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"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you." - Mortimer Adler Here you'll find a list of books I've read and what I think of them. I am constantly reading, so you'll find this list updated as I expand my mind. Remember, what I write about them is just my personal opinion. I may think a certain book is very informative, but you're certain to find someone, somewhere who thinks the book is pure drivel. In the end, you'll have to read these for yourself and form your own opinion - which is what I encourage everyone on Earth to do! |
WICCA/WITCHCRAFT
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| Bonewits, Isaac | Bonewits's Essential Guide To Witchcraft And Wicca | This is perhaps the most grossly mislabeled book I've ever read. This is not a guide to the Craft at all. Rather, it is a moderate treatment of the historical roots of the modern Pagan (what Bonewits calls "Neo-Pagan") movement. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love his no-nonsense style of writing, his sense of humor, and his willingness to accept obviously established facts, even when they don't mix with many of our romantic ideas of a religion that has continued unbroken since the Stone Ages. But if you've already read other books on the history of the Craft, this book will be nothing more than a cursory review for you. I recommend it to those Pagans who are interested in our history, but haven't read any scholarly works yet. Bonewits provides excellent sources for further information. Overall, this is a good book with a bad title. |
| Campanelli, Pauline | Ancient Ways | This book is dedicated to the Wheel of the Year - the Sabbats we celebrate. Full of lore, legends and ideas for each Sabbat, this book is a thorough study for those who want to tune themselves into the Witches' holidays. |
| Conway, D.J. | Dancing With Dragons | A cursory overview of dragon myth in magick. Not a lot of historical dragon lore to be found here. Much of this book is devoted to the Conway's own experiences with Dragon energies, and how she has contacted her Dragon spirits. |
| Cunningham, Scott | Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner | Cunningham provides the perfect beginner's guide to Wicca. We're given an extremely easy-to-understand introduction to the basics to Wiccan terminology and ritual. He includes wonderful excercises for feeling energies, visualizations and spellwork. His message? I'll quote him: "If you truly desire to know the nature of magic, practice it!" |
| Cunningham, Scott | Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner | Cunningham elaborates on his previous book, Wicca (see above). In my opinion, these two books should be combined into one very well-written guide to getting started, and more importantly, maintaining a Wiccan lifestyle. In other words, living Wicca! This book is good for beginners and experienced alike, to remind us why we chose this path and give us pointers on how to make the little moments in our life count, spiritually. My favorite quote: "We needn't use a bullhorn to call to the Goddess and God. Rather, we need only become newly aware of Them within us. This is the secret." |
| Cuhulain, Kerr | Wiccan Warrior | Having met Kerr myself and seen his demonstrations on Warrior magick in person, I can tell you that this book is very rewarding regarding how to live a purpose-driven Wiccan lifestyle. His no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach is a welcome message in the midst of so many Pagan authors claiming you "must do it this way!" This book is an easy read, but you'll get so much out of it! As a well-read Witch myself, I highly recommend this to beginners and so-called "seasoned Witches" alike. This book is Wicca's reality check! |
| Drew, A.J. | A Wiccan Bible | While the first part of this book is mostly Drew's own experiences in his path, this book really pays off as a sourcebook for ancient Roman holidays, and as a comprehensive list of ancient gods and goddesses. Also included are good ideas for Sabbat celebrations for covens, solitaries and couples. Good commentary on the need for community in the Pagan world! |
| Dunwich, Gerina | The Wicca Book of Days | A collection of myth, legend and lore for every single day of the year, drawing from Eastern, Western and Native American holidays, feasts and celebrations. |
| Farrar, Janet and Stewart | A Witches' Bible | Actually, this book is the combination of two books, Eight Sabbats for Witches and The Witches' Way. In Sabbats, we learn a very detailed history of each Sabbat, as well as excellent ritual ideas. The rest of the book covers Witchcraft 101, but so thoroughly that it should be called, perhaps, Witchcraft 202! I highly recommend this book. |
| Farrar, Stewart | What Witches Do | Farrar wrote this book as a first-year initiate into Alexandrian Wicca. But, I must say, for his first year, this guy is well-educated! There was actually a lot more ceremonial magic involved in the early Wicca movement than there might be today, and Farrar draws upon the most important basics, daring to reveal much more than Gardner ever dared. This book, written in 1971 and reprinted (without any substantial revisions) more recently, is a very important read for those who prefer to tread the paths of our modern pioneers. Farrar's insights alone are far more worthwhile than the substance of ritual given in this book. I consider it a classic, in the modern sense, and a must-read for any serious student of Wicca. |
| Gallagher, Ann-Marie | Inner Magic | Not only one of the best "Wicca 101" books I've ever come across, this beautifully illustrated book includes meditations on meeting and connecting to the Elements, as well as good moral guidance for the enlightenment-seeking Witch. I highly recommend this book! |
| Gardner, Gerald | Witchcraft Today | Published in 1954, this was Gardner's - and possibly even the world's - first non-fictional book on Witchcraft as it's practiced today. After reading nearly a hundred books, I can tell you that it's the earliest reference to "Wicca" as a religion. With the repeal of the Witchcraft laws in 1951, Gardner was free to write openly about the surviving Witchcraft tradition he was aware of. Gardner writes (mostly) as an outsider investigating a religion. Accordingly, there are no "inside secrets" or involved descriptions of ceremony or spells. If Gardner didn't invent the modern Craft, he can certainly be credited with making it known to the world as it is today. This book is among the most fundamental to any serious Wiccan's library! |
| Gardner, Gerald | The Meaning of Witchcraft | Although this book, alphabetically, belongs on top of the above book by Gardner, it came after it, and so I place it here. In The Meaning of Witchcraft Gardner has found, in 1959, that he is able to discuss more openly the Craft of the Wise. He spends the book debunking false myths, and providing us with many references for what became, ultimately, Gardnerian Wicca. Again, there's not much spelled out in detail, but we get a glimpse of how Gardner discovered what he did. In my own opinion, Gardner's writings show that he didn't invent anything, but brought an existing tradition to light in the modern world. As he himself says of religious historians, "No amount of emotional tantrums on the part of the devout will alter the facts of religious history." (pg. 160). Another must-have! |
| Grimassi, Raven | Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition | Grimassi presents the Mystery behind the Magick. This is not a Witchcraft 101 book. Instead, we're provided with the stories, the mythos, of the Old Religion. This book focuses on the story of the God and Goddess, and their places in Craft working. Very well written, this book provides a way for us to understand the Sabbats, and the many faces of the deities. Many other things are covered, including the thinking behind "widdershins" and "doesil," rituals, "as above/so below," the Circle, and more. |
| Grimassi, Raven | The Witches' Craft | This may be a Witchcraft 101 book, but Grimassi writes so that you don't just know the material, you understand why it is the way it is. This is no boring list of spells, but a very good work explaining magick. |
| Holland, Eileen | The Wicca Handbook | Holland gives a how-to on most aspects of the practice of Wicca - the tools used, the Wiccan Sabbats (holidays), and gives many complete spells to work with. This book is a very handy overview of the dirty work of Wicca, and a good reference for correspondences (colors, numbers, stones, animals, planets, etc.). |
| Holland, Eileen & Cerelia | A Witch's Book of Answers | This book reads like a web FAQ page. Not a waste of anyone's time to read, it offers thoughtful questions and meaninful answers. |
| Holzer, Hans | Witches: True Encounters With Wicca, Wizards, Covens, Cults, and Magick | I have one word to describe Holzer, "the author of 120 books": HACK! I mean, are you kidding me? This man claims to have undergone countless initiations into countless esoteric societies. If this were so, why is it that he has no idea what he's talking about? This book is over 600 pages, and I can't honestly say I found a single one worth the paper it was printed on. This book was published in 2002, and yet Holzer continously writes about things he experienced in the early 70's. These events, which amount to meetings with rather bland pagans, are hardly representative of any modern Pagan practice. What's worse is Holzer's tone - his tenacious insistence upon his own high standing as a Pagan authority is beyond laughable. He actually claims to have coined the term "Other Side" for the afterlife! The problem with this book is that it's flashy color may spur someone interested in the Craft into actually buying it, and end up with an impressive amount of misinformation. A polemic on the evils of paganism from a venomous Christian evangelist would actually be more welcome than this book. It is, in a nutshell, simply a waste of trees. |
| Lipp, Deborah | The Elements of Ritual | Okay, so you've read the "Craft 101" books until you're blue in the face, and know HOW to do it all, but still don't understand WHY? Get this book!!! Lipp presents and explains the entire ritual experience in a way that you'll end up understanding like never before. Your Circle will never be an empty experience after reading this book! I highly recommend this one. |
| McCoy, Edain | Advanced Witchcraft | This book contains no "Witchcraft 101." If don't know your athame from your besom, then this book isn't for you. McCoy offers very easily understood commentary and instructions on advanced magick. If you feel you've stagnated or reached a plateau in your magickal life, then this book is definitely for you! |
| McCoy, Edain | Making Magick for Witches & Pagans | McCoy explains, in her usual style, the no-nonsense approach to beginning your walk along the Path. This book is all about magick and how to get started - you'll find no spirituality discussed here, although McCoy points us in many directions between the covers of this well-written Magick 101 book. |
| McCoy, Edain | Sabbats | This book addresses one thing, and does it quite well! McCoy gives legend and lore behind the Sabbats, as well as dozens of crafts, foods and things to make. Interspersed with a mulititude of correspondences and definitions, this is one book you'll be really glad to have on hand! McCoy was kind enough to autograph my copy when she visited Kokomo, IN, along with the words, "May all your Sabbats be merry!" |
| Morrison, Dorothy | Everyday Sun Magic | Morrison provides a very brief overview of the Sun's place in the Craft. Most of us may do our rituals according to the Moon, while ignoring the powers of the Sun. Its course through the Zodiac, its power during days of the week, its influence in our lives are spelled out in easy language. This book will remind you not to pay attention only to the Moon (the Goddess). We must give the Sun (the God) his fair share! |
| Polson, Willow | The Veil's Edge: Exploring the Boundries of Magic | Polson gives much overdue attention to the scientific verifications that magick is a real force in our universe. She also provides excercises for using Fae energies, shamanism and group techniques. I like this book for the spaces it fills that has been ignored by other modern authors. |
| Ravenwolf, Silver | Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation | What can I say but, "Wow!" This is truly a complete Book of Shadows. You'll find much more than just "Wicca 101" in this book. From correspondences to basic definitions to deities to spells, it's truly all here for the student of the Craft. This could easily become any Witch's personal bible. |
