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 Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life .
Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail.
Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating.
Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort.
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Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life .
Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail.
Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating.
Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort.
Very poor - Cheap looking, 04 Jun 2008
The book and the items in there is to be fair like something you would get in a christmas cracker - really poor quailty - read book in two minutes then it went to charity shop - I have not been so disappointed in an item in my life :(
Very small and simple, but can get slightly boring, 11 Jan 2008
This set is very interesting, if you are interested in dragons. After a while though, it begins to get boring - because the spell book isn't very positive and a bit confusing... the items within the set are mysterious, acorrding to the book, like for instance, the charm is very nice looking but in the spell book it says that it should never be worn as it brings bad luck. This is a bit odd as it feels a waste...
It is a nice little set though so it is worth getting.I enjoy looking at the items and reading the little book, if you like dragons, you will probably like this set alot.
Its Great, 23 Jun 2007
From the first moment that i opened the box sent by amazon with this Dragonology kit inside i was over the moon! It gives a great insight into the series of Dragonology books and it is very entertaining over a long period of timw where you can read , experiment and play everyday!!!! The reason i rated it a 4 instead of a five was because I would of liked there to have been more inside the pack because it was so fantastic!!!!!
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Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life . Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail. Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating. Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort. Very poor - Cheap looking, 04 Jun 2008
The book and the items in there is to be fair like something you would get in a christmas cracker - really poor quailty - read book in two minutes then it went to charity shop - I have not been so disappointed in an item in my life :( Very small and simple, but can get slightly boring, 11 Jan 2008
This set is very interesting, if you are interested in dragons. After a while though, it begins to get boring - because the spell book isn't very positive and a bit confusing... the items within the set are mysterious, acorrding to the book, like for instance, the charm is very nice looking but in the spell book it says that it should never be worn as it brings bad luck. This is a bit odd as it feels a waste...
It is a nice little set though so it is worth getting.I enjoy looking at the items and reading the little book, if you like dragons, you will probably like this set alot.
Its Great, 23 Jun 2007
From the first moment that i opened the box sent by amazon with this Dragonology kit inside i was over the moon! It gives a great insight into the series of Dragonology books and it is very entertaining over a long period of timw where you can read , experiment and play everyday!!!! The reason i rated it a 4 instead of a five was because I would of liked there to have been more inside the pack because it was so fantastic!!!!! magical herbs only, but very practical guide, 10 Jul 2008
i will admit, it frustrates me a little that there is only magic herbal properties in this book. however, I understand that cunningham has done this so as not to confuse readers
despite this it is a book i constantly read through for all my magical herbal needs. clearly written with helpful tables, pictures and a folk name cross reference, it is my first recommendation for a magical herbal book Doubtful accuracy, 31 May 2007
Don't use this as a source for information about medicinal herbs. There are a lot of inaccuracies in this area- for an introduction to medical herbalism, look for works (for example) by either David Hoffman or Penelope Ody.
Knowing about the inaccuracies in the information on the medicinal qualities of herbs has made me very wary about the information given on the magical qualities of herbs. Cunningham may be more knowledgable and accurate when it comes to magical uses of herbs than he is on the subject of medical herbalism, but I have been reluctant to rely on this as a single source for magical herbalism. Unfortunately there are very few other reference works on magical herbalism in print to use for cross-referencing, and Cunningham's book is usually recommended as the standard work.
Dreadful - gives genuine practitioners a bad name., 12 Jan 2006
I was very disappointed with this book. After reading so many positive reviews I was expecting a serious work based on careful research, but it is nothing of the kind. The descriptions of magical properties of herbs are extremely vague and give no information as to the source of the lore. Some of them miss out traditional magical properties that have been recognised for thousands of years (e.g. mandrake) while others descriptions are just plain wrong. For example, he tells us that Absinthe is 'highly addictive' and dangerous, both of which are simply untrue. Most of the books in the bibliography are American. While this is not necessarily a bad thing (there are some worthwhile books by American authors on this subject), it does suggest a certain laziness in his research. He makes very grand claims for the power of herbs, going so far as to claim that hanging a herb bag in your house is a more effective deterrent to burglars than getting decent locks. This is very obviously not true, but similarly outlandish claims are made throughought the book with no evidence to back them up and no sources given. My impression is that he has not critically analysed any of his sources, and has simply made up information to fill in any gaps. Lots of illustrations are missing and some of the descriptions appear in the wrong place (e.g. garlic under aloe instead of allium). Books like this give practitioners of magic a bad name. There is a sound basis for herbal magic, and it's unfortunate that the author could not restrict himself to these rather than abandoning sense and manufacturing claims which have no basis. It is a book for people who would like to feel that they can work effective magic without doing any research, but is of no use to anyone with a serious interest in the uses of herbs or the nature of magic. Strictly for new-agers - a very shoddy piece of work.
How did I cope before it!, 22 Dec 2004
I have had mine a few years now and I wish I had put a protective cover on it as I have really given mine a bashing! It is great for information when working spells and a fantastic read for when you are creating. A great book for novices or more familiar Wiccans, a source of inspiration.
An essential for people who work with herbs., 09 Jul 2004
This is a brilliant book and very informative. It's an essential for those who work with herbs a lot for magical uses, it's a great handbook to use when looking up certain properties of a herb, so great if you are also wanting to make your own gifts (herb pillows, bath teas etc).
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Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life . Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail. Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating. Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort. Very poor - Cheap looking, 04 Jun 2008
The book and the items in there is to be fair like something you would get in a christmas cracker - really poor quailty - read book in two minutes then it went to charity shop - I have not been so disappointed in an item in my life :( Very small and simple, but can get slightly boring, 11 Jan 2008
This set is very interesting, if you are interested in dragons. After a while though, it begins to get boring - because the spell book isn't very positive and a bit confusing... the items within the set are mysterious, acorrding to the book, like for instance, the charm is very nice looking but in the spell book it says that it should never be worn as it brings bad luck. This is a bit odd as it feels a waste...
It is a nice little set though so it is worth getting.I enjoy looking at the items and reading the little book, if you like dragons, you will probably like this set alot.
Its Great, 23 Jun 2007
From the first moment that i opened the box sent by amazon with this Dragonology kit inside i was over the moon! It gives a great insight into the series of Dragonology books and it is very entertaining over a long period of timw where you can read , experiment and play everyday!!!! The reason i rated it a 4 instead of a five was because I would of liked there to have been more inside the pack because it was so fantastic!!!!! magical herbs only, but very practical guide, 10 Jul 2008
i will admit, it frustrates me a little that there is only magic herbal properties in this book. however, I understand that cunningham has done this so as not to confuse readers
despite this it is a book i constantly read through for all my magical herbal needs. clearly written with helpful tables, pictures and a folk name cross reference, it is my first recommendation for a magical herbal book Doubtful accuracy, 31 May 2007
Don't use this as a source for information about medicinal herbs. There are a lot of inaccuracies in this area- for an introduction to medical herbalism, look for works (for example) by either David Hoffman or Penelope Ody.
