Witchcraft for Dummies is a book that aims to introduce beginners to the world of witchcraft and provide them with basic knowledge and tools to start their journey. The book discusses various aspects of witchcraft, including its history, different types of witches, essential tools, and basic rituals. The book provides a brief overview of the history of witchcraft, explaining that it dates back to ancient times and has been practiced by different cultures throughout the world. It discusses how witches were often feared and persecuted, particularly during the infamous witch trials. Next, the book introduces the reader to the different types of witches that exist, such as Traditional witches, Wiccan witches, and Green witches. It explains that each type may have its unique practices and beliefs, but they are all united by a reverence for nature and a desire to harness its energies.
The room is dark
Candies on the wall, they've been here before
The Christian cross is hanging high above
The altar of God
All the birds are singing, but Madeleine can t hear their song Memories of screams in the night Moaning coming from below where the prison cells are cold She does not understand what s going on. Father Picard I m Father Picard, I m taking over Things will be different here you are the four GOD has chosen To be his angels in white Drink My sweet holy wine.
It explains that each type may have its unique practices and beliefs, but they are all united by a reverence for nature and a desire to harness its energies. The book then delves into the essential tools that witches commonly use. It discusses items such as the athame (ritual knife), wand, cauldron, and altar.
Yer Metal Is Olde: King Diamond – The Eye
Every longtime band has one of those albums that fans can’t help but speak about as “the end of an era.” Some are due to founding members walking (or passing) away or the band making a drastic change in sound. 1 After the passing of Cliff Burton, Metallica’s first three albums became the single greatest era in the band’s history. Vader losing Doc in 2005 and Decapitated losing Vitek in 2007 are a couple more examples of deaths ending eras. Then there’re examples like Fast Eddie Clarke walking away from Motörhead and the canning of Ozzy Osbourne by Black Sabbath. Anthrax, Exodus, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest lost their vocalists, who psyched everyone out and returned later anyway. In some cases, end-of-era albums are more like transition pieces—bridging the gap between the band of old and the band of new. Arguably Metallica’s …And Justice For All fits the bill. It was clear that Justice was different, but it wasn’t until Metallica arrived that everyone saw what Justice really was. King Diamond’s The Eye is also such an album.
Though Pete Blakk wasn’t a longtime member, he recorded guitars alongside Andy LaRocque on the band’s pinnacled duo “Them” and Conspiracy. And, as far as anyone was concerned, he wasn’t going anywhere. Timi Hansen had been gone for a while, and Hal Patino was a more-than-capable bass player for the band. Another that looked like he would stay for some time. But, if these two weren’t King Diamond originals, Mikkey Dee was. From the time King professed there were “No Presents for Christmas,” Dee (and his unmistakable cymbal taps and bass-drum beat) was with him. That’s until he left for good following Conspiracy. 2 This seemed a devastating blow for the band. But The Eye was in the capable hands of the absurdly-talented Snowy Shaw. Like the four full-lengths before it, it didn’t miss a beat—even with the band’s battery mate gone to join Lemmy as an official Motörhead.
But trouble was brewing. After The Eye, Snowy jumped across the gangplank to play for King’s other band, and Pete Blakk and Hal Patino walked. This was the end of the band’s five-year deal with Roadrunner Records, and the label chose not to support The Eye with a tour. And the production and songwriting dropped on King’s follow-up record, The Spider’s Lullabye. Not to mention, Lullabye is the first album since Fatal Portrait that’s not a full-concept release. King’s voice would also worsen with each release as he labored under the weight of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate touring schedules. But, at the time, no one knew things would change so much. Nor did anyone know that The Eye would be the swansong of the old King Diamond sound.
For The Eye, King delved into the Satanic, anti-Christian themes he was famous for in Mercyful Fate. Using the infamous Louviers Possessions as the basis for The Eye, he graces us with nuns that really don’t have fun. Drugged, sexually assaulted, and forced to perform unspeakable rituals and tortures to children, Louviers’ nuns became witches against their will. Witching concepts are nothing new to King as he covered plenty in old Mercyful Fate songs. Neither are stories involving children—as we know from older King releases and ones yet to come. And, of course, God-hating is a staple to the man and will come again in 2000’s House of God. But The Eye has it all. First, we’re introduced to a mysterious necklace called the Eye of the Witch in the opening track of the same name. Through its eye, we hear Jeanne Dibasson fry in the fiddling “Burn” and watch Madeleine Bavent seek revenge against Father David on “Into the Covent.” We also witness the death of two children in the creepy, harpsichord-driven “Two Little Girls” and bear witness to the fall of the Louviers convent in “1642 Imprisonment.”
