Recommended Books

[Arcane Woad]

How about we compile a list of books we would recommend on whatever path/interest we are following?

-Name of book and author
-Desc of book/why you would recommend

Simple.

:)

[medievil_witch]

not all like ly de angeles but i enjoyed her "witchcraft theory and practice", i found is a good book for beginners explaining in a simpler form without the excessive babble of other authors she also has southern hemisphere and the differences so less confusion compared to reading a book 4 northern hemisphere only, another book i liked was laurie cabbot power of a witch but it has been many years since i have read it, most books i have i only use as reference and learn more from others rather than books. BB)O(

[Lord Aleister]

One book I really recomend is A witches' Bible by Stewart and Janet Farrar. For me is the best book about wicca. The book has all the thing one a person must knows. Another is What witches do (a modern coven in action) by Stewart Farrar.
Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson, this book isn't wicca, but cover all the points about traditional witchcraft, it's very useful. It's not a book for biginners, but is't a book that I really recomend.

[Frances]

The following are just some of the books I personally recommend - there are probably a lot more but these are those mentioned on my Temple's reading list ....

For more "classical" Craft texts:
-"A Witch Alone: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic" by Marian Green (Thorsons, 1991). Also highly recommended by the same author is "Natural Witchcraft: The Timeless Arts and Craft of the Country Witch". Both of these books are more aligned to traditional British Craft as opposed to Wicca.
-"A Witches Bible Compleat" by Janet and Stewart Farrar (Phoenix Publishing, 1996). This book is actually a combination of "What Witches Do" and "Eight Sabbats for Witches". Other books by the Farrars are also recommend.
- "An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present" by Doreen Valiente (St Martin's Press, 1973). Other books by this British author are recommended such as Witchcraft for Tomorrow" and "The Rebirth of Witchcraft".
- "Aradia: Gospel of the Witches" by Charles G. Leland (Phoenix Publishing, 1998). This edition includes additional material by Chas Clifton, Robert Mathiesen and Robert Chartowich, as well as a forward by Stewart Farrar.
- "The Meaning of Witchcraft" by Gerald Gardner (Weister Books, 2004). Along with "Witchcraft Today" these are reprints of Gardner's classic works.
- "The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess" by Starhawk (Harper Collins Publishers, 1989). Considered to be a classic. Brilliant exercises and meditations.
- "Wicca: An Old Religion for the New Age" by Vivianne Crowley (Aquarian Press, 1989).
- "Wicca Magickal Beginnings: A Study of Possible Origins" by Sorita d'Este and David Rankine (Avalonia Press, 2008).


Southern Hemisphere books:
- "Celebrating the Southern Seasons: Rituals for Aotearoa" by Juliet Batten (Tandem Press, 1995). Every New Zealand Wiccan or Wytch should have a copy of this fantastic book. The author combines both European traditions with Maori lore.
- "Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia" by Lynne Hume (Melbourne University).
- "Sunwise" by Roxanne Bodsworth (HiHorse Publications).
- "Witches of Oz" by Julia and Matthew Philips (Capall Bann, 1994). One of the few books written in relation to the Southern Hemisphere.

For books on the history of Wicca/the Craft:
- "A History of Witchcraft, Sorcerers, Heretics and Pagans" by Jeffrey B Russell (Thames & Hudson, 2000)
- "The Signs of a Witch" by David Waldron.
- "The Witchcraft Sourcebook" edited by Brian P Levack (Routledge).
- "Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton (Oxford University, 1994).
-"Witchcraft in Europe: 400-1700 - A documentary History" edited by Alan Charles Kors and Edward Peters (University of Pennsylvania).
- "Witchcraft and Magick in Europe" edited by Bengt Ankarloo and Stuart Clark (University of Pennsylvania). There are seven volumes in this set commencing in the Biblical and early Pagan societies and concluding with the 20th century.

Finally, for magickal and/or other books, I recommend:
- "777 and other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley" edited by Israel Regardie (Samuel Weiser, 1973)
- "Climbing the tree of life" by David Rankine and Stephen Skinner (Unwin, 1990)
- "Initiation into Hermetics: The Path of the True Adept" by Franz Bardon (Merkur Publishing, 1999). A classic standard primer on Hermetic magick.
- "Magick without Peers" by Ariadne Rainbird and David Rankin (Capall Bann, 1997). Great information for the solitary practitioner, incorporating both the Craft and magickal techniques.
- "Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts" by Donald Michael Kraig (Llewellyn, 1997). For those more interested in the works of the Golden Dawn, this is an excellent book with the rituals explained in plain English.
- "Techniques of High Magic: A Manual of Self Initiation" by Francis King and Stephen Skinner (Destiny Books, 1976). Often considered a classic.
- "The Golden Dawn: An Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Order of the Golden Dawn" by Israel Regardie (Llewellyn, 1984). A system and book that has been the most intensively used source for modern Western occult and magickal writing.
- "The Paganism Reader" by Chas Clifton

[Magikal Hermit]

Gidday all,I would like to add "The element encyclopedia of 5000 spells" by Judika Illes. It is a "history" of spells and witchcraft views from all over the world. At over 1000 pages it is a very long read but worth the effort as there is many gems of inspiration among its pages. Those who know will easily seperate the wheat from the chaff and the book should bring magikal insights into many myths. Also, by the same author, "The element encyclopedia of witchcraft"

[medievil_witch]

i have heard good things about this book else were and have been hunting it down (hard being away from big towns) good to hear a few like the same book BB)O(

[Magikal Hermit]

I got it through "Doubleday books". (www.doubleday.com.au)

[medievil_witch]

thank you, i found it on ebay just now, my life line lol

[Magikal Hermit]

What sort of price they asking there? I paid $46 ($54 with postage) from Doubleday about 4 years ago.

[medievil_witch]

$49.95 no postage new :)

[medievil_witch]

i bought it yesterday n it turned up this morning now that's quick lol

[Aonarach Scath]

My personal faves that I recommend are (some already mentioned)
Nocturnal Witchcraft - Konstantinos
Gothic Grimoire - Konstantinos
Nocturnicon - Konstantinos
Goth Craft - Raven Digitalis
Shadow Magick - Raven Digitalis
Element Encyclopedia of 5000 spells - Judika Illes
Pure Magic - Judika Illes
A Witches' Bible - Janet and Stewart Farrar
Advanced Witchcraft - Edain McCoy
High Magic - Theory and practice 1 & 2 Frater U .'. D.'.
The Complete Magicians Tables - Stephen Skinner

Some of these are not to everyone's taste, I accept that, everyone's different.
The Nocturnal witchcraft series by Konstantinos is listed purely because that's the path I follow and provides another perspective to the craft, same with Shadow Magick by Raven Digitalis it explores the darker side of life and magick.
Goth Craft takes a look at, and explains the gothic subculture and how it interacts with various magickal traditions.
The others have been explained previously or speak for themselves.
Happy Reading.
Aonarach Scath.