Return to Cauldron Home Page

Please donate now to pay our monthly server fees:
Donate to The Cauldron
[More Info]

Community Menu
Community Home

Message Board
Board Home
Board Rules
Board Extras:
   Arcade
   Calendar
   Links

CauldronMUX [Client]
Sister Forums:
   Asatru Lore

Menu

Home
Site Info & Rules
Site Archives
Volunteers Needed
Advertise Here

Pagan Supplies
Buy Pagan Books
Buy Pagan Supplies

Books & Media
Books Home
Games Home
Music: Free | Pagan
Online Books
Pagan Book Browser
Reviews:
   Academic Books
   Divination Decks
   Fiction Books
   Pagan Books
   Speculative Books
   DVD & Videotape
Submit Review

Pagan Features
Article Library
Auctions
Chat Log Index
File Library
Humor
Lessons
Pagan Holidays
Pagan Primer
Pagan Rituals
Pagan Supplies
Pagan Youth
Polls
Reconstructionism
Spell Grimoire [Blog]
Web Resources

Pagan Living
Cauldron Cookbook
Take Political Action

Newsletter
Back Issues
Subscribe

Other Features
eCauldronMail
Greeting Cards
Syndicated Articles
World News/Opinion

Shopping
Cheap Web Hosting
Doxy's Bazaar
Witchcraft Course
Zazzle

Old Indexes
Article Index
Webcrafting Index

Network Sites
Cauldron and Candle
Cauldron's Grimoire
RetroRoleplaying
RetroRoleplaying: The Blog
Software Gadgets
The Terran Empire

Site Search
Google
Entire Web
The Cauldron

Member - Pagan Forum Alliance
Charter Member

Get Firefox! While this web site is designed to work in all major browsers, we recommend Firefox.

This site hosted on
a Linode VPS
Formerly hosted by

Why Use Dreamhost?

Site copyright
© 1998-2009
by Randall

Home > Books & Reviews > Pagan > The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft Search

Order from Amazon.com
Buying books via our Amazon.com links helps support The Cauldron.
Book Review:
The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft: Shadows, Spirits, And The Healing Journey

0738707678
Author: Christopher Penczak
Trade Paperback, 457 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn
Publication date: 2005
List: US$17.95, C$24.50
ISBN: 0738707678
Price & More Info: Click Here


 
This is the middle book in a series of five: The Inner Temple of Witchcraft (the element of Fire), The Outer Temple of Witchcraft The element of Earth), then this book The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft (the element of Water), The Temple of High Witchcraft (the element of Air), and an as-yet unnamed fifth book (the "element" of Spirit).

Whether or not you agree with all that Christopher has to say (and I don't necessarily), you have to acknowledge that he has an approach which has worked for him and which is capable of communicating in an intelligent, and intelligible, manner. As a good example of this, I quote the following (from page 3): "Modern Pagans, sharing a similar spiritual history with tribal communities, should be sensitive to these feelings and make an effort to create bridges of understanding. As you study these techniques it is important to remember that although there are great similarities between the healing practices of many cultures, there are also great differences in the thought, philosophy, and interpretation. Such differences must be respected."

As with the previous titles in this series, this is a book which is intended to be worked through, not just read through. It also comes with a CD companion (available separately, and at additional cost) which contains chants, rhythms, etc. which would be helpful for the individual just starting out on their path. I can't speak to the quality of these CDs (one for each of the volumes in the series) yet, as I have not yet ordered them for review.

None of these books are easy reading, although they are all clearly written. The difficulty lies not in how the information is conveyed, but rather in the challenges offered to conventional ways of thinking about, and approaching, things.

Unfortunately, from my perspective, Christopher perpetuates one common misunderstanding regarding the Wiccan Rede (on page 64) when he says "The Wiccan Rede is."An' it harm none, do what ye Will.'" That is NOT the Wiccan Rede; it is the last eight words (the summation, if you will) of the Wiccan Rede. While it is good advice, as he says, there is much more to it than those few words.

On the reverse side of the coin, in the very next paragraph, he reminds the reader "Don't take yourself so seriously. Be disciplined, but have fun. Learn to laugh at yourself." Far too many practitioners today have forgotten to learn this vital lesson. It is all too easy to become full of yourself.

Once again, in this book as in the others of his I have read, Christopher is careful to indicate when he is sharing something which is opinion, versus what is accepted as fact. Too many authors fail to make this distinction clear in their books.

Although I have never taken any of his classes in person, he comes across through his writing as a personable, enjoyable teacher. He writes for the "average" reader, assuming neither too little nor too much about his readers' background knowledge.

Like each of the books in this series, The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft is designed to be worked through over the course of a year and a day. It serves as both an inspiration and a resource. Reading through it, although informative will not be transformative. It is necessary to experience the events contained within the covers of this book. If you work through all five books in this series, you will find yourself with a grasp (and hopefully control) of all the elements, and, more importantly, all of the aspects of your own life and existence; thus finding yourself in a position to help guide others in the same pursuit.

Reviewed by Mike Gleason


Top | Home | Message Board | Site Info & Rules | Report Site Problems
Thanks to Cauldron Sponsors
(Sponsor The Cauldron!)

Cheap Web Hosting Report | Pagan & Magick Supplies
Witchcraft Course
Download Hundreds of Magic Spells