Recommended Reading

[MidnightLetter]

If you have a book or author you think should be added to the list, feel free to post here and let us know.  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

I highly recommend Carl Neal's "The Magic Toolbox". It's great for beginners and getting-onto-intermediates wanting a better look at magical or ritual tools.  

[Arcaniss Vivian]

I want to suggest the following general books from one of my "most viewed" shelves: The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall, The Spells Bible by Ann-Marie Gallagher, The Astrology Bible by Judy Hall, The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum, The History of Magic by Franjo Terhart, and Celtic Myth and Magick by Edain McCoy. I have'nt read the last one, but it looks like a good fictional read. : )  

[ncsweet]

Unfortunately Blum and McCoy are ones to stay far away from.

I'll let San or Vi speak on Blum's shortcomings, since that is more their area of expertise, but check out stopedainmccoy.com for the basics of why she is not a good choice (particularly anything "celtic" she writes).  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Arcaniss Vivian

The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum

If you want to read a culture-raping, Christianised insult to the gods, sure. Just don't claim it contains anything accurate. Or Hel, Runic. Or Norse.

BURN IT.  

[SADERR]

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin was a good book for basics, I believe.  

[Daearen]

Sanguina Cruenta

Arcaniss Vivian

The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum

If you want to read a culture-raping, Christianised insult to the gods, sure. Just don't claim it contains anything accurate. Or Hel, Runic. Or Norse.

BURN IT.

I would burn my copy but it would smell awful! >_<  

[AnetteTepes]

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone who is just reading up on the religion who might convert?  

[ncsweet]

There is a whole list on the first page of recommended books. Besides reading Gerald Gardner's books, I'd personally recommend Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millennnium by Vivianne Crowley, Circle of Fire by Sorita D'Este & David Rankine and Elements of Ritual by Deborah Lipp. For a historical prospective on Witchcraft and Wicca, Ronald Hutton's Triumph of the Moon is a good one to read as well.  

[AnetteTepes]

Thanks! I'll look into them.  

[Lamia Moonrose]

Christopher Penczack's The Witch's Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense was pretty good and comes with some nice meditations on a CD.

For the Faery List:
Ted Andrews: Enchantment of the Faery Realm

 

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Lamia Moonrose

For the Faery List:
Ted Andrews: Enchantment of the Faery Realm

I've heard some reeeeally bad reviews for this one so take it with a salt mine.  

[Arcaniss Vivian]

Sanguina Cruenta

Arcaniss Vivian

The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum

If you want to read a culture-raping, Christianised insult to the gods, sure. Just don't claim it contains anything accurate. Or Hel, Runic. Or Norse.

BURN IT.

Burning books is against my faith. Thanks for putting down my opinions, I love you too. <3 <3 <3 smile  

[ncsweet]

Arcaniss Vivian

Sanguina Cruenta

Arcaniss Vivian

The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum

If you want to read a culture-raping, Christianised insult to the gods, sure. Just don't claim it contains anything accurate. Or Hel, Runic. Or Norse.

BURN IT.

Burning books is against my faith. Thanks for putting down my opinions, I love you too. <3 <3 <3 smile

She's not really putting down your opinions, it just unfortunate that Blum is one of the worst authors out there on the subject of Runes. Blum has done to Runes, more or less what Ravenwolf has done to Wicca. The average person, wouldn't necessarily know that though, if that is one of the only books they've ever read on the subject. It's the same with books on "Wicca", unless someone points you in the right direction, there are literally 100's of books that will offer up misinformation and one could read them for years and never know it.  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Arcaniss Vivian

Sanguina Cruenta

Arcaniss Vivian

The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum

If you want to read a culture-raping, Christianised insult to the gods, sure. Just don't claim it contains anything accurate. Or Hel, Runic. Or Norse.

BURN IT.

Burning books is against my faith. Thanks for putting down my opinions, I love you too. <3 <3 <3 smile

Ralph Blum's piece of crap is an insult to my faith. It spreads misinformation about it, it outright lies about it, it takes one of the most sacred elements of my faith and teaches people to abuse and rape it.

Thanks for advocating the rape and abuse of a sacred tool given to us by Most High. I love you too.

Seriously, though. Your opinion is wrong. Opinions can be wrong, and in this case yours is very wrong. The book is a terrible one. He even puts the runes in the WRONG ORDER which is not only insulting, it misses an important point about the order they already have. He says Ansuz is Loki's rune. Reading that book makes me physically ill and very, very angry.

If you're not going to burn it, at least discard it in a way that means it is never, ever read again.