Someone recently told me to stay away from an author names "Silver Ravenwolf" if anyone is trying to get into wicca, or anything related to wicca.

Not sure how true this is to be honest. Some of you might actually be familiar with her work, but from what I've heard she doesn't give out enough information in her writings. Some of her stuff isn't necessarily correct either.

She doesn't really get into any history of old religions. And she mainly writes on the positive side of things, but from what I've been told it's best to know about both sides.

This is just a simple warning, not trying to bash on anyone. If you're familiar with her stuff let me know what you think.

Thanks.

I own all of her books and for someone who is begining her writings can be really helpful. She does make things simple and understandable to someone that know nothing about wicca. As for history no author today would ever get it right cause there are so many different histories. and history can be overwhelming. Honestly just cause one person says that she is not a good author is their opinion. for me I bought the books for my wife to understand me a little better and they worked.

If you are hard to bore and love lots of useless info look into the history of the old religions. however if you are interested and wanting to learn a little more without overwhelming yourself then her books are good.

that is just me,
DOC

quote:

lots of useless info look into the history of the old religions

Gotta love it. Actually, knowing the history of your religion is quite beneficial. Saves from making embarassing statements every now and then. And simplicity isn't necessarily a boon even for a beginner.

But the problem with Silver Ravenwolf's books isn't the lack of historical knowledge or oversimplifying anyhting. Her book "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" opens with an interesting passage:

"If you intend to grovel before a God form, please stop here and throw this book away.

I am not indicating that you cannot honor or thank a deity, nor am I telling you that you cannot call upon them when you are in over your eyeballs. The common act of sniveling at their feet is unacceptable. If you truly want that type of relationship with "higher-ups", there are plenty of well-cultured religions that will gladly open their arms to you."

This statement is disrespectful, closed-minded, undereducated, and downright unprofessional. It's not an accident either; there is more along the same lines in the book. If Ms. Ravenwolf can't rid herself of hatred towards other religion(s), it's her own business. If she presents it to beginners as a norm, it's a whole different story. See the problem yet?

Her pseudo-historical escapades and other quirks are really mild nuisances in comparison to this. Although I have to admit that when I got to the place in the book where she mentions "Occum's Razor" I was very close to actually put it back on the shelf. It's Occam, damn it. You are a writer, after all; pay attention please. And don't mention the venerable name in the same breath with "There is NO difference between Wicca and WitchCraft."

^^^^

I have two of her books...I think. Ride a Silver Broomstick is one and I can't remember the other one off hand. I have many "Wicca" and "witchcraft" books and yes I agree with CoffeeOwl, She's not the greatest for beginners. She is way too soft on things. Anyway, I really don't buy books for the author, its the content that i look for. I have learned to research books before i buy them...compare them to similar works etc.

I don't have any. I've read The Silver Broomstick in the bookstore and went over a few others at Google Books just to make sure I am not missing anything valuable.

quote:

Originally posted by ~ReAligned~:
Someone recently told me to stay away from an author names "Silver Ravenwolf" if anyone is trying to get into wicca, or anything related to wicca.

Not sure how true this is to be honest. Some of you might actually be familiar with her work, but from what I've heard she doesn't give out enough information in her writings. Some of her stuff isn't necessarily correct either.

She doesn't really get into any history of old religions. And she mainly writes on the positive side of things, but from what I've been told it's best to know about both sides.

This is just a simple warning, not trying to bash on anyone. If you're familiar with her stuff let me know what you think.

Thanks.

Hello Realigned.

I have personally studied under this woman and have a few OPINIONS to share and a fact or two.

I can tell you with out a shadow of a doubt. "Mama Silver" only exists in her books. In real life, she's a bitter, vindictive, spiteful b*tch. And for those of you who don't believe "Mama Silver" could BE vindictive, why not ask her why when someone is initated into her "Trad" they have TWO measures taken, instead of one.

"And she mainly writes on the positive side of things, but from what I've been told it's best to know about both sides."

That's true, a balanced perspective is much more beneficial in my opinion, BUT what an author puts into a manuscript and what get printed (Especially by Llewellyn, a CHRISTIAN publishing company who just happens to publish Wiccan texts) are often two totally different things. Authors have very little control over what a House will print.

I personally steer Seekers and Newbies away from her texts because of faulty scholarship, and her encouraging Teens in her "Teen Witch" book to lie to their parents about their religious affiliation.

A very thought provoking article is presented at this website.
http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml


I could talk for days about this woman and what she is doing to the Pagan community.....

quote:

Originally posted by Morrigan's Witch:
I can tell you with out a shadow of a doubt. "Mama Silver" only exists in her books.

What I didn’t get from my limited reading of Silver's books is a sense of "Mama." It is all positive and fluff on the surface, yes. But the undertones don't imply anything motherly. Actually, I closed the first book with a strong feeling that the author is strained inside and works hard to build a façade that hides that.

quote:

And for those of you who don't believe "Mama Silver" could BE vindictive, why not ask her why when someone is initiated into her "Trad" they have TWO measures taken, instead of one.

Ok, I am not Wiccan, so... why? I read somewhere that up to three measures could be taken during the initiation, and that was stated very matter-of-fact-ly.

quote:

That's true, a balanced perspective is much more beneficial in my opinion, BUT what an author puts into a manuscript and what get printed (Especially by Llewellyn, a CHRISTIAN publishing company who just happens to publish Wiccan texts) are often two totally different things. Authors have very little control over what a House will print.

Interesting... I wonder, do authors who are published by Llewellyn know that their writing is been altered and don't mind?

quote:

Originally posted by CoffeeOwl:
Ok, I am not Wiccan, so... why? I read somewhere that up to three measures could be taken during the initiation, and that was stated very matter-of-fact-ly.

------------------

Interesting... I wonder, do authors who are published by Llewellyn know that their writing is been altered and don't mind?

--
Most groups take a measure at Initiation to be a spiritual tie to your coven should you fall ill, and not be able to make it to a coven event. Something that is important. It is given to you to hold on to.

Silver takes two. One is given to you, and she holds the other, and tells you that if you ever do something she doesn't like, she'll use it to "magically" trap you, and drown you in the deepest darkest bog until the end of time. And cue my EXIT music.


As for Llewellyn, yes these authors know their manuscripts are being edited thusly, but as Llewellyn is one of the FEW publishing houses to require you to have an agent, most people will allow certain things to be edited out since either they don't know better, or in Silver's case, don't want to give a cut of "their" money to an agent.

Another thing that many people don't realize is that even though the books are usually between fifteen and thirty books, the authors of these books usually only get from a penny, to a quarter per book sold.

Ok, so if it's not about Raven (and I wonder who in their right mind would want to be initiated under these circumstances), why else more than one measure would be taken?

And I know about writers getting pennies from publishers. It's the same for all kinds of writing - until sales go through the roof, you are not getting rich from it.

Silver may be a bit touchy feely "the univerce is frendly" but her books have actually helped me in my decoverys of the known dream world.

Trust me, she's only "touchy feely" in her books. To sell Books.

"Mama" Silver only exists on paper.

o.o

oops..^^; sorry. actually, my aunt told me to say that...XD i have found her books to be what i needed early on, though i don't really read all that much.