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<<<<< - Excellent. Buy two copies of
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Hellenism <<<< The Ancient Mysteries - Marvin W. Meyer HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-065576-3 This book is essential for the study of the Mystery cults. It presents a wealth of source materials on the subject, drawn from writers as diverse as Plutarch, Lucian, Herodotus and Pausanias to Christian and Jewish authors such as Origen, Clement, and Flavius Josephus. Of particular interest are the inscriptions, such as the Rule of the Iobacchae, the Orphic fragments, and the Rule of the Andanian Mysteries. Obviously I found the material on Dionysos and the Magna Mater to be of most use, but all of it is great. It also has material on the Mysteries of Isis, Mithras, the Two Goddesses of Eleusis, as well as Mysteries within Judaism and Christianity. <<<< Arcana Mundi - Georg Luck John Hopkins ISBN 0-8018-2548-2 The best thing about this book is the large passages on magic from original sources. You have everything from pastoral poets writing about love charms to Cicero's exhaustive commentary on divination. Curse tablets and Greek astrological texts. Accounts of Pagan miracle stories and the procedure for raising daimons. Each chapter is opened with a wonderful essay that gives an overview of the subject, and explores certain aspects in great detail. Then we are given a buffet of original source material. It really is a great introduction to magic and the uncanny in antiquity. <<<< Classical Living - Frances Bernstein HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-251624-8 This is a beautiful and inspiring book which shows how to live and practice the ancient Roman Religion within a modern setting. It's set out like a calendar, listing the festival or devotion for each day. But it's more than just an itinerary - it's a book about changes, and seasons, and the subtle patterns that are woven into our lives. This book almost made me want to practice the Religio Romano - but alas, my heart lies with the Greeks. <<<<< Dionysus: Myth and Cult - Walter Otto Indiana ISBN 0-253-20891-2 There are times when this is my favorite book. Few authors capture the depth and complexity of the God as well as Walter Otto has done. His insight that madness - that state of overwhelming passion, of being lifted out of ourselves, of unique perspective, ecstasy - is the key to understanding Dionysos, and that everything else about him in some way suggests or contains an element of madness, is extremely profound. This is more than a dry, academic treatment of a curious subject. For Walter Otto, Dionysos was a living, breathing, complex God, and his work is infused with a sense of piety and awe. He is convinced of the reality of Dionysos, and his importance in our world (though that does not stop him from examining the dark and terrible aspects of the God), and it lifts his prose to sublime levels. I couldn't recommend this work more. <<< The Enneads - Plotinus Penguin ISBN 0-14-044520-X Whenever a student is acting too eager or full of themselves, I reccomend this book. They always come back with a hurt puppy look, rubbing their heads, and considerably more humble than they were. It's a huge, dense book that is difficult for even the trained philosopher to read. At the best of times, this book remains elusive, cryptic, and very challenging. At it's worst, it's like running face first into a brick wall. But if you're in the mood for having your horizons broadened, and going on a deep intellectual journey - you'd be hard-pressed to find a better guide than Plotinus. <<<<< Eternal Greece - Rex Warner, Martin Hürlimann Thames and Hudson no ISBN This is one of those large, coffee table books with beautiful pictures of Greek ruins and the setting sun over craggy islands. I've got about four of five of them - and a couple about Pompeii and Herculaneum too. What sets this one apart, is that it really captures the spirit of Greece. Alongside the stunning pictures, you find passages from the Greek poets and dramatists, and explanations about myth and history. Never once do the authors become condescending or praise the triumph of Christianity and the Byzantine ethos, as several of the others do. These men seem almost convinced that Gods and fabled creatures once walked among the hallowed sites - and may still, to this day. <<< Euripides' Bakkhai - trans. Reginald Gibbons Oxford ISBN 0-19-512598-3 There are a lot of translations of the Bacchae out there - and although this isn't my favorite, it's definitely one of the better ones. What makes this version so great is the introductory essays by Charles Segal. They cover a great deal of the background material that is so important for a critical reading of this seminal play, and provide a wealth of information on the cult of Dionysos, and his influence on the development of theater. Another thing that makes this such a great play is the authentic transliteration of Greek names and words. For instance, we see Kadmos instead of the Latinized Cadmus; Bakkhai instead of Bacchae; Kithairon instead of Cithaeron. You'd be surprised what a difference that makes when you're reading the play. Anyone insterested in Dionysos has to read this play. It describes his return to Thebes, the home of his mother, and his confrontation with Pentheus, the upstart king who tries to suppress the new God's worship. It explores a number of important issues, including the tensions that exist between the sexes, between the ages, between the individual and the state, and between the religious experience and established tradition. It's a very profound piece, written by a profound man in his final days. <<<<< The Gods of the Greeks - Carl Kerenyi Thames and Hudson ISBN 0-500-27048-1 Probably one of the most readable books on mythology, it approaches it from an insider's perspective, and tries to give the feel and meaning of the myths, not just their skeletal structure. It's a work of great poetry, and scholarship, and really brings to life the myths, as well as their connection to religion and society. And the best part about it - he gives ample footnotes for everything he says, so you can check his sources. There is a companion volume to this work - the Heroes of the Greeks, but I have yet to read it, since the heroes never particularly interested me. <<< Gods of Love and Ecstacy - Alain Danielou Inner Traditions ISBN 0-89281-274-1 Alain Danielou was a Frenchman who moved to India and became a devoted follower of Siva. In this book, he explores the important connections that exist between Dionysos and Siva, and poignantly argues for a revival of their worship in this modern age. Generally speaking, I don't go in for the cross-cultural connections between Gods - but it's really hard to argue with the amazing similarities that he presents, and his point about our need to value the fluid, ecstatic, sexual, magical, and shadowy is well taken.