| Starhawk | Dreaming The Dark: Magic, Sex and Politics | If you can't tell already, I love Starhawk! In this book, she covers ritual, magic, group work, sex, politics and more - all of it in a very practical way. Starhawk never just tells you something, she always tells you how you can apply it. I could never say enough about how this book can improve your life. Starhawk's approach to every subject helps us not only understand each subject better, but also understand ourselves better as well. As Starhawk says, "Celebrate yourself, and you will see that Self is everywhere." |
| Starhawk | The Earth Path | As Pagans, we all feel Nature is sacred. But how many of us actually show her how we feel? Starhawk shows several ways to do our part as protectors of the Earth - from planting a single herb to participating in protests against government policies that are destroying Earth's gifts. When you've read this book, you'll understand the plants and animals around you in a whole new light, and understand the part evolution has played like you never have before. Just as she did in The Spiral Dance, Starhawk provides many excercises and meditations to truly connect us with Gaia. This book shows how every action, no matter how small, can create a positive change in our world. |
| Starhawk & M. Macha NightMare | The Pagan Book of Living and Dying | Finally, a book that addresses the modern Pagan view of dying and the afterlife! Modern Paganism has no one singular position regarding death. The majority of Pagans believe in reincarnation, after a period of time spent in what has been called Summerland. This book discusses the process of getting there. Many writers contributed to this book, and they bring many stories - about losing loved ones, about performing Pagan funerals, about caring for those who are about to die, etc. We're also given much practical advice regarding wills, funerals that incorporate other belief systems, and dealing with loss. No matter what your faith is, you are going to die. If you're Pagan, you're going to want to read this book. Period! |
| Starhawk | The Spiral Dance | This is simply a must read. You’ll find this book in the bibliography of nearly any book you read on the Craft. Which means, “READ IT!” She includes 61 great exercises to help gain proficiency, as well as many spells, chants, incantations, and charms, as well as very good explanations of the God/dess. While this book has a slightly “feminist” slant, it fully welcomes men into the Circle, as well. My favorite quote from Starhawk, “There is nothing to be saved from, no struggle of life against the universe, no God outside the world to be feared and obeyed; only the Goddess, the Mother, the turning spiral that whirls us in and out of existence, whose winking eye is the pulse of being - birth, death, rebirth.” |
| Valiente, Doreen | An ABC of Witchcraft | This book is, well, an ABC of Witchraft! Listings in alphabetical order from "Airts" to "Ritual " to "Zodiac," Valiente provides her excellent insights with great readability. A favorite quote of mine from this book, "Witchcraft is the Craft of the Wise; and no one can be made wise. They can only become wise." |
| Valiente, Doreen | Natural Magic | Valiente covers the basics of the magic of the mind, the four elements, herbs, numbers, colors, cards, dreams, sex and more. Loaded with fascinating thoughts and history behind each subject, Valiente's gifted writing style makes it all easy to understand. Valiente says, "Many people will tell you that occultism, witchcraft and magic are dangerous. So they are; so is crossing the road; but we shall not get far if we are afraid ever to attempt it." |
| Valiente, Doreen | Witchcraft for Tomorrow | In this book, Valiente puts forth her first-hand dealings with Gerald Gardner, his ties with Aleister Crowley, and more. And, of course, she provides us with fascinating history and philosophical reasoning behind the Sabbats, sacred sex, divination, signs and symbols, the old gods and much more. I highly recommend this and the rest of her books! |
SURVEYS OF MODERN PAGANISM
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| Adler, Margot | Drawing Down The Moon | I've seen a lot of reviews calling this book "dated," whatever that's supposed to mean. It's the only book I've found that details the growth of Paganism and Witchcraft in America. Not only is it a good recent-history book, it offers a glimpse of what has changed, what has stayed the same, and where things might end up with Paganism in the United States. "Dated," they say? "Instant classic!" says I! |
| Dale, Lily | Not In Kansas Anymore | Dale, former religion reporter for the Dallas Morning News, takes a journey across America to spend time with witches, vampyres, hoodoo doctors and others in their homes, their rituals and their celebrations. Witty, funny, and full of insight for someone who is not actually a part of the modern Pagan movement ("the fastest growing religious segment in America"), Dale discovered things that will surprise you, make you laugh, and then make you think. She struggles throughout her journey to "get" magick. The skeptic in her agrues against the believer in her, and I think in this wonderful journey, many readers will find themselves feeling like they're looking into a mirror. This book, published in 2005, is a wonderful snapshot of the state of Magick in America today! |
| Hutton, Ronald | The Triumph of the Moon | Bad news and good news. First, the bad. Hutton too easily dismisses the works of Sir James Frazer, Dr. Margaret Murray, Robert Graves and Charles Leland (all of whose works I've read and are reviewed on this reading list). The good news is next. Hutton does provide an authentic look at today's Pagan Witchcraft. He portrays it quite accurately, in my opinion. He views modern Pagan Witchcraft, not as an ancient religion passed on without change from pre-history, but as a revival of ancient beliefs. I think, given the whole, he is fair as a scholar. He provides some well-documented insights to the Big Names whispered within Craft circles today - Valiente, Gardner, Crowley, Starhawk, Bonewits, and more. I consider this book required reading, with the caveat that the honest reader keeps a more open mind than does Hutton himself. |
HISTORY
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| Bowker, John | God: A Brief History | Bowker covers history's idea of a god, as reflected in those of India, Asia, Judaism, Islam, Christianity and others. Beginning with the Paleolithic search for a god, this nicely illustrated book is a very good source for understanding the gods of today's major religions. |
| Clarke, John R. | Roman Sex | An absolute masterpiece of a picture book, although one you might not want to keep on your coffee table if you have kids! Clarke reviews ancient Roman art, pottery, architecture and more. This is a wonderful book describing a culture that celebrated the beauty, pleasure and art of sex. And what you read here may surprise you - some of their customs would, today, either land you in jail, or at least earn you scorn from our "mainstream" society. As Clarke says, "Our modern notions that a man is either 'straight,' 'gay,' or 'bisexual' couldn't be further from the mindset of the Roman man." I definitely recommend this book! |
| DiZerega, Gus, Ph.D. | Pagans & Christians: The Spiritual Experience | DiZerega does a fantastic job of addressing Christianity's concerns with Wicca. Using solid history as well as many quotes from the Bible, he shows that Christianity and Paganism are not opposite idealisms, but both are valid ways to finding spiritual truth. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to Pagans who have Christians in their family, and to Christians who have Pagans in their family! |
| Frazer, Sir James George | The Golden Bough | Frazer explores ancient methods of worship, sex practices, rituals and festivals. Exploring evidence of ancient cultures throughout history, Frazer finds the common themes that tie them together. While steadfastly avoiding the newer religion of Christianity, Frazer describes the god and goddess worship of the pre-Christian civilizations which, the reader will easily note, led up to and heavily influenced not only today's Christianity, but today's Paganism as well. Nearly every book you can read on the Craft today either refers directly to or ties in with what Frazer has covered in this book. A classic and phenominal work (over 800 pages), this book is another "Must Read." |
| Freke, Timothy and Gandy, Peter | The Jesus Mysteries | Subtitle: "Was the 'Original Jesus' A Pagan God?" Freke and Gandy explore the dying-and-resurrecting godman myth from the dawn of mankind, and how these same aspects (being born from a "virgin," performing miracles, having 12 apostles, various sayings and deeds) have applied to gods such as Osiris, Mithras, Attis and more through the ages. Freke and Gandy do not aim to disprove a religion, but to show that it has much more in common with other religions - especially Paganism - than Christians realize. They delve deeply into biblical text and decipher the original wording to show the most likely true story behind Christianity. |
| Ginzburg, Carlo | Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath | This book, published in English in 1991, draws upon scholarship - past and present - to present a view that has been controversial ever since the late 19th century. Namely, that Witchcraft has an ancient history, and that it has never died out. Ginzburg begins in the year 1321, and works his way forward. As the title of the book suggests, he "deciphers" what the meanings were behind the sabbats, and flying through the air, and claims of alleged devil worship, and such. By recognizing the shamanistic elements of magic (i.e. that much of it involves techniques of ecstacy), he has given us a sober picture of the survival of Witchcraft through the Middle Ages down to our own time. Tracing back as far as Herodotus in the 4th centruy BCE, Ginzburg has done a wonderful job in proving that, yes, the Craft is ancient, and it has survived! |
| Grubbs, Judith Evans | Women and the Law in the Roman Empire | Grubbs presents us with the legal view of women in ancient Rome. Their rights of inheritance, marriage, involvement in government. Warning, this is not an easy read at all. But it's worth it for the glimpse it gives us of how the Roman government viewed women back then. Grubbs notes: "Married women had more property rights in ancient Rome than they had in Britain or the United States until the twentieth century." Wonder why? Let's see, ancient Rome was Pagan; Britain and the U.S. are . . . . oh never mind. |
| Guazzo, Francesco Maria | Compendium Maleficarum | Translated by Montague Summers. First published in 1608, this book draws heavily upon the groundwork laid by the Malleus Maleficarum (see below). Guazzo, an Ambrosian monk, details how the Church's "Satanic" version of witchcraft is a reality with many examples. He relies heavily on confessions - never mind the acts of torture that produced them. This book shows that there isn't much difference between the magic of witches and priests: Guazzo gives many examples of the "holy" actions of priests accomplishing the same thing as the "abominable" witches. It's even okay to use amulets, as long as they're blessed by priests! While the Malleus Maleficarum illustrates the complete lack of sanity for the witch hunts, this book highlights the complete hypocracy of them. Another book which belongs in the library of the serious student of witchcraft history. |
| Hall, Manly P. | The Secret Teachings of All Ages | This is one heavy read! This book is absolutely essential to anyone who wants to understand the big picture of Paganism. Hall covers the ancient Mysteries, secret societies, Hermes, the Pyramids, Isis, the Zodiac, Pythagoras, fish, insects, birds, reptiles, music, ceremonial magic, plants, flowers, trees, stones, metals, gems, alchemy, the Elements, Tarot cards, the Cabbalah, Freemasonry, Rosicrucians, Mystic Christianity, Islam, American Indians, and more! This book is a must-have. |
