It’s rare that a book on witchcraft thoroughly covers foundational philosophy, theory, and practical training in an east to understand, and well written way. @francesbillinghurst wrote this amazing gem ‘Contemporary Witchcraft, Foundational practices for a magical life’ and I’ve read and re-read this to absorb the valuable information covered. The Witchcraft I practice is derived from the works of Doreen Valiente, Janet & Stuart Farrar and Gavin Bone, Michael Howard, Paul Huson, Scott Cunningham, and many other witchcraft, Wiccan, and neo-pagan authors with the addition of grimoires and ceremonial magick. It’s quite eclectic, and often some books tend to have missing pieces that are found in others. Frances’s book however covers so much! A brief history, information regarding the sabbats, ethics and philosophy, tools, working with deity and more. Arranged as to provide a good foundation for the reader in order to move on to the next steps. I absolutely love this book. It definitely belongs in every witch’s library and is a wonderful resource. When I’m not reading this book, it sits with books by Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, The Farrars, and Vivianne Crowley. ~ Aidan Bird (cunning_hedgewitch), Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cunning_hedgewitch/

Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life Frances Billinghurst Moon Books, August 2021. Paperback: 264 pages, ISBN 1‏978-1789046649 I have known Frances for many years, albeit as email/pen-pals. In recent years the contact has been via Facebook. She lives in Australia and is an initiated witch in the Alexandrian Tradition. Contemporary Witchcraft is her latest book. One does not have to be initiated to worship the Gods, but I agree with Frances when she writes, “When I teach, I like to provide students with a foundation upon which they can build their craft. This is what I feel is missing in a lot of modern books that seem to go straight to spells. While you do not need to cast a circle and honour the Gods in order to create spells and perform magick, if you wish to embrace contemporary witchcraft as your spiritual path though, then these practices are important.” The first part of her book is a collection of essays concerned with the ‘foundational philosophies’ including a brief history of Modern Witchcraft. She describes Gerald Gardner’s influences, especially his background in Freemasonry. And of course key figures such as Alex & Maxine Sanders and Janet & Stewart Farrar. The second half of the 20th Century saw a mushrooming of covens, groups who described themselves as ‘Wiccan’. The Western Mysteries, pagan & heathen groups, shamanism – also found eager adherents ‘down under’. “In Australia, some 6,616 people identified themselves as Wiccan, with a further 15,000 people identified themselves as being “pagan” in the 2016 census.” In the essay, ‘Contemporary Witchcraft’ Frances describes how Wicca & Witchcraft is evolving. “I am mindful however that some concepts, such as karma, cannot always easily be transposed into contemporary witchcraft philosophy, especially when understood in its original concept. It is also important to note that while these differing evolutions have turned Wicca very much into a personal belief system, as opposed to a dogmatic one when comparing it to more orthodox religions, an increasing number of such evolutions has in fact taken Wicca away from its roots, the very essence or vision that Gardner had. Where you stand personally will depend on whether this is seen as a negative or positive point. I personally see the benefit of having a foot in each camp, which can be seen in what I teach and, hopefully, what comes through in this book.” Importance of ethics Frances spends a good deal of time discussing the origin, interpretation and implication of “The Wiccan Rede and the Rede of the Wiccae”. ‘An it harm none, do what you will is attributed to Doreen Valiente, whilst the Rede of the Wiccae finds its origin with Gwen Thompson / Adriana Porter. Examining the different versions, she also discusses ‘the threefold path’ and other general beliefs which are also influenced by our moral code, or Golden Rule. “In its true meaning as a guideline, the Rede advises the path of least harm is the ethical path, and that we should always think before we act: ‘An it harm none, do what ye will’. We are to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions (as well as our thoughts and deeds), as well as the results of such if we fail to act. The latter is something that can be overlooked. This means that by not acting to prevent harm, we may also be the cause of it though by an act of omission rather than commission.” One of the things I really liked about this book is that Frances explains the differences between the Northern & Southern hemispheres. It always amazes me when people don’t realise that everything is reversed… so Beltane in the Northern hemisphere is Samhain in the Southern hemisphere, Deosil is Widdershins, and so on. When explaining the Wheel of the Year for example dates are shown for both hemispheres: The second part of the book is concerned with The Practice… and the practical. Having set the scene, the basic background to Wicca as a belief system, Frances then goes on to the building of a solid foundation… the sub-title of the book is of course; ‘Foundational practices for a magical life’. From exercises in Mediation & Visualisation to The Elements and the Elementals to Insights into Spellcrafting, to name a couple… Frances covers the major practises one needs to be adept in, not only as a Witch but as a Magician too. Once again she takes into account the differences between the hemispheres. Even experienced people can benefit by looking through the various chapters and refreshing their memories. In the Appendix, there are some important additions such as ‘Basic Circle Casting Ritual’. There is also a ‘Self-blessing /dedication ritual’ (I am so pleased that she hasn’t called it ‘self-initiation…’) For beginners / seekers and the experienced, this is an excellent book and should be in everyone’s library and used frequently! Frances Billinghurst is an initiated witch, ritualist and healer. She runs workshops on metaphysics, mythology and the occult. Frances is the author of several books, and she is the editor of Call of the God: An Anthology Exploring the Divine Masculine within Modern Paganism. When she is not writing, Frances is attempting to replicate the Hanging Gardens of Babylon on her patch of Australian dirt, beading, and journeying between the worlds. More information about Frances can be found on her blog: https://francesbillinghurst.blogspot.com/ and at: http://templedarkmoon.com/. She lives in Parafield Gardens, South Australia. #contemporarywitchcraft #wica #wicca #pagan #australianwitchcraft ~ Morgana , Wiccan Rede Online magazine

