The Goodly Spellbook

September 1, 2005
The authors, Gardernian witches and co-founders of Coven Oldenwilde, offer hundreds of spell recipes for healing, protection, discernment, concealment, repulsion of evil and attraction of good (not just romance, but also prosperity, fertility and wisdom). Before they get to the spells, however, they lay a solid foundation for practice with an introductory essay on the history of spellcraft, followed by short sections on practical matters like gathering ingredients, creating a magical atmosphere and living ethically. They also delve into specific magical techniques such as geomancy, chanting and kitchen witchery. Beginners will appreciate hands-on chapters like "How to Know You're Doing Spells Properly"-successful spells, the authors say, often make the caster's ears ring and spark an "inner tingling." The spells are presented in a straightforward manner with specifics on the best times to cast them, the necessary ingredients and the right deity to invoke. Some spells are quotidian, even prosaic-such as a compress to heal computer eyestrain-while others are momentous and difficult, like a spell to prevent evil people from entering a home or workspace. Well-organized and comprehensively indexed, this reference book will be useful for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

January 15, 2006
This weighty volume by Deerman and Rasmussen (founders, Coven Oldenwilde), Wiccan and Pagan religious rights activists, is something between a handbook on the proper use and administration of spells and a collection of ancient spells revived and transformed for the modern setting. It includes magical alphabets, musical ciphers, planetary and other sigils, dances, and gestures useful to the practitioner. Questions of efficacy aside, it is lightly and entertainingly written and would make an inexpensive introduction to the subject. For most collections.

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