The Twelve Wild Swans: A
Journey to the Realm of Magic, Healing and Action
by Starhawk & Hilary Valentine
2001 HarperSanFrancisco.
Starhawk and Hilary
Valentine, renowned leaders in the Wicca movement, use the transformative
fairy tale of The Twelve Wild Swans to teach an advanced class on magic.
More significantly, this is an introduction to a mature level of Wicca
called "reclaiming," a model of witchcraft that blends magic, personal
growth, and activism. The book begins with the first chapter of the fairy
tale, in which a foolish queen wishes to exchange her 12 sons for a
daughter. An old woman "dressed all in black" overhears the queen and makes
the wish come true, granting the queen a daughter but turning her sons into
wild swans.
From here the coauthors launch into a back-and-forth structure of telling
the story and then stopping to show how it applies to a witch's initiation
and transformation. For example, we all must leave the castle in order to
heal our past. We all must spend some time wandering in the wilderness
before finding our true home, and we all must conquer some form of "wicked
vows" before we can reach full maturity. These are wise leaders and strong
guides, well worth following on this life-altering fairy tale. --Tara West,
on Amazon.com.
Wicca: A Guide For The
Solitary Practitioner
by Scott Cunningham
1988, 1999 23rd printing Llewellyn Publications
Though we never met the man,
Scott Cunningham was widely regarded while alive as a gentle soul with a
gift for bringing wiccan practice into everyday life in a lovely practical
way. For many of us, Cunningham has been our first guide. I couldn't
say it better than this Llewellyn statement:
"Wicca is a book of life, and how to live magically, spiritually, and wholly
attuned with Nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about
Magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how
to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth.
Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion
dedicated to the Goddess and God. This book fulfills a need for a practical
guide to solitary Wicca-a need which no previous book has fulfilled."
The Sacred Tradition In
Ancient Egypt
by Rosemary Clark
2000 Llewellyn Publications
When you are ready to go beyond Wallis Budge, and the modern trendy books about keeping the Old Religion and honoring the Neteru, Rosemary Clark is the writer we recommend for a serious treatment . Careful reading of Clark will give you the insight into the Egyptian mind necessary to understand the full beauty of Egyptian religion and spirituality. The Sacred Tradition offers detailed examination of every nuance imaginable, but manages to give a cohesive overview of the entire land, the original mystery cult centers, the meaning of thousands of years worth of myth, symbolism, rituals and architecture. Read here about the mysteries of Pyramid Initiation, Threefold Initiation, the Master of Secrets, and The Osireion, too!
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of
Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic
by Scott Cunningham
2002 Llewellyn Publications
Sekhmet is partial to working with stones and with herbs. This encyclopedia-style directory, complete with a 16-page color insert, gives exhaustive information about crystals, other gems, and metals, including their energy, planetary rulers, element, powers, magical/ritual lore, and magical uses. There are excellent appendices for magical intentions, substitutions, birthstones and more. Our favorite modern authority on the subject, and fascinating reading even if you are only curious about history and lore.
Garden Witchery: Magick From the Ground Up by Ellen Dugan, Llewellyn Publications, 2003
Osireion would, much of the time, rather be gardening. In fact, if we had our way, gardening - with all of its wonder and natural magic - would be required in all public schools! Here's what Amazon says about a delightful book: "Written with down-to-earth humor by a Master Gardener who is also a practicing witch, this creative and encouraging guide will inspire gardeners of all ages and experience levels. It includes a journal section that makes it easy to keep track of your progress, practical gardening advice, personal stories, and garden witchery lore and magick. Inside, you''ll get the dirt on: flower folklore moon gardening and astrological timing faerie magick beginning to advanced witchcraft floral and herbal spells Sabbat celebrations "witch crafts" (sachets, wreaths, charm bags) creating sacred space shade, moonlight, and sun gardens enchanted houseplant and container gardens magickal herbal correspondences garden blessings."
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of
Magical Herbs
by Scott Cunningham
1988, 1999 23rd printing Llewellyn Publications
Sekhmet's other favorite magical materials: the plants found in her garden and yard and woods (and the local magic store, too). Again, Cunningham is the modern authority of choice at Osireion. Encyclopedic listings of over 400 herbs give the Latin name, a botanical drawing, folk names, powers and magical uses, gender, planetary ruler, elemental associations and lore.
Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small by Ted Andrews, Llewellyn Publications, 2004
Animal-Speak helps you meet and work with animals as totems and spirits-by learning the language of their behaviors within the physical world. It provides techniques for reading signs and omens in nature so you can open to higher perceptions and even prophecy. It reveals the hidden, mythical and realistic roles of 45 animals, 60 birds, 8 insects, and 6 reptiles - Llewellyn
by Christopher Penczak, Lewellyn Publications, 2002
A thorough course of education,
introspection, meditation, and the development of the magickal and psychic
abilities that are the birthright of the witch. Four introductory chapters
present the history, traditions, and principles of witchcraft, followed by
thirteen lessons that start with basic meditation techniques and culminate
in a self-initiation ceremony equivalent to the first-degree level of
traditional coven-based witchcraft.
This book's non-dogmatic presentation encourages an eclectic, personal
approach while providing a strong foundation for the practice of witchcraft
and magick. Develop your psychic abilities and practice potent magickal
techniques as you explore the source of every witch's power--the temple
within.
Winner of the 2003 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) Award for Best
Magic Book