Buckland's work ranges from excellent to lousy in terms of research and scholarly worth, and here is one of his productions that falls in the middle. I have used his book as a resource in personal practice, and it was effective, but I have my doubts as to the veracity of where he got his information. I certainly wouldn't hand this to a beginner without a sound lecture about the ethics of free will and the risks of love spells -- and a warning NEVER to quote the thing in a history class.

This book I have to say is one of the greatest books on love magick, Its very comprehensive and and the Practices in there are very effective, I surely will be keeping this book all my life and passing it down to my next generation and im only 20 Male, yes I bet your surprised but almost anyone can find the meaning of life in this book, thats love, Im surprised at how effective the practices were in this book. Raymond buckland is a Fantastic Author and a great writer, I must and will Congratulate on him on this book Its fantastic, If your thinking about purchasing this book dont hasitate its cheap,effective and its written beautifully as not to scare the reader of any negative results coming back to you if you do magick for sellfish reasons. Its one of the best books on love potions I have ever read and is the best in my mind and at a price thats affordable, If you think theres another book out there that is more effective and as good as Gypsy Love Magick please e-mail me and let me know Jasx69@yahoo.com I would really like to know if there is any book out there, as good as this one on Love Potions and Magick. Congrats My Friend Mr Raymond Buckland.

this book contained a lot of easy to do spells.it offered many different spells for a certain purpose.i think that this book is one of the best books on love magick and the spells were also very easy to do.

Leí ellibro. Me parece bueno para principiantes. Te explica como ungir una vela, qué hacer para trabajar con ellas. Los rituales son dependiendo de la preferencia religiosa de la persona. Unos rituales son como con textos bíblicos, otros más acomodados al ritual. Te dice los colores y significado al usar las velas. Explica un poco de magia negra y hace la salvedad de lo peligrosa que puede ser. Tienen rituales para cada situación. Se lee rápido. Fácil de entender.Adquiera uno.

me regalaron este libro y quede facinado con su contenido, te enceña lo vacico de la magia de la velas, el como vestirlas, sus significado de los colores, y el color determinado de cada signo, te vrinda 28 hechizos para casi todo, claro esta que se realizan con velas, lo puedes elejir si hacerlo de la manera pagana, o de la manera religiosa como cristiana.
una breve introdiccion para la realizacion de los rituales y como realizarlos con exito.
lo recomiendo, para cualquier nivel, principiantes avanzados o expertos, tanto o no fueran WICCA

When I first saw this book, I was curious about the coinage on the cover. Chinese coins have always been of interest to me.

But it is the content of this book that I found much more interesting. This little book is packed with information of value to anyone interested in divination.

There is a short introduction relating some history of coins being used as "Divination" tools. The "heads or tails" is the most obvious. But Mr. Buckland goes deeper, examining divination from its roots, its history and its use.

He then gives you some real "meat and potatoes" information, a complete "how to" use coins as tools for divination. No fancy coins needed, pocket change will do. And he goes from very basic "yes or no" types of divination for the beginner to some very thorough and complex multiple coin astrological divination, coins used as tarot cards and I Ching variations.

A small pocket book, yes, but don't let that be a judgement on this book. The tarot, astrological and I Ching material covered in this book make it well worth having for that alone.

Raymond Buckland has packed big things into a small package here and has given us yet another book of solid information and guidance well worth having in our libraries.

There is not a lot in this book that hasn't been rehashed over by other authors. This book was probably more impressive when it first came out; but I didn't find any major revelations about the Craft. One can get the same info from Gardner, the Farrars, Valiente, or Patricia Crowther.

If this is one of the first books on Wicca you pick up, then it could serve as a good starting point. Including essays from other famous Pagans was a nice touch. I thought the ending chapter on trying to prove fairies existed was a bit much, though.

This book was given to me by Raymond Buckland many years ago in one of the prior editions. The book's title seems quite clear that it has been written from the writer's view of his own experience over the years. I found it an interesting life experience to read about and also useful as a reference guide in a Sociology Thesis I wrote a few years back (in college). Incidentally I did get 100% on that thesis! It was the only 100% I ever got. My Sociology Professor then read the book and she commented that she also thoroughly enjoyed it. I have shared and loaned it to countless people who have all had only positive words. In other words, I thought the book was a great read.

