Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

by Scott Cunningham

Book Overview

Cunningham's classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God. Wicca also...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0875421180
• ISBN13: 9780875421186
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Good for New Practice

This book is great if you're looking to learn how to begin practicing Wicca. I was looking more for a historical perspective of Wicca, so this wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Still worth a read and a wonderful place to start practicing Wicca.

It's a Classic For a Reason

If you're looking for a book on Wicca for beginners, most people will tell you to start here. I found the correspondences and the reference sections to be especially helpful.

“Like new condition” is not true

I ordered and paid for “like new” and the book arrived totally warped and the back cover and some of the pages are ripped.

Wicca guide for the solitary practitioner is one of my favorite reads. I have the 1999 issue and is

I go with scott Cunningham's guide for the solitary practitioner and then living wicca a further guide and to ride a silver broomstick by silver raven wolf. Then to stir a majick cauldron. Go from there. Truly a great way to start on a positive and well rounded learnings

An Excellent Starting Point

I have to admit that, when I started my exploration of the Wiccan Way, this book wasn't the first on my list. I went through several other beginner's guides before finally ending up with Cunningham's work, and I definitely wish I'd come across it sooner.Scott Cunningham makes an excellent portrayal of the core philosophy of Wicca, although accentuated with his own shamanistic bent. Cunningham's clear, crisp writing style makes reading his book seem like there's a teacher in the room with you. Truly, if you have any questions about the religion and practice of Wicca, it won't take you long to find your answers in "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner."Possibly the greatest aspect of Cunningham's book, however, is that over half of it teaches through demonstration. After detailing Wiccan theories and common practices, Cunningham delves right into his own Book of Shadows, giving you a real-life example of the spirituality. This, if nothing else, makes the book a unique and essential part of any neopagan bookshelf.For those of you with no real knowledge of Wicca, I would suggest another book, such as Amber K's "True Magick" or Silver Ravenwolf's "To Ride a Silver Broomstick." However, if you've just started on the Wiccan Way, I highly recommend this book to round out your beginner's training and start you towards greater wisdom.

The best guide for any Wiccan Practitioner

If you are a Wiccan, or curious about the religion, or just like to read a good book with wonderful information in it, then Wicca by Scott Cunningham is a must buy. This is definately the best beginning book for any one who is serious about the Craft. He clearly gives detailed facts about how to become more spiritual with the God/Goddess, how to celebrate the Sabbats (holy days of Wicca), and how to cast circles and call the quarters. In his Book of Shadows, which is the third part of this book, he clearly explains what tools to use in rituals and how to use them. And of course, there's a list of prayers, blessings, invocations, and chants that well serve you well as it did me. I found myself after reading this book, and practicing his suggested magick, to take more pride in my religion and become more closer with the Lord and Lady. I was also able to finally dismiss my worries I had about converting to Wicca after many years going to a Catholic school. This books also contains a variety of recipes for making incense, oils, foods, etc. Buy and read this book to understand why Scott Cunningham is one of the best Wiccan teachers this generation has ever had.

A Practical Guide for the Solitary Wiccan

Mr. Cunningham has written a book for the Wiccan who is solitary either because s/he knows no existing local compatible covens, or because s/he has no compatible person with whom to practice Wicca. The book is very well-written. It is suitable for true beginners, but contains extensive detail making it valuable for the more advanced Wiccan.Mr. Cunningham's Wiccan philosophy differs from other Wiccan authors. Other authors stress Wiccan history, Wicca's established rituals, coven membership benefits, and the apprenticeship required before Wiccan initiation. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy emphasizes attitude rather than organization. Specifically, Mr. Cunningham discusses specific Wiccan beliefs and goals: belief in the Goddess and God; concern for the Earth; social consciousness; and the right not to be dominated by others. He states that sincere living and supporting these Wiccan beliefs is more important than perfect performance of dogmatic rituals: "Ineffective ritual kills spirituality."This philosophy seems trivial, but it mirrors (British philosopher) Bertrand Russell's statements that ethics are more important than religious dogma. Mr. Cunningham's philosophy is very relevant to individuals who have fled the dogma of organized religions and who seek a more personal form of worship within Wicca.Mr. Cunningham's approach offers much flexibility. A sincere practitioner can perform their own Wiccan initiation or have no initiation. Brutal physical ordeals are not required within an initiation rite. An initiation rite uses spiritual tools (chanting, visualization, meditation, etc.) to achieve ritual states of consciousness.The book's first section discusses Wiccan Theory. This section discusses the Deities; Magick and Magickal Tools; Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar; the Days of Power (Sabbats and Esbats); and Reincarnation (a topic not discussed in other Wiccan books). The Deity discussion includes both the Goddess and God, and also the minor deities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.). The Magick discussion differentiates between the types of magick performed by magickians and shamans, and Wiccan magick: "Wiccans don't perform destructive, manipulative, or exploitive magic."The discussion of Rituals, the Circle, and the Altar describes ritual preparation in detail. Mr. Cunningham's book contains a Wiccan color chart (pg. 50) that I found both unique and interesting. The Wiccan color chart differs *greatly* from the West Coast "popular culture" color scheme so widely propagated by the entertainment industry. For example, in the Wiccan color chart Black signifies protection, the Universe, and lack of falsehood. In the popular culture color scheme Black symbolizes evil. Many individuals misinterpret Wicca's symbolic use of the color Black with *unfortunate* consequences.The book's second section covers Wiccan Practice, and discusses exercises and magickal techniques, self-dedicatio

Solitary Practioner, a MUST on pagan/Wiccan bookshelf!

Cunningham's Guide to the solitary practicioner is an absolute must. With this book and "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk any beginning Wicca or pagan can learn the essential basics of practicing non-christian traditional earth based religion. This book clearly outlines the principles of practice, but leaves specific interpretation up to the reader. This is a must, as in pagan religions there is truly no "right way". The standing stones book of shadows is an excellent guide to creating your own solitary tradition. What is truly impressive about this book is that all of the information can easily be trnsformed into group or coven practice. An excellent supplement text is "Incense,Oils, and Brews", also by Cunningham. It will help spur your creativity with wonderful recipes for all kinds of concoctions from alter oil to magical soaps and powders! Whether you are an initiate/novice, or third level priestess, this book can offer you insite into the solitary practictioner's world. I can not praise this book highly enough. I have been practicing for many years, and no longer am I solitary. Yet, my dog eared copy of Solitary Practioner is always a welcome sight, comfort, and wealth of basic information. dakotahblu :) Merry Part and Merry Meet Again!