Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
When someone asks me about the Craft or about Wicca, I refer them to this book. Always.
Witchcraft is the practice of the “old ways” and can include the use of herbs (healing, magickal and non-magickal), candles, talismans, and perhaps prayers or spells, depending on your theology.
It’s not necessarily a religion or even a religious practice. There are Christian witches, Jewish witches, Buddhist witches, and so on. If you don’t delve into areas that might conflict, you can be a witch and a devout, practicing member of any religion, mainstream or not.
Wicca is the recognized religious belief system (and practices) that many people practice, worldwide, just as they always have.
This book gives you a good overview of both, but especially focuses on Wicca and how to practice as a solitary. If you are interested in Wicca at all, we always recommend starting as a solitary, and using the simplest (“An’ it harm none”) rituals and practices.
If you follow Scott Cunningham’s advice, you won’t get into trouble. (We can’t say the same about Silver Ravenwolf’s books, though they include a lot of excellent information.)
If you’re not sure about Wicca or witchcraft, this is the only book you need to read, to decide for yourself.
No matter what anyone tells you, or what you see in the media, this book represents the actual beliefs and practices of Wicca.
Skip the jewelry, the cloaks, the athames, the expensive candles and incenses, and just buy this book.
It will keep you busy for months, learning what really works.
Here’s the official description of this important classic.
Cunningham’s classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth.
Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God.
Wicca also includes Scott Cunningham’s own Book of Shadows and updated appendices of periodicals and occult suppliers.
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Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft – review
Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft is one of the most complete and reliable books for Witches. It is a full guide and workbook, taking an aspiring Witch from self-initiation through the equivalent of a third-degree Gardnerian.
- Ideal for Witches with some knowledge of Wicca and the Craft
- Light on beliefs but an abundance of practical advice, rituals, etc.
- One of the top three books for any Witch’s bookshelf
If you’ve considered joining a coven, this book will give you a good idea of what to expect as an initiate. While many covens aren’t as Gardnerian as this book, Buckland provides important history and insights. Most of the advice and rituals in this classic book are among the foundations of more modern practices.
If you’ve decided to become a solitary Witch, Buckland’s book will guide you through self-initiation and the most important practices and rituals. Most new Witches will need at least a year to complete this workbook, and many who are serious will extend their studies for many years.
First, I recommend Cunningham’s Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner for anyone who is new to Witchcraft. It’s not perfect, but it’s a very good starting point. I also suggest the Farrars’ Witches’ Bible as a companion to the Buckland workbook.
However, if you’ve already learned about Witchcraft and have decided to try it — or related earth-based spiritual beliefs and practices — Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft may be the only book you’ll need for a long time.
