What books would you give your apprentice?

[Tanya]

The Golden Bough-- Frazer (start with the basics, and I would agree about The White Goddess.. if a person really wants to do this, they should show some commitment by reading more scholarly materials.... also... Women Who Run With Wolves --Estes and The Hero with a Thousand Faces-- Campbell)

I keep meaning to read starhawk... but... well... I think I'm prejudiced by her name... I usually stay away from folks who have named themselves.... it labels them to me as either pretentious .. phony, or too cowardly to put their real name on their books

..... not having read her stuff, I can't be sure any of those thoughts are true, but it turns my hand away from her books in a shop to something else.... though many times I've picked them up.

maybe the library has it.

[Arion]

To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf
Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galenorn
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
These are good beginner books on general, eclectic Witchcraft, so a person could learn the basics from them and then go in whatever direction s/he chooses later on. I like them because they aren't necessarily Wiccan, although a Wiccan Witch could use them too.

Evolutionary Witchcraft by T. Thorn Coyle
an indepth book on Feri Witchcraft, not for beginners

Magick of the Gods and Goddesses by DJ Conway
a good book on comparative mythology and gods and goddesses from all over the world. It gives brief descriptions about religious practices and the cultures of many different ancient civilizations, as well as descriptions of the Gods. The section on the Celts didn't strike me as very accurate, but it's a useful book on the whole.

[David19]

Originally Posted by purplepanther

To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf
Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galenorn
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
These are good beginner books on general, eclectic Witchcraft, so a person could learn the basics from them and then go in whatever direction s/he chooses later on. I like them because they aren't necessarily Wiccan, although a Wiccan Witch could use them too.

Evoltutionary Witchcraft by T. Thorn Coyle
an indepth book on Feri Witchcraft, not for beginners

Magick of the Gods and Goddesses by DJ Conway
a good book on comparative mythology and gods and goddesses from all over the world. It gives brief descriptions about religious practices and the cultures of many different ancient civilizations, as well as descriptions of the Gods. The section on the Celts didn't strike me as very accurate, but it's a useful book on the whole.

Are you sure SRW isn't Wiccan, as she basically seems Wiccan, IMO (although eclectic Wicca, not lineged Wicca), since she does believe in 'The Goddess and The God' (and yet she's basically monotheistic as 'The Goddess' apparantly 'created' the universe/multiverse, and all other gods are 'aspects' of her, but i shouldn't get started on SRW, .

But i love all the books that everyone has suggested, i'd like to get them (when i get a part time job, or win the lottery, LOL!).

BTW, Purple, is the Feri Witchcraft book good, as i'd like to get it sometime .

As for what i'd give an apprentice, if i had one (and i don't know what person would want to become apprentice to someone who doesn't even know what path their on, ).

But, i think i'd recommend:

Witchcraft: A Tradition Reknewed by Doreen Vialiente and Evan John Jones (Cochrane/Traditional witchcraft).

The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish (i haven't read it but it's one i want to get as i've heard great things about it).

Dion Fortune books (i've reads bits and pieces and i like some of it, and her novels seem cool and have a lot of occult concepts in it, i've actually heard her non-fiction books give you the theory, but the novels give you the practice (like telling you how magical powers can and are used)).

Maybe some Golden Dawn books (there's a few i want to get)

Maybe books by ancient magicians/sorcerors/mages (e.g. John Dee, the Goetia, etc).

Ancient Christian Magic by Marvin W. Meyer and Richard Smith (again, haven't read it, but i really want to get it, as i'm interested in Christian magic, even though i'm not Christian, especially early Christian magic (as some of the things i've read do sound kind of cool).

Liliths Cave: Tales of the Jewish supernatural by Howard Schwartz (want to get it, as i like many of the supernatural elements in Judaism).

Maybe Kenneth Grant's works (especially those concerning the Necronomicon).

Liber Null and Psychonaught by Peter J. Carroll (i've got it and so far, it's great).

A dictionary of gods, demons and symbols of Mesopotamia by Black and Green (one of the books i really want to get).

Any book by Samuel Noah Kramer (probably the greatest Sumerian expert there is).

Daily life of the Egyptian gods by Dimitri Meeks, Christine Favard-Meeks, and G. M. Goshgarian

Maybe Lovecraft's Necronomicon (i haven't read it, but apparantly it's different to the Simon Necronomicon).

If they had money, maybe something by Andrew Chumbley (but they cost around $/£1000 or more (he's dead now so the prices of his books went up, he was a British Occultist).

Feri Tradition books (by Victor Anderson, Cora Anderson or other good ones, although i need to get them first, ).

Maybe different books on 'mythology' or something.

There's probably a lot more, but i can't remember them.

