An Ye Harm None: Magical Morality And Modern Ethics

By Shelley Tsivia Rabinovitch and Meredith Macdonald

From two leading writers on all things Wicca comes a warm, practical guide to choosing how to use Wicca ethically and responsibly to enhance your life. Taking a far-reaching and totally unbiased look at the Neo-Pagan lifestyles celebrated all over the world, An' Ye Harm one provides answers to questions many Wiccans have about the issues they face every day including the morals of using magick, making sexual choices, protectingthe environment and and hot to practice the craft.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806525770
• ISBN13: 9780806525778
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Citadel Pr
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

An Ye Harm None: Magical Morality And Modern Ethics

This book gave me alot more information than what I was hoping for. It goes into everything from children and how to raise them to involvement in your community. If you are looking for a book to learn more on ethics and morals ths is the one to check out!

Nice coverage of pros and cons--usually

This book is a good read, I found it to be well balance most of the time, and giving most pros and cons to the various issues at hand. Chapter 1 is on the environment and covers fabrics, chemicals, flooring, recycling, power, septic tanks, yards, activism, gemstones, silver, and herbs. The next chapter covers lifestyle and health using the issues of shopping, eating, nutrition, exercise, medicine, emotional health, guns, and military service. Chapter 3 is on relationships with everyone from acquaintances to friends to spiritual relationships. Sexuality is covered, and magical relationships. Chapter 4 covers child related issues, starting with the choice of whether or not to have them, and birth control. Although the previous reviewer found the authors to be a bit overbearing on the decision of having children, I did not come away with this impression. I think many people need to think more seriously about the choice of being a parent before running into it with "rose colored glasses." The chapter goes on to cover topics that many people are concerned with, such as breast vs. bottle, crib vs. co-sleeping, cloth diapers vs. disposable, back to work vs. stay at home, child discipline, toys & books, tv & movies, video games & the internet, and public vs. private vs. homeschool. I found that Chapter 5, on money, was a little more biased and opinionated, maybe somewhat due to the fact that the authors are Canadian. The topics of earning money, spending money, saving money, and giving money are all covered. The authors seem very much into the idea of the government having a great deal of control in the social part of a country. Even going so far as to say that one should be cautious of giving to charities for the needy because it hides the "problem" of the government not supporting the needy well enough. This may be the case in places like Canada. Here, in the United States of America, it is more effective for people to exercise their freedom to give to charities to help the needy, rather than have the government take more of their money in taxes to help the needy--once it's gone through all of the bureaucracy of it. I am glad that places like Canada exist for people to live who are of that mindset; however, I am also glad that places like the USA exist for people who like a little more freedom, even if it comes with more responsibility (as all true freedom does). Chapter 6 covers the many sides of "community." A few activist groups are discussed, foster parenting, adopting, mentoring, elders, urban planning, transportation, spiritual communities, virtual communities, and festivals. Chapter 7 is where the real "magical morality" is covered. Topics include personal responsibility, gender in ritual, role of ritual, and where to have ritual. Overall, I found the book to be a nice guide, and an asset to any modern Pagan.

A must read for every Wiccan

After reading several introductory books on wicca and witchcraft, it's hard to find something new that will actually add to your understanding of what if means to follow this spiritual path. An Ye Harm None offers practical information for the modern pagan to help them make ethical choices in day-to-day life.While any beginner of how-to book on wicca can set you on the path, An Ye Harm None really examines what it means to be on that path in our modern world. The book doesn't preach. For the most part, it simply lays out the facts and provides a guide for making the right decision.The book is ideal for a serious student (or even teacher) of the pagan path. It addresses issues such as having or not having children, and raising children in a way that fits with pagan beliefs. These are hardly issues of interest to someone who is just curious about witchcraft.Most of the issues are of a practical nature: money, environmentalism, relationships, health, charity, etc... But as the title indicates "magical morality" is also covered. Anyone who has read any serious books on Wicca has read that you should not use magic to influence the free will of another person. This book does not dwell on this topic very long, but it does expand on this point, as well as introduce a few other issues relevant to solitary and group rituals and magics.It is also worth noting that the authors are Canadian and have tried to offer a balanced perspective of North America as a whole (offering parallel examples for both the US and Canada when appropriate) as well as including relevant information from other areas of the world. Often conditions in European countries are referenced to as a contrast to North American conditions.

Original

Ever since I became Wiccan, I have been looking for a book that would not only teach the spells (I never really was interested in them, just the religion itself), but would really show you how to live a life that helps other people and the world at large. This book has many useful tips that are easy to implement. After reading this, I can proudly call myself Wiccan. Also, if you are new to the religion, buy Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham. It is a Wicca 101 book, but one of the best out there.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

Once in a while, there comes a book that has a chance to stand out from the deluge of other books currently being published on Paganism and Wicca. Where there seems to be an overwhelming tendancy to keep on printing and reprinting books which seem to be 'how to guides' on everything from ritual to spellcraft, there never seems to be *any* book which will focus on how to live as a Pagan. If you're someone who is tired with the 'same old' syndrome, then this book will feel like a breath of fresh air. This book really talks about everything relating to living a Pagan life in a mundane day-to-day world. It will talk about how to be better at being environmentally aware and offers tips and suggestions to help you. It deals about ethics from a practical stand point as opposed to just talking about the theory behind the ethics. It's simple, down to earth, and wonderfully enjoyable to read and a welcome addition in a subject that lacks and overlooks this kind of book. I highly recommend the book to someone who considers themselves Pagan.