One of the first questions people interested in Wicca often ask is “What books should I read?” Good question because it will depend very much on which tradition you’re interested in and if you’re learning with a group, what books they recommend. There’s an absolute tonne of books out there and the pile is growing by the day as authors jump on the bandwagon and publish their own version of Wicca. The books also range across a huge (and constantly growing) plethora of topics and sadly focus much more on the “how to do it” kind of approach rather than the “why I should do it” fundamentals. To illustrate this, head off to your local bookshop and browse the array of “New Age” books and you’ll see that very few of them focus on the underpinning religion of Wicca and instead they tend to fall into these type of categories;

• The 101 “how to” type books,
• Divination like runes, tarot, numerology etc.,
• Dream interpretation,
• Mythologies of the world,
• Recipes and scripts for conducting rituals.

It saddens me that many authors have focused on the commercial “fluffy bunny, how to do it” end of the market and have shied away from the serious end of Wicca which is the explanation and exploration of Wicca as a contemporary, polytheistic religion. But anyway... 

For the very new beginner who’s still exploring what it’s all about I'd strongly suggest our own book for Oak and Mistletoe students available at Amazon or the Oak and Mistletoe Bookshop;

• "Seekers Guide to learning Wicca" by Amethyst Treleven, O & M Publishing.

However, other great books I recomend for folk who haven't found a tradiiton yet (and for our own students) are;

• “Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner” by Scott Cunningham. Llewellyn Publications.
• “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft” by Raymond Buckland. Llewellyn Publications.
• “Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice: Wicca for Beginners” by Thea Sabin. Llewellyn Publications.

The list looks like an advertisement for Llewellyn doesn’t it but the fact is, they are the global leader in commercial Pagan related materials (and no I don’t get a commission for suggesting their books!). These three titles are staple beginners’ books with ethical, sensible information and guidance. While Raymond Buckland’s book is really based on Saxon Wicca, they all provide the reader with a broad, down to earth explanation of the fundamental underpinnings of Wicca as well as giving introductory information on how to give it a go and “do it”.

For a little more in-depth reading, I’d also suggest you read;

• “All One Wicca” by Kaatryn MacMorgan. Covenstead Press.
• “A Witches’ Bible” by Janet and Stewart Farrar. Phoenix Publishing.

“All One Wicca” explores Wicca in a little more depth than some of the other titles and also provides a teaching program for Wiccans interested in the personal path that eclectic Wicca might offer. By comparison, “The Witches’ Bible” is a great read that shows how the more traditionalist Alexandrian approach is practiced. While this tradition is much older than contemporary Wicca, the book is a fabulous doorway into the history of current practice. Happy reading!  

Smiles and blessings, Amethyst.