You know just looking at my list and others, i realise i really need to get a job or win the lottery, as i want to get these (and others) .

[Arion]

Originally Posted by David19

Are you sure SRW isn't Wiccan, as she basically seems Wiccan, IMO (although eclectic Wicca, not lineged Wicca), since she does believe in 'The Goddess and The God' (and yet she's basically monotheistic as 'The Goddess' apparantly 'created' the universe/multiverse, and all other gods are 'aspects' of her, but i shouldn't get started on SRW, .

Hush you Technically Silver is Wiccan, but her books are very eclectic and can be used by any kind of beginner Witch. She isn't too concerned with fertility practices, the Wiccan Rede, or the Threefold Law, which are fundamental Wiccan concepts. Her books are very free-form, encouraging readers to do what's best for them and not get stuck in anyone else's dogma.

BTW, Purple, is the Feri Witchcraft book good, as i'd like to get it sometime .

Yes, it's very good. Looking back, I spelled "Evolutionary" wrong... oops. Anyway yes, it is an excellent book, but not for beginners. You need to have a thorough understanding of Witchcraft before you read it to fully understand. It's written in a way where the reader should already know Witchcraft, it isn't designed as an introduction. The Spiral Dance is a good book because it is an introductory book for Witchcraft in general, and it's got a lot of Feri info too.

[sanacrow]

Here's our basic recommended reading list:

INTRODUCTIONS
21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Life; Jennifer Hunter; Written by a woman in her early twenties who became Wiccan as a teenager. Gives a good introduction to many Wiccan concepts without ‘talking down’ to the reader, oversimplifying, making grandiose claims or relying on shoddy research.

A Witch Alone; Marian Green; One of the best books for a new solitary. This is one of the few that doesn’t immediately dunk you into a ritual practice that’s out of context for you, instead leading you through the basic considerations of a relationship with the natural world.

When, Why… If; Robin Wood; The best introduction to Wiccan ethics in print. In an easy, informal style Robin covers both the basis for Craft ethics, but also how they apply to everyday life and how they shape the Wiccan worldview. This is required reading for all Home Circle students.

The Twelve Wild Swans; Starhawk and Hilary Valentine; This is the book we strongly recommend to those who may not be in a position to utilize an established group’s training. Using the framework of an old unsettling fairy tale, the reader is guided through much of the same self-work that is the initial part of most Wiccan training.

FOUNDATIONS
The Heart of Wicca; Ellen Cannon Reed; This book goes beyond many of the currently popularized ideas and images related to the nature of Wiccan beliefs and practices and dives into a deeper understanding of the lifestyle, mind set, and religious dedication to spiritual growth that lie at the heart of Traditional Wicca. As the author has stated, “You are either going to be fascinated by what we have to say, or you are going to throw this book down. And that would be a shame.”

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today; Margot Adler; This book is the end result of five years of research and interviews. Updated in 1986 and 1997, this landmark study is the single most comprehensive study of modern American Witchcraft in existence. It can be rather dry at times, but is an essential foundation for almost any basic training program. Note, however, that the discussions of specific organizations and some other topics have inevitably become somewhat dated.

Wicca Covens; Judy Harrow; This book is about covens – what they are and what they do, how to find one, how to decide if one is right for you, and many of the issues that covens and their members will face. The author is a Wiccan High Priestess and a skilled psychologist who understands group dynamics.

The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess; Starhawk; Although Starhawk focuses more on Goddess-centered spirituality, her writing has helped greatly with bringing Wicca and associated paths to the forefront in the last few decades. Included are many energy exercises that are common to most training systems.

MAGIC, RITUAL & WORSHIP
Positive Magic; Marion Weinstein; This is a good primer about how the proper use of magic can change your life. Using a simple and direct style, Marion covers many difficult and subtle questions about the proper foundations and ethics of magic, and many of the ways it can fit into a complete spiritual practice.

A Witches' Bible, Compleat; Janet & Stewart Farrar; This is a single-volume reprint of 'Eight Sabbats for Witches' and 'The Witches' Way', also called 'A Witches' Bible, Vol 1 & 2'. Included is an examination of the festival Holidays - the Solstices and Equinoxes and the cross-quarter days - together with some of the rich folk customs associated with them as well as significant portions of an Alexandrian Book of Shadows.

The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner; Rae Beth; Written in the form of letters to and lessons for her two apprentices, this book is a good guide for establishing a solitary practice. Rae Beth is a hedge-witch, not traditionally Wiccan, but her style and practice is very similar to that followed by many solitary Wiccans.

Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Magic; Isaac Bonewits; This is an amazingly easy-to-read, solid coverage of what magic is, and how it does – and does not - work. Somewhat dated in a few areas, this has been an essential reference for thirty years.

