Witchcraft and Paganism

Gerald B Gardner
Witchcraft today
London: Rider and Company, 1954

Well, we had to put it in didn't we! This is one of the first books ever written about what we now know as Wicca, written by the man that many consider to be the Grandfather of the current revival. The language is a little "colonial" in places, and some sections are purposefully obscure (this was written just after the repeal of the English "Witchcraft Laws", after all, and old habits die hard..). Some would cast doubt on whether there is any objective "truth" within these pages, but it is still an inspirational work, and should be essential reading for anyone seeking this path.

This classic of Wiccan writing has now been republished by Citadel Press - and includes essays by Ronald Hutton, Wren Walker and Tara Nelson.

You can buy this title from Amazon.co.uk from here:
Gerald Gardner: "Witchcraft Today"

Margaret A. Murray
The God of the Witches
Oxford: Oxford U.P., 1970 (re-print)

The seminal Work of Gardner's contemporary, Margaret Murray, this is a study into the existence of Witchcraft in Europe as the survival of a pre-Christian and pre-historic religion centering around the worship of the Horned God. As such it was highly influential in the early development of the Wiccan "revival".

It is still contested as to how much of Murray's Thesis is Academically correct, but such an important piece of early Craft history can hardly be missing from any Witches bookshelf.

You can buy this title from Amazon.co.uk from here:
Margaret Murray: "The God of the Witches"

Vivianne Crowley
Principles of Wicca
London: Thorsons, 1997

This book is about everything you would ever need - it's so good we now use it as our "textbook" for people seeking initial training before initiation into our coven. That said, this book has still managed to give me a few surprises - even after 8 years of study!
The text is broken into easily read chapters, each covering a main concept of Wicca, and all accompanied by simple exercises - it is worth remembering that Wicca is an experiential path: reading may give you information, but it only by doing that we learn...

You can buy this item from Amazon.co.uk from here:
Vivianne Crowley: "Principles of Wicca"

Vivianne Crowley
Wicca: the Old religion in the New Age
London: Aquarian Press, 1989

This is about the most detailed description of the Craft I have come across - especially for the post-Initiate. Vivianne is a psychologist, and it shows: her descriptions are detailed and well thought out, and discovered over years of practice. Most of the book explains the Craft from a psychological point of view, and uses a lot of Jung. It can be fairly heavy going, and should be balanced by a heavy dose of "Dance and Song", but a highly recommended book, and author. (n.b.: There is now a new edition of this book: "Wicca: the old religion in the New millennium")

You can buy this item from Amazon.co.uk from here:
Vivianne Crowley: "Wicca: the old religion in the New Age"

Vivianne has since released a new edition of this title with HarperCollins.

You can buy this item from Amazon.co.uk from here:
a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722532717/thewellhead">Vivianne Crowley: "Wicca: A Comprehensive Guide to the Old Religion in the Modern World "

Janet and Stewart Farrar
Eight Sabbats for Witches
London: Hale, 1981

The Farrars are an Irish couple who certainly know their folklore. "Eight Sabbats" is a gift for busy witches: detailed Sabbat rituals, extended background information to the symbols and meanings of each Sabbat, even interesting points of history and myth. Dip in, borrow and adapt for that perfect working!

The Farrars have written several other books, including "the Witches way" (also published together with "Eight sabbats" in one volume: "A Witches Bible"), "The Witches God" and "The Witches Goddess". They are all well worth a read. In recent years the Farrars have also made moves towards a more eclectic style of wicca, one which as Traditionalists we're not so comfortable with, but their knowledge and experience cannot be denied!

You can buy these items from Amazon.co.uk from here:
Janet and Stewart Farrar: "Eight sabbats for Witches"
Janet and Stewart Farrar: "The Witches Way"
Janet and Stewart Farrar : "A Witches Bible"
Janet and Stewart Farrar: "The Witches God"
Janet and Stewart Farrar: "The Witches Goddess"

Raven Grimassi
The Wiccan Mysteries: ancient origins and teachings
Minnesota: Llewellyn, 1997

and

Wiccan Magic: inner teachings of the Craft
Minnesota: Llewellyn, 1999

These are definitely books for the experienced Initiated Witch - most of the information given here would mean little without the prior framework given through oral training. That said, they are very good books, with many insightful and inspiring pieces of information...

You can one of these items from Amazon.co.uk from here:
Raven Grimassi: "The Wiccan Mysteries"

Jordan, Michael
Witches: an encyclopedia of paganism and magic
London: Kyle Cathie Ltd, 1996

An encyclopedia?! - actually this is a very interesting and informative little book, with short explanatory entries on every subject in the Craft and magick. Most noticeable are the substantial interviews with 4 of the "Greats" of the modern Craft: Vivianne Crowley, Olivia Durdin-Robertson, Maxine Saunders and the late lamented Doreen Valiente.

Amazon also have a listing of the current Wiccan and Witchcraft bestsellers. We provide a link to these pages below, although we can not of course give any recommendations for the specific titles listed here - at least not until we have red them ourselves... If they are any good, you will find a review here shortly...

Amazon "Wicca Bestsellers"
Amazon "Witchcraft Bestsellers"