Greek Authors - I've always thought that the best way to understand something is to go directly to the source. And so, if you want to learn about Greek culture and religion, read what the Greeks themselves had to say about it. Here's a good resource on-line which has many of the authors' works. <<<<< Greek Religion - Walter Burkert Harvard ISBN 0-674-36281-0 This is a huge book, even though it comes in at under 500 pages. It is probably the single most respected book on ancient Greek religion by Hellenic Reconstructionists, and is an invaluable resource. The scope of the text is stunning - detailing the religion of the Greeks from Myceaenian times, up through the collapse of the polies. This book has codified many of my beliefs on subjects ranging from sacrifice, ritual, the afterlife, agon, and hard polytheism. If you read no other book on the subject, you must read this one. <<<< The Greek Way of Death - Robert Garland Cornell ISBN 0-8014-8746-3 We tend to think of death as instantaneous thing. One moment you're alive, the next you're dead. Garland shows that it's really a process, one that both the deceased and the family/community go through. He details all the points along the way, and it's interesting to watch the parallels between what the soul experiences and what the family goes through in preparing it, dealing with the loss, and then finally being reintroduced back into society. The author has a similar book on the processes of birth and life, but I haven't tracked it down yet. <<< Hermetic Magic - Stephen Edred Flowers Weiser ISBN 0-87728-828-3 I recently recommended this book to a friend who knows far more about Kaballah and the 19th century Hermetic tradition than I probably ever will, and he was quite disappointed with it. His points were valid - the author tends to lump diverse traditions together, and skims over some of the most important material, and has a most peculiar understanding of what "postmodernism" entails - but the basic reason why I recommended the book, and why I continue to do so, holds fast. First, it gives a nice introduction to the magical and philosophical world of Hellenistic Egypt in the first to fourth centuries. It presents the basic concepts, and practices, and deities in a way that is easy to understand, and it does show how much of the material is related, even if it goes too far in this direction, by suggesting it was part of some unified - though numinous - tradition. The second half of the book is the best part, in my opinion, because it takes the material from the Greek Magical Papyri - an eclectic collection of texts, procedures, and spells collected from random parts of Egypt and Greece - and shapes it into a workable tradition. <<< The Hermetica - Walter Scott Shambhala ISBN 0-87773-338-4 This is probably the single best collection of Hermetic texts available, since it also includes fragments from Stobaeus and other sources, which are too often neglected. It has the material in the original Greek and Latin, which makes for some interesting comparisons. I'm not entirely certain of the correctness of Scott's translation. For instance, he translates certain important, but sensitive words such as logos and nous in such a way that one might not pick up on their meaning, or their relation to Christian esoteric thought, unless one was looking specifically for them. But it's still a great collection, and the introduction is well worth the price of the book. It discusses the development of the works, their relation to Platonic thought, how there was no single, unified Hermetic tradition, but likely a group of small, dislocated philosophers who wrote down their teachings in the guise of discourses from Hermes, how the tradition developed, and flourished, and how it even survived the fall of Rome and of Classical Paganism. A group under Muslim rule adopted the Hermetic texts as their "Holy Book" to avoid being killed or converted. So for a short time, there was an actual community who practiced a blend of Hermeticism and Pre-Arab Paganism, the "Sabaeans." <<<< Iliad of Homer - trans. Richard Lattimore Chicago ISBN 0-226-46940-9 I haven't found the perfect translation of Homer yet - but this one comes pretty close. I really like Lattimore's translations - he's done everything from the dramatists, archaic lyricists, and Plato to the New Testament - and have used some of his stuff in ritual. This version aproximates the original Greek spellings, and contains a pronunciation guide, and best of all, it's in verse. I really hate when someone passes off a prose translation or paraphrase of Homer. It has to be chanted to get the real feel of it. As for the work itself - well, it's an unquestioned masterpiece, Homer's account of the final days of the seige of Troy, masterfully told. The insight it gives into Greek culture is invaluable, particularly the long passages describing weapons and religious observances. But the story itself is compelling. A brilliant warrior who allows wounded pride to keep him from doing what is needed, and suffers the loss of his dearest friend, and almost brings about the defeat of his fellows. It's much more than simply a tale of gory battles and quests for honor - it's a searing psychological examination of what propels a hero onward, and what dark, destructive passions lie within their hearts. Lattimore also translated the Odyssey, but I don't seem to have that handy at the moment. <<< Iron Dawn (ISBN0-451-45590-8) and <<<< Jericho Moon (ISBN 0-451-45678-5) - Matthew Woodring Stover Roc A historical fantasy series set, not in another world or in a time out of time in our own world, but firmly in the historical Near East, approximately around the time of the Biblical Joshua. The series (and Gods I hope there are more!) centers around a trio of mercenaries: Barra the Pict, Kheperu a reprobate and magician, and Leucas, who fought alongside the heroes in the Siege of Troy. Not only is there plenty of action and bloodshed (a necessary in all great literature) but Matthew has obviously done his homework, for the picture he presents of these ancient cultures is a stunningly realistic one. (Except for the characters' fondness for certain vulgar Anglo-Saxon words.) Plus, the storylines are amazing, just amazing. He fleshes out the characters, really brings them to life - especially in the second book. Jericho Moon tells of the Hebrew conquest of Canaan, from the other side. I was very impressed with how the author dealt with Yahweh and angels in the book. They are not the handsome, winged, slightly dazed-looking sort you're familiar with from the popular media like Touched by an Angel. When you read about them, you'll understand why the first thing they're always telling people is, "Fear Not!" <<<< Letters from a Stoic - Seneca Penguin ISBN 0-14-044210-3 Stoicism is often thought to be rather cold, indifferent, distant - and it was. But it also had a deeply human and caring side, and that is best represented by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the statesmen, philosopher, man of letters, and playwright. These epistles illustrate the lofty ideals of Stoicism put into action in the daily grind of life. They are wise, humorous, and above all, compassionate. It is Seneca who urges us to see our slaves as humans, who denounces the cruelty of the Games, who talks of controlling our tempers, and meeting Fate steadfastly. Every one of these epistles has some grain of wisdom that can be gleaned from it - and often they are swollen with wisdom. <<< Light in Extension - David Godwin Llewellyn ISBN 0-87542-285-3 I was skeptical when I first saw this book. Llewellyn usually