitary.

The title of this book is a bit of a misnomer, as much of the information within is specific to Buckland's own denomination of Saxon Wicca, or Seax-Wica. That said, it appears to be an approach much closer to traditional Wicca (Gardnerian and Alexandrian) than many of those offered to the beginning Witch. It's a good deal less free-form than some other approaches to Wicca, and there are definitely advantages to a stable framework, especially when you are just starting out. The format of the book is another point in its favor--it's a workbook, structured as a series of lessons. The information is presented clearly and logically (it's an "easy read") and contains many subjects not always included in books on Wicca, particularly the more eclectic ones (the section on magical alphabets is quite impressive!). If your approach to Wicca or Witchcraft is very eclectic, this may not be the book for you--or you may get only limited use out of it; if you have been looking for something more traditional, it may be.

Raymond Buckland has been a practicing Wiccan and also a Witch for many years and this book shows just that. It's insightful and a amazing reference. It was quizzes at every chapter's end for you to review what you know and to keep your brain working :) Buckland has put years of study and years of practice into this compact, paper-binded, object. It has every possible piece of information on Paganism and Wiccan history that you would never need to buy another book in that area! It was side notes for the complicated chapters and paragraphs, it also has many good pictures and illustrations so that the reader can understand more completely. Every fellow Wiccan and Pagan I have spoken to seemed to have started their studying with this book - including myself ironically. This book is like an outline to your path; or map, if you will. It tells you everything you need to know, quizzes you, and then gives you references at the end if you wish to continue your study and education in the field of Paganism. Get this book, it's a MUST for any beginning Wiccan, anyone interested in Wicca and Witchcraft, or even someone who is an elder in the Craft - no matter what level of education you have with Wicca, this book will to teach you things even you didn't know! :)

This book really impressed me with the level of seriousness and maturity it had toward the subject of witchcraft.
The book doesn't rigidly follow any specific tradition, but it is heavily influenced by Seax-Wicca and to a lesser degree the Gardenarian tradition. Ecclectic wiccans who feel they have nothing to learn from these traditions will probably find the book stifling and uniteresting. People who want to increase the knowledge of wicca will find the book to have a lot of depth and information that isn't available in most of the books being published today.
Buckland includes in this book a lot of things that are typically left out of the newer books on witchcraft. One example is that he includes instructions on how to hake your own athame. It's a long, and potentially dangerous process that most authors don't seem to feel comfortable including. The other thing that he includes, that I was greatful for, is a small ritual for when a coven member dies. This is this first time I've seen anything of the sort. Generally, when I read about death in books on wicca it talks exclusively on reicarnation, and that people die when they've learned all that they have to learn in this life, but there's never any sort of funeral ritual at all.
There are so many things included in this book to make it more than worth the cover price. There's even an appendix for music. Any serious student of Witchraft will have a lot to gain from this book.

Let me start out by stating that I am not a practitioner of Witchcraft (or Wicca, if you prefer). My interest in the faith is almost exclusively a philosophical one, and as such I won't be talking about how well the rituals work, etc. Instead, I'll be evaluating it on content alone.

The first thing which I object to is the title and phrasing. Buckland continually uses the word "Witchcraft," and the term "Wicca" is almost totally absent. This might lead one to believe that it is a general-purpose guide, which could be used for any denomination of modern witchcraft. Such is not the case; from what I understand, it is almost exclusively about Seax-Wica. Obviously there is no "empirical" form of witchcraft, but some might take issue with this. Also, Buckland's apparent objection to the use of techniques from ceremonial magic and Satanism seems to work against him, especially considering how much different practices tend to borrow from one another, whether intentionally or not.

The second thing I dislike is the author's habit of constantly quoting from his own books, most notably "Colour Magick". These short sidebars are common in books of this nature, but usually contain information from an outside source (i.e. a quote by a noted occult researcher). At a certain point, it almost becomes comical. Having a list of other books by the author is fine, and making occasional references to them is okay, but when the only sources given are the author's own works and ones from no later than the 1940s, something might be up.

The third point, and the one which was the first I noticed, is the version of history Buckland sets forth in the opening chapter. This "historical" background basically follows the witch-cult hypothesis, but is far from unbiased in its viewpoint. According to Buckland, every witch in history was happy and free and never hurt anyone, and the only reason they were persecuted was because of the greed of the evil Christian tyrants. Anyone with any common sense can immediately guess that, in fact, such was not the case. Some practitioners of witchcraft did indeed do harm to people - obviously not everyone, but it's the bad ones that color the perceptions of everyone else. Animal (and possibly human) sacrifices did occur at least on occasion in medieval times.

As I mentioned, Buckland's tone in this section isn't even close to neutral; surprisingly, he even openly mocks Satanism as absurd, despite the many similarities it has with "traditional" witchcraft. Despite his claim that witchcraft is not anti-Christian, you wouldn't know it from reading this book alone.

The final gripe I have with this book is that it is a little out-of-date. The first edition was published in the 1980s, and this becomes apparent within. The only major updates I noticed are a few paragraphs on the Internet; one example of a concept given, however, still refers to 1987 in the future tense.

If it sounds like I hate this book, I don't. It just has a lot of little flaws and a few big ones, but there's still some useful information here. The chapter on meditation was very well-written, using what appears to be a simplified version of Regardie's Middle Pillar technique (the drawings were slightly creepy), and the robe pattern, runic alphabets, etc. were nice as well. As a reference work, rather than a guide, you could certainly do worse.

Overall, this book is not bad, but nothing special. If you're looking for a kind of beginner's guide, you should probably look elsewhere, as it's fairly dense. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a reference book as part of an occult library, you'll find some useful information.

This is a book written by Buckland in his best years, before he became popularity obsessed. Nevertheless, those who already now a thing or two about witchcraft will locate some very absurd mistakes throughout the book, especially in the most important and sensitive sections.

I definitely do not recommend this book to any newcomer to the world of witchcraft, otherwise you will feel tempted to go ahead with a lot of the given exercises without knowing the necessary precautions that need to be taken before, during and after the rituals. On the other hand, one would almost definitely miss the overall concept of the practices if one doesn't truly understand the true meaning behind all words, gestures and paraphernalia, and this book has a very subtle approach to this meaning. It just says it's supposed to be done that way.

Read a lot first and then (only then) go for this book, after you have developed a more critical approach to the information that is being presented to you, otherwise you'll feel tempted to absorb this book's messages and lessons like absolute truths when, in fact, they are not. Witchcraft is something quite serious and not something to be used with friends on Saturday nights like ouija boards (and these last are quite hazardous already).

Buy Vivianne Crowley's works first, like "Wicca, The Old Religion in the New Millennium", or Scott Cunningham's early books. They all provide the necessary foundations that should be created within before going to practice.

Blessed be.

for some reason I've seen more and more people dub this book the big blue. I can't say that I am big on Buckland but its not because his books aren't good. I'm just not compatiable with buckland's tradition. However with that being said, This book does hold it's place in my library and comes off the self just as often as any other. There is a lot of useful information listed in this book and is a good beingers book. I would have to say it goes beyond the basic of basics in that it has information on runes, and tarots and more. It offers a couple of tarot spreads that I think I've only seen in one other resource, but no where else. There are many things here that follow older practices however some may not be comfortable with certain practices in the book, in that respect you may want to read other resources to find the tradition or path that fits you. Just don't be afraid to read other authors and decide for yourself which ones you are comfortable with. It's easy to be a sheep it's harder to take your own stand. Over all I liked this book for the resource and that rounded out reading and teaching in study groups. I say don't pass it by just because it's a diffrent tradition than the one your currently following now. you might still find use for it. At least I did and I'm not big on Buckland. After all it's well written and is a good beginner book and if this traditon suites you all the more reason to have it in your library.

The history is based on an outdated understanding of the European witch hunts and on the now-discredited theories of Margaret Murray. It's an excellent picture of the Wiccan sacred history myth, but that myth is about as factual as Genesis 1. (For scholarly perspectives, try Ronald Hutton or Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick.)
A number of the initiatory rites Buckland describes involve some very risky practices, and the sensory-deprivation techniques he presents can be incredibly dangerous in inexperienced hands. I'm not talking spiritual danger here, either -- I'm talking broken necks.
There are a few references to the ingestion or topical application of herbs; medical herbalists I know have discouraged me from following Buckland's instructions on the grounds that they're potentially dangerous.
Having warned my friends of all the above concerns, I then press my tattered copy into their hands. I don't know why I do that -- perhaps because this is the book from which many of those who came to the Craft fifteen years ago learned what we were doing.
Perhaps because the quizzes, though hokey, reinforce the notion that the Wiccan faith requires knowledge and study. Perhaps because Buckland's seminal role in the Pagan movement in America makes it important to know what he believed and taught, even when those beliefs and teachings seem outmoded.
Maybe it's just the amusement value of the dreadfully earnest instructions for making an antlered helmet out of a salad bowl.

I have my original edition form 1986. I remember the fear and anticipation I felt, as my initial studies of a magical life began. Sure, it can be dry and dated to some. This is not witchcraft for teens, rather honest and accurate. It is hard to believe how many many others would follow. I remember seeing Mr Buckland on local T.V. in the 1970s. I thought, this style of witchery was very intriging. I was just a boy. I would later grow up to be a real witch just like him:-)

There have been many others who have tried to follow, some rather successfully. I believe he set the standard for modern Witchcraft in the U.S. Seeing a copy in ones library alone means one takes this form of spirituality seriously. By all means, this is required reading in starting down this path.

It is interesting to note that this book was originally intended for covens or groups. This tradition didnt seem to catch on in the States as well as Britain. Solitary practice seems to be more accesible to many American Witches. This says much about the Yankee spirit. I deeply admire and respect anyone who can maintain regular covens!

