This list below is the top ten books (in random order) I found most informative and useful when I began my studies into Wicca and Paganism.
Books are second best to learning first-hand with a teacher, but due to the rising popularity of Wicca, many publishers are publishing anything and everything. It’s very difficult to decipher the rubbish from the good stuff. Either they are full of inaccurate information or so simple they aren’t handy at all.
10. Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft by Ann Moura. (ISBN 1-56718-690-4) Ann Moura does a wonderful job of exploring the fundamentals of the Wiccan religion and providing magical training for the independent witch. She supplies step-by-step instructions on tons of techniques and explains the basic rules of conduct with simplicity and flare. Anything by Ann Moura is greatly recommended by me. (This book is the first of a 3-book series, so be sure to check out the rest if you enjoy this one.)
09. Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation by Silver Ravenwolf. (ISBN 0-7387-0319-2) While there is a lot of hate out there for Silver’s work, I am one of those who can look past the fluff and see the underlining meaning and for that I happen to like her work. Yes, 90% of it is written with teens in mind but a lot of Wiccans start out around that age, so it’s good to have something a little more geared towards their level. With that being said, there’s still a lot in here that will be insanely useful to older beginners. I continue to refer to this book on a regular basis. Just take what you need and overlook the rest, and that’s good advice for any book.
08. The Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi. (ISBN 0-7387-0338-9) I found this book a breath of fresh air. Raven has a unique and interesting way of making Wicca bright and new. Any of his books would be good for seekers of the Wiccan way, but what makes this book so special is that it’s about the spirituality of Witchcraft, not just another how-to and/or spells because Witchcraft is so much more than that.
07. Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler. (ISBN 0-1430-3819-2) Margot was the first to chronicle in detail the emergence of Paganism in the United States and this book is her finished product of that endeavor. Every pagan, young and old, should read this book. It’s definitely on the studious side and may take some time to work through, but it’s well worth the work.
06.The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft by Rosemary Ellen Guiley. (ISBN 0-965-036712) I am a firm believer that every practitioner needs a great encyclopedia of our religion’s history and Rosemary Guiley delivers. While I believe this to be the best out there, if your opinion differs (or if you, like me, would rather have more than one), other suggestions are The Witch Book by Raymond Buckland or The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes. Both of those are highly recommended by me as well.
05. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland. (ISBN 0-8754-2050-8) While this is a book that I believe we should all read as Wiccans, it’s one that I find myself taking what I need and forgetting the rest. I admire Buckland immensely, but he does seem to be a stickler on doing things by the book while I believe in adapting things. So, I suggest reading the book because he is the reason we have Wicca in America, and use only what you need. Hey, perhaps you’ll even like his way of doing things.
04. True Magick: A Beginner’s Guide by Amber K. (ISBN 0-7387-0823-2) If it had not been for the magnificent new edition of this book released late 2006, I would not have added it on the list. The first edition was horribly simple and short and seemed more like a pamphlet than a book. The new edition, however, is fantastic and pleasantly plump! Amber K does a great job of explaining many of the facets of Wicca.
03. Wicca & Witchcraft for Dummies by Diane Smith. (ISBN 0-7645-7834-0) I am sure I will get some eyes rolling with this one being on the list, but I happened to find it one of the best resources on Wicca. Many think because it’s a “For Dummies” book that it’s full of rubbish, but they couldn’t be further from the truth. This book skips all the complicated nonsense and puts Wicca in terms that are not confusing and straightforward. I find this book highly informative and I actually know many pagans who use the “For Dummies” and “Complete Idiots Guide” for an array of occult subjects because they are so good at cutting out the BS and getting down to business.
02. Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham. (ISBN 0-8754-2184-9) This wonderful book expands on the fantastic basis built in his first book on Wicca. Neither of these should be missed. Classics!
01.Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham. (ISBN 0-8754-2118-0) Scott Cunningham’s book are staples of the Wiccan religion and should all be read, but his books for Solitaries most of all as he was the first to write material geared towards solo practitioners.
Also, a good idea would be a find a really good Almanac or Calendar to help keep up with Sabbats and Moon Phases as well. I would suggest Llewellyn’s Wicca Almanac, Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook or The Wicca Book of Days by Sheena Morgan; all of these are fantastic and I’ve used them for many years now. Another great idea is also have an index on the world’s deities as well. Two recommendations for that are The Encyclopedia of Gods by Michael Jordan (ISBN 0-8160-2909-1) and The Magick of the Gods and Goddesses by D.J. Conway (ISBN 1-5809-1153-6).
Any of the books listed above, can be found on Amazon.com. Happy Learning! Blessed Be!