Knowing about the inaccuracies in the information on the medicinal qualities of herbs has made me very wary about the information given on the magical qualities of herbs. Cunningham may be more knowledgable and accurate when it comes to magical uses of herbs than he is on the subject of medical herbalism, but I have been reluctant to rely on this as a single source for magical herbalism. Unfortunately there are very few other reference works on magical herbalism in print to use for cross-referencing, and Cunningham's book is usually recommended as the standard work.
Dreadful - gives genuine practitioners a bad name., 12 Jan 2006
I was very disappointed with this book. After reading so many positive reviews I was expecting a serious work based on careful research, but it is nothing of the kind. The descriptions of magical properties of herbs are extremely vague and give no information as to the source of the lore. Some of them miss out traditional magical properties that have been recognised for thousands of years (e.g. mandrake) while others descriptions are just plain wrong. For example, he tells us that Absinthe is 'highly addictive' and dangerous, both of which are simply untrue. Most of the books in the bibliography are American. While this is not necessarily a bad thing (there are some worthwhile books by American authors on this subject), it does suggest a certain laziness in his research. He makes very grand claims for the power of herbs, going so far as to claim that hanging a herb bag in your house is a more effective deterrent to burglars than getting decent locks. This is very obviously not true, but similarly outlandish claims are made throughought the book with no evidence to back them up and no sources given. My impression is that he has not critically analysed any of his sources, and has simply made up information to fill in any gaps. Lots of illustrations are missing and some of the descriptions appear in the wrong place (e.g. garlic under aloe instead of allium). Books like this give practitioners of magic a bad name. There is a sound basis for herbal magic, and it's unfortunate that the author could not restrict himself to these rather than abandoning sense and manufacturing claims which have no basis. It is a book for people who would like to feel that they can work effective magic without doing any research, but is of no use to anyone with a serious interest in the uses of herbs or the nature of magic. Strictly for new-agers - a very shoddy piece of work.
How did I cope before it!, 22 Dec 2004
I have had mine a few years now and I wish I had put a protective cover on it as I have really given mine a bashing! It is great for information when working spells and a fantastic read for when you are creating. A great book for novices or more familiar Wiccans, a source of inspiration.
An essential for people who work with herbs., 09 Jul 2004
This is a brilliant book and very informative. It's an essential for those who work with herbs a lot for magical uses, it's a great handbook to use when looking up certain properties of a herb, so great if you are also wanting to make your own gifts (herb pillows, bath teas etc).
Some useful info but a bit fluffy for my taste, 19 Sep 2007
Since everyone else seems to be raving about this book I thought I'd offer an alternative view. I find the whole thing a little fluffy and fuzzy, frankly. That's not to say that there isn't useful information in here, but I'm not sure that one couldn't dig that up with a little searching on the internet.
A lot of the information is either common sense magickal knowledge (he bangs on a lot about focusing on intent during preparation) or could be better found in a book of correspondances such as Crowley's 777 or similar. There were some new correspondances I wasn't aware of, however.
The recipes section is a little odd also. It may give you a recipe and then tell you to not even consider using it, presumably since it contains strong or dangerous substances - perhaps a symptom of a culture of litagy, but nevertheless I found it strange. A simple disclaimer at the beginning of the book would be sufficient, surely? What's more, the recipes don't really contain any information other than the ingredients. He never mentions his sources for these recipes and on occasion says - "I've never been able to find substance X so use a substitute", marking out a few recipes as being not his invention. Where traditional recipes exist it would have been useful for them to be marked as such, and likewise where a recipe is simply his own devising.
My final criticism is one that I would level at all Cunningham's stuff that I've read which is that I find his writing style a little irritating. He has a tendency to point out the obvious and for condecension, and he constructs arguments in a fuzzy manner. I find it a little weak and couched in too much new age fluffiness. Being used to reading Crowley, and being accustomed to that degree of mental alacrity, it is too large a step back to stomach.
All in all some useful stuff here, if you can stomach the presentation, but little that could not be found on the internet.
Best book on potions etc you can have, 27 Jun 2005
Wonderful book. I am quite new to wicca and have found this book the most helpful so far for bath brews, oils and insense. Scott cunningham was one of the greats when it came to writing books of the craft and long may he continue to be. You won't go wrong with buying this book.
Excellent book, 06 Jan 2005
This book is great,iv had this for a while now and i use it the most especially when i was a beginner,its excellent you can make up your own spells with the information,different oils for different outcomes,which incense to burn for what,how to make bath oils and what oils to mix and make magical oils for spell workings its so good,a full list of oils and what they are used for,its a definate must for any one following the wiccan path or anyone really whos interested in oils,and incenses,well worth the money
Brilliant book for everyone., 09 Jul 2004
I was so happy to recieve this book, it is so helpful and especially great for kitchen witches who work a lot with herbs.
To me it's an essential, and i highly recommend to just about everyone, as it also shows how to make gifts such as herbal bath teas, so you can even treat yourself. Well worth it!
Incense, Oils & Brews--Scott Cunningham, 11 Jun 2004
Well thumbed, dirty around the edges & with so many place markings what else can I say!!
Being also an Aromatherapist & with a good grasp of the do's & dont's of the "Oil/Herb World" I found this a very welcome volume to my very extensive "libary".
What ever you believe in & whatever you decide to call it. It will work.
Good to read with many varied "creams/lotions & potions" they are what you make of them, wether you 'empower'or not, the recipes/concoctions - for want of better words- should be done with love- as should anything that you make for yourself or for others,
So enjoy & take it as it is, an interesting volume well worth the space that it takes in your library.
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Product Description
Until recently Wiccans--the name that present day witches prefer--used to claim that their religion was a recreation, even a continuation of ancient beliefs widespread in Europe before Christianity drove them out. Most of today's Wiccans are more honest, more ready to accept that theirs is a new religion, self-consciously created to serve a need not met by existing mainstream religions. Ronald Hutton's The Triumph of he Moon is a history of modern pagan witchcraft, examining not only its origins half a century ago but the many ideas and enthusiasms of the last few centuries that paved the way for it. He finds powerful influences in 18th and 19th-century Freemasonry, 19th-century Rosicrucian-type societies, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as in the tradition of wise women, dispensers of herbal remedies and folk wisdom. Interestingly, these last, who many Wiccans would see as the main forerunners of themselves, Hutton finds to have little real significance. With the benefit of scholarly insight, he also points out the unreliability of the most influential literary and / or supposedly academic works supporting the idea of ancient European religion, such as Charles Leland's Aradia, Margaret Murray's The Witch-Cult in Western Europe and The God of the Witches, J.G. Frazer's The Golden Bough and Robert Graves' The White Goddess. Hutton, a regular contributor to TV documentaries about Neo-Pagansism, is Professor of History at Bristol University. The Triumph of the Moon is that rarity, a very readable academic book, which will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in the history of witchcraft. --David V. Barrett
Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life . Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail. Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating. Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort. Very poor - Cheap looking, 04 Jun 2008
The book and the items in there is to be fair like something you would get in a christmas cracker - really poor quailty - read book in two minutes then it went to charity shop - I have not been so disappointed in an item in my life :( Very small and simple, but can get slightly boring, 11 Jan 2008
This set is very interesting, if you are interested in dragons. After a while though, it begins to get boring - because the spell book isn't very positive and a bit confusing... the items within the set are mysterious, acorrding to the book, like for instance, the charm is very nice looking but in the spell book it says that it should never be worn as it brings bad luck. This is a bit odd as it feels a waste...
