Wiccan Mysteries was originally published in 1997, then fell out of print for a number of years until Crossed Crow issued this reprint. I did read it “back in the day” but have not revisited it since, so when the opportunity arose to review it, I went for it.

Raven Grimassi (1951-2019) was a prolific author of books about Wicca, Paganism, and related areas. Considered an Elder in the Craft movement, his books are still referred to today, though some aspects of his writings do not hold up well to rigorous historical criticism. Sadly, Wiccan Mysteries is one of those titles wherein Grimassi claims that Wicca is ancient and harks back to the days of the Celtic peoples, which is a myth that still has some traaction, despite Wicca being created by Gerald Gardner (and some would also credit Doreen Valiente) in the 1950s.

Despite this, Wiccan Mysteries does give a thorough introduction to a number of more esoteric aspects of Wicca, Witchcraft, and magical practices, including reincarnation, deities, beliefs, astral travel, and psychic development. As with the history, some areas need reading with a pinch of salt. Grimassi can also be a little dense of a read at times, so some chapters require a bit more focus than others, and there is some sexism here and there; that said, it’s great to have this Classic — very much a product of its time — back on our shelves.

I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to understand the placement of Wicca in the late 1990s, and/or exploring Grimassi as an influence on the modern Craft movement (and he should absolutely be considered in this context).

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Crossed Crow Books, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read this book for ages and it was interesting to re-read it after having changed. There's a lot to learn and a lot of food for thought
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Modern Wicca is a religion. Whether it was thought up by Gardner IMO is irrelevant. It is still a religion that many follow and find meaning in. This book gives the curious as well as the devotee a look at what is behind the religion and the reasons why things are done or thought to be true. Much is covered such as reincarnation, sigils, and rites that can be done. The history given is very interesting as well as the Deities associated with the seasons and the lives of people. This book made sense when I read it and is very important as far as the how and why of what Wiccans do. It is understood that not all Wiccans believe the same things. Still this book makes the information of one group available to all.

Arc netgalley review

The amount of knowledge packed into the pages of this book blew me away, from clarifying information I already knew more in-depth, to expanding my knowledge even deeper on topics I didn’t know, history that has always been clarified and payed out in such a way as this author did so articulately. I highly recommend this book for anyone new or old to this practice or even for anyone wanting to better understand the history of this practice.