This is a very comprehensive book that is written for more advanced witches. It contains facts and knowledge that I have not read before in other similar books. The writing style is clear and to-the-point and any superfluous words have been removed making it a tight, straightforward read.
The point of the book is to practice witchcraft in your own way. So although it contains correspondences and general witchcraft information such as moon phases, ritual tools, the eight Sabbats and other established elements of the craft, the author is clear about the importance of developing your own craft in relation to where and how you live, rather than relying on prescriptions set out in books.
I was really enjoying the book, then I reached this:
“Another cycle that has been traditionally linked to magick forces, for good and bad, is menstruation. Historically it has been seen as something powerful, but it has also been used to deem menstruating people, particularly women, as ‘unclean’”
So historically, menstruating women were unclean, but mentruating men were ok. What?? This is one of the most ridiculous sentences I have ever read. Can anyone seriously claim that men menstruate?
After reading this I began to question the wisdom and reliability of this author and found it hard to take anything else she wrote seriously, not because I think she truly believes that men menstruate, but because the inclusion of that sentence made her lose all credibility with me. It was a similar experience to when an obvious anachronism pulls you abruptly out of an historical novel and makes you distrust the rest of that author’s research. I’m surprised this got past the editors, to be honest.
Due to the fact that this completely spoiled the book for me I am taking two stars off my rating. It would have been three but for the fact that up to that point I was enjoying the book and was impressed with it.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐
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