What do you think?
Rate this book
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft
An invaluable resource for beginners and adepts alike, this best-selling and frequently recommended book on Wiccan magic and witchcraft has been updated and revised, now featuring a Year-and-a-Day calendar for the solitaire who is beginning to explore Wicca on his or her own. Loads of new spellsNew for this edition: A Year-and-a-Day calendar; Expanded information on creating a personal grimoire and book of Shadows, the witch's spell manual and bible.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2000
81 people are currently reading
1355 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 21, 2019
When I first got this book years ago I thought it was a really good addition to my library. However my opinion about has changed. Whoever wrote this book doesn’t actually carry a lot of knowledge on the history of witchcraft. This book is very Wicca. There are multiple errors and instead of being filled with research the author gives personal, VERY subjective opinion. That being said, the book contains a lot of information on multiple subjects like deities of many cultures and religions, tarot and other types of divination. It touches the average subjects like energy, chakras. However! I wouldn’t recommend this book due to a careless historical research which is very false and it would make the reader believe in things that are opinion not fact
April 14, 2011
This book seems to hit 50/50 with most people I know. It's simple, a lot of people say too simple, and the bottom line for me is that if someone picked it up to understand what I believe in, I would be ok with that. It has some good basics in it and the best advice it gives is to read more on Wicca. There isn't anything in it that I hate, and it has a lot of safety advice. I'm not sure exactly why so many people dislike this book, I wouldn't call it the be all end all of Wicca information, but if what you want are the general bare basics, then it's a good enough place to start.
January 13, 2015
average at best. it does have a lot of good points but can be long and drawn out especially in the section of astrology. a good source for finding info in other books of the same kind.
May 24, 2024
A VERY INFORMATIVE INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPICS
Co-author Denise Zimmermann is a Third Degree High Priestess with the Black Forest Clan, and co-owner of a metaphysical book store. Katherine Gleason is a writer who is also co-author of ‘Releasing the Goddess Within.’
They wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, “Often when we feel we need to make a change in our lives or in ourselves, we look to others for the answers. Why not start with yourself? The most powerful change that a person can make is change from within. But how do we change? Change involves learning and growth. One of the most fundamental ways to create change is through the spirit. Spiritual fulfillment is one of the primary tools that helps us on our journey to wisdom.. Our ancestors knew this. And they have given us a way to make this change---the power of witchcraft.” (Pg. xxi)
They explain, “Witches practice magick, and they also practice Wicca---an Earth-based religion that honors a deity that is divided into male and female spirituality known as the God and Goddess, and that gives reverence to the Earth. Throughout history, witches have faced persecution because of misconceptions about them and their practices. But Wicca and witchcraft have survived and are going strong. In fact, Wicca is one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States today.” (Pg. 1) Later, they add, “But becoming a witch is not about power. It is about finding and developing your spirituality. It’s about learning to connect with deity and with the forces of Nature. Through Wicca, you will discover what you are capable of. You will also discover a nurturing deity and will come to know who you really are.” (Pg. 3-4)
They clarify, “Wiccans don’t use the word ‘warlock’ to refer to male witches. Male witches are witches, too. A warlock is a person who has broken an oath, and because of that has been ostracized from the community. If you have violated an oath you can also be ‘warlocked,’ or ostracized and ignored. There are many different traditions in the Wiccan religion. We’re going to talk mostly about Wiccan witches, and in this book we will use the terms ‘Wiccan’ and ‘witch’ interchangeably.” (Pg. 4)
They state, “There’s nothing supernatural about a witch’s abilities. Some people see these abilities as greater than ordinary and call them ‘supernatural,’ but the forces that witches use are available to all of us and are, thus, ordinary. Witches use natural energies to enhance their lives and to heal and protect themselves, their loved ones, and the Earth.” (Pg. 5) They continue, “The abilities you have are natural and inborn, so there is no reason to be frightened of them… Don’t worry. You won’t suddenly find that green sparks shoot out of your fingers every time you are annoyed. Your powers are YOURS. You control them.” (Pg. 6)
