The Oracle

A Witches Bible: Janet & Stewart Farrar 1984

A thick volume which is actually 2 books put together ‘Eight Sabbats for Witches’ and ‘The Witches Way’. Very heavily Wiccan rather than focussing on Witchcraft. The first section is useful if you are interested in each sabbat and celebrating them as a coven. Great photography, which is hard to come across in the Wiccan world, illustrates the book nicely but does not over power the content.

The second volume contains thought provoking essays that again, whilst typically Wiccan, are also relevant to most Pagans. I personally would recommend this book for the essays that challenge the reader to actively address their practise and adjust their thinking, always a good thing!

This illustrated 350 page, American paperback book claims that everything you need to know about Witchcraft is here.

Covers;

The Sabbats.

Casting & banishing the magic circle.

The complete book of shadows.

The great rite.

Initiation rites.

Consecration rites.

Spells.

Witches tools.

Witchcraft & sex.

Running a coven.

Clairvoyance.

Astral projection.

One important thing to remember with this book is its very heavily based on Alexandrian tradition and in no way represents the whole of wicca as its title may often suggest. The interesting thing with the title is it was not the authors suggestion but rather the publishers. Janet in particular though it would mislead the public into the stereotypes that Wicca had already faced.

As a reader of this book I have to say that its informative and in my opinion has one of the most well written examples of celebrations, especailly those of the sabbats. Also for the person who is starting out it offers a very detailed look at some of the more challenging aspects of Wicca, if not from a very one sided view. These include detailed writings on what the great rite is to the more often misunderstood possitions in the broom dance.

The rituals are laid out wonderfully but if you are a solitary reading this book it is worth noting that although many of the rituals are written from a group perspective they can be inacted very easily alone with very little work. The books true strength in my eyes is that of its visually astounding illustrations in which you can see actual people working.

On a personal note I will also say that its rituals and concepts of deity have featured in many an open ritual. This is often the first book a coven will refer to if they have an open circle of any kind. This is purely based on the books ability to portray Wicca in a light that allows exploration and better understanding through education.

A very good book in some respects and now an accepted classic.......I actually celebrated Beltane with them some 20 years ago and they are both genuinely nice people (although Stewart has since sadly passed to the summerlands).

The only thing abouth this book for me was the chapter on self-initiation. Now self initiation rituals were quite common in books on the craft at that time (although I much prefer self-DEDICATION), and I have no problem with people going down that route if they choose - The debate about self-initiation is of course a very old one - however I think DIY 2nd and 3rd degrees is stretching the idea a bit far and I think they were treading on dangerous ground here......

BB Peter

I can agree with you on that front, but that is because as a solitary initiation is a very different thing from my observations. A lot of books do the same and try to form a coven ethic for a solitary Pagan, its doomed to failure because frankly both have different needs.

Peter you suddenly inspired me for a good old debate on this subject