This book looked really good when I bought it. It promised to make me "the equivalent of the Third Degree" after I completed all of the lessons, and the lessons seemed to span a wide variety of subjects.
The lessons did include many different "witchy" practices, from energy-raising to herbalism to palmistry, giving the reader a little knowledge of each one. However, I don't think a little knowledge of a lot of things necessarily makes me some sort of "advanced" Witch. Eventually, one has to specialize, and go deeply into aspects of the Craft, and to go deeply into any aspect of the Craft, one must go beyond this book. This is more like a guided tour through the practices of Witchcraft, and any further exploring is up to you. Maybe this book can make you the equivalent of the First Degree. I don't know, since I don't belong to a tradition that awards degrees, but this stuff just doesn't _seem_ advanced enough to merit a Third Degree. It's not bad as a beginner's book, though I've seen more inspiring and passionate ones (try Starhawk, Rae Beth, Scott Cunningham, Phyllis Curott, or Yasmine Galenorn). If you're not a beginner, don't waste your money buying this--it won't help you advance any further. I wouldn't be upset if it had been presented as a beginners' book, but the promise of "Third Degree" knowledge implied that it was also useful for a more advanced practitioner.
The second problem I have with the book is Buckland's ego. He seems determined to prove what an important Craft elder he is. In one of the first chapters, he presents the history of the modern Craft, with a quiz about influential figures in the pagan revival. Guess who one of them is? And when he goes into the Sabbat rituals, he makes a point out of saying, in effect, "Hey look, my Sabbat rituals are so much better-written than the ones from the Gardnerian tradition." Even when it's not this explicit, everything he says seems to carry an undercurrent of "My way is THE way." After a while, it just got on my nerves.

I picked this book up in a book store, not on the store but I was sorely disappointed by the tone. It really feels like its very strict. I'm a free spiritual being. An ecclectic witch. And I don't feel there are any right or wrong ways to practice (except our crede do no harm). However this book is a good reference of how things would be done in a formal setting. But like I said, that's just not for me.

I never read more than a few pages of this back when I first started practicing, but when my friend told me to look into the "big blue book" with his recommendations I knew it had to be food. The beginning tell alot about the history of witchcraft if I remember correctly, all in all, a great book to have in your collection of you're practicing, teaching, or curious about Wicca.

I think this is a great book to get you started thinking about all the different things there are to learn in wicca. The problem was that it tried to cover too much. There wasn't enough emphasis on one particular subject. I find this a lot in books on the craft where the author tries to cover too much territory. I did though love this book because of the various thing it gave some information on, thus leading me to other areas of study. It was pretty good all in all although more for the physical acts of witchcraft than for explaining the reasons and spiritual beliefs behind it. The one section I didn't quite agree with was the section on the history of witchcraft. The rest I found quite interesting. All in all, a pretty good book.

Let's get one thing straight first...the word WITCHCRAFT is TOTALLY different from WICCA, and the common misapprehension that the two are the same is a huge, gigantic mistake. Wicca is not older than 50 years, witchcraft is older than 1000 years.
This book, intended for witchcraft practioners, presents a fine, comprehensive guide to this ancient practice. It's well prepared, begining with proper preperation instructions and gives a great and easy start to any beginnner. Packed with spells, charms and incantaions, it provides analytical and multi-purpose arts to whoever has an interest. I can say that this books is one of the best withcraft guides on the market and compares at great length to other bestselling guides. The spells are obviously well researched and properly constructed in a fine order, and the flaws in this book are not to be mentioned. The writer displays a good background in the subject, and knows what he's talking about judging by his other works. This is a valuable addition to any occult library, except a wiccan's.

This was the first book I picked up to begin my studies in the Craft. I found it very informative and unbiased. I am a skeptic in my reading material as it's always hard to find something true to it's topic. He added in his beliefs while pointing out that not everyone practices the Craft the same way, and stating that however you are ABLE to be true to the Craft is the best way to go even if you cannot provide yourself with all the "usual" material. His handbook style and wide variety of information pointed me in the right direction and opened my eyes to a whole new world, one I had at one time only wished I could share with others. I highly recommend this book to beginners and those in interest of the Craft.

It has been 8 years since I purchased this, my first book on witchcraft, and I think that starting here has been very good for my further magical training. I feel that what makes this a good beginner's book is its sense of structure and organization. Many beginning books stress over and over again that you can do things however you wish and re-structure things as you see fit, and they aren't wrong, however I feel that it is best to see a full working model before making any alterations to suit your beliefs. The "big blue book" is very thorough, covering many subjects without just glossing over them. After reading this book I had a better idea of the seriousness of what I was taking on and I believe that is why I am still practicing where many friends who dipped their toes into the craft never got very far.

When I teach beginning students, I give them three books: this one, Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and the Farrar's Witches' Bible. I have seen a lot of reviewers saying they recommend using Buckland's book together with Cunningham's and I think this is excellent advice...the lessons are very good and quite thorough. I know of no other book that covers so many aspects of witchcraft. True, he covers so much ground there's not much room for depth, but it's a good starting-off place. He presents all the technical info: tools and divination and herbs and altar furniture and history and circle construction and dreams and meditation -- whew! Cunningham is a good balance for the more spiritual aspects. I think this is a good book to read through once or twice, using it as a starting point for further study. I think you'll also want to keep it on your shelf as a handy reference.
As with any book, remember to think for yourself and you'll get a lot out of it...
One last note -- the book covers so many different subjects, so many MECHANICS, that I sometimes forget how beautiful his Sabbat rituals are. He has included an entire book of shadows here, including seasonal rites, esbats, even a New Moon Rite. They are well-written and very poetic; for these alone I would recommend the book.

Raymond Buckland, having been initiated and ordained by Gerald Gardner, who (quite frankly) claimed initiation and ordaination by an old Witch who was long dead (his creditials thereby questionable), never quite managed to gain my respect in the Magickal world.

This book, while chocked full of information, is also written from a narrow point of view. There is much information in this work with which I cannot agree. His variation of Wicca is not only heavily Gardenarian, but also smacks of trite and sometimes superior statements which degrades the value of the work.

While it tries to include everything, this is a dry work which lacks exuberance. It is systematic in that it feels like it is bound by its own restrictions. It is methodical as it maintains the same inconsistencies throughout. And it is plodding as it trudges one by one through what should be joyous rites and celebrations.

Frankly, I was not impressed.

... Like a lot of the other reviews here, I agree that Buckland seems to present a lot of this book as the end all, be all guide to Wicca. Everything in the book is from the position that the reader is primarily interested in Saex-Wica (the tradition he founded); there is very limited information on the other paths available, if any at all. Also, the amount of topics touched upon in the book, coupled with the lack of information presented on these topics, makes me think that the book might be a bit overwhelming to a newbie to the Craft. My only other gripe is that in my opinion, this book seems to give the impression that anyone can wake up, decide they're going to be a pagan, and form a coven with just the knowledge in this book.

There are a lot of people who hate Uncle Bucky. And I'm sure there are lots of reasons they hate him. I happen to like him. But that's just me.

This book, however, is chock-full of good, solid information, the kind that you couldn't find in one single source when the book first came out. Sure, other books by other authors have come out since, trying to imitate "Big Blue," but this remains the classic. I will still use it for teaching a total newcomer to the Craft. It's written in an accessible way, and the end-of-the-chapter exercises work very well for student assignments.

I especially recommend this as a beginning book for someone who is learning alone. It's how I started and this is the book that got me through the early days and gave me the confidence to talk to others in the Craft without worrying that I'd sound like an idiot to them.

One caveat. Buckland just is not, IMNSHO, a good lyricist. The songs at the back of the book, the ones he wrote, are just silly. But that's such a minor flaw I don't think it's worth reducing the five stars to four over it.

Maybe this book would be helpful to someone who wanted to follow a very strict Wiccan tradition, but this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I felt he was very "My way or the Highway" about a lot of important issues, such as ritual composition and what does and doesn't make a Witch. I felt he was arrogant, quoting his own books within this text, and also very self-important about how he was one of the first Wiccans to publicly announce his faith. I don't know if that's true or not, but he seemed to be very proud of that point. Aside from all that though, the book itself was set up in such a way that it was very difficult for me to read, and it was kind of overwhelming to see SO MUCH on every single page- tiny print, several columns per page, and pages split into a top and bottom half as well. If you are looking for information on Wicca and wanting a more welcoming and diverse approach, I would and did look elsewhere.

IMHO:

I picked this up as my second book on Wicca. I patiently followed Buckland's instruction to read each chapter like it was a high school text book and completed each quiz before proceeding to the next chapter. I love quizzes, but these where a joke. One of the questions he asked "what color should your book of shadows be?". A page or two before he said it did not matter what color it was, yet in the quiz section he said it should be green. Another one he asked if a knife used in a homicide could be used for ritual. the answer would be yes, as the homicide was on the person committing the act, not the tool it's self. yet he never elaborated on this, and not in any other contest (as far as I can recall)

Aside from that, the other, huge disappointment (like waking up on Christmas day to find Santa did not come), I get to the section I was waiting for (solitary wicca) and it turned out to be a guided meditation... and the ONLY chapter in the whole book without a quiz! I felt like I had been dragged along only to be left out in the dark. Very bad move Buckland!

While it was an interesting take on wicca/paganism, I have since found much better, more 'complete' books on wicca/witchcraft, such as Christopher Penzack's "temple:" series. In fact, ahd it not been for Chris, I would have written off Wicca as the teen ager religion I had thought it was.

As far as his magick and herbal sections are concerned, I did not read them, and I am not a magician (ATM) and cannot comment on their effectiveness. I would really like to tell you this would be a perfect text book for the budding student or for a whole coven/circle, but this didn't help me connect with spirit and left me thinking the religion is bunk... and looking for something more, with some substance. His references to himself where amusing at first, but lead me to question his authority on the subject after a while. I did eventually pick up on of his other books, on sigils and omens, and was more or less, just as disappointed.

One positive note on the book was his images and schematics. I had an alter already, but now if i need a small wooden table I know where to get the blue prints. For me, the most useful thing in the book was his instructions on how to engrave a metal blade. I have not done this yet either, but the method he described matched an internet posting, so I am sure it will work.

