Member Reviews

This book is meant for someone who is very interested in magic and witchcraft or for someone who is looking to add more ceremonial ritual and/or processes into their practice. It is easy to read and the ultimate messages come across well, but it is packed with information.

Was this review helpful?

A well-written beginner's book on witchcraft, if perhaps Wicca leaning in many ways. The only thing I would outright disagree with was his view of deity, like you have to have gods involved. I consider that point entirely optional.

Easy to read and has some good guidance for newbie witchlings.

Was this review helpful?

Mastering the Art of Witchcraft" by Frater Barrabbas, slated for publication on July 16, 2024, is a valuable resource for individuals looking to deepen their understanding and practice of the craft. As someone with limited knowledge in the field, I found this book exceptionally informative and accessible, making it an essential read for those eager to expand their expertise in witchcraft.

One of the book's most notable strengths is its inclusive approach, catering to solitary practitioners and those within covens. Barrabbas expertly guides readers through the intricacies of witchcraft, encouraging them to develop a personalised practice that aligns with their beliefs and preferences.

A significant aspect Barrabbas emphasises is the importance of dedicating oneself to a deity, elucidating the profound connection that can be fostered through ritualistic practices. This insight adds depth to the reader's understanding of the spiritual dimensions of witchcraft and provides valuable guidance for those seeking to deepen their spiritual connections.

"Mastering the Art of Witchcraft" is particularly well-suited for beginners. It offers a comprehensive overview of essential topics such as rituals, magical objects, altars, etc. While the book caters to a broad audience, it may resonate most strongly with individuals already familiar with the craft's basics and eager to delve deeper into its rituals and traditions.

Additionally, Barrabbas provides a wealth of spells and further explanations on various paths within witchcraft, making this book a valuable addition to any practitioner's home library. Whether one is drawn to the communal aspects of group practice or prefers solitary rituals, this comprehensive guide has something for everyone.

In conclusion, "Mastering the Art of Witchcraft" offers a wealth of knowledge and practical guidance for practitioners at all levels. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of witchcraft and enhance their magical practice. My gratitude goes to NetGalley and Crossed Crow Books for providing me with an e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

First I would love to thank Crossed Crow Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

If you’re like me, Frater Barrabbas is a familiar name. The other books that they have written have been staples within my spiritual journey. So when I saw that they were writing a book for beginners, I was extremely curious. And just like their other works, Thai was extremely informative.

If you are beginning to find your path, this book is a fantastic starting point. It was very detailed and user friendly. It is packed with information and was to practice.

I would definitely add this to a basket of goodies for any newcomer!!

Was this review helpful?

Frater Barrabbas presents a concise yet thorough guide in "Mastering the Art of Witchcraft," catering to newer practitioners. As a newcomer to the craft, I was intrigued by the title amidst the abundance of beginner resources available. To my delight, I discovered a well-organized exploration that shed light on aspects I hadn't previously considered. The author's extensive background, highlighted at the book's outset, solidified his authority on the subject matter. With numerous works targeting experienced practitioners, Barabbas adeptly identifies and addresses common gaps in knowledge commonly faced by newcomers. In doing so, this also ensures accessibility to his books for more experienced practitioners.

The book's format encourages readers to forge a personalized practice that resonates with them, whether practicing solo or within a coven. Inclusivity is paramount, as "Mastering the Art of Witchcraft" covers a broad spectrum of topics essential for beginners. One such aspect illuminated by Barabbas is the significance of dedicating oneself to a deity, fostering a deeper connection through ritualistic practices.

While the book's comprehensiveness is commendable, I was surprised by its brevity. As a visual learner, I yearned for more illustrations, particularly in sections discussing sacred space and associated rituals. Additional visuals would enhance understanding, especially for beginners lacking supplemental resources.

Nevertheless, the breadth of topics covered is impressive. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those embarking on their own journey, seeking to bridge knowledge gaps, or simply curious about the craft. "Mastering the Art of Witchcraft" is a meticulously crafted tool, offering an expansive exploration into the foundational realms of witchcraft.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy this author’s books. I read quite a few more advanced topics from him but when I saw this introductory book, I thought I’d give it a read. He does such a great job in explaining things and helping people along their path. If you’re looking to get started, this is a great book to begin with. You’ve got an excellent guide along for the journey.

Was this review helpful?

Another good beginners guide to the craft, for those more into ritual, magical objects, and alters and such. I think beginners already exposed to the craft and more into groups will get more out of this book, than solitary witches. Has some nice spells in it and more explanation of the gods and backgrounds of different paths we may follow. On the whole, an interesting read and gives lots of food for thought, even to us old pagans. It's a book I'll purchase for my own collection.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you, Crossed Crow Books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own: The author, renowned for his advanced works in witchcraft, breaks down complex concepts into clear and direct explanations, making the book an ideal starting point for novices. The inclusion of helpful graphics further enhances the reader's understanding, ensuring that the material is approachable and digestible. Frater Barrabbas's expertise, clarity of communication, and direct approach to each topic make this guide an invaluable resource. It seamlessly bridges the gap between theory and practice, empowering beginners to construct their own magical legacy. I like this book! Highly recommended.