HISTORY & POLITICS
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft; Ronald Hutton; This is the most complete and accurate history of modern Wicca and Witchcraft ever written. It covers many details of what went into creating what we know as Wicca - literary, artistic, and academic fashions, the practices of fraternal orders and occult societies, old and new folk customs, and other cultural roots (real and imagined) going back to the 1700s.

Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, & Politics; Starhawk; and
Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery; Starhawk; Starhawk can be a bit more politically radical and a touch more matri-focal than we are comfortable with, but these books have some of the best descriptions of the differences between power structures available. These are good books to read once you have the basics down and are beginning to deepen your practice.

MYTHOLOGY
Myths to Live By; Joseph Campbell; Although most of Campbell’s work is highly recommended, this is probably the most readable. It explains a theory of mythology that covers the universal threads of myth, the myth-making process and how myths influence our lives.

The Witches' Goddess: The Feminine Principle of Divinity; Janet Farrar, Stewart Farrar; Part history and part reference work, detailed essays and rituals for thirteen Goddesses are presented with an alphabetical synopses of more than 1000 goddesses from all over the world. A companion to The Witches' God.

The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance; Janet & Stewart Farrar; A companion volume to The Witches' Goddess, The Witches' God examines twelve Gods in depth, plus lists over 1000 gods from many world cultures, past and present.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People; Steven R Covey; Although not written from a spiritual point of view, the integrated principle-centered descriptions of the seven Habits – especially the first three – are the some of the best descriptions in print of the most fundamental requirements for self-change… and magic.

Principle-Centered Leadership; Stephen R Covey; Written to help teach businesspeople how to be good leaders, the concepts of power, risk, ethics, and self-discipline are covered in ways that also help individuals develop their own potential.

Care of the Soul; Thomas Moore; A wonderful journey through the human soul and how our approach to everyday life affects our path to enlightenment.

After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; Jack Kornfield; Using amusing anecdotes and interviews with highly accomplished teachers, abbots and lamas, the author shatters most perfectionistic misconceptions about what life is like after enlightenment.

The Spell of the Sensuous; David Abram; An uncommonly accessible presentation of the inner and outer worlds we inhabit, and how their juxtaposition creates our Self.

Related Arts – DIVINATION
Robin Wood Tarot Deck; Robin Wood; and
Robin Wood Tarot: The Book; Robin Wood; The imagery is based on the Rider-Waite classic, but has been subtly – and wonderfully – adapted to Wiccan symbolism. A very beautiful and easy to learn deck, it’s the one most of us use. The book is Robin Wood's explanation of her own deck, including the symbolism of each card and instructions for a few basic spreads.

Tarot Plain and Simple; Anthony Louis; For the beginner, the author covers symbolism and interpretation in, well, plain and simple language. For the more advanced reader this is probably one of the best, and most concise quick references.

Tarot for Self-Discovery; Nina Lee Braden; With more than 50 original tarot exercises, the author provides a complete toolkit for gaining a deeper understanding of the tarot, and of yourself.

Futhark- A Handbook of Rune Magic; Edred Thorson; One of the best references on runes available, this covers history and lore as well a having a complete commentary on each rune.

Related Arts - ASTROLOGY
Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain; Kim Rogers-Gallagher; A small and rather irreverent book that will keep you chuckling as it covers the basics of planets, houses, signs and aspects. Not a comprehensive guide, but a solid introduction that is easy to learn from.

The KISS Guide to Astrology; Julia & Derek Parker; A easy-to-use guide that covers how to create and interpret a chart, and also serves as a good reference.

Related Arts – HERBCRAFTS
The Master Book of Herbalism; Paul Beyerl; This is one of the few that includes serious, reliable information on the magical uses of herbs along with basic information on the physical properties of plants.

The Honest Herbal; Varro E Tyler; Slightly dated, but a very useful reference to the medical actions of a great number of herbs, including cautions and contra-indications. Includes the results of research and trial studies where available.

Healing Wise; Susun S Weed; Does not cover a great number of herbs, but goes into great depth and detail of the ones that are included. Basic directions for preparing and storing herbs is also covered.

FOR FAMILIES
Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions; Starhawk, Anne Hill, Diane Baker; This is an easy reference of simple routines, crafts and activities to help share our spirituality with our children. A companion CD is also available.

The Family Wicca Book: The Craft for Parents & Children; Ashleen O'Gaea; All the basics - how to include your kids, peer interaction, facing religious actions as a family, and even a section to help on answering the hard questions.

Pagan Parenting; Kristin Madden; This book contains games, activities, rituals and meditations that are mindful of the energy level and attention span of children. Also included are chapters on dealing with child-sized broom closets and handling the tough questions that come from kids – and other parents.

