I am providing a list of resources I have found helpful over the years. To my knowledge, all of the books listed are still in print, and are available wherever fine books are sold. (I've always wanted to say that *grin*) I have broken them up into the following catagories:
As stated, this is a listing of what I have found helpful. Some of these were recomended to me by darling friends, others I stumbled across by myself. It is rather lengthy, as I tend to go on and on and on, especially when I love the subject. And I do love books! If you have anything to add to this list, please let me know! I have arranged each section semi-alphabetically by author. Each section ends with a way to return to the top of the page, so you can easily navigate around on this page. If you are looking for web-page resources, check here!
These differ from the resources above as these are general pagan resources, and do not focus on the religion of Wicca. Just clearing things up.
There are not too many books written on this subject. This is because this tradition of Witchcraft is very hereditary, and is passed on from parent to child. If you know of any other books on this topic, I would love to include them here.
There are different types of divination. One may scry with fire or mirrors. You may choose to study the stars. Or perhaps you prefer the hardness of the rune stones, or the imagery of the tarot. These are the books I have found to be of aid in all these areas. They are not quite alphabetical, but are seperated into: Astrology, Dreams, Numerology, Runes, and Tarot.
I have included here other books that I love, but that didn't really fit into any portion of the above topics. I know you may disagree with some of them, but this was constructed very late at night *grin*
Well, that about raps up my ramblings. I hope that, if you were looking for a "brief" description of some books that you found it. I hope that you've also found this page interesting at least, helpful at most. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like to see added to this page. Or if you feel I've left something out in one of these books (though I don't see how that is possible!!).
The very first book I ever picked up that had anything to do with Wicca. I purchased it at the Sterling Renaissance Festival ages and ages ago. It is a workbook, first and foremost, and the chapters are seperated into lessons. They are very easy to understand, and pave the way for anyone serious about this Religion. It discusses various traditions, mostly Celtic and British descent.
Not quite a condensed version of his Complete Book of Witchcraft, this book provides a complete Book of Shadows, as taken from the Seax-Wiccan (solitary wiccan) tradition. It includes everything from deities to Sabbat rituals, to recipies for cakes and ale. The Seax-Wicca do not observe an Oath of Secrecy, as is found in other traditions. They truly believe that anyone who wishes to learn should have the material readily available, so the person may proceed in "a true and Pagan manner."
I received this book years ago from my Aunt Elaine as a Christmas presant. *grin* Though, I didn't read it until recently, when I was doing a thesis paper for my philosophy class on Wicca. I could kick myself for not reading it sooner!! It explains how Wicca is truly relevant in today's society, and is not just a "hippy movement" left over from the 60's. It is a historical reference, as well as a philosophical one, and includes an in-depth exploration of the usual three Degrees within Wicca. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this wonderful work!
Even Grant got into this book! One of the first books I read that had to do with Solitary Practice. It was a gift from the Goddess at the time, for I was isolated from the people I usually celebrated Esbats with. Another good "beginners" book, it is chock full of resources even the most aged Wiccan can use for references. *grin*
I like series of books, can you tell? *grin* The further adventures of living the Wiccan Way. Scott takes things one step further in this book, including step-by-step for Solitaries on creating their own traditions. It provides instruction on developing a closer personal relationship with the God and Goddess, as well as designing your own rituals and Book of Shadows.
The most recent book by Raven Grimassi. This is an execellent book, and I've read through it twice now. It provides information at a beginning level, providing extensive history about the various traditions that compromise Wicca. It also includes discussions about the various texts we hold dear, as well as the symbols we commonly use in our rites. This book contains a *LOT* of information, and you will find something new each time you read it.
I learned a lot from this book, and I highly recommend it to others as a "beginning" Wicca book. It contains a lot of amazing information - a MUST READ!!
The second book in this "series," it discusses in more detail topics covered in TRASB. It also gives "how-to's" in various types of divination, and is a more advanced level "workbook" than the first.
This book was another Christmas presant. It examines the elements and their energies, and how those energies and properties can be used by us to add to our daily lives, as well as to our spell casting. It includes many many spells and ceremonies, providing not just a how-to, but also examples upon which to base similiar "home-grown" shadows. It breaks things down to a common denominator - even someone just beginning to get interested in this topic would be able to follow along with no problem.
