Suggested Reading List
There is a saying, ask 12 pagans for an opinion, you'll get 13 different answers.
The opinion on reading material is no different. On the list that follows,
you will find books that are the subject of much debate regarding validity.
I offer no solutions. I have opinions, but I am no proponent of censorship.
Decide what interests you. Read it. Then decide for yourself whether or
not it is useful material.
General Stuff
- Drawing Down The Moon, Margot Adler. This is a well-known
overview of paganism as it exists today.
- Dreaming The Dark, Starhawk. Fascinating read. I still use
quotes from this book in my writing, and I read it years ago!
- Spiral Dance, Starhawk
- Aspects of Occultism, Dion Fortune
- Witchcraft From The Inside, Raymond Buckland. Interesting
historical read.
Primer-type Stuff
These books will give you a sort of ABC/how-to overview.
- The Complete Art of Witchcraft, Sybil Leek. You'll probably
have to go to a used bookstore or use an out of print book search to find this one.
But it would be worth tracking down, in my opinion.
- Witchcraft For Tomorrow, Doreen Valiente
- Complete Book of Witchcraft, Raymond Buckland. This is set up
like a workbook, with a question-and-answer appendix.
- Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Scott Cunningham
- To Ride A Silver Broomstick, Silver Ravenwolf. Yeah, I know,
she gets a lot of flack. But you WILL find some decent information in her books.
- To Stir A Magic Cauldron, Silver Ravenwolf. Broomstick, part II.
You don't really HAVE to read Broomstick to read this one, but it does
build on information she covers in the first book, and so assumes you will know.
- Wicca Craft Gerina Dunwich
- Wicca Spellbook Gerina Dunwich. Not really a spell "cookbook";
she's put other information in here as well.
- Exploring Spellcraft Gerina Dunwich
- A Grimoire of Shadows, Ed Fitch. He often does not suit the
taste of more feminist-minded pagans, but the material is worth a look.
Specifics
Rather than being a general overview of the Craft, the following concentrate on
specific aspects.
- A Victorian Grimoire, Patricia Telesco. An exploration
of the beliefs of the Victorian age.
- Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and
Practical Rituals, Luisah Teish. Concentrates on the Voudou
practices of New Orleans.
- The Pagan Book of Living and Dying, Starhawk and M. Macha
Nightmare. A wonderful exploration of the rituals involved in caring for the
dying, mourning the dead, and caring for those of us still here.
- Magical Aromatherapy, Scott Cunningham. The name is
self explanatory.
- Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic, Scott Cunningham
- The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews, Scott Cunningham.
Correspondences AND recipes.
- Wicca Source Book, Gerina Dunwich. A directory of books,
schools, organizations, etc.
- The Wicca Book of Days, Gerina Dunwich. Lists an event or
item of significance for each day of the year.
- Animal Speak, Ted Andrews. Animal symbolism.
- The Supermarket Sorceress, Lexa Rosean. I bought this
years ago just for the laughs. It is a sort of "spell cookbook", but she
explains the significance of each item she uses. All in all a great read.
Deities
- The Witches' Goddess, Janet and Stewart Farrar.
- The God of the Witches, Margaret A. Murray.
Just Because
The following don't necessarily have to do with paganism, but generally
good reads and can provide a good foundation for understanding any of the above.
- Psychology and the Occult, C.G. Jung
- Four Archetypes, C.G. Jung
There you have it. My current list. If you find something useful here, great.
Most of these books have bibliographies and recommended reading lists attached
and should provide a good basis for study.
You can now return to the main page, the
Pagan Links page, the Comparative Religion page, or
the general links page.