I absolutely loved this book and am suggesting that the visiters to my online bookstore (an Amazon Affiliate) buy this book. It discusses various aspects of Wicca, along with stressing the fact that you should practice it however you see fit, which is something people of Garderian background often do not speak about.

Maybe it's just me, but this book seems put together in a hasty and half-hearted attempt. Maybe the author had little time or something, I don't know. It just seems tossed together with little to really say in any real depth.

The topics are far too brief and don't contain much real information (plus there are a lot of contradictions throughout the book). The biographies are very limited and it seems like the author only included a handful of people (friends only?).

There are other and better Encyclopedias out there. Try Rosemary Guiley or Raven Grimassi if you want your money's worth.

Buckland's encyclopedia is an attractive "coffee table" style book on Witchcraft. The entries don't go into much depth and remain pretty much surface level, some entries more sketchy than others. So this is a good book for flipping through on a cold winter's night, some light entertainment when there is little else to do.

Regretfully, many of the entries don't agree with one another, and there are very few biographies (with most of the well-known contemporary Witches missing completely). So for beginners this might not be the best book, and as a research book it is lacking the essentials. For a serious Witchcraft encyclopedia that deals in depth with a wide variety of topics I would suggest the Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi.

I bought this book to use as a reference for my horror writing. I was really disappointed with the lack of depth and breadth. I expected it to be much more thorough. Still, it is an enjoyable read.

This was the first Buckland book I bought, and will probably be the last. I cannot say this book was not full of information because it was...on various subjects. However, I would suggest that if you're a beginner you start with something a little simpler.

I enjoyed the information in the book, but took most of it with a grain a salt (no pun intended)--mostly the herbal information. Always check with a doctor before taking any herb internally.

This book covered a lot, and it gave me some ideas about things I wanted explore more. However, I felt put out by Buckland's "my way (tradition) or the highway" attitude throughout the book. His constant quoting of himself bothered me as well.

For a somewhat in depth look at lots of areas of study, or an introduction to one tradition, I'd suggest this book. For a beginner or someone not interested in a tradition I would not. I do feel I got my money's worth...even if it was only to help me realize some of what I didn't agree with, along with the basics for other areas of study.

This book is set up like a workbook. After each chapter is exerices and/or quizes, with the answers in the back of the book.
There is an appendix of Wicca deominations--with a breif history and beleif summery of each, songs, and recommended reading list.

This book has all the basics, like the Wheel of the year, basic philosophy, tools, spells, and rituals. It also has some things that are not so basic (and that I don't recommend and the author strongly cautions!) like what he terms "Witches' Cradle", a form of sensory deprivation using a form of binding of the body. There are other historical tidbits as well.

This book also has several magickal alphabets, a bit on herbs, a dream interpetaion section I still find very useful, and ideas for covens or solitary practice.

This book is for the novice, or a refresher. Would probably be ideal for the person who has 'looked into witchcraft', and has decided to start studying in depth. It does make a GREAT refrence book, as Mr. Buckland has provided with extensive basic knowledge with the 'lingo' to aid in finding resources for further studies.

Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft is just what it says it is, a COMPLETE book of Witchcraft. Obviously made for the student, it covers many important points in the whole of Witchcraft such as Herbalisism, History, Craft Names, Sabbats, Divination, and most importantly, the many practices of Magick. After a lesson, there are workbook questions given on the learning points covered in that lesson. This makes it extremely hard for a beginner not to understand the lesson, while also making it easy to remember the lesson. One note: a serious student may wish to buy a tape recorder or digital voice recorder for the questions as it is much easier to talk than write. If any person has bought the book and found it too technical, I suggest also buying beginner's books from Scott Cunningham, as he covers more of the spiritual aspects of the Craft. Overall, this book must honestly be considered a "must-have" for a Witch's bookshelf. -Ingrid

Usualy books get better the more an author writes. This just repeats what the author has said many times before, material that is mostly dated and a bit silly as a new title on the subject. If you already own the Big Blue, dont bother with this one as you already own an introduction to the basics of Wicca. If you don't already own the Big Blue, buy it instead.