They ask, “Why does the Wicked Witch of the West stick in our minds? … we think it’s because she represents an archetype, a universal symbol that speaks to us all. She is the shadow or ‘dark’ side of each of us, and as such she scares many of us. Others of us are more comfortable with our own shadows and don’t find her that frightening. We all have a balance of shadow and light within us.” (Pg. 7) They add, “Witches do have the ability to behave in a negative way. But so do people of other faiths. Through spiritual understanding, Wiccan witches learn to curb the inherent human tendencies to get back at people or do negative things. Wiccan witches do not work with the negative or with evil. Wiccans believe they must act for the good of all, including themselves.” (Pg. 8)
They outline, “In the 1970s, the Council of American Withes, an organization that no longer exists, drew up a list of basic principles. We’ll paraphrase them here… *We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces… *We conceive of the creative power in the universe as both masculine and feminine. We value neither gander above the other… *We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy… *Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy of life, is that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the one true, right, and only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others… *We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as ‘Satan’ or ‘the devil’ as defined by Christian traditions.” (Pg. 10-11)
They state, “Witches now that whatever energy or actions they send out, whether it be negative or positive, will come back to them threefold… there is one core belief common to all Wiccan witches that none will deviate from. This central principle is called the Wiccan ‘Rede,’ and it is expressed… like this: ‘An it harm none, do what ye will.’’ (Pg. 13-14)
They note, “The idea that witches worship Satan is one of the most common misconceptions about witches. This mistaken idea probably developed hundreds of years ago because some Christian leaders encouraged their followers to view non-Christians as anti-Christian. If you weren’t a believer in Christ… you MUST be a believer in his evil opposite---Satan or the devil. The all-evil Satan is a Christian concept that plays no part in the Wiccan religion.” (Pg. 15)
They say, 'Everybody has the ability within him or her to do magick… Every time you engage in a ‘superstition,’ throwing salt over your shoulder or knocking on wood… You’re using magick. Performing magick … [is] a healthy form of self-expression because the magick in witchcraft comes from the power that is already within you.” (Pg. 16)
They outline, “Witches follow a variety of traditions, or practices. Here are descriptions of some of the different kinds: *Gardnerian Wicca: In the 1950s… Gerald Gardner … rewrote the rituals of the coven he belonged to so they would be more accurate. Gardnerian covens have a degree system in which one learns about the craft… Gardnerian covens work ‘skyclad.’ … *Alexandrian Wicca: Alex Sanders founded this tradition in the 1960s… much of their ritual is similar to Gardnerian practices, although Alexandrians place more emphasis on ceremonial magick… *Georgian Wicca: George Paterson founded the Georgian tradition in … 1970… Their rituals are drawn from Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions… *Algard Wicca: In 1972, Mary Nesnick combined the Gardnerian tradition with the Alexandrian to form the Algard tradition… Reclaiming: Starhawk, the popular author… received her training in the Feri tradition. In 1980, she and some of the women in her coven went on to form the Reclaiming Collective… *Dianic: … focuses on the Goddess with little talk about a God… *Celtic Wicca: This tradition looks to ancient Celtic and Druidic deities and beliefs with an emphasis on the magical and healing powers of plants, minerals… and Elemental spirits… *Black Forest Clan:… training in this tradition prepares one as a licensed member of the clergy and is not taken lightly.” (Pg. 30-33)
They add, “A solitaire, or solitary witch, can practice witchcraft in a variety of traditions or in no particular tradition… this witch can design a system of worship that works best for him or her… The proliferation of books about witchcraft ha aided the rise in the numbers of solitary witches… Solitaires act and learn on their own. To some this might seem lonely. To others is means great freedom and personal empowerment… An eclectic witch is … someone who pulls from many different traditions… [they] use whatever rituals or traditions that are drawn to---and whatever works!... Hereditary witches inherit the craft from older relatives who teach the family traditions.” (Pg. 33-34)
They acknowledge, “As with everything else, there are pros and cons to coven life. Let’s start with the positive… In a coven, you get a lot of support. You have people available who have more education in the craft than you do, so you can learn from them… The teachings in a coven have been handed down through a lineage---which is important to some people. THE CONS: The fact that there is structure in a coven can be a con for some people… Covens have certain expectations of each and every member that you may not be comfortable with… If you break the laws of the tradition of your coven, your coven and its community can oust you…” (Pg. 35)
