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<\/a>Updated from\u00a0Agora, September 15, 2014<\/a>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In my last article I laid out a list of recommended reading for witches.\u00a0 This article\u00a0continues that list.\u00a0 A little reminder of my conditions: As I said last time, some of these books are by Pagan authors and some are not.\u00a0 Some are a little scholarly, but since I said \u201cevery\u00a0<\/em>Witch,\u201d I have\u00a0deliberately excluded<\/em>\u00a0anything that is geared strictly to the academic.\u00a0 Some might require a little explanation as to why they should be included.\u00a0 Please keep in mind that this list is entirely subjective, and in based entirely in my own opinions.\u00a0 I am well-read but no expert, so I\u2019m sure that I will add to this list over time, and maybe there will be more articles on the subject in the future.\u00a0 If you have books to recommend, I\u2019m always excited to find new material, so please let me know in the comments!<\/p>\n Liturgy for the modern Pagan movement is, at best, problematic.\u00a0 There are no writings that are consistently used by all of us.\u00a0\u00a0The Charge of the Goddess<\/em>\u00a0comes closest, but even that has many variations.\u00a0 So if I\u2019ve recommended something here for liturgy, it\u2019s because I think it offers a good essential grounding in Wiccan liturgical concepts.\u00a0 The recommended reading on philosophy was a little easier.\u00a0 I include the works that I do because I think they illustrate important concepts in Pagan and Wiccan philosophy quite well.<\/p>\n The Practice of Witchcraft<\/strong><\/a>by\u00a0Robin Skelton<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Skelton was a professional poet as well as a well-known Witch.\u00a0 This book, which has been republished with many different subtitles and also under the title \u201cThe Practice of Witchcraft Today,\u201d offers meaningful witchcraft rituals in beautifully written poetry.<\/p>\n Stranger in a Strange Land<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Robert A. Heinlein<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 I doubt that Heinlein had any concept of how influential this sci-fi story would be.\u00a0 But a whole church organization was founded on it, and that group published the most influential Pagan publication in history, and thus, these ways have been fully integrated into modern Paganism.\u00a0 Concepts with origins in this story include the Divine Within, the Gaia Hypothesis, and polyamory.\u00a0 And grokking.\u00a0 I\u2019m certain Heinlein didn\u2019t invent any of them (except the word for grokking,) but because he wrote about them, we have these powerful elements in the modern Pagan movement.\u00a0 Besides, Heinlein was a great writer and you should read him anyway, just because.<\/p>\n The Hogfather<\/a>,\u00a0The Wyrd Sisters<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0I Shall Wear Midnight<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Terry Pratchett<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 These books are, probably quite unintentionally, some of the greatest dissertations on magick, myth and the Craft ever.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, it won\u2019t hurt any Witch to read the whole Discworld series.\u00a0 If it doesn\u2019t make you seriously think about the structure of the Universe, I don\u2019t know what would. \u00a0Check out this clip<\/a> from the Hogfather BBC TV series on the nature of belief.<\/p>\n The Other Side of Virtue: Where Our Virtues Come From, What They Really Mean, and Where They Might Be Taking Us<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0A Pagan Testament: The Literary Heritage of the World\u2019s Oldest New Religion<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Dr. Brendan Myers<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Myers is a professor of philosophy and a Druid.\u00a0 He\u2019s been considering Pagan ethics and philosophy for many years and writes about them well.\u00a0 I don\u2019t always agree with his conclusions, but his writing provokes thought and encourages you to come to your own conclusions.\u00a0 \u201cThe Other Side of Virtue\u201d examines Pagan ethics from the Rede to the Nine Noble Virtues, and \u201cA Pagan Testament\u201d (and its clever subtitle) covers all liturgies that are important to modern Paganism, from the Charge of the Goddess to the Mabinogion.\u00a0 Well worth owning for that alone.<\/p>\n The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Riane Eisler<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 I had to chew on it a while before deciding to put this book on this list, because it is very political and not all will agree with its conclusions.\u00a0 I don\u2019t agree with all of them myself.\u00a0 Eisler\u2019s thesis is that patriarchy and a fascination with war are intrinsically linked.\u00a0 At any rate, it\u2019s certainly been influential in the modern Pagan movement and it\u2019s worth consideration.<\/p>\n Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex & Politics<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Starhawk<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The foundational book of Pagan activism, which advocates rejecting enclosure, capitalism, and kyriarchy. \u00a0This is a recent addition to my list because I just had a chance to read it this year. \u00a0Wish I\u2019d read it years ago.<\/p>\n If you have an interest in the practice of magick, these books are a great essential primer.<\/p>\n Magick in Theory and Practice<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Aleister Crowley<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This is the seminal text on why and how it is that magick works.\u00a0 If you hate everything else Crowley has ever written, read this, because it was brilliant.