Featured Film Review
'Witchcraft: Yesterday and Today' by Raymond Buckland © 1990 Llewellyn Worldwide ISBN 0-87542-090-3 VHS Tape (Approximate running time 1 hour) $19.95 (U.S.)
Although this tape is NOT a new release, I feel it has a place in the library of any teacher of Wicca. There are points where many will disagree with Buckland's assertions, but one must take the proper point of view to get the most from this tape. You must remember that it is being narrated by a person initiated into Gardnerian Wicca, who moved on to found Seax-Wica.
I must issue a warning for those of delicate sensibilities. There ARE instances of nudity throughout this tape, although to consider them erotic or prurient would be a major stretch in my opinion. Of the approximately one hour running time, I would estimate that nudity occupies five or six minutes, although I didn't run a stop-watch on it.
He details how many of us were trained in the past and, although some may bristle at his assertion that Witches (and Wiccans, since he makes no distinction) are made, not born, this tape represents a major evolution for a man who, when he began teaching Wicca in this country, would not even consider the possibility of Self-Dedication equaling a valid Initiation.
He is very careful not to promote any one, particular, branch of the Craft, opting instead to be very generic in his presentation.
The tape is about equally split between historical perspective and a basic how-to. It is for both of the these reasons that I consider to be a valuable teaching tool. It certainly won't reveal and deep, dark secrets (Buckland is far too steeped in British Traditional Witchcraft [i.e., traditions coming from Britain - Gardnerian, Alexandrian, etc.] to share any such information), but it will serve to show how older lineaged groups were, and sometimes still are, taught.
Reviewer: Mike Gleason
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