You just have to love a book that covers EVERYTHING, especially one that does it as well as this book! Thanks to Tania and Jason for getting me into this book. I don't consider this so much a "Wiccan" book persay (which is why it's under 'Pagan' instead of 'Wiccan') because I think it goes way beyond that. As with the above book, it describes how the elements around us, in fact all of nature, can be used to attune us to the natural cycles in the Universe. And it's got a really nifty bunch of pagan crafts for each Sabbat, as well as some awesome paganized versions of Christmas songs!
I was once told that this book is good to present to people who have an incorrect view of Paganism. I wish I could find Opie and thank him for making me read this book. (As well as for the orange juice and roses...) It gives a very precise overview of Paganism in general, providing everything from preparing yourself and your magickal space for ritual, to techniques for divination. And it covers everything in very real terms. I agree with Opie - this book is a good one to hand someone who's trying to convert you away from the "Satanism" they believe you practice.
I can't wait to get more of the books this lovely lady has put out! I love how it describes itself: "Like a special opportunity to rummage through your grandmother's attic, A Victorian Grimoire offers you a personal invitation to discover a storehouse of magickal treasures." I don't think I could have said it better! It's not often you find a book that looks at the Victorian Age in such a light. It's an amazing find, and another "Add Me Please!" book for your collection.
I found this book quite by accident while looking for a Psychic Circle. I am glad I found this! It details practices of White Magic. It discusses how to open yourself up to the forces of Nature, so that you might recognize and utilize the wonders around you. It covers everything from Herbal medicines, to the Elements, to the meanings behind our deck of playing cards, to more traditional spells. And sooooo much more. It is one of the harder books to find. I never lend it out too far away, and neither will you.
I first heard about this book in TRASB. From the moment I read this book, I felt like I had come home. This book discusses the Stregherian tradition of Witchcraft, La Vecche Religione. It details its history, as well as details the beliefs behind this religion. It provides the information you would need should you decide to begin to practice this tradition, including a dedication ceremony, as well as rituals to celebrate the Esbats and Treguendas, how the Streghe refer to their Sabbats. If you are interested in the histories behind the various Traditions, or are just looking to diversify your library, this is a definate book to add to your library.
Everything and anything you've always wanted to know about Astrology, as well as some interesting things you never gave any thought to. This book has it ALL! From Abundantia (the asteroid whose appearence in a natal chart may show where one experiences the most abundance) to Zodiac (if you have to ask....), this book has it. With a table of contents that makes finding what you're looking for as easy as, well, as easy as A B C...
If you've ever wanted to know how to draw up your own natal chart, or predict the up-coming year's events for a friend, this is an amazing resource! Within its pages are clear, step-by-step instructions for not only drawing up birth charts, but also interpreting them. Even if you're not interested in Astrology itself, this book has some NICE graphics within it. And very Victorian-era representations of the Signs. (I think Libra is particularly cute *grin*)
I preface this book with this note: Your dreams are messages from your subconscious. Ultimately, their meanings are held soley in how you perceive them. Having said that, I believe this is a very good workbook. It details the top-ten most common dreams, provides basic meanings for images within your dreams, and more. It helps you understand and produce lucid dreams (which are really cool!) and presents ways for keeping a Dream Diary, which is a very good thing to do.
I believe Jean Simpson was Nancy Reagan's personal astrologer. Despite that *grin*, this book is a very good reference. It explains the how-to's of Numberology, which I always find eeriely on-target. I've done the numbers for friends, and used the interpretations found in this book, and 9 out of 10 were amazed at how right they were. The last person wouldn't admit it, but everyone else thought I had him pegged! If you can find this book, pick it up. I got mine when I was in 6th grade or so, and it's VERY beaten up. But it still works.
You'll find this book along with a set of runes, as they come in a set, for the most part. Although his meanings are slightly Christianized, he still provides some interesting insights into the history of the art of rune casting. And the meanings add insight into the meanings traditionally associated with each rune. The meanings came to him in an evening of spirituality, I believe, and it shows. While verbose, they do provide a good basis if you are looking for meanings in these stone oracles.
