I figured it would be fitting to kick things off with the very first book about witchcraft that I owned: To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft by Silver RavenWolf. From what I can gather, the Silver RavenWolf book that was the vibe at the time for most witches of my generation was fittingly Teen Witch, but my 12 year old budding Pagan self didn't have time for that kid stuff. I wanted a serious introduction to how I could transform into a real witch, and I was very satisfied with this book as a foundation.
Silver RavenWolf seems to have evolved into a figure that we all kind of giggle about as our kooky corny aunt of yesteryear, and yeah that title and that cover are cheesy as hell in the most '90s way, but you know what? I dug this out of my childhood bedroom to bring it back with me to my grownup apartment when I decided to dive back into my witchiness with serious intent, and I still stand by it as a serviceable resource. The benefit here is breadth; Silver Broomstick covers pretty much every topic you're curious about when it comes to witchy things from history and detailing spiritual beliefs to how to work with the tools of the trade to discussing ethics and how to adapt to the lifestyle of a full-time witch.
Depth, however, is another story. What's really interesting about this book to me (but could be frustrating for others, especially beginners) is that it gives you the tools and the buildings blocks to become a witch rather than necessarily telling you how. If you're looking for some spells to work with crystals, for example, you won't find that here. But, you'll learn about how crystals work, you'll learn about color magic, you'll learn how to write a spell and how to keep records of your spellcasting, you'll learn about incorporating other elements into working with crystals, and you'll find charts that you can consult that will show you the lunar phase, day of the week, astrological sign, and herb that will best go with which crystal to result in the intention you're aiming for. I respect that about Silver Broomstick, and I think it takes the practice of witchcraft much more seriously than that illustration on the cover suggests.
How I've found myself working with this book over the years is I'll turn to it as a jumping-off point each time a new aspect of witchcraft catches my interest. Candle magic keeps popping up in my life, and I'm not sure if it's something that's for me. I turn to the 4 pages devoted to candle magic in Silver Broomstick and I learn that they're closely associated with color magic (which I have to go elsewhere in the book to dive into), how to dress a candle, how to properly light and extinguish a candle (don't use matches because the sulphur interacts with your spells!), ideas for what to do with candle drippings, and different elements you can incorporate into working with candles. But I'm not sure what I can inscribe a candle with, or what specific rituals and spells I can use candles for. There's some fascinating information here and I feel prepared to explore further, but I don't think I could really start working with candles until I turned to something that had more space to delve into more of the particulars.
Overall, Silver Broomstick is an incredible overview and a great reference, and is most suited for witches looking to forge their own path. Use it as a tool, but it's unlikely that you'll be able to use it alone.
Level: Beginner to intermediate
Accessibility: High - RavenWolf writes in a clear, friendly, personable way
Usefulness: Moderate - there are plenty of practical tools and information, but having to connect so many of your own dots might pose a barrier
Entertainment: Moderate - there's some good storytelling in here, but it's much more of a textbook and guide than a pageturner