equals fluffy revisionist sap, and I expcted this book to be no different. In fact, I picked it up so that I could rant about it. And there are a couple sections, which I don't really agree with - namely the stuff on matriarchy and the pre-Dorian Pelasgians which relies too heavily on Graves and his crap. But the rest of the book is pretty decent, and accomplishes what it sets out to do - provide an overview of "Greek magic from Homer to modern times." The author is very knowledgeable about the Qaballah, and I found the correspondances he drew between Greek philosophy - particularly the early Ionians, Stoics, and the NeoPlatonists - enlightening. It really helped me to grasp the Qaballah better, since I was already familiar with the Greek concepts. He also includes some great rituals at the end of the chapters, and I enjoyed the sections on Renaissance Occultism. My favorite chapter, however, was on the Eleusinian Mysteries, which he discussed very sympathetically, without trying to probe the secrets, something he explains would be impossible. <<< Masks of Dionysus - Thomas H. Carpenter and Christopher Faraone Conell ISBN 0-8014-8062-0 This is a collection of essays from people in a number of different academic departments, focusing on the world of Dionysos in all of its wonderful variety. As with any such mix-bag collection, you get an uneven assortment of essays, ranging from the really good - "He has a God in him" and the article on Fufluns Pacha, the Etruscan counterpart of Dionysos - to the merely adequate. With Dionysos, however, things are never boring, and that is the case even with the least of the essays in this collection. <<<<< The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology - Edward Tripp Meridian ISBN 0-452-00927-8 There are a lot of crappy books out there on mythology. *cough Bullfinch cough cough* But this is not one of them. It gives a concise overview of all of the most important myths, brief analyses of their meaning and relation to other myths, and most importantly, it cites the sources from which the myths are drawn. A lot of people seem to think that myth was some monolithic entity, but in reality, it was a diverse, fluid, multifaceted thing, and there are many variations and elaborations on the essential stories. So it is important to know where a myth comes from, when it was written down, and what the perspective of the author was, in understanding what the myth is saying. <<< Nonnos' Dionsyiaca books I-XV - trans W. H. D. Rouse Loeb ISBN 0-674-99379-9 The historical interest alone of this volume makes it worth tracking down. It was the last flowering of the Classic Hellenic culture, written by a man who was said to be a Bishop in the Church and also translated the Gospel of John into hexamater verses. The work itself is difficult to appraise. It's beautiful, but artificial. It collects, and thus preserves for posterity, a great many rare myths, but I don't think that the author really portrays the Dionysos I know. Nonnos' Dionysos is altogether too human. The primal, powerful, otherworldly quality which Euripides and the Orphic hymnists lend to the deity is completely lacking in Nonnos. His Dionysos, as the translater himself admits, "is an utterly detestable character, or would be if it were possible to believe in him." The Dionysos of Nonnos is thoroughly made in the image of man, and never becomes more than that. It is true that most of the Hellenic Gods were anthropomorphic, but always they showed us man at his best, man struggling under the hardships of life, man rising to meet his fate, man the noble creature. Man is noble because he is flawed, because he must ultimately fail. But there is no chance for Nonnos' Dionysos to fail, because he is more powerful than all of his enemies. This Dionysos is like an action-movie star. He overcomes one enemy after another, conquers and dispatches the vast armies of nation after nation, never with a chance to fail. He is a superman, but not a superman of the sort that Nietzche would recognize. Hence, the Dionysos of Nonnos is not a god (because a god is more than a man) nor is he a man, since humanity comes from man's frailty. Which leads me to my next criticism. Nonnos is no fun to read. He is definitely not inspired by the Muses here. His verse is decadent and consciously artistic. Like Apollonius of Rhodes, Nonnos is trying to prove that it is still possible to write an Epic in hexamater verse, but unlike Apollonius, Nonnos is never convinced by his creation, never carried away by the Muses, and so, neither are we. Nonnos is just recounting myths which he has found in old books, here. He does not himself believe them, nor does he expect his audience to. All the while it is "Gee, look at this quaint custom, this odd story. Aren't I so witty for recounting it with such great style?" Which, I suppose, is the one saving grace of the Dionysiaca: it collects a great number of obscure myths together, the more obscure, the more Nonnos seeks them out. For instance, the contention between Perseus and Dionysos, which is represented in art, but not in literature, is presented in Nonnos. So, too, the meeting of Dionysos and Herakles, and the whole Cretan birth. So, in closing, Nonnos is good for obscure myth, and interesting on a historical level, but definitely not worth reading if one is looking for good entertainment, or wants to know the real Dionysos. <<<<< Old Stones, New Temples - Drew Cambell Xlibris ISBN 0-788-3201-4 It would be difficult to over-estimate the value of this book for Hellenic Reconstructionists. Literally everything you could possibly need for practicing Greek Paganism are here. It contains a comprehensive list of Gods, their festivals and epithets, and the things associated with them, as well as detailed instructions on creating rituals and maintaining authentic traditional practices. Of particular value is the material on the philosophy and basic ideas common to practicioners of Hellenismos - especially in relation to man, the divine, and the afterlife. Drew Cambell has a wonderful way of conveying very profound things in terms that are easy to understood - a rare gift indeed. <<<< Seers, Shrines, and Sirens - John Pollard A. S. Barnes no ISBN This little book is amazing. It traces the religious revolutions of the Sixth century BCE - especially the Orphics and Pythagoreans, the introduction of the Dionysos religion in Athens, the rise to prominance of the Delphic Oracle, the shamans, and the use of Siren and Gorgon images in art. In nine short essays, he captures the amazing vitality of Greek religion in that incredibly important century. <<< Spartan Reflections - Paul Cartledge California ISBN 0-520-23123-6 This is a great, if at times dry, look at Athens' primary rival for supremacy of the Greek world. It focuses primarily on the social and military aspects of Sparta, and doesn't deal with Spartan religion enough for my tastes - but that is to be expected, since they were better known for these contributions. The final part of the book was perhaps the most interesting, since it dealt with how people have perceived Sparta through the centuries, and how their vision hasn't always been reflective of the actual Sparta. <<< The Viking Portable Greek Reader - W. H. Auden Viking no ISBN There is no finer introduction to the Canon of Great Books which is the foundation of Western Civilization, than this volume. It includes passages from thirty-four Greek authors (including several complete texts) ranging from poetry, drama, philosophy, history, mathematics, science, politics - all of the great contributions that the Greeks bestowed to history.
