1001 Books for Pagans

I saw this over in another religion's thread and thought it would be fun.

What books would you put in "1001 Books for Pagans" and why?

They don't necessarily have to do with Wicca or Paganism. For instance, I would put books in about various natural sciences, psychology, leadership, community, folklore, mythology and comparative religion.

I'll put some of my ideas in later.

1001 is a lot of books.

I decide to go through my catalog and tag the books I would put on such a list "1001 books" I only came up 262.

But I haven't finished cataloging my collection yet.

It's been awhile since anyone has posted a message here so I might as well get the ball rolling. I don't have any suggestions for 1001 Books for Pagans at this moment however it is something I will have to think about and get back in touch with everyone later on.

beatles1964

Some of the books I have listed here should fit into the Mythology, Women's Spirituality, Goddess, Wicca,
Pagan categories.

1. The Feminine Face of God The Unfolding of the
Sacred in Women by Sherry Ruth Anderson & Patricia Hopkins

2. Masculine/Feminine Readings in Sexual Mythology and the Liberation of Women

3. Sex And God Some Varieties of Women's Religious Experience

4. Mother Wit A Feminist Guide to Psychic Development

5. A Woman's Place Religious Women As Public Actors by Azza Karam

6. Twilight Goddess Spiritual Feminism and Feminism Spirituality

7. Is The Future Female?

8. The Chalice and The Blade Our History, Our Future

9. Return To The Goddess by Edward C. Whitmount

10. The Survival of the Pagan Gods The Mythological Tradition And Its Place In Renaissance Humanism And Art by Jean Seznec

11.Myths Of The Female Divine Goddess

12. The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths And Secrets

13. Not In God's Image Women In History From The Greeks to the Victorians

beatles1964

I think the touchtones are a little bit wonky now they were working when I was putting the name of the books in but when I went back to correct a typo they went away.

beatles1964

I was wondering if the list of books that are to be listed here should only be written by women. If that is the case I will have to back and eliminate a couple of the books I previously listed. sheherazahde why don't you go ahead and put the 262 books from your list here? Maybe that will make it easier for other people to go through their libraries and come up with their own lists. Until I find out one way or the other I think I will add some books by men to the list.

beatles1964

Okay, I don't get it. What do horror books about Christian evil concepts have to do with Paganism? Explain why I shouldn't be offended by the suggestions?

Also, there is no reason for books to be only written by women. Why would you think that?

I don't it seems that in other groups they have books written by only women rule and I was wondering if that applied here too. I don't know. I'm Sorry for offending you and anyone else and will delete them at once.

beatles1964

Thank you.

For beginners:

Pagan Paths by Pete Jennings
Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton
Stations of the Sun by Ronald Hutton
Explore Mythology by Bob Trubshaw
and anything by Terry Pratchett

then I have lists compiled for the various traditions, such as celtic/brythonic, anglo-saxon/norse and witchcraft/magic. I can list those, if wanted.

I would include Drawing Down the Moon by Margo Adler, if only because it's a primary source of information for non-pagans of an academic bent.

(edited to fix touchstones)

Having now read it, I would now include "The Art of Conversation with the Genius Loci" by Barry Patterson.

I have a Signet 1971 Third Printing paperback edition of Witchcraft Today by Martin Ebon I bought back in the 80s. I don't know whether or not you think this book should be included in the 1001 Books for Pagans list. I just thought I would mention it.

beatles1964

Several I would recommend would be:

Her Hidden Children by Chas Clifton
The Paganism Reader by Chas Clifton
When, Why....If? by Robin Wood

So far most of the books here seem to be nonfiction. Here's a few fiction suggestions:

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Witch Child and Sorceress by Celia Rees
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk
Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya

Beginners

"Pagan Paths" by Pete Jennings
"Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft" by Ronald Hutton, quickly followed by his other works including "The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy" and "Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain"