It is a nice little set though so it is worth getting.I enjoy looking at the items and reading the little book, if you like dragons, you will probably like this set alot.
Its Great, 23 Jun 2007
From the first moment that i opened the box sent by amazon with this Dragonology kit inside i was over the moon! It gives a great insight into the series of Dragonology books and it is very entertaining over a long period of timw where you can read , experiment and play everyday!!!! The reason i rated it a 4 instead of a five was because I would of liked there to have been more inside the pack because it was so fantastic!!!!! magical herbs only, but very practical guide, 10 Jul 2008
i will admit, it frustrates me a little that there is only magic herbal properties in this book. however, I understand that cunningham has done this so as not to confuse readers
despite this it is a book i constantly read through for all my magical herbal needs. clearly written with helpful tables, pictures and a folk name cross reference, it is my first recommendation for a magical herbal book Doubtful accuracy, 31 May 2007
Don't use this as a source for information about medicinal herbs. There are a lot of inaccuracies in this area- for an introduction to medical herbalism, look for works (for example) by either David Hoffman or Penelope Ody.
Knowing about the inaccuracies in the information on the medicinal qualities of herbs has made me very wary about the information given on the magical qualities of herbs. Cunningham may be more knowledgable and accurate when it comes to magical uses of herbs than he is on the subject of medical herbalism, but I have been reluctant to rely on this as a single source for magical herbalism. Unfortunately there are very few other reference works on magical herbalism in print to use for cross-referencing, and Cunningham's book is usually recommended as the standard work.
Dreadful - gives genuine practitioners a bad name., 12 Jan 2006
I was very disappointed with this book. After reading so many positive reviews I was expecting a serious work based on careful research, but it is nothing of the kind. The descriptions of magical properties of herbs are extremely vague and give no information as to the source of the lore. Some of them miss out traditional magical properties that have been recognised for thousands of years (e.g. mandrake) while others descriptions are just plain wrong. For example, he tells us that Absinthe is 'highly addictive' and dangerous, both of which are simply untrue. Most of the books in the bibliography are American. While this is not necessarily a bad thing (there are some worthwhile books by American authors on this subject), it does suggest a certain laziness in his research. He makes very grand claims for the power of herbs, going so far as to claim that hanging a herb bag in your house is a more effective deterrent to burglars than getting decent locks. This is very obviously not true, but similarly outlandish claims are made throughought the book with no evidence to back them up and no sources given. My impression is that he has not critically analysed any of his sources, and has simply made up information to fill in any gaps. Lots of illustrations are missing and some of the descriptions appear in the wrong place (e.g. garlic under aloe instead of allium). Books like this give practitioners of magic a bad name. There is a sound basis for herbal magic, and it's unfortunate that the author could not restrict himself to these rather than abandoning sense and manufacturing claims which have no basis. It is a book for people who would like to feel that they can work effective magic without doing any research, but is of no use to anyone with a serious interest in the uses of herbs or the nature of magic. Strictly for new-agers - a very shoddy piece of work.
How did I cope before it!, 22 Dec 2004
I have had mine a few years now and I wish I had put a protective cover on it as I have really given mine a bashing! It is great for information when working spells and a fantastic read for when you are creating. A great book for novices or more familiar Wiccans, a source of inspiration.
An essential for people who work with herbs., 09 Jul 2004
This is a brilliant book and very informative. It's an essential for those who work with herbs a lot for magical uses, it's a great handbook to use when looking up certain properties of a herb, so great if you are also wanting to make your own gifts (herb pillows, bath teas etc).
Some useful info but a bit fluffy for my taste, 19 Sep 2007
Since everyone else seems to be raving about this book I thought I'd offer an alternative view. I find the whole thing a little fluffy and fuzzy, frankly. That's not to say that there isn't useful information in here, but I'm not sure that one couldn't dig that up with a little searching on the internet.
A lot of the information is either common sense magickal knowledge (he bangs on a lot about focusing on intent during preparation) or could be better found in a book of correspondances such as Crowley's 777 or similar. There were some new correspondances I wasn't aware of, however.
The recipes section is a little odd also. It may give you a recipe and then tell you to not even consider using it, presumably since it contains strong or dangerous substances - perhaps a symptom of a culture of litagy, but nevertheless I found it strange. A simple disclaimer at the beginning of the book would be sufficient, surely? What's more, the recipes don't really contain any information other than the ingredients. He never mentions his sources for these recipes and on occasion says - "I've never been able to find substance X so use a substitute", marking out a few recipes as being not his invention. Where traditional recipes exist it would have been useful for them to be marked as such, and likewise where a recipe is simply his own devising.
My final criticism is one that I would level at all Cunningham's stuff that I've read which is that I find his writing style a little irritating. He has a tendency to point out the obvious and for condecension, and he constructs arguments in a fuzzy manner. I find it a little weak and couched in too much new age fluffiness. Being used to reading Crowley, and being accustomed to that degree of mental alacrity, it is too large a step back to stomach.
All in all some useful stuff here, if you can stomach the presentation, but little that could not be found on the internet.
Best book on potions etc you can have, 27 Jun 2005
Wonderful book. I am quite new to wicca and have found this book the most helpful so far for bath brews, oils and insense. Scott cunningham was one of the greats when it came to writing books of the craft and long may he continue to be. You won't go wrong with buying this book.
Excellent book, 06 Jan 2005
This book is great,iv had this for a while now and i use it the most especially when i was a beginner,its excellent you can make up your own spells with the information,different oils for different outcomes,which incense to burn for what,how to make bath oils and what oils to mix and make magical oils for spell workings its so good,a full list of oils and what they are used for,its a definate must for any one following the wiccan path or anyone really whos interested in oils,and incenses,well worth the money
Brilliant book for everyone., 09 Jul 2004
I was so happy to recieve this book, it is so helpful and especially great for kitchen witches who work a lot with herbs.
To me it's an essential, and i highly recommend to just about everyone, as it also shows how to make gifts such as herbal bath teas, so you can even treat yourself. Well worth it!
Incense, Oils & Brews--Scott Cunningham, 11 Jun 2004
Well thumbed, dirty around the edges & with so many place markings what else can I say!!
Being also an Aromatherapist & with a good grasp of the do's & dont's of the "Oil/Herb World" I found this a very welcome volume to my very extensive "libary".
What ever you believe in & whatever you decide to call it. It will work.
Good to read with many varied "creams/lotions & potions" they are what you make of them, wether you 'empower'or not, the recipes/concoctions - for want of better words- should be done with love- as should anything that you make for yourself or for others,
So enjoy & take it as it is, an interesting volume well worth the space that it takes in your library.
