| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 6:10:41 AM | I did a search and didn't see a thread on this topic. It might have been talked about in other posts, but though I would start a new thread to see if I can get my question answered.
So, onto the question: I recently bought the book "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner", and find it to be a good read with some good info, but I was wondering if there are some other books I should be looking at as well?
I have always been interested in Wicca, but more of a solitary than belonging to a group. Would it be more beneficial for me to find fellow Wiccans to learn more about the belief?
I would love some thoughts on this.
Thanks! | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 6:30:13 AM | Joining a group is dependant on your comfort level. I personally began studying Wicca in '97 and although I don't consider myself purely 'Wiccan' anymore, I am in contact with many people and many groups in my community, but I am not an official 'member' of any of them. I value the solitary aspect of my practice. I walk my own path and push myself to move ahead, rather than simply following behind someone else.
I've found it extremely beneficial to get to know others in my community who walk similar paths. By knowing others, you can bounce ideas around in conversation, discuss concepts you may not fully grasp, or simply verbalize ideas to entrench them more firmly in your mind.
Scott Cunningham seems to be 'the' author that most read first. He is easy to understand and explains the basics of modern day Wicca. Your next step depends on the type of books you like to read and what topics you wish to research first.
Here is a link to the suggested book list offered by The Wiccan Church of Canada. It is quite comprehensive and may give you a place to start. http://www.wcc.on.ca/booklist.html
I've found that since Wicca is so flexible with regards to solitary practice and interpretation, there are now dozens of books published every month offering new perspectives on Wicca based upon the authors experience. It can be quite confusing to someone who is just starting to explore. I always read the bio on any author before I buy their book, to give me an idea where they're coming from and what kind of credentials and/or background they have. The other suggestion I would offer is that you be sure to read more than one author. It can be tempting to stick with the tried, tested and true, especially when they have a number of books written to keep you busy, but reading works by others will give you a more rounded perspective on the practice.
Hope this helps! | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 6:33:42 AM | | Thanks for the info blaackangel. I will check out the link for the list of books. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 8:40:41 AM | | Gerald Gardner invented the religion so he's probably the best place to start. I don't know the titles of any of his books though. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 8:55:42 AM | Gardner's more known works are "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft". He drew his information from dozens of sources so studying him would lead one to many other authors and areas of study.
Doreen Valiente and Vivianne Crowley are other notable authors on Wicca, they were both students of Gardner.
Ronald Hutton's Triumph of the Moon is a great academic read into the history of modern pagan witchcraft. He goes consecutively through the years, noting important characters of the evolution of Wicca such as those mentioned above, and focusing mainly on Britain since that is where Wicca began. (Although he does note some major American individuals toward the end of the book.) | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 3:07:36 PM | Interesting thread... time to do some book shopping... I think....  | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/6/2005 3:31:53 PM | | I just read a book that describes various spirits to communicate with, including Buddha, Christ, Michael, Krishna. It aknowledges all these religions and calls it The Great White Brotherhood--with Christ as the head. It was a very fascinating book--I don't remember the name of it but if you look for books on Wicca--Great White Brotherhood--I'm sure you'll find it. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/16/2007 1:06:16 AM | The first book on Wicca I read was "The Magic Power of Witchcraft by the Frosts. Now their brand of Wicca is not considered mainstream in the Wiccan community, but they have a place in it, just like everyone else.
The second book I read was Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner". He was actually a traditional Wiccan, but he didn't reveal any Trad Wicca secrets in his books, and so a lot of people think his version of solitary Wicca is extremely watered down.
The next book I'd recommend would be Raymond Buckland's "Complete Book of Witchcraft".
And now there are a lot of sites which teach Wicca to the beginner, including witchschool dot com *and* magickaschool dot com. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/16/2007 2:14:32 PM | I would recommend "Witch Crafting" by Phyllis Curott. She is one of my fav. Wiccan authors. Im currently re - reading this book.
'Green Witchcraft' by Ann Moura is another good one to start with.
 | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/16/2007 7:36:42 PM | Books to read? How about all you can find and accept what makes you feel comfortable but don't reject anything out of had. Would also like to suggest books on mythology and legends as they can sometime provide some insight as well. You may want to check out witchvox.com as well. Try walking into a local shop and talk to the people you find there. Finding your path is not always easy.
I have found that working in a group requires a connection. Have done it with small select groups as well as 1 on 1. Finding the right combination can be a difficult task and there are formal as well as informal groups around but they are not alway easy to find.
Hope that helps. Don't consider myself Wiccan at all just a witch. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/16/2007 7:45:19 PM | I've found several that I really like and refer to again and again
Spiral Dance-Starhawk
Positive Magic-Marion Weinstein
Drawing Down the Moon-Margot Adler
Wicca-Vivian Crowley
I also found a websight that has some really good links
www.occultopedia.com
I've been a solitary for years, I rather enjoy it that way too.
I can decide for myself what works and what doesn't.
Sometimes groups work great, other times personalities and beliefs clash and
no-one gets anything done! It is nice to find people to have common ground with
and to be a sounding board , but that's the great thing about the computer!
