Book Review

The Complete Grimoire

Magickal Practices and Spells

for Awakening Your Inner Witch

by Lidia Pradas

Fair Winds Press

176 Pages

 

 

Excerpt From the Publisher:

…Welcome to my grimoire!

You are about to begin an exciting journey of ancient knowledge and self-discovery. In this book, I share with you everything you need to know about the pillars of witchcraft, helping you connect with the energy of the universe. Let me guide you through this path of the occult!

Everybody has the potential to use witchcraft. In these pages, you will learn how to work with your energy and intention, as well as the energy of the elements that surround you. This book is a tool that can help you bring truth and power to your life through communion with the universe. Let’s get started, and let’s awaken your inner witch!…

The Complete Grimoire: Magickal Practices and Spells for Awakening Your Inner Witch by Lidia Pradas is a beautifully illustrated book that will serve the needs of both the beginner and more experienced witch. As the title suggests this book is organized in a way that provides the reader with all of the staples of a wiccan practice in just the right amount of in depth exploration and useable information.

The Complete Grimoire is separated into nine (9) chapters and has a greatly appreciated Index at the end for quick reference. An ending point for each of the chapters is a small section entitled Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me. Here, the author gives an extra little tidbit of information that reflect the nature of the Craft, which is one of learning as you go and formulating your own resonance with what you’ve learned to make it more completely your own.

Chapter 1: Witchcraft FAQ’s dives right into commonly asked questions about practice and the Craft and dispels the myth and glamour surrounding witchcraft and identifying as a witch. Topics include coven work vs. Solitary, the male terminology used for a witch, the types of witches and their practice and more.

….. To simplify it, all Wiccans are pagans, but not all pagans are Wiccans. Most Wiccans are witches, but not all witches are Wiccans. Some pagans are witches, and some witches are pagans….^1.

Each chapter takes the reader through an organized process of work that involves your physicality, such as acquiring tools and preparing for Sabbats, as well as developing the subtle skills of energetic practice, meditation and visualization.

I am always interested in the approach an author takes when writing about the Sabbats and how to celebrate. Chapter 4: The Wheel of the Year was one of my favorite chapters in content and presentation. Ms. Pradas begins the year with Yule and each Sabbat is lovingly treated with correspondences and suggestions for activities. A recipe is included as well to complete the connection between earth and the celebrant.

Subsequent chapters cover all of the basics of Crystals (Ch5), Herbs (Ch6), Divination (Ch7) and Working with Spirits and Deities (Ch8). The final Chapter 9: Correspondences, Rituals and Spells brings all that has preceded into a palpable and usable practice. Topics such as Timing, Astrology, Candle Magick and more are presented with versatility in mind and exemplifying the resourceful nature of the Craft and the witch. The practical nature of witchcraft is addressed in defining the use and nature of talismans and amulets, spell crafting and being mindful of glamours in spell work. This final chapter provides an excellent jumping off point into deeper explorations of all of the components of witchcraft with tastings of the best pieces to whet the appetite.

Would I Recommend:

What I truly appreciated about The Complete Grimoire: Magickal Practices and Spells for Awakening Your Inner Witch by Lidia Pradas was the amount of information provided without the lengthy discourse on each topic that is often the staple of a book such as this. Everything that was offered was a harmonious balance of containing nothing more and nothing less than what would teach, but not detract from the simplicity of much of the Craft’s core essence. This approach lends itself very nicely to being able to jump right into the work and experience the Craft from the first pages. BROOM’S UP for The Complete Grimoire: Magickal Practices and Spells for Awakening Your Inner Witch by Lidia Pradas!

About the Author:

Lidia Pradas is the wiccan witch behind the Instagram sensation Wiccan Tips and the author of The Complete Grimoire. She comes from a family of witches and teaches and writes about witchcraft and paganism to beginner witches. 

 

Footnotes:

1. 1. p. 12

The Complete Grimoire: Magickal Practices and Spells for Awakening Your Inner Witch on Amazon

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About the Author:

Robin Fennelly is a Third Degree Initiate within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven of the Mystic Path.  

Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice.  A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.

Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her 1st, 2nd and finally 3rd degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of Oak and Willow since Samhain of 2001.

As a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies she has used Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25 years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.

Robin’s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally.  She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented.  She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival this Summer. Her most recent project is hosting an online blogging community entitled The Pagan Experience.

Robin is the owner of Holistic Embrace providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance and other related offerings.  She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.

Robin’s Books

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 1 It’s Written in the Stars-Astrology

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 2 Poetry of the Spheres-Qabalah

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 3 Awakening the Paths-Qabalah

The Light of SELF: Consciousness, Spiritual Practice and Learning to Breathe

Magickal Verse: A Collection of Poetry and Prose

A Year of Gaia: The Eternal Cord

The Elemental Year: Aligning the Elements of SELF

Temple of the Sun and Moon: Luminous Devotions

Sleeping with the Goddess: Nights of Devotion

A Weekly Reflection: Musings for the Year

The Magickal Pen: A Collection of Esoteric Writings

The Enchanted Gate: Musings on the Magick of the Natural World

For more info: http://www.robinfennelly.com/books.html

Robin’s Website: www.robinfennelly.com

Coven of the Mystic Path, ASW: www.covenofthemysticpath.org