Book Reviews For Starters
Frequently the many paths of Paganism begin with a reaching out and searching for something, even though at this stage you are not really sure what it is you are searching for. Talking to other people will sometimes help, but the people you know may not always be able to answer your questions and it is then that you will begin to search out books. But which, of the bewildering array should you choose? Below is a selection of books that I found useful and I believe to be well written and informative. You will have to judge for yourself. You may be fortunate enough to find them in your local library, otherwise they may turn up regularly enough in second hand bookshops or on-line, but at this stage it is important not to waste money on books that you may read only once and then decide that what they said was not really for you. These are some books which I found useful in my searching.
Basic Witchcraft:
'Witches' by Erica Jong
Sadly this book is now out of print, but if you can get hold of an old copy, especially the large format hardback one, it is worth the effort of finding. In a book of stunning artwork the author takes us through the common misconceptions and stereotypes of the Witch, revealing the reality with the request that we 'strip away all the preconceptions our culture has heaped upon our bowed heads'. It is an excellent beginning to anyone who is becoming aware of the witch awakening within them, recognising that perhaps she has always been there but we have until now ignored her, hoping she would go away. But as this book demonstrates, she has always been with us, part of our heritage, and maybe now it is time to acknowledge her and set the record straight.
'Hedgewitch' by Rae Beth - 'A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft'
This is an excellent book for anyone who is just starting out, maybe having heard something about Paganism, something about Witchcraft and wanting to know more. It sets out the basics, taking us through a year in the life of a solitary, or 'Hedgewitch', as the seasons unfold and pass, and the moon waxes and wanes. It is very easy to read, each chapter taking the form of a letter, and is friendly and sensitive to the understanding of a novice without being patronising.
'What Witches Do' by Stewart Farrar - 'A Modern Coven Revealed'
This was written by Stewart Farrar when he was a newly initiated member of a Wiccan coven and so as well as quite literally telling us 'what witches do' it does so from the perspective of someone who is still very much at the beginning of their path. It takes us through the basics of beliefs, training, initiation and how a coven is run and is also a general introduction to the Alexandrian tradition of witchcraft.
'A Witch Alone' and 'The Elements of Natural Magic' - Marian Green
These books are again covering the basics, written in a friendly, clear, non-patronising style, both on the subject of 'natural magic'. They will add another strand to your information and hopefully get you thinking about what it means to live the life of a witch.
'The Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton - 'A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft'
In many ways this is not a beginner's book, but read it and you will be informed. It has been meticulously researched by an expert in his field and the tiny print and 416 pages do not make for light reading. But I cannot recommend anything better for doing what it says on the front cover. It is easier to read second time around, when you have maybe become better acquainted with the names and the history, but it offers so many paths for further investigation that it is worth the slightly more effort it takes to read it. If you read nothing else then read chapter 20, 'Grandchildren of the Shadows', which summarises the features of 'Modern Pagan Witchcraft'.
