Okay, but what if I'm wanting to be part of a local group? Which beginners should I look at for that? Or is being a solitary practitioner preferred?
Well, it depends on the group - if you're looking at specific local groups, you might want to see if they mention any recommended reading in their websites or other information. (For example, the group I've just hived from mentions two books that are required reading for anyone considering studying with us.)
If you're interested in eventual group work, but aren't focusing on finding a group right now, books I'd suggest reading include:
Books that talk about ritual structure (again, you don't need to read all of these, but they approach this question different ways.)
_21st Century Wicca_ by Jennifer Hunter. I like this one because she includes quotes and comments from other people about what they do and how they approach things. It doesn't have a lot of 'how to do' info in it, however, though if you match that with a book that does walk you through basic ritual steps, you'll be pretty well off.
_In the Circle_ by Elen Hawke: I like her books because they give a general introduction to a range of topics, but also include some stories and examples, so you can see how that concept might work in practice.
_True Magick_ by Amber K. : This is one of the two required reading books for new students in the group I've hived from, because she does a generally very solid job of explaining different styles and approaches to magic to people without much background. (It's also pretty accessible as a read.)
_The Elements of Ritual_ by Deborah Lipp: I recommend this not because I agree with everything in the book (I don't) but because it's a great tool for reading and asking questions about different topics. She's got a useful way of breaking down different ritual steps, and she gives a range of different texts/actions/possible adaptations for a range of situations (solo/small group/large group) which can be handy.
In general: The following are not about how to be Pagan (i.e. what to do) but are about how you interact with others - they're important, but not the first thing I'd read, necessarily.
_The Practical Pagan_ by Dana Eilers. It's not about how to be Wiccan (or any other religion, for that matter) as much as about how to find other Pagans, things that come up when you're interacting with them, things to think about if you're looking for a group, etc.
I wouldn't make this the first thing you read - but reading it before you go looking for groups or public events will make your life easier.
_When, Why...If_ by Robin Wood is a great look at Wiccan-based ethics, and is one of those books you can keep coming back to.
If you are interested in traditional (initiatory, mystery focused) Wicca, I also highly recommend _The Heart of Wicca_ by Ellen Cannon Reed.
Structured developmentYou might find it helpful to find a book that would help you build some skills and understanding. Two I'd suggest (neither are Wiccan, precisely, but the skills they focus on are very helpful in most witchcraft traditions.
One is _A Witch Alone_ by Marion Green - focused on solitary practice, with exercises and ideas on a month by month basis.
The other is _Twelve Wild Swans_ by Starhawk and Hilary Valentine, which takes a traditional folk tale, and talks about ritual experiences, skills, and other techniques. There's a lot buried in there about group work, communication necessary, and some of the kinds of things a group of witches might do together, but it's also a really good set of skills to be going on for a while.
Books about groupsThere's several books out there about groups - the two I'd suggest for someone interested in joining a group rather than leading one are Judy Harrow's _Wicca Covens_, and Edain McCoy's _Inside a Witch's Coven_. (I don't normally recommend McCoy's work for various reasons, but this particular title is about her personal experience and group work.)
Amber K's _CovenCraft_ is mostly focused on people leading groups, but there's some good stuff in there about finding groups.
You might also find some comments in my blog handy: I've been talking about things I've noticed when looking at potential group members in the past, and what I'm thinking about now that I'm forming a new group. The link's in my profile, and the two categories of particular interest are 'plays well with others' and 'seeking others'. (A recent post in the first category talks about discussion we're doing about Lipp's book, too.) I can also talk endlessly about it, so if there's something you'd like to know more about, just ask.
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