I just felt compelled to write a real short bit about the way I keep hearing of this book lately.

It keeps popping up everywhere I look! I see it frequently mentioned on forums (with a fair amount of reverence); it was mentioned a number of times, and highly recommended by Jason Miller in his book "Protection and Reversal Magick", which I just finished.

Now, the interesting thing is, I already have this book. In fact, I've had it for over 30 years; I bought it when I was only 13 or 14; among the other witch books I bought then, like "The Modern Witch's Spellbook by Sarah L Morrison, or "The Witches Workbook" by Ann Grammary, Paul Huson's "Mastering Witchcraft" was somehow different - better. I was instantly drawn to it, and it was my favorite by a very wide margin.

Already a classic, it's one of the few spell books that is not a hermetic grimoire but is frequently exalted by traditionalists.

So, I guess, in retrospect, I had good taste and "knew" what I was doing at 13.. and that's very encouraging to me now. Funny how things come full cycle.

PS - I had written to Mr. Huson to inquire about the strange markings he suggested putting on the witch tools (Athame, Chalice, etc..) in his book. He wrote back, but to my surprise, admitted that he himself did not know their literal translation.

I did, however, get some insight as to their origin - here's his reply:

Hi, Paul,

I wish I could help you. I've been puzzling about those symbols for a very long time. All I can say is that they are advocated by one of the Keys of Solomon (not the one that G.B.Gardner used which was the Mathers version with fanciful illustrations, but a less bowdlerized one).

I suspect the original symbols were Hebrew words of power plus planetary and zodiacal sigils corresponding to the astrological aspects the tools were consecrated under. But I don't know for sure.

Best regards,

Paul Huson

I love authors who write back!