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Dallas Morning News
     By MARY A. JACOBS / Special Contributor

The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum
     By Mike Gleason

At My Computer
     By Denise Marshll

Excerpts: click the excerpt you'd like to read                    

Back Cover
     A look at what's inside...

Introduction
    For whom is this book is written?

Part 2: A Deeper Understanding about Wiccan Life
     Does Wicca have a Sacred Text ?

From the back cover
Wicca is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world, yet with its rise has come a torrent of misconceptions, misunderstandings, and untruths about whatWiccans do and believe. This book alleviates all confusion by offering a clear guide for everyone curious about this much talked-about religion—whether you are considering becoming Wiccan or a family member, friend, or colleague of someone who is Wiccan. Wiccan High Priest Bryan Lankford explains the background, beliefs, and practices of Wicca in two accessible sections—one focusing on a basic understanding and one full of answers to deeper questions.
                                                             The comprehensive topics he covers include:

Why Wiccans worship a Goddess as well as s God.
Witch stepeotypes and nasty rurmor's about Wiccans.
Wiccan Holidays and how there celebrated.
The roles of nature ans magick within the Wiccan faith.
How Wiccans view birth, death, and the meaning of life.
Ethics from a Wiccan perspective.

This book goes beyond the simple mechanics of Wiccan worship to provide a glimpse into the heart and soul of the religion.

