Paganism, Wicca, Media
Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days
Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days
In Old World Witchcraft, noted author Raven Grimassi covers totally new territory--in his work and in the world of popular witchcraft books published in the last few decades. This book is actually about "an enchanted worldview," one that has not nece
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#2 written by Michelle Van Buren 3 months ago11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
If you are a practicing Witch, you must read this book!,October 17, 2011 ByMichelle Van Buren (Ann Arbor, MI) –This review is from: Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days (Paperback)I have many of Raven Grimassi’s books, but Old World Witchcraft travels even deeper into the mysteries and uncovers some amazing history that every Witch should know. Grimassi reveals invaluable knowledge to the new, intermediate, and well seasoned, practicing Witch. This book is PACKED with Real Magick! You will feel that Blessed feeling all around you, as you read through the book. Old World Witchcraft covers everything you’d want to know about the history and meaning of the Cimaruta Charm, all the way to offering an exclusive reference guide with spells and incantations to conjour up in your Mortar & Pestle! Once again, Grimassi outdoes himself with his new book! The high quality of research and evidence we can expect from this well known and trusted author grace the pages of Old World Witchcraft, along with his uncanny ability to hold the reader’s attention all the way through the entire book.
One time I was reading one of Raven Grimassi’s books in the middle of a long distance move across the country. The book never left my side. Old World Witchcraft is now in my purse, as I find benefit in reading it and referring to it again and again. I’d give this book 6 stars if the ratings went beyond 5! Blessed Be ~ -
#3 written by Grumbles 3 months ago8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Old World Witchcraft – Ancient Ways for Modern Days,October 10, 2011 ByGrumbles –Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)This review is from: Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days (Paperback)Book Review
Old World Witchcraft – Ancient Ways for Modern Days
by Raven Grimassi © 2011. Weiser Books ISBN 978-1-57863-505-4, 246 pages including notes and bibliography. Paperback $19.95 (U.S.)I like to refer to a book such as `Old World Witchcraft Ancient Ways for Modern Days’ as a `left hand’ read, because one may feel the `magick’ of the words secreted between the pages. Archaeologists, theologians, and many mainstream scholars will likely take issue with this newly presented view, but that is their problem. The logic with which the ideas blossom as a living thing from seed to earth, earth to root, root to sprout, sprout to leaf, leaf to bud, bud to flower, flower to fruit, fruit to seed, and seed to earth spring forth from the pages to the reader with a living consciousness which cannot be denied, unless one is completely asleep.
There is a scholarly feel to Raven’s writing that many Occult/Pagan writers today would do well to emulate. The research shines throughout the book. Knowledge is power and a great gift when shared in a format which is both thought provoking and fresh. For the author, this book can be felt to be the birth of a child; a work of love.
The book is written in the way one would build a home; set upon a solid foundation of literary and archaeological evidence, and constructed by a builder with a wealth of knowledge in their Craft according to a plan.
The work is dedicated to all who suffered torment, pain or death for what they believed, or what others believed about them.The folkloric Witch is unmasked as a near thought form of preconceived notions, misunderstanding, erroneous suppositions, historical ignorance, superstition, and religious agenda driven falsehoods, which continue to be perpetuated by an unquestioned and accepted largely mythological and biased literary history. This falsehood is passed on by well meaning parents to their children and continues to fan disdain and outright hatred to this day. This is a chain of events this book will in a large part help to break with the laser-like light of knowledge. The fine line between the uneducated peasant and the educated scholar is also laid bare. The witch is stripped, exposed and found to be very real and entirely human.
A mystical alignment, an enchanted world view is explored, which separates and defines the Witch from other Crafts folk and Pagans. A Witch acknowledges a consciousness in all things as spirit or as shelters for spiritual beings. The Goddess and God are understood to be more like spirits or sentient forces. The Witch has a rapport with these beings and works with lunar and elemental forces, celestial and chthonic powers, utilizes the principle of the momentum of the past, and appropriate occult correspondences within the age old magical equation of time, space, and energy….
The Witch is seen to carry the veritable cord of `spiritual DNA’ of all Witches who have gone before. A preserved knowledge, the basic elementary understanding and use of which is thoroughly explained within the tenets of Raven Grimassi’s magical system of witchcraft, a collection of very old practices, themes, and concepts within a new structure known as the Ash, Birch, and Willow (ABW). Within the thorn gates of the ABW is found a commonality of core beliefs easily recognizable to anyone with a grasp of European Paganism. Through the ABW the concepts of otherworldly beings such as the Faery and the Asthesia, The Hallow, and Shadow are awakened to nudge something slumbering within the reader. Do you dare to awaken the witch within?
Gregory Rumbles
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About time something like this was written!,
The comments from other authors appearing in the beginning of the book pretty much says it all. They include praise from such authors as T. Thorn Coyle, Paul Beyerl, Christopher Penczak, Raymond Buckland, Andrew Theitic (The Witches Almanac), Orion Foxwood, and Eileen Holland (among others). The book is complimented on its historical support as well as an acknowledgement of the many years that Mr.Grimassi has studied and practiced Witchcraft with the insights and experience that only time and devotion can cultivate.
I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 because I wanted more exercises. Mr. Grimassi spends two chapters presenting folklore and history, which is fine but I would have liked more “to do” and less facts of interest in their place. But the chapter on “Witches: The Plant People” is amazing as it reveals a deep spiritual tradition connected to the Plant Kingdom and the Old Ways of Witchcraft. The last part of the book contains a “Grimoire” that offers many different things including spell casting, invocations, plant spirit sigils, and mystical ways of working with a mortar and pestle set.
Among the unique elements of this book is the revealing of what the author calls “The Five-Thorned Path” – which is a mystical design wherein the Witch explores the three great mysteries: Where did we come from, why are we here, and what happens after we die. The author talks about the image of five thorns encircling a center pentagon shape that represents the organic memory of the earth (a concept that the author calls Shadow). This design and its teachings leads the Witch inward to the center of her or his being where creator and the created, reunite in oneness.
The Table of Contents:
Chapter One: Hushed Voices of the Past
Chapter Two: Concocting a Witch
Chapter Three: Unearthing the Witch
Chapter Four: Witches: The Plant People
Chapter Five: The Books of Witchcraft: A Witch’s Grimoire
Appendix A: The Invisible God of Witchcraft
Appendix B: The Five-Thorned Path
There’s lots of things in the book that I’ve not seen before in print, which is refreshing. Thankfully this book isn’t yet another rehash of what we’ve seen over and over again. I believe this book provides not only what’s been missing all along, but also what we’ve hoped to one day find.
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