| Hutton, Ronald | The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles | Hutton is both loved and hated in the modern Pagan community. Loved, because he does thorough scholarly research into whatever he tackles, so when he presents us with facts, we can't help but feel we've taken a cultural step forward. He is hated because, in true scholarly fashion, he dismisses nearly every modern claim concerning ancient pagan ritual that doesn't have conclusive evidence to back it up. This would in fact be a welcome position, were it not for the fact that he tends to insert equally questionable conjectures in their place. All of that aside, this book shows us quite a lot of evidence regarding paganism in British history, back to Stonehenge and beyond into the dark mists of time. Burial ceremonies, tutelary gods (but not goddesses?), standing stones, inscriptions and more point us in many exciting directions. Hutton - while humorously antagonistic to modern paganism - ought to be thanked anyway, for giving us more historical bedrock upon which we can stand. |
| Hutton, Ronald | The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain | This ranks among the most thorough works I've read regarding popular festivals. Hutton here gives us very well documented acounts of holidays, both popular (Christmas, Easter, Lent, Halloween) and obscure (Misrule, Shrovetide, Blood Month). Hutton presents the holidays from New Year's Day to Christmas, showing how usually each one of these festivals blends into the other. To me, it also demonstrates humanity's natural harmony with the cycles of Nature - without even realizing it. Very well documented, as is usual with Hutton, and a valuable read to anyone interested in the origins and history of festivals throughout the year. |
| James I, King | Demonology | King James I. Yes, the man who rewrote the Bible to reflect his obsessive fear of witches. A famous example is Exodus 22:18: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." The original Hebrew word kashaph means "poisoner," not "witch." In Demonology, King James presents us with a sort of Socratic dialogue between two fictional characters which he uses to show how bad these "witches" really were. His logic was dismal, but try telling him that! Barbeque, anyone? This book is presented in its original Old English, which takes getting used to. Demonology is really valuable because it shows his entire purpose for his deadly witch hunts, and his revision of the Bible to justify them. |
| Leland, Charles G. | Aradia: Gospel of the Witches | Published in 1899, this book describes the teachings of Aradia, daughter of the goddess Diana, sent to teach humanity the art of Witchcraft. This book has inspired - or rather reawakened - modern Witchcraft. Doreen Valiente's "Charge of the Goddess" is based mostly on the writings of this book. I consider it another Must Read. |
| Leland, Charles G. | Etruscan Roman Remains | In this book, Leland describes his findings as he researched anceint Italian and Roman beliefs, still surviving when this book was published in 1892. This book covers gods, goddesses, and incantations, divinations, spells and amulets, passed on for untold generations in Europe. |
| Kors, Alan Charles & Peters, Edward | Witchcraft in Europe: 400 - 1700 | Here we have a documented history of the views of witchcraft from 400 to 1700 CE. These are the writings of Augustine, various Popes, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Nicholas Remy, Cotton Mather, Reginal Scot and many more. The available writings are predominantly Christian, for obvious reasons: to write anything actually promoting witchcraft or sorcery was equivalent to suicide in those days. Not that everyone wrote against it. There were some bold enough to question whether witchcraft was actually evil. What's fascinating about this book is that it presents a priceless collection of the thoughts and details of the Craft following the establishment of Christianity. And even though the views we have are decidedly biased, it is obvious that witchcraft, in many forms, has been practiced for literally thousands of years! |
| Kramer, Heinrich & Sprenger, James | The Malleus Maleficarum | Translated by Montague Summers. This book (written in 1484), given the stamp of approval by the Church with the Bull of Pope Innocent VIII, became the witchhunter's guide for medieval Europe. While this work contains the "sanctioned" beliefs of the time, it also points to the origin of some of the myths concerning Witchcraft still believed by many uninformed people today. This is a must-read for any student of the history of Witchcraft! |
| Mack, Burton L. | The Lost Gospel: The Book of Q & Christian Origins | While searching for evidence of the "historical" Jesus, Biblical scholars found something even more profound - the lost sayings of a wise sage. As the hunt contintued to prove Jesus as a person who really lived, evidence surfaced that the beginnings of Christianity was not so much a group following a dying and resurrected godman, but simply an enlightened teacher of wisdom. The discovery of the Book of Q has led biblical scholars to rethink the origins of Christianity. This book provides the evidence showing how Christianity went from a rebellious cult to a dominant ruler of society. Written by a Christian, this book shows the true meaning behind the teachings of Jesus, and how his story came to be known to us. I'd advise Christians not to read this, if they prefer to toe the Church Line of Thinking! |
| Moura, Ann | Origins of Modern Witchcraft | Moura shows how Witchcraft - and indeed all religions - has evolved from more than 30,000 years of mankind’s closeness to Nature. Very thoroughly researched work! This book refutes anyone who thinks the Craft is the creation of Gerald Gardner. |
| Murray, Margaret Alice | The God of the Witches | Dr. Murray explores the worship of the "Horned God," and its relationship to ancient beliefs. She also gives prime examples (still undisputed) of ancient witchcraft, still practiced today. She says, "[Witches] were at home in the courts of kings" and "among the serfs and peasants to whom they brought comfort and spiritual help." This book is essential reading concerning the history of the Craft. |
| Murray, Margaret Alice | Witch Cult In Western Europe: A Study In Anthropology | Some commentators credit this work, written in 1921, with helping to spark the modern Pagan movement. While that fact is highly debatable, what is certain is that this book does contain evidence of the survival of an ancient Witchcraft tradition. Some parts are written solely in French, German, or Old English, and therefore may be hard to understand by the average reader. What is understandable, though, is that Witchcraft is not a new phenomena, and this book is part of the evidence of that fact. |
| Ovason, David | The Secret Architecture Of Our Nation's Captial | Subtitle: "The Masons And The Building Of Washington, D.C." Ovason actually shows (with ample documentation and evidence) that the designers of Washington were highly adept at astrological symbolism. His tour of D.C. almost plays out like the movie "National Treasure," only this is entirely based on fact. The numerous zodiacs, street alignments and Pagan symbolism pervade the city in a way that cannot be ignored. If you think the book is biased, remember that Ovason (a Christian) is not a Freemason. My favorite aspect of this book - because I am biased - is that, if you look at a map of the city, a huge pentagram is laid out for all to see, with a point ending exactly on the White House!!! Even if you're skeptical of Freemasonry, this book provides undeniable evidence of the Pagan foundation of our nation's capital. |
| Russell, Jeffrey B. | A History of Witchcraft | Russell, a Professor of History at the University of California, provides a very nicely illustrated history of Witchcraft. From its origins in Graeco-Roman thought, through the Burning Times, and into the 20th century. Published in 1980, this book doesn't reflect some of the more recent discoveries, such as Doreen Valiente's proof of the existence of Dorothy Clutterbuck, but Russell was only using the evidence available to him at the time. Russell himself says, "One need not be a witch - I am not - to understand witchcraft as a valid expression of the religious experience" which is "rich, sophisticated, beautiful, and psychologically full of insight." Overall, a wonderful book! |
| Scot, Reginald | The Discoverie of Witchcraft | In 1584, witch hunting was all the rage. If you dared to question it, you became accused and condemned for it. Reginald Scot took a different route: he set out to prove witches didn't exist, and he was right in many ways. The witches who magically take a whole crop from one field and replant it in another, kill with their eyes, fly in the air, eat children, and deal with the Devil didn't exist! But he also made some very important distinctions between witches, poisoners, charmers, soothsayers, alchemists, and astrologers. He also shows in great detail how the Catholics (Scot was Protestant) are just as "bad" as the conjurors and sorcerers. In short, Scot certainly believed in (and found harmless) what modern Pagans would call "magick." The fact that King James ordered all copies of this book destroyed certainly means Scot was on the right track! |
| Skinner, Marilyn B. | Sexuality in Greek and Roman Culture | Drawing on literary, artistic and archaeological evidence, Skinner lets us peek behind the bedroom curtains (and bath houses, and more) of the ancient Greco-Roman world. Prostitution, public law, taboos (which will actually make you say, "Huh?!"), gender roles and sexual orientation and more are discussed. An ancient Greek or Roman would look at the modern-day U.S. and be dumbfounded! For that matter, so am I. At least they had logic to their laws back in the Pagan world! |
| Stone, Merlin | When God Was A Woman | Stone solidly puts forth the story of how Goddess worship (by many names) turned into God worship (only one name allowed). Beginning by showing how ancient temples, scrolls, figurines, and even the Bible itself clearly show widespread Goddess worship before even the story of Genesis, Stone also explains the reasoning behind the myth of Adam and Eve - so clearly, in fact, that you'll slap your own forhead and yell, "Why didn't I realize that?!" I don't have the space here to praise this book sufficiently. But if I were a teacher, I'd consider this required reading! |
| Streeter, Michael | Witchcraft: A Secret History | This is a very good overall look at the history of Witchcraft, from pre-history to the Burning Times, through to today. Very easy to read, excellent pictures, and wonderful in putting forth the story of the Old Religion in a very balanced way. This book doesn’t seek to glamorize the Craft, or to bash any other religion. Very well-researched and wonderfully illustrated. |
MYTHOLOGY
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| Campbell, Joseph | The Masks of God: Primitive Mythology | Book I in the Masks of God series. What were the beliefs of mankind from pre-history (that is to say, before the invention of writing)? Artifacts show goddess worship at least 30,000 years ago. Cave paintings at least 75,000 years old show the gods and goddesses of the paleolithic hunter. Neanderthal graves indicate belief in an afterlife and even reincarnation. Sure, we have myths from ancient Greece, India, Japan, and the Levant (Middle East), but archeology has uncovered the seeds of those myths - their very beginnings. What did mankind first worship? Why did the idea of divine beings become so popular? How did the science of astrology change civilization as we know it? Read this book, you'll be amazed what the evidence shows! |
| Campbell, Joseph | The Masks of God: Oriental Mythology | Book II in the Masks of God series. Campbell takes us on a journey through ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, India, China, Japan, Tibet and their various mythologies. Campbell gives us excellent histories and insights into Egyptian beliefs, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Hinduism, Islam, Confucianism and more. You won't find a more thorough and reader-friendly text on Oriental beliefs! |
| Campbell, Joseph | The Masks of God: Occidental Mythology | Book III in the Masks of God series. Occidental - or Western - mythology is actually what most of us are familiar with, since we live in the Western part of the world. We are familiar with such names as Zeus, Apollo, Dionysus, Aphrodite, Jehovah, Adonis, Jesus. Campbell's review of Western mythology puts them all together to form the Big Picture. Many people make the mistake of taking only one of these mythologies, like that of Aphrodite or Jesus, and looking at it as if through a keyhole, imagining it as some isolated puzzle that must be solved on its own. But taking Campbell's birds-eye view, we begin to learn what enlightened mystics have known for millenia: namely, that all of these gods derive from the same source - ourselves. |