5 stars! This book is a brilliant read, it has so eloquently captured the essence of Witchcraft in a comprehensive yet easy to read guide. There is a beautiful balance between both theory and practical tools for the reader. This book gives the reader a succinct history of Witchcraft and its lineage from Gardner. Taking you on a journey through the foundations of Witchcraft, Billinghurst removes the hard work of having to wade through hundreds of books on the topic. The book has value for both the novice and advanced practitioner, connecting with all. It allows you to tap into your power using simple techniques and at the same time goes on to explain certain elements of the Craft in detail. I highly recommend this book, each time you pick it up gifts you a new insight. ~ Stella Sotiriou, Personal email received having read a pre-release copy of Contemporary Witchcraft

The author has certainly gone above and beyond in this book. This isn’t your ordinary witchcraft book, this is so much more. Most books now days focus on spells and give you very little in way of explaining deity, ritual, meditation, seasonal work or anything of substance. The author here explains and gives you detailed exercises to do that are easy to understand and apply, to reach that place where you really connect to deity, yourself and nature. I recommended this book to everyone starting their journey and also the ones who have been practicing a long time. This book is real and pure and in the essence of growing and connecting. There are no strings attached here. It’s not a read once kind of book either, it’s a book you can always go back to. ~ Timon Paskul, Personal email received having read a pre-release copy of Contemporary Witchcraft

Beautiful Book, highly recommended. I got a signed copy that simply adds to the magick this book holds. Thank you, Di. Urban Dharma ~ "Di" Urban Dharma, https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/LunaNoireCreations#reviews