Immensely detailed and riveting history of neo paganism , 11 Jul 2008
Profound and sympathetic knowledge permeates the whole of this superb history tracing the origins of modern pagan beliefs back to the eighteenth century.
The first part entitled "Macrocosm" examines each component part of the new religion and how it evolved into its final form. The second part entitled "Microcosm" is about the personalities, their rivalries, and the divergent nature of the outcomes.
Hutton is undoubtedly correct that neo paganism as known today is a modern construct, but although he is even handed in his treatment of the subject, one has to remind oneself when reading the book that there is undoubtedly an ancient precedent.
In addition Hutton closely observed and researched 21 covens comprising 213 practitioners and the results form a fascinating conclusion to a remarkable achievement.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
Dated and actually quite a bit biased?, 12 Jun 2008
Having just read Wicca Magickal Beginnings for the first time, I thought I would revisit Triumph of the Moon (and a few other works) to see what I think of it after all these years. I read Triumph of the Moon when it first came out you see and then I was relatively new to the world of paganism. My knowledge and understanding has grown quite a lot since then and I was surprised that I found many errors in the book which I never noticed the first time. Some of them have already been noted by other reviewers here so I won't go into detail.
All and all this is a great book, but it is a product of its time. I got the feeling that the author might have been a bit biased in places with the views he presented. It also in hindsight seemed really strange to me that he included large sections on authors such as Starhawk, who is clearly not connected to either British Paganism or to the Wicca of Gerald Gardner. So why include her? Just to be sarcastic and put her down? I am not a great fan of the work of American pagans in general, but it has to be said that Starhawk's material was hugely influential. By including her, the author is giving credit to her and promoting her approach which he clearly does not agree with in the first place. All the same, one has to concede that she did have an influence and therefore might be worthy of inclusion.
He other thing that struck me is that the author clearly set out to prove his point that Wicca is the only religion given by the UK to the rest of the world. How can this be true? What about Druidry? The Church of England? Aetherius? Celtic Christianity? Its a nice idea, but its not true and unfortunately now a great many people echo him in saying that it is the only religion given by the UK to the world! The power of the written word in the hands of those who follow, rather than think.
Read widely on the subject of your history, be it the history of your culture, religion or origins. Knowledge is power!
Brilliant. A book for open minds., 29 Feb 2008
Buy it. I've had this book for a couple of years and keep going back to it (rare for me with most the books on the craft I have.) Yeah Mr Hutton writes like the accademic he is and at times you'll feel like you're sat in a uni lecture but stick with it.
This book is nothing but information that the eager pagan mind can eat up. Blows the myths and all the 'fictional' history of the craft. My favourite part is the second section that deals with the history of modern witchcraft, at present, though that might change, I feel, with additional readings. I'm a cottage witch and keep feeling a urge to back and read the chapters on the cunning folk for the imformation I might have missed on the first few reads.
Don't buy it if you like the Llewllyn 'be a witch, power, power, power, learn spells rule the world.' DO BUY IT if you've out grown that kind of stuff and wan't to know where the 'real' modern wiccan movement originated from and the true pagan liniage of the craft.
A classic for the well read wiccan's library.
My tip: order some high-lighter pens as well for all those parts relevant to the craft you're interested in.
Those who aren't wiccan/pagan but interested, please read it. So much truth about England's folk lore you can't afford to miss it. This book shoots holes in many of the modern wiccan claims you'll love it as much as the objective wiccans who read it. You might also learn something from it about the bigotry, highlighted in the first part of the book, of those who were different or practiced the old folk methods as part of their heritage.
A blessing on Mr Hutton for telling the truth (all be long winded a times)
Fantastic!, 29 May 2006
Hutton's treatment of the history of modern Paganism not only clarified the facts about paganism as a whole, it also gave me a greater understanding of what draws me to paganism. He sweeps away some of the myths around modern Paganism while recognising it as a valid spirituality. I thoroughly recommend this book to any Pagan, or indeed to any non-Pagan.
Fab & Must Read, 11 Sep 2005
It took me a long time to read this book and then I had to go back and start all over again. There is simply no doubt that this book is a must read for anyone interested in and everyone practicing Wicca today. Get a copy, read it and keep it for reference. It provides not just an overview of the history of the people and places, but also useful information which may help you reconstruct rituals. (Although not intended in that way)
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Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life . Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail. Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating. Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort. Very poor - Cheap looking, 04 Jun 2008
The book and the items in there is to be fair like something you would get in a christmas cracker - really poor quailty - read book in two minutes then it went to charity shop - I have not been so disappointed in an item in my life :( Very small and simple, but can get slightly boring, 11 Jan 2008
This set is very interesting, if you are interested in dragons. After a while though, it begins to get boring - because the spell book isn't very positive and a bit confusing... the items within the set are mysterious, acorrding to the book, like for instance, the charm is very nice looking but in the spell book it says that it should never be worn as it brings bad luck. This is a bit odd as it feels a waste...
It is a nice little set though so it is worth getting.I enjoy looking at the items and reading the little book, if you like dragons, you will probably like this set alot.
Its Great, 23 Jun 2007
From the first moment that i opened the box sent by amazon with this Dragonology kit inside i was over the moon! It gives a great insight into the series of Dragonology books and it is very entertaining over a long period of timw where you can read , experiment and play everyday!!!! The reason i rated it a 4 instead of a five was because I would of liked there to have been more inside the pack because it was so fantastic!!!!! magical herbs only, but very practical guide, 10 Jul 2008
i will admit, it frustrates me a little that there is only magic herbal properties in this book. however, I understand that cunningham has done this so as not to confuse readers
despite this it is a book i constantly read through for all my magical herbal needs. clearly written with helpful tables, pictures and a folk name cross reference, it is my first recommendation for a magical herbal book Doubtful accuracy, 31 May 2007
Don't use this as a source for information about medicinal herbs. There are a lot of inaccuracies in this area- for an introduction to medical herbalism, look for works (for example) by either David Hoffman or Penelope Ody.
Knowing about the inaccuracies in the information on the medicinal qualities of herbs has made me very wary about the information given on the magical qualities of herbs. Cunningham may be more knowledgable and accurate when it comes to magical uses of herbs than he is on the subject of medical herbalism, but I have been reluctant to rely on this as a single source for magical herbalism. Unfortunately there are very few other reference works on magical herbalism in print to use for cross-referencing, and Cunningham's book is usually recommended as the standard work.
