The last time I reviewed a book, I simply cracked open the first chapter and cranked out my thoughts as I went. It’s not exactly a conventional approach, but it helped me think through my thoughts on the book. Plus, it was fun. If the truth were told, I quit reading a few chapters later as the material just didn’t hold my attention. The past several years I’ve been more interested in practicing the Craft over reading yet another rehash of material I’m already familiar with. I still think that it has a lot to offer some folks but it just didn’t have much for me to take away from it.
I did not have that problem with “The Clovenstone Workings: A Manual of Early Modern Witchcraft.” Here is the difference, whereas I am familiar with the primary focus of the book, it is not often written about in modern witchcraft books. For clarity, I’m talking about the use of pacts. Now, anyone that has been around the spirit-work block for two minutes will be familiar with pacts. With that said, I can’t recall the last time I read a collection of practices that advocated pacts as the method of achieving the witching power from the Lord and Lady of the Underworld. Referred to in this work as the Devil and Queen of Elphame, as derived from folklore and sources throughout the last couple of centuries.
This book was touted as being a fresh look, even controversial, to the modern witch’s craft. If I think about it for a moment… I suppose. You see, I’ve read a lot of the same source material, actively practice traditions that have likewise been influenced by it, and so it’s less shocking to me. If though, I consider that the average contemporary Neo-Pagan Witch was likely Christian at some point, is not at all knowledgeable of said sources, and probably runs at the thought of Pacts with the Devil, then yes, I suppose it can be.
I don’t work with the Devil… err, the Christian Devil. There is a lot that can be argued many different directions in regards to the folk lore Devil of the Witch and how it can be interpreted/worked with. I will say that I know the entity as described in the book but have never called him by that name, nor do I plan to. I have my ties with the Lord of the Mound and initiatory names by which I address/speak of him and I’ll keep those. Same goes for the Lady of the Isle of Annwyn.
With that said, I love this book. I love it for the synthesis of the practices as they are presented therein. I will add to this, I don’t feel the need in the least bit to undergo seeking a pact with either entity as written in this book. I don’t need to. My initiation binds me into a working relationship with my Lord and my Lady and said Traditions have our own ways of gaining the sight, the power, and becoming Witched as this book calls it. I do think that the praxis of this book can be successful and achieve the goals it lays out. Outside of that, there are still things that spark inspiration in regards to my own arte.
Beyond pact making there are practices that this book touches on, mostly in the context of said focus, but that can easily be used in a variety of other ways. I’m not going to list all of them but a few follow so that you can get an idea of what’s in this book.
Words: There are a lot of barbarous and channeled words throughout the practices of this work. Many of them are snippets taken from the Greek Magical Papyri. A part of me feels they are a bit out place with the rest of the work. YET. Yet, at the same time I like the feel that the words give in relation to the rest of the techniques. I myself make use of barbarous words from various sources, so I like this practice. There are also a handful of channeled words of power that are included in the book.
Breaching Talisman: There are instructions for making a talisman that helps one’s influence cross to the more subtle realms. I understand that it is also mentioned in other works by the author but as I haven’t bought any of them since the Witching Way first came out on lulu, therefore this is my first encounter of it in this context. In some ways it reminds me of lamens used in grimoire work, in other ways it doesn’t. The sigil on it has lots of potential for use in other ways, as does the interchange of what sigils is used based on the goal.
Green Oyl: All I am going to say is that I have other methods given to me. This method and uses are interesting. Similar sources beget similar things sometimes and I think this is one of the cases here.
Riding Poles: My favorite part of this section is the walking of a riding pole around to get it used to traveling with you. As someone that regularly touches upon the memory of things and place in my approach to the Craft, I like this. I’m actually currently at the beginning stages of seeking out a new stang for use at a new ritual site I’ve been courting and this section has given me some ideas to include.
Dreams: There is a whole lot of witchcraft in this book involving witch dreams and confirmation of pacts, etc, via them.
There you have it, a brief overview of what this book is about. In short, I recommend it. Read it— do witchcraft with it. If nothing else, use it to challenge your own craft. Buy it here.
Boidh Sé,
-SM
“Lost in a thicket, bare-foot upon a thorn path.”
