We are often looking for the next good book to read to help expand our magickal and spiritual knowledge. There are so many books out there that it can be like diving into a vast sea of information. Often is it the older books that stand the test of time and stand out like a beacon of light in a sea of confusion. Here are a few books that are classics and offer a wealth of knowledge.
Coven Craft: Witchcraft for Three or More Paperback by Amber K. Amber K is an amazing author and established High Priestess. She covers the ins and outs of being in a coven. It is a great read for those who are in a coven.
Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small Paperback – Illustrated, September 1, 2002
by Ted Andrews
When you start working with nature and the natural spirits there are many questions. Ted Andrews covers many of those questions. This book discusses spirits guides and interpreting omens from nature.
The Living World of Faery Paperback – June 1, 1999
There are so many myths and stories out there about fairies. There is also much misinformation about the fairies. This book can help better understand the fairy realm help you build a better understanding of them, allowing you to create a lasting beneficial relationship.
Charles Godfrey Leland published Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches in 1899. This classic collection of magick and knowledge. Leland collected the folk knowledge if the witches of Tuscany. Leland worked for over 10 years with a local witch, Maddalena, translating and transcribing her knowledge and sharing it with the world. This book has influenced witches, Pagans and Wiccans for over a century.
Margaret Murray is an anthropologist, historian, and folklorist. She studied Egyptian archaeology extensively and so much more, and she has earned the nickname Grandmother of Wicca. She has many books that are amazing but the one that has had a major influence on Wicca and Pagan practices is The God of the Witches. She shares her knowledge of ancient witches teaching that there is so much more then just spells and stores, but a complex religion with historical importance.
A Witches’ Bible: The Complete Witches’ Handbook by Stewart and Janet Farrar is a detailed book going over Wicca. It is written from a traditional viewpoint that can be abrasive, however it covers a plethora of information. This book has influenced many Wiccans over the years and is considered a foundational book for Traditional Wicca.
Edain McCoy, and Scott Cunningham are two authors who have so many books that are amazing reads! McCoy has a focus more on the Celtic path but also on the act of witchcraft. She has an amazing amount of wisdom to share and her books are easy to read and enjoyable. A few to recommend are Celtic Myth and Magick: Harness the Power of the Gods and Goddesses, Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways, and Magick and Rituals of the Moon. Scott Cunningham has so many books and all are amazing. If you are looking to start your path Cunningham’s books Wicca, and Living Wicca are both amazing. Even though they focus on Wicca, they are great foundational books with good basic information, even for those not following the Wiccan path. He also has many encyclopedias that are great resources. These include books covering herbs, crystals, and my favorite is the complete book of incense oils and brews. Cunningham has a friendly writing style that is easy to read and not convoluted with jargon and rules.
Raymond Buckland is an important influence in the Wiccan and Pagan community. He was one of the first people in the US to openly claim his Pagan faith and a practicing Wiccan. He worked with Gerald Gardner and was influenced by Murray. He has written many books but there are a few that you will find on just about every Pagan practitioner’s shelf. The first is often nicknamed the Big Blue Book of Magick. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn’s Practical Magick) covers so much information that it is used as a reference book by many. The other one you often find is The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism. Buckland wrote many other books and shares a wealth of knowledge. It is to be noted that when reading his other books, he is a traditionalist. Some of his works include more opinions then others and he can be very strong in his directions of how to and how to not do magick.
It cannot go without saying that Gerald Gardner is the father of Wicca. He has influenced a transformation in the Pagan community over the last 100 years and ironically, he has few published works of his own. High Magic’s Aid is a story written about a young witch and however not a how to book, it share his knowledge through passive story telling. The Meaning of Witchcraft and the Gardnerian Book of Shadows are great for those interested in reading the wisdom of Gardner.
Tracy
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