Dreadful - gives genuine practitioners a bad name., 12 Jan 2006
I was very disappointed with this book. After reading so many positive reviews I was expecting a serious work based on careful research, but it is nothing of the kind. The descriptions of magical properties of herbs are extremely vague and give no information as to the source of the lore. Some of them miss out traditional magical properties that have been recognised for thousands of years (e.g. mandrake) while others descriptions are just plain wrong. For example, he tells us that Absinthe is 'highly addictive' and dangerous, both of which are simply untrue. Most of the books in the bibliography are American. While this is not necessarily a bad thing (there are some worthwhile books by American authors on this subject), it does suggest a certain laziness in his research. He makes very grand claims for the power of herbs, going so far as to claim that hanging a herb bag in your house is a more effective deterrent to burglars than getting decent locks. This is very obviously not true, but similarly outlandish claims are made throughought the book with no evidence to back them up and no sources given. My impression is that he has not critically analysed any of his sources, and has simply made up information to fill in any gaps. Lots of illustrations are missing and some of the descriptions appear in the wrong place (e.g. garlic under aloe instead of allium). Books like this give practitioners of magic a bad name. There is a sound basis for herbal magic, and it's unfortunate that the author could not restrict himself to these rather than abandoning sense and manufacturing claims which have no basis. It is a book for people who would like to feel that they can work effective magic without doing any research, but is of no use to anyone with a serious interest in the uses of herbs or the nature of magic. Strictly for new-agers - a very shoddy piece of work.
How did I cope before it!, 22 Dec 2004
I have had mine a few years now and I wish I had put a protective cover on it as I have really given mine a bashing! It is great for information when working spells and a fantastic read for when you are creating. A great book for novices or more familiar Wiccans, a source of inspiration.
An essential for people who work with herbs., 09 Jul 2004
This is a brilliant book and very informative. It's an essential for those who work with herbs a lot for magical uses, it's a great handbook to use when looking up certain properties of a herb, so great if you are also wanting to make your own gifts (herb pillows, bath teas etc).
Some useful info but a bit fluffy for my taste, 19 Sep 2007
Since everyone else seems to be raving about this book I thought I'd offer an alternative view. I find the whole thing a little fluffy and fuzzy, frankly. That's not to say that there isn't useful information in here, but I'm not sure that one couldn't dig that up with a little searching on the internet.
A lot of the information is either common sense magickal knowledge (he bangs on a lot about focusing on intent during preparation) or could be better found in a book of correspondances such as Crowley's 777 or similar. There were some new correspondances I wasn't aware of, however.
The recipes section is a little odd also. It may give you a recipe and then tell you to not even consider using it, presumably since it contains strong or dangerous substances - perhaps a symptom of a culture of litagy, but nevertheless I found it strange. A simple disclaimer at the beginning of the book would be sufficient, surely? What's more, the recipes don't really contain any information other than the ingredients. He never mentions his sources for these recipes and on occasion says - "I've never been able to find substance X so use a substitute", marking out a few recipes as being not his invention. Where traditional recipes exist it would have been useful for them to be marked as such, and likewise where a recipe is simply his own devising.
My final criticism is one that I would level at all Cunningham's stuff that I've read which is that I find his writing style a little irritating. He has a tendency to point out the obvious and for condecension, and he constructs arguments in a fuzzy manner. I find it a little weak and couched in too much new age fluffiness. Being used to reading Crowley, and being accustomed to that degree of mental alacrity, it is too large a step back to stomach.
All in all some useful stuff here, if you can stomach the presentation, but little that could not be found on the internet.
Best book on potions etc you can have, 27 Jun 2005
Wonderful book. I am quite new to wicca and have found this book the most helpful so far for bath brews, oils and insense. Scott cunningham was one of the greats when it came to writing books of the craft and long may he continue to be. You won't go wrong with buying this book.
Excellent book, 06 Jan 2005
This book is great,iv had this for a while now and i use it the most especially when i was a beginner,its excellent you can make up your own spells with the information,different oils for different outcomes,which incense to burn for what,how to make bath oils and what oils to mix and make magical oils for spell workings its so good,a full list of oils and what they are used for,its a definate must for any one following the wiccan path or anyone really whos interested in oils,and incenses,well worth the money
Brilliant book for everyone., 09 Jul 2004
I was so happy to recieve this book, it is so helpful and especially great for kitchen witches who work a lot with herbs.
To me it's an essential, and i highly recommend to just about everyone, as it also shows how to make gifts such as herbal bath teas, so you can even treat yourself. Well worth it!
Incense, Oils & Brews--Scott Cunningham, 11 Jun 2004
Well thumbed, dirty around the edges & with so many place markings what else can I say!!
Being also an Aromatherapist & with a good grasp of the do's & dont's of the "Oil/Herb World" I found this a very welcome volume to my very extensive "libary".
What ever you believe in & whatever you decide to call it. It will work.
Good to read with many varied "creams/lotions & potions" they are what you make of them, wether you 'empower'or not, the recipes/concoctions - for want of better words- should be done with love- as should anything that you make for yourself or for others,
So enjoy & take it as it is, an interesting volume well worth the space that it takes in your library.
Immensely detailed and riveting history of neo paganism , 11 Jul 2008
Profound and sympathetic knowledge permeates the whole of this superb history tracing the origins of modern pagan beliefs back to the eighteenth century.
The first part entitled "Macrocosm" examines each component part of the new religion and how it evolved into its final form. The second part entitled "Microcosm" is about the personalities, their rivalries, and the divergent nature of the outcomes.
Hutton is undoubtedly correct that neo paganism as known today is a modern construct, but although he is even handed in his treatment of the subject, one has to remind oneself when reading the book that there is undoubtedly an ancient precedent.
In addition Hutton closely observed and researched 21 covens comprising 213 practitioners and the results form a fascinating conclusion to a remarkable achievement.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
Dated and actually quite a bit biased?, 12 Jun 2008
Having just read Wicca Magickal Beginnings for the first time, I thought I would revisit Triumph of the Moon (and a few other works) to see what I think of it after all these years. I read Triumph of the Moon when it first came out you see and then I was relatively new to the world of paganism. My knowledge and understanding has grown quite a lot since then and I was surprised that I found many errors in the book which I never noticed the first time. Some of them have already been noted by other reviewers here so I won't go into detail.
All and all this is a great book, but it is a product of its time. I got the feeling that the author might have been a bit biased in places with the views he presented. It also in hindsight seemed really strange to me that he included large sections on authors such as Starhawk, who is clearly not connected to either British Paganism or to the Wicca of Gerald Gardner. So why include her? Just to be sarcastic and put her down? I am not a great fan of the work of American pagans in general, but it has to be said that Starhawk's material was hugely influential. By including her, the author is giving credit to her and promoting her approach which he clearly does not agree with in the first place. All the same, one has to concede that she did have an influence and therefore might be worthy of inclusion.
He other thing that struck me is that the author clearly set out to prove his point that Wicca is the only religion given by the UK to the rest of the world. How can this be true? What about Druidry? The Church of England? Aetherius? Celtic Christianity? Its a nice idea, but its not true and unfortunately now a great many people echo him in saying that it is the only religion given by the UK to the world! The power of the written word in the hands of those who follow, rather than think.
Read widely on the subject of your history, be it the history of your culture, religion or origins. Knowledge is power!
Brilliant. A book for open minds., 29 Feb 2008
Buy it. I've had this book for a couple of years and keep going back to it (rare for me with most the books on the craft I have.) Yeah Mr Hutton writes like the accademic he is and at times you'll feel like you're sat in a uni lecture but stick with it.
