There are so many mixed feelings about this book; young adults or curious people love it, experienced crafters hate it (to make it general), while others feel it is just okay. Then again, Pagans seldom agree on Anything! For this reason, instead of giving you "just" my opinion, I will attempt to give you my opinion with reasonable support, and let you decide from there if the book is worth your invested time and money.
The introduction does a decent job of holding the readers interest and providing the history of magick (as the author sees it). It drags on a bit, going into detail in the beginning when it should have waited until a bit later (in my opinion). Overall, it provides a firm definition of magick and the basis of Wicca, if not Witchcraft, but then again the book is about Wicca.
The rituals and exercises are well done. Personally, I feel that the Book of Shadows should have been left out, leaving it up to the reader’s creativity to compose the invocations and other ceremonies. Given, some are uncomfortable at first without a solid "this is how you do it the right way" section, but by providing them with what they "need" limits their growth. Ritual and magickal practices should be fluid and emotional, not mechanical reading of someone else’s work. Exercises created to work with and improve the reader’s creative mind would be preferable to the solid rendition and a few words about it being better to create your own procedures. Magick derives from your own energy, and if you read along with a lack of feeling you waste your time.
Cunningham indirectly contradicts himself when discussing tools. He takes a little time to describe that tools are not necessary (and how few he himself possesses). However, those efforts are overshadowed by the large section on individual tools and in-depth uses. The majority of curious readers will respond more strongly to the large page volume on tools than the paragraph or two discrediting their necessity. Publications like this section are found in many books, and spur commercial market growth for "Neo-Pagan" goods. The down side, to use a accurate if politically incorrect phrase:
"What’s the difference between a Pagan and a Neo-Pagan?"
What you can get from a Neo-Pagan for $250 you can get from a Pagan for $33."
Seems a bit stereotypical, but it is truly centered at the Neo-Pagan businesses and not individuals, and therefore, more truth then generalization. Sparring the reader a rant about overpricing, tools are not "magickal" until your magick puts them to use.
He does an excellent job of securing a morality to the use of magick, using the ever-popular shortened Rede and Threefold Law. Additionally, he give the "13 Goals of a Witch." The problem here is these 13 goals should be a self determined personal goal and not a label tacked on to every "witch" in existence. Unfortunately, more than a few magickal individuals don’t adhere to any moral standard above their own whims. Not to warn against this is a mistake, and to believe that all "witches" or Wiccans are good is naïve.
More than a few close-minded persons rave about Scott Cunningham’s "Fantasy World," forgetting that he is responsible in a very large way for the revival of Paganism and magick in recent years. It is important to realize, however, that Scott’s books are not absolute truth, and at some point one must break away from literary dictation. Too many hold the "if it’s not printed, it’s not real" perspective. Reality is quite opposite that – Knowledge is power, and to spread that power on national bookshelves is folly. Therefore, no one (or not many anyway) share all their knowledge in written word, but this does not discredit its worth or effectiveness. Nor does the information being printed Validate it’s truth or effectiveness.
Wiccan Rating: A
Witchcraft Rating: B
Brightest Blessings,
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