Lynn Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Reading the thread about the first and last witchcraft books purchased got me thinking about books I have bought that I would be embarrassed to have anyone find on my shelves--books that I have gotten rid of--so naturally I thought to start a new topic about it!!! So what is the worse, most embarrassing, most what-on-earth-was-I-thinking book you have ever gotten? Do you still have it? If not what did you do with it?? My worse one was---oooh boy----"Contacting Your Spirit Guide" by Sylvia Browne(with meditation CD included). No I have NO idea what I was thinking. I have great respect for books, take good care of them and treasure them. The idea of censorship, or burning books is abhorrent to me. Please keep that in mind when reading the next sentence. I read the first chapter, put it down, thought and considered the action I was contemplating, and threw the book into the garbage. :cauldron: So how about all of you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacey Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I can't say I've ever bought a book I was embarrassed about - being a mad mad book lover I tend to think that all books in one way or another have value insofar as the ones you purchase to further your knowledge in your chosen area of interest. I can say there are books I have bought that I now do not reference often if at all because they no longer fit with my beliefs or I find the author to be a little hypocritical...so along that vein I would refer to my Fiona Horne books (there sooo goes my witchy cred), I bought these early on because they related to the southern hemisphere and she was really the only witch I had really heard about through witchy mags in Australia. I don't read her books anymore because I find that what she preached was not what she practiced necessarily but I'm not embarrassed that I purchased her books, they helped me early on but now I don't know that I would necessarily bring it up when discussing Craft books. Oh I suppose I do have Silver Ravenwolf's Book of Shadows, it was in a mixed book lot....but all of my other books I bought for a reason and I use them often. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abhainn Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 "Witch in the Kitchen" by Cait Johnson. When she started suggesting painting symbols on the stove...but I kept the book because I like the recipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panis_Ramey Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 The Ultimate Book of Shadows For The New Generation Solitary Witch by Silver Raven Wolf. I bought the book when I used to think I Wicca and Witchcraft were the same I knew the book was bad after I read a spell that required pipe cleaners and construction paper, I have to say this book would have been awesome when I was in kindergarten...I can only image the fun to be had. The worst book I ever read was When Someone You Love Is a Wiccan by Carl McColman . It has a very similar format to the Malleus Maleficarum. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seacow Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Scott Cunningham........................... One of the first books I bought. But I guess I really wasn't meant to have the book, it got lost after a month of so. Never really missed it. I guess I could pretty much put any book on wicca I have here, I always blush and get embarrassed when someone finds one of mine and asks about it.. I think I have Kate Wests - Real Witche's Handbook too, but looking back I have no idea why she called it that. The whole book is about wicca.. I think the Finnish title actually translates to "The Wiccan Handbook" instead of a witches. Edited May 4, 2012 by seacow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinney Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Pagan Heat which turned out to be a non titillating soft porn book of the Mills and Boon variety Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiterose Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 The Ultimate Book of Shadows For The New Generation Solitary Witch by Silver Raven Wolf. I bought the book when I used to think I Wicca and Witchcraft were the same I knew the book was bad after I read a spell that required pipe cleaners and construction paper, I have to say this book would have been awesome when I was in kindergarten...I can only image the fun to be had. The worst book I ever read was When Someone You Love Is a Wiccan by Carl McColman . It has a very similar format to the Malleus Maleficarum. This one for me too. :red_witch: Lots of crazy shit in there that seems like its tuned for children. I keep it because it got my mind turning and thinking critically about books, not taking everything at face value. It also intruduced me to new topics that lead to research to find out the authentic practises and beliefs in those areas. It solidified my thinking that popular wicca was made up bullshit from all over the place and all I wanted was the magic out of it lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird12 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 The Ultimate Book of Shadows For The New Generation Solitary Witch by Silver Raven Wolf. I bought the book when I used to think I Wicca and Witchcraft were the same I knew the book was bad after I read a spell that required pipe cleaners and construction paper, I have to say this book would have been awesome when I was in kindergarten...I can only image the fun to be had. The worst book I ever read was When Someone You Love Is a Wiccan by Carl McColman . It has a very similar format to the Malleus Maleficarum. But at least with the Malleus you can learn how these two morons viewed witchcraft and women, helps you understand the sheer walnut stupidity of the times. Personally if you could open their heads nothing would be there, except air. I read 'When Someone you love is a Wiccan' and I agree with this review perfectly. Does the author care that he is following in these two people's footsteps, no. Apparently one cell idiocy is still around and it makes money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen47 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I also fell into the trap of $ilver Raisin' Wealth. Oh, and DJ Conway's books make me cringe, too.....I'm sorry I bought those.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahdansbee Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Somewhere in a large rubbermaid tub in my parent's attic you'll find both To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf and Celtic Myth and Magick by Edain McCoy... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloe Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I never bought any SRW or McCoy, I checked them out at the library and laughed all the way back to return them. lol I do have a Ted Andrews book on my shelf that is pretty blarg IMO. I haven't looked through it in years, but I keep it because it reminds me of the mindstate I was in when I bought it. So excited to be free to read and explore whatever I wanted, looking forward to new discoveries.. It's been on my bookshelf for 10 years, makes me smile every time I see it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevioletsunflower Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I had a few Ravenwolf books. In fact the first ever I read about Wicca and Witchcraft was Teen Witch. I have heard some describe it and Ravenwolf herself as the gateway drug and I'm going to have to agree there- many witches started off with her and then dug deeper. Not exactly what she was going for, I'm sure LOL But the most embarrassing book? Probably The Lightworker's Way. Now there is some fluff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abhainn Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I also fell into the trap of $ilver Raisin' Wealth. Oh, and DJ Conway's books make me cringe, too.....I'm sorry I bought those.... I had forgotten about my Conway book...Maiden, Mother, Crone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 I can't say I've ever bought a book I was embarrassed about - being a mad mad book lover I tend to think that all books in one way or another have value insofar as the ones you purchase to further your knowledge in your chosen area of interest. I can say there are books I have bought that I now do not reference often if at all because they no longer fit with my beliefs or I find the author to be a little hypocritical...so along that vein I would refer to my Fiona Horne books (there sooo goes my witchy cred), I bought these early on because they related to the southern hemisphere and she was really the only witch I had really heard about through witchy mags in Australia. I don't read her books anymore because I find that what she preached was not what she practiced necessarily but I'm not embarrassed that I purchased her books, they helped me early on but now I don't know that I would necessarily bring it up when discussing Craft books. Oh I suppose I do have Silver Ravenwolf's Book of Shadows, it was in a mixed book lot....but all of my other books I bought for a reason and I use them often. I was trying to remember who Fiona Horne was. :) So I googled her and took a look and realized she was the lady who had been on the show "Mad mad House" I watched all the eps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 The Ultimate Book of Shadows For The New Generation Solitary Witch by Silver Raven Wolf. I bought the book when I used to think I Wicca and Witchcraft were the same I knew the book was bad after I read a spell that required pipe cleaners and construction paper, I have to say this book would have been awesome when I was in kindergarten...I can only image the fun to be had. The worst book I ever read was When Someone You Love Is a Wiccan by Carl McColman . It has a very similar format to the Malleus Maleficarum. yeah, I used to think Wicca and witchcraft were the same too. :) I knew the book was bad after I read a spell that required pipe cleaners and construction paper, AHHHH!:roflhard: That hurt!! Yuck, that C McColman book sounds vile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Scott Cunningham........................... One of the first books I bought. But I guess I really wasn't meant to have the book, it got lost after a month of so. Never really missed it. I guess I could pretty much put any book on wicca I have here, I always blush and get embarrassed when someone finds one of mine and asks about it.. I think I have Kate Wests - Real Witche's Handbook too, but looking back I have no idea why she called it that. The whole book is about wicca.. I think the Finnish title actually translates to "The Wiccan Handbook" instead of a witches. A lot of Wiccans confuse the two as well, not understanding that the two things are separate. Maybe that was the reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panis_Ramey Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 This one for me too. :red_witch: Lots of crazy shit in there that seems like its tuned for children. I keep it because it got my mind turning and thinking critically about books, not taking everything at face value. It also intruduced me to new topics that lead to research to find out the authentic practises and beliefs in those areas. It solidified my thinking that popular wicca was made up bullshit from all over the place and all I wanted was the magic out of it lol. I do have to admit I would have never expanded my knowledge of alchemy with out that book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 This one for me too. :red_witch: Lots of crazy shit in there that seems like its tuned for children. I keep it because it got my mind turning and thinking critically about books, not taking everything at face value. It also intruduced me to new topics that lead to research to find out the authentic practises and beliefs in those areas. It solidified my thinking that popular wicca was made up bullshit from all over the place and all I wanted was the magic out of it lol. God, I know what you mean. So much junk out there. I remember one book I looked up mentioned that the author wasn't credible due to the fact she said something about knights in Britain, riding in the fall, passing by a field with pumpkins all over. Seeing how pumpkins were from the New World . . .:pumpkin_rolleyes: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 Somewhere in a large rubbermaid tub in my parent's attic you'll find both To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf and Celtic Myth and Magick by Edain McCoy... Woah! Edain McCoy?? I think that was the person I mentioned to Whiterose! Just couldn't remember the name, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panis_Ramey Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 5000 spell encyclopedia by Judika Illes is my guilty pleasure, I hate to say it but I love that book. It was my first book about spell-casting and the wear is really starting to show, my copy has been lovingly taped along the binding because it split, it has a million bookmarks and flags and it has little bits wax and ink on the fore-edge. I am aware the book comes off as a novelty and judika seems obsessed with Orishas. LOL my computer thinks Orishas should be spelled Hashish. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palemoon Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I've never seen or read any Silver Ravenwolf books, but there is so much on the net saying what tripe they are! I didn't technically buy this one - my mum did - but it was about Candle Magic (can't remember the author) and the first page told you to light a candle, concerntrate on the flame visualising it going out until your "powers" make it happen. I don't reckon anyone got past the first page..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevioletsunflower Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 A lot of Wiccans confuse the two as well, not understanding that the two things are separate. Maybe that was the reason? I wouldn't say they are separate. Wicca is a set path within the witchcraft spectrum. Wiccans are witches but not all witches are Wiccans, of that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verte1016 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I also fell into the trap of $ilver Raisin' Wealth. Hilarious! A-hem, anyways, I bought Teen witch by SRW years ago in high school, and I really hate admitting it. Still, it was what really introduced me to the world of the occult, and without that I'm not sure which path I would have head down. Knowing that, I'm still embarrassed by the book, but I'm okay with its existence in my current library, if that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evergreen47 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 It makes sense, Verte, and anyone not born into a tradition usually started somewhere.....not matter how inauspicious those beginnings were..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Witch Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I've never seen or read any Silver Ravenwolf books [....] I bought one at a flea market a couple of months ago just to see what all the hype was about. I'll happily give it to you for your "enlightenment". It's in the pile to get rid of. I don't keep books that make me want to :vomit: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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