what author affected your Wiccan beliefs/practices most profoundly?

[Ben Gruagach]

Here's an interesting question for the Wiccans on the board here.

What author or book affected your Wiccan beliefs and/or practices the most profoundly? Why? Did the book just feel like it triggered an awakening for you, or did it perhaps bring out such strong disagreements in you that you were forced to examine your own beliefs and practices?

For me I think the book that affected me most profoundly was Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance." I know some people say she's not really Wiccan, but the structure is there enough for it to count as Wicca for me, and it is based on a lot of Wiccan core material (like the Charge of the Goddess.)

I read it when I was in high school and it was one of my first real exposures to truly feminist and ecologically-minded material. I had read other books on Wicca (like Margot Adler's "Drawing Down the Moon" and also the Farrar's "Witches Bible") but Starhawk's was truly poetic and expressed some of the spirit and soul of what Wicca is to me. It taught me about connecting with Spirit, honouring the Earth, and expressing my spirituality through art.

[RainInanna]

Probably Bobcat's Living Druidry. Although as a Druidic book it doesn't focus on classic Wiccan deities, it does certainly describe and discuss many of the spiritual practices and influences that are the foundation of my beliefs. There the Sacred is seen more as panentheistic and natural rather than archetypal or literal. Still the imagery and honesty, the way she describes the Divine and how to live it, are intensely magical to me. It's more a book of how to live within the Universe and how to sense & ride the energies within.

Incidentally, her Druid Priestess follows seasonal themes and is more tuned to the Wiccan sabbats, but I haven't worked through it yet.

[Louisvillian]

I'd say Scott Cunningham. His books were my introduction to Wicca, and really gave me a context into which I could better understand and organize my own beliefs and thoughts.

[Lunacie]

Yeah, Scott Cunningham was very influential when I was first starting on the Wiccan Path. More recently I've read a couple by Raven Grimassi that were very good. Honestly, I haven't read that many books about Wicca. I get more from interaction and discussion, either in person or online.

As far as fiction, I was really influenced by Mercedes Lackey many years ago although she's not Wiccan either, and in the last dozen years very much impacted by Terry Pratchett and his Pagan point of view.

[Sage Rainsong]

Probably Isaac Bonewits. He completely changed my way of thinking.

[Sequoia]

I know, I know - I'm not Wiccan. Got my flame-retardant suit on.

But I know of a **Wiccan author** who was just so awesome, I wanted to share. I really love her stuff, and if I ever considered going down the Wiccan path, she'd be one of my main guides.

The book I read was called, The Circle Within, by Dianne Sylvan. It was basically about how to integrate your beliefs into a daily, momentary, permanent practice... creating a spirituality within your beliefs, not just going through the movements of ritual and the words of belief. She's funny, intelligent, spiritual... and really draws you in. It's kind of like a, "What to do AFTER Wicca 101."

Even though I personally am not Wiccan, she is, and I turn to her book frequently when I'm looking to refresh my spiritual side. I'm thinking of getting her other book, The Body Sacred... still haven't read it! Maybe this Yule/Christmas.

[Lunacie]

I know, I know - I'm not Wiccan. Got my flame-retardant suit on.

But I know of a **Wiccan author** who was just so awesome, I wanted to share. I really love her stuff, and if I ever considered going down the Wiccan path, she'd be one of my main guides.

The book I read was called, The Circle Within, by Dianne Sylvan. It was basically about how to integrate your beliefs into a daily, momentary, permanent practice... creating a spirituality within your beliefs, not just going through the movements of ritual and the words of belief. She's funny, intelligent, spiritual... and really draws you in. It's kind of like a, "What to do AFTER Wicca 101."

Even though I personally am not Wiccan, she is, and I turn to her book frequently when I'm looking to refresh my spiritual side. I'm thinking of getting her other book, The Body Sacred... still haven't read it! Maybe this Yule/Christmas.

I have some friends who think that book is awesome. It's on my shelf now, waiting to be read.

[wandcarvr]

There are 3 Dion Fortunes book the Sea Priestess and Moon magic, anything by Scott cunningham,and Stewart Farrar-

[shuvanilu]

I know, I know - I'm not Wiccan. Got my flame-retardant suit on.

But I know of a **Wiccan author** who was just so awesome, I wanted to share. I really love her stuff, and if I ever considered going down the Wiccan path, she'd be one of my main guides.

The book I read was called, The Circle Within, by Dianne Sylvan. It was basically about how to integrate your beliefs into a daily, momentary, permanent practice... creating a spirituality within your beliefs, not just going through the movements of ritual and the words of belief. She's funny, intelligent, spiritual... and really draws you in. It's kind of like a, "What to do AFTER Wicca 101."

Even though I personally am not Wiccan, she is, and I turn to her book frequently when I'm looking to refresh my spiritual side. I'm thinking of getting her other book, The Body Sacred... still haven't read it! Maybe this Yule/Christmas.


Indeed, she kicks major ass! If you are thinking of getting The Body Sacred, run, don't walk to the store and grab it. Great stuff!

I like Valiente, the Farrars, Sylvan, Cunningham, "A Witch's Guide to Life" by Kala Trobe, Amber K, and Starhawk. Some authors who do not necessarily call themselves Wiccan, but have surely influenced me are Grey Cat, Ann Moura, T.Thorne Coyle, and Z Budapest.--shuvanilu

[ffetcher]

Many books have affected me over the years, but for 'most profound' experience, the only candidate can be the book that convinced me that Wicca, as opposed to other pagan paths with which I was then connected, was for me.

That book is Stewart Farrar's "The Twelve Maidens", one of his pieces of fiction. I can even remember reading the first ten or so chapters on a train crossing Salisbury plain, spending the evening in Bath, failing to finish it on my way back and skipping morning lectures (I almost never did this) to finish it, rush to the uni library, finding the only 'factual' book they had and sitting in the bar reading that until lunchtime.

That second book was "What Witches Do", published, IIRC, the previous year, and in retrospect I do wonder why a large university library should have just that one volume, rather than several or none. Perhaps it was fate. :)

blessings
ffetcher

[Cassie]

I don't really consider myself wiccan although it is probably the biggest part of my path. I suppose Cunningham was the one that opened Wicca up to me and it was through reading his books that I got that 'coming home' feeling and a bit more self confident in my beliefs and practices. After that, Viviene Crowley was the biggest influence and in recent years I have become very fond of Kala Trobe.

[Glowingsun]

Isobel Bird. Though her series came to an abrupt halt. i really like the idea of 3 teens who come from different cliques in their school are united by a simple shared interest in wicca. Just the adventures and discoveries they have along their path is believable and amazingly intriguing.

[Dumunzi]

I don't really consider myself wiccan although it is probably the biggest part of my path. I suppose Cunningham was the one that opened Wicca up to me and it was through reading his books that I got that 'coming home' feeling and a bit more self confident in my beliefs and practices. After that, Viviene Crowley was the biggest influence and in recent years I have become very fond of Kala Trobe.