Overall, I would not recommend this book to a beginner. Read a few other books on the subject and if your still interested, see if a friend has a copy. Again, check out Penzack, he focuses more on connecting with the divine spirit, and is a real pleasure to read. he also includes a comprehensive index in all the books I have read by him.

The Big Blue book, while having an introduction that is largely trash, presents the most workable colelction of ritual and theology a beginner can have.
The material is not disjointed-it falls neatly into place. Ritual A goes with ritual B.
Like other books, it's dated. It says 1986 classic, but I believe it's actually older, from the 1970s (that's what the copyright data says) and it fits more into the 1970s boom of Witchcraft books than the later ones.
That being said, his ritual tool creation stuff and runes are not worth the paper they are printed on, but even with those flaws it is just such a workable book that it is worth every cent.
It is also good for people who are a little fluffy who want to reign in their fluffiness.. A good book for people who feel they've wandered too far from Wicca and need more info.

This was one of the first Wiccan books I read and I wasn't that crazy about it. I liked it, but I wasn't that crazy about it. The book had a lot of good parts, but sometimes I got kind of turned off. The main problem I found with this book was that Dr. Buckland seemed very strict - ie. you must do this, you must not do that, etc. I believe that there is no right or wrong way to practice the Craft. Just do whatever feels right to you. If you accidentally step over the circle boundary, you wont be struck by lightning! If you mess up during ritual, don't worry about it. The Lord and Lady have a sense of humor, I'm sure. All in all, it is a good book, but not really for the beginner. Blessed be!

This is designed to be a study guide. It has quizzes at the end of each chapter. Not a bad idea if you wish to retain the information, but a lot of it is one-sided and irrelevent if you are a solitary.
However, Buckland does give a great overview of the history of Witchcraft in the first chapter. If nothing else in the book is worth reading, that chapter certainly is.
I think this is a book that every practitioner should have, it does have some useful informtion in between the pages.
Like Scott Cunningham says: You have to read everything, the good books and the bad books.
Although in no way, is this a 'bad' book, it is sure one that should be read.

Raymond Buckland was one of the primary people responsible for bringing Wicca into the public eye in the 20th Century. This textbook/workbook provides thorough insight into the history, theory and practice of "the craft" in the modern day world. This should be one of the core books in the library of any person who considers themselves to be a serious student of Wicca. It's value lies not only in the information imparted, but also in the valuable assignments given in each chapter that are meant to hone the students magickal (with the requisite "k") skills. The tone of the book is very serious. It doesn't quite have the conversational style of more recent authors of books on witchcraft such as Silver Ravenwolf, but it is a valuable read.

I can't call it a great reference, because it touches lightly on most things, but I wouldn't call it a good introductory book to The Old Ways, because it's VERY one sided. It's entirely male oriented, and Buckland is very into himself.
It strikes a decent middle ground, if you ignore the voice, focus on the information. I use it as a 'reminder-refresher' course. It's got great sections on making your own ritual tools, divination, astrology, and magickal alphabets. I wouldn't recommend this to someone starting out, because it lays ideas and guidelines out like they are Law. This is an alright text, if you use it to mold what you do, and add to your base of knowledge. I find Cunningham to be a much more friendly, less austere, and welcoming introduction to the Craft.
One more thing. This book isn't for anyone looking for a guide to being Solitary. He touches on that in Lesson Fifteen, but it's VERY biased toward coventry. As a longtime Solitary, I felt talked down to.

Nevermind all the hulabaloo that surrounds a Big Name Pagan. Buckland's full of himself and a lot of other stuff, too, and this comes across in the pages of this book. For starters, it is the most pompous and boring book on the Craft I have ever read. His "style" is stiff with an almost touch-me-not aura. Let me also point out that this is no book on general witchcraft. It is a tome on the brand of the Craft Buckland invented himself, Seax Wicca, and won't be every witch's cup of brew. I'm always amazed at how any book on the Craft can lack passion, and this is the most passionless out there. Should I even mention the ritual bondage associated with initiation? Symbolism, sure. Bondage is bondage and has no place in a practice where all are equal. Read this if you must but please supplement it with other more liberal renderings of the Craft.

I bought this book years ago when I was first interested in paganism and alternate religions. The writing is egotistical, pompous and condescending . On reading "The chamber of secrets" a couple years after I was convinced J.K. Rowling was having an inside joke by including a character such as Gilderoy Lockhart - It is just the epitome of Buckland. He is a bit too much of "My way is the only way" - to the point he quotes his own books.

I gave it 2 stars as there is some good information in it - but it is far from complete. The parts on blindfolding, binding, and hanging certainly did not appeal; and the insistence that one needed a numerologically correct practicing name was a bit childish'

Raymond Bucklands Complete Book ok Witchcraft is a very good book. This book has loads of information, it has 15 Lessons, and at the end of each lesson there is about 4 Lesson questions, and then a lesson examination. I found that this was a very helpful tool in remembering what you have read. There is a large amount of rituals and spell ideas, as well as the history of Wicca, and Witchcraft. One thing that I found bad about this book, in my opinion was that it was centered a lot around covens. A lot of the rituals were for coven use. The only time he says anything about Solitary Practitioners is in the very last lesson, Which is about 5-10 pages long. I find this a little degrating considering most Wiccans are Solitary. But, if you are planning to join a coven, then this is a very good book for you to read. Therefor, If I was planning on joining a coven, I would have rated this book a 5.

This Book is OK for beginners, but in my opinion "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner" Scott Cunningham is better.
I have one serious concern about "Pranic Healing" as taught in this book.
Channeling personal lifeforce energy into the recepient until you the healer feels drained is dangerous and will weaken your immune system leaving you succeptible to illnesses.
Universal lifeforce energy is all around you, and there are ways of transmiting this external energy without draining your personal reserves.
Questions or comments; E-Mail me. Two Bears
Wah doh Ogedoda

This was the first book I picked up to begin my studies in the Craft. I found it very informative and unbiased. I am a skeptic in my reading material as it's always hard to find something true to it's topic. He added in his beliefs while pointing out that not everyone practices the Craft the same way, and stating that however you are ABLE to be true to the Craft is the best way to go even if you cannot provide yourself with all the "usual" material. His handbook style and wide variety of information pointed me in the right direction and opened my eyes to a whole new world, one I had at one time only wished I could share with others. I highly recommend this book to beginners and those in interest of the Craft.

It has been 8 years since I purchased this, my first book on witchcraft, and I think that starting here has been very good for my further magical training. I feel that what makes this a good beginner's book is its sense of structure and organization. Many beginning books stress over and over again that you can do things however you wish and re-structure things as you see fit, and they aren't wrong, however I feel that it is best to see a full working model before making any alterations to suit your beliefs. The "big blue book" is very thorough, covering many subjects without just glossing over them. After reading this book I had a better idea of the seriousness of what I was taking on and I believe that is why I am still practicing where many friends who dipped their toes into the craft never got very far.

When I teach beginning students, I give them three books: this one, Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and the Farrar's Witches' Bible. I have seen a lot of reviewers saying they recommend using Buckland's book together with Cunningham's and I think this is excellent advice...the lessons are very good and quite thorough. I know of no other book that covers so many aspects of witchcraft. True, he covers so much ground there's not much room for depth, but it's a good starting-off place. He presents all the technical info: tools and divination and herbs and altar furniture and history and circle construction and dreams and meditation -- whew! Cunningham is a good balance for the more spiritual aspects. I think this is a good book to read through once or twice, using it as a starting point for further study. I think you'll also want to keep it on your shelf as a handy reference.
As with any book, remember to think for yourself and you'll get a lot out of it...
One last note -- the book covers so many different subjects, so many MECHANICS, that I sometimes forget how beautiful his Sabbat rituals are. He has included an entire book of shadows here, including seasonal rites, esbats, even a New Moon Rite. They are well-written and very poetic; for these alone I would recommend the book.

Raymond Buckland, having been initiated and ordained by Gerald Gardner, who (quite frankly) claimed initiation and ordaination by an old Witch who was long dead (his creditials thereby questionable), never quite managed to gain my respect in the Magickal world.

This book, while chocked full of information, is also written from a narrow point of view. There is much information in this work with which I cannot agree. His variation of Wicca is not only heavily Gardenarian, but also smacks of trite and sometimes superior statements which degrades the value of the work.

While it tries to include everything, this is a dry work which lacks exuberance. It is systematic in that it feels like it is bound by its own restrictions. It is methodical as it maintains the same inconsistencies throughout. And it is plodding as it trudges one by one through what should be joyous rites and celebrations.

Frankly, I was not impressed.

... Like a lot of the other reviews here, I agree that Buckland seems to present a lot of this book as the end all, be all guide to Wicca. Everything in the book is from the position that the reader is primarily interested in Saex-Wica (the tradition he founded); there is very limited information on the other paths available, if any at all. Also, the amount of topics touched upon in the book, coupled with the lack of information presented on these topics, makes me think that the book might be a bit overwhelming to a newbie to the Craft. My only other gripe is that in my opinion, this book seems to give the impression that anyone can wake up, decide they're going to be a pagan, and form a coven with just the knowledge in this book.

There are a lot of people who hate Uncle Bucky. And I'm sure there are lots of reasons they hate him. I happen to like him. But that's just me.

This book, however, is chock-full of good, solid information, the kind that you couldn't find in one single source when the book first came out. Sure, other books by other authors have come out since, trying to imitate "Big Blue," but this remains the classic. I will still use it for teaching a total newcomer to the Craft. It's written in an accessible way, and the end-of-the-chapter exercises work very well for student assignments.

I especially recommend this as a beginning book for someone who is learning alone. It's how I started and this is the book that got me through the early days and gave me the confidence to talk to others in the Craft without worrying that I'd sound like an idiot to them.

One caveat. Buckland just is not, IMNSHO, a good lyricist. The songs at the back of the book, the ones he wrote, are just silly. But that's such a minor flaw I don't think it's worth reducing the five stars to four over it.

