Recommended Reading/Dewey Decimal System Guide

[lorilea]

Hello All...Here is the recommended reading list for the Guild, please post your favorite books (or not so favorites) so we can add them to the list. Please be sure to add the Title and the Author, and be sure to let us know whether you like the book or not and why!

Note: If you can't afford to buy a lot of books, don't forget that you can always check out your local library. Even if they don't have the specific book you are looking for, they usually can get it for you through the Inter-Library Loan system. It's a really great resource!!!

Recommended Reading - these are the books you should check out first!

WICCA

* Books by Gerald B. Gardner (The Meaning of Witchcraft, Witchcraft Today)
* Books by Doreen Valiente
* Books by Vivianne Crowley
* Fifty Years Of Wicca - Frederic Lamond
* A Witches' Bible, The Witches God, The Witches Goddess – Stewart Farrar
* Circle of Fire - Sorita D'Este & David Rankine
* Lid off the Cauldron - Patricia Crowther


NEO-PAGANISM

where to start...

* Books by Scott Cunningham (Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Living Wicca, Incese, Oils, and Brews and others)
* Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin
* Books by Starhawk (The Spiral Dance, The Twelve Wild Swans, Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Tradition and others)
* Witchcrafting – Phillis Currot
* Elements of Ritual – Deborah Lipp
* "Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions", "Rites of Passage: The Pagan Wheel of Life", "Circles, Groves & Sanctuaries: Sacred Spaces of Today's Pagans" by Dan and Pauline Campanelli
* "Bonewits's Guide to Witchcraft And Wicca", "Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Light", "Witchcraft: A Concise Guide or Which Witch Is Which?", and really anything by Isaac Bonewitts
* Books written by Christopher Penzack (Inner Temple of Witchcraft, Outer Temple of Witchcraft - several others)
* Books written by Raymond Buckland (Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Wicca for Life and others)
* The Wicca Bible by Ann-Marie Gallagher
* An Ye Harm None by Shelley Tsivia Rabinovitch and Meredith MacDonald
* Spellcraft For Teens by Gwenivere Rain
* Where to Park Your Broomstick by Lauren Manhoy
* True Magick and CovenCraft by Amber K
* Rocking The Goddess: Campus Wicca for the Student Practitioner by Anthony Paige
* Wild Girls - Path of the young Goddess by Patricia Monaghan
* The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, Third Edition by Denise Zimmerman

more indepth studies

* "The Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton (a scholar, not a pagan)
* "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler
* Wiccan Roots - Philip Heselton
* Aradia: Gospel of the Witches – Charles Godfrey Leyland

Online Texts

Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by Charles G. Leland
The Golden Bough by Sir James George Frazer
The Witch-Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Murray
Witchcraft Today by Gerald Gardner
The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner
High Magic's Aid by Gerald Gardner (fiction, but still worth reading)
God of the Witches by Margaret Murray

* note: most of Margaret Murries theories have been disproven, it is still a good reference point since Gardner did use her works when creating Wicca.

Other Books of Interest

* Love is in the Earth by Melody (crystals)
* Kitchen Witch's Cookbook by Patricia Telesco
* Healing Crystals and Gemstones by Dr Flora Peschek-Bohmer and Gisela Schreiber
* Opening to Channel: How to Connect With Your Guide by Sanaya Roman & Duane Packer
* How to Meet and Work with Your Spirit Guides by Ted Andrews
* Bard's Book of Pagan Songs by Hugin the Bard
* Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magickal Powers of Creatures Great and Small by Ted Andrews
* Herbal Tonic Therapies by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D.
* Aromatheraphy: The Complete Guild to Plant and Flower Essences for Health and Beauty by Daniele Ryman
* The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia
* How to Read Tarot by Sylvia Abraham
* Taking Up the Runes by Diana L. Paxson
* Our Troth by Kvelduf Gundarsson

Read At Your Own Risk - these books should really be avoided, the information contained within is not reliable and if you are just beginning on your path...this may not be the place you want to start.

