A WITCH'S NOTEBOOK: Lessons in Witchcraft

While it is commonplace to associate Witchcraft with spells and herbal remedies, it's not every day you hear a witch not only proclaim that the premise of magick lies in quantum physics, but then go on to describe what quantum physics is and how magick is its natural function. RavenWolf, writer and lifelong practitioner of the Craft, offers readers a window into her personal chronicles about becoming a witch, enlivening these with fascinating explanations about the relationship between Wicca and Zen Buddhism, instructions for incorporating symbols from traditional Pennsylvania Dutch quilting patterns into spells, and a discussion of how belief in the Saints is similar to the Wiccan practice of "walking with spirits." Designed as a five-month study guide for embarking on a spiritual journey, RavenWolf guides readers step by step and with painstaking (though necessary) detail through the central rituals within Wicca, consistently reassuring readers with her depth of knowledge and personal experience. While most of the time her prose is delightful and inviting, (filled with insights like: "Witchcraft is divine alchemy—a philosopher's stone for the modern world") it occasionally digresses into overly casual language that detracts from the general flow. Overall, RavenWolf has written a wonderful guidebook for readers who are serious about beginning a Wiccan spiritual journey, complete with an extensive herbal and spell guide. (May)