For whom is this book writen? 
         As children two of the first questions we ask are “What is it?” and “Why?” We ask these questions to clear away the dark places of ignorance and let the light of knowledge shine its rays of understanding throughout our minds. As children we ask questions naturally and hungrily seek answers to all those mysteries we don’t understand. However, as we get older, we change: we get lazy or complacent, we start to become satisfied with the knowledge we have, and our quest for new information slows down or stops completely. We stop asking “Why?” and delude ourselves into thinking that we already know all that’s important to know. When this happens, those dark places of ignorance cease to be the realm of exploration, becoming instead places of evil and fear. Like old maps where the unexplored territories were labeled “Here There Be Monsters,” we write off our own “unexplored territories” as dangerous places where something might consume us if we venture into them. Those things we don’t understand are often feared as evil, and we vilify them not because they will hurt us but because it is easier to condemn than to learn and understand. The purpose of this book is to serve as a guide for those who have chosen to venture into one unexplored corner of their minds. We will push past the sign that reads “Here There Be Witches” and shine a light on Wicca.
          Most people don’t know much about Wicca, and unfortunately, some are more than willing to fill in their factual gaps with fanciful creations. This has led to any number of problems for Wiccans at home, work, and school. For example, I was the first Wiccan minister to give the opening invocation at a Dallas City Council meeting. At that time the invocation was a routine occurrence and few people gave it a second thought. This particular invocation, however, turned into a circus-like event complete with protesters, death threats, extra security, and coverage on every media outlet in the city. Why? Because it’s easier and more exciting for some people to believe lies than to learn the truth.
I have always been fascinated by religion, not just one religion, but all of them, past and present. To me, it’s intriguing to examine the myriad ways people perceive Deity, which partly explains how I became Wiccan. When I was a teenager, I began questioning the religious tenets I was being taught and began looking for my own answers to life’s questions. Over the years this eventually led me to form my own set of religious beliefs, which I thought were mine alone. I thought I was following a religion of one until, by an odd set of circumstances, I found a book about Wicca and discovered others believed as I did.
          Since 1998 I have done a great deal of interfaith work, which means I lecture about Wicca to groups interested in world religions, I work with other religious leaders to help plan multifaith events, and I counsel people who are having problems caused by those who misunderstand their religion. In all three instances, people have asked me to suggest a book that would provide factual information about Wicca; they want a resource to help someone understand Wiccan beliefs without teaching them how to be Wiccan. Now, back when I became Wiccan, only a handful of books about Wicca existed, and many of them could be found only in specialty stores. Nowadays entire sections of bookstores are dedicated to the subject of Wicca, so when I couldn’t find a book explaining Wiccan beliefs to non-Wiccans, I was a bit surprised. I could see why people wanted such a book, but a suitable volume didn’t seem to exist. I looked around in astonishment at the hundreds of books currently published about Wicca but was unable to find one I would recommend to someone needing that kind of resource.
          Discussing this problem with Renda, a High Priestess and friend of mine who had been in Wicca since the early seventies, I told her we needed a book that gives people the basic information and answers the common questions about Wicca but doesn’t try to teach them to be Wiccan and thereby give them more information than they want. She looked at me and said, “Why don’t you write one?” Thinking she was joking, I chuckled and said, “Oh yeah, like that’s going to happen.” She gave me a look both penetrating and questioning, a look that seemed to peer into my soul and carefully examine all the motivations and reasons for my actions. It’s a look few people can achieve but one she had certainly mastered. She simply said, “Why not? You said someone needs to write the book, and you’re someone, aren’t you? You’ve been studying Wicca since 1991, you’re clergy in two different traditions, and you’ve spoken to more people and answered more questions about Wicca than most anyone else in this community.” I thought, “She’s serious,” and said, “I can’t write a book; I barely made it through high school English.” Again with the stare, she said, “If you set limitations on yourself, they will be with you forever.” Thus began my quest to give people the best possible tool with which to better understand the Wiccan religion and those who practice it.
          If you’ve picked up or been given this book, it is probably because you are either interested in the possibility of pursuing Wicca as a religious path or you know someone who has told you they practice the Wiccan religion. A son or daughter, coworker, friend, or family member has shared with you something very personal about their life. Sharing this information is usually a very scary proposition. By disclosing that they practice Wicca, a person risks the real possibility of rejection, ostracism, and alienation from people they care about very much, and the closer you are to this person, the more they have risked by sharing their religious convictions with you. By opening this book, you are saying you are not going to condemn them for being different but instead are willing to try to understand their choice of religious paths. The purpose of this book is neither to convert you to Wicca, nor is it to convince you this is the way everyone should live their lives. The purpose of this book is to help you understand why someone would make this choice and to alleviate any fears or concerns you have about their religious practices. After reading this book, I hope people will understand Wicca is simply another variation in the wonderful diversity of world religions, not a sinister force to be feared and reviled.
          I’m not asking everyone who reads this book to agree with everything I am presenting; I would be horrified if they did. Many of the answers I present here are questions for which there are no definitive answers. Questions such as why are we here, what happens after we die, and why is there evil in the world are eternal and life-defining questions because they determine how one views the world and interacts with the people in it. We seek the answers to these questions throughout our lives, and as we grow and mature, many of our answers change. As children, simple answers were given to us; however, most people outgrow those answers and seek answers that add more depth and meaning to their lives. Answering these questions for ourselves is part of life’s adventure, and if the answers were obvious or handed to us wrapped in pretty paper with a bow, much of the mystery and purpose of life would vanish.