Sitting down in the State Library to write a few thoughts about Frances Billinghurst's new book "Contemporary Witchcraft", I glanced up to read a quote: "In books lies the soul of the whole past time, the articulate audible voice of the past", Thomas Carlyle 1795–1881. I take this as a lead, a positive omen. Yes, Frances has written a significant book. In 1875 on his 80th birthday Thomas Carlyle, the great Scottish historian of the Victorian age received tributes from more than 100 eminent fellow historians and philosophers. From the above quote, it would seem Carlyle agreed with the view that through a good book you hold the vision, sentiments and knowledge of the individual who wrote it. In "Contemporary Witchcraft, foundation practices for a magical life" Frances Billinghurst offers us a concise study of modern Witchcraft practices and her substantial knowledge on the subject. Her book is like studying a guide map written by an experienced traveller. The author offers us a well-trodden route and even anticipates what our next steps should be. With so many diverse approaches available on modern Witchcraft practices, it's not surprising that those new to the study quickly become confused in this patchwork of what gets presented as Witchcraft. Fortunately, Frances' book "Contemporary Witchcraft" presents the student with an efficient guide to a deeper understanding and a planned approach to studying the Craft. I've taught Witchcraft and Magick for over four decades, and I've often wished I had a primary textbook with which to teach students — I now have that book. One doesn't have to agree with everything an author might say to respect their work. Frances' research is reliable and thorough. Refreshingly, other than a few cosmetic differences in approach, there was little with which I would disagree. In 2019, I had an opportunity to participate in a workshop run by Frances. The workshop was "Encountering the Dark Goddess." I experienced what's like to work with a competent teacher of the Mysteries. Frances' teachings like her books are researched, and her night ritual connected people of varying levels of experience to the numinous. (There's a complimentary book to this workshop that is also very worthwhile having in your library.) If there were a 'Lonely Planet' traveller's guide to Witchcraft, Frances Billinghurst's "Contemporary Witchcraft, foundation practices for a magical life" is it. ~ Tim Hartridge, Witches Workshop Facebook group posting

On reading the introduction, I was transported back 35 years to my own introduction to the craft, and it set the tone for the rest of the book. Contemporary Witchcraft Foundational Practices for a Magical Life is a great read as it is formed from, in my opinion, genuine teachings, and genuine research and workings. It is a refreshing change from so much information available that at best is questionable in origin. David Garland President Pagan Awareness Network Inc Australia ~ David Garland, Email received 1 November 2020 after reading the manuscript

Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life By Frances Billinghurst Contemporary Witchcraft is an informative, comprehensive and well written guide to the practice of Pagan Witchcraft in the Southern Hemisphere, but also contains a lot of valuable information which readers in the Northern Hemisphere could equally benefit from. The author uses the term “contemporary witchcraft” to describe the more traditional and initiatory practice of the Craft which can be traced back to Gerald Gardner and Alex Sanders, generally known as Wicca. Unfortunately the word Wicca has been usurped by modern neo-pagans, practising a Wicca-based non-initiatory neo-paganism, and has therefore become a generalised term often including an assortment of New Age practices, as opposed to focusing on the initiatory teachings of Gardner and Sanders, much to the annoyance of those of us who are of an initiatory lineage. The author muses that what is often called Wicca today bears little resemblance to what she was originally trained in, and what she practices today, and so has chosen to describe what she does as contemporary witchcraft rather than Wicca. However, she makes it clear that what she is writing about is in fact Wicca in its original sense, the traditional and initiatory form which honours oathbound materials and hierarchical training. The author gives a brief history of the development of what has become modern witchcraft before plunging in to some of the common beliefs and practices of contemporary witchcraft, discussing in quite some depth, such topics as the origin and meaning of the Wiccan Rede, the Threefold Law of Return, and the Charge of the Goddess. There is a wealth of interesting information, such that even a long-service and experienced Wiccan such as myself, with over 35 years in the Craft, has found information which was new to me within these pages. There are a lot of books on Wicca around these days, many of which simply re-hash the same old ideas, or worse, give a watered down version, turning it into some New Age fluffy version that is unrecognisable to those of us who are initiated witches. This book is not one of those, and I would recommend it for the serious student of modern pagan witchcraft. Frances Billinghurst provides an in-depth discussion of the seasonal festivals and how they differ in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and how a tradition which originated in the Northern hemisphere can be effectively adapted for the Southern Hemisphere, whilst maintaining a sense of connectedness to the land, highlighting that it is not a case of “simply moving the sabbats around”. She points out that such an assumption indicates a lack of understanding of the differences between the two hemispheres, and goes on to discuss the five basic differences between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and how the practitioner can adapt their craft to the part of the world they live in, not just whether Northern or Southern Hemisphere, but also taking into account climate and landscape. I also applaud the author debunking the American trend, which has unfortunately spread around the world, of referring to the autumnal equinox as “Mabon”, and the summer solstice as “Litha”, neither of which have any historical precedent. As the author rightly points out, Mabon is a character from Welsh folklore who in Welsh pagan traditions and Druidry, is connected with the sun and the summer solstice, and has no connection either mythologically, or festival-wise with the autumnal equinox. The author then gives a number of practical exercises and discusses the various ways of making magic, as well as the basics of casting a circle, calling upon the elements and meditative practices, and discusses the working tools of a witch, which will be valuable for the beginner, or anyone considering becoming involved in contemporary witchcraft, as well as providing some food for thought to those already practising, encouraging reflection on our practice, the symbolism of the tools and why we do things in a certain way. Overall I would recommend this book not only to the beginner, but also to the seasoned practitioner of witchcraft, and not only to those in the Southern Hemisphere, but wherever you may be. Ariadne Rainbird (co-author of "Magick Without Peers: A Course in Progressive Witchcraft for the Solitary Practitioner", Capall Bann Publishing, 1997) ~ Ariadne Rainbird, Email received 29 October 2020 after reading the manuscript

