I recently discovered an intriguing book in my neighbor's collection: "Witchcraft Spells and Potions". While I've always been curious about the supernatural, witchcraft was new territory for me. The mysterious title instantly piqued my interest, and I couldn't resist the temptation to borrow it. As I delved into the pages, I found myself captivated by the rich history and ancient practices of witchcraft. The author, a self-proclaimed witch, shared a wealth of knowledge on spells, rituals, and potions. It was evident that the book was a labor of love, with meticulously researched information and personal anecdotes.
“Witches then were the ‘wise ones’ of their communities. They brewed the healing medicines from herbs,” he said.
In 1966, four years after he emigrated to New York with his wife and two young sons, he was the first witch in America to stand up and be recognized. 165-13, Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Elected Groups--A Handbook for Chaplains, lists the religious rights of witches beside those of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jews, Indians and others.
It was evident that the book was a labor of love, with meticulously researched information and personal anecdotes. One of the main themes that struck me was the emphasis on the power of intention and energy in witchcraft. The author emphasized the importance of aligning one's intentions with the natural elements and using visualization techniques to manifest desires.
Bedeviling Thought: Those Nice Neighbors Just Might Be Witches
“There are hundreds of thousands of witches now. They are all age groups. All types. Your neighbor might be one. Or your dentist,” Raymond Buckland said. “What are they like? Very intelligent, usually. They’re likely to be quiet, unassuming, community-conscious men and women with a deep affinity for nature.”
A genuine witch, he added, is the sort of person who enjoys the way walking barefoot on grass feels. Someone whose remedy for depression is to sit quietly for a while with his back resting against a large tree.
“Witches are not anti-Christian,” he said. “They’re not anti-anything.”
Buckland, 52, is a practicing witch himself. The author of 13 published books--the most recent, “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft,” is now going into its fourth reprinting since it came out in October--he is considered an authority on the occult and the supernatural.
AdvertisementToday’s witches, he said, do still gather in groups called covens to perform dances, chants and rituals based on ancient fertility and crop-growing rites. (If the coven prefers to work naked, it’s referred to as being skyclad--”clad only by the sky.”) They do use “white magic” to draw to them the things in life they desire.
What a genuine witch doesn’t do is worship the devil.
Don’t Believe in the Devil
“Witchcraft, which is a religion of nature in which there is both a male and a female deity, evolved centuries before both Christianity and Satanism did,” Buckland said. “So witches don’t even believe in the devil.”
He was speaking in his sun-splashed Pacific Beach living room. A soft-spoken, neatly dressed Englishman who holds a doctorate in anthropology, he seems a living illustration of the kind of community-conscious witch he describes.
In 1966, four years after he emigrated to New York with his wife and two young sons, he was the first witch in America to “stand up and be recognized.” That was on television on the “Allan Burke Show.”
The admission plunged him into a whirl of newspaper, radio and TV interviews. His Long Island neighbors saw this nice, quiet man, who worked as editor of British Airways’ manuals, chatting about initiations and sabbats with Dick Cavett, Barbara Walters and Tom Snyder.
“I always wore a suit and tie, and tried to look as respectable as I could. In 1966, the average person’s idea of a witch was someone rather evil,” he said. “Someone warty and black-hatted, with a penchant for putting hexes on anybody rash enough to cross them. They thought witches were always ugly, always female and boiled up a lot of peculiar things in caldrons. Things like claw of dragon and eye of newt.”
AdvertisementThe “peculiar things in caldrons” myth dates to medieval times, Buckland said.
Made Medicine From Herbs
“Witches then were the ‘wise ones’ of their communities. They brewed the healing medicines from herbs,” he said.
Most herbs were named for the way the plant looked. The crawly root was called “dragon’s claw.” The foxglove was “bloody fingers,” the dogtooth violet “adder’s tongue.”
“Today they have Latin names. But, back in the 13th Century, a mother teaching her daughter how to brew a remedy would say, ‘Toss in some mother’s heart.’ She wouldn’t say ‘Toss in some Capsella bursa pastoris! ‘ “
It wasn’t exactly helpful to him that the movie of Ira Levin’s book “Rosemary’s Baby” came out shortly after he began speaking in public.