| Campbell, Joseph | The Masks of God: Creative Mythology | Book IV in the Masks of God series. So what happened after Theodosus delcared Rome a "Christian-only" empire? Well, Rome fell, and with this event came what has become known as the Dark Ages. No coincidence, that. But what could never be supressed, even by an Inquisitional Church, is the longing of mankind for the mythologies of the past. Creative Mythology brings us from the end of the Roman empire into the twentieth century, with mythology's transformation from esoteric lifestyle to psychological backdrop. Truth is, when Christianity was at it's supreme power, all other human inquiry ceased to be. With the advent of science, however, the Church was forced, eternally, to abandon it's quest to dominate mankind. This book is the story of how that came to be, and why all of this can carry us on to our own futures - our own mythologies. |
| Campbell, Joseph | Myths to Live By | I absolutely love Campbell. His ability to fathom the depths of mythologies, connect them in meaningful ways, and present them to us so we'll understand is unsurpassed! Here we have a collection of his lectures given on the relevance of mythology to our modern society (circa the mid-20th century - Campbell passed away in 1987) and our personal lives. I find myself so inspired reading these stories, that I actually had some personal revelations while turning these pages. Here we read about mythology as it impacts East and West, psychology, science, space exploration and more. Particularly interesting is the chapter connecting schizophrenia, LSD, shamanism and the personal spiritual experience. I cannot possibly recommend Campbell's writings enough! He is the Einstein, Copernicus, Mozart and Van Gogh of mythology all wrapped up in one! |
| Farrar, Janet and Stewart | The Witches' God | Written as the companion to The Witches' Goddess, this book covers the many faces of the God - Sun God, Wisdom God, Horned God, Sacrificed God, War God, Holly King/Oak King, and many more. As with The Witches' Goddess, 13 specific Gods are covered in detail, including Pan, Osiris, Thoth, Loki, Ra, Zeus and Eros (with excellent rituals for each). Along with the listing of over 1,000 gods and their aspects, this serves as a perfect reference on the God. |
| Farrar, Janet and Stewart | The Witches' Goddess | This book contains everything you need to know about the Goddess. The Earth Mother. The Bright & Dark Mother. The Moon Goddess. The Triple Goddess. All of her important aspects are explained with clear and easy to understand language. Along with a list of over 1,000 goddesses, the Farrars cover 13 goddesses individually (including Demeter, Persephone, Brighid, Aphrodite, Aradia, Isis and more), including awesome rituals to perform for each. Read this and then pick up The Witches' God, the companion book to this one. This is a must-have for any Witch! |
| Faulkner, Raymond | The Egyptian Book Of The Dead | Properly known as "The Book Of Going Forth By Day," this famous work gives tremendous insight into the Egyptian idea of the afterlife. This particular version improves upon Sir Wallas Budge's version a century ago, in light of new scholarship and archeological evidence, as well as other papyri that have surfaced. Also, for the first time, the entire scroll is provided in beautiful color reproductions along with the translation. The Book Of The Dead is essentially a guidebook for the deceased to enable them to take their seat among the gods in the afterlife. There are many spells and incantations (yes, the Egyptians used the science of Magick) to help the soul beyond physical death. Noteworthy are the many deities that are mentioned, and the way the deceased is contantly identified as (not with) Osiris. A must-have for spiritual seekers! |
| Graves, Robert | The Greek Myths: Volume 1 | Graves combines all of the sources on Greek myth - Ovid, Homer, Apollodorus, Herodotus, Plato, Pausanias and more - to give a complete account of the heroes and deities of ancient Greece. Zeus, Aphrodite, Hecate, Dionysus, Eros, and all the rest are accounted for and described in full in this scholarly yet accessible work. We learn not only the basis for all of these figures, but also - through Graves' copious notes on each myth - about the stories behind the stories. The Greek Myths is sure to be the reference guide to Greek myth for generations to come! |
| Graves, Robert | The Greek Myths: Volume 2 | Second book, completing Graves' thorough review of Greek mythology (see above). I highly recommend these books for the serious student of Pagan mythology. |
| Graves, Robert | The White Goddess | In this classic work, Graves explores the stories behind the earliest European deities, the White Goddess of Birth, Love and Death, who has been worshipped under countless titles. While his scholarship includes some points that have been refuted, this whole book is an absolute treasure. It's on my "Must Read" list. |
| Robinson, James M. | The Nag Hammadi Library | Discovered in a cave in Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945, these writings are a treasure-house of Gnostic religion. This book presents the entire collection in English. None of these documents were written later than the 4th century C.E., which is the same time the Nicaean Council created the Christian Bible. It was, basically, put to vote which works to include in the Bible, and (more importantly) which works to exclude. In most cases, any writings that contradicted the Council's chosen Bible were destroyed. So, with the Nag Hammadi library, we are allowed to see works that present a quite different view of Christianity. In the early days, it was basically the Gnostics vs. the Orthodox Christians. Eventually, the Orthodox Church wins, which is an absolute shame, because the Gnostics found such beautiful meaning in the Christian faith! This is a wonderful collection, and something that cannot be ignored by modern Christians indefinitely! |
| Tedlock, Dennist | Popol Vuh | The Popol Vuh is basically the Mayan bible. It describes creation, the first gods, the first people, and at the same time incorporates the Mayan calendar in the form of myth. Originally a book of hieroglyphs, it was translated into the Roman alphabet in the sixteenth century. At the time, Spanish invaders were converting the Mayans to Christianity, and so the Popol Vuh was written down to preserve it from extinction. The Mayans are still active in Central America to this day, and this book provides us with another way of seeing the beginning of this wonderful world we live in. |
| Various Authors | The Bible | Did I list this book here? Yes I did. This book can be - and is - interpreted in so many ways, that the only way you'll come to your own understanding of it is if you read it yourself. I recommend it to everyone, but in particular (a) Christians, so that they'll find the truth for themselves, instead of having it handed to them by people who claim to understand "better than you," and (b) Pagans, because we should learn about other religions in order to extend to their adherents the same tolerance we expect of them. It helps to know what you're talking about when proclaiming a "truth." Whether that can be found in this book, I leave to the reader. And that's how it should be. |
HIGH MAGICK & OCCULT
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| Agrippa, Henry Cornelius | Three Books of Occult Philosophy - Edited by Donald Tyson | This work, published in 1531, details Agrippa's life-long search for ancient wisdom. Much of today's ceremonial magick, as well as correspondences, are based on this work. This is one huge book, and the source of much of what you'll read on the Craft. Tyson provides hundreds of footnotes giving clear explanation of what Agrippa was referring to or trying to explain. This book is a complete sourcebook to High Magick. |
| Crowley, Aleister | Magick, Book 4 (Liber ABA) | The Master Therion's magnum opus, divided into four parts: Part I: Mysticism, Part II: Magick (Elementary Theory), Part III: Magick in Theory and Practice, and Part IV: Thelema - The Law. It's an incredible book (over 800 pages, including multiple indices) with an incredible price ($80, Second Revised Edition). Before your jaw hits the floor, let me tell you that this book is worth the price! You will not find a more lucid, complete guide to magick anywhere else. In this book you'll find clear explanations of meditations, magickal practice, ritual, and the story behind AL: Liber Legis (The Book of the Law). The appendices are loaded with further writings from Crowley, as well as ceremonies and courses of study for the O.T.O. and the A.A. (including the complete Gnostic Mass). $80 is cheap!!! |
| Crowley, Aleister | 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings | This book actually contains three works, Gematria, 777, and Sepher Sephiroth. I can tell you that Gematria is, basically, an explanation of the numerology of the Hebrew alphabet. Sepher Sephiroth is likewise a table of numeric values of Hebrew words. The gem tucked between these is 777, an absolute masterpiece of essay and table of correspondences! I'd have preferred to have 777 on its own, but it's worth the price of the book for this section alone. The tables are so well used in the modern Pagan movement (and very seldom credited to the source) that I believe any student of Paganism should consider this required reading! |
| Crowley, Aleister | The Book of Lies | This book, published in 1913, consists of 93 chapters, some of which may be as short as a single word, or as long as a few paragraphs. This work is something that must be deciphered by the individual reader. An understanding of the symbology of Freemasonry or involvement in the O.T.O. would be quite helpful! This book is definitely a tough read. |
| Crowley, Aleister | The Book of the Law | Said to be dictated to Crowley by a "messenger" named Aiwass over three days in 1904 while he was in Cairo. Page 9 states, "This Book lays down a simple Code of Conduct. 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will.'" While this is an understandable, and even welcome, message, much of the book consists of chapters and verses somewhat in biblical style. It's cryptic messages demand the reader to look beyond the lines and search for their own truth - a life-long journey in itself! |
| Crowley, Aleister | Enochian Sex Magick | Despite the title, there is extremely little mention of sex in this book, published in 1912. This guidebook to working with angellic energies, elementals, and Enochian symbolism is definitely an advanced course of study. The authors, which include Lon Milo Duquette and Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D., claim that mastery of this system brings the user into control of fantastic and powerful energies. A very focused study might just pay off if you're willing to invest that kind of time. |
| Fortune, Dion | The Mystical Qabalah | I put off studying the Qabalah for years, thinking its complexity would be too involved and of no use in my spiritual outlook. I was wrong on both counts. Fortune laid this system down (in 1935, but this book includes editorial updates) in a comprehensible way, with enough repetition to keep the reader from skipping back and forth through the book to remember terms and definitions. The Qabalah may be Hebrew in origin, but as Fortune shows, it can be applied to any religious pantheon without the slightest altering of meanings or structure. Also, if you ever hope to understand the Tarot, you MUST read this book! (See The Book of Thoth, by Aleister Crowley) |
| Mathers, S.L. MacGregor | The Key of Solomon the King | Mathers was a 19th century authority on ceremonial magic, and head of the Order of the Golden Dawn. This book, first published in 1914, claims to put forth the writings of King Solomon (á la Old Testament), "translated from ancient manuscripts in the British Museum." I don't personally accept this "authority" of the writing, but take it as certainly early 16th century attempts to validate the ceremonial magic blossoming at the time. These writings assume the existence of "demons" and "angels" and gives rituals and evocations to summon these beings and command their obedience. Since I don't believe the Higher Spirits can - or should - be commanded, I rather like this book for its early descriptions of the Circle, the Quarters, and ritual nudity which pre-dates Gardner (many wrongly claim that Gardner invented this for modern Wicca). |
