Other No-No aurthors?

The Cauldron's server is expensive and requires monthly payments. Please become a Bronze, Silver or Gold Donor if you can. Donations are needed every month. Without member support, we can't afford the server.

Or donate directly via Paypal

This message board is The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum's SMF Archive Board. It is closed to new memberships and to posting, but there are over 250,000 messages here that you can still search and read -- many full of interesting and useful information. (This board was open from February 2007 through June 2011).

Our new vBulletin discussion board is located at http://www.ecauldron.com/forum/ -- if you would like to participate in discussions like those you see here, please visit our new vBulletin message board, register an account and join in our discussions. We hope you will find the information in this message archive useful and will consider joining us on our new board.

[Redhound666]

I just got a Magick book for my birthday. It's "The Complete Book of Spells, Ceremonies, and Magic" by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, and I was wondering if she too is just fluff?

And for every newbie too, who else should we avoid pertaining to books/online resources/stores?

Any good books etc, etc, etc? About any subject of Paganism?

I was just wondering... 

[Nyktipolos]

I just got a Magick book for my birthday. It's "The Complete Book of Spells, Ceremonies, and Magic" by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, and I was wondering if she too is just fluff?

And for every newbie too, who else should we avoid pertaining to books/online resources/stores?

Any good books etc, etc, etc? About any subject of Paganism?

I was just wondering... 

I say "No-no" to any spell book UNLESS you are using it specifically as a spell book looking for spells.

"Spell books" to me, are not all that reliable on history and religion-like information.

[Dania]

Any good books etc, etc, etc? About any subject of Paganism?

I love Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (even though I'm not Wiccan)

And for every newbie too, who else should we avoid pertaining to books/online resources/stores?

IMO you should avoid:

Edain McCoy (has some useful viewpoints...but unless you already have a very good background on the subject you probably won't be able to sort the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, and you're better off looking elsewhere)

Lady Passion (I have The Goodly Spellbook and it is...interesting. Mostly just made me shake my head. There is a TON of information in it...but not much of it is useful in a modern context, nor are the spells/rituals particularly appealing, to me at least. I also don't like her attitude, and her information is not good enough to make up for it IMNSHO).

DJ Conway (where do I START?? Awful, awful history and mythology. In Celtic Magic she claims that Danu is an aspect of Morrigan!!! UGH!!!! )

Silver Raven Wolf (need I really say more?)

[Melamphoros]

Silver Raven Wolf (need I really say more?)

*snort*

lol

Sorry, I couldn't resist.  I needed that.

[Figment99]

I love Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (even though I'm not Wiccan)

IMO you should avoid:

Edain McCoy (has some useful viewpoints...but unless you already have a very good background on the subject you probably won't be able to sort the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, and you're better off looking elsewhere)

Lady Passion (I have The Goodly Spellbook and it is...interesting. Mostly just made me shake my head. There is a TON of information in it...but not much of it is useful in a modern context, nor are the spells/rituals particularly appealing, to me at least. I also don't like her attitude, and her information is not good enough to make up for it IMNSHO).

DJ Conway (where do I START?? Awful, awful history and mythology. In Celtic Magic she claims that Danu is an aspect of Morrigan!!! UGH!!!! )

Silver Raven Wolf (need I really say more?)

I agree with Dania's no-no books completely, although I have to say I don't really like Buckland.

And what's wrong with Raven Wolf....she's the greatest!  (Seriously joking) 

[Mari]

Silver Raven Wolf (need I really say more?)

Sirona Knight...gah.

[Harken]

And for every newbie too, who else should we avoid pertaining to books/online resources/stores?

Those above have done a good job pulling some people out that generally do publish fallible content. Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon, has quite a few historical fallacies. For instance, she says Wicca has been a religion that can be dated back to neolithic times, back to witch cults of Medieval Europe, when Wicca as we know it came about directly from Gerald Gardner, drawing on other pagan religions. Otherwise, she's not too bad. I also strongly suggest to NOT read D.J. Conway. . like Dania said. I've found bits and pieces of Edain McCoy alright, but also I'd stay away.

Any good books etc, etc, etc? About any subject of Paganism?

Seeing as I'm interested mainly in Witchcraft and Wicca (if you see them as two different faiths) I would suggest Scott Cunningham above nearly all else. He presents Wicca in a very good way, and is thorough on his views of it all. I'll be back after school with a few more authors, hopefully!

Blessed Be.

[RandallS]

I agree with Dania's no-no books completely, although I have to say I don't really like Buckland.

Buckland is really variable.  Some of his books are worth every penny and some are a waste of paper.

[Waldfrau]

Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon, has quite a few historical fallacies. For instance, she says Wicca has been a religion that can be dated back to neolithic times, back to witch cults of Medieval Europe, when Wicca as we know it came about directly from Gerald Gardner, drawing on other pagan religions. Otherwise, she's not too bad.

I'm just reading it. My first book about Paganism (apart from Tarot books and 101 animal guides). I didn't have the impression that she said that exactly. She tells about Gardner and the Golden Dawn. She might say a lot that some aspects of Wicca like Goddess worship have relations to neolithic times, but I don't find it simplifying. She also informs that Graves 'White Goddess' wasn't meant as a history book. So if she's historically incorrect, I'm not getting where. 
Or are we talking of different editions? There's an updated one from 2006 (Penguin books).