Paganism and the Occult <<< Book of Shadows - Phyllis Curott Broadway ISBN 0-7679-0055-3 This is a wonderful account of how Phyllis Currot, a high-powered Manhattan attorney discovered Wicca and the profound effect it had on her life. A big part of the problem with the books out there today on Wicca is that they are so impersonal. They merely recount the same bland information, and rarely tell you what it means, what it feels like to undergo these experiences, what sorts of changes you go through as you learn, and live the religious path. I would like to see more personal accounts such as this, more books that explore the deeper meaning of things, and not just the introductory Wicca 101 crap we've all seen a hundred times before. Besides, I loved the juicy gossip - which is pretty much why I enjoyed Adler's Drawing Down the Moon. < Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft - Raymond Buckland Llewellyn ISBN: 0-875-42050-8 Let's be honest. There's a reason this thing is called Buckland's BBBB (Big Blue Book of Bullshit) - and it's not because the book has a blue cover. The history that opens the book is just awful. And I'm not talking about from an academic perspective - I'm talking about from the horrible standards of instawitch literacy. And Gods - is this man arrogant or what??? A common drinking game in some Occult circles is to go through his books and count the number of times he says something to the effect of "Gardner sent me as an apostle to the Americas to teach them Witchcraft." The proper response to such a passage is to knock one back. I assure you, you will be quite drunk before the night is through. But .... honesty forces me to admit that the rest of the book is pretty .... uhm ..... okay I guess. He has a knack for organization, and the lessons are well-done, building upon previously taught material. He has a sound knowledge of magical theory, and the techniques of witchcraft, and his material on herbs and survivalist skills are highly valuable, and lacking in many of the fluffier books on Wicca. (What book couldn't be improved by adding handy instructions on how to make a lean-to using twigs, bubble-gum, and a ball of colored string?) Plus, he includes a number of secret scripts, so you can write your name all over your note-book and school desk, and no one will know what you're writing. That's really about all I can say to recommend this book. <<< Carmina Gadelica - Alexander Carmichael Lindisfare ISBN 0-940262-50-9 This is a wonderful collection of hymns, prayers, charms, rituals, incantations, and omens gathered in the highlands and valleys of rural Scotland. It represents a wonderful blending of Christian and pre-Christian folk traditions, and contains some truly beautiful pieces. <<< City Magick - Christopher Penczak Weiser ISBN 1-57863-206-4 I absolutely love this book! This is everything that magic and Paganism should be today, in a modern setting. Cities aren't evil, or unspiritual. The same forces that exist in nature exist in cities. How can one thing like honey be "sacred" when CDs aren't? The raw materials come from the same source - the Earth - undergo a similar process of transformation, etc - yet we think that because the one is made by human hands, it is somehow less sacred. Bull. This book includes a lot of great magical exercizes, a system of city runes and divination, modern techniques for trance and spirit journeying, and a whole new pantheon of spirits and Gods for the city. Wonderful book!! <<<< Covencraft - Amber K Llewellyn ISBN 1-57718-018-3 Anyone thinking of forming their own group - including non-Wiccan groups - should read this book. It discusses everything from how to arrange an altar to zoning laws. The material on inter-group dynamics was especially helpful, as was the information on what is necessary for becoming recognized as a legit non-profit organization. It even had the forms! It contains a wealth of ideas for festival celebrations and various roles within the Coven, and I think that if I had belonged to such a well-structured and vibrant group, I might have a very different impression of Wicca. <<< Liber Null & Psychonaut - Peter J. Carrol Weiser ISBN 0-87728-639-6 This classic volume serves as a wonderful introduction to the study of chaos magic and deep shamanism. This is more than a book - it's an experience. It wears away at your preconceptions and like a Zen koan, transports you outside of your mind. The rituals and exercizes are well planned out (which would seem contradictory for a system of magic like this) and surprisingly effective. I think I liked the second part of the book better - Psychonaut - which details a kind of modern shamanism, and has some profound things to say about group consciousness, and how we can affect it - but the whole thing is worth reading. << The Mabinogion - Trans. Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones Everyman ISBN 0-450-87297 This is a great resource for Celtic studies, especially since it contains one of the earliest forms of the story of King Arthur. I'll be honest. I haven't actually read the damn thing, but all of my Celtic friends suggested it, so I figured I ought to have it on my bookshelf and put it on the list, so I'd look cool and educated and stuff. Uh .... don't tell anyone, okay? <<<<< Magick in Theory and Practice - Aleister Crowley Castle ISBN 1-55521-766-4 Aleister Crowley is an unquestioned genius in the Occult world, and none of his books reveal his wide-ranging interests and profound understanding of magic and philosophy better than this work. It posseses many of his most important texts, as well as a wonderfully snide reading list. Honestly, if you're at all interested in magic, you must have this book. There simply isn't a better introduction out there. <<< The Masks of God: Occidental Mythology - Joseph Cambell Penguin ISBN 0-14-004306-3 Joseph Cambell is one of those authors that doesn't just inspire admiration in those who read him, but love - and that's because he genuinely loved the things he wrote about. His passion for the subject that he's addressing comes through, and you can't help but be swept away by it. His books broaden our horizons, and change lives, and though I really disagree with some of the things he says (like the notion that the world's myths are part of the collective unconscience and form a unified whole), I can't help but gush whenever I talk about him. He revolutionized the study of mythology. Before him, it was an antiquarian speciality, and no one took it seriously, let alone believed that the curious stories might have some very profound things to say about