Deepening Witchcraft: Advancing Skills & Knowledge

by Grey Cat

In 'Deepening Witchcraft', the founder of the North Wind Tradition of American Witchcraft offers knowledge a well-informed Pagan needs, going beyond the basics contained in most Wiccan titles and explaining many of the skill which must be developed and honed by the more advanced student of Wicca. Offering up-to-date information on Pagan history, this book also closely examines the religious beliefs of Paganism and its deities, and outlines a solid...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1550224956
• ISBN13: 9781550224955
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: ECW Press
• Length: 359 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A must read!

Great practical information, a wonderful, dry sense of humor and a crisp writing style made this book a very easy read. The information is well organized and succinct, laid out in self-contained chapters. I am very glad to see someone finally deal with the issue of analytical thinking and magic! She shares her "A Priestess's Litany for a New Day", which is an inspiring dedication. The only issue I have with this book is that I do not agree with some of her opinions on the history of Wicca/Neo-Paganism. However, as the history on the Western Mystery Tradition is one of my passions, I usually do not agree 100% with any author on this subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone tired of basic "Wicca 101" books.

A lot deeper reading for a witch hungry for knowledge

This book is not really for beginners. It is advanced knowledge and mostly for teachers and coven leaders. I am neither a teacher nor a leader but this was still an important book for me. Grey Cat sometimes resorts to using minor cuss words to get her point across and she does a great job of getting her point across in that way. She writes in a way that is easy to understand and, at times, is very humorous. The first half of this book is deeper knowledge, which I was hungering for, and the second half is for organizing and leading rituals. I am not at that point yet but it is still good material to know because who knows when you may become a high priestess? It may be alot sooner than you think.Grey Cat keeps alot of general how to out of this book and I really appriciated that. I am at the stage where I am no longer a beginner but not really advanced yet and alot of the stuff that she writes was easy for me to understand. Overall,I would recommend this book to anyone who is tired of reading the same beginner material over and over and wants a little bit deeper knowledge.

a welcome addition

With this book, Grey Cat takes a keen look at many of our attitudes and assumptions. While we may not agree with everything she says -- which is as it should be -- this book takes us one more giant step towards maturity as a movement, and as spiritually satisfying faith tradition(s). She then reflects them back to us in a way that calls for us to look at ourselves and our ways with a clear eye and a sharp mind. And she does so with her unmistakable Southern 'tude. As we move out of the shadows of the broom closet and into the bright light of our wider communities, each of us can benefit from reading the thoughts, experiences, observations and wisdom of this Crone. -- M. Macha NightMare, author of Witchcraft and the Web

Beyond Wicca 101

I am so glad this book is available. It gives those of us who have moved past the Wicca 101 phase a place to look for similar experiences. This is a place to look for advice for expanding one's knowledge of self, how to be aware of the many major pitfalls advanced practitioners face, and lots of other useful, thought provoking information. I especially loved the chapter names in this book. Even if you don't have time to read the whole book at one sitting (a daunting prospect!!) you can look through the book for relevant material for your place in the Craft world. Superbly referenced, there is a lot of painstaking and time consumming effort in this book. That's more than I can say for most of the cookie-cutter publications available today. There's a chapter on Teaching Our Religion that should be a requirement for ANY student seeking their advancement in teaching what they know to others. I would also like to add that it is my great privilege to know this author and I wish to add that we must cherish our older resources in the Craft. They are the bridge builders, paving the way for the rest of us to follow. Each of us has something to offer, to leave behind, this woman has done the Craft as proudly as Gardner, Valiente or Buckland. Founder of the NorthWind Tradition of American Wicca, Grey Cat epitomizes the dedication and attention to detail required to truly give those who wish to learn a meaningful and life changing experience. She is truly a treasure!

A well written guidebook for experienced pagans

Grey Cat shares her knowledge gained through years of experience as a Pagan/Wiccan clergy and leader. It's practical, easy to read, unpretentious, and full of common sense. It goes beyond the hundreds of beginning Wicca books that have been published over the past decade and into practical, spiritual, philosophical, moral and religious issues of Witchcraft as a religion. Other chapters deal with organizing large events, teaching students of our religion, and building our communities. Just the chapter on morals and ethics is worth the price. Grey Cat's Eight Commandments are, in my opinion, lots better than those other Ten Commandments of other religions. ... It begins where so many of today's beginner books end. It is must reading for pagan clergy.