They note, “Putting spells together is one of the central arts to witchcraft… Remember, you resort to crafting a spell to attain your goal only after you have exhausted all the mundane actions available to you…. In order to make your goal manifest, you must visualize it first, then focus on it and direct your energy toward it. A spell is a recipe that you put together to help yourself visualize your magical goal.” (Pg. 298)
They explain, “Most religions have a special symbol, and for Wiccans it is the pentagram. The points of the pentagram represent Akasha, or Spirit, and the four Elements, substances that are crucial to all life… The pentagram drawn in the air is an important part of Wiccan ritual. Banishing pentagrams remove all negativity from an Element. Invoking pentagrams bring in positive energy.” (Reference Card insert)
This is an unusually informative ‘introductory’ book, that will be of great interest to those seeking an outline/orientation to the topics.
Co-author Denise Zimmermann is a Third Degree High Priestess with the Black Forest Clan, and co-owner of a metaphysical book store. Katherine Gleason is a writer who is also co-author of ‘Releasing the Goddess Within.’
They wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, “Often when we feel we need to make a change in our lives or in ourselves, we look to others for the answers. Why not start with yourself? The most powerful change that a person can make is change from within. But how do we change? Change involves learning and growth. One of the most fundamental ways to create change is through the spirit. Spiritual fulfillment is one of the primary tools that helps us on our journey to wisdom.. Our ancestors knew this. And they have given us a way to make this change---the power of witchcraft.” (Pg. xxi)
They explain, “Witches practice magick, and they also practice Wicca---an Earth-based religion that honors a deity that is divided into male and female spirituality known as the God and Goddess, and that gives reverence to the Earth. Throughout history, witches have faced persecution because of misconceptions about them and their practices. But Wicca and witchcraft have survived and are going strong. In fact, Wicca is one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States today.” (Pg. 1) Later, they add, “But becoming a witch is not about power. It is about finding and developing your spirituality. It’s about learning to connect with deity and with the forces of Nature. Through Wicca, you will discover what you are capable of. You will also discover a nurturing deity and will come to know who you really are.” (Pg. 3-4)
They clarify, “Wiccans don’t use the word ‘warlock’ to refer to male witches. Male witches are witches, too. A warlock is a person who has broken an oath, and because of that has been ostracized from the community. If you have violated an oath you can also be ‘warlocked,’ or ostracized and ignored. There are many different traditions in the Wiccan religion. We’re going to talk mostly about Wiccan witches, and in this book we will use the terms ‘Wiccan’ and ‘witch’ interchangeably.” (Pg. 4)
They state, “There’s nothing supernatural about a witch’s abilities. Some people see these abilities as greater than ordinary and call them ‘supernatural,’ but the forces that witches use are available to all of us and are, thus, ordinary. Witches use natural energies to enhance their lives and to heal and protect themselves, their loved ones, and the Earth.” (Pg. 5) They continue, “The abilities you have are natural and inborn, so there is no reason to be frightened of them… Don’t worry. You won’t suddenly find that green sparks shoot out of your fingers every time you are annoyed. Your powers are YOURS. You control them.” (Pg. 6)
They ask, “Why does the Wicked Witch of the West stick in our minds? … we think it’s because she represents an archetype, a universal symbol that speaks to us all. She is the shadow or ‘dark’ side of each of us, and as such she scares many of us. Others of us are more comfortable with our own shadows and don’t find her that frightening. We all have a balance of shadow and light within us.” (Pg. 7) They add, “Witches do have the ability to behave in a negative way. But so do people of other faiths. Through spiritual understanding, Wiccan witches learn to curb the inherent human tendencies to get back at people or do negative things. Wiccan witches do not work with the negative or with evil. Wiccans believe they must act for the good of all, including themselves.” (Pg. 8)
They outline, “In the 1970s, the Council of American Withes, an organization that no longer exists, drew up a list of basic principles. We’ll paraphrase them here… *We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces… *We conceive of the creative power in the universe as both masculine and feminine. We value neither gander above the other… *We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy… *Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy of life, is that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the one true, right, and only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others… *We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as ‘Satan’ or ‘the devil’ as defined by Christian traditions.” (Pg. 10-11)
