I first started
exploring Traditional Witchcraft about ten years ago, in my late
teens. At that time, it was very hard to find any information on
specific practices and rites; not at all helped by the snobby
attitude of the moderators of certain Internet forums, who wouldn't
let ex-Wiccans such as myself join their special club! Even finding
directions to make a Compass-Round was a real chore.
Back then, the only
information that was readily available came from authors such as
Robin Artisson (known for causing havoc on said Internet forums) and
the late, great Peter Paddon. But books and magazines on the subject
were not easy for me to obtain as a teen; I got Nigel Jackson's Call
of the Horned Piper cheap second-hand, saved up for some of Robin
and Peter's early books, and would trawl the internet for hours
gleaning bits and bobs of information on the Craft, whether it be
from folklore or modern practitioners.
While authors such as
Gemma Gary (who provides the foreword for Kelden's book) have become
more prominent and added some fantastic texts to the field, it seemed
that we were lacking a single, preliminary resource for anyone
curious about Traditional Witchcraft – something that offered a
general overview of its key concepts, the most famous traditions and
general instructions for performing rites such as the Compass-Round
and Treading the Mill without being beholden to a specific tradition.
Enter The Crooked
Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft.
This
book is both a succinct, meticulously researched overview of the
practice of Traditional Witchcraft and a workbook which gently guides
the reader to practice key techniques and rituals which gradually
increase in complexity.
We
start with a summary of the movement's history (which happily
acknowledges its symbiotic link with Wicca) and a brief explanation
of the more famous traditions, such as the Clan of Tubal Cain and the
1734 Tradition. The author takes the time to highlight key figures in
the development of the modern Craft, such as Doreen Valiente and
Cecil Williamson. Kelden ultimately encourages the reader to forge
their own path, but an extensive bibliography and footnotes ensure
that anyone curious about a particular tradition or person can
research further.
The
remainder of the book is split into themed sections around key
concepts of the Craft; Working with Magic (tools and spellcraft),
Working With The Otherworld (ancestors, fetches and hedge-riding),
and Working With The Natural Landscape (engaging with local spirits
and using the natural items around you). This nicely encourages the
reader to solidify their basic knowledge before developing their own
personal Craft that is attuned to their bioregion and local spirits.
The
exercises are clearly marked with headings and are often as simple as
taking a pen and paper and taking some time to process what you have
just read. But the reader does not have to wait long before they are
making a besom, meeting their fetch and faring forth. Now you may
think that including hedge-riding in a beginner's book is a bit much;
but this is an essential component of Traditional Witchcraft, and
Kelden takes great care to include plenty of safety advice and build
up the reader's confidence and skill through the preceding exercises.
The author has worked hard to recreate the experience of having a
skilled mentor guiding you along the path, and I think they have done
very well indeed.
Of
particular interest are the 'From the Spirits of Lore' headings which
enhance understanding of tools and key concepts via examples from
historical folklore and mythology. In fact there is a whole chapter
dedicated to adapting folkloric material for use in modern spellwork;
something that is essential to our practice, yet The
Crooked Path is the first book
in which I have seen guidance on adapting this material yourself.
Also
of note are the extracts from 'The Black Book' – recipes and
workings that presumably come from the author's own grimoire. These
will be useful for witches at any level. The ingredients are all easy
to source and should be easy to substitute, especially after
completing the exercises on communing with plant spirits.
Kelden
does not shy away from baneful magic and hallucinogenics; there is no
pressure to explore either of these yourself, but plenty of safety
advice is provided for those who are curious (indeed one of the
earliest exercises asks the reader to consider their own moral
compass after a discussion on ethics). The author even provides a
recipe for a non-toxic flying ointment that is safe for beginners to
use.
Overall
this book is a brilliant springboard for newcomers, and an
inexpensive way to find out if Traditional Witchcraft is for you. Any
eclectic witch will find something of use in here, and even the most
experienced witches may fill some gaps in their knowledge (I know I
did!).
I
recommend working through the book from start to finish as the author
does, though the recipes and workings can certainly be revisited time
and time again.
I
wish it had been available ten years ago!
The Crooked Path: An
Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft is published by Llewellyn and
is consequently available from all good bookshops. RRP £14.99.
