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Celebrating A Craft Elder: Raymond Buckland

Updated: Apr 10, 2021



It is with great sadness that the passing of Raymond Buckland (Aug. 31, 1934 - Sept. 27, 2017) has been announced officially by his wife Tara, she announced, "Ray died of a failing heart on Wednesday evening but his death was painless. He was in the hospital awaiting a procedure that would have possibly been of help when he felt a flutter and then lost consciousness There was no pulse. Hospital staff worked for about 40 minutes to bring him back and then let him go. That was it. I am grateful for the ease of it but of course am deeply saddened by the loss."


Sybil Leek

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft

Ray was an accomplished writer and his "Big Blue Book" was one of the very first books I bought when I was a teenager seeking the Craft. Little did I know that one day he would be part of my Craft Lineage. He wrote over 50 books on paganism and various occult subjects.

A List of books and videos Authored by Buckland include:

  • A Pocket Guide to the Supernatural, NY: 1969, 1975, UK: 1970, 1973

  • Practical Candleburning Rituals, 1970, 1976, 1982, 2004

  • Witchcraft Ancient and Modern House of Collectibles, NY: 1970

  • Witchcraft From the Inside, 1971, 1975 (new, revised, expanded) 1995

  • Mu Revealed (pseudonym Tony Earll), NY: 1970, 1972

  • Amazing Secrets of the Psychic World (with Hereward Carrington), NJ: 1975, NY: 1976

  • The Tree: Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft Samuel Weiser, 1974, 1978, 2005

  • Here Is the Occult House of Collectibles, NY: 1974

  • Anatomy of the Occult Weiser, ME: 1977

  • The Magic of Chant-O-Matics, NJ: 1978, NY: 1980

  • Practical Color Magick, MN: 1983 2nd edition 2002

  • Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, MN: 1986; 2nd Edition: 2002

  • Secrets of Gypsy Fortunetelling, MN: 1988

  • Buckland Gypsy Fortunetelling Deck, MN: 1989

  • Gypsy Fortunetelling Layout Sheet, MN: 1989

  • Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick, 1990

  • Secrets of Gypsy Dream Reading, 1990