Authors I Personally Don't Recommend

[Lark]

Over the years I have read and critiqued the books of a variety of authors. The following is a list of authors that I personally do not recommend as good sources on Wicca or Paganism in general.

Kisma Stepanich - her books were found to be plagarized from another author and the publisher was forced to pull them from bookstores. But you'll still find copies out there. http://www.geocities.com/ferigold/truthfaery/index.html

Silver Ravenwolf: Encourages kids to lie to their parents about what they are doing, teaches curses and hexes, has a pretty strong anti-Christian bias. But for a good summary of the problems with her, take a look at this essay. http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html

Fiona Horne - Got into this for the publicity. She admits that she isn't even a Pagan. Again, here's an essay on this author. http://wicca.timerift.net/horne.html

Raven Grimassi - I have known Raven on-line since back in the old Compuserve BBS days. Back then he was claiming to be Strega and looking down on all us Wiccan types because we didn't have long histories. Then the Strega came along and pretty well forced him to stop using a title he hadn't earned..hence his writings are now called Italian Witchcraft instead of Strega. Now he has set himself up as an authority on Wicca but is buying into the myths of the 'ancient' religion and the Burning Times.

Ann Moura - Her books have some good information in them, I will admit. And her first two books were the best of the lot. But she tried to rewrite history to prove that Wicca is an ancient religion again! And she has a clearly anti-Christian bias in her books that bothers me.

D.J. Conway - Basically all her books are the same with the names changed to protect the guilty. Her books are full of inaccuracies, such as her book on Celtic Magic which discusses Karma and the Celts. Karma is an eastern concept and was not one that the Celts ever used. Her book on "Cat Magic" is nothing more than a rehash of every "how to care for your cat" book on the market with only one slim chapter on anything related to magic.


Edain McCoy - Also a purveyor of the Great Potato Fallacy. She is the inventor of 'Witta' which she tried to claim was the ancient Irish form of Wicca. It isn't. The name she called this tradition by is one that would not have been found in any Celtic language. It is simply Wicca given a made up name. The one book of hers that I thought was worth much at all is "Inside a Wiccan Coven" where she is writing about her own experiences and not about anything that took a bit of scholarship. http://www.cyberwitch.com/wychwood/Library/whenIsACeltNotACelt.htm

Douglas Monroe - Very poor scholarship. His works on Druidry bear little resemblance to the known practices of the historical Druids, and even less to what is known about the Celts in general. Mr. Monroe is also a convicted pedophile. http://www.davensjournal.com/index.htm?TOC.htm&1

Konstantinos - His books are a flagrant attempt to market to the Goth crowd. There is nothing in them that isn't covered better by other authors.

Gerina Dunwich - Lots and lots of fluff without a whole lot of substance. Many better authors out there to chose from, at least in my opinion.

Gavin and Yvonne Frost - Bad history and bad information. In addition, they recommend what amounts to nothing more than the sexual abuse of children in their books. They have stated that they are simply misunderstood, and they have also said that they won't discuss it because society isn't ready to understand it yet. But anyway you put it, the ritual defloration of young girls in ritual by their fathers is sexual abuse in my book. http://st09.startlogic.com/~pendrago/goodwitch.html and http://ajdrew.blogs.pagannation.com/defrost-please-read/

Sirona Knight: Has recently been accused of having plagarized much of the material in her books, particularly in her book "The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Runes."

I suppose one can learn something from almost any book, but the works of these particular authors require so much unlearning later because of the errors they contain that it is probably better just to spend your money on better books and save the time later to learn it right.

Hope this helps,

-Lark-

[Marin Silverflame]

I second this question, wtih the addition of: Can you recomend any good local content?? Trying to find Aussie relevant work is like trying to find fish in Lake Eyre!

[medievil_witch]

in regards to gavin and yvonne frost, i bought a book on talismans etc yrs ago second hand, i think one of there first books i think, i thought id read one of there newer books and until recently forgot y i threw the book into a back of the cupboard, i was disgusted in the child abuse or molestation of young children and calling it something else to cover it, i may have even thrown the book out, i hope so as i would never want my kids 2 read it.
the only thing about fiona horne is her music lol i spose another good thing is she has given some people awareness there are witch's out there and people aren't alone, some have used it as a stepping stone, i can never bring myself to read her books but i'm like that, i'm not too big on books.

[sage_rainbowmamma]

In regards to Silver Ravenwolf and Fiona Horne I just checked out the website that you twice quote as your 'source'.
What narrow-minded xian-influenced nonsense that turned out to be!
I hope the new seekers are not reading that tripe and assuming its fact.

To Belinda and Marin
books are wonderful, I have a house full of them. Whatever you choose to read take from it what feels true to you with that inner-knowing and ignore the rest. Like all of life, it's trial and error. Some authors may indeed be rehashing what others have written, but that does not invalidate the information.

In regards to Austrailian works, I suggest 'Sunwyse' by Roxanne Bodsworth and I find Stacey Demarco a fresh and good writer.

Blessings

[medievil_witch]

i agree always take what feels right to you as what is right for one isn't for another, and when u think about it some knowledge is learn't from books so some are influenced by others work as we our selves write our own book of shadows and write down the bits we use

[Twisted Pixie]

Wowee! When did Fiona Horne say she wasnt pagan?? All i have ever heard her say is that she is a witch... as for Silver Ravenwolf, not a big fan... i have one of her books, dont remember her saying to kids for them to lie to their parents.... but yeh i still dont like her stuff... but please would you be able to direct me to the book or article etc that Fiona Horne says she isnt pagan? I'd love to see it...

[medievil_witch]

i'd agree pixie i hav never seen or heard she is not pagan and she is very forward of being a witch well to me thats pagan

[Twisted Pixie]

Yeh thats what i've only ever heard.... personally i think Fiona Horne is a bit of what my coven and i call a "pop corn pagan" but i actually respect her... she has done alot for witchcraft, alot of people will disagree with me and i dont mind, but because of her, alot of the younger crowd and their parents are opening up to it and its spreading awareness that we infact do not worship the devil etc.... i think she's rad!!!

Plus, she has a pet snake and lots of tattoos like me so i dig her hahah

[medievil_witch]

i always say that, just because some of us don't like her books etc they need to look at her good qualities, i liked her when i was young but never knew she was a witch till latter in life so i see 2 sides of her and respect her for her own beliefs which may be right for her n many others, who are others to judge anyone, i'm with u pix

[Witchcraft Australia]

TP,

Here is the link for the fiona horne article, seems the link above is broken.

http://wicca.timerift.net/horne.shtml

[Twisted Pixie]

Thanks heaps hun. Had a read... still not 100% convinced but was an interesting read =)

Cheers!

[Xavier]

I agree, having looked at the site mentioned, it seems a bit......"if you don't agree with me then you are wrong....afterall I have a university degree in these things.....trust me" lol

I think that is is important for us to remain open minded, not just follow the "leader" after all personal faith is just that, personal.

My personal path is one of balance, only when we accept both the dark and the light do we actually know the self.

[sage_rainbowmamma]

well said Xavier