Liber Nox: A Traditional Witch's Gramarye Paperback – July 31, 2014

Ever wanted a good primer on how to delve into the Arte of the Witch? Need some ideas for a ritual? This book covers a gambit of information starting with some history, theology, holiday explanations and sample rituals for almost all of them. Great nifty book to get you started by a man who has since gone to summer land , he was a shining light .This book is about the rites of the craft andd how to get ready for them. Chapter one is about the different tools of the craft you will need for your rituals. THe most important tool is the Stang. Normally a pole made of as he wood or oak, it has horns on top a cross of arrows in the center and a metal base to stand on. It represents the horned god but could also represent the axis mundi or the world tree. The Axis Mundi connect all the different worlds. There is also your black handle knife for magical operations in the circle and there is the boline. The boline is a white handled knife used for cutting herbes. There is also the scourge, or cat o nines as most people know them. The besom or the broomstick is used for riding to other worlds and for spiritually cleaning the area of your working. The cauldron or chalice is used to represent the womb of the goddess. Swords are used as are different stones to implement magic in your circle.The next chapter talks about initiation in the craft. Not everyone has access to a coven and history is appearing to show that most witches worked solitary. SOmetimes you get imitated by a coven. Other times someone from the opposite sex will teach you and initiate you. sometimes these one on ones can get intimate. Once can also do a self dedication. The author hold that all are equally valid. The third chapter is about casting the circle. It is a bit more complicated than wicca as it is spherical and they have cross directions like north east, south west etc. Each direction has it's own meaning. The next section deals with a discussion of the major holidays in the craft. Note I did not use Sabbats as they are different from Wicca. The holidays in the Wheel of the Year are as follows in order of explanation ; Candlemass , Lady Days, May Day,Midsummers Day, Lammas Tide, Michaelmas, All Hallows, Yule and the Twelfth Night. After the section that describes the holidays there is the section that has the actual ritual. THis maybe adapted to fit your needs .This book has thorough explanations of the craft and the history and mythology behind everything . He touches upon both modern and past. A great book for getting started.

If you are looking for the standard fair of get paid or get laid spell compendiums, you probably won't like this book very much. However, if you are looking for a collection of folklore associated with the wheel of the year as it exists today, you will be quite happy.The wheel of the Year, as we know it today, is a purely modern invention, created by the people who founded modern Witchcraft and Druid traditions. While this may be the case for the wheel in its totality, the individual festivals that make up the modern wheel are not a modern invention. Each of these festivals has a history and a collection of folklore that give each one it's identity. That is precisely what Mr Howard presents in this book.This book is a fantastic deep dive into the modern wheel of the year that has given so many people a way to attune themselves to the rhythms of nature. A fantastic addition to any Witchcraft library.

I had a very dear friend of mine, from long ago, suggest this book to me well I was asked to review it well I can say I was thankful the book was insightful. So I was very fair in this review and I have to say I was impressed with the information, in the book. I am not going to give any spoilers I don't do that. "All the time :)" this is one of them do yourself a favor get the book and if you read it with an open mind you may be suprised.

No one really captures the heartfelt quality of the pagan mysteries like Michael Howard does. This book is FULL of invaluable and thoughtfully well-researched information and the authors personal experience to back it all up. Plus, Gemma Gary did the artwork. Win Win. 😚

Good book by an Experienced practioner of the craft. Howard has been around quite a while, and presents this tome as a "cornucopia" of sorts. If your looking for a blueprint into traditional crafting, this is not a bad place to start. It covers the basics in a way that is fast paced, but informative. If you have read Huson's Mastering Witchcraft, it is similar in tone, but not so "ridgid". The book has great rituals, and is very well thought out. Editing as far as paragraphing goes, could be better, but I find this similarity in many based English Witchcraft books (Capall Baan, for one...great material, really crappy editing), but forgiveable and not really an issue. One Lovely note on the book is Gemma Gary's spectacular artwork. If you have not read this Lady's books, I highly recommend all you can absorb. Ms. (Mrs.?) Gary Is really the current Doreen Valiente, and you certainly not go wrong there! All in all great book, you won't be disappointed!H

I have a gazillion New Agey, witchy, pagan, wiccan books, and this baby right here is just about the best I have ever read. Great detail without being boring. I have a lot of respect for Michael Howard because he treats his subject with respect! Well-written, well-researched, well-presented and produced. If you want to know all about what makes a witch a witch, read this.