This book is nothing but information that the eager pagan mind can eat up. Blows the myths and all the 'fictional' history of the craft. My favourite part is the second section that deals with the history of modern witchcraft, at present, though that might change, I feel, with additional readings. I'm a cottage witch and keep feeling a urge to back and read the chapters on the cunning folk for the imformation I might have missed on the first few reads.
Don't buy it if you like the Llewllyn 'be a witch, power, power, power, learn spells rule the world.' DO BUY IT if you've out grown that kind of stuff and wan't to know where the 'real' modern wiccan movement originated from and the true pagan liniage of the craft.
A classic for the well read wiccan's library.
My tip: order some high-lighter pens as well for all those parts relevant to the craft you're interested in.
Those who aren't wiccan/pagan but interested, please read it. So much truth about England's folk lore you can't afford to miss it. This book shoots holes in many of the modern wiccan claims you'll love it as much as the objective wiccans who read it. You might also learn something from it about the bigotry, highlighted in the first part of the book, of those who were different or practiced the old folk methods as part of their heritage.
A blessing on Mr Hutton for telling the truth (all be long winded a times)
Fantastic!, 29 May 2006
Hutton's treatment of the history of modern Paganism not only clarified the facts about paganism as a whole, it also gave me a greater understanding of what draws me to paganism. He sweeps away some of the myths around modern Paganism while recognising it as a valid spirituality. I thoroughly recommend this book to any Pagan, or indeed to any non-Pagan.
Fab & Must Read, 11 Sep 2005
It took me a long time to read this book and then I had to go back and start all over again. There is simply no doubt that this book is a must read for anyone interested in and everyone practicing Wicca today. Get a copy, read it and keep it for reference. It provides not just an overview of the history of the people and places, but also useful information which may help you reconstruct rituals. (Although not intended in that way)
in reply - book of thoth, 22 Nov 2006
Indeed! Book of Thoth...my copy was unfortunately burnt!...girlfiends! but along with a transalted copy of Rimbauds works, this was my bible during the 1980's. Easy to read & full of info & def. the best thing he did...along with the deck - the only one i use...bought them both in Manchester c. 1983...& i need a new -or sec.hand copy - one day...yup; buy it & stoke the fire.
An excellent work, 09 Mar 2002
I would say this book will appeal to those who are willing to look at the Tarot for what it is. The beginner or the more experienced reader will both feel the deep insights this book has to offer, if they read it with an open mind. I know there are some that think this book is complicated and difficult to understand, however I would disagree. My advice would be to read it through once in a relaxed way, without trying to remember anything or understand all the details, then read the sections that appeal to you in more depth as you feel necessary. That way you will get the most from this excellent book. If you consider the Tarot an important and revelant subject you will need to read this book. I also highly recommend buying the deck itself.
Not for beginners, 23 Jan 2002
This is an excellent book for those interested in the works of Aleister Crowley although, as with most of his works, it is not for beginners. This Tarot system is one of the more complicated. For those that can follow the terminoloy and the esoteric references it can provide a powerful divination system, for all his faults Aleister Crowley wa a powerful man.
The Tree of Life is a map of the Universe., 13 May 2001
Most importantly small black and white pictures of the 'Thoth Tarot' are included as well as several full size colour prints. And, needless to say, the Tarot deck itself is required for a chance at full understanding. Readers should remember the book was written very late in Crowley's career and represents, in some senses, the culmination of his Magick. For those interested in the Qabalistic side of things, the 'Book of Thoth' can be supplemented beautifully by '777'. It is complex, even for Crowley. I am unsure if one could call it a reference manual or if '...perusal may be omitted with advantage.' as the introduction states. Of most of the people I meet, into Crowley, it seems to be the popular favourite. The will to love is the law to live.
Heavy going and very deep., 27 Oct 2000
Unless you already have an indepth knowledge of occult matters and esoteric doctorines, you may find this book intelligable. It is obviously highly thought of by many students of Tarot and the occult, but for most, I believe it will only serve to confuse and bewilder. For example, a short quotation, 'One important interpretation of Tarot is that it is a Notariqon of the Hebrew Torah, the Law; also of ThROA, the gate. Now, by the Yetziratic attributions...this word may be read The Universe-the new-born Sun-Zero.'. If your interest is pureley Tarot based, I have found 'Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom' by Rachel Pollack to be an informative and enjoyable study of the traditional Tarot. And for total beginners 'Learning the Tarot' by Joan Bunning an excellent start.
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Customer Reviews
Manifestation, 19 Feb 2008
Having explored a number of books on the subject, this book is truly an excellent book on the subject. Doreen Virtue takes the reader through each page of the book with an amazing insight and clarity behind the deeper veils of manifestation and most of all she gives firm belief that anyone can do it. The book is written with a simple clear style that is easy to visualise and to follow. It took me over 2 hrs in making the decision to purchase the book.( I am happy I did). It comes with a CD which assist the reader to further integrate the system and to apply the laws of manifestation. Her style of writing is truly inspirational and knocking on each page Doreen Virtue sends her own personal message of you can change your life for the better and you have the power to excel in all areas of your life . Doreen Virtue's Divine Magic is absolutely Divine, 31 Jul 2007
I love this book, but more than that I love the compagnion CD. I downloaded the cd to my mp3 and I listen to it all day long on repeat and every night when I go to sleep. I truley wish she'd make another with more detail. Excellent, succinct version of 'The Kybalion', 15 May 2007
I have to disagree with the first reviewer as I found this an extremely easy and enjoyable read - this is a fairly short book and I finished it in about 3 hours. The speed with which you will digest the information will of course relate to the type of books you are used to reading or your current level of awareness regarding principles such as the law of attraction. This is an edited version of 'The Kybalion' - an ancient document of unknown (for certain) origin, which shares Hermetic teachings believed to be traceable to Ancient Greece. I found The Kybalion to be pretty heavy going so was delighted when I found Doreen Virtue's version, which condenses the teachings of The Kybalion into 'Seven Sacred Principles', which can be applied easily and help you to gain mastery of your thoughts and emotions and therefore help you to manifest what you want to your life (this is the 'Divine Magic'). Virtually immediately on reading it I began to apply the simple techniques and began to feel
happier and - more importantly - to maintain that positive feeling pretty much all the time. Maintaining positive feelings is the basis of drawing good things into our lives, rather than being at the mercy of fluctuating moods. Since reading, I have been able to refer back to the original text of The Kybalion with greater insight. I would definitely recommend this book - it also comes with a CD which summarises further the seven principles - it's nice to put on as background if relaxing or meditating. Heavy reading - but worth it!, 01 Oct 2006
I really couldn't wait to get a hold of this book! I thought I would learn the seven secrets and simply be able to manifest whatever I wanted! Now you *can* do that - but this is a heavy read and it takes serious effort and concentration to achieve what you want. Doreen Virtue writes her easy-to-follow take on each secret, then there is the original version.
I read it through, first reading Doreen's version. I tried it and, amazingly, it worked! I am reading throught the original version now.
