Introduction to Pagan and Wicca : need your advices

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kissa	19 Mar 2002
Hi all, I have been reading your messages about wicca and paganism. Now I would like to read some books about these but I don't know where to begin with, it is such a jungle out there on Amazon ;) Could you give me the names of the books you liked the most ? the ones which inspired you ? Thanks very much in advance, I am sure the advices I will get from you about paganism and wicca will be as good as the ones I got about tarot decks for example !!! Take care ! Karen aka Kissa

Hush	19 Mar 2002
buckland and cunningham. theyre great (for basics at least) get your hands on everything you can, its best to get an as wider range of traiditions, opinions and beliefs as you can, then you can really develop. dont dismiss any author, and dont follow any author like they know it all. take it all in and make your own choices. blessed be (:

Kiama	19 Mar 2002
I found 'HedgeWitch' by Rae Beth extremely absorbing, inspiring, and informative. If you want a look at the Celtic traditin, go for anything by the Matthews. (John or Caitlin, or both! They've done loads of excellent books....) I would second Scott Cunningham's books, and if you want to have a quick peek at Druidry, maybe something by Emma Restall Orr... For Italian or 'home-made' Witchcraft, go for Raven Grimassi, and for a wonderful read about heriditary Witchcraft, and about the origins of Wicca in the New Forest in England (I LIVE 15 MINS AWAY FROM THERE!!! :) ) read Sybil Leek's 'A Diary Of A Witch'. Can't think of anything else right now.... Hope this helped! Kiama

Martin	19 Mar 2002
Hello! I wouldn't reccomend Cunninghams books personally, they are very non descript, and although they may once have been all there was, there are a great many authors who can do what he did a lot better. To be honest I don't see why beginner book has to equate with lack of content, if you're not willing to put in the effort at the beginning it's not worth starting at all. I personally find his work dull, trite and completely lacking in any sensible discussion of wicca or witchcraft. He covers very little basic knowledge, such as the elements which are a basic building block of this path, and his descriptions of the working tools are so vague as to be useless. Time and money is much better spent on Elen Hawke's In The Circle, and follow up, Sacred Round, and I would also suggest Triumph of the Moon by Ron Hutton for an appreciation of the history of modern pagan witchcraft (there really is no other kind, despite the fantasies of many wiccan authors). After that it's a case of widening your interests, perhaps studying cultures, the works of people like Agrippa, Crowley etc (without whom wicca wouldn't really be) and other areas. I hope this is of some help, if not feel free to e-mail me on: m.p.duffy@lineone.net@lineone.net Martin (and I expect the backlash for critising Cunningham!)

Greenman	20 Mar 2002
Cunningham is not so bad as far as a beginner's guide goes. but it is just that, and to many people seem to go no farther. Buckland i'm not so crazy about, as i find him to be very patriarchal and doesn't provide the sense of balance that i require from my path. one of my favorite beginner books is Marion Green's 'A Witch Alone'. lots of stuff about ethics, and NO fluff. another favorite is 'West Country Wicca' by Rhiannon Ryall. this is no 'new age' book, but a view of pre-Gardnerian Pagan life in a small English village. very refreshing, and a good warm read. and there are many more. everyone has their favorites. but the best thing you can do to get an understanding of what Wicca is all about is to go out into the woods by yourself, find a friendly old tree to sit under, and just listen. let the Goddess guide you, even if Llewellyn doesn't have the copyright on Her. ultimately this is where ALL the stuff you will read came from anyway (or so the publishers would have you believe). learn to meditate, and let the answers come to you. and good luck on your new path. there are many wonders waiting for you. peace.

catlin	20 Mar 2002
Apart from the books already mentioned, I'd recommend D. Conway's "Celtic Magic" and "True Magic" by Amber K both very readable books for beginners and both available at amazon at about 7 € each.

Kissa	20 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Greenman but the best thing you can do to get an understanding of what Wicca is all about is to go out into the woods by yourself, find a friendly old tree to sit under, and just listen. let the Goddess guide you, even if Llewellyn doesn't have the copyright on Her. ultimately this is where ALL the stuff you will read came from anyway (or so the publishers would have you believe). learn to meditate, and let the answers come to you. and good luck on your new path. there are many wonders waiting for you. peace. I loved that and I think it really put things in order in my mind, kind of "take it easy mate, it comes when it has to come, naturally when you are ready". I was ready to make my homework with many books and now I want to take some time as you said to make real contact with the Earth and whatever divinities hide in there .... Still, I guess I'll have to get some of the books you all recommended, once I am soaked wet (wonderful finnish spring ...) and swear that I'll never go out anymore ;) Thanks ! Karen

Mermaid	21 Mar 2002
And don't forget Starhawk! A lot of 'The Spiral Dance' is a wee bit dated now, but it's still a Pagan classic. Happy Mabon everyone! Mermaid

jade	21 Mar 2002
march 28th 1993 is the anniversary of scott cunninghams death. he was and still is a great teacher for seekers of the path. in light, jade

arizonagirl	21 Mar 2002
Scott's books were the first I read when I started on my Wiccan path. I still find them useful (tho I know most by heart now). Another author that I have gotten a lot of information from is Ann Moura aka Aoumiel - Green Witchcraft.

