Selected Books for Beginners & Seekers

Here are several of my favorite books to suggest for seekers. The book covers will take you to the books that are listed on Llewellyn.com , where you will get a 10% discount on many of your purchases. Underlined links go to Amazon.com where you can read more reviews and take advantage of Amazon's usual discounts. You can also read my opinions on Epinions.com.

If you are just curious about what Witchcraft, Wicca and mainstream Paganism really are, this is the book for you. It is a quick read and cuts through the myths to tell you the truth. If you follow any of these paths, it is also the perfect book to give your friends and family to help them understand what you do... and what you don't do. (There are two versions of this book. This is the lastest printing of the later and more informative one.) The Truth About Witchcraft Today - Scott Cunningham

This is the book that I most highly recommend - it is a classic in Paganism, Wicca and Women's Spirituality and is used by many, many groups & individuals:
The Spiral Dance : A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess (20th Anniversary Edition) - Starhawk

This is a great new classic which is easier to read than the Spiral Dance and has more about Witchcraft (spells, divination and the like) and incorporates some information from New Age and Eastern traditions, but has less in the way of scholarly info about Wicca.
To Ride a Silver Broomstick : New Generation Witchcraft - Silver Ravenwolf
For advanced study, here are the second and third books in this series. No matter how much I already knew, I found something new in each one and she is always easy and fun to read:
To Stir a Magick Cauldron : A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring - Silver Ravenwolf
To Light a Sacred Flame : Practical Witchcraft for the Millennium - Silver Ravenwolf
Several people have asked about books specifically written for the new generation of younger witches. I highly recommend the following, which are both written specifically for pre-teen and teenage seekers:
Spell Craft : A Primer for the Young Magician - Lilith McLelland
Teen Witch : Wicca for a New Generation - Silver Ravenwolf

This is the first (and best) course specifically on Wicca for individuals (solitaries):
Wicca : A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Scott Cunningham
Living Wicca : A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Scott Cunningham

For those seeking to start their own groups, there are now several good books available on starting your coven or ritual group:
Covencraft : Witchcraft for Three or More - Amber K
Wicca Covens : How to Start and Organize Your Own - Judy Harrow

This is a course focused on traditional/historical Wicca for groups and is used by many traditionalist covens. It is often referred to as "Buckland's Big Blue Book":
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft - Raymond Buckland

If you are interested in Dianic Wicca, (women-centered, feminist or women-only Wicca) the classic book is:
The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries : Feminist Witchcraft, Goddess Rituals, Spellcasting, and Other Womanly Arts (Complete in One Volume) - Zsuzanna Budapest
Z's is very much a respected elder in our community and while her negative feelings about men often came through in her earlier writing, she also was one of the people who started it all and has much useful and important information in her work.
Z's later books offer some wonderful ideas for women on bringing your spirituality into everyday life and are well worth a read:
The Goddess in the Office: A Personal Energy Guide for the Spiritual Warrior at Work - Zsuzsanna E. Budapest
The Goddess in the Bedroom: A Passionate Woman's Guide to Celebrating Sexuality Every Night of the Week - Zsuzsanna E. Budapest
This is my favorite book on Women's Spirituality, it is a classic of the early years. It was also the book that first gave me the permission to follow the Goddess and do things my own way. It is out of print but can be special ordered:
Womanspirit : A Guide to Women's Wisdom - Hallie Iglehart
Hallie also has a gorgeous book that shows Goddesses from around the world and gives a ritual or meditation for each of them:
The Heart of the Goddess : Art, Myth and Meditations of the World's Sacred Feminine - Hallie Iglehart Austen

These are my other two favorites on Women's Spirituality. The first book gives background information and philosophy, while the second book shows you how to put it to use in designing ritual.
The Women's Spirituality Book - Diane Stein
Casting the Circle : A Women's Book of Ritual - Diane Stein

There are many other wonderful books out there by these and other authors. Feel free to read and explore, taking what feels right for you.

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