If I could get an opinion about Ray Buckland's books...

Hello, good day to you and I would like to know what some people might think about Raymond Buckland's books. I for some reason could only recently come accross a copy of Wicca For Life and I do find it interesting but I think that I might disagree with Mr. Buckland on a few things. I would just like to know for people with practical experience in the world of witchcraft what you really think about this book and others he has written. I would really appreciate it. I like to hear from all kinds of people so feel free to chime in.

Tags: buckland, wicca, witchcraft

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Permalink Reply by Arachneh on April 9, 2009 at 12:43pm: I have The Complete Book of Witchcraft ("Uncle Bucky's Big Blue") and it's good, as far as it goes . . . I wouldn't consider it comprehensive, and it definitely has a Gardnerian-type focus (he was originally a Gardnerian HP), but it's decent reading in some of the Wiccan basics.

That's pretty much the only book of his that I've read, so I couldn't give you any broader feedback . . .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Azraelwitch on April 9, 2009 at 12:46pm: I find that I disagree on this one thing I can remember off the top of my head and I don't want to step in sh*t with this one, but I think a Satanist has every right to be called a witch. Raymond Buckland seemed offended by that. I am reading this for mostly educational reasons as I want to study things like wicca voudou sateria etc... I appreciate you telling me how you feel. I did not pay for this book I got it from the library. I am asking because I wonder about the COmplete BOok of Witchcraft and is that worth the price because I really have to think about things before I invest in books. One thing I do like about this book, is that the rituals are oh so simple and for people with short attention spans like me that is helpful... Bless you Dream.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arachneh on April 9, 2009 at 12:52pm: but I think a Satanist has every right to be called a witch. Raymond Buckland seemed offended by that.

I wouldn't be surprised . . . Janet Farrar (for instance) still insists that "Witchcraft" is "Wicca," and publishes accordingly. Many of the BTW elders have held this assumption for some reason. (Personally, I do not, as Witchcraft is a global practice, and can vary greatly among practitioners, cultures, and predominant religious climates.) You'll also find an anti-Satanic bias in some quarters of British Traditional Wicca.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Azraelwitch on April 9, 2009 at 1:45pm: I didn't really know that but that is also why I have an issue with this one thing that silver Ravenwolf said and that is that there is no such thing as a Satanic witch, but I would beg to differ. I think I will still enjoy these books, though. I wonder if I don't feel left out a little bit when it comes to wiccans, but I've been a witch for a while. I think witchcraft and wicca are different although similar. Thanks for your input.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arachneh on April 9, 2009 at 2:22pm: You're welcome . . . I don't know why SRW would say such a thing, either (unless it's that old BTW bias).

Being a HP/S of a given trad or a published author doesn't make you immune to such biases and outright mistakes . . . IMO, always read with that grain of salt on standby.

Personally, if I ever found myself agreeing completely with an author (even one of my favorites), I'd probably be a little worried. ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ruthanne Seven on April 9, 2009 at 2:05pm: I'm not surprised if he was offended... Satanism has morphed, as has everything else in general paganism. I have always viewed Satanism as an anomoly of the Christian faith, since it doesn't appear in historical paganism, AFAIK.

Just as the definition of 'witch' has morphed, so will many other definitions, including Satanism, as people interpret and re-interpret stuff on the shelves.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arachneh on April 9, 2009 at 2:27pm: I agree, Satanism has morphed, and I think we forget that many of these older authors received their initial training long before LaVey. I'd think, though, that they'd keep at least somewhat current on such things . . . Learning shouldn't stop at any given point in one's life, and there's always more to know.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Azraelwitch on April 9, 2009 at 2:30pm: That's also very true. I never thought of that.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arachneh on April 9, 2009 at 5:16pm: It can be hard to remember (I forget to do this myself), but it helps to know something about the author, who they trained with, when they wrote . . . all authors have biases, and some get locked into their own views of reality.

For instance, there are still some long-disproved assertions in Big Blue's section on history (like the number "9 million" associated with victims of the witch-hunts), despite the fact that it's been through x-number of editions . . .

IMO, take what's valuable and makes sense, leave the rest. And if you just cannot find anything at all redeemable about a certain book or author, pass them by.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ruthanne Seven on April 9, 2009 at 12:47pm: I met Ray Buckland in 1974. He was invited to speak at my religeon class at my all-girl high school in Providence RI! Crazy, eh?

That was a defining point for me. I did my first ritual, which was to find a teacher ( if I be a worthy student) and sure enough, in 1975, we met by "accident".

I will always love Ray for that, and I also appreciate that he is honest about inventing new ways to express Wicca, instead of pretending to be a really 'old' lineage.

I can't remember the last time I read any of his books, ( I am way past the book thing) but I trust his sincerity, and honor him for introducing me to a philosophy that changed my life.
Hope that helps!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Azraelwitch on April 9, 2009 at 12:54pm: That's true and good. It is very different form some of the other stuff I've read and I'm glad you had that experience. That is neat-o. One reason I ask is so I can decide exactly what to use from this book and what to discard if anything and I thank you for taking the time to say what you feel.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pavlor on April 9, 2009 at 12:49pm: I believe all books have their merits in one way or another. I will read everything and anything and I usually glean something out of a book I read. I tend to read books with quite a bit of screening due to my background (academic) and I usually disagree with stuff, but that's okay - we all have opinions. I have some quite odd books like Runic Astrology by Pennick (this is odd by my standards as I don't have many books on a) astrology or b) runes) that I can't make head nor tail of and much of it I think is crap or that I am not "evolved" enough to understand it.

I'd say read everything and make your own assumptions.; ▶ Reply to This