Dorrie the witch is a popular children's book series created by author Patricia Coombs. The series follows the adventures of a little witch named Dorrie, who has a mischievous black cat named Gink. Dorrie lives in a ramshackle house in the woods with her mother, who is also a witch. Dorrie is a unique witch character as she is often described as being clumsy and forgetful, unlike the traditional, mysterious and wise witches commonly depicted in literature. This makes her more relatable and endearing to young readers. Despite her mistakes, Dorrie always manages to save the day with her resourcefulness and her trusting relationship with Gink.
Despite her mistakes, Dorrie always manages to save the day with her resourcefulness and her trusting relationship with Gink. Throughout the series, Dorrie encounters a variety of magical creatures, including ghosts, goblins, and dragons. She also learns spells and uses her magic to solve problems and help others.
“Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine & Ritual” by Eliphas Levi: Part 2 – Ritual
I finished reading this second half a while back, but have been too busy dealing with other things to write anything about it. (Click here to read the first part on Doctrine.) Anyway, I did take notes while I was reading, so I am now getting around to putting down my thoughts on this text.
The second half of this book is very dense and complicated, as it goes into examples of ritualistic magick, providing step-by-step examples along with additional theoretic explanations. As such, it is beyond the scope of this blog post to delve into the complexities of these rituals. In addition, as Levi points out, magic should never be a pastime and should be approached with the utmost care and seriousness.
… there can be nothing more dangerous than to make Magic a pastime, or, as some do, part of an evening’s entertainment. Even magnetic experiments, performed under such conditions, can only exhaust the subjects, mislead opinions and defeat science. The mysteries of life and death cannot be made sport of with impunity, and things which are to be taken seriously must be treated not only seriously but with the greatest reserve.
(p. 322)
As such, I am going to abstain from sharing the details of rituals presented here. I do not want to have any responsibility for individuals doing acting irresponsibly. But I will share some passages that I think would be enlightening. The first one deals with transmutation.
St. Augustine speculates, as we have said, whether Apuleius could have been changed into an ass and then have resumed his human shape. The same doctor might have equally concerned himself with the adventure of the comrades of Ulysses, transformed into swine by Circe. In vulgar opinion, transmutations and metamorphoses have always been the very essence of magic. Now, the crowd, being the echo of opinion, which is queen of the world, is never perfectly right nor entirely wrong. Magic really changes the nature of things, or, rather, modifies their appearances at pleasure, according to the strength of the operator’s will and the fascination of ambitious adepts. Speech creates its form, and when a person, held infallible, confers a name upon a given thing, he really transforms that thing into the substance signified by the name. The masterpiece of speech and of faith, in this order, is the real transmutation of a substance without change in its appearances.
(p. 366)
What Levi is asserting here is that individuals with enough focus of mind can use language to alter the fabric of reality. Basically, this is the creative power of God. God “speaks” all things into existence. And what are words but auditory symbols representing thought, which is our creative energy. We live in an age where people seem to have lost respect for the power of words, and as such spew forth without care anything that comes to their minds. As a result, we have collectively created an environment of chaos and fear. We have essentially transmuted our world through the careless use of our words, and the will behind those words. Is it any wonder that many of the magi of old were also poets? A poet understands the evocative power of words to foment change within an individual who hears those words, and internal changes eventually manifest in the external.
A common use of magic is for protection, but as Levi points out, the best protection against negative influence is a clear mind, a strong will, and to stay grounded.
To preserve ourselves against evil influences, the first condition is therefore to forbid excitement to the imagination. All those who are prone to excitement are more or less mad, and a maniac is ever governed by his mania. Place yourself, then, above puerile fears and vague desires; believe in supreme wisdom, and be assured that this wisdom, having given you understanding as the means of knowledge, cannot seek to lay snares for your intelligence or reason. Everywhere about you, you behold effects proportioned to their cause ; you find causes directed and modified in the domain of humanity by understanding ; in a word, you find goodness stronger and more respected than evil ; why then should you assume an immense unreason in the infinite, seeing that there is reason in the finite? Truth is hidden from no one. God is visible in His works, and He requires nothing contrary to its nature from any being, for He is himself the author of that nature. Faith is confidence; have confidence, not in men who malign reason, for they are fools or impostors, but in the eternal reason which is the Divine Word, that true light which is offered like the sun to the intuition of every human creature coming into this world. If you believe in absolute reason, and if you desire truth and justice before all things, you will have no occasion to fear anyone, and you will love those only who are deserving of love. Your natural light will repel instinctively that of the wicked, because it will be ruled by your will. Thus, even poisonous substances, which it is possible may be administered to you, will not affect your intelligence; ill, indeed, they may make you, but never criminal.
(pp. 431 – 432)
This book is definitely not for everyone. But if you are a serious student of the occult, then it is indispensible. Thanks for stopping by and reading my musings. I hope you have a blessed day.
The second half of this book is very dense and complicated, as it goes into examples of ritualistic magick, providing step-by-step examples along with additional theoretic explanations. As such, it is beyond the scope of this blog post to delve into the complexities of these rituals. In addition, as Levi points out, magic should never be a pastime and should be approached with the utmost care and seriousness.
Each book in the series showcases a different adventure and life lesson for Dorrie. One of the key aspects of the Dorrie books is Coombs' whimsical illustrations. The black and white drawings bring the characters and their magical world to life, captivating young readers and adding to the charm of the stories. The illustrations effectively capture Dorrie's distinctive appearance, with her unruly hair and striped stockings. The Dorrie the witch series has been beloved by children and parents alike since its launch in the 1960s. The stories of Dorrie and her adventures continue to be enjoyed by generations of readers, introducing them to the world of magic and imagination. Coombs' charming and relatable characters make the books timeless classics in the realm of children's literature..
Reviews for "Dorrie the Witch: A Heroine for Modern Times"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I did not enjoy "Dorrie the Witch" at all. The story felt flat, lacking depth and excitement. I found the main character, Dorrie, to be quite annoying and her actions didn't make sense most of the time. The plot was predictable and the writing was mediocre. Overall, it was a disappointing read and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Michael - 1 star - I have to say that "Dorrie the Witch" was a complete waste of my time. The characters were poorly developed and the dialogue felt forced. The story lacked any real substance and I struggled to stay engaged throughout. The author's writing style was juvenile, making it difficult for me to connect with the story or the characters on any level. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and compelling read.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - Unfortunately, "Dorrie the Witch" did not live up to my expectations. The storyline was weak and unoriginal, and the characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story early on. The writing style was also underwhelming, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I was left disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
4. David - 1 star - "Dorrie the Witch" was a disappointment in every sense. The characters were unlikable and lacked any relatability. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. The writing style was lackluster and failed to create any atmosphere or sense of magic. I found myself forcing my way through the story, hoping it would get better, but it remained dull and uninspiring until the end. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-executed fantasy read.
5. Lisa - 2 stars - I found "Dorrie the Witch" to be a rather underwhelming read. The story lacked originality and failed to deliver any surprises. The characters were forgettable and lacked development, making it hard to care about their journey. The writing style was average at best, failing to evoke any strong emotions or create a vivid world. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to avid readers looking for a captivating fantasy tale.