I won't call this book a *total* loss, but I certainly feel it has more working against it than for it. To start with, it rehashes the same old tired, inaccurate pseudo-history about the "ancient origins" of Wicca as "the Old Religion." Buckland's been around long enough to certainly know better by now. Some specific fallacies he sets forth in this book are:

* "Wicca temples" before "the persecutions"

* Multiple denials of any real relationship between Wicca and Ceremonial Magick which completely ignore such relevant facts as the origins of many of the tools used (mostly from _The Key of Solomon_) as well as the use of the circle in ritual. It also completely ignores earlier versions of Gardner's work from which Gardner himself, with the help of Doreen Valiente, distilled what eventually became the original "standard" Wiccan Book of Shadows. Especially _Ye Bok of Ye Arte Magical_ which borrows quite heavily from the works of Aleister Crowley, _The Key of Solomon_, _The Goetia_, and the Wait-Smith tarot pack. The particular editions of _The Key of Solomon_ and _The Goetia_ in question are those put out by Samuel Liddell Mathers, one time leader of the Order of the Golden Dawn. A Hermetic order from which most modern Ceremonial Magick takes it's influence.

* Doreeen Valiente later discovered that the term "Book of Shadows" was borrowed by Gardner from an article in "The Occult Observer" in 1949. The article was discussing an ancient Sanskrit manual by that name which gave instruction on methods of determining someone's destiny by the length of their shadow. However, Buckland insists that the origin of the name "Book of Shadows" is uncertain, then states that it has been suggested that it comes from "the time of the persecutions".

* Buckland states that prayer is magic, completely ignoring important distictions between prayer and magic.

* States that witches do not use drugs, and seems to imply that they never have. While certainly a positive message, it is misleading in that it completely ignores such long time traditional practices as the use of "flying ointments" and the like.

* Having stated numerous times that Wicca has no relation to Ceremonial Magick, Buckland goes on to use magick squares on pages 125 & 127.

On the positive side, the book does have some nice ritual work, and some decent suggestions for dealing with different situations.

All in all, not a total waste in my view, but not worth the cover price. Buckland's own _Complete Book of Witchcraft_ is certainly better for basic, practical use. For an accurate historical account of the origins of modern Pagan Witchcraft, I highly recommend Ronald Hutton's _The Triumph of the Moon_. For more in depth Traditional Wiccan ritual, I suggest the work of the Farrars. Theirs is the most complete you are ever likely to find in print, since the inner workings and ritual of Wicca are oathbound.

Not since Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft a book stands and sells by it self. This book is a huge must and it might be better than big blue?, cause of all the clutter thats in big blue, this book untwist it all for those that can understand wicca a bit more better. Yes!, big blue is very good book and one of the best, however, i think this book narrows it all down for you in a simple way. Remember before you rate it..please read it FIRST. Believe me, you will be impressed and will want more.

Okay, okay. I'm the first to admit that "Turn Your Boyfriend Into A Toad--The Like, Omigod! Bridget Jones Guide To LUV spells" books are INANE. But some of this criticism is a bit harsh. Yes, this book is a simple spell book (despite the advanced title). You won't find abstract keys to spiritual mysteries (and I have a feeling that if Buckland did this, the same naysayers would be frothing at the mouth at him 'breaking his vows'. You can't please anyone. Although I do suspect that THAT is the point: most people want to be the chosen few who get to do witchcraft and LOVE when a writer wastes the 'average joe' or 'average jane's' money with abstract ... that won't accomplish anything except for a strict minority of high priestesses/priests of certain elitist covens. But I digress). What you will find is some rituals that MAY or MAY NOT do anything...it all depends on the individual practitioner's will, power-raising, etc. Which is what kills me about the skeptic who wrote the facetious review ("That's what these books are all about, made up stuff, tee hee, I'm so clever and sarcastic"): He (or she) can "prove" that magic(k) is a sham by doing a ritual without ANY intention of sincerity, effort, or emotion(I doubt these types even have any, the world is just one big ironic Quentin Tarantino film for them) and say "Just as I thought, it's all B.S." It's like the typical hardcore atheist/paranormal debunker who responds to the suggestion of realms beyond what is visible/audible with the catch-all "If I can't see it, It's not there." Circular reasoning, sarcasm, and skepticism--what a great combination. (There. I can be sarcastic too. It doesn't take much skill). Anyway, back to Buckland's book. For the minority of us out there who don't either a. like to make fun of things we can't always see with the five known senses or b. like to dismiss anything that is marketed to people who want to alter their lives in a positive manner rather than engage in high esoteric rituals and/or elitist spiritual navel-gazing, this is not a bad book. Yes, a bit simplistic (The five page chapter on Voodoo and Black Magic was the epitome of this)--especially for a book called "Advanced". But, hey, I'd certainly get more out of this book than yet another hodgepodge of philosophizing on The Tree of Life without ANY practical applications.