* Books by Silver Ravenwolf
* Books written by Edain McCoy
* Books by D.J. Conway
* Books by Fiona Horne

~~~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~~

For those of you who are interested in the Fae and/or Faries (since the topic has come up a few times anyways)...this is a list of books for you:

A.E.(GEORGE RUSSELL); "The Candle of Vision", Quest Books, Theosophical Pub. 1965; ISBN 0-8356-0445- 4 Autobiography of the great Celtic mystic, ostensibly Christian, but awfully pagan in his thoughts. Russell's book deals a lot with his interaction with the Irish Fey.

ALLINGHAM, WILLIAM, "The Fairies", Henry Hold & Co., 1989; ISBN 0-8050-1003- 3

BORD, JANET & COLIN; "The Enchanted Land, Myths and Legends of Britain's Landscape", Thorsons, 1995 ISBN1-85538- 407-8

BRIGGS, KATHERINE; "Abbey Lubbers, Banshees, & Boggarts", Pantheon 1979 Encyclopedia of British Faerie Folk and legends.

BRIGGS, KATHERINE, "The Fairies in English Tradition and Literature", Bellew Publishing, 1967, ISBN 0-947792-18- X

CHMELOVA, ELENA; "Celtic Tales", Exeter Books 1982

COGHLAN, RONAN; "Dictionary of Irish Myth and Legend", Donard Press 1979 who's who of Irish myth and legend.

COLUM, PADRAIG; "Treasury of Irish Folklore", Crown Pub. 1967 ISBN 0-517-502941

COLUM, PADRAIG; "Treasury of Irish Folklore", 2nd rev. ed. Killenny Press 1954/1982 ISBN 0-517-67612- 5

CROSSLEY-HOLLAND, KEVIN ed.; "Folk Tales of the British Isles", Pantheon, 1985, ISBN# 0-394-75553- 7

CURREN, BOB, "A Field Guide to Irish Fairies", Chronicle Books, 1998. ISBN 0-8118-2276- 1

CURTAIN, JEREMIAH; "Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland", Dover Books 1975

EVANS-WENTZ, W. Y.; "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries", University Books 1966/1994 ISBN 0-8065-1160- 5***Very good work on the fairy beliefs of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, the Isle of Man and Cornwall. In depth look at Celtic pagan theology and philosophy. A must for any serious Celtic student.

FROUD, BRIAN & ALAN LEE; "Faeries", Harry M. Abrams 1978 ISBN 0-8109-0901- 4 Fairy legends from the British Isles. Beautifully illustrated.

GOSE, ELLIOT B., Jr.: "The World of the Irish Wonder Tale: An Introduction to the Study of Fairytales" University of Toronto Press 1985 ISBN 0-8020-658506

GREGORY, LADY AUGUSTA; "Visions and Beliefs in The West of Ireland", Colin Smythe 1920/1979 ISBN 0-901072-36- 2 Very similar to Evans-Wentz' s Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries. Collections of folklore gathered in The early 20th century.

KEIGHTLY, THOMAS; "The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves, and Other Little People", Avenel Press 1978, ISBN 0-517-26313- 0 Reprint of The Fairy Mythology.

KERR, MILDRED L., ELISABETH HARNER & FRANCES ROSS, "Giants and Fairies", Charles E. Merrill Co., Inc., 1946. (No ISBN) International stories of giants and faeries

LANG, ANDREW, ed. "The Blue Fairy Book," Longman's Green and Company, Ltd., 1949, No ISBN

LANG, ANDREW, ed., "The Lilac Fairy Book" Dover Publications, 1910/1938/1968 ISBN 0-486-21907- 0

LANG, ANDREW, ed., "The Orange Fairy Book," Dover Publications, Inc. 1906/1968, ISBN 486-2190907

LANG, ANDREW,ed. "The Pink Fairy Book," Dover Publications, Inc., 1897/1967 ISBN 486-21792-2

LANG, ANDREW, ed. "The Violet Fairy Book," Dover Publications, Inc. 1901/1966, ISBN 486-21675-6

LEAMY, EDMUND; "Golden Spears", Desmond Fitzgerald 1911 (No ISBN)

LENIHAN, EDDIE, & Carolyn Eve Green, "Meeting the Other Crowd, Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland", Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2003, ISBN 1-58542-307- 6

LYSAGHT, PATRICIA, "The Banshee, The Irish Death Messenger," Roberts Rinehart, 1986, ISBN 1-57098-138- 8

macLIAMMOIR, MICHEAL; "Faery Nights" Lucky Tree Books, The O'Brien Press 1922/1984 ISBN0-86278- 133-7

MACMANUS, DERMOT; "The Middle Kingdom, The Fairy World of Ireland" Colin Smythe Ltd. 1959/1973 ISBN0-900675- 82-9

