Edited by Trevor Greenfield and introduced by Rachel Patterson this book was put together to mark 60 Years after the publication of Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft today'. How ever awkward a figure Gardner is for some, the impact of his work in terms of making witchcraft visible and available, cannot be denied.

A lot has changed since Gardner wrote his book, and this title explores that. Here's a bit of a review roundup...

"This is an amazing book – now to be clear this is not a how-to book on witchcraft or by any means a book of spells or rituals. In some ways this book is more important than just another magick book as this is a book of history and progress." Full review here - http://phoenixindigoember.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/book-review-witchcraft-today-60-years-on.html

"I found it useful to read them in light of my own story and feel that any one coming into paganism would find it comforting and illuminating to do the same. Often people describe an early sense of loneliness which I think can be dispelled in these stories." full review here - https://knotmagick101.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/book-review-witchcraft-today-60-years-on-2/comment-page-1/#comment-318

"This is a timely addition to Pagan literature, highly recommended to anyone interested in the modern heritage of witchcraft, paganism and new (or new old) spiritual movements more generally." https://contemplativeinquiry.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/book-review-witchcraft-today-60-years-on/

One of the difficult things about a book featuring the thoughts of 101 Pagans, is finding some Pagans who are not in it to review it! It doesn't seem so very long ago that finding 101 people who would admit to being a Pagan was an unlikely prospect, and this community book goes a long way to expressing how far out of the broom closet we now are.

Facing North said "One of the things I like most about this book is that it welcomed all paths and put them on an equal footing. I’ll say right now that as I read through this book, there were things I didn’t agree with. If you are a practicing Pagan and you read this book, you are going to have the same thing happen. I look at that as a good thing." Full review here -  http://facingnorth.net/Reference/paganism-101.html

Participating in community projects like this is a great way for new writers to develop their skills and confidence. In this blog post - http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/01/paganism-101-introduction-to-paganism.html - Lucya Starza talks about her involvement. This year sees the release of her first book as a solo author - Candle Magic.

It's been a very popular book, not least because having 101 voices in it, there's no room for dogma or narrow vision. Each section has a topic covered by a well established Pagan writer, and then other writers offer their own experiences and perspectives, so everything from ethics and nature to ancestors and the afterlife is explored with multiple voices. I was asked to contribute a piece on prayer and meditation - having written 'Druidry and meditation' and being then in process with 'When a Pagan Prays'  - so I'm an entirely subjective commentator on this book.

The experience of being a participant in a community project was so powerful for me, that when Trevor Greenfield (editor of this title and publisher of Moon Books) asked me if I'd like to take on the Pagan Planet project, I jumped at the chance.

Some witches seem really bogged down in the issues of what's good/white magic and what's not ok, as though its possible to make broad sweeping statements, rather than looking at the complexities of each specific situation. This is a much more pragmatic, down to earth sort of book. Here's some quotes from other reviewers and links to their reviews. Sometimes, to do what's needed, we have to make tricky choices.

"The viewpoint is way more balanced than many other books of it’s kind that I’ve seen, and the lack of pervasive fluffiness is refreshing" http://breelandwalker.tumblr.com/post/48800061086/review-the-gray-witchs-grimoire-by-amythyst

"The Gray Witch's Grimoire is a unique look at the world of magic, witchcraft and spell work." http://facingnorth.net/Witchcraft/gray-witchs-grimoire.html

There's also a study group working with the book, you can find them here - http://cauldronofthegraywitch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/grimoire-of-gray-witch-study-group.html

There are so many different approaches to fairy/faery/faerie out there, and it means so many things to different people.

Here's what's been said by others about this book - 

Through the magic of these pages you are invited to re-discover the truth about Faeries and to work with the forces of nature through spell work, mediation, invocation and rhyme. ~ Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, Best-selling author of The Shaman Within

Flavia's words will make you feel the joy and magic of the Faery realm all over again. Voices from childhood return, and I feel the urge to clap... these aren't just the pretty sprites of the Victorians but true tales of the land, beautifully told, in all their Puckish wildness. ~ Cat Treadwell, druid priestess and author of Facing the Darkness

I recently found this piece by the same author offering a faery meditation - http://www.faemagazine.com/imbolc-faery-meditation-by-flavia-kate-peters/ and a unicorn meditation by the same author - http://www.faemagazine.com/unicorn-meditation-with-flavia-kate-peters/