
From bill@sticky.accs.wsu.edu Sat Oct 26 17:51:36 1991

Someone asked about books to read?  By golly have I got a list for
you.  As fate would have it, I taught a Community Free University
Class last spring on the topic of 'neopaganism.'  I prepared this
reading list for that class. I share it with you now.
 
 
*****************************
 
Things to read in your copious spare time
 
Adler, Margot, Drawing Down the Moon,  Beacon Press, Boston,
Massachusetts, 1986
 
A comprehensive review of neopaganism.  For the individual
planning on studying the topic this is the first reference.  It is not a
"how-to" book, but rather a review of neopaganism as a cultural
phenomenon.  While there is a good bit of philosophy, it comes in
as explanation of the subject.
 
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, Harper-Collins, New York, 1989
 
There are many who would be spokesperson for neopaganism, if
any one person can claim that status, it would be Starhawk.  This
book, in the first two chapters, has the best focussed discussion of
theological implications and a world view of neopaganism to be
found.  The balance of the book, 13 chapters in all, is a "how-to" for
those who are interested.
 
Starhawk.  Truth or Dare.  Harper & Row, San Francisco 1987
 
Not a study guide on neopaganism, but a social/political treatise on
the use of power.  Three facets of power are discussed;  power-
over, power-from-within, and power-with.  An outstanding book
which permits the reader to understand how power manifests itself
in daily life.  Obviously permeated with a neopagan perspective.
 
Starhawk.  Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex and Politics.  Beacon
Press, Boston. 1982
 
This is a book focuses on politics and the politics of sex.  A
powerful book of serious social comment, again permeated with a
neopagan philosophy.
 
Weinstein, Marion.  Positive Magic.  Phoenix Publishing, Custer,
WA. 1981
 
A common first book for many students of neopaganism and
magic.  A little flaky in parts, but basically a good book with classic
sections on the importance and use of words.
 
Croweley, Vivian.  Wicca:  The Old Religion in the New Age.  The
Aquarian Press, part of Thorsons Publishing, Northamptonshire,
England 1989
 
Literally required reading by all new members of my group.
 
Budapest, Z., The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries.  Wingbow
Press, Berkeley, CA. 1989.
 
Budapest, Z. The Grandmother of Time.  Harper & Row, San
Francisco 1989.
 
Z. Budapest is a nearly violent feminist who sometimes has a
difficult time separating the concept of legal/religious patriarchy
from masculinity and the male gender.  These are two of her more
recent books where she seems to have grown up a bit.  Budapest
can teach and explain the philosophies of neopaganism with the
best of them and is a powerful writer.  Her theology can be very
focussed and lacks the world view of Starhawk, but a good bit can
be learned from her work.  She is a well known and well received
spokeswoman for the neopagan movement.  Of these two book, the
book of mysteries is an attempt at historically justifying her brand of
neopaganism.  The Grandmother of Time is a study guide which
takes a student through the yearly cycle with a generous bit of
history, anecdotes and just plain good writing.
 
Gadon, Elinor.  The Once and Future Goddess.  The Aquarian
Press/Harper & Row.1990
 
An historical review of Goddess-centered religions.  As historically
vigorous as most, particularly in dealing with theologies which
predate written history.  A lovely book, with great pictures.
 
Rowan, John.  The Horned God.  Routledge & Kegan Paul Inc.
Press. New York.  1987.
 
A view of the masculine aspect of neopaganism, a spiritual path in
large part dominated by the feminine.  A good read if only from the
point of view of men's study.  (it's OK for women to read this, too.)
 
Sjoo, Monica, Mor, Barbara.  The Great Cosmic Mother.  Harper &
Row, New York.  1987.
 
This one is hard to classify.  It can be thought of as a history book,
but perhaps lacking in enough scholarly rigor to keep the purist
happy.  It is a serious bit of philosophy and is the best source I have
found for the feminine traditions and mythology associated with
Wicca.  It is a well-written book, but not necessarily an easy read.
At least these authors have done a very conscientious job of
separating patriarchy from masculinity and maleness.
 
Cunningham, Scott, David Harrington.  The Magical Household.
Llewellyn Press, St. Paul, MN.  1988
 
A book devoted to the traditions associated with daily neopagan
life.  A fun read as it identifies "old" or "traditional" things (often
without historical reference) that makes a house a home.  Sort of a
do-it-yourself guide to make your own Rivendell.
 
Paul V. Beyerl, A Wiccan Bardo.  Avery Publishing Group, Inc.
Garden City park, NY 1989.
 
Subtitled "Initiation and Self-Transformation, this is one of the few
book I have found to take on the subject of Wiccan theology.
Philosophical, not a light read.  A good read.
 
Wolfe, A. In the Shadow of the Shaman.  Llewellyn Press, St. Paul,
MN.  1989
 
Interesting in that it attempts to integrate the native American
spiritual path into neopaganism.  Sort of an applied pranayama
yoga guide.
 