MOONEY, JAMES; "Myths of The Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of The Cherokees", Charles & Randy Elder/ Cherokee Heritage Books 1982 ISBN 0-918450-22- 5 Excerpts from The Bureau of Ethnology records on The folk customs and beliefs of The Cherokee tribe. Formulas (spells) for medicine, love, hunting, etc. Very rare and valuable information.

RONEY-DOUGAL, SERENA, "The Faery Faith: An Integration of Science With Spirit", Green Magic, 2003, ISBN 0-9536631-7- 5

ROSE, CAROL; "Spirits, Faeries, Leprechauns and Goblins, An Encyclopedia" W.W. Norton & Co. 1996 ISBN 0-393-31792- 7

SPENCE, LEWIS; "British Fairy Origins", Aquarian Press 1946/1918, ISBN 0-85030-262- 5 Examines The fairy faith from a scholarly viewpoint and tries to determine its roots. One of The finest of writers on The Celtic culture.

SPENCE, LEWIS; "The Minor Traditions of British Mythology", Rider & Co. 1948 This Book deals with The lesser known members of British mythology. The minor gods and spirits of rivers, lakes, wells, etc. Giants, ogres, goblins and supernatural animals are also covered. A delightful Book by one of The best writers available.

STEWART, R. J.; "The Living World of Faery", Mercury Publishing 1999 ISBN 1-892137-09- 7

STEWART R. J.; "Robert Kirk - Walker Between Worlds", Element, 1990, ISBN 1-85230-141- 4

VAN GELDER, DORA, "The Real World of Fairies: A First-Person Account: with a new forward by Celtic folklore expert, Caitlin Matthews, Quest Books, 1977, 1999, ISBN 0-8356-0779- 8

WHITE, CAROLYN; "A History of Irish Fairies", Mercier Press 1976 *** Short Book of facts about Irish faeries  

[lorilea]

Recommended Reading List for BTW Seekers

Wicca and Witchcraft

Witchcraft Today by Gerald B. Gardner
The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald B. Gardner
Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente
ABC of Witchcraft Past & Present by Doreen Valiente
Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millennium by Vivienne Crowley
Principles of Wicca by Vivienne Crowley
Lid Off the Cauldron by Patricia Crowther
High Priestess by Patricia Crowther
Witch Blood by Patricia Crowther
One Witches World by Patricia Crowther
What Witches Do by Stewart Farrar
The Heart of Wicca by Ellen Cannon Reed
The Witches Circle by Maria Kay Simms (Non BTW)
Magical Rites from the Crystal Well by Ed Fitch (Non BTW)
A Book of Pagan Rituals by Herman Slater (Non BTW)

Magic

The Elements of Ritual by Deborah Lipp
Modern Magick by Donald Michael Kraig
Magick without Tears by Crowley
The Training and Work of an Initiate  by Dion Fortune
Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune
The Witches Qabala by Ellen Cannon Reed
Summoning Forth Wiccan Gods and Goddesses by Lady Maeve Rhea

General

The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton
Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival
by Philip Heselton
The Golden Bough by Sir James Frazier
The White Goddess by Robert Graves
The Witches God and the Witches Goddess both by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Ancient Ways and Wheel of the Year by Pauline Campanelli


(original post edited by mod)  

[La Violetta]

How to Find Your Way in a Library (A Witches Guide to Dewey)

Unless you are fortunate enough to have access to a good Pagan store (see Witchvox listings for details of your nearest!), buying Craft books from a general bookstore can be a sub-optimal experience. Yes they will probably have some books on Witchcraft/Wicca, but the choice, quality, and depth of those available may be limited. Also, you are likely to find that they will expect you to pay for the privilege before you take them home and read them.

Fortunately there is an alternative - your local Library.

It is perhaps an indicator of the growth of Neo-Paganism that today most (even small to medium size) libraries will have some books on the subject and some of these can be of surprisingly good quality. Admittedly, there is still a need to 'separate the wheat from the chaff' – but if you look, you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Most importantly, it’s usually free!

