I was probably 10 or 11 when I shoplifted Sybil Leek’s Diary of a Witch from the local super market.  (told you I used to be a drunk and a thief)  And I knew that I was a witch. In my teens drugs and parties and boys interfered, not to mention no one in MY highschool was talking about witchcraft or Wicca. In my early 20’s I checked out all kinds of stuff but it wasn’t until after my divorce in 1984 that I actually starting getting connected in what I knew I wanted when I was so young.

I know that it was the year before my Saturn return that I found some local folks through a friend and they were kind enough to include me in some rituals. One of the folks owned a local Seattle metaphysical bookstore and I spent hours and hours there. And the minute Silver Ravenwolf’s book, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, came out, I snapped it up. I had read all of Scott Cunningham’s stuff to date as well. It’s funny but I don’t remember the books by Buckland or Farrar but I did read those later on.

Somewhere along the line folks started maligning Silver Ravenwolf, other books were published, I sold off some old books and basically forgot all about her. A thought formed in my mind that her books were rudimentary, 101 stuff, and not worth it. But not long ago I got a burst of longing for some of the things from my early Craft days. And I purchased her To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Light A Sacred Flame, and To Stir A Magic Cauldron as well as her Halloween book. I’m currently getting my hands on the entire sabbat series from Lewellyn, although there are a variety of different authors there, not just S.R.

When all this stuff with Th Ex started before Christmas I went back to my bookshelf looking to refresh my memory on spells, herbs, and oils for love and healing. And I started reading these books from cover to cover.

Over the last 10 years I have had formal training in several outer grove groups. Some of it was a joke (I’ll tell the Uncle Tom’s Coven story one day soon) and some of it was a priviledge and an honor to participate in. And the books by Silver Ravenwolf? Are some of the best darned books around in my opinion. Back when I first started reading them I didn’t know basil from quack grass. I had no point of reference as to the accuracy or validity or usefullness of her work.

This woman rocks. And I’m so very glad that I went back and started reading these again. I’m enjoying the heck out of them and getting all kinds of cool ideas for work I have not done before. And I’m seeing that she recommends almost exactly the same thing Leon did.

To name the basics:

• Build a proper container
• Be properly prepared
• Daily Devotions
• Practice, practice, practice

I’m having a great deal of fun with this.

I was  really blown away recently by the person who allegedly said that if I banish a person it is a curse and if they are magically protected my spell will bounce off of them and harm their animals.  Horse shit.  I was told that this person(s) has many years of experience doing ritual and casting circles.  But you know what? That doesn’t make them wise.  It doesn’t mean they were trained well.  It doesn’t mean they have any sense.  And when I hear horse shit like that from them, I realize that I would rather have a person with no circle casting experience but with lots of common sense, both mundane and magical, in circle with me than this kind of rank fool. Again, I will tell you the story of UTC very soon.

I find myself very, very grateful for everything Leon, his High Priestess (who wishes to remain anonymous), and their very knowledgeable friends taught me over the years. They have their credentials in order and they know their stuff.  And thanks to them, even though I chose not to initiate, I know my stuff as well.  And I continue to learn.  But now? I trust my intuition when it comes to most things.  I stay away from the silly myths and paranoid weirdness.  Turns out I didn’t need to refresh my memory on spells or supplies at all.  I knew exactly what to do and I’m so very happy that I got such amazing results so quickly.

I suggest that if a person is a newcomer to the Craft and they have no people they can work with that they would indeed be well served by diligently reading the 3 main books by Silver Ravenwolf.  And to do the exercises.  To practice them as often as possible.  And don’t listen to claptrap like “spells will bounce onto your pets” and “Pink isn’t period.”

Spells will bounce back to YOU, which is why I am very careful what kind of spells I do. I have no wish to curse myself.  Or to harm innocent animals.  The law of return and then, for some, the law of 3 as well, does work but not necessarily how you might think.   Pink IS period (Historical textiles reference)

And it’s always good to go back and re-think your opinions.  You discover things you never saw the first time around.