It is a small book, and it takes work, but I promise, it has worked for me! Worth the effort. Very poor - Cheap looking, 04 Jun 2008
The book and the items in there is to be fair like something you would get in a christmas cracker - really poor quailty - read book in two minutes then it went to charity shop - I have not been so disappointed in an item in my life :( Very small and simple, but can get slightly boring, 11 Jan 2008
This set is very interesting, if you are interested in dragons. After a while though, it begins to get boring - because the spell book isn't very positive and a bit confusing... the items within the set are mysterious, acorrding to the book, like for instance, the charm is very nice looking but in the spell book it says that it should never be worn as it brings bad luck. This is a bit odd as it feels a waste...
It is a nice little set though so it is worth getting.I enjoy looking at the items and reading the little book, if you like dragons, you will probably like this set alot.
Its Great, 23 Jun 2007
From the first moment that i opened the box sent by amazon with this Dragonology kit inside i was over the moon! It gives a great insight into the series of Dragonology books and it is very entertaining over a long period of timw where you can read , experiment and play everyday!!!! The reason i rated it a 4 instead of a five was because I would of liked there to have been more inside the pack because it was so fantastic!!!!! magical herbs only, but very practical guide, 10 Jul 2008
i will admit, it frustrates me a little that there is only magic herbal properties in this book. however, I understand that cunningham has done this so as not to confuse readers
despite this it is a book i constantly read through for all my magical herbal needs. clearly written with helpful tables, pictures and a folk name cross reference, it is my first recommendation for a magical herbal book Doubtful accuracy, 31 May 2007
Don't use this as a source for information about medicinal herbs. There are a lot of inaccuracies in this area- for an introduction to medical herbalism, look for works (for example) by either David Hoffman or Penelope Ody.
Knowing about the inaccuracies in the information on the medicinal qualities of herbs has made me very wary about the information given on the magical qualities of herbs. Cunningham may be more knowledgable and accurate when it comes to magical uses of herbs than he is on the subject of medical herbalism, but I have been reluctant to rely on this as a single source for magical herbalism. Unfortunately there are very few other reference works on magical herbalism in print to use for cross-referencing, and Cunningham's book is usually recommended as the standard work.
Dreadful - gives genuine practitioners a bad name., 12 Jan 2006
I was very disappointed with this book. After reading so many positive reviews I was expecting a serious work based on careful research, but it is nothing of the kind. The descriptions of magical properties of herbs are extremely vague and give no information as to the source of the lore. Some of them miss out traditional magical properties that have been recognised for thousands of years (e.g. mandrake) while others descriptions are just plain wrong. For example, he tells us that Absinthe is 'highly addictive' and dangerous, both of which are simply untrue. Most of the books in the bibliography are American. While this is not necessarily a bad thing (there are some worthwhile books by American authors on this subject), it does suggest a certain laziness in his research. He makes very grand claims for the power of herbs, going so far as to claim that hanging a herb bag in your house is a more effective deterrent to burglars than getting decent locks. This is very obviously not true, but similarly outlandish claims are made throughought the book with no evidence to back them up and no sources given. My impression is that he has not critically analysed any of his sources, and has simply made up information to fill in any gaps. Lots of illustrations are missing and some of the descriptions appear in the wrong place (e.g. garlic under aloe instead of allium). Books like this give practitioners of magic a bad name. There is a sound basis for herbal magic, and it's unfortunate that the author could not restrict himself to these rather than abandoning sense and manufacturing claims which have no basis. It is a book for people who would like to feel that they can work effective magic without doing any research, but is of no use to anyone with a serious interest in the uses of herbs or the nature of magic. Strictly for new-agers - a very shoddy piece of work.
How did I cope before it!, 22 Dec 2004
I have had mine a few years now and I wish I had put a protective cover on it as I have really given mine a bashing! It is great for information when working spells and a fantastic read for when you are creating. A great book for novices or more familiar Wiccans, a source of inspiration.
An essential for people who work with herbs., 09 Jul 2004
This is a brilliant book and very informative. It's an essential for those who work with herbs a lot for magical uses, it's a great handbook to use when looking up certain properties of a herb, so great if you are also wanting to make your own gifts (herb pillows, bath teas etc).
Some useful info but a bit fluffy for my taste, 19 Sep 2007
Since everyone else seems to be raving about this book I thought I'd offer an alternative view. I find the whole thing a little fluffy and fuzzy, frankly. That's not to say that there isn't useful information in here, but I'm not sure that one couldn't dig that up with a little searching on the internet.
A lot of the information is either common sense magickal knowledge (he bangs on a lot about focusing on intent during preparation) or could be better found in a book of correspondances such as Crowley's 777 or similar. There were some new correspondances I wasn't aware of, however.
The recipes section is a little odd also. It may give you a recipe and then tell you to not even consider using it, presumably since it contains strong or dangerous substances - perhaps a symptom of a culture of litagy, but nevertheless I found it strange. A simple disclaimer at the beginning of the book would be sufficient, surely? What's more, the recipes don't really contain any information other than the ingredients. He never mentions his sources for these recipes and on occasion says - "I've never been able to find substance X so use a substitute", marking out a few recipes as being not his invention. Where traditional recipes exist it would have been useful for them to be marked as such, and likewise where a recipe is simply his own devising.
My final criticism is one that I would level at all Cunningham's stuff that I've read which is that I find his writing style a little irritating. He has a tendency to point out the obvious and for condecension, and he constructs arguments in a fuzzy manner. I find it a little weak and couched in too much new age fluffiness. Being used to reading Crowley, and being accustomed to that degree of mental alacrity, it is too large a step back to stomach.
All in all some useful stuff here, if you can stomach the presentation, but little that could not be found on the internet.
Best book on potions etc you can have, 27 Jun 2005
Wonderful book. I am quite new to wicca and have found this book the most helpful so far for bath brews, oils and insense. Scott cunningham was one of the greats when it came to writing books of the craft and long may he continue to be. You won't go wrong with buying this book.
Excellent book, 06 Jan 2005
This book is great,iv had this for a while now and i use it the most especially when i was a beginner,its excellent you can make up your own spells with the information,different oils for different outcomes,which incense to burn for what,how to make bath oils and what oils to mix and make magical oils for spell workings its so good,a full list of oils and what they are used for,its a definate must for any one following the wiccan path or anyone really whos interested in oils,and incenses,well worth the money
Brilliant book for everyone., 09 Jul 2004
I was so happy to recieve this book, it is so helpful and especially great for kitchen witches who work a lot with herbs.
To me it's an essential, and i highly recommend to just about everyone, as it also shows how to make gifts such as herbal bath teas, so you can even treat yourself. Well worth it!
Incense, Oils & Brews--Scott Cunningham, 11 Jun 2004
Well thumbed, dirty around the edges & with so many place markings what else can I say!!
Being also an Aromatherapist & with a good grasp of the do's & dont's of the "Oil/Herb World" I found this a very welcome volume to my very extensive "libary".
What ever you believe in & whatever you decide to call it. It will work.
Good to read with many varied "creams/lotions & potions" they are what you make of them, wether you 'empower'or not, the recipes/concoctions - for want of better words- should be done with love- as should anything that you make for yourself or for others,
So enjoy & take it as it is, an interesting volume well worth the space that it takes in your library.