| Regardie, Israel | The Golden Dawn | Like Crowley and Fortune, Regardie was initiated into the Inner Order of the Golden Dawn. And, also like them, he published this secret knowledge which they swore under oath not to reveal. The world of Wicca would never be what it currently is if they had, indeed, kept those oaths. The Golden Dawn, founded in the 19th century, is the foundation for much of Wicca's ceremonial magick. Here you'll find the detailed ceremonies, rituals, and deepest secrets of the Golden Dawn. Originally a 1200 page volume, the type-face was reduced to cram it into 800 pages, so have some bright light and Advil handy. Aside from the exaggerated Hebrew/Christian slant of the Golden Dawn's teachings (the Egyptian material seems out of place among the "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" Jehovah stuff), I found a ton of valuable information in this book! |
| Wasserman, James | Art and Symbols of the Occult | Wasserman provides a lavishly illustrated guide to ancient symbolism. Included are several beautiful paintings, as well as Tarot cards. This books gives a beautiful overview of the symbolism of our ancestors. |
GREEK & ROMAN WRITERS
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| Apuleius, Lucius | The Golden Ass | Translated by Robert Graves. Written in the 2nd century CE, Lucius describes how his desire to learn magic from a Witch leads to his being transformed into an ass. His experiences lead him from one run of bad luck to another, from his slavery as a beast of burden to a woman who . . . uhm, loves him, to his eventual becoming a Priest of the goddess Isis, who saves him from his problems. This is a classic tale, easy to read, and a wonderful story! |
| Aurelius, Marcus | Meditations | Translated by Gregory Hays. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus lived from 121 - 180 CE, becoming the emperor of Rome in 161 CE. Meditations contains so many thoughts and wonderful insights that it is impossible to do it justice here. Suffice it to say, this is a must-have! One of several hundred of my favorite quotes, "Awaken; return to yourself. Now, no longer asleep, knowing that they were only dreams, clear-headed again, treat everything around you as a dream." |
| Barnes, Jonathan | Early Greek Philosophy | Barnes provides us with the words of the greatest of Greece's ancient philosophers - Pythagoras, Herclitus, Xenophanes, Zeno, Empedocles, Democritus and many more! Great source-book to find the actual words of these great minds, as well as an educational walk through the minds of the Greeks. |
| Celsus | On the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians | Translated by R. Joseph Hoffmann. Celsus, writing in 178 CE, wrote this work in light of the new religion taking hold in Greece. A philosopher of equal caliber with Plato, Celsus considers the doctrine and supporting myth of Christianity. He shows how the myth of Jesus is not much different from those of Zeus, Mithras, Attis, Dionysus and Osiris. Celsus' writings were so powerful and dead-on that the Church found and burned every copy of his work. Ironically, Origen - a prominent proponent of the new religion - wrote an attack against him called Contra Celsus, or "Against Celsus." Origen quoted nearly every bit of Celsus' work, thereby unwittingly perserving what they were trying to destroy. I would challenge any fundamentalist to read this work and tell me their beliefs have not changed! |
| Cicero | On The Good Life | Translated by Michael Grant. This collection of writings includes Discussions at Tusculum, On Duties, Laelius: On Friendship, On The Orator and The Dream of Scipio. For the most part, I found these writings pretty boring. A lot of this material covers the concerns of a retired aristocrat: the loyalty of friends, winning popularity, proper speaking, etc. Even the discussions of whether a wise man is happy is pretty tedious. The Dream of Scipio, short as it is, is probably the most interesting work included here - it covers the afterlife. Favorite quote: "Your real self is not that corporeal, palpable shape, but the spirit inside. Understand that you are a god." |
| Cicero | The Nature of the Gods | Translated by Horace P. McGregor. Written around 45 BCE, this work is divided into three Books. The first addresses Stocism, the second Epicurianism, and the last Academian. Each of these positions provides different answers for such questions as Are there gods?, Do they intervene in human affairs?, Do they require our worship?, and Do morals (a word invented by Cicero) rely upon religion?. The three different viewpoints expressed on these and many other questions will really make you think. You'll also realize that no religious belief is above questioning, and that religious tolerance is the only answer to human peace. As Cicero says (p. 220), "My gods are very different from those which you commend to my belief." Not enough people, even today, can seem to live with that! |
| Euripides | The Bacchae and Other Plays | Translated by Philip Vellacott. Euripides lived from 484 to 406 BCE. This book includes four plays, including Ion, a story of a boy fathered by Apollo; The Women of Troy, a story of the fate of the women captured by the Greeks in that war; Helen, a very different take on Helen's real role in the Trojan War; and The Bacchae, when Dionysus comes to town and his worship becomes popular, one man sets out to stop these "immoral" practices, but he's in for a nasty suprise! Euripides wrote about religious scepticism, women's rights, and the descructive folly of war. These four plays are a very nice snapshot into the Greek mind 2400 years ago, revealing ideals that show what I believe to be the moral superiority of ancient Greece. |
| Herodotus | The Histories | Herodotus, writing in the 5th century BCE, presents an excellent snapshot of ancient Greece. This book is mainly about Persian kings and their desire to conquer the known world. But we also learn of the ancient customs and beliefs of the Lydians, Lybians, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Indians, Scythians, Thracians, Babylonians and more. This book is certainly important for its details of the Persian wars, but I read it for the first-hand accounts of various ancient customs. Over 600 pages from the "Father of History," Herodotus! Favorite quote (p. 468), "If all mankind agreed to meet, and everyone brought his own sufferings along with him for the purpose of exchanging them for somebody else's, there is not a man who, after taking a good look at his neighbor's sufferings, would not be only too happy to return home with his own." |
| Hesiod | Theogony, Works And Days | Translated by M.L. West. Hesiod is among the oldest Greek poets, believed to even predate Homer. These two works may very well be the world's oldest representation of Greek thought. Theogony presents us with the history of the gods - more than 300 gods and goddesses are mentioned, along with our first known mentions of Pandora, Prometheus and others. Works And Days is primarily a guide to being a farmer, but many jewels of wisdom are tucked into this piece. Nearly 3000 years old, this work wonderfully illustrates the moral character of Greece prior to the New Religion's invasion. And we're given proof that the ancient "heathens" had a wonderful sense of life, ethics, and acceptance of the Divine. This book illustrates why I hold Pagansim as the most honest and sacred religion on Earth, even today. |
| Homer | The Iliad | Translated by Robert Fagles. If you've seen the movie Troy, then you've seen what this book is about, minus all the gods and goddesses. The Argives seek to destroy Troy over Paris' abduction of Helen. Lots of blood gets shed, and the book ends with the funeral rites for Hector. In the book (actually, a poem over 15,000 lines long), the gods guide the entire war - some favor Troy, some favor the Greeks. Written some 2700 years ago, this work is all about war, in very graphic detail. Yes, there's mythology, but later Greek works are much more fruitful in this regard. |
| Homer | The Odyssey | Translated by Robert Fagles. The sequel to the Iliad, this is the story of Odyseus' 10 year long journey home from the war at Troy. His wife barely clings to the hope Odyseus is still alive, while suitors hound her day and night to give up on him and re-marry. Just as it was in the Iliad, the gods have their hands in everything. We learn how Troy really fell, how the "Trojan horse" came to be, and how the great warriors' lives turned out to be. But here we also find the great legends: Odyseus encounters the Cyclops, the Sirens, the nymph Calypso (who offers him immortality to stay with her), the monstrous Scylla and vortex-churning Charybdis, and of course, the island of the bewitching Circe, who turns Odyseus' men into pigs and seduces him. This story, which has influenced the world for over 2700 years, is the meat and potatoes of mythology! |
| Julian | Against The Galileans | Julian was the Emporer of Rome around 360 CE. He was well aware of the religion taking hold of the empire, with much thanks to his uncle, Constantine. Julian sought to re-instate paganism in the empire. His treatise, written when he was in his early thirties, outlines his objections against (and acquaintance with) the newly forming Christian doctrine. Julian was the last Roman emperor to attempt to overcome the new religion. In this work, we read his reasons, his overall religious tolerance, and why being the nice guy doesn't mean you'll win. If a president of America were elected with Julian's views, this country might become great. But my opinion is that this will never happen. Judeo-Christian jealousy for power will rule this nation, to its own detriment. Julian shows us, indeed warns us, to pay attention. |
| Lewis, Jon E. | The Mammoth Book of Eyewitness Ancient Rome | Lewis has selected writings from 753 BCE to 565 CE, covering the entire range of the great Roman Empire. We are given the eyewitness accounts of those who were there, from Plutarch describing the Vestal Virgins, to Julius Caesar describing the Druids of Brittain, to Juvenal describing the perversions of Emperors. Also included are many writings from people simply describing life, their society, and manners. When the writings don't speak for themselves (and most do), Lewis provides a short introduction to provide a clear picture for the reader. We're given an account of a visit with Attila the Hun (actually a very well-mannered king), and the drama between Mark Antony and Cleopatra. This is simply a wonderful sourcebook for anyone wanted the first-hand account of life in ancient Rome! |
| Lucian | Selected Satires of Lucian | Translated by Lionel Casson. Lucian, born in Syria in the second century CE, recognized almost 2000 years ago what stand-up comedians know today: You don't have to make up jokes. Just report the facts, those are funny enough. Lucian was a gifted writer, and no idea, emperor or religion was safe from his wit. In this collection, we have his writings on the gods (Zeus, Hermes, Pan, Eros, Hera, Pluto, etc.), historical people (Timon, Charon, Alexander the "Quack Prophet") and philosophers (Pythagoras, Socrates, Diogenes, Heraclitus, Chrysippus, etc.). Lucian lived during the longest period of peace the Western world has ever known, before or since. People had a lot of time on their hands - ideas, religions, and philosohpies were abundant. Lucian shows us what the world looks like when it's okay to question everything. Perhaps someday we'll see a world like that again! |
| Meyer, Marvin W. | The Ancient Mysteries | The "Mysteries" of ancient times remains to us . . . well, a mystery. Initiates without exception were bound to oaths of secrecy, and because of this, we have very little first-hand knowledge of what was taught in the inner sanctums of the secret societies known as "The Mysteries." But well enough was hinted at by ancient authors that we may at least get a general idea. Here, in this book, Meyer has collected the clearest indications of what the Mysteries at least meant to some ancient Initiates. We hear from Aristophenes, Plutarch, Lucian, Livy, Pausanias, Plato and even Christian authors describing what they felt about the Mysteries. Though we'll never get to be an Initiate of these ancient schools of spiritual wisdom, these writings provide at least a key for our own understanding of how they affected the lives of those who were. |