I would say Cunningham was a huge influence to me also. I know some people will scoff themselves to death, but Silver RavenWolf did educate me about a lot of things, even if it was re-examining what she elaborated on and finding the truth. Plus her systems of magic and circle casting are easily universal and adoptable.

Yasmine Galenorn's book Embracing the Moon(Every witch should have it) is not a Wiccan book per say, but it's magical practice and the style of it has certainly left a lasting impact on me.

Also, there were two individuals that had a website(The wife used to frequent the board), called Silverdove & Spiritwolf's lair. It was a Wiccan website LOADED with information. It had beautiful midi music on every single page, and I can't describe how serious I am when I say that they needed to close that site down, print it all out, and compile a book.

That being said they did actually close it down, mostly because their beliefs stayed in the Witch/Pagan/Wiccan area but moved from the Wicca they wrote about. Till this day I want to just holler at them for doing that. There was such a wealth of information on there that would have been helpful to so many people.

- Dumunzi

[Louisvillian]

I know some people will scoff themselves to death, but Silver RavenWolf did educate me about a lot of things, even if it was re-examining what she elaborated on and finding the truth. Plus her systems of magic and circle casting are easily universal and adoptable.
Not everything she puts out is absolute garbage, of course. I can't think of an author, besides Stephanie Meyer (I'm talking authors in general) that have nothing good to bring to the table.

It's just...$RW's a presumptuous, commercialistic bitch that needs to shut her ****ing mouth once in a while. Because when she gets on a subject she knows nothing about, she drones on about as if she did, and all that spews out is bullshit.

[HetHert]

Though I am not Wiccan I too was "brought home" by Cunningham's wonderful works. At the tender age of 15ish I found Cunningham and he brought everything I'd been dabbling and playing with "unconsciously" into focus. His words gave me solace in knowing that I wasn't alone and there was guidance to be had. His works really opened my eyes and ears and then doors.

Wicca was a doorway for me so I don't deny it's roots in my beginnings.

[brymble]

For my current practices it's kind of a no-brainer, it's probably obnoxiously obvious I hold Phil and Bob in very high regard. I would say without hesitation that Bob's Tarot book is the best basic text I've ever read, and I would use it in a class, if I ever teach again.

Kate Warrwick-Smith's book on court cards has and the most profound impact on my professional approach, however, as her treatment of the cards as supporters and detractors, and for me, most importantly as internal resources and challenges gives me tools to work with to help my clients better.

Phil's influence has been more direct than his books, but both FutureRitual and Meta-Magick have the same really fun, eccentric yet drama-free straightforwardness as his seminars and workshops.

In terms of early and intermediate influences, I started out with Uncle Bucky's Big Blue Book, Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner, and Starhawk, and progressed to Doreen Valiente and the Farrars.

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

Ronald Hutton and Terry Pratchett. Pratchett in particular has such wonderfully illustrated examples of pagan theology / sensibility in the Lancre Witches. Theology is wonderfully demonstrated in 'Small Gods', 'Witches Abroad', and most especially 'Hogfather'. Some day when I have students the Discworld books will be required reading.

[Nox_Mortus]

Peter Carroll, buthis work really influence my magical workings far more than my religious practices.

From the religious angle, most of the things I know/use where taught traditionally, and I never read a lot of books, two exceptions would be some of the works of the Farrarrs and Aleister Crowley.

[Tahlea]

I'd say Scott Cunningham. His books were my introduction to Wicca, and really gave me a context into which I could better understand and organize my own beliefs and thoughts.


Ditto, for the same reasons (although his books weren't my introduction, they explained it to me a lot better than previous books had).
My beliefs and practice took on greater form after reading 'Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner".

[Astara Seague]

I would say Cunningham was a huge influence to me also. I know some people will scoff themselves to death, but Silver RavenWolf did educate me about a lot of things, even if it was re-examining what she elaborated on and finding the truth. Plus her systems of magic and circle casting are easily universal and adoptable.

- Dumunzi
Agreed on both...I also like Edain McCoy

[Louisvillian]

Agreed on both...I also like Edain McCoy
Even though her books are loaded with historical inaccuracies, especially her bullshit "book" on "Witta". Like $RW, McCoy is presumptuous tw*t who needs to be punched in the face. Hard. :bigredgri

[Dumunzi]

Even though her books are loaded with historical inaccuracies, especially her bullshit "book" on "Witta". Like $RW, McCoy is presumptuous tw*t who needs to be punched in the face. Hard. :bigredgri


O_O

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

Even though her books are loaded with historical inaccuracies, especially her bullshit "book" on "Witta". Like $RW, McCoy is presumptuous tw*t who needs to be punched in the face. Hard. :bigredgri

There are many pagan authors who need to be punched in the face, or beaten to death with softcover copies of their books. Why? It'll take longer.

Edain McCoy claimed that pumpkins and potatoes were an Old World crop used in Samhain rituals by Druids or something. There are at least three things wrong with that statement, two of which should be blatantly obvious to anyone who's not an idiot, and the third to anyone who knows anything about paganism in general.

I'm not sure if the dumbness of the statement should be blamed on the author or the editor. What moron let something like that slip?

Oh, wait. (http://www.llewellyn.com)

[brymble]

Even though her books are loaded with historical inaccuracies, especially her bullshit "book" on "Witta". Like $RW, McCoy is presumptuous tw*t who needs to be punched in the face. Hard. :bigredgri

Dude I can't give you any more karma.:clapping:

[Ben Gruagach]

Even though her books are loaded with historical inaccuracies, especially her bullshit "book" on "Witta". Like $RW, McCoy is presumptuous tw*t who needs to be punched in the face. Hard. :bigredgri

I have no problem with people disagreeing with someone, or publicly pointing out their mistakes. I'm not sure that being disrespectful and suggesting violence against someone you disagree with (no matter how stupid their public mistakes) is either honourable or wise.

After all, we'd have to punch a lot of people in the face if we were going to be fair about it. For instance, Gerald Gardner promoted the idea that the Wicca he was passing on was an intact essentially prehistoric Pagan religion. He also promoted the idea that nine million were put to death for the crime of witchcraft in Europe.

We'd also have to punch Alex Sanders in the face for claiming he got his (Gardnerian) Book of Shadows from his grandmother when he was either seven or nine years old. Too bad some of the things in his BoS like the Charge of the Goddess weren't written until years after his grandmother died in the early 1940s! Alex also taught that Wicca was the religion of the priesthood of Atlantis, come to English shores via Merlin among others. (Check out "The Alex Sanders Lectures" for published evidence of that whopper of a tale.)

I'm sure we could add a lot more names to the list if we cared to do so. I'd rather respect our Wiccan elders, teachers, authors, and artists even while we disagree with things they've said or done. It is possible to respectfully disagree.

That brings me back to the original question in this thread -- are there any authors who you disagreed with so much that it triggered you to do more research or to clarify your own ideas or practice, if only to prove your point? Sometimes the most effective teachers are the ones who model what not to do or what not to believe.

