Christopher Penczak

Title:	The Inner Temple of Witchcraft
Author:	Christopher Penczak
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN:	0-7387-0276-6
Pages:	328 pages
Copyright:	2003
Reviewer:	Mike Gleason
Contact Information:	gleason.mike@verizon.net
Category:	Witchcraft
Review:	First things first. Like many “101” books, this one is intended to be experienced, not just read. Unlike many of the same books, however, it does not teach you ritual, spells or invocations. What it does, however, is far more important in my opinion. It teaches you how to make the inner connections which are so necessary to becoming a Witch. It contains plenty of exercises, designed to be worked through, in order, during the course of a year’s study. That is not to say that it can’t be completed in less time, or that it might not take more than a year. Still, trying to rush through this book in the interest of “quicker progress” will only result in cheating yourself of some of the benefits of experiencing your growth in a slower, more expansive setting. The first 70 pages of the book serve as a basic introduction, with the remainder divided into 13 chapters, each of which is designed to be worked through in about three weeks or so. There are things Christopher teaches which I have encountered numerous times in my travels through the neo-Pagan community. Some of these I still don’t agree with, no matter how often I hear them taught. That doesn’t make them, or me, wrong. It simply means that there is no one “right” way to approach the Craft. Christopher makes sure to remind the reader of that throughout the course of his work. Some of his attitudes seem a little “White-Light” for my taste, but that is probably a function of my training and my own experiences. Others may relate to them differently. Since I was reading for review, and not as a training experience, I didn’t devote enough time to it to know if his schedule of training is practical or not. I can say, however, that his exercises and assignments will result in s well-founded basis of magickal education. Unlike many authors I have read lately, he stresses the need to W-O-R-K for what you want. It won’t come easily, but it will come. You can’t expect to go through the training without occasional disappointments and setbacks. If you are persistent, however, you will arrive at your starting point; which is, after all, what this book is designed to accomplish. When you complete this book you will be ready to begin to truly walk the path of the Witch. Too many authors and teachers give in to the desire of the average student to get on to the “good stuff” too quickly. Thus they teach rituals and spellwork without taking the time to lay a solid foundation of personal knowledge and introspection. To my immense relief and pleasure, Christopher resists this temptation. That means, unfortunately, that a lot of people won’t use this book, and they should. This is a book which would be a great benefit to a lot of people as they begin their journey on the path of knowledge. If you are willing to work at your own development and understanding, this book will be one of the best investments you can make. If you are looking for short cuts and quick fixes, save your money. Using this book (and the ones to follow it) should result, in the very least, in you becoming a better balanced, better-rounded individual. And that, ultimately, is the purpose of magick, in my opinion.
Review submitted:	25 June 2003