They state, “Witches now that whatever energy or actions they send out, whether it be negative or positive, will come back to them threefold… there is one core belief common to all Wiccan witches that none will deviate from. This central principle is called the Wiccan ‘Rede,’ and it is expressed… like this: ‘An it harm none, do what ye will.’’ (Pg. 13-14)
They note, “The idea that witches worship Satan is one of the most common misconceptions about witches. This mistaken idea probably developed hundreds of years ago because some Christian leaders encouraged their followers to view non-Christians as anti-Christian. If you weren’t a believer in Christ… you MUST be a believer in his evil opposite---Satan or the devil. The all-evil Satan is a Christian concept that plays no part in the Wiccan religion.” (Pg. 15)
They say, 'Everybody has the ability within him or her to do magick… Every time you engage in a ‘superstition,’ throwing salt over your shoulder or knocking on wood… You’re using magick. Performing magick … [is] a healthy form of self-expression because the magick in witchcraft comes from the power that is already within you.” (Pg. 16)
They outline, “Witches follow a variety of traditions, or practices. Here are descriptions of some of the different kinds: *Gardnerian Wicca: In the 1950s… Gerald Gardner … rewrote the rituals of the coven he belonged to so they would be more accurate. Gardnerian covens have a degree system in which one learns about the craft… Gardnerian covens work ‘skyclad.’ … *Alexandrian Wicca: Alex Sanders founded this tradition in the 1960s… much of their ritual is similar to Gardnerian practices, although Alexandrians place more emphasis on ceremonial magick… *Georgian Wicca: George Paterson founded the Georgian tradition in … 1970… Their rituals are drawn from Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions… *Algard Wicca: In 1972, Mary Nesnick combined the Gardnerian tradition with the Alexandrian to form the Algard tradition… Reclaiming: Starhawk, the popular author… received her training in the Feri tradition. In 1980, she and some of the women in her coven went on to form the Reclaiming Collective… *Dianic: … focuses on the Goddess with little talk about a God… *Celtic Wicca: This tradition looks to ancient Celtic and Druidic deities and beliefs with an emphasis on the magical and healing powers of plants, minerals… and Elemental spirits… *Black Forest Clan:… training in this tradition prepares one as a licensed member of the clergy and is not taken lightly.” (Pg. 30-33)
They add, “A solitaire, or solitary witch, can practice witchcraft in a variety of traditions or in no particular tradition… this witch can design a system of worship that works best for him or her… The proliferation of books about witchcraft ha aided the rise in the numbers of solitary witches… Solitaires act and learn on their own. To some this might seem lonely. To others is means great freedom and personal empowerment… An eclectic witch is … someone who pulls from many different traditions… [they] use whatever rituals or traditions that are drawn to---and whatever works!... Hereditary witches inherit the craft from older relatives who teach the family traditions.” (Pg. 33-34)
They acknowledge, “As with everything else, there are pros and cons to coven life. Let’s start with the positive… In a coven, you get a lot of support. You have people available who have more education in the craft than you do, so you can learn from them… The teachings in a coven have been handed down through a lineage---which is important to some people. THE CONS: The fact that there is structure in a coven can be a con for some people… Covens have certain expectations of each and every member that you may not be comfortable with… If you break the laws of the tradition of your coven, your coven and its community can oust you…” (Pg. 35)
They note, “Putting spells together is one of the central arts to witchcraft… Remember, you resort to crafting a spell to attain your goal only after you have exhausted all the mundane actions available to you…. In order to make your goal manifest, you must visualize it first, then focus on it and direct your energy toward it. A spell is a recipe that you put together to help yourself visualize your magical goal.” (Pg. 298)
They explain, “Most religions have a special symbol, and for Wiccans it is the pentagram. The points of the pentagram represent Akasha, or Spirit, and the four Elements, substances that are crucial to all life… The pentagram drawn in the air is an important part of Wiccan ritual. Banishing pentagrams remove all negativity from an Element. Invoking pentagrams bring in positive energy.” (Reference Card insert)
This is an unusually informative ‘introductory’ book, that will be of great interest to those seeking an outline/orientation to the topics.
