Welcome to Gaia! ::

whee Before I joined Gaia I was a member of a wiccan guild elsewhere which kept a list of different wiccan/pagan books and what members thought of them .. the idea was fairly well recieved, and I wanted to try the same thing here.

Here's a few books, to get this party started 3nodding

Green Witchcraft (I, II, and III): Ann Moura
These were the first Occult books that I got ahold of, so I am a fond of them. They are, in my opinion wonderful beginner books and they have a lot of herb information and properties, along with a lot of other information. Wonderful resources. 5 pentacles out of 5

To Ride a Silver Broomstick: Silver Ravenwolf
Despite all the anti-Silver words being tossed about, she's still a decent source, as long as you take her words with a grain of salt and realize that she doesn't have everything right. This book was given to me by a friend and teacher, and the writing style is good. It is easy to comprehend, and all in all a very useful book. 4 pentacles out of 5.

Wicca - A Guild For the Solitary Practitioner: Scott Cunningham
As a solitary I really enjoyed this book. It taught me one of the most valuable lessons I know: that there is more than one way to do things. It is so good to see a book aimed for the soliatry wiccan! 4 pentacles out of 5.

A Complete Guide to Faeries and Magical Beings: Cassandra Eason
This book covers a lot of mythology on faeries, and a lot of the older names for them. It is a good read just for this, though it also introduces some odd theories, such as a connection of faeries and aliens. Other than this though it is a very good book. I'd suggest reading it if you're interested in faeries. 4 pentacles out of 5.

Rocking the Goddess - Campus Wicca for the Student Practitioner: Anthony Paige
I saw this book in a shop and I had to buy it. It tells about college student's experiences with their faith in different areas, the reactions they got and how they formed groups. Learning how different people came out of the broom closed is interesting. Also, hearing about how different students deal with dorm bans on candles is good as well. It is more a book on personal experience than magic per se but it is good. 5 pentacles out of 5.

Practical Candleburning Rituals: Raymond Buckland
This book is a list of different candle spells, for those who prefer to use pre-made spells. Interestingly, it has a separate section for Pagan and Christian castings of the same spells. For someone who is not sure of their path but wishes to try out their luck in candle magic, this seems like a good book. 4 pentacles out of 5.

Burning Water: Mercedes Lackey
I enjoyed this series actually. I stumbled across it before I was Wiccan but reading about a character who is Wiccan and living in today's world was something I enjoyed. It is fiction. None of the characters exist and it is a serious stretch on reality so don't look to it for facts. I think it is a good read though. 3 pentacles out of 5

A Witches' Bible: the Complete Witches' Handbook, by Janet and Stewart Farrar.
I thought this book was really good it expanded on a few things that Cunningham did not talk about, and it gives a good history of Gerald Gardner the founder of Wicca or as he puts it wica. It gives a good view and teaching of the Gradnerian tradition of Wicca. The book is actually two books in one: Eight Sabbats for Witches, and The Witches' Way. I think it is worth a read.

Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic, by Scott Cunningham.
A good book; straightforward, and simple to use. It teaches simple spells that are more elemental and well earth based, it is not high magic but simple stuff that anyone can use. It is very helpful in getting in touch with nature. It teaches ways to make your own spells and I just found it extremely helpful.
“The study of a simple rose blossom, blade of grass, veined leaf or the whistle of the wind through leafy trees will reveal as much, if not more, concerning the true nature of magic than will a hundred dusty Renaissance tomes.” – Scott Cunningham

Earth, Air, Fire, & Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic, by Scott Cunningham.
This is the sequel to Cunningham's book Earth Power. It is much like his first book but goes in to more detail in some places and talks more about natural magic then elements in this book, again it has helped me a bunch. It laid down basic magic techniques, and just a lot of useful stuff.

"Witchcraft Today" by Gerald Gardner
The first non-fiction book about Wicca ever published.

"Witchcraft for Tomorrow" by Doreen Valiente
Doreen is the amazing author of the most common versions of the Rede and the Charge of the Goddess that have been so influential!

"Lid off the Cauldron" by Patricia Crowther
Another important author and earlier authority of Wicca, Patricia writes in a conversational tone, and has insights about many European landmarks.