          Answering life’s eternal questions is a quest for our personal Holy Grail, and if Arthur’s Grail knights rode out of Camelot only to find the Grail, swathed in a pretty pink bow, resting at the end of the drawbridge, the story would be a bit boring. Instead, the knights went out separately, each selecting their own dark place where there was no path to begin their quest.1 Finding our own answers to the eternal questions is our life’s quest; it is how we grow as people. These answers are our own Holy Grail, and we must seek these answers within the dark reaches of our own soul.I am not presuming to claim my musings on the Wiccan religion should be the definitive viewpoint. Wicca has no sacred books. Every book about Wicca is that author’s opinion about what Wicca is, and this book is no exception. Most Wiccans will disagree with at least a few of my views. What I am intending to present is a possible Wiccan answer to some difficult questions, and if you are looking for answers and you like any of my answers, use them. If you don’t like my answers or feel they aren’t right for you, then look within yourself and find your own answers. Try not to simply dismiss an idea offhandedly without considering it. If you don’t agree with something I have written, decide why you don’t agree. I find I often learn more when I disagree with something I have heard than when I feel the information is correct. Disagreeing causes me to explore the reasons why I feel the statement is incorrect. I try to explore my beliefs and ask myself not only why I think the original statement was wrong but also what I feel would be a more correct statement for me. By examining our beliefs and finding our own answers, great truths are sometimes revealed to us, and we more clearly understand our own spiritual path. If anything I write helps point you in the direction of your own answers, then I am happy to have helped.
          Wicca Demystified is not a “Wicca 101” book; it will not teach you how to practice the Wiccan religion. The purpose of this book is not simply to give you knowledge of Wicca, although it will do that. The purpose of this book is to help give you an understanding of Wicca. Knowing someone has many levels: one can know another person as in “I have heard of them,” “I work with them” “we went to school together,” or even in an intimate sense. However, none of these levels of knowing will provide you with an understanding of that person. A person is more than their name, job, schooling, or whom they have . . . well, you get the idea. Knowledge of a person and understanding of a person are two different things. Knowledge gives one surface facts, paints a picture of the individual, and no matter how detailed or masterfully rendered that picture, it’s still only two dimensional, leaving out the heart and soul of the person. Until you discuss personal philosophy with that person, know some of their hopes and dreams, their triumphs and defeats, you will never even begin to understand them. Understanding requires long talks in the middle of the night and tear-filled stories. In a similar way, Wicca is more than its holidays, rituals, and ethics; it is even more than the deities worshiped, although these are important. The understanding of Wicca is in the living, the connection to nature, the ideas on birth, death, and why we are here in the first place. Wicca’s soul is in the people who practice it, their hopes, dreams, and reasons for walking a religious path so different from what many view as traditional.
          In order for me to show everyone a part of Wicca’s soul, I must show them a piece of mine, letting everyone see Wicca as I see it. Until you experience the world through Wiccan eyes, there is no way to truly understand Wicca. My goal is to make this book your eyes with which to glimpse the Wiccan world. I will share with you not only the form of Wicca, but also glimpses into its soul where you can, if only briefly, see the world as a Wiccan does and, through that, possibly understand Wicca. If at times I seem to be attempting to sway people to my point of view, I want to assure everyone this is not my intention. It’s only my enthusiasm for the subject that may make it seem that way. People usually experience joy and find comfort in their religion. I want people, for a moment, to experience the joy, comfort, and peace Wiccans find in their religion. This isn’t an attempt to bring people around to our point of view; rather, it’s an opportunity for them to see why someone else might choose the Wiccan spiritual path.
          There is no subject on which all Wiccans will universally agree; therefore, everything I am writing will not be absolutely correct for all Wiccans. Nonjudgmental discussion of different religious ideas can lead to rich and rewarding spiritual dialogues. I would never say a Wiccan who disagrees with me isn’t a true Wiccan. Wicca believes there is room in the world for all religions. The religion you practice and the way you practice it is correct for you. There are many variations among the world’s religions, and just as there are many denominations or sects within other religions, each one different, but all having certain characteristics in common, there are also many variations among Wiccans, and all of them are valid. A student beginning their study of Wicca is similar to an art student approaching a painting class. Everyone learns the basics of shape, shadow, color and perspective, but each person’s finished work, like their Wiccan practice, should have its own style, reflecting their own background and talent. The practices of Wicca are as diverse as one artist’s work from another even though they will all have similar techniques. The shades and hues of Wicca are varied enough to paint a sunset over a field of wildflowers. However, there are concepts that most Wiccan traditions share, and these commonalties are what I am presenting here.
          This book is an interactive guide to Wicca and is divided into two sections. The first is a basic overview of Wicca, things you need to know in order to understand the basics of the Wiccan religion. The second section is in a question-and-answer format and covers more advanced topics. Many of the questions in the second section are possible Wiccan answers to spiritual questions with which all religions struggle. Each chapter in the first part is followed by a list of questions related to the material in that chapter, which are answered in the second part. Since this is an interactive book, you the reader get to choose your own path through the book. My intention is for people to read the answers to any questions they are curious about immediately upon finishing the chapter. However, some people may choose to read the first part of the book in its entirety, saving the questions until they have completely finished the first part. Other readers, only wanting the absolutely essential information, may choose to skip the questions entirely. The choice of how you utilize the questions in the second part of the book is, of course, entirely up to you.
          Those of you who are reading carefully may have noticed that I am using forms of “they” as a gender-neutral singular pronoun rather than the more grammatically proper “he” Please don’t write letters to inform me that this practice isn’t grammatically correct; my wife, the English professor, has already quoted the correct rule to me. I have never liked using “he” because it seems to exclude half the population, even though people will argue that it is proper and not exclusionary. In response to the proper English people, I would like to point out that when I substituted “she” as the gender-neutral singular pronoun, I seemed to have a large percentage of readers wondering why I was only writing about women. The use of “they” as a gender-neutral singular, while not officially correct, has been gaining acceptance in business and professional writing in recent years. I thank you for your indulgence and for those English purists in the crowd, please try to keep the flinching to a minimum.
          Wicca Demystified is an overview of Wiccan beliefs, practices, philosophy, and spirituality. A practicing Wiccan will probably find little surprising in this book. However, if you are trying to understand what Wicca is and why someone would follow this path, then this book is for you.

