Spirit of the Witch: Religion and Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft
By Raven Grimassi
Llewellyn, 2003 ISBN 0738703389
$19.95 CDN

This book examines the spirituality of the path and of the individuals who walk it. While it could easily be someone's first book on witchcraft, it would most likely serve a reader best as a second beginner's text.

Grimassi approaches the central theme of the book focusing on the concept that practitioners as conscious participants in the pattern of nature, not just observers. The idea of conscious participation may be implied in Neo-Pagan practice, but it seems to be frequently forgotten in the mechanics along the way. In this text Grimassi examines the search for success and abundance as it takes place on the spiritual level as well as the mental level. He also analyses the importance of creativity and the use of mythos to maintain contact and sympathy with the energy of the seasonal cycle.

While the basic information is reiterative to anyone who has read an introductory text of Craft concepts, that same information is cast in a thoughtful light, examining why we do it, not how. All in all, this is a positive book for the beginner or intermediate mind.

(c) 2004 A. Murphy-Hiscock. Originally published in Wyntergreene, Ostara (March) 2004.