The story of “Rosemary’s Baby” centers on a struggling actor who is persuaded by two elderly witches to let his wife be impregnated by the devil as the price of success.
“It was an entertaining movie. It would have been fine if Levin had done his research properly, and called it what it was--Satanism,” Buckland said. “But all through the movie they were referred to as witches. True witches don’t harm others. Just the opposite.”
The one unbreakable rule of the Old Religion, as witchcraft is called, is, he stressed: “An it harm none, do what thou wilt.”
Buckland was born in London, but not into a family of witches. His father was a full-blooded Romany Gypsy. Again, popular myth differs from the reality. Most people would picture a person born in 1934 to a Romany Gypsy as growing up in a caravan strung with rattling pots. Buckland’s father was an executive officer in the Ministry of Health.
Childhood Centered on Theater
“He was also an award-winning playwright. My childhood revolved around the theater and writing,” said Buckland, who sold his first article when he was 12.
“I did wear the two gold earrings that all Romany boys wear,” he said, pointing to a single earring in his left ear. “When a Romany marries, he gives one earring to his wife.”
He was 28 when he decided to become a witch.
After extensive reading--particularly the works of Dr. Gerald Gardner who, in 1954, was the first British witch to “stand up and be recognized”--Buckland decided witchcraft was exactly the right religion for him.
He was initiated as a Gardnerian witch by Gardner’s high priestess, the Lady Olwen, in 1963.
“It’s a joyful religion, with no gloom in it,” he said. “But no religion is right for everybody.”
Because of the nine years--from 1962 to 1971--he spent working for British Airways, Buckland had the opportunity to travel all over the world. In each country he visited, he researched the occult and the supernatural. He collected artifacts--black magic as well as white. (The old form of spelling magic-- magick --is used by witches to differentiate it from the stage conjuring kind.)
His favorite stores were the back street junk shops.
“The kind where everything is in dusty heaps, and often even the owner doesn’t know what some of the things really are,” he said. “I once found a 100-year-old Athame, which is a witch’s black-handled knife, mixed in with a bunch of old kitchen knives.”
He collected drums and voodoo accouterments in Haiti, an aboriginal “pointing-bone” in Australia, a 4,000-year-old Ushabti mummy-doll in Egypt. He found an ancient magical mandrake root in a Yorkshire junk shop and, in Paris, a pact some long-ago human being made with the devil.
For five years, he ran a museum in his basement, “but we got a little tired of having people constantly traipsing through the house.”
Opened Museum of Witchcraft
So, in 1971, while he was working on his seventh book, “Here Is the Occult,” he quit his job with the airline, joined the American Museum Society and opened “The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.” It filled six rooms and two floors of a Victorian house in Bayshore, N.Y.
“It was the only one of its kind in the United States. It was an anthropological display, rather than a sensational one,” he said. “My aim was to show the relationship of magick to religion throughout history.”
The most common remark he overheard from people wandering through, he remembers, was “I never knew that . . . “
He was a museum owner for 10 years, answering every kind of question from “Can witches really fly around on broomsticks?” (No, they can’t) to “How do you cast a love spell on somebody?” (You don’t).
“A genuine witch would never try to cast a love spell on another human being,” he said, “because of their basic rule about harming no one. How would they know if falling in love with them was in the other person’s best interests?”
In 1973, after more than 10 years as a Gardnerian witch, Buckland decided he did not like the secrecy involved in that group and introduced his own denomination of the craft, Seax-Wica (Saxon witchcraft), which now has about 5,000 members worldwide. They practice democracy; coven members vote. There are Seax-Wica witches practicing in Japan, Australia, France, Germany and even the Soviet Union. Not all of them live in places where it’s easy to get a coven together.
“Dear Mr. Buckland, I thought you might like to know there is a very tiny coven of Seax-Wica in Finland! Albeit it consists of myself and a friend; at least it is there,” a female witch, who works in a bookstore, wrote.
Wanted Male Witches
She went on to comment, rather endearingly, that they were hoping to find some male witches to join them because “rites like the spring one can really only be celebrated with both sexes, so we had to change a bit. Hope you don’t mind. . . .”
Buckland and his wife, Tara, who is also a witch--”It really works better for a married couple if both are in the craft,” he said--moved to California in 1984. Both of them felt drawn by the creative energy of the state. Buckland also sometimes serves as a technical adviser for movies and has worked with both Orson Welles and William Friedkin, director of “The Exorcist.”