Immensely detailed and riveting history of neo paganism , 11 Jul 2008
Profound and sympathetic knowledge permeates the whole of this superb history tracing the origins of modern pagan beliefs back to the eighteenth century.
The first part entitled "Macrocosm" examines each component part of the new religion and how it evolved into its final form. The second part entitled "Microcosm" is about the personalities, their rivalries, and the divergent nature of the outcomes.
Hutton is undoubtedly correct that neo paganism as known today is a modern construct, but although he is even handed in his treatment of the subject, one has to remind oneself when reading the book that there is undoubtedly an ancient precedent.
In addition Hutton closely observed and researched 21 covens comprising 213 practitioners and the results form a fascinating conclusion to a remarkable achievement.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
Dated and actually quite a bit biased?, 12 Jun 2008
Having just read Wicca Magickal Beginnings for the first time, I thought I would revisit Triumph of the Moon (and a few other works) to see what I think of it after all these years. I read Triumph of the Moon when it first came out you see and then I was relatively new to the world of paganism. My knowledge and understanding has grown quite a lot since then and I was surprised that I found many errors in the book which I never noticed the first time. Some of them have already been noted by other reviewers here so I won't go into detail.
All and all this is a great book, but it is a product of its time. I got the feeling that the author might have been a bit biased in places with the views he presented. It also in hindsight seemed really strange to me that he included large sections on authors such as Starhawk, who is clearly not connected to either British Paganism or to the Wicca of Gerald Gardner. So why include her? Just to be sarcastic and put her down? I am not a great fan of the work of American pagans in general, but it has to be said that Starhawk's material was hugely influential. By including her, the author is giving credit to her and promoting her approach which he clearly does not agree with in the first place. All the same, one has to concede that she did have an influence and therefore might be worthy of inclusion.
He other thing that struck me is that the author clearly set out to prove his point that Wicca is the only religion given by the UK to the rest of the world. How can this be true? What about Druidry? The Church of England? Aetherius? Celtic Christianity? Its a nice idea, but its not true and unfortunately now a great many people echo him in saying that it is the only religion given by the UK to the world! The power of the written word in the hands of those who follow, rather than think.
Read widely on the subject of your history, be it the history of your culture, religion or origins. Knowledge is power!
Brilliant. A book for open minds., 29 Feb 2008
Buy it. I've had this book for a couple of years and keep going back to it (rare for me with most the books on the craft I have.) Yeah Mr Hutton writes like the accademic he is and at times you'll feel like you're sat in a uni lecture but stick with it.
This book is nothing but information that the eager pagan mind can eat up. Blows the myths and all the 'fictional' history of the craft. My favourite part is the second section that deals with the history of modern witchcraft, at present, though that might change, I feel, with additional readings. I'm a cottage witch and keep feeling a urge to back and read the chapters on the cunning folk for the imformation I might have missed on the first few reads.
Don't buy it if you like the Llewllyn 'be a witch, power, power, power, learn spells rule the world.' DO BUY IT if you've out grown that kind of stuff and wan't to know where the 'real' modern wiccan movement originated from and the true pagan liniage of the craft.
A classic for the well read wiccan's library.
My tip: order some high-lighter pens as well for all those parts relevant to the craft you're interested in.
Those who aren't wiccan/pagan but interested, please read it. So much truth about England's folk lore you can't afford to miss it. This book shoots holes in many of the modern wiccan claims you'll love it as much as the objective wiccans who read it. You might also learn something from it about the bigotry, highlighted in the first part of the book, of those who were different or practiced the old folk methods as part of their heritage.
A blessing on Mr Hutton for telling the truth (all be long winded a times)
Fantastic!, 29 May 2006
Hutton's treatment of the history of modern Paganism not only clarified the facts about paganism as a whole, it also gave me a greater understanding of what draws me to paganism. He sweeps away some of the myths around modern Paganism while recognising it as a valid spirituality. I thoroughly recommend this book to any Pagan, or indeed to any non-Pagan.
Fab & Must Read, 11 Sep 2005
It took me a long time to read this book and then I had to go back and start all over again. There is simply no doubt that this book is a must read for anyone interested in and everyone practicing Wicca today. Get a copy, read it and keep it for reference. It provides not just an overview of the history of the people and places, but also useful information which may help you reconstruct rituals. (Although not intended in that way)
in reply - book of thoth, 22 Nov 2006
Indeed! Book of Thoth...my copy was unfortunately burnt!...girlfiends! but along with a transalted copy of Rimbauds works, this was my bible during the 1980's. Easy to read & full of info & def. the best thing he did...along with the deck - the only one i use...bought them both in Manchester c. 1983...& i need a new -or sec.hand copy - one day...yup; buy it & stoke the fire.
An excellent work, 09 Mar 2002
I would say this book will appeal to those who are willing to look at the Tarot for what it is. The beginner or the more experienced reader will both feel the deep insights this book has to offer, if they read it with an open mind. I know there are some that think this book is complicated and difficult to understand, however I would disagree. My advice would be to read it through once in a relaxed way, without trying to remember anything or understand all the details, then read the sections that appeal to you in more depth as you feel necessary. That way you will get the most from this excellent book. If you consider the Tarot an important and revelant subject you will need to read this book. I also highly recommend buying the deck itself.
Not for beginners, 23 Jan 2002
This is an excellent book for those interested in the works of Aleister Crowley although, as with most of his works, it is not for beginners. This Tarot system is one of the more complicated. For those that can follow the terminoloy and the esoteric references it can provide a powerful divination system, for all his faults Aleister Crowley wa a powerful man.
The Tree of Life is a map of the Universe., 13 May 2001
Most importantly small black and white pictures of the 'Thoth Tarot' are included as well as several full size colour prints. And, needless to say, the Tarot deck itself is required for a chance at full understanding. Readers should remember the book was written very late in Crowley's career and represents, in some senses, the culmination of his Magick. For those interested in the Qabalistic side of things, the 'Book of Thoth' can be supplemented beautifully by '777'. It is complex, even for Crowley. I am unsure if one could call it a reference manual or if '...perusal may be omitted with advantage.' as the introduction states. Of most of the people I meet, into Crowley, it seems to be the popular favourite. The will to love is the law to live.
Heavy going and very deep., 27 Oct 2000
Unless you already have an indepth knowledge of occult matters and esoteric doctorines, you may find this book intelligable. It is obviously highly thought of by many students of Tarot and the occult, but for most, I believe it will only serve to confuse and bewilder. For example, a short quotation, 'One important interpretation of Tarot is that it is a Notariqon of the Hebrew Torah, the Law; also of ThROA, the gate. Now, by the Yetziratic attributions...this word may be read The Universe-the new-born Sun-Zero.'. If your interest is pureley Tarot based, I have found 'Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom' by Rachel Pollack to be an informative and enjoyable study of the traditional Tarot. And for total beginners 'Learning the Tarot' by Joan Bunning an excellent start.
Incisive, enlightening and well before it's time., 03 Sep 2008
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