Unfortunately, the Dewey Decimal Classification, (which is used by most general libraries to arrange the books on the shelves by subject) can make finding this material less than straightforward.

Books that you might consider to be on the same or a related subject can often be found far apart – sometimes in quite separate sections of the library: and this is not because they've been misplaced, but because this is how the vagaries of the classification system have ordered them.

To get some examples of what can happen, let's have a look at www.worldcat.org. Here it is possible to find libraries, which hold a particular title across the globe, and by following links to their individual catalogues, see details of how they have been classified.

Searching on Worldcat for libraries which hold editions of 'Witchcraft Today' by G.B. Gardner very quickly shows that nearly all of the libraries that use the Dewey Decimal Classification give this volume a classmark of 133.4 – which places it with other works on Witchcraft, and close to works concerning other aspects of the occult: But not all. A very small number of libraries have given recently acquired copies of this work the classmarks 290 or 299.

Repeating this process with Buckland's 'Wicca for One' gives somewhat different results. A large number (approximately 40%) of libraries use classmark 133.4 for this title but the majority (60%), including the Library of Congress, use a different classmark – 299.94.

To summarize, some libraries will place Buckland's book close to Gardner on the shelves – others will place them in completely different sections: What is happening here?

Well, Dewey is called a Decimal system because it is divided and subdivided in tens (and is theoretically infinitely subdivisible), so the codes between 000 and 999 are divided into 10 main classes, 100 divisions and 1, 000 sections: 000-099 is for General Works, 100-199 is for Philosophy and Psychology, 200-299 for Religions, 300-399 for the Social Sciences; and so on.

Inevitably the system reflects the prejudices and mores of its creator Melvil Dewey and of late 19th century America where it was formulated.

In the first (1876) version of the classification Witchcraft is tellingly given the classmark 133 for "Delusions, witchcraft, magic". This section was subdivided in later editions, and Witchcraft was given progressively more specific classmarks of 133.4 and 133.43.

Although these classmarks dealt mainly with historical works on the Witchcraft persecutions, when 'Witchcraft Today' came out it was naturally placed in the same classmark - and as specifically Wiccan titles appeared they were classified in the same way.

This continued until the 22nd Revision of Dewey was released in 2004 and a new classmark was provided - 299.94, for "Religions based on modern revivals of witchcraft", of which Wicca was cited as a specific example. However, this new classmark was not prominently highlighted in the Changes Notes for the new revision, and has been slow to be adopted by libraries.

As recently as May 2006, Janet Tapper was still arguing the case for Wicca to be considered as a religion by libraries rather than as part of the occult. Things are beginning to improve, but remain patchy - which is why the Buckland title referred to above has such inconsistent results. In some library systems the same book can be seen to have different classmarks in different branches!

Central libraries – such as the Library of Congress – are hugely influential in determining how books are classified as many libraries will simply follow their lead and use the same classmark. Reasons why this doesn't lead to total uniformity are that some librarians will continue to use a certain classmark either out of habit; because they believe it will help their readers by placing them with other related books; or to maintain consistency of classification if they are using an older version of Dewey.

Unfortunately, even the Library of Congress seems to be inconsistent, with Buckland's "Wicca for One" (2004) getting the 'new' classmark of 299.94; and some more recent works, like Thea Sabin's "Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy and Practice" (2006) still being given the 'old' classmark of 133.43.