No, this is not a "Wicca 101" book, although it shares certain characteristics with that type of book. It covers a lot of the basics of what Wicca is, and is not. However, this book is aimed at the outsider; the one whose family member, best friend. Lover, co-worker, etc. has just dropped the bombshell by saying "I'm learning Wicca," or "I am Wiccan."

The first half of the book provides a broad overview while the second half, in a question and answer format, goes into greater detail. This book, like When Someone You Love is Wiccan (Carl McColman, New Page Press, 2004) doesn't contain details of rituals, invocations or theological debates. It does contain an admittedly personal view of what Wicca is and why someone might choose it as their religion of choice.

Whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Lankford's definitions and positions, I really feel that you need to admire his willingness to put his views out in front of the public. Mr. Lankford has functioned as an officer of the Covenant of the Goddess, lectured at various universities, and been frequently interviewed by the media.

Bryan has written a book which is informative and fun to read. It is pleasant, answers many questions, and provides an excellent overview of Wicca.

He doesn't pretend that he has all the answers. Nor does he pretend that Wicca is for everyone. He presents several ideas which may be different from the mainstream opinions, but is adamant about telling the reader that no one opinion will be shared by all Wiccans.

The religion could use more books like this one. It is well written and honest. If you are anticipating "coming out of the broom closet" to someone, it would be a good idea to have a copy of this book to loan them.

Reviewed by Mike Gleason

Many Wiccans call themselves witches and practice magic. Before you roll your eyes or lock your door in fear, understand what they mean by "witches" and "magic."

This book explains the spiritual tradition of Wicca in simple terms for the non-Wiccan. Author Bryan Lankford of Mesquite was well-prepared for the task of writing this book. He's the Wiccan high priest who spurred the media brouhaha in 2000 after offering a prayer at a Dallas City Council meeting. So he has a good grasp of the questions and the misconceptions that non-Wiccans might have, and he addresses them clearly and succinctly.

He also offers a historical explanation of why we think of witches as old hags with green skin and pointy hats. It's a particular interpretation of history with which some scholars might argue in places. Nonetheless, the reader learns that a Wiccan witch isn't the same as a wicked witch of the Halloween variety.

Thankfully, the author avoids the common pitfalls of writers of alternative spiritual paths. First, he has a sense of perspective and historical context – comparing and contrasting Wiccan practices to those of other religious traditions, without resorting to jargon or esoteric terms. Second, he presents Wicca in a positive light without making other religions wrong. The result is a book that's sure to help promote understanding. Readers can agree or disagree, but at least they'll know the facts.

By MARY A. JACOBS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

I found Mr. Lankford's work clear, concise, and an enjoyable read with the title accurately reflecting the premise of the book. The layout of the book is unique among other books of its genre. The first half covers six major topics including Deity, Ethics, and Misconceptions with the second half delving into each topic more indepth for those that want to know more. Each topic is covered, not only, from an academic point of view, but from a philosophical one. Mr. Lankford not only explains, indepth, what Wiccans believe or think, but why and often does so humorously. While authors Raymond Buckland and Scott Cunningham have written books of this type, this book goes far beyond either of these offerings. All in all, Wicca Demystified is an excellent book for Wiccans, those who are curious about the Wiccan faith, or those that have a family member of friend who is curious.

Well done, Mr. Lankford.

by Denise Marshll