XolokReads reviewed Wicca and Witchcraft by Denise Zimmermann
Best intro book so far
4 stars
This the 6th or so intro to Wicca book that I've read in less than a month. While I do have a few quibbles with the text, The Awakened Life is probably at the top of the pyramid at the moment. The authors hit a good balance between religious/spiritual discussion and step-by-step information. What's more, I think their ethics fall more in line with a conscientious person of today than similar books. They are serious about the ecological justice angle of Wicca and encourage people to stand up for it. They are serious about the ethical rule against using witchcraft on someone who does not give permission first. These are two angles that I felt were missing in other Wicca 101 books and I was relieved to find it here.
The only issues I can recall off the top of my head are that they mention crystals without going into …
This the 6th or so intro to Wicca book that I've read in less than a month. While I do have a few quibbles with the text, The Awakened Life is probably at the top of the pyramid at the moment. The authors hit a good balance between religious/spiritual discussion and step-by-step information. What's more, I think their ethics fall more in line with a conscientious person of today than similar books. They are serious about the ecological justice angle of Wicca and encourage people to stand up for it. They are serious about the ethical rule against using witchcraft on someone who does not give permission first. These are two angles that I felt were missing in other Wicca 101 books and I was relieved to find it here.
The only issues I can recall off the top of my head are that they mention crystals without going into the topic of ethical sourcing. I get the feeling, however, that they absolutely would if they were aware.
They also mention adopting practices of non-European cultures without stopping to address cultural appropriation. Smudge sticks are a specific tradition for Native American tribes. Their appropriation by others has led to shortages of white sage. Unlike the pagan gods of Northern Europe, Britain, or the Mediterranean, Hindu gods are actively worshiped today outside of Wicca by over a billion people. They already have a millennia old religion built around them. It's weird to just pick them up and call them Wiccan - especially if you do not have any ancestry from that area. I'm not saying don't study Hinduism or consider the common thoughts and themes! Just don't pick up what another culture considers sacred and take it.