the human condition. But Cambell's systematic presentation of myth - which spanned four books and nearly 2,000 pages - brought the subject to life and inspired countless people to use these stories to bring about change in their own lives - to discover their own hero's quest, as he often said. This volume is my favorite in the series, since it deals with Greece and the West - but all of the books are worth reading. << Merlin's Book of Magick and Enchantment - "Merlin" Smithark ISBN 0-7651-1026-1 This is pretty much a standard Wiccan Book of Shadows with a little Celtic flair and some heavy Arthurian mythology thrown in. It's beautifully illustrated, and makes for a great story, recounting the life of Merlin in between such mainstays as love spells, bindings, herb lore, and the Ogham alphabet. I really like it though, high camp and all. Basically for the same reasons that I like the Necronomicon, and White Wolf's Book of Nod and Revelations of the Dark Mother. I wish there were more fake religious books in the world. We can never have enough of them! <<<< The Mysteries of Isis - deTraci Regula Llewellyn ISBN 1-56718-560-6 This is a book of incredible love and devotion, backed by an amazing degree of research. It is essentially a handbook for the Priesthood of Isis, containing a series of lessons, rituals, dedications, prayers, and devotional material. I have never seen another book like this for a specific deity, which is a shame, because this raises piety to an artform. << Necronomicon - Unknown Avon ISBN 0-380-75192-5 Oh sure, some scoffers will say that this book is nothing more than a hokey put on, a pseudo-ceremonial grimoire with impressive sounding (though highly suspect) Sumerian words and God-names thrown in for flavor. They will also point out that it is nothing like the dread tome described by H. P. Lovecraft and his circle of admirers and collaborators, and only has a connection to the Cthulhu Mythos through the title, introduction, and a few random names dropped here and there. But damn it, that's not the point! It's the idea of having a Necronomicon that is so cool, and why this book was created. As Voltaire said about God - if he did not exist, it would be necessary for man to invent him. There's the idea of the ancient book, shrouded in mystery, and full of dark and loathsome secrets. Since it didn't exist (at least that's what They want you to think) it became necessary for someone to create the book. A good deal of magic is about changing perceptions and working with the power of the mind. A good magician can do that at will. Suspend disbelief, tap into this potent source of energy, and use it to effect change in the real world. And the fact that it doesn't exist, doesn't matter - as long as the magician believes it does. Since the publication of this volume, I've seen several more versions of the Necronomicon - some even based on the fragments preserved (or composed, if you insist on being a literalist) by Lovecraft - and I think that's wonderful. <<< The New Pagans - Hans Holzer Doubleday No ISBN This is actually a fairly difficult book to come by, and it was only a matter of chance that it found its way into my store one day. (I do love when that happens.) Essentially, it covers much of the same territory as Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon, with interviews by many of the same people and groups. That is one of the most interesting things about it, since you get to see these people and groups from another perspective, complimentary, but different. Part of why I like this book more than Drawing Down the Moon is that it is not so personal. Adler's book was primarily about her experiences with these groups. Everything was seen through the filter of her biases, prefrences, experiences, etc. Therefore, when she is describing a group that she likes, or felt a connection with, her book is very compelling. When she is describing a group that she doesn't understand, or is at odds with her personal vision, such as with Asatru, her book is less compelling. Although Holzer does the same in certain respects - no author ever escapes their biases - he has a degree of separation between himself and his material, which allows him to view the community in a unique way that was denied Adler. So, for instance, Holzer includes more information on Satanic groups, and shows some of the similarities between them and other modern Pagan groups. Another thing I liked about it was his vision of Wicca as a modern Initiatory form of Paganism, essentially a new Mystery Cult. That was a perspective I had missed out while I was Wiccan, and which has made me come to appreciate it a bit more since then. <<<< Pagans and Christians - Gus DiZerega Llewellyn ISBN 1-56718-228-3 This is probably the book I have recommended most often since I read it. It's incredible. He has written with great wisdom and compassion a work intended for both a Christian audience and a Pagan one. It was written as a plea for greater interdenominational understanding between people of faith. In the first part of the book, he discusses the ideas and practices which are common to most Pagans, sensitive to the fact that not all Pagans believe the same things. His grasp of the subtleties of Pagan Theology and Philosophy is stunning, yet he presents the material in a very readable manner. The second part of the book goes on to discuss the beliefs and practices of Wicca specifically, which he does so in a refreshingly intelligent manner. In this section, he discusses many of his personal experiences, and how they led him to become a Wiccan. The next portion of the book is written with Christians in mind, and it answers many of the questions that they might raise. He never resorts to the strident anti-Christian attitude that is so prevalent these days, merely explaining how we differ from them, and why, and how we can all learn and benefit from each other, and our respective understanding of the Divine. This would be an excellent way to introduce your faith to curious family members or friends, especially if they are Christian. It also has a lot to offer people who have been involved in the community for a while. This book really made me think deeply about certain beliefs I have, and why I have them. Wonderful book. << The Pagan Book of Days - Nigel Pennick Destiny ISBN 0-89281-369-5 This guide to festivals, calendars, and holy days is a wonderful resource. It's neat to turn to any day, and see that somewhere, at some time, someone was doing something to honor the Gods. It really helps to build up this sacred rhythm, and to know that that sense of joy and