What this means in practice is that to get the most out of what your library has to offer you need to know your way around the shelves and look under several different classmarks. Nor is useful material confined just to the classmarks specifically for Witchcraft/Wicca.

With all the specifically Wiccan/Witchcraft texts available nowadays, and the innumerable sources on the web, it is some times easy to forget how much can be learned from books on folklore, comparative religion and mythology.

George Knowles has notably recounted how Laurie Cabot first came to Witchcraft, through study directed by a Witch who was one of the librarians at the Boston Public Library long before "Witchcraft Today" or other modern Witchcraft texts were available.

With this in mind, here is a list of classmarks where useful and relevant books can be found using the Dewey Classification (Examples of some texts which have actually been assigned these classmarks by the British Library are included in the notes):

133.4
Demonology and Witchcraft

133.43
Magic and Witchcraft
Perhaps the most widely used, and over used, classmark.

133.44
Spells, Curses, Charms
This is subdivided as follows:
.442 Love spells and charms
.443 Good luck spells and charms
.446 Therapeutic spells and charms

203.3
Public Worship and Other Practices: Witchcraft
Not widely used. (As far as the British Library goes - not ever used, and that is saying something!)

292
Greek and Roman Religions
The pagan religions of classical Rome and Greece. Also some general works on modern Paganism
i.e. The Busy Pagan: Living the Wheel of the Year in the Modern World/Graham Miller; illustrations by Anita Luckett.

293
Celtic and Germanic Religions
A very untidy section of the classification. Norse and Celtic Mythology/Religion are quite different things: Yet they are frequently found sharing the same classmarks right across this section.
i.e. Freyja - the Great Goddess of the North and The Celtic Year.

299
Other Religions
General catchall for books on Neopaganism that the classifying librarian can't think where to put!

Examples are: Offering to Isis: knowing the goddess through her sacred symbols, M. Isidora Forrest and Old peoples, new songs: a collection of songs and chants for the modern ’pagan’ community compiled and introduced by Aeron Medbh-Mara.

299.31 Ancient Egyptian Religion
Gods and Goddesses of Egypt
i.e. Egyptian paganism for beginners: bring the gods and goddesses into daily life

299.94
Religions based on modern revivals of Witchcraft:
Including Wicca
Although this classmark is technically for Witchcraft as a Religion, there is some evidence that librarians are doing the same as they did with 133.43 (only in reverse), and lumping Magic[k]al practice and religious practice together.
i.e. Circle, Coven and Grove: a Year of Magickal Practice / Deborah Blake.

345.420288
Criminal Law: Witchcraft
The law relating to Witchcraft
i.e. Witchcraft and the Act of 1604 / edited by John Newton and Jo Bath.

398.2
Myths and Legends
This classmark is primarily for Mythology as a cultural rather than a religious phenomenon: But of course there is much material that touches both aspects. This section is extensively subdivided, according to culture and location.

For instance:
398.2089916 - Celtic Mythology
398.3Folklore

As with Mythology above, there is much of interest hidden in this section.
i.e. Moon Customs and Superstitions / T.F. Thiselton-Dyer and Sabine Baring-Gould.

This table is far from comprehensive, and any comments would be welcomed for future revisions. What it does show clearly that there is much confusion and inconsistency amongst librarians about the best place to put works in the area of neopaganism: and that it can be very worthwhile to broaden a search for material beyond the obvious classmarks.

Good Hunting!

Copyright: Copyright J.P. Brettle 2008. Reproduction permitted if source and author acknowledged.  

[Dokt0rGunn]

