The Supermarket Sorceress by Lexa Rosean
This is the first witchcraft book I ever bought. It's small enough to carry in your handbag when you're off to the market, so you know exactly what to buy for your next spells when you get there. Plus there are spells for almost everything inside (please remember the wiccan rede though! Harm none!).
Give it a try! The drawback about this book is that it gives none of the necessary basics of witchcraft, such the 13 goals of witches & the wiccan rede. This is ONLY a spellbook & nothing more. Beginners are NOT advised to buy this book till later as a basis to weave your own spells.
Wicca:A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
For those who are just starting out or have no idea what Wicca really is, this book is the best buy. It's simple to comprehend & it's really to the basics. Scott gives you an overall view of everything & allows you ample space to explore more later in his other books. I definately recommend this book for beginners in the craft, especially those who wish to practise alone
or are forced to practise by themselves. There are listed rituals in the book which you can do by yourself, which are no less effective as those done with a coven.
Living Wicca:A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
This book is an excellent follow-up to 'Wicca:A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner'.
It has the same simple style, yet goes deeper into witchcraft for those who hunger for more or those who want to expand their knowledge. He expands into more details the 'must-know' info about the craft & is straight forward. His style is non-threatening, so your typical sterotype witch is thrown out the
window. Another excellent book for beginners.
To Ride a Silver Broomstick:New Generation Witchcraft by Silver Ravenwolf
This is another excellent book for beginners. Silver has a unique style completely different from Scott, but is just as easy to read (for those who prefer a lighter style of writting with a personal touch, try this book).
In her style, she doesn't impose her own idealism onto readers and her approach is more modern. Don't be alarmed from the different views these authors have. It's best to read & form your own opinions after reading both these books. More recommended for eclectics & solitary witches.
To Stir a Magick Cauldron:A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring by Silver Ravenwolf
This is a follow-up to 'To Ride a Silver Broomstick'. Slightly more complicating, but overall excellent to expand one's knowledge. This book targets witches at all levels, so beginners may try this book out and will enjoy reading it over and over again as they become more advanced. There are homework pieces in here, which are up to you to do, but it's advised that you do, so that you may gain more insight in the craft through practise.
Furthermore, there is a more personal touch as Silver also includes her own experiences with the craft in the book.
A Grimoire of Shadows:Witchcraft, Paganism & Magic by Ed Fitch
Many say that this book started bringing witchraft back from the closet & since its publication, millions of books similiar to it or regarding paganism have come up. This book is an excellent guide to rituals & ceremonies, which are quite detailed & yet very comprehensive. There are simple explainations to why everything is done the way it is. Don't be tempted into following strictly to what is written in the book though.
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham
Another wonderful book by Scott Cunningham. There are so many recipes for oils, brews and incense, and for any purpose imaginable, be it meditative or spell workings. The only problem one might have is finding all the ingredients listed and Scott doesn't make it too complicated to understand and make each.
This book also makes a great reference book when integrating these into rituals and meditation.
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
This is THE book for those who are into crystal healing and the like, even if you're not a witch. It is easy reading, plus it is quite detailed about the properites, history, folklore & uses of each type of crystal and metal.
For those who know the names of crystals, but can't put the name with the 'face, this book has pictures to help you do just that. This is excellent reference for those who like to integrate the use of crystals in spellcrafts, especially you prefer making spell pouches & healing.
Power of the Witch by Laurie Cabot
This book is definately more directed at Wicca as a religion. It goes in depth into the religious aspect of witchraft, but fails to relate it to the modern day. Nevertheless, it's an excellent read for background knowledge about witchcraft: how and why it works, and most importantly, the history behind it all. Some may find this book a little hard to handle, but it makes the mind
think a little harder about what and why we do what we do as witches, rather than let ourselves be carried away with books with spell after spell...like spoon-feeding.
Good Faeries, Bad faeries by Brian Froud
Beautiful illustrations of the faery folk grace the 192 pages in this book, from the mischievious pixies to the helpful Hobgoblin. Brian doesn't leave the book just full of nursery-rythym type goodie-goodie faeries, but brings in the darker side of the faery kingdom. (but forwarned that there is a certain amount of nudity involved with the illustrations, so parents might want to keep this book out of reach of children). Excellent reading, though not terribly detailed on the history of faeries. The wonderful paintings and
sketches do makeup for this though.
Dancing With Dragons by DJ Conway
I just finished this book and I must say that Conway most certainly did a lot of research to put together all the info in this book about dragons. Still, I find the fact she stated that the dragon alphabet having the same number of letters of the English alphabet a little hard to swallow. She does present some very interesting ideas as how to decorate your staff and such, but she tends to focus on ritual items you'll have to buy in order to attract dragons, rendering this a little too expensive for my tastes. The rituals and chants do offer some insight and the pictures of the many different dragons from all sorts of cultures open the mind to all the imagination can cook up.
Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galernon
Ah, fantastic book for those who want a fresh approach to the old stuff. It has spells, rituals, a little feng shui here and there, plus it covers the basics. I love the protective spells she's got. She has even written a section for hexes and although having the knowledge is nice to have, I don't think I want to ever use it. She's also included a little section on hauntings and spirits who won't leave, deciding whether you NEED to remove them and how to go about doing it. Some of the spells (and hexed) she's used are a little too strong for me, but the visualization exercises are great. Yasmine has also added her own experiences and it makes the book so much easier to read.