celebration needn't be expressed only at a certain time - the traditional Christian holidays, or the 8 points on the Wheel of the Year. It includes a lot of neat little festival tid-bits, and gives you some idea of things you can do on your own. The introductory essay has a unique perspective on time, and the seasons, and how we perceive all of it. <<<< The Poetic Edda - Lee M. Hollander Texas ISBN 0-292-76499-5 If you're going to study Norse mythology and Asatru, this really should be your first place to stop. It's an amazing collection of Norse literature - mostly songs, lays, epics, and gnomic or wise sayings - that convey the richness of the myths, legends, and culture of the people living in the North just as the heathens were being converted. Without question, my favorite passages come from the Voluspa or "Prophecies of the Seeress" and Havamal which is a dialogue between Othin and another. It is here that we learn how Othin hung crucified for 9 days and 9 nights to gain knowledge of Ragnarok or the death of the Gods. The Flyting of Loki and the Lay of Rig are also important pieces in this collection. <<< Raising Hell - Robert Masello Perigee ISBN 0-399-52238-7 A concise history of black magic, demonology, witchcraft, necromancy, Satanism, and lots of other neat things. Despite it's subject matter, it's pretty light reading, consisting mostly of juicy gossip about various nefarious personalities throughout history - essentially a retread of Montague Summers, but without the fake pious grandstanding. << Rites of Passage - Pauline Campanelli Llewellyn ISBN 0-87542-119-9 I don't really like this book, but I would reccomend it to my Wiccan readers, or those people who are interested in performing deeper, more meaningful General Pagan (i.e. watered down Wiccan) rituals. It gives a lot of the background on the Wheel of the Year, and how it relates to the changing seasons, and how families can keep alive traditions honoring this. It has some good info on rituals, and how to construct rituals to honor life passages such as birth, adulthood, marriage, old age, and death and that's something that's often lacking in popular books on Wicca. But they are definitely not reconstructionists, and the rituals reak of the modern, fluffy, and romantic that permeates so many rituals and Pagan festivals. Plus they play pretty loose with known rituals and Gods, changing things as they see fit, and lumping them all together. Ariadne, Arrianrod, and Aradia are obviously the same Goddess since their names all start with Ari - though they come from widely distant cultures, and have fundamentally different myths associated with them. But they are no worse in this than many Pagan writers today. <<< The Secrets of Love Magick - Gerina Dunwich Citadel ISBN 0-8065-1365-9 A wonderful little book which describes almost everything relating to the magic of love, from spells, astrology, herbs, divination, and aphrodesiacs. It's fun to read the folk-lore of love, and to see what a deep concern it has always been, and will always be, in our lives. Plus there's a spell to make your penis bigger. Uh ... not that I needed that one or anything. Yeah, anyway ..... << The Spell of Making - Blacksun Eschaton ISBN 1-57353-109-X There are a lot of books out there that describe rituals, that tell you how to do them - but very few that tell you why, and what a ritual should do to you. This book really goes indepth into the psychological connotations of ritual, and how we can tap into that deep well of symbolism we call the subconscious. < The Spiral Dance - Starhawk HarperCollins ISBN: 0-06251-632-9 Hmm ... this is not an easy book to recommend. On the one hand, it's beautifully written, passionate, with incredible rituals. I believe that it is probably one of the better books for beginners out there, and I know that it deeply moved me at one time. There's a lot of emotional investment in this book. But on the other hand, I really disagree with a lot of what it has to say, especially about gender, and politics, and the emphasis it places upon the Goddess, which all but overshadows the masculine. Sure, she gives token acknowledgement to the God, but you can tell her heart's not in it. And that's fine. There is nothing wrong with feminist spirituality and Goddess religion. But call it what it is. Don't pretend as if what you are doing is traditional Witchcraft, which has a set of practices, and beliefs, and a history all it's own. I enjoy reading her books, because they challenge many of my ideas. But I could never live my life according to her teachings. Which, in the end, is probably all she asks of us. << Techniques of High Magic - Francis King and Stephen Skinner Destiny ISBN 0-89281-350-4 Unfortunately I no longer have the other book that these guys did, which is an incredible resource for the study of Ceremonial Magic, but I like this one too, and wanted to recommend it. The focus of the book is primarily on divination and the creation of magical tools, although it also contains information on invocation, astral projection, and other skills which are essential for the performance of magic. I use this book as a handy refrence tool, which is helped by the easy lay out and ample information. <<<<< Triumph of the Moon - Ronald Hutton Oxford ISBN: 0-19-285449-6 I actually plan on doing a more in-depth review of this book for my site. I've been planning on doing it for some months now, since I finished the book - but I'm still chewing over the things I gleaned from this book, and don't think I'm ready for that quite yet. It's an amazing book, profound and sympathetically written. It's a book that many Pagans - and most Wiccans - will find uncomfortable to read, because it does not flinch from peeling back the layers of illusion and falsehood that we cherish so deeply. But the the picture that Hutton reveals is at once more beautiful and compelling than the dream we have been told was real. There was no unified organized pre-Christian witch religion - until Gardner. He proves this without rancor or hostility, and shows how Gardner went about creating Wicca, the sources he drew upon, the factors that led to its creation, and how it has flourished since then. What is so amazing about this book - and may be overlooked by some readers - is the way that it shows the return of the Old Gods into our world. As one reviewer on Amazon.com wrote: "If [the Goddess] will not be worshiped in the churches, then She appears to the poets of the Romantic era. A country cleric, for no good reason, becomes infatuated with Pan and erects a statue to Him in front of a church, simply based on a