Penczak, Christopher 1973-

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PENCZAK, Christopher 1973-

PERSONAL: Born May 10, 1973, in Lawrence, MA. Education: University of Massachusetts, B.A., 1995.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Weiser Books, P.O. Box 612, York Beach, ME 03910-0612. E-mail— torcboy@aol.com.

CAREER: Writer and teacher. Part-time faculty member at the North Eastern Institute of Whole Health; ordained minister of the Universal Brotherhood Movement.

WRITINGS:

City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells, and Shamanism, Weiser Books (Boston, MA), 2001.

Spirit Allies: Meet Your Team from the Other Side, Weiser Books (Boston, MA), 2002.

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation,Psychic Development, Llewellyn Publications (St. Paul, MN), 2002.

Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe, Weiser Books (Boston, MA), 2003.

WORK IN PROGRESS: The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells, and Rituals, for Llewellyn Publications (St. Paul, MN), expected 2004; The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense, Llewellyn Publications (St. Paul, MN), expected 2004; The Magic of Reiki: Focused Energy for Healing, Ritual, and Spiritual Development, for Llewellyn Publications (St. Paul, MN), expected 2004; and Sons of the Goddess: A Young Man's Guide to Wicca, for Llewellyn Publications (St. Paul, MN), expected 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Christopher Penczak is a practicing witch and healer. He teaches and writes about his beliefs. According to the author's Web site, Penczak was raised Catholic, but became agnostic. As a child he passed out during science class and had an out-of-body experience. He also believes that he was visited by his deceased great aunt. Those experiences led him to the study of the mystical and occult. Penczak has written several books on the subject, including Spirit Allies: Meet Your Team from the Other Side. A reviewer for Bookwatch noted that the book "is a thoroughly reader friendly and informative instructional guide to the metaphysical art of communication with spiritual entities." Penczak's latest book, Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe, explores the history of homosexuality in witchcraft. Penczak is gay himself. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly stated that the author offers homosexual readers "a sensitive and sexually appropriate manual for the study and practice of witchcraft."

Penczak told CA: "I began my personal spiritual practice through the tradition of modern witchcraft, inspired by my studies with author and teacher Laurie Cabot. Her work, as well as the writings of Scott Cunningham, have been highly influential. After working in the Boston area and struggling to reconcile the urban environment with a nature-based spirituality, I wrote my first book, City Magick."

Commenting on his work, Penczak stated: "My favorite book is The Inner Temple of Witchcraft because it is the foundation of many spiritual and magickal practices, and can be used by people of many traditions, not just witchcraft."

He concluded: "The purpose of my books is to help empower people by developing personal spiritual relationships and live a magickal life."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Bookwatch, May, 2002, review of Spirit Allies: Meet

Your Team from the Other Side, p 12.

Library Journal, December, 2002, James F. DeRoche, review of The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development, p. 135. Publshers Weekly, February 11, 2002, review of Spirit

Allies, p. 182; May 12, 2003, review of Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe, p. 63.*