Maybe this book would be helpful to someone who wanted to follow a very strict Wiccan tradition, but this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I felt he was very "My way or the Highway" about a lot of important issues, such as ritual composition and what does and doesn't make a Witch. I felt he was arrogant, quoting his own books within this text, and also very self-important about how he was one of the first Wiccans to publicly announce his faith. I don't know if that's true or not, but he seemed to be very proud of that point. Aside from all that though, the book itself was set up in such a way that it was very difficult for me to read, and it was kind of overwhelming to see SO MUCH on every single page- tiny print, several columns per page, and pages split into a top and bottom half as well. If you are looking for information on Wicca and wanting a more welcoming and diverse approach, I would and did look elsewhere.

IMHO:

I picked this up as my second book on Wicca. I patiently followed Buckland's instruction to read each chapter like it was a high school text book and completed each quiz before proceeding to the next chapter. I love quizzes, but these where a joke. One of the questions he asked "what color should your book of shadows be?". A page or two before he said it did not matter what color it was, yet in the quiz section he said it should be green. Another one he asked if a knife used in a homicide could be used for ritual. the answer would be yes, as the homicide was on the person committing the act, not the tool it's self. yet he never elaborated on this, and not in any other contest (as far as I can recall)

Aside from that, the other, huge disappointment (like waking up on Christmas day to find Santa did not come), I get to the section I was waiting for (solitary wicca) and it turned out to be a guided meditation... and the ONLY chapter in the whole book without a quiz! I felt like I had been dragged along only to be left out in the dark. Very bad move Buckland!

While it was an interesting take on wicca/paganism, I have since found much better, more 'complete' books on wicca/witchcraft, such as Christopher Penzack's "temple:" series. In fact, ahd it not been for Chris, I would have written off Wicca as the teen ager religion I had thought it was.

As far as his magick and herbal sections are concerned, I did not read them, and I am not a magician (ATM) and cannot comment on their effectiveness. I would really like to tell you this would be a perfect text book for the budding student or for a whole coven/circle, but this didn't help me connect with spirit and left me thinking the religion is bunk... and looking for something more, with some substance. His references to himself where amusing at first, but lead me to question his authority on the subject after a while. I did eventually pick up on of his other books, on sigils and omens, and was more or less, just as disappointed.

One positive note on the book was his images and schematics. I had an alter already, but now if i need a small wooden table I know where to get the blue prints. For me, the most useful thing in the book was his instructions on how to engrave a metal blade. I have not done this yet either, but the method he described matched an internet posting, so I am sure it will work.

Overall, I would not recommend this book to a beginner. Read a few other books on the subject and if your still interested, see if a friend has a copy. Again, check out Penzack, he focuses more on connecting with the divine spirit, and is a real pleasure to read. he also includes a comprehensive index in all the books I have read by him.

The Big Blue book, while having an introduction that is largely trash, presents the most workable colelction of ritual and theology a beginner can have.
The material is not disjointed-it falls neatly into place. Ritual A goes with ritual B.
Like other books, it's dated. It says 1986 classic, but I believe it's actually older, from the 1970s (that's what the copyright data says) and it fits more into the 1970s boom of Witchcraft books than the later ones.
That being said, his ritual tool creation stuff and runes are not worth the paper they are printed on, but even with those flaws it is just such a workable book that it is worth every cent.
It is also good for people who are a little fluffy who want to reign in their fluffiness.. A good book for people who feel they've wandered too far from Wicca and need more info.

This was one of the first Wiccan books I read and I wasn't that crazy about it. I liked it, but I wasn't that crazy about it. The book had a lot of good parts, but sometimes I got kind of turned off. The main problem I found with this book was that Dr. Buckland seemed very strict - ie. you must do this, you must not do that, etc. I believe that there is no right or wrong way to practice the Craft. Just do whatever feels right to you. If you accidentally step over the circle boundary, you wont be struck by lightning! If you mess up during ritual, don't worry about it. The Lord and Lady have a sense of humor, I'm sure. All in all, it is a good book, but not really for the beginner. Blessed be!

This is designed to be a study guide. It has quizzes at the end of each chapter. Not a bad idea if you wish to retain the information, but a lot of it is one-sided and irrelevent if you are a solitary.
However, Buckland does give a great overview of the history of Witchcraft in the first chapter. If nothing else in the book is worth reading, that chapter certainly is.
I think this is a book that every practitioner should have, it does have some useful informtion in between the pages.
Like Scott Cunningham says: You have to read everything, the good books and the bad books.
Although in no way, is this a 'bad' book, it is sure one that should be read.

Raymond Buckland was one of the primary people responsible for bringing Wicca into the public eye in the 20th Century. This textbook/workbook provides thorough insight into the history, theory and practice of "the craft" in the modern day world. This should be one of the core books in the library of any person who considers themselves to be a serious student of Wicca. It's value lies not only in the information imparted, but also in the valuable assignments given in each chapter that are meant to hone the students magickal (with the requisite "k") skills. The tone of the book is very serious. It doesn't quite have the conversational style of more recent authors of books on witchcraft such as Silver Ravenwolf, but it is a valuable read.

I can't call it a great reference, because it touches lightly on most things, but I wouldn't call it a good introductory book to The Old Ways, because it's VERY one sided. It's entirely male oriented, and Buckland is very into himself.
It strikes a decent middle ground, if you ignore the voice, focus on the information. I use it as a 'reminder-refresher' course. It's got great sections on making your own ritual tools, divination, astrology, and magickal alphabets. I wouldn't recommend this to someone starting out, because it lays ideas and guidelines out like they are Law. This is an alright text, if you use it to mold what you do, and add to your base of knowledge. I find Cunningham to be a much more friendly, less austere, and welcoming introduction to the Craft.
One more thing. This book isn't for anyone looking for a guide to being Solitary. He touches on that in Lesson Fifteen, but it's VERY biased toward coventry. As a longtime Solitary, I felt talked down to.

Nevermind all the hulabaloo that surrounds a Big Name Pagan. Buckland's full of himself and a lot of other stuff, too, and this comes across in the pages of this book. For starters, it is the most pompous and boring book on the Craft I have ever read. His "style" is stiff with an almost touch-me-not aura. Let me also point out that this is no book on general witchcraft. It is a tome on the brand of the Craft Buckland invented himself, Seax Wicca, and won't be every witch's cup of brew. I'm always amazed at how any book on the Craft can lack passion, and this is the most passionless out there. Should I even mention the ritual bondage associated with initiation? Symbolism, sure. Bondage is bondage and has no place in a practice where all are equal. Read this if you must but please supplement it with other more liberal renderings of the Craft.

I bought this book years ago when I was first interested in paganism and alternate religions. The writing is egotistical, pompous and condescending . On reading "The chamber of secrets" a couple years after I was convinced J.K. Rowling was having an inside joke by including a character such as Gilderoy Lockhart - It is just the epitome of Buckland. He is a bit too much of "My way is the only way" - to the point he quotes his own books.

I gave it 2 stars as there is some good information in it - but it is far from complete. The parts on blindfolding, binding, and hanging certainly did not appeal; and the insistence that one needed a numerologically correct practicing name was a bit childish'

Raymond Bucklands Complete Book ok Witchcraft is a very good book. This book has loads of information, it has 15 Lessons, and at the end of each lesson there is about 4 Lesson questions, and then a lesson examination. I found that this was a very helpful tool in remembering what you have read. There is a large amount of rituals and spell ideas, as well as the history of Wicca, and Witchcraft. One thing that I found bad about this book, in my opinion was that it was centered a lot around covens. A lot of the rituals were for coven use. The only time he says anything about Solitary Practitioners is in the very last lesson, Which is about 5-10 pages long. I find this a little degrating considering most Wiccans are Solitary. But, if you are planning to join a coven, then this is a very good book for you to read. Therefor, If I was planning on joining a coven, I would have rated this book a 5.

This Book is OK for beginners, but in my opinion "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner" Scott Cunningham is better.
I have one serious concern about "Pranic Healing" as taught in this book.
Channeling personal lifeforce energy into the recepient until you the healer feels drained is dangerous and will weaken your immune system leaving you succeptible to illnesses.
Universal lifeforce energy is all around you, and there are ways of transmiting this external energy without draining your personal reserves.
Questions or comments; E-Mail me. Two Bears
Wah doh Ogedoda

Yes, he does have an egotisical flare in the book. He does seem to push Seax-Wica ideals in this book. But, Raymond Buckland does give the bare basics to this religion in a quasi-classroom text. The beauty of that is, he takes people by the hand and guides them through the generic beliefs to which all traditions adhere. My warning, READ THE BOOK THOUROUGHLY. THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON ALL STYLES AND DENOMINATIONS TO TAKE ANYTHING BUT THE MOST BASIC DOCTRINES AS "GOSPEL." He was gardnerian, so he tends to be ritualistic in his view. Yet, the rituals are great to know in case one ever finds himself worshiping in a coven tradition. He also has to sell books for a living, therefor, he pushes Seax-Wica a little too strongly. Just as an fyi, my first coven made me study this book to get a handle on these precepts, and we were not seax. This book is not intended for those who wish to learn about how to cast spells, or join the O.T.O., but rather for those who have chosen Wicca as a religion, not as a game.

Raymond Buckland has become the 'staple author' on witchcraft over many years of hard work and many, many books, but this attention has gone to his head to the point of him referencing his own books at the end of chapters. While this is okay occasionally, such as the case of the other book having more information on the subject than could be fit into the passage, the pure arrogance of listing upwards of 3 of your own books at the end of a passage is appalling. He has the tone of 'my way is the only TRUE way' that makes many Witches leave orthodox churches in the first place. I would only recommend this book as a reference, certainly not for those just getting started on this path. I have only truly found agreement in the Herbalism section, though even there, many mistakes are made evident.