<\/p>\n Psychic Self-Defense<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Dion Fortune<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Now that you understand how magick works, read this guide to protecting yourself magickally.\u00a0 Even if you don\u2019t believe in spirits and magickal bugaboos, it\u2019s good psychology.<\/p>\n The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Scott Cunningham<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 There are better books on herbalism.\u00a0 There are better books on incense-making and creating dyes and inks.\u00a0 There are better magickal formularies.\u00a0 But no other book I know of gives you such a good grounding in the basic techniques, and offers varieties of possible magickal substitutions along with essential herbalism and a basic formulary.<\/p>\n Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Magic<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Isaac Bonewits<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Even the Amazon description is brief because the subject is complex.\u00a0 Bonewits breaks down the essential laws, forms, and commonalities of magic with an acerbic sense of humor that makes what could be a very boring and dry (but important) text of classifications into a fun and informative read.\u00a0 I keep referring back to it in my own descriptions and explanations.<\/p>\n Modern Magick: Twelve Lessons in the High Magickal Arts<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Donald Michael Kraig<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 When I read this in the late eighties it was only eleven lessons.\u00a0 Most Witches will dismiss this book immediately because it\u2019s about ceremonial magick.\u00a0 Here\u2019s why you shouldn\u2019t.\u00a0 First, because the Western occult tradition is foundational in Wicca and this book will teach you just enough of what that\u2019s all about that you will understand any reference to it, at least vaguely, from then on.\u00a0 Second, because it is a very effective course in teaching the skills that make you into a skilled practitioner of magick.\u00a0 I picked up this book when I was fourteen years old.\u00a0 DMK suggested it would take a year to work through.\u00a0 I did it in six months.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve never looked back.<\/p>\n Blink: The Art of Thinking Without Thinking<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Malcolm Gladwell<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This is not a book about magick\u00a0per se<\/em>.\u00a0 It\u2019s a book about how \u201cintuitive flashes\u201d might actually be collected knowledge that lingers in our subconscious.\u00a0 In essence, we know things that we don\u2019t realize that we know.\u00a0 Why this is important to practitioners of magick is that first of all, it offers a rational, scientific explanation for how psychic phenomena might work; and second, it points out that some of our subconscious \u201cknowledge\u201d is based in cultural biases and assumptions that we pick up that have no basis in fact.\u00a0 I think that this sort of self-awareness is important, and that it makes your magick more effective.<\/p>\n The Game of Wizards: Psyche, Science and Symbol in the Occult<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Charles Ponce<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Also published in a later edition with the subtitle \u201cRoots of Consciousness and the Esoteric Arts,\u201d this book illustrates how we invent occult symbolism due to the particular way our consciousness is consistently seeking to make patterns, and how symbolism is our attempt to map our own consciousness.\u00a0 I think this is a great piece of information for any aspiring magickal practitioner to be aware of.<\/p>\n The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Gary Zukav<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 It\u2019s a bit dated, but this introduction to quantum physics will probably make most educated Witches froth at the mouth as we see the principles of magick and mysticism illustrated in the very fabric of reality; and science is beginning to prove it.<\/p>\n (You might want to check out my book on magick<\/a> too. \u00a0I wouldn\u2019t presume to put it in a list of essential books on witchcraft, but I wrote the book I wanted to read on the subject. \u00a0Just sayin\u2019.) \ud83d\ude09<\/em><\/p>\n These books are of greatest interest to those who teach and mentor others, or those who serve in a clerical capacity in their communities.<\/p>\n All Acts of Love & Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Yvonne Aburrow<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This is an excellent Wicca 201 for those who have already established a strong Wiccan practice, which examines and expands praxis and theology with an eye to inclusivity. \u00a0(You can read my review here<\/a> if you want more information).<\/em><\/p>\n The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Christopher Penczak<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Again, if you want to start leading others, this is a must-have book.\u00a0 It explores the nature of spells and rituals, what makes them work, and what the meaning of Wiccan priesthood is.<\/p>\n Neopagan Rites: A Guide to Creating Public Rituals that Work<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Isaac Bonewits<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Mostly this is a gripe about Bonewits\u2019 pet peeves in public rituals.\u00a0 But he had a point, so read this to learn what not to do, and why.<\/p>\n Wicca Covens: How to Start and Organize Your Own<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Judy Harrow<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Harrow was a Wiccan high priestess in a BTW descended tradition with a master\u2019s degree in counseling and a history of interfaith work. \u00a0We just lost her just a couple of years ago, but this excellent work on group psychology and dynamics is a fitting legacy that I think will guide new Craft leaders for generations to come.