mis-hearing of the shouting of a group of villagers." This is, indeed an interesting fact - and Hutton traces the many epiphanies of the Godes, through all the different groups and levels of British society. There's an element of inevitably about it, which is a very interesting thought. << Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner - Scott Cunningham, Llewellyn ISBN 0-87542-118-0 Like a lot of people, this book was actually my introduction to Paganism and Wicca. Therefore it has a lot of sentimental value for me, and although I hold Cunningham responsible for a lot of what's wrong with Wicca today - for instance, the "do your own thing" approach, the blending of traditional Witchcraft with New Age elements like crystals, chakras, and whatever the newest fad is this week - I also think he did a lot of good by bringing it into the open, and I think he was greatly misunderstood. People have said that he didn't have a valid lineage, or that he didn't really know his stuff. But that's unfair. The Standing Stones Book of Shadows he included in the back of this volume was a generic version. It did not contain any of the God names or things that are protected by oaths within traditional Wiccan Covens. He created it to give people the basics, so that they would have enough to practice on their own, seeing as many - perhaps most - are without the benefit of the Coven structure. He assumed that people would fill it in with their own study, supplement the material he provided, and learn the names and secrets that are appropriate for them. That people haven't, and that Wicca has become stagnant, refusing to grow and move beyond what he revealed, is unfortunate, but not his fault. Anyway, it's a good back, even after all these years, and has great info on meditation and visualization - even if it is so incredibly fluffy and saccharine that I had to vomit after looking through it again. <<<< Witches - Erica Jong Abrams ISBN 0-8109-1765-3 This is a work of true poetry and art, a beautiful evokation of the witch through history, lushly illustrated by Joseph A. Smith. Some of the history is speculative (meaning it uncritically accepts the Murrayite theory, and claims Witchcraft to be the "Old Religion") but you just don't care. Jong weaves her spell with all of the considerable skill she has put into her other writings (she's the author of Fear of Flying), and you are literally transported to another time and place. She writes with humor, and sadness, and when she was discussing the Inquisition, I had to put the book down. The paintings really supplement this. The fear and pain in their expressions is just awful, and the fantastic demons and mythical creatures look as if at any moment they'll fly off of the page. It also contains a lot of good information on herbs, and rituals, and is a world away from the saccharine nonsense that floods the Witch market today. <<<< The Witches' Goddess - Janet and Stewart Farrar Phoenix ISBN 0-919345-91-3 Probably one of the best, and most far-reaching works on theology within the Craft, written by two of my favorite Wiccan authors. The first part of the book describes the Goddess in all of her different aspects - from the Dark Mother to the Earth Goddess, the Goddess as Psyche and her importance throughout history. It is strongly Jungian in approach, which is okay, because they manage to pull it off well. The next part of the book discusses specific Goddesses, and provides excellent rituals and resources for them. Some of the recipes and meditations are really helpful. It is the third part of the book, however, that I have found to be most useful. It's an alphabetical listing of Goddesses from around the world, with brief passages describing them, their provenance, their Kabalistic correspondences, according to Crowley's 777, festivals and moon-cycles, and similar useful information. If you are not sure which Goddesses you are drawn to, or seek to learn more about them throughout the world, this is really a great place to begin. There is a companion volume to this book, devoted to the masculine. It is identical in every respect, saving the subject matter, and comes just as highly recommended. It is The Witches' God Phoenix ISBN 0-919345-47-6. <<<< The Witches' Way - Janet and Stewart Farrar Phoenix ISBN 0-919345-71-9 For me, the best part of this book was the excerpts from the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, and the appendix written by Doreen Valiente, discussing the search for old Dorothy Clutterbuck (though subsequent study by Ronald Hutton shows that she didn't look hard enough). This was a book that I read after I had been involved with Wicca for almost 4 years, and I still found it a wonderful, challenging read. It's a large, detailed book, covering every aspect of the craft, from ethics to astral projection, ritual construction to the role of Jungian psychoanalsis in Wicca. Throw away all of your Llewellyn books and PLEASE read this one, if you are at all interested in Wicca. I could handle Wicca, if more of its practioners were like the Farrars. < The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets - Barbara G. Walker HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-250925-X This is a book that would be an incredibly valuable resource if it wasn't so damned intellectually dishonest. It's a huge book, that takes an exhaustive look at history and religion and mythology from a feminist perspective. Parts of it are incredibly profound, and challenge the hidden assumptions of our patriarchal society. She has gathered together a lot of obscure material, and shows some rather interesting connections between things. However, her radical politics, her willingness to jump to conclusions for which she has no evidence, and the haphazard manner in which she quotes her sources makes it confounding reading. Everything she says has to be questioned, and verified elsewhere. And after awhile, her strident claim that culture is nothing more than the perpetual war against and enslavement of women gets annoying - but if you know how to read between the lines, this book can still be of some use. << The World of Myth - David Adams Leeming Oxford ISBN 0-19-507475-0 This is a sweeping anthology of myths from around the world, including selections from the Babylonians, Chinese, Mayans, Aztecs, Persians, Greeks, Hebrews, Norse, Indians, Native Americans, and Christian and modern sources. It presents groupings of similar stories, so that you can compare and contrast them. Some of the groups are Creation, the Flood, Afterlife, Apocalypse, the Hero, Sacred Places - and a bunch of others.