I bought this book for Grant, when he was in his "interested in the Tarot" phase. That's about when I got his (my) deck of Rider-Waite cards. This book is good for people who don't know too much about the Tarot, and are looking for a little bit of background, but are mostly looking for meanings and spreads. There are some well-known spreads, as well as some that I found rather complicated (such as the 3 dimensional tree). It's a good book to pick up even if you are an expert tarot reader, because some of the insights into some of the cards are interesting, "a different light" so to speak, on traditional meanings.
Another amazing resource book to have on-hand when learning or researching the Tarot. It gives a better look at the history of the tarot, and is much more in-depth. I like the descriptions of each card, and the drawings are not overly-ornate, which sometimes serves to complicate interpreations. That's not to say it's a bare-bones interpreation. It's quite extensive, but focused, if that makes any sense.
This is my absolute favourite tarot deck. And it's the one I work best with (though I haven't really had the time to sit and use my new deck...). The players in the arcana, both major and minor, have been changed in this deck - to cats. This book was written from the point of view of an explorer venturing into the realm of the Cat People. The deck is seperated into 5 kingdoms, each with its own gems. The Major Arcana represent the Diamond Kingdom. Swords are Rubies, Wands are the Emerald Kingdom, Cups are Topaz, and Pentacles represent the Sapphire Kingdom. I love cats, so this deck was a great find. The drawings are beautiful, and you can tell Karen Kuykendall loves cats whole bunches from the detailing that went into not just the images, but the stories behind the images.
This is an amazing book, chock full of interesting uses for herbs and fruits and veggies. The beginning of the book starts with a table of ailements, so if you're looking for something to cure stomach aches, you don't have to sift through the entire book. The second, and main, section of the book discusses each herb, fruit and veggie in alphabetical order. Nothing "mystical" about this book, it just gives the facts.
Another one of those books I've stumbled over, and have never seen anywhere else again. Aimed at women, it presents a feministic view of various herbs and their uses. It addresses specific women's needs and concerns. Men should not be thrown off by this, for her point of view gets pretty strong sometimes. It also talks about the different ways to use herbs, in teas, infusions, and the like.
Do you love faeries? Do you want to learn more about them, their society, and their magick? This books helps you to not only recognize the signs of faerie presance around you, but to use this to work with faerie energies in your rituals and rites. As well as to include a little bit of their contagious energy in your daily life. This book describes each type of faerie, how best to find them, and more. I love this book :)
Most everyone buzzes at some time or another about their Familiar, or their Totem Animal. This book provides you with the steps necessary to invite your Familiar into your life. It discusses how to befriend your Familiar animal(s), and how to use the magick of your familiar not only in ritual, but in your every-day life as well.
I took one of Pandora's classes about this book. This book helps bring a new insight into each of the moons of the year. Broken down month-by-month, it discusses the significance of each moon, as well as specific rituals for harnessing the energy of the moon each month. It also includes some amazing crafts, as well as recipes to help atune you more with the energies filling the skies. This is an amazing book, if you've ever been captivated by the ever-changing ever-presant Moon.
A very short book, but filled with correspondances you will need in ritual. Colour surrounds us every day. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know which colours to have around you to operate at your peak levels? This book will help you discover the differences between colours, what reactions they bring out, and how to use this in life, ritual, and more.
I must admit, I have not yet sat down and read this book, or the next one either, all the way through. I bought them both after a rather interesting series of Talking Board sessions, during which my friend's grandfather's ghost attempted to speak to her using me. This is another book designed as a workbook, to take you through understanding parapsychology. It discusses automatic writing (which you don't really understand unless it's happened to you), as well as how to use spiritual energies for healing and divination.
This book demonstrates ways in which you can learn to channel, opening yourself up to developing a connection with your spirit guide. Many people feel they have a "guardian angel" watching over them. This book provides you with steps to take if you are looking to communicate with them on another level.
This book always reminds me of a book I had in Catholic School growing up, showing which Saint was associated with which day of the year. This book goes through the calendar, and details holy days of gods and goddesses, the usual dates of the occurances of the Sabbats, as well as giving dates when other significant, and seemingly insignificant, events occur. Each month starts out with a brief description of the month, as well as a verse or two associated with the month and/or its aspects. There's a whole bunch to learn from this book, and it may give that boring Wednesday in the middle of April a bit more significance. *grin*
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