This book was given to me as a gift by someone who had no clue what she had. Her exact words were, "this is weird so I thought you'd like it."
Heh, now look what she's started.
Anyway, I do like this book very much. As with pretty much everything in life I don't agree completely with Mr. Buckland or feel that it offers me "everything I need to know" it has been a valuable asset to my learning.
I've seen a lot of comments about Buckland's high handed writing style that seems to talk down to the readers, but I didn't actually get that impression.
It seemed to me like he has high standards for the people reading his book and that's actually more comforting to me than many of the new wave "I'm your buddy, let me hold your hand through this big scary word" form of writing.
Blathering aside, I reccomend this highly to everyone just starting out as well as those who've been at it a while but have been intimidated by the author's steadfast opinions on what he considers truth.

I read this book when I first became interested in the practice of magic. I still refer to it from time to time. It is a good book for learning some of the basics. Please don't take this book (or any other) as the 'be all-end all' on the subject of magic (or any other). One big problem I have with the 'big blue book' is its lack of a good index. What's the deal with that? It's also very Wiccan in its approach. A good book on magic should not be so narrow.
I have seen that some other reviewers blast Buckland personally. I refuse to pile on. I do, however, agree that Buckland's tone is a little messianic.
Speaking of messianic, I'm sure that those interested in reading these reviews would rather that Christians expressed their opinions elsewhere. God(dess) knows there are plenty of Christian forums! This is a collection of book reviews...not a platform for the fundies. That off my chest....
This is a pretty good book despite its tone, lack of good index, and narrowness. A WAY better, more 'complete' book, you ask? The Magician's Companion by Bill Whitcomb is much broader, more complete, and...well...bigger (though not blue); yet, still okay for a beginner. Go check out the reviews there. Then decide.

The book covers all aspects of Wicca. If used with other books on Wicca like To Ride A Silver Broomstick it makes a great basis for learning Wicca. Not everyone will agree with all that is said - but all the topics covered, should be covered by the beginner. People who are looking for books of Spells and Rituals are not interested in learning Wicca. This book gives many of the tools needed to become a Witch.

This is a wonderful book and a quality product from Mr. Buckland. I enjoy his style of writing. Not fluffy at all. Gives a good, general overview of what's involved in wicca, particularly of the Gardnerian tradition. As stated in a previous review, Mr. Buckland does like to quote himself but usually those quotes are quite relative to the material he's covering in Big Blue. I enjoyed how thorough he was and the variety of topics he covered. Usually, most books will touch lightly on a topic and then leave it up to the reader to research it more, which is not a bad idea in any case. However, it is nice to just get a complete overview of what wicca is and what exactly is involved.

I feel this book could be used for someone just starting out in the Craft, or as a good review for those that have been practicing a while. The little "exams" at the end of each chapter are quite nit-picky but I actually found them to be enjoyable. Let's you kinda see how much you really learned! Anyway, this book is a must-have reference for any library and I feel good about being able to recommend it without any drawbacks.

I honestly thought that this book was excently, from a beginner's point of view. This was the first book that I read and it was EXTREMELY informative. I will say that alot of Buckland's views and teachings were a bit one-sided, however, as with everything else in the Goddess's beautiful realm, you have to take things for face value and focus on the "big picture." This book added about eighty pagaes to my Book of Shadows. This book along with "Riding a Silver Broomstick" (Silver Ravenwolf) and "Wicca" (Scott Cunningham) will give a broad spectrum and a fine guideline to get beginner's going in the right direction. These books will each go into detail about very important aspects of the Craft. Buckland focuses on hands-on and ritualistic things, Silver Ravenwolf does the same giving a more personal touch to the lesson, and Cunningham focuses on the Wiccan lifestyle. Good starting material for beginners.

This book is an exelent intro to a flexible but Gardnarian-like
classic wiccan practice. While it may seem a bit old-fashioned to novices, it is definately a good read for anyone interested in the peramiters of what wicca can be. This is not "dusty corners" wicca. For that you go to Lady Sheba's book of shadows. It gives you a good idea of what structured covens are doing, though most don't go sky-clad. That really faded out with the '70's I'm afraid... at least from experiance of self and others.
A very good reference, but should not be read in a vaccum.
Recommend Wiccan Warrior by Kerr Chulhain as a companion read.
This combination gives you a gut-level appretiation of just how flexible this religion can be.
No book, or set of books are any complete representation of wicca. This is a starting point.

I found this book a good read, it tests your thoughts, and gives a alot of information, and its far from being teen-boppy. It includes quizes, and tests which are good reviews, which most books on the wiccan subject don't inlcude. The book is coven orientated, the rituals can be constructed for the solitary though. Despite some negative reviews on this book, it irritates me to see people put downa a book witha lot of information in it. I think everyone can gain something from this book, whether they like the majority of it or not. People want advanced material, its not how advanced the material is, its how advanced your skills are in using the material. Its evident that the author has been practicing, and studying the subject far longer than many people who have just been practing for mere while. Dont pass this one off, at least give it a read, you will come away having learned something

Being a student/practioner where it's proven right for my individual purpose(s) of Comparative Mythology/Theology for 3 decades, I've carefully, systematically & have grown a peaceful, solid and inclusive foundation of all related matters. I purchased this book in 2005. 'Coincedently' or not, my life entered into the worst fortunes in all matters I've EVER experienced, to the point of complete ruin, beginning around this time. I'm not particularly superstitious...more so I am 'extremely aware'...and respect all forces as very real and very active. I resisted removing the book from my 'influencable' environment. However, it continued to 'out of the blue' come into mind. The book may be thorough enough in introducing many forms of magick and the practition of- for beginners. There is a good deal of information I was able to draw upon to cover the cost and beyond. I was not a beginner then but as soon as I rid my home of this book and a few other 'highly informative' books on both 'white & dark' magick, slowly but surely...and without much thought afterward about removing these items...my life began tuning around. So much that I can't not include this in my musings as to the 'cause and effects' of such a profound reversal. I dont in any way contribute all of the 'change of fortune' to this book (and a few others for advanced practitioners)But... it was very clear to me as a legitimate action that needed to be taken. This is only MY experience, mind you. Yet, I feel compelled to share this experience - Perhaps if only to affirm an awares in another who may be receiving similar 'promptings'. I'm certain this ~thorough enough~ book has been helpful to countless others. However, I'm not duanted in any way to make all experiences available to each of us who have different paths to fulfill. BB.

I picked up the book initially on the recommendations of friends and found it has some very good information for those just starting in the craft. I'm a bit more experienced that those this book is aimed at, but I use it for a reference book as the information is easy to find and well paced. I don't use everything in the book, but I recommend it to those who ask "Where do I start?".

Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft is just what it says it is, a COMPLETE book of Witchcraft. Obviously made for the student, it covers many important points in the whole of Witchcraft such as Herbalisism, History, Craft Names, Sabbats, Divination, and most importantly, the many practices of Magick. After a lesson, there are workbook questions given on the learning points covered in that lesson. This makes it extremely hard for a beginner not to understand the lesson, while also making it easy to remember the lesson. One note: a serious student may wish to buy a tape recorder or digital voice recorder for the questions as it is much easier to talk than write. If any person has bought the book and found it too technical, I suggest also buying beginner's books from Scott Cunningham, as he covers more of the spiritual aspects of the Craft. Overall, this book must honestly be considered a "must-have" for a Witch's bookshelf. -Ingrid

There are WAY too many beginner books on the market today, but this one deserves to be there. Kind of a strange read, I've heard Buckland accused of writing 'cookbooks', but I still find myself looking things up in it. I recommend it to anyone that doesn't know where to begin. I don't follow the Path that he outlines here, but he isn't dogmatic about it.
Useful info, handy tips, big enough that I can find it in a poorly lit room.

If you want to study Witchcraft/Paganism or Wicca, this book is a must own.
One of the better books on Witchcraft available, it is as the title suggests quite practical as well as a great study guide for those who wish to understand Witchcraft or to practice it.
Large and without the 'fluff' many modern books on Witchcraft have to offer. Buckland is one of the best writers of this genre!

This is an excelent book for the beginning practitioner as well as the old. Writen by the first person to come out as a witch in the United States, it details the history of the craft, goes slowly trough the intricicies of rituals, divinity, herbs, and so much more. This is the "everything you need to know" about Witchcraft. Best of all, it is writen in a textbook style so as to bring you slowly through all the steps in which the initiat will eventually become the initiated.

Finally! A book that helped me! There is now a book that presents witchcraft in a learning manner. This book lead me through each step of becoming a witch, and taught me pretty much everything I needed to know. It didn't just show me one particular branch of witchcraft, either, it showed them all... and showed how they differ and each of their beleifs. It compared being a solitary practicioner to practicing in a coven. It presented all sides of controversy from other viewpoints besides his own. It gave me step by step instructions on how to make different tools of the craft. This book showed everything I needed to know. It is the perfect book for beginners, as well as experienced practicioners. It's also a great read for a non-Wiccan! All in all... I would have to say this is an extraordinary book for all adults, and even teens, like me, who are interested in the Craft!

This book is a very good overall look at the practice of Witchcraft. I found the questions and exams at the end of each lesson to be of special value, allowing the beginner to look back and keep their knowledge sharp. (Though I have studied for more than a decade, read many books and am a founder of a coven, and a teacher myself, I still found Buckland's book to be informative and use from it extensively in my teaching.)

I've read the other reviews of this book and found myself wondering if one or two reviewers even read the book. Buckland does tend to teach from the Celtic-Saxon tradition, as that is where his training and early study was focused. He does not, however, limit himself or the reader to that orientation, actively encouraging students and Witches to study many different traditions, as he has (including his own Seax Wicca tradition and his inherited Gypsy Tradition). One must begin somewhere, and this is an excellent first book for those who have gotten beyond the looking stage and are ready to learn the workings of the craft.

Special attention is paid to proper mechanics of casting a circle, "calling quarters" and many other things necessary for safe magick. There are lessons on herbs, dedication and initiation rites, coven work, and solitary practice. I highly recommend it to the beginner and teacher.

It is an easy read and well organized book that carries you through the different aspects of wicca. This book is an excellent starter guide for practical witchcraft. A good supplement to any witch's library. My only complaint is that some of the chapters do not do into enough detail and the astrology section seemed weak.

