Recommended Reading

The best way to begin learning about Witchcraft is to research the subject. All research begins with building a good foundation of knowlege on the subject. Below you will find recommended reading. Although you will no doubt find that you will have preferences to perhaps one or two certain authors, I feel it is important not to limit yourself and always stay open to different authors and new ideas.

Beginner  & Curious - If you are interested in Witchcraft and Wicca, here are some good books to start you on your way.

by Scott Cunningham
The Truth About Witchcraft Today
Wicca - A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

by Silver RavenWolf
To Ride a Silver Broomstick - New Generation Witchcraft

By Raymond Buckland
Complete Book of Witchcraft (a comprehensive book in lesson format)

by Doreen Valiente
Natural Magic
An ABC of Witchcraft, Past & Present

by Patricia Telesco
A Victorian Grimoire

by Ed Fitch & Janina Renee
Magickal Rites from the Crystal Well - Ed Fitch & Janina Renee

by Ed Fitch
A Book of Pagan Rituals
West Country Wicca - Rhiannon Ryall

Intermediate & Advanced - You have a fairly good understanding  of Witchcraft and wish to further your studies.

by Scott Cunningham
Living Wicca - A Further guide for the Solitary Practitioner

by Silver RavenWolf
To Stir a Magick Cauldron - A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring

by Starhawk
The Spiral Dance - A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess

by Janet & Stewart Farrar & Gavin Bone
The Pagan Path

by Margot Adler
Drawing Down the Moon

by Doreen Valiente
Witchcraft for Tomorrow

by Marian Green
The Elements of Natural Magic

by Timothy Roderick
Dark Moon Mysteries - Wisdom, Power and Magick of the Shadow World.

by Janet & Stewart Farrar
A Witches' Bible

Dianic
This is guest submission from Meadow. I'm Dianic. I'd like to suggest a few of my favorite books.  Anything by these authors is very good, it helps to supply ideas for female-centred religion without being anti-male.

by Z. Budapest
Holy Book of Women's Mysteries

by Shekinah Mountainwater
Ariadne's Thread

by Merlin Stone
Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood

by Conway
Falcon Feather and Valkyrie Sword

by Carol Christ
Laughter of Aphrodite

Feri/Faerie/Faery
Submitted by Kelesyn Greenleaf. The problem with suggesting a reading list in the Feri Tradition is that it is still primarily an oral (closed initiatory) tradition. There is next to nothing in print on the practice itself because the rituals are still secret. However, below is a brief survey of some of my favorite works pertaining to Faery and even Witchcraft, as it is  necessary if one is to begin to understand the tradition. An asterisk indicates required reading:

*Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition - Cora Anderson (the definitive text by an elder in the Tradition)

Aradia: The Gospel of the Witches - Charles G. Leland

*Thorns of the Bloodrose - Victor Anderson, Grand Master of the Feri Tradition & Kahuna (the only Craft poetry book of its kind really - a modern classic)

*People of the Earth: the New Pagans Speak out - Ellen E. Hopman

Wheel of the Year: the Music of Gwydion Pendderwen (1946-82) You can order this online from Serpentine Music along with Gwydion's music, now available on CD for the first time.

Drawing Down the Moon - Margot Adler

The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft - Rosemary Guiley (Provisional -Take the biographies of Victor & Gwydion with a grain of salt.)

The Hebrew Goddess - One of Cora Anderson's favorite books.

The Elements of Natural Magic - Marian Green. This text is compatible withFaerie Tradition.

Waters of Return - Louis Martinie

Fiction
The Golden Ass - Apuleius
The Fifth Sacred Thing - Starhawk
The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley
Lavender-Green Magic - Andre Norton
A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. LeGuin
Into the Green - Charles deLint

*List compiled by Celeste Moondancer & Kelesyn Greenleaf.

For a listing of more recommended books that include other subjects such as candle magick, chakras & herbalism, please visit my Credits and References page which lists books used in the making of this website.