The first thing that must be said about this work is that it is not flakey, new-agey, or Wiccan. It is instead fairly dark, and very much grounded in the works of various occult traditions. Huson’s focus is not theology but practical occult workings. If you are looking for white-light sorts of things, look elsewhere.
Now, I generally enjoyed this work because there were small pieces here and there which helped me to flesh out my own tradition (Runic magic). A lot of bits and pieces of older magic have made their way into this book and this goes well beyond hermetic or thelemic elements which are clearly present.
The only negative thing I can say about the book though has to do with the ethical angle. I am not one of those who is unconditionally opposed to wrathful magic. However, these things are best in their place and I didn’t feel like this book explored this sort of issue very well. Instead we have (what I believe to be) confused discussions of fallen angels, etc. I think that the occult arts really do require some systematic considerations prior to wrathful or harmful magic, but this is one of the most difficult aspects to get right in any book.
All in all, recommended, but don’t let this be the only book in your library on the subject.
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Paladin PvP Guide
Let me start by saying that there are a lot of misconceptions as to the role of a Paladin in PvP. When people think of Paladins in PvP, they think of a weak warrior that does nothing but melee, but t...
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Let me say two things before going indepth. Firstly, this book is a wonderful insight to Wtichcraft practiced as a working of power separate form moral and cultural implications instead of the usual Wiccan routine most modern practitioners are so accustomed to. Secondly, If you are a parctitioner, understand that this is an absolutely invaluable guide for the adept, for experienced practitioners, and for those who generally know what they’re doing.
I do not reccomend this as your first 101 book. Most of the magical practices are more than a little dangerous to the inexperienced witch. Read “A Witches Bible: The Complete Witches Handbook” by Janet and Stewart Farrar if you want a basic cover-all of traditional Wicca; it’s far less controversial and far more detailed. Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, Christopher Penczak, and Raven Grimassi are also good starter authors in addition to the Farrars. If you want to read this immediately AFTER getting a good grounding in more traditional practices, I highly recommend it as a comparative work and guide to less conventional craft, and to any student of more advanced workings,it’s an invaluable, informative, and actually quite entertaining read.
Understand that this book contains hexes, curses, protective magics, love magics in the older sense of philters and spells targeting a specific person, divinations, and a goodly amount of things dragged from the older ceremonial grimoires, along with some very interesting innovations that are quite amusing and more than a little useful. It is a must-read for any serious student of magic, Witchcraft or otherwise. I highly recommend it to anyone who isn’t too new to Wicca, Witchcraft, or other magical practices.
I ordered this book as part of a research project on “flying ointment” because the book was referenced by the article “Myths and Mandrakes.” Let me tell you how Huson advises the use of the flying ointment: “Prior to attending Sabbat, preferably before leaving the house, anoint yourself with Sabbat oil. A traditional recipe for this is as follows.” He then goes on to list some of the most poisonous botanicals you can legally get your hands on, not considering the fact that if you tried to “anoint” yourself with such a brew and step out of the house you probably wouldn’t make it to your car, let alone to your Dungeons and Dragons meeting on Shadow Hill. The fact that he so cavalierly suggests the use of these herbs means he has obviously never used them, and makes you wonder if he ever engaged in any of the hocus pocus he describes throughout the book.
I’m one of the oldsters who purchased this very book in the early ’70′s. I was (and still am) entranced by the soaring prose that this book embodies. It set me on a life course that meandered ofttimes, only to return me to itself. I recall very well how the myriad burgeoning neo/pseudo-Gardnerians of the ’70′s and ’80′s turned their noses up at it and always bashed both the book and its highly knowledgeable author.
I recall reading all of the literature that began to appear under the aegis of Mother Ll and felt a pervasive sense of disappointment in that not one other book resembled in any way Huson’s masterpiece, neither in content nor in the soundness of his recommended practices. And this was before the (so-called) “Wicca” emerged in the ’90′s, striving to “teach” those good little girls and boys who actually wanted to be like the “good witch” Glenda: behold – a great tradition trivialized and emasculated to serve a number of sociopolitical agendas that have nothing to do with true Traditional Witchcraft, such as that which Mr. Huson promoted.
I am gratified that in this first decade of the “new millenium” various and sundry exemplars of bona fide European, particularly British, Traditional Witchcraft groups of great antiquity are coming forth and challenging all the pink fluffy bunny crap and rhetoric we’ve been subjected to for over 3 decades. Mother Ll has tried to keep up with this challenge by its offerings in “goth” and “nocturnal witchcraft,” but these too fall short. “The emperor in new clothes” and all that.
Over and over again Huson’s original work continues to enthrall new audiences just as it did me over 35 years ago. As I said, the hauntingly beautiful prose that one finds in “Mastering Witchcraft” stands in sharp contrast to the teddy bear writings of the self-styled “Wicca” authorties. The book appears in a few editions but (as far as I can tell) it has never had to be edited or modified in any way. Its longevity and ability to stand on its own merits attests to its great value for all Trad Witches, new and long-established.
If you’re a newcomer, read this book first. Then go to authors like Cochrane and others who have expanded our understanding of Traditional Witchcraft where Huson left off.
The first thing that must be said about this work is that it is not flakey, new-agey, or Wiccan. It is instead fairly dark, and very much grounded in the works of various occult traditions. Huson’s focus is not theology but practical occult workings. If you are looking for white-light sorts of things, look elsewhere.
Now, I generally enjoyed this work because there were small pieces here and there which helped me to flesh out my own tradition (Runic magic). A lot of bits and pieces of older magic have made their way into this book and this goes well beyond hermetic or thelemic elements which are clearly present.
The only negative thing I can say about the book though has to do with the ethical angle. I am not one of those who is unconditionally opposed to wrathful magic. However, these things are best in their place and I didn’t feel like this book explored this sort of issue very well. Instead we have (what I believe to be) confused discussions of fallen angels, etc. I think that the occult arts really do require some systematic considerations prior to wrathful or harmful magic, but this is one of the most difficult aspects to get right in any book.
All in all, recommended, but don’t let this be the only book in your library on the subject.
Mastering Witchcraft is a time honored book of Traditional (NON wiccan) Witchery. Paul Huson has given the novice witch or warlock ( a traditional word often used by “wiccans” to mean traitor when in actuality it does mean male witch for some) an excellent place to start and take her or his first steps on the crooked path.
Since 1970, this has been the standard neophyte text book for many covens in the United States and is still used widely today. If you only ever buy one book on the subject of witchery, this should be it.