Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft » (REV)

Raymond Buckland has been interested in occult and metaphysical subjects for fifty years; has been actively involved in various aspects of the subject for forty years; and has writing about it for nearly thirty.

He is the author of more than twenty-five books, including such best-selling titles as Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Gypsy Dream Dictionary, Practical Candleburning Rituals, and Witchcraft from the Inside. Ray has lectured and presented workshops across the United States, and has appeared on major television and radio shows nationally and internationally. He has also written screen plays, been a technical advisor for films, and appeared in films and videos.

Ray comes from an English Romany (Gypsy) family and presently resides, with his wife Tara, on a small farm in central Ohio. Beyond writing, Ray's other passion is homebuilt airplanes.

Here is the most complete self-study course in modern Wicca available, written by the person who first went public with "The Old Religion" in the United States. For group or solitary use, it includes rituals; exercises for developing psychic talents; information on all major "sects" of the Craft; sections on tools, beliefs, dreams, meditations, divination, herbal lore, healing, ritual clothing; and much, much more.

Even those who have practiced Wicca for years find useful information in Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, and many covens are using it as their textbook. Profusely illustrated and full of music and chants.

Preface to the Second Edition . . . xiii

Introduction . . . xvii

Lesson One: The History and Philosophy of Witchcraft . . . 1

History and development. Persecutions. Reemergence. The philosophy of Witchcraft. Principles of Wiccan belief. The power within. Spells and charms.

Lesson Two: Beliefs . . . 19

Deities. The God and Goddess of Witchcraft. Reincarnation. Retribution. Between lives. Your temple. Your altar and its furniture. Magick"an introduction.

Lesson Three: Tools, Clothing,
and Names . . . 41

Working tools. Knife. Marking in metal. Sword. Other tools. Dress. Jewelry. Horned helmet. Inscriptions. Your Witch name.

Lesson Four: Getting Started . . . 61

Rites of passage. Circles. Self-Dedication. Coven Initiation.

Lesson Five: Covens and Rituals . . . 79

Covens and degrees. Hierarchy and priesthood. Covensteads and covendoms. The book of rituals. Consecration of tools. Rituals"Erecting the Temple. Clearing the Temple. Esbat Rite. Full Moon Rite. New/Dark Moon Rite. Cakes and Ale.

Lesson Six: The Sabbats . . . 97

Samhain. Beltane. Imbolc. Lughnasadh.

Lesson Seven: Meditation, Dreams,
and the Minor Sabbats . . . 111

Meditation"how meditation works. Technique. Po-sture. Area. Time of day. Method. Dreams"the Source. Dream interpretation and symbology. Re-membering dreams. Personal symbols. The repetitive dream. Group dreams. Dreams vs. out-of-body experiences. Rituals"Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice.

Lesson Eight: Marriage, Birth, Death,
and Channeling . . . 137

Handfasting Rite. Handparting Rite. Birth Rite. Cros-sing the Bridge. The intuitive process"categories of channeling. Clearing the channel. External focal points. Interpreting channeled information. The aura. Sensory deprivation. The Witches" cradle.

Lesson Nine: Divination . . . 157

Tarot. Scrying. Saxon wands. Cheiromancy. Tea leaf reading. Numerology. Astrology. Fire scrying.

Lesson Ten: Herbalism . . . 187

Herbal lore. Getting the most out of herbs. Simples, syrups, salves, poultices, and powders. Herb simples. Definition of medical actions. Herbs in Materia Medica. Botanicals"alteratives, anthelmintics, astringents, bitter tonics, calmatives, carminatives and aromatics, cathartics, demulcents, diaphoretics, diuretics, emollients, expectorants, nervines, nerve stimulants, refrigerants, sedatives, stimulants. Vitamins in herbs. The art of prescribing medicine. Some simple treatments"medicinal drinks, syrups, decoctions, teas, mixtures, ointments. Witches" pharma-copoeia. Sources.

Lesson Eleven: Magick . . . 221

Physical body. Circle. Cone of power. Dancing and chanting. Feeling. Drawing down power. Releasing the power. Timing. Cord magick. Candle magick. Love magick. Sex magick. Binding spell. Protection. Form of ritual.

Lesson Twelve: The Power of the Written Word . . . 247

Runes. Ogham Bethluisnion. Egyptian hieroglyphics. Theban. Passing the River. Angelic. Malachim. Pictish. Talismans and amulets. Power raising dance. General dancing. Wine and ale. Bread and cakes.

Lesson Thirteen: Healing . . . 267

The aura. Auric healing. Pranic healing. Absent healing. Color healing. Gem therapy. Poppets. Meditation and biofeedback. Animals and plants. Positive thinking.

Lesson Fourteen: Getting Set Up . . . 281

Rituals. The construction of ritual. Guardians of the Watchtowers. Forming a coven. Your coven. Establishing a church. Craft greetings. Clothing accessories"cloak, sandals. Young Wiccans. Breaking the news.

Lesson Fifteen: Solitary Witches . . . 297

Rituals"Erecting the Temple. Esbat. Cakes and Ale. Clearing the Temple. Meditation to the elements.

And Now ? . . . 307

Appendix A: Wiccan Denominations . . . 309

Alexandrian Wicca. American Celtic Wicca. Australian Wicca. Church of Y Tylwyth Teg. Church of the Crescent Moon. Circle Wicca. Coven of the Forest, Far and Forever. Deboran Witchcraft. Dianic Feminist Wicce. Frost"s Wicca. Gardnerian Wicca. Georgian Wicca. Maidenhill Wicca. Northern Way. Nova Wicca. Pecti-Wita. Seax-Wica. Thessalonian Tradition.

Appendix B: Answers to Examination Questions . . . 315

Appendix C: Music and Chants . . . 325

Recommended Reading List . . . 335

Index . . . 339