Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe
When Christopher Penczak was introduced to Witchcraft, he found a spiritual path that hononred and embraced his homosexuality. Now he has written a book of clearheaded theory and practice that is bound to become a classic. With Gay Witchcraft, Penczak joins the ranks of his forebearers in spirit, gay writers who have taken a tradition and made it home. This is a complete book of theory and spiritual practices of Witchcraft for the gay community. Penczak's writing will make it much easier for...
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List of ExercisesviiiList of Charms, Potions, Spells, and RitualsixAcknowledgmentsxNote to the ReaderxiIntroductionxiiPart IHistory and Mythology1.The Good Witch of the West22.The Secret History9Before the Pen and the Plow10The First Urban Cultures12The Rise of the Roman Empire17The Rise of the Christian Empire19The Modern Age233.Queer-Positive Deities30In the Beginning--Creation Myths32Queer-Positive Deities36Part IITools of Our Tribe4.Going Within565.Meet the Divine Couple--The Goddess and the God63Inner Divinity666.Animal Wisdom70Animal Instincts and Sexuality74Animal Medicine75The Animals and Their Messages757.Building Your Temples86The Altar87Gathering and Arranging Your Magical Tools88Your Home92Your Body93Your Aura and Chakras94Purifying Your Outer and Inner Temples978.The Magick of Being Your Own Priest or Priestess102Covens102Key Concepts in Ritual104The Magick Circle Ritual1079.Invocation--Welcoming the Gods and Goddesses Within119The Charge of the Goddess122Part IIIEmpowerment--Love, Sexuality, Healing, and Ritual10.Make a Wish: Spells and Magick126Basic Components of Spell Work127Spell-casting Ethics and the Laws of Magick130Working with the Moon133Petition Spells134Spells with Poetry and Verse137Candle Spells137Natural Magick138Charms143Potions144Making Your Own Spells14711.Love Magick148Perfect Love and Perfect Trust149The Energy of Self-Love150The Ethics of Love Magick152Choose Your Love Spell--Carefully!153Getting What You Wish For--How Love Spells Really Work154Intention155Love Magick Tools156Healing with Love161Love Thyself161Soul Mates163Rekindling Passion166Love and Astrology168Lust Magick17112.Sex Magick174Tantra179Combining Sex with Spell Work184Healing Sexuality186Exploring the Taboo189Safe Sex and Magick191Goal vs. Experience19213.Magick for Healing193Chakras and the Roots of Disease195Healing Others198Psychic Healing199Energy Healing202Crystal Healing204Some Stones and Their Healing Properties205How to Work with Crystals207Ritual Healing209Healing Addictions212Healing Homophobia214Freedom from Past Abuse215Past-Life Healing217Other Healing Modalities21814.Turning the Wheel of the Year219Same-Sex Imagery in the Wheel222Transgenderism and Magick225Rituals of Celebration227Ideas for Celebrating the Seasons230Honoring the Ancestors23215.Rites of Passage234Coming of Age and Coming Out: The Ritual of Rebirth235Spiritual Initiation and Dedication: The Awakening240First Love, Commitment, and Partnering: The Handfasting242Ending a Relationship: Rites of Dissolution246Rituals of Exploration: Heterosexuality249Becoming a Wise One: Elderhood250Crossing and Funerals: The Rites of Death25216.The Beginning256The Magical Life256Partners and Friends257Embracing Yourself258Magick and Activism259Age of Aquarius260Bibliography262Online Sources265
\ Publishers WeeklyWitchcraft has plenty to offer the homosexual community, according to Penczak (City Magick), a self-proclaimed gay shaman. Not only does it have a strong history of tolerance for homosexuality; it actually has a rich tradition of homosexual involvement and esteem. After finding shame and persecution in the Catholic Church, Penczak fled to the Wicca community, where he found "a sense of belonging... to my own spirit." This is one of the only books on the market that delves into the fascinating historical roots of gay witchcraft while also providing homosexual-specific advice on spells and rituals. One of Penczak's strengths is his broad-reaching wisdom when it comes to love and sexuality. Most of his guidance could be relevant to practitioners of all sexual orientations. What witch isn't interested in knowing a few spells and potions for creating more trusting, loving, passionate and spiritually nurturing relationships? Who wouldn't love to soak in a "healing heart" bath with pinches of lavender, rose petals, catnip and rosemary? Yet Penczak also stays true to his niche-often returning to particular sexual and romantic concerns unique to the gay and lesbian community. It's only when he occasionally gets into anatomically detailed discussions about men loving men (in the tantra sexuality section) that he excludes lesbian readers. Overall, Penczak fulfills his promise-finally offering homosexual readers a sensitive and sexually appropriate manual for the study and practice of witchcraft. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.\ \
