The Gates of Witchcraft

This book is highly Wiccan-centric, which is to be expected given the author. However, I had hoped to get some ideas out if it for my own practice. This book was hard to get through due to poor editing. There are omitted words and punctuation as well as a number of other mistakes that should have been easily caught in any basic proofread. On top of that, the author asserts many things as true, or pulls ideas from elsewhere, but there is not a single in-text citation nor a single footnote. Rarely does he even make mention of the author or source he's pulling this information from, unless he's plugging his own books or his friends' books. This is not a credible source of information, despite Penczak's reputation. This book at least seems to have just been spat out and rushed to publishing, which is a shame because I remember loving his book on Reiki and The Witch's Shield as a teenager.

This book is, perhaps, a compendium of magickal information and exercises to show you all of the ways many aspects of our everyday lives can be turned into a magickal working. Meditating, breathing, dancing, music - just the exercises in these chapters alone will bring you great experiences. You will learn a little bit of everything about all of the paths you can walk to bring magick into your life. Perhaps you are really great at two of them (for me, meditation is one of my best) and several of them you have little or no experience - start with what you feel comfortable with, and experiment with more. Find more paths your life can be made magickal and watch all of the things start to change!I love all of Chris's books I've read. I've been a lazy student, but he has been one of the best teachers. I almost lost faith that magick was real and not some fluff and herbs with woo-woo prayers until I read his books and I found the energy, intention, will, and mind set for magick that is changing my life every day now. And this book can show you that magick-making power in everything you do!

This book on different ways to induce trance states in Pagan practice is very thorough. In classic Penczak fashion, he has chapters devoted to specific categories of how to induce trance, and within each chapter are different techniques and practices. At some points, I wish he had gone into greater detail, but overall he delivers an incredible resource of tools. He also doesn't shy away from including the more commonly frowned-upon practices such as pain-induced trance, while also giving his opinion that he doesn't recommend that practice.I'm blown away by this man's depth of knowledge and ability to convey it in a way that is very accessible to a wide range of students.I so admire this author and wish we could be friends in real life.

I bought this book after hearing the author on the Keep It Magic with Jacki Smith and Storm Cestavani podcast. I am glad I did--it is an amazing, thorough guide to raising magical power!

views the different methods of altered consciousnesses, this book is for a seasoned wiccan who is aware of the different mechanisms for obtaining a altared and spiritually induced state to commune with spiritmore for a seasoned probationer

Who doesn't love Christopher Penzcak's writings? He is amazing... This is another excellent book! It takes an indepth look at the tweleve different "gateways" of trance and gnosis, showing you the benefit and the shadow-side to each one...aiding in changing our consciousness to go deeper and getting more in touch with the magick within all of us.I would recommend this book to any experienced practitioner.

like all Chris books they are well worth the read. i say it is a must have for those looking for a deeper take on witchcraft

The caliber of this author's work is truly amazing. I have read several of his books, and I am always impressed by his knowledge and ability to convey knowledge.

The book is a treasure in itself as the rest of author's books.