The Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook by Janet Farrar, Stewart Farrar

A great resource for the serious beginnerby Manic-Artist26

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July 20, 2009: I first came across this book on a website for an occult shop in Las Vegas. They also hold classes on becoming wiccan and use this book as their "textbook" and each chapter is used as a lesson plan to introduce novices to the basics of the religion. Now I will not say that this is the end all, be all of reference books to learn about this religion and some would not agree with the author(s) takes on how one should conduct oneself when practicing the craft; however, I believe it is an essential part of any beginners library as well as those, like myself, who simply seek to learn more about the history and the practice as it applies to current members.

I Also Recommend: Wicca, The Truth About Witchcraft Today, Living Wicca.

Mediocre philosophiesby Moonfire

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December 06, 2008: The reason why I gave this book only one star, is because throughout it, the authors seem to be saying in many ways, "keep a low profile", "don't think too highly of yourself", one example of this is the advice they give about veirfying the accuracy of memories of past incarnations, they basically say that if you find yourself being someone other than a servant or a peasant, you probably suffer from "megalomania" or something similar, if you apply simple math to this concept you realize it is completly absurd, so all the people who once belonged to the nobility, or had a prominent political position, or fame or notoriety of some sort are not incarnating anymore? the authors also seem to find distasteful to have had careers in the military in past incarnations, so they simply "sweep them under the carpet"!!??
Many authors who either based their practice on these books or are strongly influenced by them also seem to have this views. Although I am a wiccan, I remember how different the philosophy of my "alma mater" was (a jesuit university) and how fortunate I was to have been educated by them and not by these two or any of their followers with their philosophies of limitations! There was a picture of an awsome mountain in the laboratory of electronics, which had written at the bottom: "if you want to achieve everything that is possible, you should attempt the impossible, if you want to experience the limits of what you you can do, you should strive to do more" , in that spirit, I acomplished many seemingly impossible things.
Aleister Crowley in his book 4 mentions that some of the Jesuits methods of education, consist of demanding literally the "impossible" from you, but once you accomplish it, the impact it has on your self esteem is unbelievable. Looking back at my own experience in a Jesuit university, and although at a subconscious level at the time, I realized this is completely true! by the way Aleister Cowley's many books are excellent in making you realize your own divinity and power, regardless of the spiritual path you might have choosen to follow, and a much better way towards spiritual attainment.