Llewellyn's 2007 Wicca Almanac by Llewellyn © 2007 Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN 0-7387-0335-4 288 pages Paperback $8.99 (U.S.)
$9.95 (Canada)
Everyone, I am sure, is familiar with the dictum "The more things change
the
more they remain the same." Well, Llewellyn has altered that a bit. This
year it is more a case of "The more things remain the same the more they
change." The format of this annual has not changed, nor have some of the
contributors. But this year they have brought on board a significant
number
of "newcomers" (if only to the annuals).
As with any compilation work there are multiple points of view, although
there seems to be a dominance of eclectics. I'm not sure if that is
because
the eclectic view is replacing "lineaged" in the Pagan/Wiccan population,
or
if it is just a function of who chose to submit articles for this annual
publication.
Most of the usual sections are back: "Lifestyles of the Witch and
Famous";
"Witchcraft D.I.Y.": the Almanac section; "Sweep Me Away"; "Over the
Cauldron"; and "Media Witch." They have dropped one section this year
("Eye
of Toad, Ear of Newt" which was a consumer guide).
Twenty four articles are contained within the five sections. None of
these
articles are particularly "heavy weight," but you wouldn't expect that
with
only an average of eight pages per article. However, keeping with past
trends, the articles are wide-ranging in topic, and the quality is good.
The Almanac entries contain the usual data for Llewellyn - moon sign, moon
phase, a color associated with the planetary ruler of the day, and any
festival(s) associated with the date. There are also a few news items
included as filler/educational material. Some of these items are sure to
have been missed by the average Pagan, and are intriguing for that reason
alone.
This year there appears to be a heavy emphasis on the twin ideas of daily
meditation and daily ritual. Both of these are good ideas and are often
stressed as necessary for the beginning student (which they are).
However,
as various of this year's contributors point out, the need and benefit of
these practices doesn't stop just because we have progressed beyond the
beginner/Dedicant/Neophyte stage of our journey. It is all too easy to
lose
that connection the Divine (or at least the awareness of it) that helps to
sustain us at the beginning of the journey.
Do I agree with everything in this Almanac? Certainly not, but even the
parts I disagreed with made me examine WHY I disagreed with them. If for
no
other reason I found it well worth the price.
If you are one of the individuals out there who disapprove of everything
Llewellyn just because it is Llewellyn, nothing I can say will change
that,
I am aware. If you are an individual who only reads "deep," "serious," or
"scholarly" works, this book won't appeal to you. If, however, you are
open
to the opinions and feelings of those who trod the semi-forgotten pathways
leading to a personal experience of, and connection to, the Divine, you
will
find a source of inspiration between the covers of this book.
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