Witchcraft and Paganism

This is a very "miscellaneous" section. There are many great reference books on the Craft, but there is also wisdom hidden in some odd sources. Many "fiction" books may give you insights; any fantasy author is usually hugging the outer edge of truth and can take you to interesting places. I would list here works by Robert Jordan, Sherri S. Tepper, Katherine Kerr and Guy Gavriel Kay especially.

I couldn't really recommend "Harry Potter" as a magical book - but if you want to engage your brain then I would very happily suggest you read Philip Pullman's "Dark Materials" series.

The works on Taoism by Benjamin Hoff are always worth a look (especially "the Tao of Pooh"). children's books are also great sources: try "the Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, or "Momo" by Michael Ende. Aleister Crowley also used to recommend that all budding occultists should read "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking glass". And who can forget the chapter "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" in "The wind in the Willows"...?

Dion Fortune also found time to write some good fiction, as well as seminal works on occultism. Try "Sea Priestess" and "Moon magic" and see if you recognise some of the rituals!

Then there's: "The mists of Avalon", Marrion Zimmer Bradley (London: Sphere Books, 1982). A book that will change your life, if you're not a pagan already. there's a lot of detail here, and a lot of poetic (if historically dubious) truth, but mostly its the "feel" that's right.

You could also try reading the writings of Robert Graves. They're not fiction, nor that easy to read, but "The White Goddess" has to be an essential in every Witches bookcase. And if you're going to read Graves, then you have to add Sir James G. Fraser's "Golden Bough", that marathon ride through Western mythology and the concept of the Solar king. Good luck if you intend to read either of them though - and remember to keep that salt cellar to hand...

Finally, remember: all seven of the Muses were Goddesses in their own right - inspiration can come from unexpected sources. Read well and widely, allow your tastes to become catholic and varied, expose yourself to art and culture (both high and low) at every opportunity, keep an open mind and a willing heart - because who knows from where the Goddess' whispers may come next... and enjoy yourself in the process!