| Ovid | Metamorphoses | Translated by David Raeburn. Ovid, or "Publius Ovidius Naso," was a prolific writer. Born in 43 BCE, he wrote Metamorphoses sometime before the year 8 CE. This story is rather a compendium of the mythology of the time. Beginning with the original Pagan version of Creation and the Flood, we read about many dozen characters, including Pan, Narcissus and Echo, Pentheus and Bacchus, Mars and Venus, Minerva and the Muses, Scylla and Minos, Orpheus, Midas, Rumour, Aeneas, Circe, Pythagoras, Aesculapius and many more. If you only read one book on mythology, this would be the one! I wish I had read this gem years ago. It really puts forth Pagan mythology in a very clear, understandable, and entertaining way! |
| Plato | The Republic and Other Works | Translated by B. Jowett. These writings, describing the adventures of Socrates, are an absolute motherlode of Greek wisdom. These words, from the 5th century B.C.E., are as true today as they were then. Included in this edition are The Republic, The Symposium, Parmenides, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo. Random quote (pg. 404): "Whenever it is it is always now." Socrates totally rocks! |
| Pliny the Elder | Natural History: A Selection | Translated and edited by John F. Healy. Pliny, or Gaius Plinius Secundus, collected all of the known scientific knowledge in Rome and put it to writing in the 70's CE. The result was a work - in 37 books - called Natural History. Healy has condensed these writings into a single accessible book that covers the best of this collection. Pliny preserved not only the current knowledge of Rome, but also covered custom and cultural differences between countries of the known world at the time. Favorite quote (pg. 268), "No one will doubt that the origin of magic lay in medicine." |
| Plutarch | Greek Lives | Translated by Robin Waterfield. Plutarch actually wrote a tremendous series called Parallel Lives. Waterfield has simply reduced this series - along with all modern scholarship - into Roman lives and Greek lives. Plutarch, writing early in the second century CE, gives us accounts of Lycurgus, Solon, Themisocles, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades, Agesilaus and Alexander. Especially valuable is Plutarch's take on the events, seeing how Plutarch is a priest of Apollo. He is also a Greek by birth. He provides much more insight into the Greek rulers from Greece's beginnings down to his own day. |
| Plutarch | Roman Lives | Translated by Robin Waterfield. Plutarch actually wrote a tremendous series called Parallel Lives. Waterfield has simply reduced this series - along with all modern scholarship - into Roman lives and Greek lives. Here we have Plutarch's accounts of Cato the Elder, Aemilius Paulius, The Gracchi, Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Caesar and Antony. Most authors of the period concentrate on the military details. Plutarch focuses on the character behind the ruler. We find many valuable and rare references concerning the Emporers of the day. |
| Plutarch | Moralia: Volume I | Translated by Frank C. Babbitt. Plutarch's first writings concentrated on philosophy. His collected writings, commonly known as the Moralia, constitute his ventures into philosophical thought prior to his work on Parallel Lives. Volume I (of about 15 in the Classic Library) covers topics such as The Education of Children, How the Young Man Should Study Poetry, How To Tell A Flatterer From A Friend, and How a Man May Become Aware of His Progress in Virtue. Plutarch's observations, acute awareness of the practicality of philosophy, and his ability to apply known knowledge to life is expressed vividly in his works on Moralia. |
| Plutarch | Moralia: Volume VI | Translated by Frank C. Babbitt. Topics covered in this volume include Can Virtue Be Taught?, On Moral Virtue, On Tranquility of Mind, On Affection For Offspring, and Concerning Talkativeness. Plutarch provides his shrewd powers of observation to these subjects and more. A note of irony, the chapter Concerning Talkitiveness is among the longest chapters in this volume! |
| Porphyry | Against the Christians | Translated by R. Joseph Hoffman. It's obvious that by Porphyry's time (circa 300 CE), the Bible as we know it was taking shape, and subsequently open to Pagan objections to its doctrine. Of course, when Christianity got the upper hand, all works of this kind were sought out and burned. Some survived the destruction, but in Porphyry's case, only barely. But what he has to say concerning the Bible is quite insightful. Hence, damaging to the new belief. Hence, destroyed as much as possible. This edition suppliments the scanty remains with some excellent history of other critics of Christianity, which I also found quite interesting. This was certainly worth reading! |
| Virgil | The Aeneid | This classic from Virgil, written early in the 1st Century BCE, portrays the legendary founding of Rome. The refugees from Troy, fallen through battle with the Greeks, sail in search of a new land, a New Troy. With much intervention from the gods and goddesses, Rome is founded after all the difficulties that could infect such a tragic hero as Aeneas. |
SCIENCE
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| Bryson, Bill | A Short History of Nearly Everything | Bryson tells, in a perfect story-teller fashion, how we learned how to weigh the Earth, how we can tell how old it is, and what it's made of, down to the tiniest quark. Also exploring how life has evolved from a rich sea of chemicals to the diverse planet we see today. An excellent book! |
| Capra, Fritjof | The Tao of Physics | Originally written in 1975, and updated in 1999, Capra - a theoretical physicist - shows us that modern physics is learning that, at the fundamental level, reality can't be said to be "real." In other words, science is discovering what the ancient Eastern mystics were teaching thousands of years ago. Capra walks us through, with much-needed diagrams, what science has to say about reality, and how that relates to those mystics. Capra speaks of "Nature, who, like the Zen masters, does not provide any statements. She just provides the riddles." This is kind of an involved book, with lots of science in it. But if you're up for it, Capra will show you how the New Physics is confirming the Old Religion! |
| Dennet, Daniel C. | Consciousness Explained | Dennet is an old-school philosopher. He feels, with this book, that he's provided the evidence that eliminates the need for a hypothesis of a "soul." While I'm quite convinced he's established a very workable thesis about consciousness, I feel Dennet has claimed the trophy a bit too soon. He's certainly explained many aspects of our consciousness in this work, but to claim that he's done away with the need for the "soul hypothesis" is quite overstated. What Dennet has done is provide us with a very valuable view of the mind. For those of us that consider our existence to be of mind/body/spirit, Dennet does well to illuminate the mind. Remember, if you read this book, that he never ventures into the mysteries of the soul. A very good materialist work to study for insights into the mind. |
| Emoto, Masaru | The Hidden Messages in Water | The work of Masaru Emoto was featured recently in What the BLEEP Do We Know?. Emoto shows that water molecules are affected by our thoughts. He will take a water sample, expose it to words like "Thank You" or "I Hate You", and then takes pictures as the water is brought down to freezing. Many other techniques are highlighted in this book, along with several dozen amazing pictures of his work. Perhaps even more amazing: his work has been verified by other experiments. As the movie said, "It makes you wonder, doesn't it? If our thoughts can do that to water, imagine what our thoughts can do to us." |
| Ferris, Timothy | The Whole Shebang | Ferris skillfully covers subjects like the shape of space, dark matter, cosmic evolution, the Big Bang and the origin of the universe, quantum physics, and scientific paradoxes. In our effort to know the world we live in, I highly recommend this book in that quest. |
| Goswami, Amit | The Self-Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World | Dr. Goswami, one of the quantum physicists highlighted in the film What the BLEEP Do We Know?, explains how quantum physics points the way to bringing science and religion together, based on the facts implied by the New Science. In essence, if quantum physics is correct - and all evidence says it is - then we have to rethink modern religion. Goswami intoduces us to the basics of quantum physics, and then explains the repercussions of what that means when we think about what we call "material reality." It's a hard concept to wrap your brain around, until you realize that you are not your brain, you are your consciousness. That's why I call this book "Advanced." |
| Hawking, Stephen | A Brief History of Time | In this best-seller, Hawking asks - and answers - such questions as, "What do we know about the universe, and how do we know it? Where did it come from and where is it going? Can we go back in time?" He answers these, along with what the ancients believed, and what we've learned since then. If you only read one book on science, this is the one to read! |
| Jung, Carl G. | Man and His Symbols | I was reluctant whether to put this review here or under "Mythology," since mythology is the same as symbolism. I chose "Science" because Jung was, after all, a psychologist. This book, Jung's last work before passing on in 1961, was his first and only work aimed at the non-professional layman. Here, his complicated yet brilliant ideas are understandable to all - the archetypes, animus and anima, synchronicity, the interpretation of dreams, and more. What might be most shocking to the reader is the way Jung's theories mesh so smoothly with the discoveries of modern physics. We find with Jung, just as we do with Quantum Physics, that mankind really is coming closer to understanding the true nature of the universe, and our soul. |
| Lawton, Ian | Genesis Unveiled | Lawton reviews the evidence of archeology, geology, ancient and modern writings, and world religions in search of the origin of the soul. Lawton presents an impressive amount of evidence of the nature of the soul, which, he believes points to the possibility that "at some point in human history a number of angelic souls incarnated deliberately to introduce 'civilisation' [on Earth] once the time was right." He also believes there was an advanced civilation before a catastrophic event (the Flood) nearly rendered them extinct around 11,500 years ago. He admits, "I am clearly exploring possibilities here, and indulging in considerable conjecture." I fully agree. But for all this book offers on the nature of the human soul, I consider it a very valuable read! |
| Lipton, Bruce | The Biology of Belief | Lipton, a cellular biologist, looks at the human soul from a medical standpoint. Science is notorious for ignoring things it can't explain - the afterlife, ESP, psychics, Michael Jackson. Lipton shows us that medical science already has some pieces to the puzzle of the human soul. He explains cells as "little humans," because they function much like a self-contained being. He also discusses the power of mind when it comes to healing - ourselves as well as others. This book is not so "medical" that you'll get bored. Everything he mentions ties in to the bigger picture, and he doesn't assume we know anything about cellular biology. Not only do I see who I am differently, I also have plenty of science backing up my beliefs. Our minds can change the world! |
| McTaggart, Lynne | The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe | McTaggart combines a vast array of scientific research to show that mankind is on the verge of verifying the underlying force in the universe that explains mental telepathy, astral travel (also known as "remote viewing"), psychic powers, even the survival of the consciousness after death! I'm not talking about theories here - we're talking scientific proof! This book will change ANY sceptic mind about the ability of magic to be effective, and for any of us to use our natural human psychic abilities. This book is nothing short of life-changing. I consider it REQUIRED READING! |
| Sagan, Carl | Billons & Billions | Sagan explores scientific discoveries and their influence on humanity's common goals. He discusses environmentalism, life here and on other planets, even whether one can be scientifically pro-choice, and what science and religion have in common. This was Sagan's last book before his death in 1996, and arguably the most thoughtful science book ever written. |