What a lot of horse puckey! Surely people in the craft know that this in made up to sell more of this writers books. Well even his newest wife has one out. If one can't make a believer out of you (to spend your money) the other is trying the children's market with spells. Get a life Bucky. Most of us MALES know that you don't got a day job YO! This book is to sell sell sell! All the Pagan communities know about you now.

As a beginner this book sounded fabulous and frankly it looks fabulous. I found it to be a bit overwhelming though when trying to learn alone as a Solitary. I do think that with guidance it could be great. I just don't have that at my disposal.

Yes, he does have an egotisical flare in the book. He does seem to push Seax-Wica ideals in this book. But, Raymond Buckland does give the bare basics to this religion in a quasi-classroom text. The beauty of that is, he takes people by the hand and guides them through the generic beliefs to which all traditions adhere. My warning, READ THE BOOK THOUROUGHLY. THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON ALL STYLES AND DENOMINATIONS TO TAKE ANYTHING BUT THE MOST BASIC DOCTRINES AS "GOSPEL." He was gardnerian, so he tends to be ritualistic in his view. Yet, the rituals are great to know in case one ever finds himself worshiping in a coven tradition. He also has to sell books for a living, therefor, he pushes Seax-Wica a little too strongly. Just as an fyi, my first coven made me study this book to get a handle on these precepts, and we were not seax. This book is not intended for those who wish to learn about how to cast spells, or join the O.T.O., but rather for those who have chosen Wicca as a religion, not as a game.

Raymond Buckland has become the 'staple author' on witchcraft over many years of hard work and many, many books, but this attention has gone to his head to the point of him referencing his own books at the end of chapters. While this is okay occasionally, such as the case of the other book having more information on the subject than could be fit into the passage, the pure arrogance of listing upwards of 3 of your own books at the end of a passage is appalling. He has the tone of 'my way is the only TRUE way' that makes many Witches leave orthodox churches in the first place. I would only recommend this book as a reference, certainly not for those just getting started on this path. I have only truly found agreement in the Herbalism section, though even there, many mistakes are made evident.

This book was given to me as a gift by someone who had no clue what she had. Her exact words were, "this is weird so I thought you'd like it."
Heh, now look what she's started.
Anyway, I do like this book very much. As with pretty much everything in life I don't agree completely with Mr. Buckland or feel that it offers me "everything I need to know" it has been a valuable asset to my learning.
I've seen a lot of comments about Buckland's high handed writing style that seems to talk down to the readers, but I didn't actually get that impression.
It seemed to me like he has high standards for the people reading his book and that's actually more comforting to me than many of the new wave "I'm your buddy, let me hold your hand through this big scary word" form of writing.
Blathering aside, I reccomend this highly to everyone just starting out as well as those who've been at it a while but have been intimidated by the author's steadfast opinions on what he considers truth.

I read this book when I first became interested in the practice of magic. I still refer to it from time to time. It is a good book for learning some of the basics. Please don't take this book (or any other) as the 'be all-end all' on the subject of magic (or any other). One big problem I have with the 'big blue book' is its lack of a good index. What's the deal with that? It's also very Wiccan in its approach. A good book on magic should not be so narrow.
I have seen that some other reviewers blast Buckland personally. I refuse to pile on. I do, however, agree that Buckland's tone is a little messianic.
Speaking of messianic, I'm sure that those interested in reading these reviews would rather that Christians expressed their opinions elsewhere. God(dess) knows there are plenty of Christian forums! This is a collection of book reviews...not a platform for the fundies. That off my chest....
This is a pretty good book despite its tone, lack of good index, and narrowness. A WAY better, more 'complete' book, you ask? The Magician's Companion by Bill Whitcomb is much broader, more complete, and...well...bigger (though not blue); yet, still okay for a beginner. Go check out the reviews there. Then decide.

The book covers all aspects of Wicca. If used with other books on Wicca like To Ride A Silver Broomstick it makes a great basis for learning Wicca. Not everyone will agree with all that is said - but all the topics covered, should be covered by the beginner. People who are looking for books of Spells and Rituals are not interested in learning Wicca. This book gives many of the tools needed to become a Witch.

This is a wonderful book and a quality product from Mr. Buckland. I enjoy his style of writing. Not fluffy at all. Gives a good, general overview of what's involved in wicca, particularly of the Gardnerian tradition. As stated in a previous review, Mr. Buckland does like to quote himself but usually those quotes are quite relative to the material he's covering in Big Blue. I enjoyed how thorough he was and the variety of topics he covered. Usually, most books will touch lightly on a topic and then leave it up to the reader to research it more, which is not a bad idea in any case. However, it is nice to just get a complete overview of what wicca is and what exactly is involved.

I feel this book could be used for someone just starting out in the Craft, or as a good review for those that have been practicing a while. The little "exams" at the end of each chapter are quite nit-picky but I actually found them to be enjoyable. Let's you kinda see how much you really learned! Anyway, this book is a must-have reference for any library and I feel good about being able to recommend it without any drawbacks.

I honestly thought that this book was excently, from a beginner's point of view. This was the first book that I read and it was EXTREMELY informative. I will say that alot of Buckland's views and teachings were a bit one-sided, however, as with everything else in the Goddess's beautiful realm, you have to take things for face value and focus on the "big picture." This book added about eighty pagaes to my Book of Shadows. This book along with "Riding a Silver Broomstick" (Silver Ravenwolf) and "Wicca" (Scott Cunningham) will give a broad spectrum and a fine guideline to get beginner's going in the right direction. These books will each go into detail about very important aspects of the Craft. Buckland focuses on hands-on and ritualistic things, Silver Ravenwolf does the same giving a more personal touch to the lesson, and Cunningham focuses on the Wiccan lifestyle. Good starting material for beginners.

This book is an exelent intro to a flexible but Gardnarian-like
classic wiccan practice. While it may seem a bit old-fashioned to novices, it is definately a good read for anyone interested in the peramiters of what wicca can be. This is not "dusty corners" wicca. For that you go to Lady Sheba's book of shadows. It gives you a good idea of what structured covens are doing, though most don't go sky-clad. That really faded out with the '70's I'm afraid... at least from experiance of self and others.
A very good reference, but should not be read in a vaccum.
Recommend Wiccan Warrior by Kerr Chulhain as a companion read.
This combination gives you a gut-level appretiation of just how flexible this religion can be.
No book, or set of books are any complete representation of wicca. This is a starting point.

I found this book a good read, it tests your thoughts, and gives a alot of information, and its far from being teen-boppy. It includes quizes, and tests which are good reviews, which most books on the wiccan subject don't inlcude. The book is coven orientated, the rituals can be constructed for the solitary though. Despite some negative reviews on this book, it irritates me to see people put downa a book witha lot of information in it. I think everyone can gain something from this book, whether they like the majority of it or not. People want advanced material, its not how advanced the material is, its how advanced your skills are in using the material. Its evident that the author has been practicing, and studying the subject far longer than many people who have just been practing for mere while. Dont pass this one off, at least give it a read, you will come away having learned something

Being a student/practioner where it's proven right for my individual purpose(s) of Comparative Mythology/Theology for 3 decades, I've carefully, systematically & have grown a peaceful, solid and inclusive foundation of all related matters. I purchased this book in 2005. 'Coincedently' or not, my life entered into the worst fortunes in all matters I've EVER experienced, to the point of complete ruin, beginning around this time. I'm not particularly superstitious...more so I am 'extremely aware'...and respect all forces as very real and very active. I resisted removing the book from my 'influencable' environment. However, it continued to 'out of the blue' come into mind. The book may be thorough enough in introducing many forms of magick and the practition of- for beginners. There is a good deal of information I was able to draw upon to cover the cost and beyond. I was not a beginner then but as soon as I rid my home of this book and a few other 'highly informative' books on both 'white & dark' magick, slowly but surely...and without much thought afterward about removing these items...my life began tuning around. So much that I can't not include this in my musings as to the 'cause and effects' of such a profound reversal. I dont in any way contribute all of the 'change of fortune' to this book (and a few others for advanced practitioners)But... it was very clear to me as a legitimate action that needed to be taken. This is only MY experience, mind you. Yet, I feel compelled to share this experience - Perhaps if only to affirm an awares in another who may be receiving similar 'promptings'. I'm certain this ~thorough enough~ book has been helpful to countless others. However, I'm not duanted in any way to make all experiences available to each of us who have different paths to fulfill. BB.

I picked up the book initially on the recommendations of friends and found it has some very good information for those just starting in the craft. I'm a bit more experienced that those this book is aimed at, but I use it for a reference book as the information is easy to find and well paced. I don't use everything in the book, but I recommend it to those who ask "Where do I start?".

Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft is just what it says it is, a COMPLETE book of Witchcraft. Obviously made for the student, it covers many important points in the whole of Witchcraft such as Herbalisism, History, Craft Names, Sabbats, Divination, and most importantly, the many practices of Magick. After a lesson, there are workbook questions given on the learning points covered in that lesson. This makes it extremely hard for a beginner not to understand the lesson, while also making it easy to remember the lesson. One note: a serious student may wish to buy a tape recorder or digital voice recorder for the questions as it is much easier to talk than write. If any person has bought the book and found it too technical, I suggest also buying beginner's books from Scott Cunningham, as he covers more of the spiritual aspects of the Craft. Overall, this book must honestly be considered a "must-have" for a Witch's bookshelf. -Ingrid

There are WAY too many beginner books on the market today, but this one deserves to be there. Kind of a strange read, I've heard Buckland accused of writing 'cookbooks', but I still find myself looking things up in it. I recommend it to anyone that doesn't know where to begin. I don't follow the Path that he outlines here, but he isn't dogmatic about it.
Useful info, handy tips, big enough that I can find it in a poorly lit room.

If you want to study Witchcraft/Paganism or Wicca, this book is a must own.
One of the better books on Witchcraft available, it is as the title suggests quite practical as well as a great study guide for those who wish to understand Witchcraft or to practice it.
Large and without the 'fluff' many modern books on Witchcraft have to offer. Buckland is one of the best writers of this genre!

