This week, I’ve gotten (literally) a dozen requests for “recommended book lists”. Of course, the recommended book list will change dramatically depending on what the Seeking is looking to explore. Modern Paganism? Witchcraft? Wicca? Occultism and magic?
Here is the basic list that I recommend when I’m not quite sure exactly what someone is seeking:
The “**” are the ones that I really like given the topic that they cover.
• Psychic Self-Defense – Dion Fortune (occult/magic) **
• Witchcraft for Tomorrow – Doreen Valiente (BTW Style) **
• Witchcraft Today – Gardner (BTW Style) **
o ___. Eight Sabbats for Witches (BTW/Alexandrian Style) **
o ___. The Witches’ Way (BTW/Alexandrian Style) **
o ___. The Witches’ Goddess (reference)
o ___. The Witches’ God (reference)
o ___. Progressive Witchcraft, (Farrar, Janet & Bone, Gavin (post BTW/BTW derived/Pagan Mystery Witchcraft) **
o ___. The Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth in the Wiccan Circle
o ___. The Way of Four: Create Elemental Balance in Your Life (Wicca based elemental work) **
o ___. The Study of Witchcraft: A Guidebook to Advanced Wicca (I haven’t read this yet but it’s on my list!)
o ___. Towards the Wiccan Circle – A Practical Introduction to the Principles of Wicca (reference)
o ___. WICCA MAGICKAL BEGINNINGS – A Study of the Possible Origins of the Rituals and Practices Found in this Modern Tradition of Pagan Witchcraft and Magick (reference)
o ___. Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Modern “Eclectic Wicca”)
o ___. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Reference)
• High Magic’s Aid – Gardner (fiction)
• Lammas Night – Katherine Kurtz (fiction)
o ___. The Goat-Foot God
o ___. Moon Magic
o ___. The Sea Priestess1996.
o ___. The Secrets of Doctor Taverner
You might have noticed that I did not list any “bad books”. Even though I feel that there are some pretty horrid books available, I tend to NOT tell people to not read them. Why? If they have a clue, it should be apparent quite quickly. :-) Besides, what I don’t like someone else may love and find meets their needs perfectly. Who am I to criticize their reading choices?
For the folks interested in specifically Traditional Italic-American Craft, here is the beginning reading list that I offer:
So, what are your favorite books that you would recommend?
Benedizioni,
—Vinnie
what do you recommend for Tarot?
My favorites are mostly out of print but I can recommend these:
The Qabalistic Tarot: A Textbook of Mystical Philosophy – Robert Wang (Fantastic system and compares decks) **
Reading the Tarot – Leo Louis Martello (very basic)
Jung and the Tarot – Sallie Nichols
Tarot: Mirror of the Soul – Gerd Ziegler (Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot by Gerd Ziegler)
I heard years ago (mid 80’s) that Grimassi wrote a booklet on Strega called “Whisper” or something like that, and it is no longer available. It was one of the first things he got published apparently? Any clues?
“Whispers” was a limited edition, self published book. It was a collection of teachings (the Silent Prophet texts). It’s never been reprinted.