Other Stuff <<<<< Complete Writings 1902-1910 - William James Library of America ISBN 0-940-450-380 Perhaps the greatest Philosopher that America has produced, William James revolutionized the study of comparative religion and psychology. His pragmatism is a truly insightful philosophy, revealing the fact that people accept certain truths out of personal need. And reading his Pluralistic Universe was a moment of enlightenment for me. It helped me shake loose a vestigial Neoplatonism that I didn't particularly agree with, but hadn't - until that moment - been able to break free from. <<< A Dictionary of Angels - Gustav Davidson The Free Press ISBN 0-02-907052-X If you're like me, you can't stand most representations of angels. The beautiful, slightly daffy looking things with their giant wings, and those sad sad eyes ... gah .... and shows like Touched by an Angel only make it worse. Well, this book puts to rest that image quite nicely. It's an encylopedic look at angels around the world, from all the different faith traditions, including Ceremonial Magic. There are listings for all of the angels, as well as charts and tables listing the various Orders and Ranks of Angels according to different traditions. It even includes some of the better known rituals for conjuration of angels, which could really come in handy, you know. <<< A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs - David W. Bercot Hendrickson ISBN 1-56563-357-1 This guide to the key figures of the early Church, and their comments on a number of different topics, ranging from profound theological rangling to everyday culture, is an invaluable resource tool. Any time I'm in a discussion on theology or Christian history, I turn to this handy guide, which has listings for all of the most important ideas that were debated, and brief biographies of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, as well as relevant quotes from the Bible, so you don't have to wade through that ponderous tome. Books like this really help one look intelligent. <<< How to Overthrow the Government - Arianna Huffington HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-039331-9 If you've ever seen Arianna appear on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, you understand why I like her. She's feisty, funny, and a ferocious defender of the rights of the common man. She truly exemplifies what Compassionate Conservatism means - and this book describes my political beliefs far better than I ever could. In particular, her articles "Voting for Dollars", "A Case Study in Corruption - the War on Drugs - the Drug Industry's War on Us", "The Quest for Leaders", and "Coda - A Call to Action" were transformative reading, awakening me to problems I hadn't realized were affecting our nation, and inspiring me to help make a change in our world. On top of that - she's Greek, and damn sexy, in a soccer mom kind of way. << Jesus: a Revolutionary Biography - John Dominic Crossan HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-061662-8 Almost any documentary on the search for the "historical Jesus" is going to have a section with John Dominic Crossan. He's one of the celebrities of the Jesus Seminar set, and a most engaging personality. (He's the cute little Irish guy with a mischievous smile.) His ideas about Jesus have really helped shape my own. In particular, his vision of Jesus as a peasant rebel, whose mission was largely - though by no means entirely - one of a social gospel and class warfare. Crossan really has a knack for putting first century Palestine in relation to similar situations in the world today - such as Northern Ireland, Beirut, and Palestine. He also has a keen sense of God's immediacy and action in a troubled world. Of particular interest to me was Crossan's discussion of the similarities between Jesus' teachings and Stoic thought. John Dominic Crossan has written a number of books on the subject - including, I think, the Essential Jesus - but this remains my favorite of his titles. << Memories, Dreams, Reflections - C. G. Jung Vintage ISBN 0-679-72395-1 Jung is probably one of the most interesting and most misunderstood thinkers of the 20th century. His ideas revolutionized the fields of psychology and religion, and even if you don't agree with a lot of what he has to say - as I do not - one can't help but be awed by his intelligence and creative genius. This really comes through in the book, which is part memoire, part philosophical inquiry and entirely egaging. The best part of the book - and the reason I bought it actually - is the inclusion of Jung's rare Gnostic work VII Sermones ad Mortuous. In it, a spiritual being returns to Jerusalem, where he preaches to the dead who have gathered outside the city. Everything from God, man, the soul, good and evil, and fate are addressed, and one can't help but be impressed by his profound insights. Supposedly the text was transmuted through him by the use of automatic writing, and Jung came to distance himself from it in later life - but you can really see the seeds of his philosophy in this odd little work. <<<< The Other Bible - Wallis Barnstone HarperCollins ISBN 0-06-250030-9. A collection of Apocryphal, Pseudoepegraphic, Gnostic, Hermetic, Heretical, and Kaballistic texts, this work is a storehouse of ancient wisdom. In the centuries leading up to the formation of the present Canon of the Christian Bible, there was a great diversity of texts and traditions present. The editor poses an interesting question: what if some of the other factions had won out, and then he proceeds to show us what our Bible would look like. Included are works by Plotinus and PseudoDionysius, which are very enlightening. Of great interest were the Mandaean texts, which belong to a group of Gnostics still around somewhere in Iraq. And then, of course, there are everyone's favorite Gnostic texts, Thunder: the Perfect Mind, Gospel of Thomas, and Apocryphon of James. << The Way of Man - Martin Buber Citadel ISBN 0-8065-0024-7 This little book - it's only 40 pages - is one of the most incredible spiritual books you will ever read. It's a book on Chasidism - a mystical approach to Judaism that grew out of the Eastern European peasantry and flourished in the European and American ghettoes during the 18th century. It's basic premise - if such a profound system of thought can be summed up in a single sentence - could be described thusly: "Any natural act, if hallowed, leads to God, and nature needs man for what no angel can perform on it, namely, it's hallowing." In this way of thought, we are both redeemed, and redeem the world through our worship. And every act or thought, if directed towards God, is considered a sacred thing. Plus, I like the Zen-like parables and annecdotes. Truly amazing. <<< When Critics Ask - Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe Victor ISBN 0-89683-698-8 This book tries to answer many of the objections raised about Christianity, especially on the subject of the contradictions and fallacies in the Bible. It tries really hard - and I guess you have to give them some credit for their effort. But they never really seem to answer the questions satisfactorily, though they go to some rather absurd ends to try. Why I suggested this is for the great list of errors within the Bible. They've already done all the work for you by gathering them all together. <<When Jesus Became God - Richard E. Rubenstein Harcourt ISBN 0-15-601315-0 An insightful look into a bizarre period in history, when the fate of the Church rested on a single letter. It's hard to understand why the Christological debates of the 4th century were so powerful, violent, and divisive as they were, until we realize that it wasn't just about the theology - although that was certainly an important part of it. Questions such as whether there should be a single Church, or many churches each with their own authority, who was entitled to rule the Church, the divisions that existed between the East and West, whether it was acceptable to acknowledge the debt that Christians owed to Pagan Greeks, did the authority of the ecclesiastical councils supersede that of the Bishops, and many other things besides were hotly debated, along with the essential question of the controversy: was Christ homoousios (of the same essence) or merely homoiousios (of a similar essence) as the Father. It all makes for good reading, especially in Rubenstein's easy prose. << Why People Believe Weird Things -
Michael Shermer Freeman ISBN 0-7167-3387-0 Michael
Shermer is an intelligent, passionate man who has a sincere
love for learning, and respect for his fellow man, which
comes through in this thoughtful, and humorously written
book. He easily plows through the pseudoscience and
pscyobabble of the charlattans and idiots he has set his
sights on, but he is never cruel or overly skeptical in his
analysis, and readily admits when we have reached the limits
of what science can tell us about a given subject. Most
importantly, he is genuinely interested in discovering why
people have these curious notions. What is it that drives
people to deny the holocaust, believe they were abducted by
aliens, or accept the evil ravings of an insane Russian
troll who wrote second-rate smut (Ayn Rand)? His material on
the subject of creationism versus evolution is right on, and
he has a list of fallacies and their refutations, which
alone makes the book worth the price. |