| Sagan, Carl | Brocha's Brain | Carl Sagan may have been a dyed-in-the-wool atheist, suspicious of anything science couldn't prove, but when it came to science itself, Sagan was able to explain the universe around us as if we were six year olds, and he made us understand! In this book, he discusses the people and events in science that have changed our world. An interesting appendix shows the equations proving it would be impossible for the earth to stop spinning without decimating life on our planet (see the biblical story of Joshua). Sagan sure was an interesting fellow. |
| Tiller, William | Conscious Acts of Creation | Electrical devices can be imprinted with human intention by mental concentration. Whole rooms can be "conditioned" as a result and display curious phenomena. Tiller also has some very fascinating ideas about how Quantum Theory can become the bridge that unites science and spirituality, with evidence to back all of this up. Therein lies the problem. You see, this book was written for the scientific community, and therefore consists mostly of phsyics and chemistry equations and their technical descriptions. What I did understand, I found utterly fascinating! But unless you're familiar with things like biconformal space, Gauge symmetry, and Fourier transforms, I'd save myself the $30 and instead get The Field (reviewed above). |
ASTROLOGY
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| Crawford, Saffi & Sullivan, Geraldine | The Power of Birthdays, Stars & Numbers | Basically, this huge book tells of the astrological and numerical significance of every day of the year. Handy if you're curious how special a person's birthday, anniversary, or other occasion means. |
| Woolfolk, Joanna Martine | The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need | Okay, maybe not the only one you'll ever need, but the perfect place to start! From people who just want to understand astrology to those who actually want to put it to practice, this book really is enough to get you well on your way. I’ve used this book so much that the binding looks 100 years old! It doesn’t delve too deep into “aspect” readings, but it’s enough for the person who wants to understand astrology without being a professional. |
TAOISM, BUDDHISM & HINDUISM
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| Das, Lama Surya | Awakening To The Sacred | This book is written for the spiritual seeker. Lama Das says on page 260, "As spiritual seekers, I think it's important that we stay open to understanding and accepting the many ways men and women use different words to describe essentially the same concepts." This is, essentially, the tone of this wonderful book from beginning to end. He illustrates the many ways Buddhist practice not only doesn't conflict with any other religion, but can actually enhance it . . . yes, even Christianity! This book covers everything from the mundane (how to find your lost car keys) to discussion on God, reincarnation and Karma. What I love about this book is that it can be used by anyone. Or, rather, it should be! |
| Douglas, Bill | The Complete Idiot's Gude To T'ai Chi & Qi Gong | Eastern culture is not just about what you know, it includes applying what you know. T'ai Chi and QiGong are excellent ways of not only improving your health, but improving your life! This book tells us what T'ai Chi & QiGong are, where they came from and how to apply them. But he also tells us why to apply them. The book comes with a DVD which illustrates an entire T'ai Chi form (also completely illustrated in the book). If you want to test the waters, but don't want to jump into paid instruction, this has got to be the best resource on the planet! As Douglas says, "T'ai Chi reminds us that we are part of the universe and that, in fact, we are made of the same energy stars and everything else are made of." |
| Easwaran, Eknath | The Bhagavad Gita | The Gita is actually one part of a much larger ancient Indian work known as the Mahabharata. But the Gita itself is so self-contained as a story, that some scholars believe it was merely added to the larger work so that it's survival would be assured. The story is this: On the day of a great battle, prince Arjuna hesitates to lead his army against the enemy - he has family and acquaintances on the opposing side, and ends up questioning not only whether to fight, but what life really means. Luckily for him, his charioteer is the god Krishna, disguised (at first) as merely his driver. Krishna then illuminates Arjuna on the truth of life's mystery. This book is just too incredible for me to do it justice here. Read this book, along with the Upanishads, no matter what path you're on! |
| Easwaran, Eknath | The Dhammapada | Here we have the teachings of the Buddha himself. As always, Easwaran provides us with sufficient background to take these words at their value. And what value they are! I'd love to write a sufficient review of this book, but actually I'd have to provide a whole web page for it. I hope that simply my adoration of it's depth and value will spur one single person to read it for themself. It will (no exaggeration here) change the way you view your own life, and the world around you! |
| Easwaran, Eknath | The Upanishads | "What is an Upanishad? Etymologically the word suggests 'sitting down near': that is, at the feet of an illumined teacher in an intimate session of spiritual instruction." So Easwaran explains in the introduction to the Upanishads - the 3000 year old sacred writings of ancient India which, along with the Vedas, outlined a religious system where all of the power lies within each student, each seeker of truth. Within these stories lies the most thought-provoking words you may ever find. Out of countless favorite quotes from this book, I only have space for one: "It is the mind that frees us or enslaves." (Amritabindu Upanishad) I very highly recommend this book! |
| Hanh, Thich Nhat | Living Buddha, Living Christ | Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced TICK NOT HAWN) is a world renouned Buddhist, second only perhaps to the Dalai Lama Himself! This short but wonderful book shows the common ground shared between Buddhism and Christianity. I wish every Christian would read this book, so that they too can find an appreciation for the multiplicity of spiritual paths. The most important things in life aren't necessarily what we believe, it's what we do. As Hanh says, "It is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of practice." |
| Huang, Alfred | The Complete I Ching | Taoist Master Huang provides what he considers to be the most accurate translation of the I Ching yet. As he says, "The I Ching is a book that speaks in images, not words," referring to the ancient Chinese characters that formed writing back then. Dissatisfied with the current translations available (translated by Americans), Huang took his cultural view of China, along with its history, and provides the wonderful framework for us to study. The I Ching, is - primarily - a book of divination. But just reading through it will provide you with enough knowledge and wisdom to improve your life. The wonderful symbolism and words of the I Ching must speak for themselves. |
| Rinpoche, Sogyal | The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying | Rinpoche gives us a full-length guide to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, offering years of insights and layman's explanations of the path of the Buddha. The most remarkable thing about this book is the reassurance it gives the reader, including even scientific research into near-death experiences and the survival of the soul. Rinpoche explains what Buddhism has to say about our next life, and how we can prepare for - and even take comfort in - our ulitmate death. This is totally a must-read, no matter what your faith - or level of skepticism - is! |
| Saraswati, Swami Ambikananda | The Uddhava Gita | The Uddhava Gita is the concluding story of Krishna's incarnation on the earth. This faithful translation offers his parting words to his faithful disciple Uddhava. Nothing teaches better than Eastern texts the value our deity holds for us. Krishna says, "Rest assured that whatever is offered to me in devotion and faith, is dear to me." (pg. 215) |
| Tsu, Lao | Tao Te Ching | Tao Te Ching can be translated many ways, but it basically means The Book (ching) of the Way (tao) of Virtue (te). Lao Tsu, seeking escape from the decay of society, resolved to go live alone in the desert. He was stopped along the way by a gatekeeper who had heard of Lao Tsu's wisdom, and begged him to write it down. Now we have the Tao Te Ching, 2500 years old and full of true wisdom to live by. "Accept being unimportant." "Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things." And one of my favorties: "With an open mind, you will be openhearted. Being openhearted, you will act royally. Being royal, you will attain the divine." KICK ASS! |
| Waley, Arthur | The Analects of Confucius | When exactly the man known as "Confucius" lived, it's hard to pin down. He was likely contemporary with Lao Tzu (see above). His "Analects" are a collection of sayings that are, in a word, priceless. 500 years before Jesus tells anyone who is without sin to cast the first stone, Confucius tells us, "Attack the evil that is within yourself; do not attack the evil that is in others." So much ground is covered in this collection, and so much wisdom! Like this one: "I have never yet seen anyone whose desire to build up his moral power was as strong as sexual desire." See? Confucius just tells it like it is; not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear! Confucius rocks! |
TAROT
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| Crowley, Aleister | The Book of Thoth | By pure luck, I read The Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune right before I read this. I call it luck, because if I hadn't read that one, I wouldn't have really understood this one! I also happen to have a Crowley Thoth tarot deck. This book was written solely to describe the meanings behind all 78 cards, plus the general categories of Wands, Swords, Cups and Disks, their relation to the ideas of the Elements, and the story behind the Trumps. I have yet to compare the symbolism of the Thoth deck to my Rider-Waite or Witches' Tarot decks, but just having read this book, I know I'll understand the cards MUCH better than before. Of Crowley's books, I recommend this the highest. |
| Levitt, Susan | Introduction to Tarot | Levitt provides an excellent introduction to the Rider-Waite and Crowley Thoth tarot decks, complete with meanings for each card. She also includes simple hands-on excercises for use with both decks. This is an excellent beginner's guide. |
SPIRITUALITY
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| Adams, Scott | God's Debris: A Thought Experiment | Scott Adams is the creator of the Dilbert comic strip. In this book, he provides us what he calls "a 132 page thought experiment wrapped in a fictional story." A package delivery guy ends up at an old man's house, and it turns out that this old man knows everything . . . . I mean, everything! The old man asks some simple yet incredible questions: Do we have free will? Does 'God'? Does a penny? What makes a 'Holy Land' holy? Where is the soul located? Which religion is the right one? His answers (more like suggestions) are so simple, they're hard to argue against. And that is Adams' challenge to us: Find what's wrong with the old man's explanations, if you can. A short, easy read, Adams says this book is for "people who enjoy having their brains spun around inside their skulls." Mission accomplished! |
| Blavatsky, Helena | Isis Unveiled, Volume I: Science | Written in 1877, Isis Unveiled is Madame Blavatsky's defence of Theosophy - a sort of middle ground between Spiritualism and Science. In this volume, she addresses the limits of 19th century science in proving or disproving spiritual beliefs. Blavatsky shows how scientists are standing on the shoulders of the alchemists before them, without acknowledging alchemy's many contributions to humankind's knowledge. In 600 pages, she covers a vast array of topics, such as the "world-soul," gods and natural forces, evolution, "miracles," mesmirism, witchcraft (sparingly), Egyptian wisdom, Eastern mystics and much more. Although there are certainly some flaws to be found with some of her assertions, and her quotations of other sources can be laborious, this is a wonderful challenge to the accepted beliefs science and Christianity would have us believe. |
