Book Review: The Witch's Dream
Title: The Witch’s Dream
Author: Florinda Donner
Reviewer: Sabrina Gould
E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher: Pocket Books
ISBN: 0-671-55202-3
Book Subject: Non-fiction
Where it can be found: This book is out of print, so it's hard to find. However, the Pagan Society room has a copy!
Rating: 5
Recommendation: Neutral - I don't recommend or not recommend this book
General Review:
Florinda
Donner tells the story of how she trained as an apprentice with a
healer/witch/medium in Venezuela. Under the guidance of a woman named Dona
Mercedes, she awakens her own innate powers as a witch and a medium. Dona
Mercedes describes witches as people who are able to move the wheel of chance
using what she calls a 'witch's shadow.' She defines witches as those who are
able to directly influence the outcome of events using their will, luck or
natural abilities.
Although this book describes the witchcraft and sorcery native to this area, it
has little in common with modern neo-paganism. The witches, healers, mediums and
spiritualists in this book do not operate under the same philosophies and ethics
as neo-pagans. They appear to be paleo-pagans, and influenced by the
introduction of Christianity to that area. Therefore, it's an interesting read,
but potentially of little use to a neo-pagan.
However, as
this book is not about neo-paganism, I have nothing negative to say about it. It
is a fascinating glimpse at paleo-pagan practice in Venezuela. As the author is
an anthropologist, people in that field of study may find this book to be filled
with relevant information. It is filled with different stories about individuals
who 'moved the wheel of chance' and changed their fates; or people who 'made a
link' for others, or turned the wheel of chance for another person's benefit.
The book also talks about ‘making a link by staying in the shadow of a witch’;
the premise being that if you sit under a person's shadow for too long, you
become like them. This can be a positive or negative thing depending on whose
shadow you sit in!
In conclusion, I thought this book was all right. Not great, not bad, just OK.
Interesting in parts though.
Last Updated: June 3, 2004
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