This is an excelent book for the beginning practitioner as well as the old. Writen by the first person to come out as a witch in the United States, it details the history of the craft, goes slowly trough the intricicies of rituals, divinity, herbs, and so much more. This is the "everything you need to know" about Witchcraft. Best of all, it is writen in a textbook style so as to bring you slowly through all the steps in which the initiat will eventually become the initiated.

Finally! A book that helped me! There is now a book that presents witchcraft in a learning manner. This book lead me through each step of becoming a witch, and taught me pretty much everything I needed to know. It didn't just show me one particular branch of witchcraft, either, it showed them all... and showed how they differ and each of their beleifs. It compared being a solitary practicioner to practicing in a coven. It presented all sides of controversy from other viewpoints besides his own. It gave me step by step instructions on how to make different tools of the craft. This book showed everything I needed to know. It is the perfect book for beginners, as well as experienced practicioners. It's also a great read for a non-Wiccan! All in all... I would have to say this is an extraordinary book for all adults, and even teens, like me, who are interested in the Craft!

This book is a very good overall look at the practice of Witchcraft. I found the questions and exams at the end of each lesson to be of special value, allowing the beginner to look back and keep their knowledge sharp. (Though I have studied for more than a decade, read many books and am a founder of a coven, and a teacher myself, I still found Buckland's book to be informative and use from it extensively in my teaching.)

I've read the other reviews of this book and found myself wondering if one or two reviewers even read the book. Buckland does tend to teach from the Celtic-Saxon tradition, as that is where his training and early study was focused. He does not, however, limit himself or the reader to that orientation, actively encouraging students and Witches to study many different traditions, as he has (including his own Seax Wicca tradition and his inherited Gypsy Tradition). One must begin somewhere, and this is an excellent first book for those who have gotten beyond the looking stage and are ready to learn the workings of the craft.

Special attention is paid to proper mechanics of casting a circle, "calling quarters" and many other things necessary for safe magick. There are lessons on herbs, dedication and initiation rites, coven work, and solitary practice. I highly recommend it to the beginner and teacher.

It is an easy read and well organized book that carries you through the different aspects of wicca. This book is an excellent starter guide for practical witchcraft. A good supplement to any witch's library. My only complaint is that some of the chapters do not do into enough detail and the astrology section seemed weak.

What a lot of horse puckey! Surely people in the craft know that this in made up to sell more of this writers books. Well even his newest wife has one out. If one can't make a believer out of you (to spend your money) the other is trying the children's market with spells. Get a life Bucky. Most of us MALES know that you don't got a day job YO! This book is to sell sell sell! All the Pagan communities know about you now.

As a beginner this book sounded fabulous and frankly it looks fabulous. I found it to be a bit overwhelming though when trying to learn alone as a Solitary. I do think that with guidance it could be great. I just don't have that at my disposal.

This book is the perfect book for anyone who is interested in wicca - witchcraft - or even magic. It is an easy read and well organized book that carries you through the different aspects of wicca. My only complaint is that some of the chapters do not do into enough detail and the astrology section seemed weak. otherwise 4 stars for a well layed out and easy to read book.

I love this book because it is so vastly informational. For a beginner (and those who would like to refresh their memories), this book is frank about methods (and the "why" aspect of such methods) and never illusive like most books about witchcraft can be. Buckland gets down to the most minute details. Very good start and a great book to have around.

i dont understand why everyone,thinks this book is oh so wonderful. imo it sucked. yes he covers alot of ground,but he doesnt teach you enough about anything,he acts like his tradition is the only tradition of wicca. plus is too full of himself,now being proud of your accompolishments is one thing but thinking you are the best thing in the craft is another.

I bought this book because I read somewhere that it was a great beginners book. And I have to admit, it is wonderful to have so much information so clearly laid out. I would recommend this as one of your books on your shelf.

Buckland is one of the best wiccans well known (because of the relationship with Gardner) and has put together a very good resource money can buy. I cant express this enough for any wiccan that is advanced or just a beginner, you will smile with delight and thank yourself for getting such a gem.

This book is just what it is supposed to be: a guide and instruction book for those who wish to learn more about Witchcraft. From a very basic view of Witch history to modern Neo-paganism, this book allows the reader to develop their own beginnings in Witchcraft. Buckland "pushes" no one direction or path, but draws upon his own experiences and those of others in order to present a more "politically correct" open-minded lesson book. I enjoyed reading this book, but would like to state that it is not intended for the more advanced practitioner. A great novice or entry level instruction guide...let your heart be your guide. Remember, Wicca is based from within, there is no wrong way to worship the God and Goddess, an' it harm none. Wicca is a way of life, not just declaring oneself to be a Witch. Blessed be.

There seems to be many people who have attempted to deface Ray over the years. I can only assume that pride and ego are the reasons. As a longtime student of Ray Buckland I can attest to his knowledge and complete mastery of Witchcraft. Anyone seeking the TRUTH about this Old Religion should buy this book and study it.

I am a big fan of Ray Buckland, and this book is one of his best. It covers everything in a simple easy to understand format. History, rituals, even making a Athame ( A ritual dagger all witches have) from scratch. This was my first book on Wicca I bought many years ago, and I could not have made a better choice. My only complaint is he could have added more to his topics, they tend to be a little short. I guess he just did not want to bog down the person wanting to get started. Anyways. A very good book, and I highly recomend getting it. His video Witchcraft: Yesterday And Today is a perfect companion to this book.

This book is a very...well, informative book. I did like the way that at the end of each chapter was a quiz or an experiment. That helps with reviewing and making sure you learned all the concepts disscussed in the chapter. But i didnt like the way Buckland was constantly bringing up the way it should be "his way, or the highway". Wicca is a very flexible religion and isnt just one way, and no one person knows all, but Buckland was constanlty quoteing himself and that made it very obvious that he is very pompus about his knowledge. This is an okay book for beginners but it could be simpler. I reccomend reading one or two books that are specifically designed for beginners and then read this book.

This is a great beginner's book, not as solid as Scott Cunningham's but still a good place to start.
Buckland covers all the bases here. Like Cunningham's book, this one takes a down-to-earth, matter-of-fact approach on everything from the nuts and bolts of the rituals to herbal combinations. Good discussions of divination and ritual tools in particular. The book is nicely assembled too, you don't get disjointed rituals and descriptions but Buckland shows how to put everything together for your needs.

I'm sure every one raves about this book. I started my jouney into Wicca in 1989 with this exact book, loaned to me by a friend, then purchased as a birthday gift from my parents. Many modern Pagans want to jump right into the Magick of the Universe, but Buckland makes a wondeful attempt at enlighting perspective Pagans, and those just seeking information, about the History of the Craft. I would have to say that at the tender age of 15, Chapter One broght me more enlightenment than most of the other books I've purchased over the years and I still enjoy flipping through it occassionally. From pre-written history of the craft, to modern practice and helpful suggestions, Buckland is a teacher by nature. This book is a definite must for any beginner or curious mind.

Buckland was one of the first people to really bring awareness to the Craft in the United States. Unfortunately, he was also ludicrously egotistical. This book's "History" section is a lie from beginning to end---Craft practicioners need to realize that their religion is not thousands of years old or some secret handed-down tradition from generation to generation. We're new, folks. Deal with it.
Buckland is also, if I may quote my good friend Sannion here, "nauseatingly self-referential". You'll find he quotes his own books far more often than any even remotely modest human being would, and he often goes into an extremely dismissive tone when talking about anything that isn't directly related to his interpretation of the craft.
The herbal section might help you out, as could the rituals, but I recommend avoiding this thing like the plague if you've got a more than basic understanding of Wicca.

An excellent place to start, but not to all tastes. I found some "new" information here, but as an eclectic witch of many years experience, I found the workbook format, as in children's school texts, to be a bit insulting. I do recommend it, however for the beginner with good reading skills, since it is not meant to be a witchchild's primer. However, the novice witch must realize that there are some forms of ritual and rite here that are specific to Buckland's version of Saxon Witchcraft, and differ from other, equally valid, forms. Brightest Blessings!

This was one of those books which I had very high expectations for, but found very disappointing. I will say that it is better than most introductory books, and I do like the workbook aspect. However, the historical and theological information is just plain wrong. Buckland attempts an intellectual approach to Wicca, but ends up creating a work that is not nearly as intelligent as advertised.

This book is the perfect book for anyone who is interested in wicca - witchcraft - or even magic. It is an easy read and well organized book that carries you through the different aspects of wicca. My only complaint is that some of the chapters do not do into enough detail and the astrology section seemed weak. otherwise 4 stars for a well layed out and easy to read book.

I love this book because it is so vastly informational. For a beginner (and those who would like to refresh their memories), this book is frank about methods (and the "why" aspect of such methods) and never illusive like most books about witchcraft can be. Buckland gets down to the most minute details. Very good start and a great book to have around.

i dont understand why everyone,thinks this book is oh so wonderful. imo it sucked. yes he covers alot of ground,but he doesnt teach you enough about anything,he acts like his tradition is the only tradition of wicca. plus is too full of himself,now being proud of your accompolishments is one thing but thinking you are the best thing in the craft is another.

I bought this book because I read somewhere that it was a great beginners book. And I have to admit, it is wonderful to have so much information so clearly laid out. I would recommend this as one of your books on your shelf.

Buckland is one of the best wiccans well known (because of the relationship with Gardner) and has put together a very good resource money can buy. I cant express this enough for any wiccan that is advanced or just a beginner, you will smile with delight and thank yourself for getting such a gem.

This book is just what it is supposed to be: a guide and instruction book for those who wish to learn more about Witchcraft. From a very basic view of Witch history to modern Neo-paganism, this book allows the reader to develop their own beginnings in Witchcraft. Buckland "pushes" no one direction or path, but draws upon his own experiences and those of others in order to present a more "politically correct" open-minded lesson book. I enjoyed reading this book, but would like to state that it is not intended for the more advanced practitioner. A great novice or entry level instruction guide...let your heart be your guide. Remember, Wicca is based from within, there is no wrong way to worship the God and Goddess, an' it harm none. Wicca is a way of life, not just declaring oneself to be a Witch. Blessed be.

