Sacred Texts?

[Guest Hel26]

I was just wondering, what book, if any, everyone here is reading at current? Are you studying any ancient myths? Reading bits of lore? Are you reading any guide/instruction manual on trad witchcraft;)? What is a book you mite recommend to any seekers/practitioners here? Is there a book that has really helped inspire you and your path? And why?

 

I'll go first and say that at current I'm reading The Complete Vampyre by Nigel Jackson--so far it's interesting and full of interesting bits of traditional lore. As I'm a tad ADD I'm also reading The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates (a work of fiction inspired by ancient Anglo-Saxon tribal wisdom), Song of the Cosmos by Arthur Versluis and Scottish fairytales.

 

Like one of the backs of the books says, I'm trying to see how, through the myriad of traditions, man has traditionally perceived the universe...:p

[Leigh]

I wouldn't catagorize this one as a sacred text as it's not a how-to, it's a biography -- but I found it to be a great history of an imperfect man who became a medicine man. The story of a journey is just as important as the knowledge gained.

 

Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions

By John (Fire) Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes

Originally published in 1972

Simon & Schuster

ISBN 0671888021

[Tana]

I'm still researching for my Stonehenge article, which is taking far too long as I have zero time to myself at the moment! I'm currently reading "Stonehenge: The Complete Solution". Very interesting book, and beautifully illustrated with pictures and images through the ages.

[Guest kales]

I'm not currently reading any books on witchcraft, (if you mean by reading: taking the information in, lol). Im translating some old documents into mordern English, but nothing interesting so far though.... :( (other than a heachache, hehe)

 

What I am reading is the "Oxford handbook of Clinical Medicine" but that's totally off topic.... lol

[Michele]

I have many books I have read and enjoyed, but few, if any, I take word for word. Most books I like some parts, disagree with others, and just do what comes to me naturally. I don't take magic or spells from a book, as for me, this is an individual thing. I read on herbs and colors and then make up oy own spells. A few follow the suggestions in books, others don't. I do what I relate to and what makes sense to me.

I have a lot of books on medicinal and magical properties of herbs, and refer to these often. I also have personal boooks re which herbs work for me and how they worked, what I like to use them for and what I "feel" from them -- if it matches what the book says or if I pick up a different connection to the plant/herb. I'm very into tea (love tea) and make tea for medicinal and magical uses and for friends (often give as x-mas gifts to people; you can get lovely little decorative glass bottles from craft stores this time of year and little post cards I tie to the bottle with ribbon saying what's in it and suggesting what one could use the tea for other than a nice cuppa).

I am currently reading Robert Bruce and finding some of the suggestions for energy and trance work very interesting. RIght now one of the personal things I am working on is "pushing and pulling" energy and feeling different energy centers in my own body and trying to decide, for me, the effects of same.

I enjoy some mythology, but have not decided what I want to do with that information, yet, although I very much love Joseph Campbell's observations and explainations... he makes me think.

Am also reading a bit about gardening as am thinking about starting my own herb garden, although in my climate is very difficult to keep up.

For enjoyment, some of my personal faves are Harry Potter, Lord of the RIngs, ShoGun. I love books and am surrounded by bookshelves in my house... books make me happy :-)

[AnjelWolf]

I have several I have read...hhmmm I guess one of the ones I have read lately would be the "Encylopedia Of The Undead", it talks about everything from mths/legends to the real thing and names as well.

[arabi]

I have several I have read...hhmmm I guess one of the ones I have read lately would be the "Encylopedia Of The Undead", it talks about everything from mths/legends to the real thing and names as well.

 

This one is on my Yule list to Josh...I better get it to, I'm always good!:rofl:

[AnjelWolf]

I'm always good!:rofl:

 

"Leans in to whisper in Arabis ear: Remember honey Kw and I got pictures!" LOL!

[LadyHawk]

I'm trying to read through various ancient books on National Health Service provision in this country :eek: and its boring the pants off me.....haven't got time for anything interesting

[Ancestral Celt]

I was just wondering, what book, if any, everyone here is reading at current?