[Lunacie]

I have no problem with people disagreeing with someone, or publicly pointing out their mistakes. I'm not sure that being disrespectful and suggesting violence against someone you disagree with (no matter how stupid their public mistakes) is either honourable or wise.

After all, we'd have to punch a lot of people in the face if we were going to be fair about it. For instance, Gerald Gardner promoted the idea that the Wicca he was passing on was an intact essentially prehistoric Pagan religion. He also promoted the idea that nine million were put to death for the crime of witchcraft in Europe.

We'd also have to punch Alex Sanders in the face for claiming he got his (Gardnerian) Book of Shadows from his grandmother when he was either seven or nine years old. Too bad some of the things in his BoS like the Charge of the Goddess weren't written until years after his grandmother died in the early 1940s! Alex also taught that Wicca was the religion of the priesthood of Atlantis, come to English shores via Merlin among others. (Check out "The Alex Sanders Lectures" for published evidence of that whopper of a tale.)

I'm sure we could add a lot more names to the list if we cared to do so. I'd rather respect our Wiccan elders, teachers, authors, and artists even while we disagree with things they've said or done. It is possible to respectfully disagree.

That brings me back to the original question in this thread -- are there any authors who you disagreed with so much that it triggered you to do more research or to clarify your own ideas or practice, if only to prove your point? Sometimes the most effective teachers are the ones who model what not to do or what not to believe.

Ah, what an interesting question. There really aren't any authors I feel that way about - I've never had much money to spend on books and the libraries around here either don't carry Wicca books or all the copies have been "lost". However, there have certainly been some rather outspoken posters on the internet who I disagreed with who certainly prompted me to do some deep thinking about my own beliefs - as well as prompting me to do more research (mostly online).

And then there have also been some awfully good discussions where I have learned from other posters and been prompted to do some further research than just what they have posted. I'd certainly put you in the latter category, Ben. Although you are both an author and an internet poster. :thumbsup:


I'm probably not making as much sense today as I think I'm making - was just checking in here while waiting to make a call to the clinic about my continuing migraine headaches. Got my appt moved up to next week, yay.

[Louisvillian]

I have no problem with people disagreeing with someone, or publicly pointing out their mistakes. I'm not sure that being disrespectful and suggesting violence against someone you disagree with (no matter how stupid their public mistakes) is either honourable or wise.
I was being sarcastic, Ben. You should know this by now.
Sarcasm....it's kinda my thing. :toofless:

[Lunacie]

I was being sarcastic, Ben. You should know this by now.
Sarcasm....it's kinda my thing. :toofless:

You've only been around here a few months, so you may not have seen this, but I have seen folks strongly reprimanded for advocating violence against others, even when they were simply joking in a sarcastic manner.

I agree with Ben, if Edain McCoy is deserving of a fish smack, then others who are more respected have also done things worthy of a fish smack as well. I suppose you might as well start with me actually. I've made some truly stupid mistakes.
:fishsmack

[Morgane]

The first books I picked up on Wicca were by Scott Cunningham. I found them intriguing, but not the best I've read by any means.

The author who touched me the most (and really clicked "home" with me) was Kate West. I also really like books by Christopher Penczak.

I have tried reading SRW...Can't seem to make it through one of them...I do see how they might be beneficial to a younger reader (I'm 48), but would hope that her books would lead them to continue their studies and broaden their horizons a bit.

[Ben Gruagach]

I was being sarcastic, Ben. You should know this by now.
Sarcasm....it's kinda my thing. :toofless:

I know that you were joking, but I still think that we should show respect and encourage others to stick their necks out in public even when they say really stupid things at times.

Who is ever 100% right, or 100% wrong?

[Louisvillian]

Who is ever 100% right
Me. :smileroll


or 100% wrong?
Franklin Pierce.

[WolfyJames]

In my case not really, no author have affected profoundly my beliefs. Three have left a distinct impression though. The first is Christopher Penczak, in one of his Temple of Witchcraft books, some parts in his book I had done before becoming a Pagan and I couldn't put into words or explain then my experiences and I could suddenly understand and it was all making sense, it was mind blowing. I definitively want to get his other books, he is awesome. The second is Dianne Sylvan with her book The Circle Within, to integrate more on a daily level in our everyday lives our faith and rituals. The third is a catholic book in French (Recherche la Paix et poursuis-la by Jacques Philippe) about reaching the peace of the heart, even though I'm not Catholic anymore (and I was not really Catholic then), I have kept this book and read it sometimes and I switch God for the Gods (the Lord and Lady) when I read it now that I'm Pagan and it seems to work well for that one anyway.

[GEBS]

Even though her books are loaded with historical inaccuracies, especially her bullshit "book" on "Witta". Like $RW, McCoy is presumptuous tw*t who needs to be punched in the face. Hard. :bigredgri


There are many pagan authors who need to be punched in the face, or beaten to death with softcover copies of their books. Why? It'll take longer.



I was being sarcastic, Ben. You should know this by now.
Sarcasm....it's kinda my thing. :toofless:


You've only been around here a few months, so you may not have seen this, but I have seen folks strongly reprimanded for advocating violence against others, even when they were simply joking in a sarcastic manner.



Lunacie is correct. We do not tolerate advocating violence here, even in a joking manner. Refrain from doing that in the future

[Simply Puzzled]

I'm sure we could add a lot more names to the list if we cared to do so. I'd rather respect our Wiccan elders, teachers, authors, and artists even while we disagree with things they've said or done. It is possible to respectfully disagree.

It takes a lot more for a Wiccan to earn my respect than having a book published. It takes a lot more than having a lot of books published or becoming a best-selling author or having the New Age section of Barnes and Noble crammed full of books with their names on the spine.

I respectfully disagree with Desmond Tutu. We have some very different ideas about the nature divinity and human life, and I would not hesitate to engage in strenuous debate with him over these topics. His life and work though, do nothing but command my respect. I also disagree with Michael Savage. When he claims that autism is the result of fathers not telling their kids to stop acting like a moron, I can disagree so with cool, rational logic, but I can not do so with respect for either the person or the comment (http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170005).

There is a huge difference between not advocating violence against Ms. McCoy and respectfully disagreeing with her. Because simply put, her works are half-truths, lies, and stuff she made-up off of the top of her head simply to sell a few books. And while this is hardly a capital offense as some have suggested, but I don't think it means we should honor her as some sort of elder that is worthy of our respect, as is implicit in the statement "respectfully disagree" and tip-toe around her. Ms. McCoy will get my respect when she earns it, and I doubt she will ever prove herself as having enough honor to warrant it.

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

There is a huge difference between not advocating violence against Ms. McCoy and respectfully disagreeing with her. Because simply put, her works are half-truths, lies, and stuff she made-up off of the top of her head simply to sell a few books. And while this is hardly a capital offense as some have suggested, but I don't think it means we should honor her as some sort of elder that is worthy of our respect, as is implicit in the statement "respectfully disagree" and tip-toe around her. Ms. McCoy will get my respect when she earns it, and I doubt she will ever prove herself as having enough honor to warrant it.