Raymond Buckland's gift as a teacher and author is his ability to bring the esoteric down to earth. His first book, "Practical Candleburning Rituals", brought the folk art of candleburning magick to thousands of people in easy to understand, and easy to use format. This book takes the simple methods present in that first book and expands on them. This is not a book about Witchcraft, the religion, but rather a specific form of magick. However, Buckland equips the reader with enough ethical training and understanding of the nature of magick to be able to perform these rituals effectively and safely. The difference between this book and "Practical Candleburning Rituals" is that the rituals in this book will take more preparation and time, and will involve more expensive materials and more extensive timing preparations than those in the first book. However, as a basic introduction to the art of "High" or "Ceremonial" magick, it is highly recommended.

This is a sequel to Raymond Buckland's "Practical Candleburning Rituals" and I think it is actually better than the first. There are more advanced and detailed (hence the title) rituals/spells, and contains many different ones that weren't covered in the first book. There is also an extensive correspondence table section in the back which covers many different aspects, from colors, gemstones, days, astrological signs, substitutions for herbs that can be used, etc. This is definately a worthwhile book to have if you want to do any sort of candle magick or spells, plus it's not complicated or difficult to understand. It's even written to be usable for those who are not of Pagan/Wiccan faith, as the incantations are written twice, one with a Pagan/Wiccan theme and one with a Biblical theme. It even goes into preparing for the spells, with timing and such. Overall one of the best candle magick books out there, I refer to mine often.

My last name is Saxon, so you can imagine my suprise when I found a copy of this book! I got a copy right away and read it! I love it!! I was so amazed at how much of the beliefs in it were ones that I had believed in my whole life!! It was very imformitive and very exciting to me!!

Doesn't anyone understand English? This is a book about SAXON WICCA. It is Mr. B's division of Wicca and so how can anyone say it's "hogwash" (I believe one reviewer stated) when it is his own segment of Paganism? I wonder sometimes if some reviewers even read the books they review. It's a fine book with lots of interesting things and tells about the Saxon Wiccan Path. Get a big FIVE from me!

THE TREE is a very good book for anyone of Anglo-Saxon heritage who wants to reconnect with their pagan spiritual roots. I am a longtime student of Ray Buckland, as well as the founder of the Seax-Wiccan coven (The Coven of the Green Earth), and I can attest to Ray's knowledge and complete mastery of Witchcraft. Come visit our website to learn more: http://home.talkcity.com/gaiaway/wiccan-coven

...

The myths and mysteries of the Gypsies have been with us for centuries. You may be familiar with the romantic stereotypes--traveling the countryside in painted wagons, cooking over campfires, living by their wits. But what of this is true?
Nobody is better able to share the realities of gypsy life than Raymond Buckland, a half-blood Romany and respected authority on Witchcraft. In Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic he reveals the folkways, beliefs, and magical practices of this vanishing culture.
In this award-winning book you will get a glimpse of traditional life in the vardo (Gypsy wagon) and find out how Gypsy ways live on today. Here you will learn to work real magic as practiced by the shuvanis (Gypsy Witches):

- Cast binding spells to prevent harm to yourself or others.
- Perform love spells to bring your true love into your arms.
- Have a reference for traditional herbal cures.
- Learn the secrets of performing hands-on healing.
- Learn to make traditional Gypsy charms for protection and exorcism.
- Discover how to tell fortunes with cards, stones, coins, and omens.
- Uncover the secret ways Gypsies used sex to enhance their magic.
- Learn about the peg-knife, or choori.
- Discover how to make a large bender tent that can be set up quickly and used to practice
shuvani magic.
- Make a breadboard to use in divination.
- Find out about Gypsy Shamanism, the inner mysteries of the Gypsies.

Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic shares Gypsy life, lore, and magic. It is written in a personal style that is fun to read as you learn the truth about these charismatic people. This book shares techniques, which you could not have found elsewhere. To learn the truth about the Gypsies and their system of Witchcraft, get Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic.

So much for the write-up by the publisher; now let's have a look at the book with more critical eyes:

In the introduction, unfortunately, we encounter the usual misconceptions regarding the origin of the Romani and the time of departure as well as arrival in Europe. But those "errors" are not the author's fault but are due to the usual academic sources from which they are taken, and that also keep perpetuating the myths that all Romani are Roma, and that groups such as the Sinti and Cale/Kale are just a sub-group of the Roma, which, however is not so.

The aforementioned aside, however, GYPSY WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC by Ray Buckland, is a well-presented book full of facts on the subject matter concerned and which I, as a Romano shivano, can truly recommend to all those of our fohki who have little or no knowledge of our religious practices (and witchcraft, divination, etc. is part and parcel of that) but who would like to get a basic understanding of them, with one of few reservations. In the main it does appear that Ray Buckland has dealt with the Romanichal practices but he has also intermixed some Roma practices here and there and that could be confusing to some.
There are certain "revelations" - if I may call them that - in the book that will come as something of a shock to some Romani readers and many will deny those fact but that does not make them less of a truth that they are. There is one thing that has to be rectified and that is that no Romani shiovani or shiovano would ever think of engaging in an act of sex with a "client" for the purpose of magic. That, I am afraid, is complete fabrication by the author. There are certain aspects that are being used, I admit that, however much some might refute that but there are other aspects that are mentioned by Mr. Buckland that are total fiction in this regard.
If you, as a Romani reading this book will do so with an open heart and allow the spirits to speak to you, you will come to understand more even than what is written here in the book. Suddenly your Race Memory will clock in and things will fall into place. Your own spirits will guide you to what is true and what is the author's imagination or something of which he has been misinformed.

There is one other most unfortunate "error" - if we can put it this way - though, which detracts rather a little from the otherwise well-written and well-presented book, which I being a churimengro (knifemaker) and shiovano felt I had to point out, and that is the matter about the "choori" (or "churi"): On page 136 Mr. Buckland writes "At fourteen, a boy will also make a knife (chiv or choori) for himself. This is often made from an old file or cut from an old saw blade. It is shaped like a small sickle and the tang is fitted into a slot in the hand-carved, wooden handle. This is used for making wooden flowers, clothespins, and for any other tasks around the campsite" and less than 20 pages further on, on page 151, he more or less contradicts himself on the subject of the churi when he writes "The Romanes word to "knife" is choori. ... The "peg-knife", as it is sometimes called, is usually made from and old kitchen knife. The blade is pulled from the handle and a new handle, made from wood, carved to comfortably fit the owner's hand. The blade is ground down until it is about three to four inches in length." The truth is that the second statement is correct and that is indeed the way the churi is made in the majority of cases, i.e. from an old kitchen or table knife with a spike tang. Most of the statement on page 136 is incorrect in that (a) most chavos would make their first churi for themselves well before the age of fourteen, more like at the age of six or seven as they will already then have to be part in making koshters, etc.; (b) the shape would not be that of a "small sickle" but that of the standard sheepsfoot blade (see small photo); a sickle-shaped one like the blade of the so-called French paring knife is rather limited in it's uses and is also very difficult to sharpen well; (c) the knife would not be made from an old file or saw blade, as it is rather difficult task. Making a knife from an old file or saw blade is a very difficult undertaking and would therefore only be done by proper knifemakers, as it requires the facility to anneal and later to re-temper the blade. One other point: the Romanes work for "knife" is "choori" while the word "shiv/chiv" refers to a double-edged blade, i.e. a dagger.

this book is a mix of wicca and gypsy magic very useful with all kinds of charms for all kinds of things love, money, power, protection, exorcism, health something for everyone this book does NOT contain any sort of recipe for love potion number 9

an excellent and fascinating book from raymond buckland, couldn't put it down until i had read it cover to cover! a very good foundation book to start off with, for anybody with an interest in romany or wiccan or just sheer curiosity in romany folklore, excellent references to refer back to and an insight in to britains romany populus and transitions through the years.