As a High Priestess with over 25 years of experience in The Craft, I often get emails from individuals asking how to go about learning more about Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism. The following are some of my recommendations:
First of all… read, Read, READ. There are plenty of books out there written about Paganism and its various paths. Of course, the problem is discovering which ones are worth reading, and which ones to simply ignore. This isn’t an easy task. Here are a few suggestions I have for finding those books worth adding to your own library:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask others for their recommendations - especially those folks who have been practicing Paganism for several years. Such people can often point you towards the proper publications.
2. Amazon.com can be a great resource for information - check out the various book lists from readers, and also the comments and reviews left regarding different books. I often use such comments to learn more about what others think of a certain book.
3. Websites such as The Witches Voice and The Wiccan/Pagan Times are excellent resources for reading about different publications and finding out more about what books members of the Pagan Community are reading these days. In addition, Isis Books and Gifts has a good listing of books, and even divides some of them into Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Wicca recommendations.
4. Check out the websites of those companies that are currently publishing Pagan-related books. Amongst those I am familiar with are Llewellyn Publications, New Page Books, Citadel Books (under Kensington Publishing), and Inner Traditions Publications (if anyone knows of any others, please feel free to leave a comment and share such information!)
5. There are some very good blogs out there that contain book lists, or which write about different books worth checking out. Amongst the blogs I have discovered that have such lists are A Pagan Sojourn, Pagan Godspell, and At the End of Desire. Jason Pitzl-Waters over at The Wild Hunt often posts about books, as does Chas Clifton (who has himself written a number of books about Paganism) and other Pagan bloggers. I am sure there are many more out there, so if anyone has suggestions, feel free to leave a comment!
6. There is a book published called The Well-Read Witch, written by Carl McColman. Carl gives his own recommendations on “essential books for your magickal library.” For the most part, I agree with his suggestions, and have many of the books on his list myself. His list is actually divided into a number of different topics, including Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced books on Wicca; books on magick, divination, herbalism, healing, and mythology; books for kids as well as on Pagan Parenting; and books on subjects such as history, science, psychology, and sexuality. It might be worth picking up this book to find out more about what publications are out there.
7. Consider joining One Spirit book club, which offers a wide variety of books to enrich the body, mind, and spirit. This club is operated by the Book-of-the-Month club, and works pretty much the same way… you get mailings on a monthly basis that tell you about the various books being offered.
Don’t limit yourself strictly to books about Paganism, Wicca, or Witchcraft… as Carl’s book says, many witches are indeed well-read. It would be to your benefit to explore various aspects of spirituality…to perhaps study not only Paganism but other religions, as well as the concept of spirituality itself. As mentioned above, Carl’s book focuses on various subjects, and indeed it is a good idea to read about such - not only books on magick, but on mythology; not only on potions, but also on power and its proper usage; not only on grimoires but also on group dynamics. I can gain just as much from reading the writings of Plato as I do those of Scott Cunningham, Starhawk, or Phyllis Curott.
Even if you are not interested in practicing Paganism as a spiritual path, the above suggestions can still be helpful in finding books on different topics that might be of interest to you… such as natural healing, herbalism, aromatherapy, tarot and other forms of divination, astrology, women’s spirituality, mythology, history, ecology and environmentalism, etc. You can study about ancient cultures - their beliefs, practices, and everyday lives; you can discover which herbs are good for colds and flu; you can find out how to read palms. Or you can simply learn how to connect with your own inner spirit.
I hope that this post has given you some guidance in how to go about exploring your own spiritual path, and discovering more about what Paganism is all about. Feel free to leave comments with your own suggested books, resources, websites, etc.
Blessings,
~ Ocean
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
I would simply recommend spending as much time in nature as possible. Books are theory, and they can help greatly, but what helps most of all is a true and profoundly deep connection to nature and all helping beings. I myself try to go to the local forest at night and simply breath with the forest alone at least once a week. I’ve been guided so much from this practice, and a tremendous love for the Earth mother has formed.
Loving Awareness
My own recommended reading list of specifically Pagan books is quite short, mostly because I know a lot of dyslexic Pagans. If you’re going to get them to read stuff, it had better be really good.
The Art of Conversation with the Genius Loci by Barry Patterson
Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition by Nigel Pennick
Celtic Sacred Landscapes by Nigel Pennick
The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain by Ronald Hutton
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles : Their Nature and Legacy by Ronald Hutton
Voices from the Circle ed. Prudence Jones and Caitlin Matthews
Creative Astrology by Prudence Jones
A History of Pagan Europe by Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick
The Enchanted Forest: the magical lore of trees by Yvonne Aburrow
Auguries and Omens: the magical lore of birds by Yvonne Aburrow
The Sacred Grove: the mysteries of the forest by Yvonne Aburrow
Talking to the Earth by Gordon “The Toad” Maclellan
Sacred Animals by Gordon “The Toad” Maclellan
Witchcraft: A Tradition Renewed by Evan John Jones
A Witch Amongst Us by Lois Bourne
What the bee knows by P L Travers
The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune
Magick in Theory and Practice by Aleister Crowley
Woman’s Mysteries by M Esther Harding
The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates
My Amazon Listmania list: novels for Pagans
Articles by me
The Pagan Theologies wiki
My Amazon Listmania list: Understanding the Craft
Ocean, thank you so much for this comprehensive list
I was one that had asked for a point in the right direction, and this is a great starting point for me. The shelves at my local Borders has a ton of books on the shelf pertaining to witchcraft and paganism, but I just stare at the all like a deer in the headlights - trying to find the gold. This list you’ve put together is wonderful! Thanks again!