Español: El autor, conocido por sus trabajos avanzados en brujería, descompone conceptos complejos en explicaciones claras y directas, lo que convierte al libro en un punto de partida ideal para principiantes. La inclusión de gráficos útiles mejora aún más la comprensión del lector, asegurando que el material sea accesible y digerible. La experiencia de Frater Barrabbas, la claridad de comunicación y el enfoque directo de cada tema hacen de esta guía un recurso invaluable. Cierra a la perfección la brecha entre la teoría y la práctica, permitiendo a los principiantes construir su propio legado mágico. ¡Me gusta este libro! Muy recomendable.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Crossed Crow Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book but it felt harder for a beginner to read than some of the other witchcraft books I've read. I really liked how deep the author went and how much knowledge was covered in the book. I definitely want to buy this book to have in my collection because this is the kind of book you want to reread!

Overall I would recommend this to any witch but I would recommend beginner witches like me going and deeply read and possibly reread just so some of the information and knowledge

Was this review helpful?

I admit that I’m not a witchy person myself but when I saw this for download on Netgalley as an advanced readers copy I was curious so I downloaded it. I’ve read a variety of books on the subject because it’s an area of interest for me and I wanted to see how this compared.

I have to say this book was quite good. It goes over a variety of beginner topics and introduces people to the very beginning of a magical practice from making a space for your practice, getting and consecrating tools, creating your own individual pantheon, and the beginning of worship for them and magical practices. All of the information is gone into in great depth while remaining very easy to read and helpful. The book is a wonderful guiding hand to starting your own individual practice. I also like that there is a list of resources toward the end of the book to help you research and learn even more.

I was hoping I would like this book but I ended up loving it. I highly recommend for anyone looking to step into witchcraft practices for the first time, people already involved that want to learn more, or people that are just curious about the topic in general.

Was this review helpful?

**Thank you for the ARC!! All opinions are completely my own.** 4 stars. Wonderful for any beginner. My one comment is that the formatting feels a bit cramped.

Was this review helpful?

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is great for beginners as it covers all the basics. It is also a great refresher.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me the ARC to review!

Mastering the Art of Witchcraft is a great tool for beginner to intermediate witches alike. As someone who has studied magick for 15 years, it’s not really the best book for me as I didn’t really learn anything new. The tone the author takes is very informative and not too wordy as a lot of witchcraft books can be. The way the book is laid out to chronologically makes it flow from one chapter into the next based on what you would want to know next.

Again I’m not the intended audience, but this was a great refresher for basics and an excellent book for any beginner witches out there.

Was this review helpful?

Frater Barrabbas has written an eye opening manual for the aspiring practioner. What is refreshing is the amount of real information and not fluff or wishful thinking IMO. The concepts are clearly explained and the things that other authors omit or just dont know are explained. The section on Deity and obligations is an eye opener and is rarely discussed elsewhere. This book will start you off with a solid base and practices that are not all that difficult to master nor are exotic materials needed. Excellent and honest.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful book for beginner witches who are interested in ceremonial magic and ritual, occult, deity, and grasping the concepts for themselves rather than relying on a coven structure for teaching. It's much different than the beginner books that focus on correspondences, sabbats, candle magic, kitchen craft, etc. - I love those texts as well, but they're much lighter reads than this. This is a true study text that brings in the religious aspect of practice much more than most modern witchcraft books. Don't let the smaller size fool you, as it's densely packed with information and ritual.

Was this review helpful?

Love! I’m super into witchcraft and learning more about it. Whenever I can I’ll grab a witchcraft book and read it. This one did not disappoint. It was informative without being dense.

Was this review helpful?

Let me start this off by saying I realize this book isn't exactly for me at this time. I have no place to make an altar, nor do anything in this book. I am mainly in the broom closet as it where. It doesn't mean that it didn't make an impact on me, nor give me ideas as to what I can do once I have a place I can practice. A lot of it made sense in the respect it's common sense to me.

I don't have a community of folks to talk to about any of this. Every time I find a group of folks or a coven that might be ok to talk with, they turn out not to be as I don't follow their rules and think different then them. Or they don't understand my physical limitations. The author seems to understand that there are people like me who just don't exactly fit in.

This is a book I think all witches should have, even if it doesn't advance their practice. Despite me not having a community to talk with about any of the witchy stuff, I would love to have this to help anyone along I should I meet that needs and/or wants it.

Was this review helpful?

This book is written for the beginning witch who wants to start a solitary practice. Discusses steps towards independent practice include collecting the tools and material and choosing a space. Emphasizing the practical aspects of witchcraft, emphasizing the foundations of witchcraft, liturgical practices, magical rituas, tools and spells and divination. Advanced magical practices. Appendix. Illustrations. Bibliography. Index.

Was this review helpful?

If you're in this particular system of magic and mysticism, then this book will be very helpful to "join the dots" how all its methods can be incorporated. It is kinda shorter book and brief read which is fine for busy world, but still few more explanations would be welcomed (Forex little more about working with different aspects of deities). Of course you can use this text on its own as a basic occult introduction to magic. Also it is interesting to see how methods in this system are changing in years, now being more concise and practical. I also advise readers to authors early title Disciple's Guide to Ritual Magick.

Was this review helpful?

Very informative book
As a witch who already understands my way around my craft. I found this book would be very helpful for those who struggle and wish learn more
Well write and worth a read

Was this review helpful?