There seems to be many people who have attempted to deface Ray over the years. I can only assume that pride and ego are the reasons. As a longtime student of Ray Buckland I can attest to his knowledge and complete mastery of Witchcraft. Anyone seeking the TRUTH about this Old Religion should buy this book and study it.

I am a big fan of Ray Buckland, and this book is one of his best. It covers everything in a simple easy to understand format. History, rituals, even making a Athame ( A ritual dagger all witches have) from scratch. This was my first book on Wicca I bought many years ago, and I could not have made a better choice. My only complaint is he could have added more to his topics, they tend to be a little short. I guess he just did not want to bog down the person wanting to get started. Anyways. A very good book, and I highly recomend getting it. His video Witchcraft: Yesterday And Today is a perfect companion to this book.

Raymond Buckland is the man who brought Alexandrian Wicca to North America in the '70s, and one would hope his book would be better than it is. This is a rank beginner's book which is a good reference for how-tos, cookbook-style rituals, and very little of the spirituality and connection with Goddess and God that is the foundation of that ritual. If you're a beginner, it's not a bad place to start--it'll tell you the basics, clearly and succinctly. But you should also try Starhawk's "Spiral Dance," and maybe even Babe on a Broomstick (whoops, I mean "To Ride a Silver Broomstick") by Ravenwolf, even though that's not much better. That one's got more philosophy and feeling, this one has more "how-tos." If you want a solid grounding in eclectic Wicca, try Scott Cunningham's "Wicca for the Solitary Practioner."

This book is a very...well, informative book. I did like the way that at the end of each chapter was a quiz or an experiment. That helps with reviewing and making sure you learned all the concepts disscussed in the chapter. But i didnt like the way Buckland was constantly bringing up the way it should be "his way, or the highway". Wicca is a very flexible religion and isnt just one way, and no one person knows all, but Buckland was constanlty quoteing himself and that made it very obvious that he is very pompus about his knowledge. This is an okay book for beginners but it could be simpler. I reccomend reading one or two books that are specifically designed for beginners and then read this book.

Yes yes the first book I bought on the craft when I was starting off was "Big Blue". It is the "first book of witchcraft" your text book if you will. But I know for me, when I started reading through it, I was a little overwhelmed, and more than one time I just walked away from it. I think that its important to state that this book is Gardenerian slanted, and that there are many many many other ways to be a pagan and practice your craft.

I guess in the end, your gonna want this book for your library, but be aware that you dont' have to follow it word for word, as this is your life, and you can praise the Goddess whoever you like.

This is a great beginner's book, not as solid as Scott Cunningham's but still a good place to start.
Buckland covers all the bases here. Like Cunningham's book, this one takes a down-to-earth, matter-of-fact approach on everything from the nuts and bolts of the rituals to herbal combinations. Good discussions of divination and ritual tools in particular. The book is nicely assembled too, you don't get disjointed rituals and descriptions but Buckland shows how to put everything together for your needs.

I'm sure every one raves about this book. I started my jouney into Wicca in 1989 with this exact book, loaned to me by a friend, then purchased as a birthday gift from my parents. Many modern Pagans want to jump right into the Magick of the Universe, but Buckland makes a wondeful attempt at enlighting perspective Pagans, and those just seeking information, about the History of the Craft. I would have to say that at the tender age of 15, Chapter One broght me more enlightenment than most of the other books I've purchased over the years and I still enjoy flipping through it occassionally. From pre-written history of the craft, to modern practice and helpful suggestions, Buckland is a teacher by nature. This book is a definite must for any beginner or curious mind.

Buckland was one of the first people to really bring awareness to the Craft in the United States. Unfortunately, he was also ludicrously egotistical. This book's "History" section is a lie from beginning to end---Craft practicioners need to realize that their religion is not thousands of years old or some secret handed-down tradition from generation to generation. We're new, folks. Deal with it.
Buckland is also, if I may quote my good friend Sannion here, "nauseatingly self-referential". You'll find he quotes his own books far more often than any even remotely modest human being would, and he often goes into an extremely dismissive tone when talking about anything that isn't directly related to his interpretation of the craft.
The herbal section might help you out, as could the rituals, but I recommend avoiding this thing like the plague if you've got a more than basic understanding of Wicca.

An excellent place to start, but not to all tastes. I found some "new" information here, but as an eclectic witch of many years experience, I found the workbook format, as in children's school texts, to be a bit insulting. I do recommend it, however for the beginner with good reading skills, since it is not meant to be a witchchild's primer. However, the novice witch must realize that there are some forms of ritual and rite here that are specific to Buckland's version of Saxon Witchcraft, and differ from other, equally valid, forms. Brightest Blessings!

This was one of those books which I had very high expectations for, but found very disappointing. I will say that it is better than most introductory books, and I do like the workbook aspect. However, the historical and theological information is just plain wrong. Buckland attempts an intellectual approach to Wicca, but ends up creating a work that is not nearly as intelligent as advertised.

To be honest having read this book I truly don't understand why it gets so many good reviews. His history is off (he cites 9 million people killed in the Burning Times the actual number is between 50 and 100,000.) It comes off as too "my way or the highway" especially the part about magickal names, and he is too self absorbed. His quotes and "please read" are almost exclusively from his own books. I personally feel his books overly complicate the basics and otherwise make them too hard (see "one fifteen- minute period is sufficient as a minimum" per day talking about meditation... 15 min a day for a beginner would discourage them and be nearly impossible) and an intermediate student would already know this. His organization could use some work for instance he puts ritals for the equinox and solstice sabbats in a different place than the other sabbats. He recommends techniques that are not for beginners such as the Witches Cradle which involves sensory deprivation caused by being bond by what is essentially a straight jacket and hung (blindfolded of course) so you swing and have no sense of direction (sound like beginner exercises? didn't much think so). There are much better safer ways to learn to astrally project. He also includes herbal remedies and information on "the art of prescribing medicine" he has NO business prescribing anything whether it works or not is irrelevant he should not encourage beginner's or anyone else to prescribe anything; it is illegal (at least in the US) and beyond the scope of his training (I don't see an MD anywhere near his name) and this book. Yet again he quotes himself and lists himself as recommended reading as well as Culpepper's Herbal which is a Medieval Medicinal Text and has no business in modern medicine. Lesson 11 includes a love spell that is in no way shape or form ethical; it involves chanting the words "He cannot fight a pull so strong, nor would he think to fight" after specifically mentioning both people's names. Possibly the only useful section of this book is the part about Magickal Alphabets and that information can be found somewhere else. If you are a member of a coven thats great but if you are solitary he has one 10 page Chapter on Solitary Witches out of a 346 page book. The rest I didn't find objectionable so much as boring and not worth the time or money. His divination section was underdone and all the other sections were overdone. The only way I ever got through this book was reading it at bed time. Its dry and he has no sense of humor to be honest at the end of this book he kinda creeped me out and I started out having high hopes for a book that was so recommended as a standard text.

This book definitely has alot of information which is great. Primarily male dominated point of view which I didn't care for too much. You can learn things from this complete guide but can at times be confusing in the message trying to get across. Very much a book for beginner's & those curious about the craft.

This book is down to earth, very informative and Kindly worded. Mr. Buckland does not alienate the non-wiccan reader. He touches on Every aspect of not only the craft but of many spirituality-based practices which wicca happens to use also. (Astrology, Tarot, Divination) It is comfortable and inspirational from the beginning. He does not profess to be the only authority on the subject and encourages the student-reader to seek out the nitty gritty details through continued reading of other books. An excellent book for your personal library, witch or not.

As I am new to the Craft, this has been an outstanding reference book for Seekers just beginning to walk the path. Mr. Buckland's straight-forward approach is informative without being condesending. This is not the last Raymond Buckland book I will read about Witchcraft!

I haven't started reading this book yet, so I can't really give it a rating just now, but I skimmed through it. It seems like there is a lot of great information and correct subject matter, however after reading the self-inititation ritual I grew concerned about what kind of message some of the book would bring. After seeing something like "as the wine pours from this goblet so shall the blood pour from my body if I aught to hurt the gods..." Though, a Wiccan should try as much as possible to obey the laws, we are still only human and people make mistakes. It's not about being punished for not following a specific law. The God and the Goddess will forgive you. The only real punishment comes from negative kharma that you brought upon yourself. I just didn't feel right when I read that. And feeling comfortable with yourself is a part of what being Wiccan is. So, yes I strongly encourage people to have some background with Witchcraft before reading this book to really benefit from it, because it could give beginners the wrong idea.

Buckland's book is a cool beginner's book on witchcraft. He covers a great deal of territory in this resource book. I bought Sirona Knight's book Empowering Your Life with Wicca just before I bought this one and the two books are perfect complements to one another. Buckland's book is more traditional and Knight's is more New Age. I think everybody who wants to get into Wicca would find Buckland's book (and Knight's book) useful and very helpful. This is the kind of book you can refer to over and over.

This book was so imformative yet so inspiring to me. It showed so many opportunities. One window it opened was one of explanations for all my questions and wonders about Wicca. It gave me reason to practice Wicca, and a lot of help for my future experiences. This wonderful book also gave some good tips and warnings on the practice of Wicca. I now know that Wicca is very seriouse and should only be handled by a professional. Buckland has really out-done himself writing this well written book for Wiccan practicers.

i love this book ... my husband loves this book... everyone i know who is pagan loves this book... its great for beginers, but also has a lot of research that is usefull to anyone. Raymond Buckland is a great write. He is professional, open minded, and well informed.. He put alot of the history of magick into this book. Personally I really recomend it. If you don't have it buy it... I spent 20 bucks on it in a book store and it was worth it. So 5 dollars or even more is definately. I love his writing. This was one of the first books i read when i started and the information really stuck..