What may be a bit simplifying is when she says things like most Pagans were more open minded and creative than the average culture because monotheism hasn't restricted their minds to only one level of understanding or way to see things.
I'm not saying she's completly wrong, but it's a point you could argue.

I really like the book, it's well written and it has a spark from her personal involvement into Paganism and the eco-movement.

[Redhound666]

I love Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (even though I'm not Wiccan)

This book?

This one seems to be a great book. I'll try to find it if I can. I don't have very many places to go. (maybe the internet? hhmmm...)

Silver Raven Wolf (need I really say more?)

Oh, yes. I've heard not so nice things about her. But she does have some good things to say. Some.

[Redhound666]

Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon, has quite a few historical fallacies. For instance, she says Wicca has been a religion that can be dated back to neolithic times, back to witch cults of Medieval Europe, when Wicca as we know it came about directly from Gerald Gardner, drawing on other pagan religions.

I have heard of that book before. But what I heard was good things, so.

As for the history , i have heard that magick existed in pre-historic times. sympathetic magick was used by cavemen

Seeing as I'm interested mainly in Witchcraft and Wicca (if you see them as two different faiths) I would suggest Scott Cunningham above nearly all else. He presents Wicca in a very good way, and is thorough on his views of it all. I'll be back after school with a few more authors, hopefully!

I don't generally read Scott Cunningham. I've heard he isn't a very good author & that he mostly writes fluff.
Blessed Be.
[/quote]

[Harken]

I have heard of that book before. But what I heard was good things, so.

As for the history , i have heard that magick existed in pre-historic times. sympathetic magick was used by cavemen

Of course magick existed, but Wicca is a faith that utilizes magick (though many Wiccans do not). This, of course, isn't the proper topic but Wicca has a completely different history.

I don't generally read Scott Cunningham. I've heard he isn't a very good author & that he mostly writes fluff.
Blessed Be.

Scott Cunningham most definitely does not write fluff. You don't have to read any of his works, of course, but his texts are an asset to anybody interested, practicing, or researching Wicca.

- - -

Remember, your best bet is to read a book for yourself and then make your own opinions about it. You'll be able to differentiate the majority of crap, and even if you can't, you'll be able to by reading many other books and making sense of it all. Above all, whichever path you choose to walk, it's one of your own choosing.

[Dania]

This one seems to be a great book. I'll try to find it if I can. I don't have very many places to go. (maybe the internet? hhmmm...)

That'd be the one! Good ol' Big Blue.

[rose]

I don't generally read Scott Cunningham. I've heard he isn't a very good author & that he mostly writes fluff.

hmm, what a peculiar statement. Are you saying you have or have not read him? He is not fluffy. If you have read him, you would know that. For fluffy (a word and idea I detest, but anyway...) try Poppy Palin, or anyone else who advises that you don't bother trying to understand or learn more about Craft and just do whatever feels good to you.

[Juniper]

I don't generally read Scott Cunningham. I've heard he isn't a very good author & that he mostly writes fluff.

He is a great author. Whether you have Wiccan leanings or not, Cunningham's books are not only interesting, but his writing style is so down-to-earth it makes for a lovely read.

[Tags:]

Jump to: Please select a destination: ----------------------------- About The Cauldron ----------------------------- => Rules and Regulations => Cauldron Announcements ===> Volunteers Needed: Site Assistants and Projects => Introductions => Board Questions, Suggestions, and Feedback => Chat and CauldronMUX Support => Test Board ----------------------------- Religion and Philosophy ----------------------------- => Paganism For Beginners => Books and Other Resources => Pagan Religions => Pagan Spirituality => Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology => Worship and Ritual => Holidays and Festivals => History and Religion => Faith in Everyday Life => Philosophy and Metaphysics => Non-Pagan Religions and Interfaith Discussions => Miscellaneous Religious Discussions ----------------------------- Magic and the Occult ----------------------------- => Magic and the Occult for Beginners => Witchcraft, Hoodoo, and Folk Magic => The Western Magical Tradition => Chaos Magic => Lodges and Other Magic Organizations => Miscellaneous Magical Discussions ----------------------------- Special Interest Groups & Special Discussions ----------------------------- => Special Topic Discussions => Chavi Memorial Chronic Illness SIG => General SIGS ===> College Pagans SIG ===> Cooking SIG ===> Divination SIG ===> Home and Garden SIG ===> Pagan Parents SIG ===> Teen Pagans SIG => Religious SIGS ===> Asatru and Heathenry SIG ===> Cauldron Cill ===> FlameKeeping SIG ===> Hazel and Oak: A Celtic Polytheism SIG ===> Neo-Druidry SIG ===> Reformed Kemeticism SIG ===> Ta Hiera Hellenic Polytheism SIG => Book/Media Discussion Boards ===> Academic Book Discussions ===> Pagan Religion Book Discussions ===> Magick Book Discussions ===> Fiction Book Discussions ===> DVD/Video Discussions ----------------------------- Life, the Universe, and Everything Else ----------------------------- => Pagan Announcements => Prayer and Energy Requests => News and Politics ===> Religious News ===> Non-Religious News ===> Political Discussions => Social Discussion Boards ===> Art, Poetry and Writing ===> Books ===> Computers and the Internet ===> Crafts and Hobbies ===> Family Life ===> Gaming ===> Health and Medicine ===> Humor and Quizzes ===> Music, Television, and Film ===> Pets ===> Science and Technology ===> Sports and Recreation