Book time: The Witches Way by Farrar

 

The Witches’ Way 

by Janet and Stewart Farrar

Hardback book . 350 pages

First published 1984 by Farrar and Robert Hale Limited.

ISBN 10: 0709012934 ISBN 13: 9780709012931

Edition shown and discussed is the 1990 reprint from my library.

The Witches’ Way: Principles, Rituals and Beliefs of Modern Witchcraft is one of the most influential books ever written on modern Wicca and contemporary witchcraft. Written by Janet Farrar and Stewart Farrar, it was first published in 1984 and remains a foundational text for many practitioners today.  I’ve had my copy for years and it’s served me well.

The typeface is clean and the pages are uncluttered and easy to follow. The diagrams help illustrate some topics and the black and white photo plates are wonderful and a great time capsule of 80s Wicca.

The book was written during a period when Wicca was emerging from secrecy into public awareness. The Farrars were prominent figures in the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca, having trained under Alex Sanders and Maxine Sanders. Their goal was to explain the beliefs, rituals, and philosophy of the Craft in a detailed and transparent way.  

What the Book Covers

The book is remarkably comprehensive. Topics include:

• The origins and development of modern Wicca
• The structure and purpose of covens
• Ritual symbolism and magical theory
• Ethics and the Wiccan worldview
• Reincarnation and the nature of the soul
• Psychic development and healing
• Clairvoyance and astral projection
• Spellcraft and ritual practice
• Initiation ceremonies and degree systems
• Material derived from or inspired by the traditional Book of Shadows  

One reason the book became famous is that it revealed a great deal of material that had previously been kept within initiatory traditions. The Farrars presented initiation rites, consecration rituals, and other ceremonial texts that many practitioners had never seen published before.  

Theological and Philosophical Themes

Unlike many introductory books, The Witches’ Way is not merely a “how-to” guide. It explores why witches perform rituals and what they believe is happening spiritually during magical work.

The authors discuss:

• The Goddess and God as complementary divine principles.
• Magic as a means of influencing consciousness and reality.
• The relationship between sexuality and sacredness.
• The role of myth, symbolism, and archetypes.
• Personal responsibility in magical practice.  

Readers often find the philosophical chapters just as valuable as the ritual material because they reveal how Alexandrian Wiccans understood the deeper purpose of witchcraft.

Relationship to A Witches’ Bible

Many modern readers encounter The Witches’ Way through A Witches’ Bible. In 1987, The Witches’ Way was combined with the Farrars’ earlier book, Eight Sabbats for Witches, to create A Witches’ Bible: The Complete Witches’ Handbook. This combined volume became one of the best-selling and most widely read Wiccan books ever published.  

Strengths

The book is highly regarded because it:

• Treats witchcraft seriously rather than sensationally.
• Preserves historical material from early Wicca.
• Explains ritual symbolism in depth.
• Balances practical instruction with philosophy.
• Offers insight into traditional coven-based practice.  

Even people who do not follow Alexandrian or Gardnerian Wicca often study it because it documents an important stage in the development of modern Paganism.

Criticisms

Some aspects of the book reflect the era in which it was written. Modern readers may find certain discussions of gender roles, polarity, sexuality, and initiation somewhat dated. Additionally, the book assumes a coven-based model of practice, whereas many contemporary witches practice solitarily. These differences do not diminish its historical value, but they are worth keeping in mind when reading it today.

Should you read it? 

The Witches’ Way is best viewed as a classic text of traditional Wicca rather than a beginner’s spell book. It offers a rare window into the beliefs, rituals, and worldview of the early Wiccan revival and remains one of the most important documents of modern witchcraft. For anyone interested in the history of Wicca, Alexandrian traditions, or the development of modern Pagan spirituality, it is essential reading.  

Used copies are available from some sites such as Abel books

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780709012931/Witches-Way-Principles-Rituals-Beliefs-0709012934/plp

https://amzn.eu/d/09ObIKgG

About the authors 

The authors of The Witches’ Way, Janet Farrar and Stewart Farrar, are among the most influential figures in the history of modern Wicca. Their writings helped shape how several generations of witches and pagans understood the Craft.  

Born in London in 1950, Janet Farrar (née Owen) was raised in the Church of England. As a young woman she worked as a model and receptionist before becoming involved in Wicca. She was initiated into Alexandrian Wicca by the tradition’s founders, Alex Sanders and Maxine Sanders, in 1970.  

Janet quickly became one of the most visible and respected priestesses in modern witchcraft. She was known for her willingness to discuss Wicca openly at a time when many practitioners still preferred secrecy. Alongside her writing, she lectured internationally on witchcraft, paganism, ritual practice, and magical spirituality.  

After Stewart’s death in 2000, she continued writing and teaching with Gavin Bone, developing what they call “Progressive Witchcraft,” an evolving approach that incorporates traditional Wicca while remaining open to new ideas and practices. 

Stewart Farrar (1916–2000) had an unusual path into witchcraft. Before becoming a Wiccan priest, he was a journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and radio writer. He served in the British Army during the Second World War and later wrote for newspapers and television, including episodes of well-known British programmes.  

He was initiated into Alexandrian Wicca in 1970 and became one of its most important chroniclers. His book What Witches Do was among the first insider accounts of a modern Wiccan coven and introduced many readers to the practices of Alexandrian Witchcraft.  

The historian Ronald Hutton described Stewart as one of the key figures who helped shape modern Wicca, alongside Gerald Gardner and Alex Sanders. Check out my articles on both of these men.

Their Partnership

Janet and Stewart met in Alex Sanders’ coven in 1970. Together they founded their own coven, eventually moved to Ireland, and became central figures in the growth of Wicca throughout Ireland and beyond. Their books combined practical ritual material with thoughtful discussions of theology, mythology, magic, and ethics.  

Their most famous works include:

• Eight Sabbats for Witches
• The Witches’ Way
• The Witches’ Goddess
• The Witches’ God
• Spells and How They Work
• A Witches’ Bible  

Their Legacy

The Farrars occupy a unique place in modern witchcraft. Some traditionalists criticized them for publishing ritual material that had once been considered oath-bound and secret. Others praised them for preserving early Wiccan teachings and making them accessible to future generations.  

Today, whether one agrees with all their ideas or not, Janet and Stewart Farrar are widely regarded as among the most important authors in twentieth-century Wicca. Their books remain standard reading for students of Alexandrian and Gardnerian traditions, and are frequently recommended as foundational texts within the broader pagan community.  

For many readers, The Witches’ Way is not just a book about Wicca—it is a snapshot of a formative period in the history of modern witchcraft, recorded by two of the people who helped shape it.