December 31, 2019 2 Comments
What’s one thing a witch loves more than candles? Books, of course! If you’re as much as a bibliophile as we are, check out our top 10 witchy books. We list our favorite non-fiction and fiction for your reading pleasure!
Non-fiction Witchcraft Books
1. The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock isn’t just helpful for the beginner witch, it’s practical for witches no matter where they are on their path. Murphy-Hiscock explains what it means to be a green witch and provides hands-on exercises that will get you in touch with nature and your own green abilities. PLUS the author keeps this book strictly focused on witchcraft as a spiritual and magical practice which makes it accessible to anyone from any religious background.
2. The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth
Every witch that’s read The Witching Herbs raves about it. We’re no different! If you’re a witch and interested in working with traditional witchcraft herbs, pick up a copy of this book. Roth details 13 magical herbs sacred to the witch including: sage, poppy, yarrow, hyssop and wormwood. Focusing on the lore of each herb and their esoteric properties, Roth’s produced a beautiful and useful piece of
witchcraft literature.
3. Earth Air Fire Water by Scott Cunningham
If you’ve never read a Scott Cunningham book, now’s the time. One of our favorite Cunningham books is Earth, Air, Fire, Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic. It is true that Cunningham has a Wiccan flavor to his writing, yet the information he presents to the reader is simple to understand and useful in
everyday witchcraft.
4. An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present by Doreen Valiente
Many modern books on witchcraft seem to focus on the same subjects, that sometimes witches get discouraged from reading. Some of it begins to be monotonous and doesn’t stretch the inquisitive witch’s mind. So, our solution is this – read witchcraft books and lore from the past. Doreen Valiente’s book An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present touches on a wide range of witchcraft and occult subjects that aren’t often included in modern witchcraft 101 books including historical witches like Alice Kyteler, Baphomet and the Knights Templar, the Basque witches’ god Janicot and much more.
5. The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak
Penczak’s Inner Temple of Witchcraft will aid the witch in increasing his or her psychic abilities. Where many witchcraft books tend to fail is where Penczak picks up – learning how to focus one’s mind via meditation and visualization. Basic magic principles are defined first, then practices to stretch one’s intuitive abilities, learn how to astral travel, meet spirit guides and more. If you’re ready to take your practice to the next level, read this book.
Fiction Witchy Books
In addition to learning witchcraft through books, witches also enjoy reading for fun. Turn the television off, set down your phone, and pick up an enchanting, fictional witchy book like our favorites.
6. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Rules of Magic is the second book in The Practical Magic Series by Alice Hoffman. Practical Magic is the first book in the series, but if we had to recommend reading one it would be The Rules of Magic. You don’t have to read the first in the series to read the second. In fact, many witches agree The Rules of
Magic is more riveting than the first! It follows a set of magical siblings and their journeys in a vintage New York City. There’s even talk of this book being made into a movie. We’d love to see Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock make an appearance!
7. Familiar Spirits by Nicole Canfield
Canfield’s The Cotton Family Series is fun, frightening and spellbinding. Familiar Spirits is book 1 in the series and takes us to a tobacco farm in rural Maryland where a family of witches has lived for two centuries. And where there are witches, there are other magical things like restless spirits, shapeshifters,
and demons. The main character Lucy Cotton must embrace her abilities and eradicate an evil spirit that’s haunted her family and their estate before the evil spirit overtakes her body and soul.
8. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
A classic literary masterpiece (not second to Interview with the Vampire) is The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. Anne Rice takes us to a beautiful old home in New Orleans, where a family of witches has lived and battled their demons for decades. Book one in the Mayfair Witch Trilogy, you’ll read this from start to
finish and you won’t want to stop! Each Mayfair witch’s story is engaging and will make you feel like you’re casting spells right along with them.
9. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Hands down one of our favorite witchy fictional series is the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden.
Book one is called The Bear and the Nightingale where we are whisked away to a Medieval Russia where there are household spirits, witches in the wood, and very real threats of foreign conquerors and roque, psychopathic priests. Vasalisa, the main character, is accused of being a witch because she talks to horses and sees the old spirits of the land. Inspired by Russian folklore, this is a trilogy any witch would fall in love with.
10. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness has been read hundreds of thousands of times the world over. Witches and muggles alike enjoy the mystery and forbidden romance aspects of A Discovery of Witches. With a powerful witch as the main character and a mysterious vampire ally, what more could you want in a witchy fictional novel? Oh, not to mention, A Discovery of Witches is now a TV show.
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January 14, 2020
Maybe I’m just an old Witch, but you can’t go wrong with Starhawk’s The Spiral Dance : A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess(1979). That classic should make everyone’s top 10 book list. If you can get a used copy of the original 1979 edition that would be wonderful. Starhawk put out a Tenth and Twentieth Anniversary Edition with added material in 1989 and1999 respectively.
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Fan of the dilly-dally? Our relationship game is on the starting block for this Total Solar Eclipse in Aries. It’s up to you to surrender to your true love nature to heal a sense of identity OR keep the mask on until the next eclipse season. Let the Nesters unite! You’re not alone, as our collective psyche as a species is going to have this axis eclipsed. Think war & peace, sport & rest, Mars & Venus, Aries & Libra.
What’s under review for this total solar eclipse? The potential balance of our true cardinal fire nature (Aries) coupled with our diplomatic and conditioned peace-at-all-costs (Libra) is up for an overhaul review (oh, is that all…). Why is it more pronounced for us this time around? Because the North Node of the Moon s currently transiting Aries and the collective has Pluto’s ingress to Aquarius supporting evolution at this time: freedom to be. Can’t put it any simpler!
Kat Miller
July 23, 2020
1 series of books are the Green Witchcraft series by Ann Moira. She has added (in recent years) other companion books like Tarot for the Green Witch, Grimoire for the Green Witch & Green Magic. All of her books are absolutely fantastic, insightful & worth the read!!!