Mundis, Hester.  101 Ways to Avoid Reincarnation: or Getting it
Right the First Time.  Workman Publishing 1989
 
offered without comment
*******************************************************
 
Books not necessarily on the topic of neopaganism, but which
speak to the philosophy of neopaganism.  You should read these
for whatever reason.
 
Fox, Matthew.  The Coming of the Cosmic Christ.  Harper & Row,
San Francisco 1988.
 
Fox, Matthew.  Original Blessing.  Harper & Row, San Francisco
1988.
 
Matthew Fox is a Dominican priest.  Pagans and Neopagans have
and had a difficult time with the Dominican order.  Kramer and
Sprenger of inquisition fame where Dominicans as was Meister
Eckhart.  Fox writes eloquently about the need to reassess the role
of religion in our culture and life.  He writes of Creation Spirituality
and the religion of joy.  He decries the patriarchal church of Rome
and speaks for a return to the nurturing of the feminine as a role
model on everyoneUs spiritual path.  Needless to say this did not go
down well with the pope and he was officially silenced for a year.
A must read for anyone who has any questions about religion or
spirituality or personal growth.
 
Fox, Matthew.  Breakthrough:  Meister EckhartUs Creation
Spirituality in New Translation.  Doubleday, New York 1980
 
One of the great mystics of humankind, know to most practitioners
of eastern religions but practically unknown in the west is Meister
Eckhart.  Eckhart (1260-1329) was a Dominican in what is now
Germany.  This book could easily be a term or two study for
advanced religion/philosophy classes.  Let me simply say that it is
a good book for learning a lot about a lot of things.
 
Hoff, Benjamin.  The TAO of Pooh.  Penguin Books, New York.
1982
 
Simply one of the best reads to come along in ages.  Should be
required reading before anyone votes.
 
Grigg, Ray.  The TAO of Being.  Humanics New Age Publishers
1989.
 
A study of the TAO is fundamental to understanding self.  I have
numerous translations of the TAO.  They are all good, some are
better than others.  This one is a bit new-ageish, but I seem to be in
it more and more.
 
Hart, Mickey (with Jay Stevens).  Drumming at the Edge of Magic.
Harper Collins, Publishers.  1990
 
I have felt the magic of the drums on many occasions.  This book is
outstanding and should be a part of any library. The true "theology"
of Wicca cannot be found it books.  Rather, it is found drumming
and dancing at the sabbat bondfire.  This book goes into the
mysteries of the drums and offers many insights into that magical
instrument.
 
Colegrave, Sukie.  Uniting Heaven and Earth.  St. Martin's Press,
New York.  1979
 
The cover describes this book as "A Jungian and Taoist exploration
of the masculine and feminine in human consciousness."  Yep, I'd
go along with that.  Actually this is a fairly easy read, most really
good books, irrespective of their topic, are easy reads. (the Tao of
Pooh by Hoff is a classic example).  I don't know why, but this book
answered a whole bunch of questions about life, the universe and
everything for me all at once.  You might give it a try.
 
Fields, Rick, et al. Chop Wood, Carry Water.  St. Martin's Press.
1984.
 
This is a distillation of material that appeared in the New Age
Journal.  As such it might appear to be new-ageish.  In any case
there is some very interesting reading in this book and I got a lot
out of it.  Is it neopagan?. . .well yes and no.  No posing pagan
worth their bat wings would ever actually admit to reading this stuff,
but there is some meaningful advise for getting in contact with the
inner-self, which is what most spiritual paths including
neopaganism are all about.  An easy and enjoyable read.
 
*******************************************************
 
Books to avoid, or approach with caution.
 
Llewellyn Press, St. Paul, MN.  A strange publisher.  They have
_many_ titles on Wiccan subjects.  Some of them are very good,
some of them are absolutely awful.  There book on Norse Magic is
one of the worst books ever written on any subject, their books on
Rune Magic, specifically The Nine Doors of Midgard is excellent.
When buying this publisher be very careful.
 
Books by Barbara Walker.  An interesting writer.  She is violently
anti-masculine i.e. gender related, as opposed to being anti-
patriarchal or philosophy-orientated.  It's almost like she hasn't
yet figured out that there _is_ a difference.  Her dislike of
men makes her writing difficult to wade through.
 
Her classic is the "Women's Encyclopedia" (the exact title escapes me,
I loaned the book out and do not have it in front of me as I type
this.) is an example of a book strongly written, with an presumption
of authority, but very poorly researched and with only a strongly
biased and incomplete set of historical defenses for her controversial
positions.  This book is amusing and fun to read, just not particularly
believable. I love her entry on "fish".  Christians approve of my
running around town with a little fish on the back of my car.  They
just aren't sure why I put it vertically, with the head pointing up. ;-)
 
                 Bright Blessings
 
                                    Bill
 
--
JOHNSW@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU     or   BILL@STICKY.ACCS.WSU.EDU
As virtue, chastity and celibacy are about equal to malnutrition and measles.

