Magic Books Every Wiccan Should Read

Now that you've decided you want to learn about Wicca, what
should you read? After all, there are literally thousands of

Witchcraft Today is a worthy read, however, for seekers on
any Pagan path. He discusses paganism in Europe, as well as

books on the subject -- some good, others not so much. This
list features the thirteen books that every Wiccan should

the so-called "witch cult", and goes on to demonstrate how
many of history's notable names are connected, one way or

have on their shelves. A few are historical, a few more
focus on actual Wiccan practice, but they're all worth

another, to what we know today as witchcraft. Although some
of the statements in Witchcraft Today should be taken with a

reading more than once.

grain of salt -- after all, Gardner was a folklorist and
that shines through in his writing -- it's still one of the

Adler, Margot: Drawing Down the Moon

foundations that contemporary Wicca is based on. For its
historical value, few things beat this book.

If you want to learn about birds, you get a field guide
about birds. If you want to learn about mushrooms, you get a

Hutton, Ronald: Triumph of the Moon

field guide to mushrooms. Drawing Down the Moon is a field
guide to Pagans. Rather than offering up a book of spells

Triumph of the Moon is a book about Pagans by a non-Pagan,

and recipes, Margot Adler presents an academic work that
evaluates modern Pagan religions - including Wicca - and the

and Hutton, a highly respected professor, does an excellent
job. This book looks at the emergence of contemporary Pagan

people who practice them. The work is based on a survey the
author took over two decades ago, but the information within

religions, and how they not only evolved from the Pagan
societies of the past, but also owe heavily to 19th-century

is still a worthy read. Drawing Down the Moon makes no
apologies for the fact that not all Wiccans are full of

poets and scholars. In fact, Hutton points out that a good
deal of what we consider "ancient" Pagan practice can be

white light and fluff, but instead tells it like it is.
Adler's style is entertaining and informative, and it's a

attributed to the novelists and romantics of the late
Edwardian and early Victorian era. Despite his status as a

bit like reading a really well-done thesis paper.

scholar, Hutton's breezy wit makes this a refreshing read,
and you'll learn far more than you ever expected to about

Buckland, Raymond: Complete Book of Witchcraft

today's Pagan religions.

Raymond Buckland is one of Wicca's most prolific writers,
and his work Complete Book of Witchcraft continues to remain

Morrison, Dorothy: The Craft - A Witch's Book of Shadows

popular two decades after it was first published - and for
good reason. Although this book represents a more eclectic

Dorothy Morrison is one of those writers who doesn't hold
back, and while her book The Craft is aimed at beginners,

flavor of Wicca rather than a particular tradition, it's
presented in a workbook-like format that allows new seekers

she manages to create a work that can be useful for anyone.
Morrison includes exercises and rituals which are not only

to work through the exercises at their own pace, learning as
they go. For more seasoned readers, there's a lot of useful

practical, but teaching tools as well. Despite its focus on
the lighter side of witchcraft, it's a good starting point

information as far as rituals, tools, and magic itself. This
book is a classic, and well worth picking up.

for anyone trying to learn about Wicca, and how to create
your own rituals and workings. Morrison also has written a

Cunningham, Scott: Wicca - A Guide for the Solitary

number of other books, including a companion work to this
one.

Practitioner

Russell, Jeffrey: A History of Witchcraft

The late Scott Cunningham wrote a number of books before his
untimely death, but Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary

Historian Jeffrey Russell presents an analysis of witchcraft

Practitioner remains one of the best known and most useful.
Although the tradition of witchcraft in this book is more

in an historical context, from the early days of Medieval
Europe, through the witch craze of the Renaissance, and up

Cunningham's eclectic path than any other tradition, it's
full of information on how to get started in your practice

into modern times. Russell doesn't bother trying to fluff up
the history to make it more palatable to today's Wiccans,

of Wicca and magic. He goes into depth about tools, how and
why they are used, ethics, and the concept of god and

and takes a look at three different kinds of witchcraft --
sorcery, diabolical witchcraft, and modern witchcraft. A

goddess. If you're interested in learning and practicing as
an individual, and not necessarily jumping into a coven

noted religious historian, Russell manages to make an
entertaining yet informative read, as well as accepting that

right off the bat, this book is a valuable resource.

witchcraft in and of itself can in fact be a religion.