Personally I agree with La Violetta on the Silver Ravenwolf issue, she is not only disrespectful but also claims all sorts of things that simply cannot be true, such as claiming that it was Wiccans who were killed in the Burning Times, this is impossible because there were no Wiccans then. Please read this essay to learn more:

Silver Ravenwolf Essay

I also recommend looking around that website as it has a vast amount of information that I believe is much more accurate then other websites I've seen.

Now - as for books, I recommend the following:

The Wicca Bible - By, Ann-Marie Gallagher
An Ye Harm None - By, Shelley Tsivia Rabinovitch and Meredith MacDonald
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - By, Scott Cunningham
Magick & Rituals of the Moon - By, Edain McCoy  

[Aleria Carventus]

[this post has been edited by mod]

Discussion Threads on Various Authors


Silver Ravenwolf (1)
Silver Ravenwolf (2)
Thea Sabin (Wicca for Beginners)

General Discussion on Books

Books for Thought

Fiction

Sweep Series  

[Angel Bruja]

I've read some of hers, but I also got a lot from Scott Cunningham. Living Wicca in particualr, though some of his other books are good too. Avoid Divination for Beginners, as it is not his best work. I'm not fond of Jamie Wood either. For teens, or it could be anyone, two other books that seemed good were Where to Park Your Broomstick by Lauren Manhoy and Spellcraft For Teens by Gwenivere Rain.  

[LRGG1]

La Violetta

I don't recommend Silver Ravenwolf- aside from other things, she is highly disrespectful of other religions! But if you want to read her books, well, that's your choice.
I recommend Spellcraft for Teens by Gwinevere Rain, and Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham.

-nods- You shouldn't believe everything Silver Ravenwolf says. Here is a good website to read 'bout her. : wicca.timerift.net

 

[Aelin Miresse]

Their are a few books which I think are really good but some of them are by Netherlands writers. But I will still tell you razz

*Wicca - Scot Cunningham; A good basic book for people who just started with Wicca and Witchcraft.
*Moderne Heksen - Claudia van de Sluis (Dutch book); also a good basic book.

*The Secrets of High Magic - Francis Melville; Interesting to read. A little basic but also things about Tarot. Good book.
*The Magic Shield - Francis Melville; also a good book about dark magic. Things to protect yourself. Almost no basic. (It's also not really Wicca but more Witchcraft and Spiritual)
*A witch's box of magic - Gilly Sergiev; One of my favorite books. There are some basic things but alot about how the world was created and stories.

*The ultimate encyclopedia of spells - Michael Johnstone; A book with many spells. Good spells, written by the Wiccan Law. The Wiccan Rede is in it and all the spells are ending "As let it be done, that is harm no one."
*Het nieuw groot heksenboek - Laurie Cabot; I don't know the english name for the book. It are two books put together in one and I believe "The witch in every woman" and "Love Magic" but I don't know for sure. I do know that Laurie Cabot has good books.

Sometimes it can be usefull to read autobiografics.
*Heks - Susan Smit (dutch book); Susan Smit is one the most famous witches in the Netherlands and in this she describes her way from "normal" woman who sees witches like the witches in fairytales, to a magical witch who has travelled all over the world to meet other wiccans and witches.

*Druidcraft, The magic of Wicca and Druidry - Philip Carr-Gomm; I'm reading this book right now and I've to say that this is one of the best books. It shows the way of nature and how to handle it, every chapter has a beautiful mythological story. It shows the way of the world, that the most wonderful magic is in the nature itself. Stuff like that.  

[RockerGal97]

Hey does anyone know where any good store to get books are in Conneticut or Florida?  

[.p.l.a.s.t.i.c s.t.a.r.s.]

RockerGal97

Hey does anyone know where any good store to get books are in Conneticut or Florida?

borders, barnes and nobles, walden's books store.... you do have those down there, don't ya?