Paganism, Wicca, Media
Crone’s Book of Charms & Spells
Crone's Book of Charms & Spells
This charming little magic book holds the carefully guarded secrets that a wise woman of bygone days could have penned in her grimoire by candlelight. Herbal elixirs, powerful charms, amulets, balms for all folk who come to her seeking their heart's
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#2 written by Kelly (Fantasy Literature) 3 weeks ago28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
Cheers for the Crone,February 6, 2002 ByThis review is from: Crone’s Book of Charms & Spells (Paperback)It;s almost become a cliche to say that Valerie Worth’s two “Crone’s Books” are written in a style so evocative that we really feel we’re reading our great-grandmother’s Victorian grimoire, or that we found this stuff in a trunk in the attic, etc. That’s because it’s true. Worth wasn’t a witch at all, but a poet, and she had always been fascinated by folk magic. From this fascination came the Crone’s Books, two books of magic written in an archaic and poetic style.
The device works perfectly. Come on now, fellow witches, admit it: when you first got into the Craft, you were secretly longing for some great-aunt to draw you aside and confess that your whole family had been witches since time immemorial.
This book was written in the sixties, but it *feels* like lovingly preserved family tradition, and therein lies the magic. The writing style takes you right into a frame of mind where you’re ready to believe anything is possible, and that’s always the best way to make your magic work!Now, not all the spells are useful, and some of them will be found unethical or offensive by some readers. However, there are some gems, especially the Ceremonies for the Year. (The book ends with a set of twelve rituals to celebrate the Wheel. They are absolutely spine-tingling.) Overall, _The Crone’s Book of Charms and Spells_ is a testament to the power of language to make magic. I’ve readtons of modern spell books that just don’t give the reader that magical feeling. This book inspires both the Witch and the fantasy writer in me. Brava.
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A pleasant, beautiful book.,
Yes, some of the spells involve dead flies, spiderwebs, and dead bird hearts… But they are, in fact, necessary components for pretty useful and creative charms.
Since I hate not knowing everything there is to know about a book before buying it, I’ll explain a bit about the various sections in “Charms and Spells.”
The beginning is indeed a short description of an old, wrinkled woman living inside a cottage deep in the woods, but it’s not a stereotype… Witches DO get old.
The second chapter is a compellation of magickal herbs and their various medicinal and charming purposes.
The third chapter consists of “thrice a dozen charms”… Mostly the heart of the book. A few may be considered useless and dangerous, but the rest are quite helpful and easy to create.
The fourth and final chapter consists of ceremonies to be performed for each month of the year… A good guideline if you want to do your part for the Earth during the holidays.
Scattered on almost every page of the book are striking images depicting every herb and act enlisted.
All in all, “The Crone’s Book of Charms and Spells” is a worthwhile purchase, and it’s a steal! Price doesn’t govern quality(like a few books I know), after all.
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