"Today there is much misunderstanding regarding the different forms of modern pagan witchcraft, from the initiatory traditions, to various eclectic paths that are often labelled “Wicca”. In this book, Billinghurst addresses misconceptions and outlines the foundational history, beliefs, and practices that define the tradition of Contemporary Witchcraft, inherited from Gerald Gardner et al in the 20th century. This book highlights the origins of many concepts within the tradition, as well as offering interesting insights and explanations for them. If you are considering walking this path, or learning more about it, this book provides an accessible overview of the tradition and will introduce you to the tools for getting started on the path." ~ Olivia Church, author of Pagan Portals: Isis - Great of Magic, She of 10,000 Names. ~ Olivia Church, Email received 9 October 2020 after reading the manuscript

A fabulous book for the beginner to know the difference between the pagans Wicca and witchcraft as we in the initiated priesthood understand it. Scholarly researched and using examples of Billinghurst’s training and perception of ritual and magic. Billinghurst’s chapters on meditation exercises and tips to find a coven are not to be overlooked. These days it is very easy to say “I am a witch or Wiccan” without any training. This often leads to becoming, self-centered and self-serving. Witchcraft as I know it, is about training, dedication to the Goddess and God, nature and learning from your peers and fellow priests/priestesses working together. This book is a new look at an often-misunderstood perception of Witchcraft. ~ Murray Langham (Alexandrian Initiate, Business owner and author)

‘No matter what I have read, nothing has yet made me feel genuinely connected to the true history, energy and roots of modern Wicca and Witchcraft. The author’s clear love and understanding is evident, and she clears a way through the fog of misunderstanding and confusion many new to this path might encounter. She makes it real, tangible, reachable. "Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life" will be one of my most favourite additions to my bookshelf.’ ~ Emma, First Degree Initiate, Alexandrian Tradition

In her wonderful book "Contemporary Witchcraft", Frances Billinghurst gives us a thoughtful, yet powerful tome of the power and spirit of witchcraft. She gives us many magical techniques that will help us connect to the elements, the spirits, and gods in order for us to walk a path of beauty upon the earth. "Contemporary Witchcraft" is a tradition that has roots in the past but takes us on a modern journey into the evolution of witchcraft. A must read! ~ Chris Allaun

A fabulous book for the beginner to know the difference between the pagans Wicca and witchcraft as we in the initiated priesthood understand it. Scholarly researched and using examples of Billinghurst’s training and perception of ritual and magic. Billinghurst’s chapters on meditation exercises and tips to find a coven are not to be overlooked. These days it is very easy to say “I am a witch or Wiccan” without any training. This often leads to becoming, self-centered and self-serving. Witchcraft as I know it, is about training, dedication to the Goddess and God, nature and learning from your peers and fellow priests/priestesses working together. This book is a new look at an often-misunderstood perception of Witchcraft. ~ Murray Langham (Alexandrian Initiate, Business owner and author)