<\/p>\n Great Lies We Live By<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Dr. Stephanie Burns<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This book has nothing to do with Witchcraft.\u00a0 It has to do with how we learn, why we think we can\u2019t do certain things, and how we can break that cycle.\u00a0 It will make you a better student and a better teacher, and a better magickal practitioner too.<\/p>\n Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal with Destructive Conflict<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Kenneth Haugk<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This book was written for Christian priests.\u00a0 Hold your nose and read it anyway.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Well, have you noticed that there always seems to be some jerk in every group who always has \u201csuggestions\u201d for \u201chow things could be done better,\u201d or who seems like s\/he won\u2019t be happy until the group is destroyed?\u00a0 This book explains why these people do what they do, shows you how to identify them at the early stages, and tells you how to get rid of them.<\/p>\n Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Starhawk, Diane Baker and Anne Hill<\/strong>\u2013 If you are intending to do any work with children and youth, you should really read this book.\u00a0 \u2018Nuff said.<\/p>\n Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Oberon Zell-Ravenheart<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Presented in a style that is reminiscent of Harry Potter, this outstanding book on magick and Paganism for children is full of material that will challenge even some of the most experienced adult Witches. \u00a0If you want to teach your children about the Craft this is awesome.<\/p>\n The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings and Meditations on Crossing Over<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Starhawk, M. Macha Nightmare and Reclaiming<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Sooner or later, if you are in a position of spiritual leadership, people will come to you for help in dealing with pain and grief.\u00a0 There is no better book for Pagan leaders that I know of.\u00a0 Chock-full of helpful ritual (which, after all, is the essence of Wiccan practice,) this book handles death, divorce, abuse, trauma, and more.\u00a0 One of my favorite elements is a ritual for grieving an abortion or infant-loss.\u00a0 As a mother who has miscarried, it was invaluable to me.<\/p>\n In the Service of Life: A Wiccan Perspective on Death<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Ashleen O\u2019Gaea<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This one is useful hand-in-hand with the above. \u00a0This book concentrates specifically on Wiccan\/Neopagan views of death and on the practical aspects of dealing with death and grieving. \u00a0(My review on this one can be found here<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n Handfasting and Wedding Rituals: Welcoming Hera\u2019s Blessing<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 When you are asked to do your first handfasting, get this book.\u00a0 It covers all levels of Pagan ritual, from the most overt to covert multi-faith options, and every variation of marriage from heterosexual to homosexual to polyamorous to BDSM.<\/p>\n The Golden Bough<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Sir James George Frazer<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Published in many editions, from abridged to twelve volumes, and with several subtitles, this highly influential book was probably the origin of our concept of the God.\u00a0 But it\u2019s dry as toast, and most of its anthropological theories are now in disrepute.\u00a0 You\u2019ll want to read it as part of your practice once you\u2019ve been doing it a while, but if you\u2019re not inclined as a scholar, it\u2019s likely to be a bathroom reader.\u00a0 Read the first three volumes; those are the important ones.<\/p>\n The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Robert Graves<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 As above, only applied to our concept of the Goddess.<\/p>\n Wicca 404: Advanced Goddess Thealogy<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Ezra Free<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 While again I don\u2019t agree with all of her conclusions, and certainly the Amazon critiques that advise applying an ego-filter are valid, I know of no other book that so thoroughly questions: what IS the goddess exactly?<\/p>\n The Horned God<\/strong><\/a> by Jason W. Mankey<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Jason wouldn\u2019t want me to put this book on the list because he (rightfully) thinks it needs some editing. Which in no way diminishes its value as a dissertation on the nature of the Horned God of Wicca and the faces that North American Witches tend to find Him in, culturally speaking.<\/p>\n The Uses of Ecstasy: Ritual and Practical Mysticism in Wicca<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Samuel Wagar<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A\u00a0somewhat dry but excellently detailed examination of the theology and philosophy of the Great Rite, as written by a scholar of history who is also a Wiccan High Priest.<\/p>\n The Witch-Cult in Western Europe<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0The God of the Witches<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0byMargaret A. Murray<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 While, again, the influences of these books are without question, most of their theories have been disproven now.\u00a0 You can still see their influence in the work of Gerald Gardner \u2013 which, to me, is sufficient.\u00a0 If you\u2019re a history buff like me you\u2019ll want to read it, but if you aren\u2019t, don\u2019t.<\/p>\n The Gardnerian Book of Shadows<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente<\/strong>, compiled by Aiden Kelly \u2013 The link will take you right to\u00a0www.sacred-texts.com<\/a>, where you can read it in entirety.