February 14, 2012
A great introduction for the beginner even though I don't agree with all of the representations - such as Wicca and Witchcraft being the same thing, etc. As always, I would suggest using several sources and your own intuition when trying to sort out your personal path - especially as it relates to "origins", "definitions" and things like - what certain months of the year are "called" and why.
Still, I would recommend this as a starting point for anyone interested in learning about the Craft (either for themselves or for a better understanding of what their loved ones believe and follow).
Written in a concise and informative manner without a lot of filler and fluff. Don't let the portion of the title "Complete Idiot's Guide..." turn you away from this one.
Still, I would recommend this as a starting point for anyone interested in learning about the Craft (either for themselves or for a better understanding of what their loved ones believe and follow).
Written in a concise and informative manner without a lot of filler and fluff. Don't let the portion of the title "Complete Idiot's Guide..." turn you away from this one.
May 14, 2012
I may have to add or take away stars from this book at some point as I read it Way back when it was originally published but I remember it being pretty surprising for an "Idiots Guide." Though I must admit I really WISH the author didn't have to go with that format as I've always been turned off by the idea of "Idiot's Guides." Having derailed my review I now return to the tracks to say that (again from memory) this book had some info in it that I hadn't considered/read elsewhere which does bump it up a notch, but again it's been a while I will have to re-visit this one again in the near future in order to give it its true value.
September 7, 2016
I know some people don't like these books, I guess the name is a turn off for some. I personally love them, lots of information thats accurate in a single place, neatly organized and easy to find and understand.
There are many books and authors that could be recommended for someone who is Pagan or wants to learn. But this book is really great, packed full of all kinds of information. It was recommended to me by a dear friend and I have since recommended it to others just starting on the path.
There are many books and authors that could be recommended for someone who is Pagan or wants to learn. But this book is really great, packed full of all kinds of information. It was recommended to me by a dear friend and I have since recommended it to others just starting on the path.
March 16, 2012
This book was amazingly informative, well-written, inspirational, and interesting. A MUST-READ for anyone who is Wiccan or who wants to be, who wants to study Witchcraft, or who wants to have more knowledge in general under their belt. This book will forever stay in my possession and be my go-to manual for any questions I have along my path. It gives you all the basics without being overwhelming and boring. It is the perfect all the way around. I will probably even reread it again someday, which is something I never do.
August 28, 2014
as someone who has always found Wicca very interesting but didn't always know where to read about it, this book was very helpful. for someone more interested in practicing Wicca (rather than just learning about it) this book was also a very helpful guide.
longer review here.
longer review here.
November 13, 2014
I'd say this one is a bit of a misnomer: it's not for the complete idiot. I enjoyed it, found the layout interesting, and the little fact-bubbles were greatly appreciated. It's not great, but neither is it bad. It's what it says it is: an introduction.
It lacks slightly on the topic of ethics, but not overmuch. The basics of all varieties of wicca are given at least lip-service, and the solid amount of research shows through. I really enjoyed this book.
It lacks slightly on the topic of ethics, but not overmuch. The basics of all varieties of wicca are given at least lip-service, and the solid amount of research shows through. I really enjoyed this book.