Curott, Phyllis: Witch Crafting

Serith, Ceisiwr: A Book of Pagan Prayer

Phyllis Curott is one of those people who makes me glad to
be Pagan -- because she's really normal. An attorney who has

There is nothing else on the market like Ceisiwr Serith's A
Book of Pagan Prayer. Despite the fact that some view prayer

spent her life working on First Amendment issues, Curott has
managed to put together a really useful book. Witch Crafting

as a Christian concept, many Pagans do pray. This unique
book features hundreds of prayers written to meet the needs

is not a collection of spells, rituals or prayers. It's a
hard and fast look at magical ethics, the polarity of male

of Pagans from a wide range of traditions. There are prayers
for life events, such as handfastings, births, and deaths;

and female in the divine, finding the god and goddess in
your everyday life, and the pros and cons of coven life vs.

for times of the year such as the harvest and midsummer, as
well as petitions and litanies offered to different gods.

solitary paths. Curott also offers up a very interesting
take on the Rule of Three. Whether you're a new student of

Serith also covers the theories behind prayer -- how and why
we do it, as well as tips on creating your own, personal

Wicca, or a veteran, Witch Crafting is worth reading more
than once.

prayers. Chances are that once you've started using this
book, it will stay near your altar for years to come.

Eilers, Dana: Pagans and the Law - Understand Your Rights

Starhawk: The Spiral Dance

Dana D. Eilers spent many years facilitating an event called

While The Spiral Dance is one of the best-known books on

Conversations With Pagans, and from that she wrote a book
entitled The Practical Pagan. She then drew on her

Wicca, it's also one of the most spiritually profound.
Written by noted activist Starhawk, The Spiral Dance leads

experience as an attorney to write Pagans and the Law:
Understand Your Rights. This book goes into depth about

us on a journey through the spirituality of feminine
consciousness. Sections on raising the cone of power, trance

precedents in religious discrimination lawsuits, how to
protect yourself if you may be a victim of workplace

magic, and magical symbolism make it worth reading. Bear in
mind that the original edition of this book was published

harassment, and how to document everything if your
spirituality is leading someone to treat you unfairly.

twenty years ago, and Starhawk herself has said she's
reconsidered some of the things she said the first time

Eilers is an outspoken woman who has a lot of great advice
worth listening to.

around -- particularly in reference to the polarity of the
male/female. Despite some of the eco-feminist complaints

Farrar, Janet And Stewart: The Witches' Bible

about Starhawk, this book is powerful because it's one of
the first of its kind, portraying Woman as Goddess.

The first section of this book is Eight Sabbats for Witches.

Valiente, Doreen: Witchcraft for Tomorrow

It goes into depth on Sabbat rites, and the meanings behind
the holidays are expanded on. While the ceremonies in The

If Gerald Gardner is the great-grandfather of modern Wicca,

Witches' Bible are the Farrars' own, there's a heavy
influence of the Gardnerian tradition, as well as Celtic

Doreen Valiente is the wise granny who offers wisdom and
counsel. A contemporary of Gardner's, she is credited with

folklore and some other European history. The second half of
the book is in fact another book, The Witches Way, which

the beautiful, evocative Charge of the Goddess, and may well
have been responsible for much of Gardner's original Book of

looks at the beliefs, ethics, and practice of modern
witchcraft. Despite the fact that the authors are a bit

Shadows. Valiente spends a good amount of the book
discussing the historical contexts of a number of rituals

conservative by today's standards, this book is an excellent
look at the transitioning concept of what exactly it is that

and practices in use today, but also takes care to
acknowledge that practices and beliefs change even if the

makes someone a witch.

intent remains constant, and she points out ancient sources
that may or may not be the root of contemporary ideals.

Gardner, Gerald: Witchcraft Today

Though it helps to have some knowledge of British
Traditional Wicca beforehand, this book is a must-read for

Gerald Gardner is the founder of modern Wicca as we know it,
and of course of the Gardnerian tradition. His book

anyone.