While I do agree that Mother Nature is probably our best teacher, I do feel strongly that any time spent out in the woods needs to be coupled with time spent in intellectual pursuit of a true understanding of Paganism from historical, theological, ethical, psychological, spiritual, sexual, scientific, and/or magickal perspectives.
Spending time outdoors developing a love for nature does not in and of itself make you a Pagan, any more than spending time observing trials in the courtroom makes you a lawyer. You’ve got to be willing to walk your talk and do the work.
This is what troubles me about some of today’s witchy-wannabes… they want to preach this “love nature, go hug a tree” philosophy as if that’s all that matters and all it takes. But when you start trying to talk to them about ethics, or about history, or about resolving conflict with others or within groups, or anything of that sort… they just look at you with this blank stare in their face. Ohhhh well.
I think anyone of any religion can benefit from spending a couple of hours a week communing with nature - whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or Pagan… or even if you claim to follow no religious path.
But I think the purpose of this post is to focus on the fact that there is - as Grace says - a ton of books on those shelves… so how does one go about determining which publications to consider adding to your own library?
As a High Priest and fellow Pagan clergy, I think the list of suggestions Ocean has presented here is excellent. While I am sure that like myself, Osh has her own list of personal favorites that she recommends, these tips take into consideration that we all have our own personal interests, as well as the power to make our own choices.
But there’s no harm in asking for a little advice, and I’m sure many of us with a little experience under our belts would be more than happy to share our own thoughts if asked.
Great post, Osh.
Great lists, Yvonne! Thanks for sharing, both your list here and the ones on amazon.com I have several of the books on your lists, and agree with the majority of your recommendations.
I agree with Yvonne that books by Nigel Pennick and Ronald Hutton are well worth reading, as well as Starhawk, Janet and/or Stuart Farrar, and John and Caitlin Matthews.
Scott Cunningham (who passed on nearly 15 years ago) is a well-known Pagan author who wrote many popular books… while I admit that some of his writing can be a bit “fluffy” and a tad simplistic - he doesn’t say much about the darker, deeper aspects of Wicca - they can be a good tool for the beginner just starting out, and give one a good basic foundation for exploring the Pagan Path.
I’m still mulling a bit over my own recommended book list… I think perhaps it could use a bit of tweaking, although truthfully I haven’t really added much to my library in the last few years. I’ll give it some more thought and then post it either here or as a separate post.
Thanks Ocean. The thing I thought was particularly good about your post was that, rather than being a list of recommendations, it was an explanation of how to tell if a book is any good or not, and how to find books.
My negative criterion is if a book mentioned certain topics in certain ways, it wouldn’t be worth buying. Sometimes even the title can be a giveaway. “Crystal Dolphin’s Big Fluffy Purple Guide to Spellcrafting” - YAWN.
I also agree with Hawk that whilst communing with Nature may be a beneficial practice, it’s not the only aspect of Paganism. For example, hugging trees does not necessarily assist with how to respond to a grieving friend, and help them cope with bereavement; nor does it necessarily assist with exploring issues of human sexuality.
Ohhhhh gawd…
“Crystal Dolphin’s Big Fluffy Purple Guide to Spellcrafting” ???
I sincerely hope my sistah ain’t thinking about publishing such a silly-assed book…
I agree with Yvonne -
What I really liked about this post was that it didn’t feel like the first day of school, where the professor hands you a list and says “okay, read these books and maybe you will pass my class…”
Rather, it provided me with some good information to help me make my own decisions about what books I want to read. I didn’t even know about some of these resources, such as The Wiccan/Pagan Times.
Thanks for a great post, Ocean. I feel like I learn so much whenever I come here - you are truly a gifted teacher!
Soooo…what are ya saying Yvonne…you didn’t buy my book? Come on! I need a new car!!! :-p LMAO!
I agree with all of Hawk’s sentiments! (…And I’ve been dealing with a couple of those fluffy wannabes myself the past couple of weeks - “whaddya mean, ethics?”, “history? like, my class in school?” Ugh!)
The object of this post being to give newcomers to the path, and/or those interested in finding good books on various subjects related to Paganism, a point in the right direction as far as where to look and how to sort out the “good” from the “garbage”. Well done.
And as I remind those who ask me for such recommendations; with any skill one wishes to develop, it takes a combination of study AND practice…so just remember that, and happy reading!
