The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells for Modern Problems | 
| Authors: Dixie Deerman, Steve Rasmussen
Publisher: Sterling
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 330691
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.8
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 1402753748
Dewey Decimal Number: 133.44
EAN: 9781402753749
ASIN: 1402753748
Publication Date: March 4, 2008
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Condition: Excellent shape, daily shipping
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Product Description
Here is the thoroughly comprehensive, absolutely definitive guide to spells—the basic handbook for anyone looking to practice some hands-on magic. Delightfully well-written and practical, filled with atmospheric illustrations and diagrams throughout, it encompasses all the principles and philosophy of spell casting, and gives recipes for charms to solve common contemporary problems. This offers what witchcraft and Wicca books don’t: an in-depth understanding of what’s behind the spells and why they work. It’s amazing how much magic is in here: Geomancy, Elemental Scrying, Tree Divination, Mystic Dance and Drumming, Kitchen Witchery, and lots more. From healing, protection, and attraction spells to spells for discernment, repulsion, and concealing, not a topic goes uncovered.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 A Goodly Review March 13, 2008
As published on The Magical Buffet website on March 10, 2008
"The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells for Modern Problems" should be required reading for anyone even considering studying magic. End of review. Seriously, I have read my fair share of books examining magical systems, schools, or spells, and none have impressed and inspired me as much as this book. I haven't been this thankful for a book since "Magick for Beginners" by J.H. Brennan, and since that one is getting hard to come by, I'm extra glad to have a new book to recommend to any interested in magic. Now that you all know I LOVE this book, let me tell you why.
"The Goodly Spellbook" is written by Lady Passion and *Diuvei, who are High Priestess and High Priest of Coven Oldenwilde. Those of you who have been with The Magical Buffet since the beginning are no strangers to these names. Coven Oldenwilde was the first organization we profiled in issue one. In the very next issue Lady Passion wrote an article called, "THE WILD, WITCHY RIDE: How to Create and Conduct Elaborate, Popular, Public Sabbats". I knew that Coven Oldenwilde was a special group and that Lady Passion was a gifted writer, I expected an interesting read, but instead was blown away. I started reading the preface of the newly released paperback, which was fine, but then on page 17 I read this line and knew I was about to read something extraordinary. "Magic is an authentic spiritual practice, best used in tandem with medical, legal, and other reasonable measures." This sentence may seem mundane to some, but any who have read books about magic know that this level of intelligence and rationale are rarely exhibited.
In my opinion the book's title is not adequate. "The Goodly Spellbook" sounds like it's just a bunch of spells. A book of lists. This is not the case. The book is divided into 3 parts, scope, skills, and spells. The scope section is equal parts history, philosophy, and ethics. If everyone knew that all practitioners of magic followed the ethics laid out in this book, no one would fear magicians. Moreover, before all you haters out there get started, the Wiccan Rede is not printed in this text. So no fluffy bunny comments are allowed.
The skill section is a collection of everything you could ever need to know. A person could devote their whole life to the study of just what is in this skill section, never opening another book. "The Goodly Spellbook" covers correspondences, scrying, geomancy, chants, charms, magical alphabets, mystical dance, knot magic, and tons more!
Finally, the spell section has roughly 92 different spells for review. Each spell is described in detail, including variations, spell origin, timing, ingredients, recommended ambiance, and a section devoted to the magical theory behind the spell. For once, reading from a published spellbook is engaging.
It's not just flash, there is real substance. Any leaders of a Coven could write a book about their unique practices, but "The Goodly Spellbook" not only discusses Coven Oldenwilde's use of magic but also is thoroughly researched. The book is littered with footnotes that attribute sources, and the bibliography, which is handily divided up by section (scope, skills, spells), is an impressive reading list, filled with respected classics and new interpretations.
Technically, I ended the review in the first paragraph, but for those of you here at the end, take this to heart, if you want to know what all magical practices should aspire to be, read "The Goodly Spellbook". End of review, this time I mean it.
On a scale going to 10, this book is 11 January 7, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought the book cause of the title. The Goodly Spellbook. It is so full of useful information that I find myself going back to it time and time again. It is well written, well laid out, a wonderful book. My favorite boughten spellbook.
Must Have! February 16, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The problem with most books on paganism is that authors take "mystery religion" as meaning "I can't be bothered to explain why this works". After reading volume after volume of philosophy, correspondences, and spells, all I accomplished was having the ability to rotely repeat things that I did not understand, therefore, felt nothing for. Then this book came along.
I originally bought it for my friend, but decided to pick up a copy for myself. I am -very- glad I did! The "Scope" and "Skills" sections are jam-packed with real information and history that I could finally understand, because they actually explain the how's and why's of the craft, striking a balance between fact and feeling, knowledge and mystery, smarts and spirit. The "Spells" section continues this with a lengthy explanation of where the spell comes from, how it should be accomplished, and -why- it works. Not only that, but there are variations of each spell listed, making magick even more practical and accessible to the average Joe.
From dance to language, healing fevers to shooing your sister-in-law out of your house (BOY that comes in handy!), this book has it. Five Stars, Instant Favourite, Highly recommended!
Buy it now. Brag about owning the First Edition later. July 1, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Sometimes, rarely, a classic can be recognized from the moment it is published. "The Goodly Spell Book," like "The Art of French Cooking," or "The Elements of Style," is such a work.
As Julia Child did in the former, Deerman and Rasmussen organize, consolidate and instruct without condescension. And like "Elements" author Strunk, they take refinement of written language to a pleasurable max.
The result is a readable compendium of the dustiest, rarest and hardest-to-fathom old books . It's an instruction manual that takes readers from spellcraft 101 to the outline for their graduate course. And it's a cookbook that can be followed by anyone with a few tools and the daring to try.
"Goodly"'s clear tables and copius footnotes make it an excellent reference for fast look-ups, and an index to the old classic works. Its introduction to magickal principles -- the first half of the book -- makes basic principles clear to any novice, yet covers a breadth that will abash most initiates.
Sections like the correspondences of planets to musical modes and specific sound, make accessible layers of power previously unknown to all but a few.
"Goodly"'s second part is stuffed with historic recipes enhanced by long use, and new spells adapted from time-tested charms. Annotated with shopping lists and "why it works" explanations, it's perfect for browsers-of-oddities and the I-know-it-alls who read books from the back page to front.
For most readers interested in magick, this single title will replace an entire shelf of difficult to read, rambling tomes. The rest -- esoteric wizards and fanatic bibliophiles -- will buy it to be sure their collection is complete.
The MOST DEFINITIVE guide to Magic April 25, 2006
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
As I have been a student of Lady Passion's for over five years, I am able to personally attest to the depth of her knowledge and integrity. I recommend this book to everyone, wherever, and whenever I can.
Her teachings are gracious and precise. She is the most learned and most wise woman, teacher, and guide I have encountered. Only superlatives come close to describing her abilities. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you without apprehension.
This is the REAL thing. She is THE High Priestess of our time.
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