| This is an ongoing list of
books we have read (are reading) in our study group. Some books we
have found to be very useful and informative as a whole.
Others, we have found only pieces and parts to be of benefit.
We implore you - educate yourselves, be discerning. |
 The Dark God
Imprisoned in a Turkish gaol for possession of a small
quantity of hashish, the author relates how he turned to a
daily practice of yoga and meditation to combat the
darkness, brutality and isolation he found there. Nicholas
Mann tells the reader how he found himself exploring the
deepest, most fundamental issues of spirituality, facing
the fear and denial surrounding the mythic Dark God figure.
In doing so, he is lauded as having discovered a bold new
insight into the true nature of masculine spirituality.
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Outer Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak
From Publishers Weekly
Penczak, a New Hampshire-based witch and teacher, is one of
the most prolific and esteemed authors in the Wiccan community.
In The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, he helped readers go
inward—mastering the interior state of consciousness needed to
create magick. This sequel is a logical follow-up, with Penczak
teaching readers how to bring the sacredness of the inner world
into the outer, visible world. As he did with Inner Temple, he
organizes this guidebook into a 12-part lesson plan, designed to
be completed month-by-month over the course of a year.
(Traditional training in witchcraft lasts a year and a day.)
Whether or not readers follow the monthly time line, this still
makes an excellent grimoire of spells, recipes and rituals.
Lessons include an extensive discussion of the gods and
goddesses of witchcraft that helps practitioners understand why
it's important to honor and work with them. Consistent with the
nature-based foundation of witchcraft, Penczak devotes a lesson
to the elements, explaining how to integrate them into rituals
and cleansings. Like any good reference book, this one offers an
abundance of exercises and visual examples throughout. But what
makes this an exceptional resource is Penczak's ability to offer
deeper philosophical discussions while simultaneously giving
practical advice. One doesn't have to relate to the word "witch"
to appreciate this guidebook; all it takes is willingness to
create through intention, honor the cycles of nature and be
ready to take personal power and responsibility over one's life.
Once again Penczak proves himself to be a gifted teacher and a
witch of the highest order.
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Fifty Years of Wicca by Frederic Lamond.
More about the book/author:
Frederic Lamond spent 50 years following the path of
Gardnerian Wicca, adapting and innovating along the way. An
initiate of Gerald Gardner's Brickett Wood Coven in the '50s and
'60s, which heralded the rebirth of Wicca in modern times, he
has been a witness to the significant events that have shaped
Wicca in the USA and UK. Fifty years since the publication of
Witchcraft Today, Frederic Lamond offers a penetrating
assessment of what modern Wicca has achieved in that time its
successes, its failures and its future. This insider's overview
of the Wiccan world is full of in-group gossip, shrewd
observation and a one-of-a-kind perspective of the half-century
revival of the old craft.
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The Pagan Review
"Definitely recommend this book for anyone...looking for that
little something in their life they are missing."
Library Journal "...arguably modern neopaganism's most
accessible and appealing advocates...a heady and practical guide
that should prove valuable to many."
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Spirit of the Witch by Raven Grimassi.
In this one-of-a-kind guidebook, award-winning Wiccan author and
scholar Raven Grimassi presents an insightful portrait of the
spirit of the Witch. He explores the spiritual element of the
rituals, practices, and beliefs of Witchcraft, and how these
elements apply not only to the seasons of nature, but also to
the mystical seasons of the soul. Literate and positive, Spirit
of the Witch examines the oral tradition of Witches, as well as
the cultural, literary, anthropological, and historical roots of
Witchcraft. Revealed within these pages is the fascinating
secret life of the Witch-guardian of the sacred mysteries,
channel of magical forces, and keeper of the doorway between
worlds.
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The Triumph of the Moon - A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft"
by Ronald Hutton.
From Publishers Weekly This spirited, amusing and immensely informative history of
paganism in 19th- and 20th-century Britain centers on Wicca, the
system of witchcraft Gerald B. Gardner introduced to a startled
public in the 1950s. The book's first half takes the reader on a
breakneck tour of Victorian and Edwardian culture, demonstrating
that Wiccan belief and practice owe much to the scholars,
novelists and poets who resurrected Pan and the Goddess,
crafting romantic visions of a pre-Christian past. The second
half proceeds at a more leisurely pace, detailing the
development of British witchcraft over the past 50 years among
Gardner's followers, critics and rivals.
