Book Reviews: 2005
  Book Of Shadows by Migene González-Wippler
Llewellyn Worldwide
There are many books with the title of Book of Shadows. This one takes the reader through what happens in a traditional Gardnarian coven. Ms. Wippler outlines the basics of First, Second and Third Degree Initiation ceremonies and what they entail in Part One of the book. Part Two contains brief descriptive chapters for many of the items and spell work that are common to witches. She titles this chapter “Magic of the Witches.”
Ms. Wippler writes the book from an observer’s prospective. She has never been a Gardnerian coven initiate, claiming to be self-initiated instead, and writes her explanations in third person.
I have serious reservation about this book and would hesitate to recommend it to anyone not already familiar with the precepts of Gardnerian Wicca.
There are many passages that leave me in serious doubt about the ethics and veracity of the author’s claims. One such passage claimed that revenge is a witch’s obligation. This disturbed me a great deal as I have never heard of any Wiccan Path espousing harm or revenge against anyone. However, I am not nor have I ever been a Gardnerian coven initiate so I could not personally verify the statement. I was so disturbed by this particular passage that I asked Raymond Buckland about the truth of it. Since he studied with Gardner and is the father of Wicca in the United States, I figured if anyone would know for sure he would. His response was one of shock and he said there is NOTHING in the Gardnerian teachings that endorses vengeance. In fact it is specified: "Never boast, never threaten, never say you would wish ill of anyone."
In other places the author says that a specific spell is considered “black” magic and most witches wouldn’t do it. But she turns around and gives spell after spell that would bind or deny free will to the intended victim of the spell. Yes, I said victim. In my opinion, any spell that makes a person do your will in spite of his or her own wishes is the equivalent of a spiritual rape. Some of the formulas listed are toxic including one which is to be rubbed on a woman’s abdomen night after night when she is hoping to conceive. I cannot condone such misinformation especially when it can be so harmful both karmically and health wise.
The reader would do well to avoid this book.
 1
Goat (out of 5)
 
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