McCoy does violence against my brain. The outright lies that she - and Ravenwolf, and Grimassi, and Buckland, and Starhawk, and Budapest, and and and - are Bad Things. Lying publicly like that about religion makes me upset. OK, not upset enough to kill - I was joking, after all - but I'll admit it, there are a few people who I'd like to smack upside the head with a softcover copy of their latest vomiting-forth of tripe. They hurt my brain, I'd like to hurt theirs. Karma is a bitch sometimes.

And hell, let's not forget the lovely Saran-wrapped dildos of Gavin and Yvonne Frost, who try and pass themselves off as Wiccans of virtue and status. Oh, or what about that guy what wrote the 21 Lessons of Merlin, with the fixation on the little boys?

Part of me really wants to say that if someone writes a book they should be viewed with intense suspicion until it's been demonstrated that the book (and any that follow after it) isn't a steaming pile of shit.

[Nox_Mortus]

McCoy does violence against my brain. The outright lies that she - and Ravenwolf, and Grimassi, and Buckland, and Starhawk, and Budapest, and and and - are Bad Things. Lying publicly like that about religion makes me upset. OK, not upset enough to kill - I was joking, after all - but I'll admit it, there are a few people who I'd like to smack upside the head with a softcover copy of their latest vomiting-forth of tripe. They hurt my brain, I'd like to hurt theirs. Karma is a bitch sometimes.


I can't really see coming down too hard on these people, Buckland i haven't really found any problems with, other than he omits a lot of stuff and tells you to wing it to an extent (and given his oaths the omission is understandable) Starhawk from my readings doesn't herself really associate with Wicca, the problem there is that a lot of Wiccans reccomend her work and people associate it with Wicca by default.

[Simply Puzzled]

Buckland i haven't really found any problems with

Are you serious? He's an known oathbreaker that maintains reading a book gives you all the knowledge of a 3* Gardnerian. Please.

[Nox_Mortus]

Are you serious? He's an known oathbreaker that maintains reading a book gives you all the knowledge of a 3* Gardnerian. Please.

I've actually never seen anything where he says reading a book makes you a 3rd degree Gardnerian, except for a blurb on the back of the big blue book, which in all likelyhood he didn't write (the blurb that is). as for the oathbreaking, you can kinda go two ways with that, one hand, yeah he did and that's not a very good thing, on the other hand, if you write a book on Wicca you pretty much have to be an oathbreaker to give any semblace of accurate information, also how much Oathbound material he actually made public is largely subject to debate.

[Lunacie]

Gardner himself caught a lot of flak for writing books and speaking publically about "the arte of witchcraft". He admitted that he only had pieces of the old religion. Unless an author claims to speak for Wicca as a whole or to make promises about conferring certain recognition by all Wiccans - they are still teaching us, even if they are teaching us what is just plain crap. It's up to us to learn to discern between what comes from good research or honest experiences and what is just regurgitated crap or made-up junk.

[Tanya]

in terms of practice... very few come to mind as I hold with those that feel Gardener was no more 'valid' (or less) than my own granny...

however... i got a lot out of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mist of Avalon even though I know.. its got a lot of twaddle too...
and strangley... Charles DeLint and... even more strangely ... Madelene L'Engle(even thought she was quite Christian)

and while I know they are old... i still use Fraser and Graves.. they may have inaccuracies but the level or research and scholarship are not equaled that I've seen in newer 'flavour of the week" authors.

[Cobalt]

I feel it's important to note that while Gardner and Budapest and *shiver* Gimbutas (seriously, I should start a separate thread about that woman) presented a version of the past that wasn't true, getting on their case about it is a bit hypocritical for most people.

If we're going to tell Christians that the Bible doesn't need to be perfectly historically-accurate in order to contain something valuable, it is not fair of us to use a different standard for Pagan (and in particular, Wiccan) historical narratives. Old ladies who talked to their cats and people who had property worth stealing were the ones burned in witch trials, and there is no evidence for a Great Matriarchal Culture that predates those nasty Patriarchal Christian Womanhating Oppressors. There is no historical reason to believe these are true any more than there is historical reason to believe that the Earth was created six thousand years ago in under a week.

I got a lot out of Silver RavenWolf because I grew up in a town of 8,000 people and there was nothing else. I could go to the library or (oddly enough) the music store and find something, at least. If that was the Frosts, or Laurie Cabot, or Silver RavenWolf, or Starhawk, then so be it. These authors have made things accessible to young people like I was that they might not have had opportunity to see otherwise. That in itself is valuable to me. The fact that they're not presenting accurate history is lamentable, but getting up in arms about it as though it invalidates everything they're doing is--to me, at least--on the same order as Christians getting enraged because they feel that acknowledging the Bible's flaws as a history text strips it of all meaning.

So yeah. Popular authors get it wrong. Mainly it's because of early feminist scholars like Gimbutas who really got it wrong. But calling them wrong and denouncing their work as utterly worthless are two different things. I'm not willing to do the latter, because I think it is both untrue and hypocritical.

[~Audra~]

the first wiccan i ever met worked at the same grocery store as i did...she was my boss and before her i figured i was alone in my area...she gave me scott cunninghams three-in-one book...i knew that this was put in my hands for a reason and i still agree--many books later--with some of his ideals and "ways"

another book that i still love is starhawks "the fifth sacred thing" i want to read it again...

the book is a well-written warning... :kooky:

[Indigo Child]

I would have to say, Raymond Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft.

[Louisvillian]

If we're going to tell Christians that the Bible doesn't need to be perfectly historically-accurate in order to contain something valuable, it is not fair of us to use a different standard for Pagan (and in particular, Wiccan) historical narratives.
Oh. Lucky for me, I don't place different standards on them. I disregard the Bible as much as I disregard anything written by $RW.


and there is no evidence for a Great Matriarchal Culture that predates those nasty Patriarchal Christian Womanhating Oppressors.I don't know a single person who honestly believes in such a thing. Because the notion of it utter crap.
If they did, I'd go Bright Noa on them (it's not violence- it's "Concussive Maintenance":cutie:) :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2849706012_e8dc82110f.jpg?v=0

:smileroll
(This was sarcasm, for those who lack a sense of humour to tell. Thank you for making me ruin my joke.)


But calling them wrong and denouncing their work as utterly worthless are two different things.Yes. And there's nothing wrong with doing both, if one feels that it's not a book worth anything to oneself. I don't really care if someone likes to read $RW or Edain McCoy or whoever-- just making it clear that I won't.

Also, I'm just an argumentative guy. :toofless:

[Nox_Mortus]

I don't know a single person who honestly believes in such a thing. Because the notion of it utter crap.
If they did, I'd go Bright Noa on them (it's not violence- it's "Concussive Maintenance":cutie:) :


I've actually met several people who believe in that, it was quite a popular idea in pagan circles in the 70s and 80s apparently, and it occasionally still gets repeated to a certain degree.

[Cobalt]

I just personally think it does a religious text of any kind, ancient or recent, a serious disservice if it is reduced to a history, biology, or physics text. It is my opinion that Christians who feel that the whole basis of their religion is undermined by evolution are "doin it rong," because if all religion is to them is a way to explain things they don't understand yet (like the cycle of the seasons or the progression of life), they're stripping it of its most important lessons and functions.

Maybe this is just me looking at this as an anthropologist, but religion has always done a lot more than serve as watered-down "science before we had science." Because of that, the Bible is not invalidated to me because its creation narrative must be accepted as a metaphor or not at all. By the same token, the complete lack of historical basis for the "original matriarchy" narrative does not completely strip certain Wiccan books of their meaning. It's not their job to explain history, even though you and I can probably agree that it'd be better if they did.

So, Louisvillian, if you are comfortable dismissing all religious texts that cannot feasibly be taken literally, that is your prerogative (particularly if you're willing to be consistent about it).

But it is my personal opinion that it causes trouble to demand that all religious texts be taken literally to preserve their worth, because I've spent far too much time trying to convince people of other faiths (Christianity in this example) that they don't need to cling fanatically to the literal interpretation of their religion's mythological narratives, that accepting certain things as metaphors or allegories does not endanger what's really important about their path. That's just my feeling on it.

[River]

I know, I know - I'm not Wiccan. Got my flame-retardant suit on.

But I know of a **Wiccan author** who was just so awesome, I wanted to share. I really love her stuff, and if I ever considered going down the Wiccan path, she'd be one of my main guides.

The book I read was called, The Circle Within, by Dianne Sylvan. It was basically about how to integrate your beliefs into a daily, momentary, permanent practice... creating a spirituality within your beliefs, not just going through the movements of ritual and the words of belief. She's funny, intelligent, spiritual... and really draws you in. It's kind of like a, "What to do AFTER Wicca 101."

Even though I personally am not Wiccan, she is, and I turn to her book frequently when I'm looking to refresh my spiritual side. I'm thinking of getting her other book, The Body Sacred... still haven't read it! Maybe this Yule/Christmas.

This.

[Burning Angel]

I'm not a big book reader...living in a crappy situation for buying this stuff and haven't looked up torrents yet...lol XD

But I'd have to say that Scott Cunningham's Solitary Practitioner got me hooked, taught me what all this was about, and instilled a sense of mystical and spiritual...awe in me about nature and the goddess and god and stuff that hadn't been there before. It made sense!

I'm glad I found that book :)

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

I'm not a big book reader...living in a crappy situation for buying this stuff and haven't looked up torrents yet...lol XD

But I'd have to say that Scott Cunningham's Solitary Practitioner got me hooked, taught me what all this was about, and instilled a sense of mystical and spiritual...awe in me about nature and the goddess and god and stuff that hadn't been there before. It made sense!

I'm glad I found that book :)

~Jon :boing:

That's the one that hooked me as well. Eventually I learned to be discriminating. Not everything he wrote was "gospel" but he did share a wonderful sense of the mystical and spiritual, and his books are miles better than some other authors.

[Burning Angel]

That's the one that hooked me as well. Eventually I learned to be discriminating. Not everything he wrote was "gospel" but he did share a wonderful sense of the mystical and spiritual, and his books are miles better than some other authors.

Right - I'm not sure what's not gospel, and would appreciate if you'd tell me on my user page or something...been a while since I read it and I wanna stay informed :) But you gotta start somewhere...like metal. I got into Linkin Park and Disturbed via local radio, and here I am with an 800 song-plus playlist of underground black metal :D (But I still rock up both bands quite often :P) And I'm significantly better-informed about Paganism, too :)

It's amazing the amount of parallels between metal and paganism :P

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

I could tell you - but then I'd have to kill you. :hairred:

Like I said, it takes time to become discerning. You can learn something from everything you read, especially by comparing things, and start figuring out what is the 'real deal' and what someone told someone and they printed it, or what someone read in a book or on a website and took as "gospel", you know, all that nonsense about how you MUST do things this way and HAVE to do these other things. Meh.

[Burning Angel]

I could tell you - but then I'd have to kill you. :hairred:

Like I said, it takes time to become discerning. You can learn something from everything you read, especially by comparing things, and start figuring out what is the 'real deal' and what someone told someone and they printed it, or what someone read in a book or on a website and took as "gospel", you know, all that nonsense about how you MUST do things this way and HAVE to do these other things. Meh.

Lol...indeed. You're gonna be like my girlfriend and make me figure out my own way huh? :thumbsup:

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

Lol...indeed. You're gonna be like my girlfriend and make me figure out my own way huh? :thumbsup:

~Jon :boing:

Yup. Didn't we go over the business about Wicca being an experienced religion, not a revealed one? Unless you experience the mysteries yourself, you'll either doubt what you've been told or you'll never try anything new for yourself beyond just doing what you've been told.

Don't worry. You'll be given some clues now and then. :hahugh:

[Burning Angel]

Yup. Didn't we go over the business about Wicca being an experienced religion, not a revealed one? Unless you experience the mysteries yourself, you'll either doubt what you've been told or you'll never try anything new for yourself beyond just doing what you've been told.

Don't worry. You'll be given some clues now and then. :hahugh:

I figured it was something like that...ace. I'm excited for this whole idea of nobody tells you what to do...and I think I'm coming closer to finding out :) But the trick is to practice...maybe I can cook something up for Litha :D Last day of a five-day weekend - special indeed!...I'll do some Magic I bet :)

Gods...I tend to go all kinds of places with a post huh? It's my Trek RP training...don't do one-line "he said he did" posts...details :P

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

I figured it was something like that...ace. I'm excited for this whole idea of nobody tells you what to do...and I think I'm coming closer to finding out :) But the trick is to practice...maybe I can cook something up for Litha :D Last day of a five-day weekend - special indeed!...I'll do some Magic I bet :)

Gods...I tend to go all kinds of places with a post huh? It's my Trek RP training...don't do one-line "he said he did" posts...details :P

~Jon :boing:

Litha (Summer Solstice) is a fire festival, so even throwing some meat or veggies on the grill can be part of the ritual. "Cook up something" indeed! :uhhuhuh:

Also a good time to write down some habit or trait or belief you'd like to let go of and toss that into the fire - burning away the old. But make sure you have some idea of what good things you'd like to bring into your life to replace the old junk. Nature abhors a vacumn and will put something back in there if you don't take care of it yourself, and what comes back will be very close to what you got rid of because that's what the hole will be shaped like, eh? :bumpsmili

[Burning Angel]

Litha (Summer Solstice) is a fire festival, so even throwing some meat or veggies on the grill can be part of the ritual. "Cook up something" indeed! :uhhuhuh:

Also a good time to write down some habit or trait or belief you'd like to let go of and toss that into the fire - burning away the old. But make sure you have some idea of what good things you'd like to bring into your life to replace the old junk. Nature abhors a vacumn and will put something back in there if you don't take care of it yourself, and what comes back will be very close to what you got rid of because that's what the hole will be shaped like, eh? :bumpsmili

Fire...my parents will freak rofl XD That said, I can do something..more symbolic :P Maybe get rid of my fear I deal with sometimes...I can be a big worrywart scaredy-cat XD

~Jon :boing:

[WitchJezebel]

I've read so many books Wiccan and otherwise and I try to learn from all of them, but I have to say one of my faves is A Witch Alone by Marian Green.

[Lunacie]

Fire...my parents will freak rofl XD That said, I can do something..more symbolic :P Maybe get rid of my fear I deal with sometimes...I can be a big worrywart scaredy-cat XD

~Jon :boing:

Are they freaked out by candles? Light a candle with a match, blow out the match and then -while holding the match - meditate on the things you'd like to let go of - then relight the match and let it burn completely away. Very small fire eh? Mostly symbolic but should work fine.

Or you could go for a walk in the park, find a quiet spot without any deadfall around, and using just the match do the same thing. Being careful not to burn your fingers or catch anything else on fire.

[Dio]

I truly admire Sybil Leek. I read Diary of a Witch several years ago, and thought she was the coolest. :)

[Burning Angel]

Are they freaked out by candles? Light a candle with a match, blow out the match and then -while holding the match - meditate on the things you'd like to let go of - then relight the match and let it burn completely away. Very small fire eh? Mostly symbolic but should work fine.

Or you could go for a walk in the park, find a quiet spot without any deadfall around, and using just the match do the same thing. Being careful not to burn your fingers or catch anything else on fire.

Nah...I just feel really bashful asking for any supplies for it and don't think I could have candles in my room anyway XD It's kind of not the best arrangement...maybe if I were less scared of hearing them say "no" I'd get it :P

/me wonders if he could actually swing it :) "Hi mom? Can I have some candles...for a ritual?" XD

~Jon :boing:

[Ben Gruagach]

Fire...my parents will freak rofl XD That said, I can do something..more symbolic :P Maybe get rid of my fear I deal with sometimes...I can be a big worrywart scaredy-cat XD

~Jon :boing:

Another way to use the sun's energy (like at Litha) without setting fires is to use water and "paint" a symbol of something you want to get rid of on a flat surface like a sidewalk. Then let the sun evaporate it for you.

[Burning Angel]

Another way to use the sun's energy (like at Litha) without setting fires is to use water and "paint" a symbol of something you want to get rid of on a flat surface like a sidewalk. Then let the sun evaporate it for you.

That's a cool idea :D *just has to get a symbol for negative thoughts now...or make my own :D* If it rains will that screw up? It's been rainy as all hell here lately XD

I'd rather do fire but that's got to wait :P

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

Another way to use the sun's energy (like at Litha) without setting fires is to use water and "paint" a symbol of something you want to get rid of on a flat surface like a sidewalk. Then let the sun evaporate it for you.


Ooooh! I really like that idea. I may try that with my grands on Sunday evening.

[Burning Angel]

Ooooh! I really like that idea. I may try that with my grands on Sunday evening.

Are your grandkids pagan too, or at least partially so? :)

~Jon :boing:

[Snapdragon]

On the topic:

Starhawk's book, Dreaming the Dark, crystallized for me that I had a place in the Craft.

[Lunacie]

On the topic:

Starhawk's book, Dreaming the Dark, crystallized for me that I had a place in the Craft.

Starhawk can be very inspirational, just don't depend on her to have the history right. :weirdsmil

[Burning Angel]

Starhawk can be very inspirational, just don't depend on her to have the history right. :weirdsmil

This thread makes me wish I had books...I need a torrent :P (I'd buy 'em if I could get 'em in the house XD)

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

There's a lot you can read and learn online. I didn't have the web when I was learning 19 years ago - but I had a teacher and some co-students - and I didn't have to hide it from anyone. Someday you'll have your personal space too.

[Burning Angel]

There's a lot you can read and learn online. I didn't have the web when I was learning 19 years ago - but I had a teacher and some co-students - and I didn't have to hide it from anyone. Someday you'll have your personal space too.

I don't have to hide it...I talk about this with my mom a lot. But she doesn't dig talking about it...somehow I don't think she wants books in the house, let alone other stuff :P

And yeah...my day is coming :)

~Jon :boing:

[Snapdragon]

Yeah, I'm familiar with the issues, Lunacie. Since the question asked about original inspiration, I gave the right answer. If it were a question about what authors or books were most currently representative of my Wiccan perspective, I'd have to mention <u>The Triumph of the Moon</u> as the most prominent.

I have issues with Starhawk, having met her at a couple of events...but that takes nothing away from the value of her book for me, on entering the Craft.

[Lunacie]

Yeah, I'm familiar with the issues, Lunacie. Since the question asked about original inspiration, I gave the right answer. If it were a question about what authors or books were most currently representative of my Wiccan perspective, I'd have to mention <u>The Triumph of the Moon</u> as the most prominent.

I have issues with Starhawk, having met her at a couple of events...but that takes nothing away from the value of her book for me, on entering the Craft.

Sheesh, everyone is so touchy lately. ;(

I wasn't saying you're stupid for trusting Starhawk or anything, or saying her books have no value. But like with anything we read or anyone we talk with, we need to be discerning and decide what is accurate and what is wishful thinking, what has personal meaning for the author and what has personal meaning for us.

[Burning Angel]

Sheesh, everyone is so touchy lately. ;(

I wasn't saying you're stupid for trusting Starhawk or anything, or saying her books have no value. But like with anything we read or anyone we talk with, we need to be discerning and decide what is accurate and what is wishful thinking, what has personal meaning for the author and what has personal meaning for us.

Indeed - and it's not like Wicca ever had a historical pedigree of any kind (at least pre-Word War II :P)...it's about the practice, the mystery, not the history going back to the beginning of the world like some factions of Christianity make that out to be :)

~Jon :boing:

[Snapdragon]

Uh, guys...no "touchiness" felt. It must be this screen-medium thing.

[Lunacie]

Uh, guys...no "touchiness" felt. It must be this screen-medium thing.

Good, okay then. I've been toasted a couple of times lately. Glad to know we're all good over here. :smile:

[Burning Angel]

Good, okay then. I've been toasted a couple of times lately. Glad to know we're all good over here. :smile:

For the record, Snapdragon, I thought you were fine - but the internet sucks for trying to hold a conversation at times...I have trouble with my own girlfriend XD

~Jon :boing:

[LadyDancer1181]

I notice that many Wiccans refer to Starhawk as one of their authors of preference. I may be wrong, but isn't Starhawk the founder of the Reclaiming Tradition, which is a blend of feminist Witchcraft and Fae? I'm not trying to discredit her writings, but it seems curious so many refer to her as a Wiccan author.

[Louisvillian]

Starhawk's not really Wiccan. Nor does she claim to be. However, I guess some people were affected by her ideas in a more general spiritual way, which in turn affected their Wiccan beliefs and practices?

I dunno. I personally think Starhawk's a pinhead and drama queen, who deliberately gets history wrong to garner sympathy. So I do not count her as an influence.
Plus, her nickname sucks.

[LadyDancer1181]

I dunno. I personally think Starhawk's a pinhead and drama queen, who deliberately gets history wrong to garner sympathy. So I do not count her as an influence.

Same here. I bought The Earth Path thinking it would be mostly about natural magic. I was disappointed, however, when I realized a lot of it is about her work as an environmental activist.

[ffetcher]

Of Starhawk...

Yeah, I'm familiar with the issues, Lunacie. Since the question asked about original inspiration, I gave the right answer. If it were a question about what authors or books were most currently representative of my Wiccan perspective, I'd have to mention <u>The Triumph of the Moon</u> as the most prominent.

I have issues with Starhawk, having met her at a couple of events...but that takes nothing away from the value of her book for me, on entering the Craft.

Yep, understood on both points. When I responded way back near the start, I cited Stewart Farrar's "Twelve Maidens" for inspiration. An inspirational book, IMO, doesn't need to be in any sense 'correct', if it portrays the situations, the feelings, the issues, in a way that inspires someone. In ny case the book completely changed my life, but it's a work of fiction; it doesn't need to be factually correct.

In terms of the latter, I agree that "Triumph..." is a pretty good development of Hutton's argument and represents a good body of research. Some here will be aware that I have issues with some of the details in Hutton's work, but like Snapdragon's comment about Starhawk, they don't detract from the value of the book for me. In short, would I recommend it? yes; would I expect it to inspire someone (with respect to an interest in Wicca as a path), errm, nope.

Would I want someone to form an opnion of Wicca based only on "Triumph"? With due respect to Ron H, whom I like a lot (he's always jolly, and in general helpful to non-academics), no. I'd hope that they'd read the book in the context of other material out there, before coming to any firm conclusions or decisions.

blessings
ffetcher

[rockinredneck]

Cunningham. A simple flashlight to help me see what I already knew was there, or at least help me see some of what may be...

[Lunacie]

I notice that many Wiccans refer to Starhawk as one of their authors of preference. I may be wrong, but isn't Starhawk the founder of the Reclaiming Tradition, which is a blend of feminist Witchcraft and Fae? I'm not trying to discredit her writings, but it seems curious so many refer to her as a Wiccan author.

I think Starhawk claims to have been trained in a Wiccan tradition before going on to form her own feminine witchcraft tradition with some Wiccan influences. No, what she writes about isn't purely Wiccan. Not a lot of authors do write purely Wiccan books, many are Wiccan-influenced at most. Even Cunningham didn't claim to be writing about Traditional Wicca.

[Snapdragon]

The entire "is this really Wicca" schtick is crap. There is no pope or ecclesiastical body who determines what the "line" is--thank goodness.

Once again, I am reminded of what my primary teacher in the Craft said, long ago: "Maybe the reason we don't have a pope is that there are too many of us who can't stand the competition."

Wicca is literally what you make it--live it.

The rest is just more global warming.

[Lunacie]

The entire "is this really Wicca" schtick is crap. There is no pope or ecclesiastical body who determines what the "line" is--thank goodness.

Once again, I am reminded of what my primary teacher in the Craft said, long ago: "Maybe the reason we don't have a pope is that there are too many of us who can't stand the competition."

Wicca is literally what you make it--live it.

The rest is just more global warming.

I'm sorry, are you in the wrong thread? I don't recall any "is this really Wicca schtick" here. No one said it had to be an "authentic Wiccan book" to merit discussion about how it affected our beliefs or practices.

Yes, Wicca is what you make it, but we all start out with the same basic building blocks. We may add stuff to them, but without those basic things, what you have becomes something else that may be Wiccan-inspired but isn't quite Wicca and many Wiccans won't be able to recognize it as Wicca.

[Burning Angel]

I'm sorry, are you in the wrong thread? I don't recall any "is this really Wicca schtick" here. No one said it had to be an "authentic Wiccan book" to merit discussion about how it affected our beliefs or practices.

Yes, Wicca is what you make it, but we all start out with the same basic building blocks. We may add stuff to them, but without those basic things, what you have becomes something else that may be Wiccan-inspired but isn't quite Wicca and many Wiccans won't be able to recognize it as Wicca.

Indeed - it may be a perfectly valid pagan book, but if it's not Wiccan it can't be called as such. That applies whether we mean Gardner or Cunningham...because Wicca isn't quite "whatever you want it to be", but it's close...as long as the loose skeleton is there :)

~Jon :boing:

[Lunacie]

I'd really like to not have this thread derailed into a discussion of what Wicca is or isn't. To get back to the topic, I've been reading a series by Monica Furlong about witches, called 'dorans', in medieval England. I've found certain passages very inspiring.

Wise Child (http://www.amazon.com/Wise-Child-Monica-Furlong/dp/0394825985/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245938219&sr=8-1)
Juniper (http://www.amazon.com/Juniper-Monica-Furlong/dp/0394832205/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245938219&sr=8-4)
Colman (http://www.amazon.com/Colman-Monica-Furlong/dp/0375815155/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245938219&sr=8-3)

[Burning Angel]

I'd really like to not have this thread derailed into a discussion of what Wicca is or isn't.

Sorry lol...I'm just prone to meandering :)


To get back to the topic, I've been reading a series by Monica Furlong about witches, called 'dorans', in medieval England. I've found certain passages very inspiring.

Wise Child (http://www.amazon.com/Wise-Child-Monica-Furlong/dp/0394825985/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245938219&sr=8-1)
Juniper (http://www.amazon.com/Juniper-Monica-Furlong/dp/0394832205/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245938219&sr=8-4)
Colman (http://www.amazon.com/Colman-Monica-Furlong/dp/0375815155/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245938219&sr=8-3)

Those look kinda cool - fantasy informing reality again :)

I'm reading...or pretending to read in between other stuff....a big long scholarly book on Magic in ancient Greek and Roman times, taken from the source texts of the period. It's quite cool, and for a follower of Hekate it could really shake up my Wiccan practice :)

~Jon :boing:

[Louisvillian]

We're not saying that such and such isn't Wicca. Merely that, Miriam Simos herself has said that she's not Wiccan, so it is confusing that one would use her as an example of a Wiccan author. Not that her books aren't devoid of value for spirituality in general, especially neopagan and feminist spirituality.

[David19]

I'm not sure if I should post in this thread, as, I'm not technically a Wiccan, just right now exploring (i.e. learning about it) and other paths, but, I'd have to say 4nongoths influenced me quite a bit (for those that don't know, she's the author of whywiccanssuck.com (http://web.archive.org/web/20011220064953/http://whywiccanssuck.com/)), I know she's not, technically, a published author (or maybe she is, since her identity is private, we don't know who she was/is). Another would be Daven from Daven's Journal (http://davensjournal.com), and another would be Raven Kaldera (http://www.cauldronfarm.com). All 3 have have influenced me, or taught me certain things and have influenced me in some way, especially 4nongoths.

I think I'm also going to add in Fiona Horne too, I know she's controversial, but, just reading her books, while not the greatest, for me anyway, or seeing her pictures, it's really great to see a Wiccan/Witch that, to put it bluntly, doesn't look like a Hippy, New Ager or any of the other stereotypes you associate with Paganism, she looks like someone that'd turn your head if she passed you in the street (well, maybe not my head, as she's missing something quite important between her legs!), and she generally just looks cool, I think that can be quite inspirational for people, especially young people finding out about Paganism, that you don't have to have a certain look about you to be Pagan (e.g. you don't have to be Goth, or dress like a Hippy or New Ager, that you can enjoy nice and cool clothes, look good, etc and be a Witch/Wiccan/Pagan). That's just me anyway, I think it can give a good message for all, both male and female.

[Louisvillian]

I really like the WWS site. Very lulzy.

[AmadoreEdana123]

in order from highest to lowest influence

Cunningham
Buckland
McCoy

[Cat]

Well, Paul Huson influenced me hugely in terms of magic.

Spiral Dance was my very first Wicca book, and I stole from it wholesale.

Judy Harrow is someone I've been privileged to know and learn from, though that's her and not her books (though I find them very valuable).

Robert Wang has also been a huge influence (again, not Wicca).

I included sources that aren't particularly Wiccan because they influenced me, and I am. Hope that makes some kind of sense.

[SoulFire]

Here's an interesting question for the Wiccans on the board here.

What author or book affected your Wiccan beliefs and/or practices the most profoundly? Why? Did the book just feel like it triggered an awakening for you, or did it perhaps bring out such strong disagreements in you that you were forced to examine your own beliefs and practices?



Well, I wouldn't call it "Wicca" per se, but # 1 I'd have to say Starhawk's The Spiral Dance (TSD) also. I love her lucid writing, the poetry, etc. Of course, much of it is based on Victor Andersons' Feri Tradition (not counting the Charge, of course), and Starhawk says this in the book, yet TSD still bears Starhawk's unique stamp.

I was also highly influenced by Sybil Leek's Complete Art of Witchcraft, Paul Huson's Mastering Witchcraft (one of my first Witchcraft books), and Ed Fitch's Pagan Way materials.

[Simply Iris]

Definitely Scott Cunningham. His books were the first I ever got. I always recommend them to those who are interested in Wicca because they are very insightful and offer suggestions while still allowing room for the practitioner to think for themselves.

[Paracelsus]

mainly because I find that the authors mentioned fall, on the whole, into two distinct categories;

1) "Yeah right on!" Many of these are not by "Wiccan" authors, or even really about "Wicca" per se - which I think says something.

2) "hug*ing hell you must be kidding"

There isn't really much middle ground (or indeed very many new authors).

I would like to toss some more names into the mix here though -
1) Ursula Le Guin - for the Earthsea books - which made me a magician when I was about 8, and elements of which, to be perfectly honest, still resonate strongly with my practice!
2) Jan Fries - the Germanic Genius who writes the only bullshit free books about magick and paganism - challenging, and subjective - always asking "this is what happens when I do x - what does it do for you?"
3) Margot Adler - whose "Drawing down the moon" alerted me to the fact that I wasn't the only on, and that in fact there was a whole culture of people out there who took these things seriously.

I think that there is also room for some mentioning some other good people - Austin Osman Spare, as well as some nutters (Into the Mauve Zone with Kenneth and Steffi anyone?). I would also recommend some publishers -
Mandrake of Oxford (http://www.mandrake.uk.net/),
Anathema (http://www.anathemabooks.com/),
Avalonia (http://www.avaloniabooks.com/), Cappall Bann (http://www.capallbann.co.uk/products.cfm), and the utterly wonderful new Scarlet Imprint (http://www.scarletimprint.com/index.htm) (not cheap - but lovely books)


As for those mentioned whom others have mentioned above - I've got a real soft spot for Starhawk, as a creator of Modern Myths, and for Hutton for challenging the literal interpretation of same. I have a pretty low opinion of people who parade their silly celtic (or insert your chosen ethnicity) sounding names as a method of re-hashing some old ideas, and a lower one of people who invent "traditions" and give themselves imposing sounding titles.

[Hadewijch]

One of the autors who has affected me most was Vivianne Crowley. After her book, the most books wheren't interesting anymore. I didn't see her in the messages in this topic. In America her books aren't read much? She gave me more than others a starting point to explore things in mind. Wicca/Witchcraft is a way of thinking and a way to see the world different and she is explaining it well.

Other very good books where IMHO Stewart Farrar (Witches Bible) or Marian Green. Marian Green gave me the idee to research my enviroment better. The idea from the Farrars about the Oak and Holly king, isn't however not my piece of cake. I couldn't fix it in my "basic pattern".

There where some Dutch/Belgium autors affecting me too. The book of Walter van Coppenole was inspiring. It's called "from Monk to Witch"and containes his life story and path from monk to witch. On some Dutch fora you talk with him, he uses the computer althought he is very old. Another autor who was afected me where Melkor and Nimue. Hight Priestess Nimue writes al lot on Dutch forums under a different nickname. She triggers people on an cryptic way to explore more.

[Kalioppee]

Here's an interesting question for the Wiccans on the board here.

What author or book affected your Wiccan beliefs and/or practices the most profoundly? Why? Did the book just feel like it triggered an awakening for you, or did it perhaps bring out such strong disagreements in you that you were forced to examine your own beliefs and practices?

For me it too was Starhawk's Spiral Dance and Margot Adler's Drawing down the Moon, oh and cant forget Farrar's Witches Bible. Now before the books came out I was into Green Egg Mag.

[Astucity]

Scott Cunningham, Margot Adler, and Raven Grimassi.

Excellent authors. :)

[Kern]

Since the title of this thread is "what author affected your Wiccan beliefs/practices most profoundly?" and not which Wiccan Books or authors...
Sir James George Frazers book The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, was the first that I read and is what initially led me to researching paganism in general, not just Wicca.

Other than that, Ive read all of Anton LaVeys books, which may sound crazy, but they even had some influence on my beliefs. Like a lot of people need ritual/religion in their life, but not a god or saviour , symbolism is a key part in ritual, not following the herd, but to do as we wish as long as we do not force our opinions on others, and other things.

I havent really read any other "pagan or wiccan" authors. I have read mainly stuff online and been influenced by some even on here.

A lot of great suggestions for books on this thread, that I need to check out though. Im waiting on A Witches Bible to arrive any time now.

[Phoenix Morgen]

When I first came to Wicca, it was Scott Cunningham's book by that title that influenced me a lot. When I came back to the path in 2008, it was Phyllis Curott's book "Witchcrafting" and Diane Sylvin's "The Circle Within". But I've gathered way too many books to narrow my focus down to just one.