Good advice, Osh, from you and your commenters.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book about Wicca and/or Paganism. I have a large collection of them, but found most to be not worth the paper they were printed on. Or they are merely repeats. One of the biggest problems I had years ago was the lack of anything beyond Wicca 101. I know there are a few books out now, and several authors, trying to explore beyond that.
I have a soft spot for Cunningham. His “Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner” was one of the first books I read about Wicca (the first was Starhawk’s “The Spiral Dance”), and it was almost like reading beautiful poetry. I don’t find it “fluffy” at all. It’s just appears to be lacking in balance. I think it’s there if you read between the lines. Perhaps I wouldn’t have noticed it, though, if I hadn’t read Starhawk’s book first.
I’ve found mythology books to be particularly important if one is going to branch out into a particular tradition or culture (or pick and choose one’s deities). It’s not a good idea to go around invoking gods or goddesses (or anything) without knowing something about them such as their history, how they work, etc.
I agree with what I think Matthew was saying (although my interpretation could be wrong). I learned the most when the Elder teaching me at the time had me spend a year and a day getting to know the Wheel of the Year through nature rather than through books. Many of the books at the time based their seasonal timelines on what was, for me then, a more northern climate. She had me learn about the geology, ecology, and history of the land where I lived. I had to get outside every day, keep a diary of things like the weather, what was happening to the flora and fauna. I also spent that year naming the full moons with names that were appropriate to where I was living and what was happening on the bit of earth where I lived. It was a great exercise, and I continued to do that whenever we moved. It works for urban, suburban, and country living. Not only did I get to know the land and seasons where I lived, but it really put me in touch with my surroundings in a deep way, as well with the Earth herself. It allowed me to practice, rather than read theory.
You’re bringing back memories, Osh.
Thanks, Robin.
Just for clarification for my readers…
First of all, I have nothing against Scott Cunningham - I happen to have several of his books myself. He does have a nice writing style that is easy to understand, and I do recommend his books particularly for those just starting out. A recent poll conducted by The Witches Voice indicates that Scott’s book “Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner” is most widely quoted publication read and referred to by today’s witches.
However, Robin uses a word that I think well explains my concern about Cunningham’s books - the need for balance. Scott tends to write in a lighter, more basic level that doesn’t delve as deeply into some of the more intellectual aspects of Wicca - his are more of the practical how-to manuals. I think they give a good foundation for understanding how to practice The Craft, but I do feel there needs to be more added.
The problem arises when Cunningham becomes the ONLY writer that a person reads. I have met a number of “witchy wannabes” whose library consists of only one book - the above mentioned Solitary Practitioner. These folks (who usually tend to be of the younger generation) read Scott’s book and then immediately proclaim themselves “Reverend Fluffernutter Bedwetter, High Priestess of Training Bra Coven.”
Okay, maybe that’s being a little harsh, but you get the idea.
Don’t get trapped into being an “I Read A Book” Pagan. It takes more than just one book to develop a full comprehensive understanding of what is in fact a fairly complex and diverse spiritual path. Scott Cunningham is a great starting point, but don’t let it end there.
On the other hand, don’t become an “I Read Alot of Books” Pagan either. Reading is certainly good, but there is also the danger of falling into the trap of being little more than an “armchair witch” who is all reading and no practice.
This is where I do agree with Matthew on the importance of getting out and communing with the outdoors… Mother Nature can indeed be our greatest teacher.
I do endorse Robin’s idea of getting out and spending time observing nature and the changes taking place in your area, learning to understand the land, the flora, the fauna, the moon cycles, etc.
However, Robin also brought up another point that I will be discussing further in a future post - the fact that she had an Elder… a teacher to help instruct her and give her some guidance as she underwent her journey and traveled down the Path. Having such a resource to bounce thoughts and ideas and knowledge and so forth off of is invaluable, and I think when that is missing from your studies, that it leaves a gap in your full understanding and appreciation for our spirituality.
Finding such an individual can be a challenge, and I will be talking about this in an upcoming post… be looking for it in the next week or so.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and comments, and please do feel free to leave your own!
~ Ocean
I think an important foundation stone has been touched on here and that is balance in all areas (outdoors vs. book learning, elder vs. young, solitary vs. group etc.)
The common factor in all of this is do your homework and do it seriously, not half-assed (putting it bluntly) and remain open because such journeys definitely take unseen and unexpected turns and twists when you least expect it.
Jason over at The Wild Hunt has just put up a good post today (November 23, 2007) with suggestions of good Pagan-related books, both fiction and non-fiction. He also references other posts he has made recently on new books coming out on Paganism and related topics. I would encourage anyone with a love for good books to head over there and take a peek.
[...] ocean1025 In my recent post “Exploring Paganism - What to Read” I discussed ways to separate the good from the garbage, and select those books worthy of adding to a [...]
There are s-o-o-o many books out there. It helps to learn what someone elsehas found to be of value.