h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was just wondering if anyone could recommend any good books on Wicca and paganism, as I would like to expand my knowledge (and my book of shadows I have ordered some Scott Cunningham books as he has had good reviews but I want opinions. Who's books should I buy?

neesk

After looking at your page, maybe you would like to try the following:

I think you might want to look into some Edgar Cayce- very talented man in the paranormal, did a lot of research into crystals, colors, and othr things. Made it seem more of a science than mysticism.

On a slightly different angle, you may also want to look into Marion Zimmer Bradley. She wrote "The Mists of Avalon," which you may already know, but she also has a long running fiction series called "Darkover". Judging from the information you put on your page, I think you may find it interesting. The ideas she uses are, to say the least, very informative.

"Spiral Dance" is always a good stand by for beginers to look into.

Is there a definite focus for your studies?

Contemplation

Books! Ooooh...books...my favorite subject!!!!

Contemplation has some great suggestions there!

I started with Scott Cunningham, myself. 'Wicca, a guide for the Solitary Practitioner' was my first choice, and the companion volume, 'Living Wicca'. Good, solid stuff for beginners.

Another title I like is 'The Wiccan Path' by Rae Beth. [Beth is the last name] It is written in the form of letters to new practitioners. Maybe not as clearly divided into sections as the Cunningham books, and no index, but the letters follow the seasons of the year. It was originally published in the UK by Robert Hale Ltd., but is also available in the US through Crossing Press, Inc. I bought this two or three years ago, so I don't know if it is still in print.

'Mists of Avalon' is a WONDERFUL book, although a work of fiction rather than a guide to modern Wicca. Bradley has recreated the Old Religion as it might have been actually practiced during King Arthur's time. Based on historical research as far as possible, it is probably as close as we could ever get to actually 'being there'. An interesting perspective on Christianity, as well. I loved it, as well as the others in the same series 'Lady of Avalon' and 'The Forest House'.

The Witchvox site http://witchvox.com has an excellent list of books.It is divided into 'beginner' 'intermediate' and 'advanced', and also list titles for some of the various traditions and special interests.

They pretty much list all the 'basics'. Follow the pulldown menu to their Site Map, then take the link to 'Craft Basics', or go directly to the book pages from the links below. There are two pages of books:
'Books on Witchcraft & Magic' http://www.witchvox.com/basics/books.html and
'Books - 13 Favorite Books' http://www.witchvox.com/basics/favebooks.html

Witchvox is a gigantic site! All kinda wicca related stuff. Their other 'Craft Basics' are excellent reading as well, although not as detailed as a whole book might be. Their links will point you in some good directions, too.

Good luck with your reading!

If you have any other questions or comments, you are welcome back in this Forum. The kettle is always on, and there are usually some cookies too.


}:=8

Thank you for the information I will try and get a hold of "Mist of Avalon" as it sounds really good

At present, my boyfriend (I think you've met him blu his name's Malgor) has given me a lone of two books: "Your book of Shadows" by Patricia Telesco and "The Pagan Book of Days" by Nigel Pennick. "Your Book of Shadows" is really quite good, I had my doubts at first and it is pretty basic, but it's a good read and it taught me a few things - like how to make paper I haven't started "The Pagan book of Days" yet, but when I do...

Anyway I'm going to look at the witchvox site so...

cheerio

neesk

This is a general question... anyone with an answer, please speak up.

I caught wind of a rumor that Marion Zimmer Bradley died about two months ago. Has anyone else heard this? Or is it nothing more than a bad rumor?

Contemplation

Unfortunately, this is not a rumor.

She died on September 25, following a heart attack. This is according to the SFWA at
http://www.sfwa.org/News/mzbobit.htm

Follow the links to her SF magazine and the Funeral service as well.

She will be greatly missed by the readers of Fantasy, as well as those of us who loved her Avalon books.



sadly,
blu

oh, no! I love Marion Zimmer Bradley! Dammit I love Darkover!!! No more new Darkover? Augh!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have almost every book she's had in print. (And i agree mists of avalon is good.) Fall of Atlantis (known first edition as Web of Light and Web of Darkness) is also a wonderful read. Ahh, i will miss mzb........she was was one of the few living authors I liked..

While it will never fill the space she left, may I suggest some titles that have nothing to do with wicca are still 'great reads'?

Anne McCaffrey 'Dragonriders of Pern' series.

Ursula LeGuin. Wizard of Earthsea

Lloyd Alexander. The black cauldron. [this DOES have something to do with Wicca, as the legend is Celtic...]

And if this doesnt help, I recommend Kurt Vonnegut. While somewhat different than the above, my feeling is, if DNA has something to say to you, Vonnegut also does.

Why thank you. I've read some ursul Le guin (Rocannon's World) I 've read a bit of Mcgaffrey but have yet to really dig deep in to her. Dna is the great and Vonnegut ah!
Speaking of wicca and such I'm taking a wonderful class at the university called Literature of the Occult. It seems quite fun.
Thanks for the material,. I shall see if they have any in the library here! Books! AHHHH

A class...how interesting!

What books are included in the 'Literature of the Occult'??

}:=8

Ah you are quick!!!
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell - William Blake (sick read!)
The Satanic Bible- Anton lavey
The Secret Doctrine -madame Blavatsky
The Magus -John Fowles
Book of Thoth -Aleister Crowley and freida
Are the first five. It seems like this class is going to be hard yet i think I shall enjoy myself

Hullo, blu. Nice to see you again outside of the Court.

I was poking around on the Wiccan sites looking for info on some good books on Wicca. You may recall I asked for your advice on this matter a few weeks ago, and you had said you have a half-finished reply for me. Some of the titles listed here sound very good, and I'll have to check them out.

What I was wondering, specifically, is if you could point me to one or two really good titles that are written more from the historical/philisophical point of view. I am a bit of an abstract thinker, and I like to start at the top and work my way down. In other words, I like to start with the idea of something before I get into practical advice on the "how-to."

My interests, by the way, would lie more with the "solitary practitioner" viewpoint, as I'm not a big fan of organized religions, as a general rule.

I've noticed a lot of you here tend to rate Scott Cunningham's books highly and I agree. I have Living Wicca which has been a priceless aid to me and am looking to purchase the prequel at the next oppurtunity. Cunningham recommends The Spiral Dance. Do you agree? Is this a good book for me, as a beginner, to use? Do you have any other recommendations? Please help me.

Starhawk is quite an author, i've read spiral dance many times and found it to be quite a concise and dynamic manual, quite deep as well, which is not a suprise(though there are some terribly flaky occult books out there) when dealing in occult matters. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, no actual labels apply.

Thank you. I'll look out for it next time I'm abroad in Gloucester.

Merry meet, all...

I am looking for some information on using sound, notes, or tones in meditation. Sort of like as a focusing method. Can anyone refer me to any specific books or authors? I am figuring Edgar Cayce may have done something along those lines, but I havn't had much luck finding anything.

Contemplation

I've got some information here relating different notes to different colours and their divinatory meanings. How much of this do you want? Give me a call here and I can post it here or e-mail you.

Blessed Be!

Perephone

OOOOOOOOO!

That sounds like something that would be most useful!

If you dont mind posting it, that would be great. Possibly off the main Wiccan Forum page, so others can find it as well.

Thanks again

Contemplation

My pleasure.

Check for the thread of the main page entitled "Mantras And Colour Relations."

P