This is THE handbook for Clergy of the Wiccan faith. Additionally, this work would also prove to be a great aid to all other Pagan paths. There is currently no other book of this sort on the market. With Handfasting, and funeral services, guided meditations and spiritual messages this book will be used again and again. “A Handbook For Wiccan Clergy" is a valuable tool for all High Priests and High Priestesses of whatever tradition to have and utilize. Far from being a Wiccan 101, or  "spell" book, this work is only intended for advanced practitioners

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Handbook For Wiccan Clergy, August 5, 2008 By Geoffrey (USA)

A wonderful new book that is not only for clergy but is also of great use to solitaries as well. It imparts a deeper appreciation and understanding of Deity and approach to everyday faith and practice that would enrich anyone's life and craft regardless of Tradition. It does a terrific job of introducing , and deepening ones understanding ,of the cycles and celebrations of Life's passages and stages as well as providing excellent meditations to improve ones relation to the elements and nature , highly recommended to all.

5.0 out of 5 stars, December 6, 2007 By  Michael Moore "Stonewheel" (Florida)

A must have I recently purchased this book and I found it to be very good. It has rituals for the rites of passage, several pagan myths and a how to for teaching meditation and pastoral counseling. The pastoral counseling section is just a basic lesson that focuses on listening which is the hallmark of a good counselor. Chapters 17 and 18 are about the God-dess and the source of All. I found these two chapters the most interesting. An excerpt from chapter 17: "To those of the Wiccan faith, woman is not corrupt, sex is not corrupt and life is not corrupt. Rather Divinity is manifested in all of them. Therefore to us, woman is to be honored as a representation of the Goddess, not regulated to the role of temptress and evil. From the union of God and Goddess, Male Female, Life emerged. This Mystery of generation is a Holy Mystery, a cosmic act, and it is in our nature to enjoy this sacred act without guilt or shame. All acts of love and pleasure are Her Rituals." This paragraph really speaks to the core of my beliefs and it is the main reason I walk this path now. I feel that this book is a must have for all that want to be clergy.

 

"The Wiccan Minister's Manual, A Guide For Priests and Priestesses, " was inspired as a training aid for those who

would like to become Wiccan Ministers, as well as an aid for Wiccan/Pagan Priests and Priestesses. The Craft is evolving, becoming more and more accepted by society,and there is beginning to be a definite distinction between Wiccan Laity and Wiccan Clergy.

Part One - Guidance - Making the spiritual connection to personal deity through love, prayer, meditation, ritual, and myth and
how to guide others to create their own personal connections.

Part Two - Wiccan religious philosophy and
guidance - How to live a spiritual life in the modern world.

Part Three - various methods of healing mind, body and spirit -Including some legal pit-falls to avoid, plus chapter eleven presents an extensive discourse on Pastoral

Counseling. Part Four deals with psychic self-defense and rituals of protection. Including House Clearings, Banishings,and Exorcism. Additionally, the author explains what to look for and what to look out for while determining if an exorcism is really needed or if the client is suffering from psychosis and is in need of a professional therapist.

Part Five focuses upon the spiritual support roles. It covers, dealing with death and dying, Funerals, Prison Ministry, Legal requirements of doing Handfastings in all 50 states, plus a discourse on whether or not to incorporate. This work begins to fill yet another gap in this
area of the Wiccan religious structure as it brings back much of the older knowledge and philosophy that seems to be waning from the collective Wiccan memory.

Reviewed by Edain McCoy; "Kevin, I received my copy of "The Wiccan Minister's Manual" It's terrific! You cover everything! Personally, I think you did a great job at making your book useful to all trads."

 

'Every new religious movement reaches a point where it matures into a true spiritual path. Occasionally a book comes along which
marks that evolution from such a movement being inward looking to looking outwards to understand it's true purpose.  The Pagan
Clergys Guide... is one of those books. It marks the transition of Wicca into a Priesthood of service to the community and the divine. We can't speak more highly of this book. It is well written, well sourced and has gems of wisdom that only come from
experience. We would recommend it to any practicing wiccan priestess/priest as an essential book for their shelf'.

Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone RN. Authors: A Witches Bible, A Witches Goddess, Spells and How they Work, The Healing Craft and Progressive Witchcraft.
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"This well researched book is an easy read and an excellent reference for Pagan's involved in chaplaincy work."

Kerr Cuhulain Author: Wiccan Warrior, Full Contact Magick and Magickal Self Defense
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From basic counseling skills through crisis intervention, marital and family counseling, grief and other transitional issues, Kevin is
there to hold your hand, provide insights into behaviors and motivations, and guide you around the pitfalls and problems inherent in any counseling relationship. The unique aspects of counseling those with developing psychic or magickal abilities are handled with common sense and caution, helping the counselor to discriminate between psychic and psychotic, and to handle the effects of magickal workings.  Long awaited and desperately needed, this little volume may well prove to be THE guide for Priests and Priestesses in any counseling role.

Rhiannon, Wiccan Priestess, Co-founder of SerpentStone, Psychiatric Nurse, BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), Master
of Science in Counseling.
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Kevin's new book is a blessing for those of us who constantly take on the challenge of assisting Pagans in crisis.  With all the books
out there that constantly rehash Paganism 101, this book provides a "sigh of relief" in assisting clergy with tough "fieldwork".  Add this book to your collection of necessary resources for crisis intervention with the Pagan population.

Ms. Ann E. Oxyer-Sorley

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While one of the most beautiful aspects of
Paganism is the individual's direct relationship with the Divine, Pagan Clergy remain an essential part of the community. Sadly, there is little to no real training for clergy in these communities. As Paganism grows, so does the need for well trained and experienced spiritual counselors. Rev. Kevin Gardner has written a
wonderful guide to help Pagan Clergy and other spiritual counselors begin the journey to becoming truly effective and valuable members of the community.

This valuable book also honors the effects of that direct relationship with the Divine without ignoring the potential for mental illness. I have known people with true mental illness that were told to hug a tree or carry a particular crystal. Of course that didn't help and it only solidified the individual's belief that they were not "fixable". As far as I'm concerned, it is criminal to dole out "professional" advice or try to effect serious healing without proper training.

The Pagan Clergy's Guide for Counseling, Crisis
Intervention and Otherworld Transitions encourages the empowerment of both
individuals in a counseling relationship, while guiding counselors through a variety of philosophies and techniques to be more
effective. The inclusion of charts, checklists, tables and meditations really adds to the value of this book. I particularly appreciate the advice to explore one's own motivations and the exercise to assist readers in
identifying their feelings regarding death for those interested in working with death and dying. This is an essential component of
death and dying work.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that is, or is considering, working as Pagan Clergy and for those offering spiritual counseling
or any form of healing.

Kristin Madden, author of "Shamanic Guide to Death and Dying", "The Book of Shamanic Healing, and "Magick, Mystery and Medicine"