| Blavatsky, Helena | Isis Unveiled, Volume II: Theology | Written ostensibly about theology, this volume actually sets out to prove the Eastern origins of Christianity. She certainly proves the superiority of Eastern beliefs. As to origins, modern scholarship has shed much light since 1877. The value of this book is in its spirit. Blavatsky challenges everyone to question both "established" science and "established" religion. She shows how spiritual powers are inherent in everyone, and that wisest of religions allow their followers to attain it for themselves. This book is extremely valuable with regards to the modern Pagan movement. Written at the time of magickal revival, this book became inspiration for later seekers on the path of wisdom. I would recommend "Isis Unveiled" only to students interested in primary sources of modern thought. Blavatsky is unafraid of challenges to faith. Are we so bold? |
| Blavatsky, Helena | The Secret Doctrine, Volume I: Cosmogenesis | The Secret Doctrine is basically a continuation of Isis Unveiled. In Volume I, Blavatsky shows us verses from a secret text known as the Book of Dzyan, and then explains their connection of other creation stories (or cosmogeneses) mentioned in Hindu and Hebrew cultures. With a healthy skepticism, Blavatsky basically asks, "On what grounds should either science or religion be given the trophy for Truth?" I like her writing because she argues for and against her own positions. But, she can be so thorough with a subject that you'll find your eyes glazing over 20 pages after the point's been made. Still, like her other works, I like Blavatsky's writings because I love primary sources (which means I don't have anyone interpreting verses out of context). Worth reading for the serious (and patient) student. |
| Blavatsky, Helena | The Secret Doctrine, Volume II: Anthropogenesis | There have been few books I have actually had to force myself to get through. This, unfortunately, is one of them. Not that I'm unforgiving, so let me briefly explain. While Blavatsky's heart is certainly in the right place - trying to find a comfortable middle ground between the two extremes of materialism and dogmatic theology - she does so at the expense of becoming both of them. She has simply chosen to exploit the flaws of each and disregard their merits. In 700 pages she has given a good an argument as any for the idea that Darwinism and Biblical creation can both be wrong, but she did so on shaky grounds. We've come a long way in scientific research, and the "fatal flaws" she sees in science have been washed away in the last century. Theologically, she has presented a literal reading of ancient creation myths (with their several races), thus losing one of the more valuable lessons mythology has to teach us. While I generally admire her spirit, I must say that she has created a double standard with regards to Occult Philosophy. But spirit goes a long way. What I do like about this book is her willingness to take what is known and openly challenge established truisms. There are certainly kernels of truth to be found tucked away in this massive diatribe. But I still only recommend this work for the serious student of the Occult. |
| Eliade, Mircea | Rites and Symbols of Initiation: The Mysteries of Birth and Rebirth | Surveying cultures from around the world, past and present, Eliade shows us the true meaning of initiation. This book has changed my opinion of initiation. I used to think of it as unneccessary, and now I can see how it is indispensable. By undergoing an initiation, we "die" to our former selves, so that we can see the world through new eyes. We die to a profane life to be reborn into a sacred one. Eliade shows how initiation impacts people's lives, and serves to truly change ourselves from the inside out. Think initiation is an outdated concept? I challenge you to read this book. It'll change your mind! |
| Eliade, Mircea | The Sacred and The Profane: The Nature of Religion | Eliade provides us with a wonderful work showing how the profane (non-religious) becomes sacred, and how humankind has created, and still creates, a divine world. Not only is this book full of historical insight, but also mythological insight as well. This is the book that has inspired me to write my own book, simply because of the plethora of revelations I had while reading it! This book will have you seeing the Sacred in everything by the time you're done reading it. He shows us the reason myths are important, and why we strive - and why we must ever continue striving - to live them. |
| Eliade, Mircea | Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstacy | Since its publication in 1951, this book has continued to be THE sourcebook on shamanism. Eliade covers: what shamanism is, how it is practiced around the world, how different cultures feel about it, what shamanic power involves, how it is obtained, and more. Shamanic healing, masks, drums and drumming, initiation, detailed ceremonies and rites, symbology and myths. Some people in the modern Pagan community feel that we are not entitled to call anything we do "shamanistic." Eliade, the undisputed world authority on the matter, has given us everything involved in shamanism, and it shows how this power can truly be obtained and practiced by someone from any spiritual path. A must-have for every Pagan's library! |
| Harris, Sam | The End Of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason | "The End Of Faith!" Oooh! Scary language!!! Actually, the title of Harris' book is not a description of what he has demonstrated within its pages, it's simply what he's hoping for. As he says repeatedly, "Our enemy is nothing other than faith itself." By the end of the first chapter, I considered putting the book down. I mean, his arguments against faith were really just arguments against dogma, which are not the same thing. And since all I could see were the holes in his argument, I had to force my way forward. I'm glad I did, because he ends up making some very good points. He devotes a bit too much time trying to prove that Islam is a religion based on violence. His political ramblings go from insanity (we should destroy the followers of Islam before they destroy us) to some quite sane points (we should end the war on drugs, and discontinue the government's mingling with religious matters, and vice versa). Overall, this is a good book. But I still think Harris is wide of the mark when he lumps common-sense religious people in with the political and militant psychos of the world (which, I might point out, includes our dear President Bush). This book, in the end, is worth reading. But it is by no means the "end of faith." |
| Higginbotham, Joyce & River | Pagan Spirituality: A Guide To Personal Transformation | This book is way overdue! The Higginbothams provide us with the most honest and understandable approach to spiritual progress I have yet to come across. How do you know where you're at in your spiritual journey? How do you know where you're going? How can you recognize progress? With easily distinguished "developmental spaces" describing characteristics of a person's (or even a society's) level of spiritual development, we're given clear markers for self-exploration. Complete with easily performed exercises and many thought-provoking questions, this is essentially a wonderful workbook. I wish I had read this book five years ago! I consider it essential to every spiritual seeker's library. |
| Mastercraft, Quill | Fulfillment of Being: Nurturing the True Self | The general message is clear: question everything. From page 61, "The reason for doing anything should be based on whether or not it is conducive to one's spiritual journey, and not whether society or religions have determined the deed acceptable..." Religion should not serve to limit the individual, but to serve as a guide to finding their own truth: another message elaborated upon here. Where I hop off of the proverbial wagon is where she calls for abandoning language itself. To her, putting one's spiritual experience into words "is an indicator they are not as advanced on the path as they may wish others to believe." (pg. 69) While I agree that, certainly, the ultimate divine truth is beyond words, to "abandon language completely" closes the door to illuminating a potentially fulfilling path for others to follow. True, no two people's journey will be the same, but without language, who would have ever heard that such a journey was possible? She says, "Don't talk about it, live it!" I would say, "Don't just talk about it, live it!" Living with a purpose brings experience, but so does sharing this experience with others - not only in life (for those that shared it with you), but in language (for those that didn't). Differences aside, I recommend this book as an incentive for anyone needing good sound reason to forge their own way towards spiritual fulfillment. |
RESOURCES
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| Ashley, Leonard R.N. | The Complete Book of Devils and Demons | Ashley explores the role of "evil spirits" in history, with special attention paid to the evil spirit of Christianity: Satan. Covered are also the Witchcraft trials. This is actually a very good book to read on this history of thought with regards to an "evil one." |
| Bruce-Mitford, Miranda | The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols | A nicely illustrated guide to signs and symbols through the world's belief systems. Also included is commentary on the world's religions. Not in-depth, but a handy reference guide to signs and symbols. |
| Conway, D.J. | Magickal Mystical Creatures | It is said that there are mythical creatures that can be called upon to assist in magic. Pixies, Griffins and Sirens, oh my! This book lists their lore, their energies (good and bad), and how to call them to help you in your workings, and - most importantly - how to get them to go away if their bad side is causing you problems. Aside from the hundreds of listings, Conway includes some basic ritual work, candle burning, and color correspondences. |
| Llewellyn Publishing | 2004 Magical Almanac | This book from Llewellyn consists of many articles written by various authors, proving lore, rituals and ideas. The rest of the book is a calendar for every day of the year, providing holidays, moon phases (including which sign the moon is in), color and incence of the day. A very handy day-to-day reference guide to living the Path every day. |
| Llewellyn Publishing | 2004 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac | This book provides a spell, mediation, or idea for creating something for every day of the year. Llewellyn's Magical Almanac serves as a good companion to this book, but Spell-A-Day stands on it's own as a way to help you make sure every day can be magickal! |
| Mack, Carol K. and Mack, Dinah | A Field Guide to Demons | While Witches do not believe in "demons" in the modern sense, this book covers what I call the dark aspect of other spirits. Yes, you'll find Satan in this book, but you'll also find Pan (ableit only his negative aspects), as well as many more listings, with ways of protecting yourself against their influences. A handy reference book. |
| McColman, Carl | The Well-Read Witch | Witches are notorious book-readers, making us the most literate religious movement in the world. But what to read? With so many books out there, how do you know what you should be reading right now? McColman provides a nicely categorized list of works for you to choose from, along with his own brief reviews of them (some of which I disagree with, but let's not split hairs). If you're looking to expand your library, pick up this book. Or better yet, save yourself the money and just look through this list of books I've reviewed! |
| McFarland, Phoenix | The New Book of Magical Names | If you're looking for a magickal name, or you're just curious about the meaning or origin of a name, this book will serve nicely. Listing more than 7,000 names from nature, mythology, history, fiction and folklore, if you're looking for a name, it just might be in here! |
| Panati, Charles | Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things | This book covers so much! It details the origins of things like superstitions, marriage customs, the handshake, birthdays, holidays, and ordinary ojects like the dishwasher, the spoon, lawn mowers, toothbrush, cosmetics, medicine, clothing, birth control, toys, pretzels and hundreds more! Fascinating to read. |
| Waring, Philippa | A Dictionary of Omens and Superstitions | Several hundred listings in alphabetical order. From acorns (a British superstition says if you carry one with you at all times you won’t grow old) to XYZ (it is said to be unlucky for an author to have these letters in the last sentence of any book, this is an omen they will never write another). A very good reference book! |
©Copyright 2006 Syrus Wyndragon