 

Pagan Celtic Britain by Dr Anne Ross and Cliffdreamers by Jacqui Wood. The first is an exploration of the archeology in the British Isles, the second a fictional offering from a well-known experitmental food archaeologist.

 

Are you studying any ancient myths?

 

Not quite. Am reading The Mabinogion, bit by bit, so I absorb it.

 

Reading bits of lore?

 

All the time. If I see something interesting in the woods, I look it up and then any folklore associated with the same.

 

Are you reading any guide/instruction manual on trad witchcraft;)?

 

Not at the moment, no. I have a few on my pile of books to be read though.

 

What is a book you mite [sic] recommend to any seekers/practitioners here?

 

I doubt I could recommend just one, as I would encourage anyone to read around meditation, visualization, astral projection, folk lore, augery and herbalism just for starters. The more you read on any particular topic, the more you can weed out the useless.

 

Is there a book that has really helped inspire you and your path? And why?

 

Yes. The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates. I am not sure why, but it inspired me to seek out a path by going back through the practices of the past. From then on, I started to feel really comfortable with my practice.

[Morgana]

Trying to gett thru Mists of Avalon. Now that I'm on vacation for a week and shopping will be done tomorrow, I'll be able to spend more time with it. Finished Forest House last month. Have the other 2 for the series yet too.

 

AW, just got Encyclopedia of the Undead today....can't wait to get into it!!

 

[RavenFlyer]

okay so I started delving into the Gnostic texts. They are so fascinating (there is a whole vision connected to my moving in this direction that I am off to post about in the prviate section when I finish here).

Yes a lot of the gnostic texts are in reference to Jesus but in a whole other sense than the orthodox concept. Jesus came to enlighten us and teach us that as in the Gospel of St. Thomas The Kingdom of God is inside you. To get to "heaven" which is not an actual place like most christians think its a state of enlightenment and when we die we just go back and meld with the divine reality. But to get to "heaven" we are to seek enlightenment and break free from emotions that hurt us and others.

The Gnostics had a very simillar world view to budddhism. Its all very transcedental.

[Ancestral Celt]

I'm still alternating between history, folklore and other pagan/witchy related books.

So, I started "Britain BC" by Francis Pryor this week, but I'm also trundling through "Explore Folklore" by Bob Trubshaw and perusing "Food for Free" by Richard Mabey, as its harvest time and there's an abundance of free food out in the woods at the moment.

[WINDRIVER]

I've got several going at the same time , jump around from one to the other ,wichever I'm in the mood to read at the time.

I have several on scandinavian history . I am curently reading "Norse mythology:legends of gods and heroes by peter andreas munch and magnus olsen.

Then there is Cunningham's Encyclopedea of magical herb's , I don't usauly do "lewellyn" stuff , but a few of you say you have this one so I scooped it up for a couple of buck's at the used book store. figure this will get me started , I don't know squat about herbs at this point.

Another I picked up at the used book store is "The encyclopedia of tarot" by stuart r kaplan , volume one. I have not started this one yet , but for $6 buck's , I had to grab it!

[Mountain Witch]

I started "Britain BC" by Francis Pryor this week

 

AC, I have "Britain AD" by the same author and liked it. Let me know about "BC".

[Alpha]

I am not reading any instruction-type manuals as perse, I do have two though that I try to absorb when I get the chance (considering where I am and who I am around I have to be very selective about who, if anyone, I let see what I am reading);

 

Taking up the Runes by Paxson

 

and

 

Totem Magick by Galenorn

 

I get the chance to read a bit before I go to sleep every now and then and so I am enjoying Industrial Magick by Kelly Armstrong.

 

~Alpha

[Raina]

I just picked up Ray Malbrough's Charms, Spells & Formulas. Hope to have time to get into it this weekend. I'm also wading through The Magic Arts in Celtic Britain by Lewis Spence.

 

Raina

[Heathen1]

The Forge of Tubal Cain came today, I think I shall read it to see what all the controversy is about. :spellcaster: