Books on Witchcraft and Wicca

Sacred Meadow Circle Virtual Gathering Discussion Summary:

Thank you to those who were able to attend the Sacred Meadow Circle Virtual Gathering with the suggested topic of discussion about Witchcraft and Wicca.

Bryan first led a discussion on witchcraft and Wicca, sharing insights on various books and resources for practitioners. He introduced several books on magick, crystals, and herbs, emphasizing the importance of personal perspective and learning style when choosing resources. 

We discussed the various books on witchcraft and magick, including foundational texts, spellbooks, and resources on herbs, crystals, and divination. Such as: "Book of Shadows", by an unknown writer; "To Walk a Pagan Path" by Alaric Albertsson; "A Handbook of Saxon Sorcery & Magic" by Alaric Albertsson; "The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews" by Scott Cunningham; "Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs" by Scott Cunningham; "Alchemy of Herbs" by Rosalee De La Foret; "The Book of Stones" by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian; "The Crystal Bible 1 $ 2" by Judy Hall; "Dot to Dot in the Sky" by Joan Marie Galat; and many more. 

More about these books in more detail at: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/book-recommendations and https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/other-book-suggestions

We emphasized the importance of personalizing practices and encouraged readers to adapt techniques to suit their needs. Bryan also highlighted the psychological aspects of magick from a Humanist Wiccan perspective and compared spellwork to internal programming and brain plasticity, drawing parallels to non-magical practices like hypnosis. He shared insights from his own book, "Inquiries of the Craft," and mentioned upcoming workshops on introduction to witchcraft and on advanced witchcraft and ritual. 

We began by discussing the parallels between singing in harmony and practicing magick, emphasizing that both require different levels of skill and can be learned. We talked about non-magickal books which can still be helpful to magickal practitioners, such "Essentials of Hypnosis" by Michael D. Yapko, which explores myths and misconceptions related to hypnosis, and we discussed the connection with magick; "When the Body Says No" by Gabor Mate, which examines the mind-body link and stress's impact on health; and "The Pivot Year" by Brianna Weist, a daily encouragement book that can be used as a tool for self-reflection and magical practice. A couple of podcasts were mentioned, such as "The Witch Wave" Hosted by Pam Grossman which has great interviews with artists, authors, and visionaries who use magick in their creative work; "Seeking Witchcraft" Hosted by Ashley Seekraft which is a beginner-friendly sharing of experiences as an initiate and coven leader; and "What Magic Is This?" by Douglas Batchlelor which is an interview with guests who are curious about specific subjects.   We discussed the diversity of perspectives in the non-magical community and emphasized the importance of looking at things from different viewpoints.

 Insights were shared on the variety of books available on magick and spirituality, highlighting the challenges of navigating the witchcraft community due to differing beliefs. Bryan explained the structure of the SMC coven, which includes in-person and virtual groups, and mentioned upcoming events such as the Witches Gathering Conference in Ancaster, Ontario in May (Annually), which would make a great opportunity for Virtual Gatherers of the SMC to meet in person and meet some of the in-person members.  

Please join us for the next Virtual Gathering of the Sacred Meadow Circle! More information is available at: https://www.askagreywitch.com/gatherings