Today his collection--the pointing-bones and the voodoo drums, the ceremonial swords and the black magic effigy figures stuck with pins--is stored away in trunks.
Although he recently appeared on both the Sally Jessy Raphael TV show and on “Mid-Morning L.A.,” he is planning to drop out of the public eye as a spokesman for witchcraft.
His last book--appropriately, No. 13--will be his last work on witchcraft, he said. He plans to focus on writing screenplays.
“Witchcraft will always be my religion,” he said. “I’ll always practice it. But privately. I feel like I’ve done my share of speaking out about it.”
Nowadays, he said, things are easier for witches than they were in 1966. Witchcraft festivals take place openly, at places like Holiday Inns. Witchcraft courses are given in colleges.
Even the armed forces recognizes Wica--as Witchcraft is often called--as a valid religion. (Army Pamphlet No. 165-13, “Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Elected Groups--A Handbook for Chaplains,” lists the religious rights of witches beside those of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jews, Indians and others.)
But even with all the advances made, telling people you are a witch is likely to produce an entirely different reaction than telling them, for example, that you are a Baptist or an Episcopalian.
“I’d just like people to look at witchcraft with an open mind,” Buckland said. “We still have a long way to go, but I think we’re getting there.”
“He was also an award-winning playwright. My childhood revolved around the theater and writing,” said Buckland, who sold his first article when he was 12.
It was fascinating to learn about the different types of spells, from love and prosperity to protection and healing. I was also intrigued by the various tools and ingredients utilized in witchcraft. The author provided detailed descriptions of essential items such as candles, crystals, herbs, and cauldrons. It was fascinating to see how these objects were believed to possess unique properties and aid in the practice of magic. Furthermore, the book touched upon the ethical aspects of witchcraft. The author emphasized the importance of practicing magic responsibly and with respect for others' free will. They also highlighted the significance of the Wiccan Rede, which encourages witches to harm none. Overall, "Witchcraft Spells and Potions" proved to be an eye-opening read, offering a glimpse into the world of witchcraft and its ancient traditions. It shattered stereotypes and misconceptions, showcasing witchcraft as a respected spiritual path for those in tune with nature and its energies. While I don't foresee myself becoming a practicing witch, this book has certainly expanded my understanding and appreciation for the craft. It has turned my skepticism into curiosity, and I am now more open-minded towards alternative spiritual practices. I am grateful to my neighbor for lending me this fascinating book and for giving me a new perspective on witchcraft..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Energy of the Neighbor Witchcraft Book"
1. Maria - 1/5 - I found "The Neighbor Witchcraft Book" to be a complete waste of time. The content was shallow and lacked depth. The book promised to explore the world of witchcraft and provide practical tips, but I found it to be more of a collection of vague anecdotes. It did not offer any concrete guidance or useful information. I expected to learn about various rituals and spells, but was left disappointed. I do not recommend this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in learning about witchcraft.
2. John - 2/5 - As a beginner in the field of witchcraft, I was excited to pick up "The Neighbor Witchcraft Book" for some guidance and insights. However, I was deeply disappointed with the book. It skimmed over important concepts and failed to provide any in-depth explanations or practical techniques. The information provided was too general and lacked substance. I felt like the author did not put in enough effort to truly educate the readers on the subject. I wish I had chosen a different book to start my journey into witchcraft.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "The Neighbor Witchcraft Book" failed to live up to my expectations. The writing style was dry and uninspiring, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. The author seemed more interested in sharing personal stories than delving into the world of witchcraft. The book lacked a clear structure and progression, making it confusing to follow at times. I was hoping for a more comprehensive and informative read, but unfortunately, this book fell short. I would not recommend it to those who are seeking a serious exploration of witchcraft.
4. Michael - 1/5 - I regret purchasing "The Neighbor Witchcraft Book". It was filled with outdated stereotypes and clichés about witchcraft. The author relied on generic information and did not provide any fresh or unique insights. The book felt like a recycled version of other beginner witchcraft books I have read before. I was hoping for a more modern and inclusive perspective on witchcraft, but this book did not deliver. Save your money and look for a more authentic and reliable resource on the subject.