You can find people to connect with and still find your own path! | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/17/2007 9:08:42 AM | | There are so many books on Wicca by so many different authors. Try reading books and essays by Kate West and Lady Rhea. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/17/2007 4:05:35 PM | | I have read a few books on Wicca, but my favorite author, in fact the only book I kept from that period of research was "The Power of the Witch" by Laurie Cabot... she is an excellent author and the book includes many interesting facts on other subjects as well :) | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 7/17/2007 6:44:27 PM | Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein is a book on contemporary Wicca that I found sane. It pretty much adheres to the three-fold rule of reciprocity (which, to an atheist, has one too many fixed variables). It speaks in a voice that, IMO, would not rattle a moderate Christian.
It talks a lot about karma and naturalism. It has "Words of Power" that are basically mantras in their intention.
One of my favourite parts is how it explains the etymology of the word "occult" and that no belief in the supernatural - Christian, Muslim, Greek, or any other - is not "that which is not visible", a.k.a. the occult.
Edit: for music, check out The Parachute Club. (Canadian) | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 1/20/2009 3:33:49 PM | I had six friends who were into Wicca and they all committed suicide.
Coincidence? I think not
It's really bad stuff people
If you have at least half a brain, stay away from this stuff | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 1/20/2009 10:38:29 PM | You bumped a two year old dead thread to throttle us all with bad logic and worse information about Wicca? I have news about your six friends...they're not dead. They ran away and are in hiding. They did it to get away from you. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 1/21/2009 10:19:36 AM | | To throw this thread back on subject... Buckland his books are rather good. Cunningham as well for general overview. Depending on how much you get into it then just find a subject or aspect of Wicca/ Paganism you like and focus there. There's not one book I'd seriously recommend for making a Book of Shadows. The ones I ran across give just a generic overview and a BOS i your own personal book and should be organized how you wish it to be and wrote how you feel it shoud be. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 1/21/2009 10:25:27 PM | | I agree that Buckland and Cunningham are some of the best authors on the topic. I'd say to avoid anything written by Silver RavenWolf unless you just want a giggle. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 1/21/2009 11:24:04 PM |
I agree that Buckland and Cunningham are some of the best authors on the topic. I'd say to avoid anything written by Silver RavenWolf unless you just want a giggle.
Agreed. She's not nicknamed "Ravingwolf" for nothing...a panderer to Llewellyn and just out for sales for those who like to have their own notions confirmed to them rather than anything more concrete.
One needs to keep in mind that despite the fact that Wicca is a modern construct doesn't invalidate it as a useful belief system - BUT - it is IMHO essential to know the roots and truth of what you believe.
Why is an athame called what it is and where does the use of it really come from? It is not some ancient Angl0-Saxon or Celtic ritual knife - a load of bollocks. And not all pagan religions use the pentagram and the circle as symbols of their religions or magick. Again more stuff and nonsense. This is pure 19th century occult revivalism that was concocted by people like Valiente and Crowley and made up for Gardener from the Lesser Key and Greater Key of Solomon, books of medieval magick that have bugger all to do with pagan practices or Anglo-Saxon or Celtic shamanism or folk magick.
Buckland and Cunningham are good but one must READ, READ, READ... and do much research and know what you are getting into. Wicca is like a well made stew of traditions that picks and chooses from a variety and makes a melange of ideas into something workable for the modern person who does not want to go out of their way into full blown pagan reconstructionism. It bears ZERO resemblance to actual pagan religion or magical practice. Anyone who tells you it does simply hasn't done their research and/or is making sweeping generalizations. This doesn't mean it is not effective, useful or worthy as a religious or magickal practice...it is just not the same as a unique, individual strain of pagan belief. It is a modern, constructed hodgepodge. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 1/22/2009 12:33:10 AM | | Do an author search on Wiccapedia. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 10/29/2009 1:58:37 PM | | I read the book "Neanderthal Legacy" by Stan Gooch that says the wicca religion is somehow descended from the spirituality that was practised by the Neanderthals. Celtic paganism is somehow linked with wicca and the Neanderthal's religion. Supposedly, the book says, that Neanderthals were a lunar ,matriarchal society. Cro Magnon's (which is us) were a solar, patriarchal society. What is your opinion on all of this? | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/4/2009 4:48:50 AM |
Buckland and Cunningham are good but one must READ, READ, READ... and do much research and know what you are getting into.
The other thing one must also consider is that a lot of the Pagan/Wiccan beliefs are oral.... at least in my experience. There are many things I have found out through my teacher/mentor that you will not find in any book.... and believe me, I have tried. I read everything I could get my hands on for about 15-20 years.... and now, in private instruction, I am learning tons and tons more than I ever imagined.
However, that being said, there is one author out there who comes very close to covering all the bases. Christopher Penczak is an amazing author... he has written a four book series that is the closest I have ever found to "covering it all."
JMHO | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/8/2009 3:14:18 PM | | Right now I am reading the book "A History of Witchcraft" by Jeffrey Burton Russell. So far so good. After I finish it I will probably read a book that is solely on the topic of contemporary witchcraft as practised in North America. Doreen Valiente and Selena Fox seem to be good authors on the topic of twentieth century witchcraft. | |
|
| Books on Wicca
Posted: 11/9/2009 9:30:27 AM | I am not familiar with Jeffrey Burton Russell, I will have to look into him.
As for Doreen Valiente, I have a really hard time taking her seriously on this subject, considering she is a big "angels" advocate. There are no angels in any traditon of Wicca that I have ever seen, and that is the main thing that Doreen Valiente is extremely well-known for.... or did she just follow the "angel cash bandwagon?" I honestly don't know... but just considering her past books, I would not take her very seriously on the subject of Wiccan history.
JMHO | |
|
Home
login 
