I'd like to begin by thanking everyone who commented on my previous post concerning the Wiccan Rede. All of the comments received on it, save one, have been posted. I hope you've read them and that they've triggered debate and discussion. The one comment that was not posted was far too long to include in the comment section. In fact, it was longer than my original post. This comment came from Rain Dove, the Priestess of The Dragon and The Rose Coven of Georgia. A quick look on The Witches Voice shows that "Rain Dove has been practicing and walking the path of Wicca since 1996, but has been studying since 1994." The Coven practices the Jordanian Tradition of Celtic Wicca. By this she

I have conflicting views on spellbooks. One one level, I think they're fantastic. They give you a complete and simple ritual which can be powerful and effective.* On the other hand, they often imply that all you have to do is read some words, chant a spell, burn a colored candle, and Ta Da! the magick happens. Only for most people, it doesn't. In my experience, most people who try various simple magicks don't have much luck. I realize there will be some people reading this who will write in saying, "But it worked for me!" and that's fantastic. However, that's what's called anecdotal evidence. Merely because it worked for you doesn't mean it's going to work for everyone…or even for

It was decades ago when I moved into one of the rooms of a two-bedroom apartment with Scott Cunningham (for more about what I learned about Scott over the following years, see my eBook, The Magical Life of Scott Cunningham, available through the Kindle Store [LINK], Kobo [LINK], Nook Bookstore [LINK], Sony [LINK], and iTunes [through the store in iTunes]). One night, Scott was out with some friends. I was at home, reading, when I heard pounding at the door. I went to the door and opened it. It was a friend of mine, a highly intuitive woman I'll call Linda (and no, that's not her real name). It was clear she was in a panic. She threw her arms around me, begging for help. Linda was one of

Hermetic Virtues Hermetic Virtues is one of my favorite journals. The latest issue, Volume VI Number 2, continues their record of excellence. This issue begins with an article by Chic and Tabatha Cicero (You can pre-order the new edition of Israel Regardie's The Philosopher's Stone with the Cicero's incredibly valuable notes and additions now) on "Osiris in the Golden Dawn System."  There is a section, here, that's fascinating: …the Throne of Osiris—the Throne of the Spiritual Realm—is situated upon the Dais in the East of the Neophyte Hall, the place of "Light." Aaron Leitch has pointed out that this was exactly how the Egyptian Gnostics described the Spiritual Realm. In the