FICTION
Strands of Starlight; Gael Baudino;
Strands of Sunlight; Gael Baudino; and
Spires of Spirit; Gael Baudino; This is the first and fourth books in a series, and a collection of related novellas. A beautiful storyline dealing with Witchcraft, Elves and the Inquisition, and linking the Middle Ages to our own times and issues.

Gossamer Axe; Gael Baudino; Although the premise is fanciful - ancient Druid learns to play heavy metal in order to rescue a long-lost love – the exploration of themes in family ties, music, magic, power and pagan belief is woven into a masterful tale that is one of the best we’ve ever read.

Bell, Book and Murder; Rosemary Edghill; An omnibus reprint of the three Bast mysteries (Speak Daggers to Her, Book of Moons, and Bowl of Night), where the leading character is a real Wiccan, instead of a Hollywood witch. The mysteries are a bit simple for those who love deep, twisted plots, but the realism of day-to-day life as a witch, and the wry commentary on the Pagan community is more than worth the read.

NOT RECOMMENDED
We generally recommend that any serious student avoid books by Raven Grimassi, Gerina Dunwich, Sirona Knight, Kisma Stepanich, Silver Ravenwolf, Edain McCoy, DJ Conway and Patricia Telesco. Many of these have an easy-to-read style and some have won awards, but much of their history is based on incomplete research or inaccurate references, and significant amounts of the material they cover has little in common with the majority of Wiccan practice.

[ankhesen Sekhmet]

I just spent half an hour considering my list and posting it when bloody MW/dialup/something crapped out. Argh.

So.. I have to pick 10...

Witch's Bible Complete, Farrars
Complete Book of Witchcraft, Buckland
---- as one person said "this is how it's done until you can tell me why it shouldn't be".

21st Century Wicca
---- theology and philosophy of Wicca and not just spellwork or cut and paste rituals

Witchcraft, Theory and Practice, Ly de Angeles
---- very unique book, witchcraft practices and theories - not about spellcraft

Magick in Theory and Practice, Crowley
Magick Without Tears, Crowley
The Golden Dawn, Regardie
---- can you tell I'm interested in Golden Dawn/CM ?

The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt, Clark
Egyptian Religion, Morenz
---- Kemetic studies

and Covencraft, Amber K, to work through together.

[Azure]

Originally posted by sanacrow

NOT RECOMMENDED
We generally recommend that any serious student avoid books by Raven Grimassi, Gerina Dunwich, Sirona Knight, Kisma Stepanich, Silver Ravenwolf, Edain McCoy, DJ Conway and Patricia Telesco. Many of these have an easy-to-read style and some have won awards, but much of their history is based on incomplete research or inaccurate references, and significant amounts of the material they cover has little in common with the majority of Wiccan practice. [/b]

Thank heaven someone said it. The first seven out of eight of these authors have made me cringe with research errors, and the 8th just seems to have given up style and substance for quantity long ago.

I'd add some comparative religion texts to the good list - but I'm not Wiccan, so my perspective is a bit different.

[sanacrow]

Originally posted by Azure
I'd add some comparative religion texts to the good list - but I'm not Wiccan, so my perspective is a bit different.

I do cover quite a bit of comparitive religion - I prefer that a student learn the basic concepts of several major religions (at minimum, Christianity plus one other Western religion, and an Eastern religion) as well as do an in-depth study of one alternate religious system.

The exact books used will depend on the background and interests of the student, but I require them to keep How to be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Other People's Religious Ceremonies by Arthur J Magida and Stuart M Matlins as a quick-reference if they study beyond First Degree.

[Amethyst Rose]

Originally posted by sanacrow
Here's our basic recommended reading list:

Sorry, this is slightly off topic, but I'm very interested in who "our" and "we" is. Is this a coven, or learning circle, or what?

As to my picks.....I don't have 10, but I'd definately recommend:

Scott Cunningham, "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" and "Living Wicca"
Farrars, "Witches Goddess", Witches God",
Margot Adler, "Drawing Down the Moon"
and the "3 B's" of literature..... Bulfinch's, Bible, and Beowulf.

I wouldn't choose Bucklands guide to witchcraft, because it's more coven based, and that wouldn't be what I was teaching, although that was the first book that I picked up when I started teaching myself

[sanacrow]

Originally posted by Amethyst Rose
Sorry, this is slightly off topic, but I'm very interested in who "our" and "we" is. Is this a coven, or learning circle, or what?

Sorry. The 'our' is Home Circle. We're an old-school Wiccan organization. If you'd like more info, we've recently become a legal "church" in Tennessee (we originated in Florida) and have started a web site at http://www.homecircle.org .

The "we" is also my working partner and husband, who also co-teaches with me.