Suggested Reading

The following are books that the seeker might find useful in trying to understand Traditional Wicca, or to learn more about the Pagan community.

 

Yvonne Aburrow, All Acts of Love and Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca, Avalonia Books, 2024.

A good look at Tradtional Wicca with a particular emphasis on inclusivity.  Other books by this author are also recommended.

Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon, Pinguin Books

In Drawing Down the Moon, Margot Adler presents a good overview of the various religions, traditions and practices found in the Pagan community.  Originally published in 1976, this book has be republished and updated a number of times.

 

Raymond Buckland, Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, Llewellyn Publications.

This book is often referred to as "Big Blue" in the Pagan community, because of its large format and the colour of its cover. Raymond Buckland was the first to introduce Gardnerian Wicca to the United States.  He eventually went on the form his own traditon (Seax Wica), and to be initiated into other traditions.  This book is intended to be a non-sectarian learning text, giving a good grounding in generic Wicca. It contains some good information, some useful rituals and some good exercises. 

Vivianne Crowley, Wicca: A comprehensive guide to the Old Religion in the modern world, Harper Collins Publishers, 2003.

Whereas there are many how to books out there, this is more of a how and why book. The author is not only a well respected High Priestess, but she is also a trained psychologist, and a teacher of the psychology of religion.  In this book, Vivianne explores Wicca as a path for spiritual and psychological development.  If you get only one book on Wicca, this should be the one.

Vivianne has also authored several other books, all of which are recommended.

Janet and Stewart Farrar, A Witches’ Bible, Phoenix Publishing.

Originally published as two books, Eight Sabbats for Witches and the Witches' Way, this combined book presents the reader with an excellent description of Traditional Wicca.  My only caveat is that many people over the years have assumed that the authors had published everything about the Alexandrian and Gardnerian Traditions.  They did not, and much of the material presented here is their own,  The book, however, does present a very good look at how one Alexandrian coven operated, and provides a fair bit of information concerning the history and lore of the Craft.

 

Gerald Gardner, Witchcraft Today, Ancient Crafts Publishing.

This is the first non-fiction book published about the Craft written by a practitioner of the Craft.  The information may be dated, but as it was written by the person now recognised as the "father of Wicca", it is worth reading.

 

Gerald Gardner, The Meaning of Witchcraft, Weiser Books.

This is Gerald Gardner's second non-fiction book on the Craft.  Somewhat longer and more dry than the first, it is valuable for its historical importance. 

 

Philip Heselton, In Search of the New Forest Coven, Fenix Flames Publishing Ltd, 2020.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the history of Wicca.  At a time when many people did not believe Gerald Gardner's claims to having been initiated into a coven, Philip Heselton picked up the clues and breadcrumbs left by Gerald, and did some amazing detective work, finding not only strong evidence for the existence of the "New Forest Coven", but also putting together a list of who may have been members. 

 

Philip Heselton, Witchfather: A Life of Gerald Gardner (Volumes 1 and 2), Thoth Publications, 2012.

By far, the best biography of the man who would become the "father of Modern Witchcraft".  Philip has uncovered so much information on the life of this fascinating man, that he had to publish it all in two volumes.

 

Ronald Hutton, The Triumph of the Moon, Oxford University Press.

An excellent history of Wicca presented by history professor Ronald Hutton.

 

Deborah Lipp, Bending the Binary: Polarity Magic in a Nonbinary World, Llewellyn Publications, 2023.

This book explores how to "break polarity free from outmoded ideas of gender and heteronormativity while still celebrating its energy."

 

Thorn Mooney, Traditional Wicca, Llewellyn Publications, 2018.

This is an excellent guide for seekers trying to connect with Traditional Wicca.

 

Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, Harper Collins Publishers.

Although Starhawk is a member of a different Tradition, this book contains a lot of useful information, lovely rituals, and many excellent exercises.  Highly recommended.

 

Doreen Valiente, Witchcraft for Tomorrow, Robert Hale.

Doreen Valiente was originally initiated by Gerald Gardner in 1953.  Being a talented poet, she set up, with Gardner's blessings, to write or rewrite many of the rituals, invocations and charges that are used in the Craft to this day.  She is consequently sometimes referred to as the "Mother of Wicca".  In this book, she presents a lot of lore and history, and even a Liber Umbrarum (Book of Shadows) for people unable to find a coven of their own. 

 

Doreen Valiente, The Rebirth of Witchcraft, Robert Hale.

Another excellent book by Doreen Valiente (all of her books are worth reading) covering the history of Wicca by someone who witnessed, and participated in much of it.