Any book by Joseph Campbell, especially "The Hero With a Thousand Faces." His books are used in many Wiccan training classes, because they help you analyze myths, old and new.

I plan to start a magickal herb garden next spring and bought two books to help me. I've only read through a little of each but both seem very helpful in guiding me to what herb would be best for me to grow. If you have any personal information on herb gardens pleases share.

Title: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Author:Scott Cunningham
Pages:325 (index included)
Back cover: "Scott Cunningham's herbal has lit the sparks of inspiration for a great many herbalists seeking further knowledge. Considered an essential reference book by students of herbalism and magick alike, the lore within this book is enjoyable to read and the knowledge is sound. Scott's personable charn touches every page and brings magick to the reader. I highy recommend this book."
-Paul Beyerl
The Master of Herbalism
A Wiccan Bardo
"I love books like this-a book for people to use and study. It is accessible,easy to read, and with its encompassing index (all too often neglected), simple to use as well. Scott Cunningham definitely has a knack for gathering information and giving use the tooks to incorporate it into out lives."
-Jeanne Rose
Herb&Things
The Herbal Studies Course

Hoping to meet the special someone? Wear a sprig of maidenhair fern. Having problems with your cash flow? Burn cloves as insense to attract riches. Want to enhance your psychic abilities? Brew up some dandelion root tea.
In days gone by out ancestors lived in harmony with the earth. They knew which plants could heal and which ones could kill. They also knew that plants harbored magical powers, forces that could be harnessed and directed to fulfill a need-anything from protecting a house to finding true love. Magical herbalism is the use of there powers to create positive changes.
This revised and updated fifteenth anniversaty edition contains the folklore and magical properties of over 400 herbs. Far from consentrating on esoteric, unobtainable plants, many of those mentioned within are old friends. The magical properties of onions, cashews, apples, rice, lettuce- as well as dill, basil, fennel, garlic, and persley are described. Extensve table, a cross-reference of folk names, glossary, and annotated bibligraphy make this a comprehensive and valuable guide to the practice of magical herbalism.
Price: 14.95 US 22.95 CAN

Title: The Master Book of Herbalism
Author: Paul Beyerl
Pages:415 (including index, excluding note pages)
Back cover: Outstanding in its completeness, The Master Book of Herbalism fulfills a need that has long been felt by students of the magickal arts. In his sincere and gentle manner, Paul brings over 25 years expperience as he writes about:
~the medicinal use of herbs, including illustrations of plants easily found in the wild
~history and religious lore- specific background information on individual herbs
~herb gathering and storage- the magickal way
~incenses, oils, amulets, elixirs, balms and fluid condensers- detailed information on how to create them
~herbs and their relationship with gemstones, ect.
~herbal links with astrology and tarot
~rituals- the uses of herbs in seasonal festivals, initations, handfastings, purifications, ect.
" Out of the hundreds of herbals, this book is one of the few that include serious treatment of the realm of magickal herbalism along with basic information on te physical properties of various plants. This is a wonderful sourcebook with a wealth of information on the ritual uses of herbs. It is not only enjoyable to read, but its numerous chapters and appendices with alphabetical listings make it easy to use."
- Selena Fox of Circle
Price: 16.95 US

I would also loke to strongly reccomend Where to Park Your Broomstick. It was my first book as well, and it was recommended to me by a very good friend. Definitely worth reading. Still haven't returned it to the library, since I kind of moved away from the state a week after it was due sweatdrop .

So You Want to be a Witch
Edain McCoy
I just got this book last month, and haven't been reading enough to finish it, but it seems worthwhile. All I have is beginner's books (since that's what I am, what can I do?), and this gives some good information that I can connect with other books. Plus, it's always nice to see an author who admits that she's gotten some of her writings wrong wink . 4 Pentacles out of 5.

By the way, could anyone direct me to a thread that explains why everyone hates Silver so much? I have two of her books, so I'd really like to know if there's anything important she's missed that I should know about.

The complete idiots guide to Wicca and Witchcraft Second edition

Don't judge a book by it's cover. it's a really good book full of a lot of different information and different opinions. Especially good for begginers and solo-practicioners.

i got Drawing Down the Moon and Spiral Dance for christmas... from mom. woo hoo. i haven't read them yet, but i'm looking forward to doing so. 3nodding

here are some book that may help people out.