Paganism

Celtic/Brythonic

"The Ancient Celts" by Barry Cunliffe
"Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer" by Gearoid O Crualaoich
"The Celtic World" by Miranda Green
"Gods of the Celts" by Miranda Green
"Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch" by Lora O'Brien
"The Keys of Knowledge - Ogham, Coelbren and Pagan Celtic Religion" by Kevin Jones
"The Otherworld Voyage in Early Irish Literature" by Jonathan Wooding
"The Sacred Isle" by Dáithí O hOgain

and the following should then be undertaken:

"Early Irish Myths and Sagas"
"Tales of the Elders of Ireland" by Ann Dooley
"The Voyage of Bran" translated by Kuno Meyer
"The Mabinogion" by Sioned Davies
"The Making of a Druid: Hidden Teachings from the Colloquy of Two Sages" by Christian J. Guyonvarc'h
"Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Triads of the Island of Britain" by Rachel Bromwich

Anglo-Saxon Heathen

"The Way of Wyrd" by Brian Bates
"The Northern Tradition" by Pete Jennings
"Understanding Wyrd: The Norns and the Tree - An Introduction to the cosmology of Northern Europe spiritual practice" by Jenny Blain
"Wights and Ancestors" by Jenny Blain
"The Prose Edda: Tales from Norse Mythology"by Snorri Sturluson
"The Poetic Edda"
"Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Magic" by Bill Griffiths

and the following should then be undertaken:

"Dictionary of Northern Mythology" by Rudolf Simek
"Beowulf" as translated by Seamus Heaney
"Eyrbyggja Saga"
"Elves, Wights, and Trolls" by Kveldulf Gundarsson
Tacitus: "Germania"
"Gods and Myths of Northern Europe" by Hilda R. Ellis Davidson
"King Harald's Saga: Harald Hardradi of Norway from Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla" by Snorri Sturluson, Magnus Magnusson, and Hermann Palsson
"The Lost Beliefs of Northern Europe" by Hilda R. Ellis Davidson
"Northern Mythology" by Benjamin Thorpe and Jacqueline Simpson
"Njal's Saga"
"Orkneyinga Saga"
"The Saga of Grettir the Strong"
"The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki"
"The Saga of the Volsungs"
"The Vinland Sagas"

Witchcraft/Magic

"Creative Visualization" by Shakti Gawain
"The Art and Practice of Creative Visualization" by Ophiel
"The Art and Practice of Astral Projection" by Ophiel
"The Art of Conversation with the Genius Loci" by Barry Patterson
"Liber Noctis" by G. St.M. Nottingham
"Natural Magic" by Doreen Valiente
"13 Moons" by Fiona Walker-Craven
"Treading the Mill: Practical CraftWorking in Modern Traditional Witchcraft" by Nigel G. Pearson

I recently picked up a copy of A Magical Journal A Personal Journey through the Seasons by Von Braschler and Mari Coryell. It looks real interesting and has 17 chapters in the book plus you write your own personal notes & observations and has a box down at the bottom of each page where it says things like, A picture of winter wonderment I have seen, A promise of spring's return A sign the world is caught in grip of the Dark Lord, Tree rubbing showing wear from insects, birds.

And each day it also has a different Meditation too. For example:

I am like a tree. As I identify my every leaf, I look at the significance it had in my life, thank it for serving me, and watch it blow away in the wild winds. It is given to the Earth Mother who uses all decay for rebirth. I wait and consider the winter at a time for inward journeys. I let go and trust my roots to hold me.

Contemplation: Samhain (Halloween) is a time of memorial for those loved ones I have lost, yet remain near to my heart. I should look inside myself on this special, hallowed night to examine how these many lines connect in the fabric of my existence.

Contemplation: On Samhain (Halloween), the night of the dead, I am conscious of the changes in nature around me. Plants nestle in the ground for a winter rest. We are approaching the end of the year; and nature is making ready for a new year.

November Moon: The Snow Moon rises in November with a soft blue and silver color. This moon and its color are traditionally linked to snow as a blanket to cover the earth during its winter slumber.

These are just a few of the things it says inside A Magical Journal. Plus it has chapters like Candle Magic, Grounding & centering, Magical protection, Color magic, Earth magic, gardening & herbs.

Beatles1964