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Deepening Witchcraft- Grey Cat
Focusing on the needs of leaders in witchcraft, Wicca, and
paganism, this guide provides valuable advanced knowledge for
well-informed practitioners. Ancient and modern pagan history,
pagan beliefs and concepts of deity, and the sources of modern
Wicca are discussed. Provided are solutions to the practical
problems a Pagan leader may encounter in situations such as
teaching, designing public rituals, and practicing advanced
magic. The effects of community relations and ethical
considerations on the health and growth of paganism are
explored, and suggested structures, forms, and checklists are
included.
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The Rede of the Wiccae -
by Robert Mathiesen (Author), Theitic
This is a tale told by Gwen Thompson about her grandmother,
Adriana Porter, and how she came to be the last carrier of her
ancestral tradition of witchcraft. The information was
researched by Robert Mathiesen, a medieval philologist and
professor at Brown University, and Theitic, an elder in the
tradition that Gwen Thompson founded. Robert Mathiesen,
an author and medieval philologist and professor at Brown
University in Providence, RI
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The Second Circle: Tools
for the Advancing Pagan -
Venecia Rauls
There's a world of knowledge out there for the advancing
Pagan. You just have to know where to find it. Are you
an experienced Pagan who is still hungry for more knowledge…no
longer a novice, but unsure of where to find the tools you
need to learn more? Written by a fellow searcher who has
spent nearly two decades studying and practicing Paganism, The
Second Circle was written especially with the journeyman (or
-woman) in mind—moving past basic principles, and guiding you
through the next phase of your spiritual adventure.
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Progressive Witchcraft - Janet Farrar, Gavin Bone.
This is the most radical work to
date by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, arguably the world's
leading experts on the subject of Modern Witchcraft and the Neo-Pagan movement. It is nothing less than their detailed
analysis of the way Witchcraft has evolved into the worldwide
religion that it is today...and their vision of its future.
The authors do not create or endorse a specific Witchcraft
tradition, but rather identify a system that is at the root of
all of the existing paths within Witchcraft. They show how
Wicca is a modern, non-dogmatic dynamic tradition still in a
state of evolution-a Priesthood based on connection with the
Divine and service to humanity. Here is a book for anyone
interested in Wicca, from seekers just beginning on the path
of the Old Ways to those thirsting for more knowledge about
its inner practices.
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Witch Crafting - Phyllis Curott.
Rather than provide a mechanical course on becoming a witch,
Curott wanted to "create an inspiring primer on how to live an
empowered, divinely guided, magical life," exploring both the
hows and the whys of witchcraft. This substantial volume
introduces new practitioners to the techniques and tools of
witchcraft, and explains why certain rituals are undertaken.
For the experienced practitioner, Witch Crafting
encourages deeper spiritual exploration and offers extensive
theological discussions about Wiccan practices, past, present,
and future. Chapters titled "Divination," "Nature," "Sacred
Space," "Witchcraft Without Rules," "Solitary Practice," and
"Groups and Covens" are designed to help skilled and new
practitioners alike study and perform contemporary acts of
magic while examining and developing their own emotions and
spiritual beliefs. This is no book of magic potions (although
it does supply specific spells and rituals); it's a serious
resource for those serious about the fascinating tradition of
Wicca.
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The Chalice and the Blade - Riane Eisler.
Women played leading roles in the first Christian communities;
Jesus' teachings had a feminist bent; ancient Hebrews worshipped
the prehistoric goddess-mother well into monarchic times; and
Nazis, with their system of male dominance, were a direct
throwback to the Indo-European or Aryan invaders whom they
crudely imitated. These controversial ideas and findings suggest
the thrust of Eisler's highly readable synthesis. She
convincingly documents the global shift from egalitarian to
patriarchal societies, interweaving new archeological evidence
and feminist scholarship. In her scenario, as womenonce
veneratedwere degraded to pawns controlled by men, social
cooperation gave way to reliance on violence, hierarchy and
authoritarianism. |
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The Spiral Dance - Starhawk
Editorial Review: The original book that brought Goddess worship to the public eye
has marked its 10th anniversary, yet it still remains an
integral part of the Wiccan canon. The Spiral Dance leans
heavily toward the feminist aspects of Wicca, but Starhawk's
comments on the new edition make it clear that she is aware of
the growing male presence in witchcraft. However, this edition
is not some watered down, politically correct revision of the
original. Very little is changed aside from the addition of
Starhawk's observations on how the book has weathered its first
decade, and what few changes she would make if she were writing
it today. Readers interested in learning more about contemporary
witchcraft, whether considering Wicca as a way of life or simply
desiring to understand this earth-based religion, will find a
wealth of information in The Spiral Dance, and will
notice that it becomes one of the most frequently consulted
books in their Wicca libraries. --Brian Patterson |
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