Throughout the album, we hear things from King Diamond; past and present. The snarling voice he uses on “Father Picard” comes from Conspiracy and will be used again from The Spider’s Lullabye to Voodoo. Gorgeous instrumentals like “Insanity” will find themselves closing albums like House of God and The Puppetmaster. Even the whipping harpsichord of the catchy “Behind the Walls” is familiar to anyone that’s heard Conspiracy’s “Cremation.” And, like previous releases, The Eye is full of riffs and impressive guitar shredding. Even the bass is audible in the mix—finding some standout moments on “Insanity.” Sadly, Mikkey Dee is sorely missed. While I wouldn’t say Shaw’s performance is lackluster, it is rather bland. I’m convinced if the drumming was stronger, The Eye would be one of my top two favorite Diamond releases. And to make matters even worse, there’s still a rumor out there that Snowy Shaw never actually recorded his drums, and what you hear is a drum machine…
That said, The Eye was one of more a band effort that many previous releases. Even Blakk and Shaw have writing credits for the album—”Father Picard” for the former and “Into the Convent” for the latter. Both songs being just as good as the others on this solidly-constructed disc. But, as I said, The Eye marked the end of an era. And every time I hear it, I’m reminded of that. King Diamond was never the same after The Eye, and, like many old bands, fans remember the early era as the only era of the band. 3 But The Eye did a damn fine job transitioning King to a new lineup and sound. The band even took many of this album’s elements on to hone and perfect on later albums. Released on All Hallow’s Eve Eve in 1990, may The Eye keep Halloween going into the new year.
- Looking at you, Opeth. ↩
- Actually, he left after “Them” but returned to the studio to record drums for Conspiracy. ↩
- Looking at you, Steel . ↩
[La Reymie:]
Oh Jeanne, you feel so good
It explains the significance of these tools in rituals and provides guidelines on how to choose and use them. Additionally, Witchcraft for Dummies provides a beginner's guide to basic rituals. It explains how to create sacred space, cast a circle, and perform rituals for various purposes such as protection, healing, and manifestation. The book emphasizes the importance of intention and respect for nature in performing these rituals. Furthermore, the book touches upon the ethics of witchcraft, highlighting the Wiccan principle of "Harm None." It encourages readers to use their newfound knowledge responsibly and to consider the potential consequences of their actions. In conclusion, Witchcraft for Dummies serves as a beginner's guide to witchcraft, providing readers with an introduction to its history, different types of witches, essential tools, and basic rituals. While it does not delve deep into any one specific tradition, it offers a solid foundation for those interested in exploring the world of witchcraft..
Reviews for "Love and Attraction Spells: Manifesting Romance with Witchcraft"
1. Jessica - 2 stars - "I was really excited to dive into the world of witchcraft, but this book just didn't do it for me. It felt very outdated and lacking in depth. The author didn't provide enough explanation for the concepts and rituals, leaving me feeling confused and frustrated. I was hoping for a more contemporary and engaging guide, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations."
2. Ryan - 1 star - "I found 'Witchcraft for Dummies' to be extremely misleading. The title made it seem like a practical guide for beginners, but it was mostly filled with historical anecdotes and vague descriptions. It did little to actually teach me how to practice witchcraft. The author's writing style was also very dry and uninspiring. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a hands-on approach to learning witchcraft."
3. Emily - 2 stars - "As someone who is new to witchcraft, I was hoping for a beginner-friendly guide that would provide clear instructions and explanations. However, 'Witchcraft for Dummies' was anything but that. The book lacked organization and often jumped from one topic to another without providing enough context. Additionally, the author's tone felt condescending at times, which made it hard for me to connect with the material. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would suggest looking for a more user-friendly resource."
4. Jason - 1 star - "I was eager to learn about witchcraft, but 'Witchcraft for Dummies' was a complete waste of my time. The content was poorly organized and repetitive, making it difficult to follow along. The author seemed to assume that the reader already had a basic understanding of witchcraft, leaving me feeling lost and confused. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive and structured introduction to witchcraft."