Liliana	21 Mar 2002
I like Cunningham and Silver Ravenwolf

lunar_rabbit	22 Mar 2002
I think Cunningham's books are good for beginners. They are not very technical or descriptive which is GOOD when you are just trying to get an overview. Start with just one Cunningham book though. Something for the Solitary Practitioner is the one I have, I think. I can't remember. I also like "The Craft" by Dorothy Morrisson as a starter book. Also -- and this is free --- check out the Witches Voice website. It is http://www.witchvox.com I have to second the recommendation of simply being outside, gazing at the moon, practicing meditation (heck, just stare at a candle for 10 minutes to start), watching the squirrels and birds, learning to feel the earth's heartbeat.... It's all very magickal. And no matter what incense or crystals or divination you use in your practice, it don't get much better than just being outside to plant a garden :-)

Mystick Dragon	22 Mar 2002
Just about any of Silver Ravenwolf's and even D.J. Conway's are pretty good. I have her Dancing with Dragons book and her Celtic Magic. One of the best books I have is one called Wiccan Rites and Beliefs. I have it from the library. Good luck, and welcome. Are you going to initiate? I'm just wondering. I may not know alot, but when I'm describing something, I seem to know more than I think. --Dragon

Kissa	23 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Dragon Are you going to initiate? I'm just wondering. I may not know alot, but when I'm describing something, I seem to know more than I think. Hi Dragon, hi all, well I don't know if I am going to initiate. I know that reading the posts on this site has made me wanting to know what Wicca is because lots of you seem to practice. It still is very mysterious to me and I have just began to read the Solitary Practitioner by Cunningham which was the only book from your lists that I could get from the local library. Until I came to this forum, I had the negative images of (I know I am going to hurt some wiccans' feelings, please remember that I am just the girl from nextdoor who watches too much Tv and listens to the news) cat sacrifices and waccos doing some satanic rituals with blood involved all the time etc. which IMO has pretty much nothing to do with respecting the Earth and being close to it, listening to the messages we are sent etc .. So I am reading about Wicca now because I have figured out that you all wiccans on Aeclectic are very nice decent persons, calm and caring, helping and giving advices. And many of you have cats so my prejudices about cat sacrifices are definitely wrong ! :D (which I am REALLY glad about !!!!) Kissa ("Cat" in finnish)

Morgeinne	27 Mar 2002
My favorite books when I was just getting into it were... "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" - Scott Cunningham "Living Wicca: A further guide for the solitary practitioner" - Scott Cunningham "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" - Silver RavenWolf (this is the only book by her I like...some of her writing seems to minimize the religion and stress the ceremonial aspects, but I do like this book, very good for the beginning solitary Witch) "The Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft (a reference for the rest of us)" - Denise Zimmerman and Katherine Gleason (I think that's the authors, my friend borrowed the book and I can't remember...) I also did a lot of online research and, of course, read other books, but those were my favorites. Once you get further into it, I reccommend "Wicca Craft" by Gerina Dunwich as a general reference for rituals, recipes, tree magick, dream magick, wortcunning, and deity associations. Good luck on your journey into learning about this religion, and Blessed Be! -Morgeinne

fairyhedgehog	28 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kissa So I am reading about Wicca now because I have figured out that you all wiccans on Aeclectic are very nice decent persons, calm and caring, helping and giving advices. Hi Kissa, I have to agree with you there :) I have found pagans, including but not exclusively Wiccans, to be very friendly and open-minded. I joined an online pagan group (which is currently in hibernation) and it didn't seem to worry anyone that I don't believe in the supernatural at all. All anyone asked was that we respect each others paths, which I am very happy to do. I love the Wiccan rede (if it hurts nobody, do as you will). I kind of believe in the threefold law (what you do comes back to you, only three times as much). And I feel so at home amongst people who take the view that 'everyone has their own path to follow'. So, all the best on your quest. Warmest wishes, FH

Kiama	28 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Morgeinne "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" - Silver RavenWolf (this is the only book by her I like...some of her writing seems to minimize the religion and stress the ceremonial aspects, but I do like this book, very good for the beginning solitary Witch) I agree wholeheartedly. I have been a bit of an anti-fan of Silver's for a long time now, due to the patronising tone of most of her books, and her attitude towards young people, her aiming at the lowest common-denominator, etc etc... But this book really is good. Recently, my 10 year old sister has been asking about Wicca, Magick, and the like... She's even been reading some thing about it herself. However, she forgot the religion aspect of it all, and skipped straight onto spells. So, I lent her this book, and told her to read it fom the start to finish. It gives you an excellent grounding in the religion of Wicca, aswell as other traditions within Paganism, and really does explain everything well. Definitely a good book. Kiama

MadamDimagella	29 Mar 2002
I have the book Wicca Spellbook, by Gerina Dunwich. It is pretty interesting. I've been thru almost every page on the web trying to find as much info as I can about it, but like you I'm still confused. The one thing I hear from every person I know who does it, is that there is no one way to do it. I have been reading up on it for close to 2-3 months now, and I am still confused and have yet to try a single spell. From what I;ve been told candle magick is a good way to start however. I don't know yet how my research will turn out, but I know that now whenever I see a full moon I feel something different now than when I used to look at it before. I think Tarot is also a great way to learn about wicca, because you learn how to interact with 'cosmic forces' or whatever it is that we deal with when we use the tarot cards. Do we actually interact with spirits using the cards, or do we just channel our own psychic energy?

The Introduction to Pagan and Wicca : need your advices thread was originally posted on 19 Mar 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.