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, you can find plenty of interest to Pagan theology at that site.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s a good thing for most Witches to read, but I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s essential, especially if you\u2019re not BTW.<\/p>\n The Holy Book of Women\u2019s Mysteries<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Z. Budapest<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 While the influence of this book is without question, and certainly it\u2019s worth a look to understand modern feminist witchcraft, it is very misandrist.\u00a0 Don\u2019t make your male students read it because it will make them angry.\u00a0 And honestly, it should.\u00a0 I believe the pendulum swing was important at its time, and I think that women\u2019s anger is legitimate, but I think the challenge of our modern Craft is to find inclusive solutions for all and this book will not do that.\u00a0 I consider myself a feminist and I still found myself cringing at much of the language in this book.<\/p>\n The Collected Works of Rumi<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Rumi\u2019s ecstatic poetry, grounded in Islam, is probably more influential to modern Paganism than we\u2019d care to admit.\u00a0 It\u2019s not specifically Pagan, however.<\/p>\n The Complete Works of Ovid\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>\u2013 Ovid\u2019s devotional work to the Greek deities is still every bit as relevant as it was in his day.\u00a0 I have incorporated much of his work into my rituals and I think it improves them considerably.<\/p>\n The Anglican Book of Common Prayer<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Anglicanism probably influenced modern Wicca more than we\u2019d care to admit too.\u00a0 This essential Anglican book lays out a practice and liturgy for the seasons, and I can\u2019t help but see how it must have influenced the beliefs of Margaret Murray and Gardner.<\/p>\n Beyond Good and Evil<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0The Birth of Tragedy<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Friedrich Nietzsche<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Nietzsche is problematic because his work was used to bolster Nazi propaganda and is sometimes shaded with fascism and violence.\u00a0 These two works helped define both our ethics and our practice, however.<\/p>\n Man\u2019s Search for Meaning<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Viktor E. Frankl<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This classic, written by a\u00a0Holocaust survivor who was also a psychologist, teaches us that we can\u2019t avoid suffering, but we can choose how we cope with it. \u00a0This is an amazing\u00a0examination of the Pagan philosophy of choosing to embrace the joys of the world while accepting and finding meaning in the sorrows, although Frankl was, of course, Jewish.<\/p>\n Leaves of Grass<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Walt Whitman<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Humanism is part of modern Paganism.\u00a0 This book of humanistic poetry is a marvelous declaration of Pagan theology.\u00a0 Read the older editions, not the newer ones.<\/p>\n This is my list of recommended reading for all Witches.\u00a0 I am sure that there are things that I have missed, and I am sure you have your own thoughts to add, and I invite you to do so in the comments. \u00a0By next year I hope to have added a lot more books on traditional witchcraft and the Craft\u2019s history to the list, so if you can recommend things to point me in the right direction on these topics, please do!<\/p>\n First:<\/strong> A Few Books that I Think Every Witch Should\u00a0Read (Part 1 of 2)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nLiturgy and Philosophy<\/h2>\n
The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Starhawk<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Yes, if you didn\u2019t read it for its value to the Craft, read it for its liturgy.\u00a0 Starhawk is a gifted poet.<\/p>\nMagick<\/h2>\n
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Christopher Penczak<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 It gets criticism for being very New Agey; but keep in mind, most of us come to the Craft through the New Age movement these days, and this is the first language we hear to describe these concepts.\u00a0 It\u2019s a good book with simple and intelligent explanations.\u00a0 If you\u2019re just beginning to study magick, this is a great place to start.<\/p>\nTeaching and Mentoring<\/h2>\n
Deepening Witchcraft: Advancing Skills and Knowledge<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Grey Cat<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 So you think you\u2019re past all the 101 material and you want to start teaching?\u00a0 Then do yourself a favor and read this.\u00a0 From ethics to advanced magickal theory to leading group ritual to \u201cfeces coagulation,\u201d this is the perfect primer for all who want to take their Craft to the next level.<\/p>\nAdvanced Practice<\/h2>\n
Summoning Forth Wiccan Gods and Goddesses: The Magick of Invocation and Evocation<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Lady Maeve Rhea<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 There is no other book that I know of that offers details and practical advice for learning how to draw down the moon.\u00a0 If you want to Aspect divinity, read it.<\/p>\nHonorable Mentions<\/h2>\n
777 and Other Qabalistic Writings<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Aleister Crowley<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 This was probably first book of correspondences in wide circulation.\u00a0 It\u2019s still highly influential, though probably not as essential as it once was.<\/p>\n
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