The Witch’s Path. Advancing your craft at every level
Thorn Mooney
Llewellyn, 2021, 205 p.
ISBN 9780738763774. € 21,95
Have you ever felt like this? You have organized rituals for your coveners and attended festivals, but
… I didn’t necessarily do things that fed my own Craft and nurtured my own spirit.
After months of this, I’m starting to feel it. No wonder I feel so disconnected these days! I’ve been working as a priestess, but I haven’t been doing it in such a way that refuels me. I’m speaking and writing for Pagan communities, but I’ve been neglecting my own spiritual needs. I’m a covenleader and a high priestess, but somewhere along the way I stopped being a Witch. I didn’t even know that was possible.
This book was born out of ’those bumps that arise throughout a Witch’s life’ and is for everyone but the absolute beginner. Thorn Mooney and the reader look into some of the most important and common aspects of Witchcraft, reconsider practices, and tackle complicated topics. At the end of each chapter a structured activity is given for four groups: beginners; advanced practioners trying to shake up the routine; the ones that want to incorporate their Witchcraft into a crowded schedule and build a routine; and the Witches dealing with burnout. The elements guide the reader. Also Thorn Mooney gives alternatives to visualization and lengthy meditation sessions for Witches with aphantasia, ADHD and other cognitive needs.
The eight chapters are on ‘What exactly is Witchcraft’; Sacred Space; Devotion; Ritual and Magic; Personal Practice; Study; Community; and Challenges. That last chapter has subsections on Living as a Witch; The quest for authenticity; Dealing with imposter syndrome and Being in community.
To me the chapter on Devotion stood out, but all chapters are interesting, and it will depend on your person, your practice and your conditions which chapter will speak the most to you. All are helpful, especially with the advise on four levels. A ‘Further reading’ list, apart from the bibliography, contains even more indicators.
There are many books for beginners in Wicca and Witchcraft, but for the more advanced readers not that many general books on practice that are really worthwile. This definitely is a book that will help Wiccans and Witches at (almost) every level to reconsider and revive their practice. Highly recommended!!
