Silver RavenWolf...really?

[VenusRainn]

I was just curious what your opinions were on her. I've seen her books and even have read/browsed through a couple of them but have heard mixed reviews on her in general. Some people say that she is nothing but a fake and glamourized witch, others say she really knows what she is talking about. Just curious from an all witch, or mostly witch point of view what everything thinks. Since I don't know much about witchcraft yet, how do I know if she really knows what she is talking about or not?

[Mr. Oogie Boogie]

Venus, I read her book, Teen Witch and *I think* she does know what she is talking about. I think her a very good author and reliable too! Check her out.

Shelby

[VenusRainn]

Yeah, I read half of Teen Witch--well, I own that one and another book of hers. I purchased these before I read mixed reviews about her. I read--well, what I read of Teen Witch, I read after I was a teen and learned a lot about things. I still find her adult books kind of confusing, so that is why I like looking over Teen Witch again every now and then. She's been helpful to me.

[Ravenari]

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html

And see this thread:

http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/f ... php?t=1077

[moonlit]

I only have 1 of her books and it's her book of protection spells. Most of the spells in there I wouldn't use but the ones I do use are really good.

moonlit

[LaFiamma]

Yes, what Ravenari said... http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html is an EXCELLENT page.

Here is a list of books and reviews on the same site:

http://wicca.timerift.net/books.html

Actually, the whole darned site is really good. I recommend reading all of the articles. They're very informative but not boring or preachy. It's straight forward, no-nonsense and will get you off to a great start on searching for information.

http://wicca.timerift.net

[GenevieveDawn]

I've come to realize that what book is good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. Magick is something that you have to find your own personal way with. Books give you ideas, but you eventually have to go beyond that.

Every single book on Magick/Wicca/ Witchcraft will always have people who love the book and others who just pick it apart. I think it's better to just start reading some and you'll find what authors you like.

P.S. I don't have a problem with Cunningham, SilverRavenwolf etc. Almost all books have at least some very valid points.

[Ravenari]

I assume people get some goodness out of Ravenwolf and Cunningham, but it is important to realise that deliberately sending out statements that are not true and not backed up with research can be outright harmful - e.g. the 9 million died statement that Ravenwolf said.

I don't mind so much if books are fluffy, which is what Ravenwolf is, but I DO mind when they are spreading lies and misinformation just to sell themselves, or to create a 'victim complex' or mentality in the people who go 'no more the burning times!'

IMHO, you don't need a victim complex, or lies, to make your religion or spirituality more valid. And once you recognise this - you recognise that you do not need authors who need lies and a victim mentality in order to sell their message.

[LaFiamma]

I've come to realize that what book is good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. Magick is something that you have to find your own personal way with. Books give you ideas, but you eventually have to go beyond that.

Every single book on Magick/Wicca/ Witchcraft will always have people who love the book and others who just pick it apart. I think it's better to just start reading some and you'll find what authors you like.

P.S. I don't have a problem with Cunningham, SilverRavenwolf etc. Almost all books have at least some very valid points.

If it works for you...I mean, I have a couple of books kicking around that I had to wade through some wacko stuff to find the substance- though in the ones I have, it's pretty obvious that it's the author's personal bias and opinion that's coloring everyhting, Ravenwolf and some others write so much of their stuff as if it's hard fact, and people believe it. I don't think that authors like Ravenwolf would be so problematic if it weren't for so many of their readers having such a lack of abiity and/or willingness to use a bit of critical thinking. So when people are starting off, I do tend to be a little heavy on the "please check this out first". If someone can understand where the problems lie and navigate around it and still find something useful, good for them.

I've only read one book of Cunningham's- Wicca for the Solitary Practicioner but that was 5 or 6 years ago. It wasn't too painful, but there was somehting about it that I just couldn't take. But its one of the not-too-terrible books I've read.

I just really can't get too much into the pop-culture stuff. If I want to get anywhere within my own tradition, I have to read massive tomes of stuff...I'm talking like, Illiad & The Odyssey for example. A lot of original sources (when possible) and a lot of really dense, scholarly stuff otherwise (and we're not even recons)

And I'm not saying that everyone should wade through these mountains of verbousity, but do somethign to get a decenty accurate idea of what you're doing, you know? Because the people that DO believe that folks like Ravenwolf know EVERYTHING are doing a great disservice to more than just themselves.

[Wolf Heart]

I think SilverRavenWolf is a good author for people who are just getting into the craft. She's a little to "rainbow and sunshine" for me, I prefer more deep and analyzed material in my readings on the craft.
I do suggest her to people who are just begining to find Wicca. I read her book "Teen Witch" and it helped launch me into the craft. I had read it while still a Christian, and it changed my ways, for the better!

She's not the best, but she's not horrible either.

Just my opinion.
~Wolf Heart~

[BlackenedRose*]

I agree with Wolf Heart. Books like Teen Witch are a good way for people to get interested and then start reading deeper things. But in my opinion, I find them kind of 'fluffyish' and sometimes downright bigoted, as shown on http://wicca.timerift.net.

[Iris]

The only book I have by Ravenwolf is a book of protection spells, but as with any "cookbook" you have to tweak things to suit your own needs or beliefs. Philosophically speaking, I disagree with a lot of the things she says.

And on a semi-related note, I find Cunningham's herbalism guide quite helpful.

[Brandon_Jay]

Ravenwolf is not much of a concern to me. I found her book on nuetral ground with about 150 other wicca this, wicca that books you find in the "new age" section at borders and barnes and nobles.

I made the mistake of buying way to many books, and blowing a lot of money on several authors that all seem to repeat one another.

One book that helped me personally step a bit forward in inner wisdom was the inner temple of witchcraft by christopher penczak.

Yes it is one of a thousand llewellyn publications but I feel chris does a good job on showing you how to step up and dind your own truths and sel discipline.

He also has the outer temple as well although I have yet to read it.

[[ravenwing]]

If you liked the Inner Temple, you definately will enjoy both The Outer Temple and the Shaminc Temple of witchcraft by Penzack. Excellent writings.

As far as Silver Ravenwolf, or Cunningham is concerned, most of what you read that is derogatory is written by those who practice a more "traditional" form of Witchcraft. Youll find this to be the case whenever the subject of an author who is either a solitary or has formed thie rown Path is spoken about. Ther will always be those that agree and disagree on what is right and is not -- its totally subjective and in the eyes of the person speaking. the only way to figure it out is to red it yourself, and form your own opinion.

[LaFiamma]

If you liked the Inner Temple, you definately will enjoy both The Outer Temple and the Shaminc Temple of witchcraft by Penzack. Excellent writings.

As far as Silver Ravenwolf, or Cunningham is concerned, most of what you read that is derogatory is written by those who practice a more "traditional" form of Witchcraft. Youll find this to be the case whenever the subject of an author who is either a solitary or has formed thie rown Path is spoken about. Ther will always be those that agree and disagree on what is right and is not -- its totally subjective and in the eyes of the person speaking. the only way to figure it out is to red it yourself, and form your own opinion.

Keep in mind that a lot of the derrogatory stuff is there not because of tradition or lack thereof but for a reason. If you read this page, it lets you know exactly what the problem is with ravenwolf: http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html

I would hardly call religious bigotry, hypocracy, factual inaccurracies and encouraging teens to lie to their parents to be problems that only those practicing "traditional" witchcraft would have a problem with- it's in h3er books, you can look at the references on the website and find them in her books.