September 7, 2019
It has information on the history of Witchcraft as well as spells, info on faeries etc. It has so much info you'd think it'd be hard to take in but its set out in an easy to read way.
Sometimes the layout can seem like its not being taken seriously, apart from that i'd say this book is brilliant.
Very good for beginners as it doesn't mislead and its not to heavy, and OK for more experienced people because its full of information.
Sometimes the layout can seem like its not being taken seriously, apart from that i'd say this book is brilliant.
Very good for beginners as it doesn't mislead and its not to heavy, and OK for more experienced people because its full of information.
January 19, 2020
Fairly simple and introductory, in its best meaning, but it fell short on aspects I wanted a deeper understanding on. However, the chapters are quite well organized and separated and it helps make things easier for us begginers. Also, i personally feel that it doesn’t make a clear differentiation between the religion and the craft, but maybe it was a perception(also taking into the account the title of the book).
November 29, 2008
A great book for anyone interested in easily learning about what wicca is all about. It is not some demonic evil cult, but moreso a nature-based religion about respect for all living things and the energy they give out and how to use this energy to benefit life. An easy read, simple to understand book.
July 14, 2010
So much has been misinterpreted about this ancient religion. Reading the history and the true meaning of Wicca was most interesting. Everybody should read this if not to only to dispel the falsehoods and bad rap a truly beautiful belief system it is. Simple, perhaps a little far-fetched, but the movies have it wrong and so did King James.
February 13, 2016
This book was perfect for me. Being a new pagan I am still trying to find my path. This book has given me the right start to progress into other reading materials, giving enough information on lots of subjects to whet the appetite, leaving me wanting to find out more on the subjects that interested me. As a beginner this is a great book to start you on your pagan/Wicca journey. Bright Blessings
October 8, 2015
Although I always recommend a book written by Scott Cunningham be your introduction into Wicca, this book is a good way to start also. It has fun activities to get you to think about your own thoughts and to gain new perspectives. This is book in any edition is a well rounded, approachable, easy to understand introduction into Wicca. The authors personalities are great and comforting also.
April 7, 2007
Even though alot of the information in this book is for people new to the craft and I already knew the basics when I read it, it was still a very informative book. It explained things very clearly. It is an excellent book for beginners. I LOVED IT!
March 18, 2010
This is one of my favorite Wicca and Witchcraft books. It isn't a how to but a history and background of the religion and its origin. It also has a decent amount of "how to" information in it. I love the candle, crystal, and herb guides in it and still use it for that alone.
March 23, 2011
Great Book for the beginner Pagan. I gift it to anyone who is serious about the path as a launch point. I use it as reference and as compass to send me in the right direction to find things related to all things pagan.
August 24, 2011
This was the first ever book I picked up on Paganism and Wicca. It's a fun read filled with lots of useful information. Perfect for beginners, but not to be used as a sole source on Witchcraft as a whole.
September 25, 2011
I read this one early on, and the thing I'm impressed with the most is the variety of information. From tools, to various types of spells, to a variety of magickal alphabets..just too many to list here, and it's a fun read.
April 8, 2015
This is a great introduction to Wicca and Witchcraft. It will answer many basic questions but leave you asking many more. I recommend it to anyone interested in Wicca or Witchcraft at all to get started on their journey.
August 21, 2007
amazing intro to wicca, a very good overview
May 19, 2008
Despite the title, this is a fine introduction to all things "crafty."
October 26, 2008
Great book for anyone thinking about are starting a year and a day in the Wiccan religion. Will always be on my bookshelf
December 19, 2008
This book is one of my favorites on the subject of Wicca. It is simple and easy to read, very through and concise. I reccomend it for any beginner
January 4, 2009
Not a bad introduction to Wicca. Focuses mostly on individual/eclectic practice.
May 25, 2009
I would suggest that all new people read this book when they start on their path Very informitive and easy to read and understand.
July 6, 2009
Good first book for people interested in Wicca. Easy to read. Covers a little bit of alot of aspects.
March 14, 2011
Great book for starters. I have learned so much about this religion through this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews