Cunningham?

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[Taja]

Hello,  I agree with everyone on SRW, but what about Scott Cunningham?  How do you tell who is full of it and who isnt?

I think Scott seemed like a really sweet person, but his books, aside from his encyclopedias, bored me to tears. I didn't find them well written or containing any -meat- just rainbows, puppies, gods and do whatever you want...kumbaya! I'm sure it appeals to a lot of people, but I wasn't one of them. His Wicca history was shoddy too. At the time of his books there was info out there for any author willing to look beyond their nose. There's no excuse for bad history when good, scholarly sources are available.

[Halstrom]

Hello,  I agree with everyone on SRW, but what about Scott Cunningham?  How do you tell who is full of it and who isnt?

Cunningham is an exellent author!

[nemesisfirestorm]

Hello,  I agree with everyone on SRW, but what about Scott Cunningham?  How do you tell who is full of it and who isnt?

Hi, just my two penn'orth 

Cunninghams Wicca:  A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner was the first book I ever bought on the subject, having researched a few sites for recommendations.

I thought the book was great with regards to being easy to read, perhaps a little too easy/basic, very much in leymans terms, but good nonetheless.  It certainly offered a decent insight, I felt.

Like some of the other posters mentioned though, it was a bit fluffy...

Having said that, I do very much like the approach throughout the whole book that his rituals etc are there to give the reader an idea, a starting post, and are purely something to work from to form your own rituals, spells etc.  This certainly gave me the confidence to do things a little more my way, and not feel that his was the "spoken word".

I am looking forward to being able to afford some more of his books soon, particularly the encyclopaedia of herbs as that sounds like a bit of a must have, having read this thread!

Neme.

[Enchanted Spirit]

I am looking forward to being able to afford some more of his books soon, particularly the encyclopaedia of herbs as that sounds like a bit of a must have, having read this thread!

I have Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs as well as Incense, Oils and Brews.  I like them both.   

[fiamma]

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel "Earth, Air, Fire, Water".

I never bought this book but read through most of it at Borders several years ago.

I must say, it was one of the silliest books I've read. (I don't remember details anymore, this was maybe five years ago). I was extremely interested in elemental magic at the time, and this one just turned me off.

[SearchingTiger]

Hello,  I agree with everyone on SRW, but what about Scott Cunningham?  How do you tell who is full of it and who isnt?

I am not wiccan, but I love his books. I have two of them (Solitary Guide and Earth Power) I havent read Earth Power yet, but I am excited to! Its hard to find a good, reliable author, and I think he is. I honestly take all the history I read by authors in these "Beginners/basics" books with a hefty grain of salt. If you want real history, you really need to seek it out yourself.

I would highly recommend the books...yes, alot of people think theyre a bit fluffy, but honestly, if youre just starting out... I would pick a copy up!

[gayars]

Cunningham is an exellent author!

I just got a notice from Amazon that they are fixing to release Scott Cunningham's Kitchen Witch's Companion set Sept. 1.   It includes encyclopedia of magical herbs and encyclopedia of wicca in the kitchen.

Gina

[rose]

I just got a notice from Amazon that they are fixing to release Scott Cunningham's Kitchen Witch's Companion set Sept. 1.   It includes encyclopedia of magical herbs and encyclopedia of wicca in the kitchen.

Gina

I love Scott Cunningham. He is my witchy grandaddy, he is so easy and soothing to read, and always has excellent advice. I turn to his gem and metal magic book again and again.

[Phoenix]

Uh.......sorry??

Can't tell you, it's Secret 

[yewberry]

I love Scott Cunningham. He is my witchy grandaddy, he is so easy and soothing to read, and always has excellent advice.

Soothing's good.  Challenging is better.  I like Scott.  I honestly do.  But he wasn't the end.  He was the beginnning.

Brina

[rose]

Soothing's good.  Challenging is better.  I like Scott.  I honestly do.  But he wasn't the end.  He was the beginnning.

Brina

yes. A witchy grandaddy, like I said. But I love his crystals book, I use it and the herbs book all the time. I am greatly looking forward to getting the new kitchen book. The encyclopedias are wonderful reference materials, and he really is such a dear. Maybe it is just a matter of whether you need a magickal grandaddy of that type or not, eh?

[yewberry]

Maybe it is just a matter of whether you need a magickal grandaddy of that type or not, eh?

He was the first thing I found when I extended my hand.  I don't think he's "Wiccan", but he was a good intro to neo-Wicca.  I'm not Wiccan (or anything terribly similar), but I appreciate Scott's accessibility when I first started out.

Brina

[nemesisfirestorm]

He was the first thing I found when I extended my hand.  I don't think he's "Wiccan", but he was a good intro to neo-Wicca.  I'm not Wiccan (or anything terribly similar), but I appreciate Scott's accessibility when I first started out.

Brina

I agree, he was the first one I found and his accessibility is great.  He's not only soothing but also his Guide for the Solitary Practitioner was written simplistically enough so as not to be overwhelming.

[sile]

I'd use quotes on this but I'd have to use about 20 of them so I'll just wing it.

I've got his Guide To The Solitary Practitioner, Earth Power, and Living Wicca on my book shelf.  I got a lot of great practical information out of each of them.  If I only spend $10-$12 on a book, that's all I'm expecting is practical information.

As far as accurate religious history is concerned, all religions are basically arbitrary in construct. When coupling arbitrary beginnings with distortions created by the passing of time, it's no wonder that author A's guestimation about what happened when, gets debunked before a second edition can be printed.  But that's good for author B and his publisher.

I think Cunningham was wonderful.  He simplified ideas and made rituals more compact.  Ha, made them doable for undisciplined souls like me.  Cool books.

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