By the standards of today’s Witchcraft and Pagan books, what you are holding in your hands is a pretty long book. It cites over fifty authors and contains nearly 200 footnotes—wow! (I’ll stop patting myself on the back now.)
This book would not have been possible without the efforts of everyone cited within it, so to all the authors whose work I’ve regurgitated in these pages, thank you. In addition, since this is such a long book, I glanced over a whole bunch of stuff in some places that really deserved more of an extended look. Because of that shortcoming, I present to you this very long bibliography highlighting many of my favorite (and sometimes least favorite) authors. I hope some of the things I covered more quickly than I would have liked piqued your interest a bit and you pick up a couple of the following books.
Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and other Pagans in America Today. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1986. For several years the only Pagan history book was Drawing Down the Moon, and it did its job quite well. This is one of the most important books of the modern Pagan revival, and one of several game-changing American books published in the 1970s. Margot was also one of the nicest and most genuine Witches I’ve ever met.
Alexandrian, Sarane. The Great Work of the Flesh: Sexual Magic East and West. Translated into English by Jon E. Graham. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 2015. Originally written in 2000 and published in French. This is a deeply flawed book in many ways, but the write-up on Paschal Beverly Randolph was useful in putting together this book. (Just don’t read the bits about Gardner and the Craft, as something was obviously lost in translation.)
Aradia, Sable, Lady. The Witch’s Eight Paths of Power. San Francisco, CA: Weiser Books, 2014. This is an overlooked gem of a book that details several elements of Witchcraft not usually written about.
Aslan, Reza. No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. New York: Random House, 2005. I originally read this book two days after having all four of my wisdom teeth removed (and high on pain medication) and was surprised to see that it held up far better than I thought it would.
Bogdan, Henrik. Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation. Albany, NY: State University Press of New York Press, 2007. As far as I’m aware, this is the only book of its kind. Bogdan explores the rituals of the Masons, Rosicrucians, and Golden Dawn with a great degree of depth and understanding. It’s written for an academic audience, so it’s challenging in places.
Borgeaud, Philippe. The Cult of Pan in Ancient Greece. Translated by Kathleen Atlass and James Redfield. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1988. Originally written in French, this is one of the few books dedicated strictly to my favorite goat-god!
Bowden, Hugh. Mystery Cults of the Ancient World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010. I really only touch on the Mysteries at Eleusis in my book, but Bowden’s book has insights into the mysteries of Mithra and Dionysus as well. Well written, easy to follow (rare in academia), and full of fabulous pictures, this is a must-read for anyone interested in the ancient mysteries.
Bracelin, Jack L. Gerald Gardner: Witch. London: Octagon Press, 1960. Bracelin probably did not write most of Witch (much of the credit goes to Sufi mystic Idries Shah), but ultimately its authorship doesn’t matter all that much. Whoever wrote this book did so with the full cooperation (and oversight) of Gerald Gardner, making it a valuable historical document.
Broad, William, J. The Oracle: The Lost Secrets and Hidden Message of Ancient Delphi. New York: Penguin Press, 2006. This is a fun and quick read on the Oracle of Delphi.
Budin, Stephanie Lynn. The Myth of Sacred Prostitution in Antiquity. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Though sacred prostitution is often spoken of as historical fact in modern Pagan circles, there are many who believe it to be a made-up idea unsupported by the evidence.
Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1985. Translated by John Raffan. First published in German in 1977. Burkert’s book is not the last word on the gods and religion of the ancient Greeks, but it’s a great start for the armchair scholar. Also cited is Burkert’s Ancient Mystery Cults. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987.
Carey, Benedict. “A Neuroscientific Look at Speaking in Tongues,” New York Times. November 7, 2006. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html?_r=0. This is a terrific article and one of the few sources I could find that looks at possession from a scientific angle rather than skepticism.
Clifton, Chas S. Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press, 2006. Somehow I don’t think I cited Chas’s work in this book, but Her Hidden Children is such a great piece of history that I think I must have thumbed through it at least a time or two while working on chapter 2.
Cicero, Chic, and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2003. Out of all the Golden Dawn introductory books I own, this is probably my favorite.
Conway, D. J. Celtic Magic. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1990. This is not a particularly good book, but it was the first Witchcraft book I read as an adult. As a result, it’s had a tremendous impact on my practice.
Crowley, Aleister. Liber O. Originally published in 1909. My edition was published in 1976 (in pamphlet form) by Samuel Weiser. Crowley can be a pain in the ass to read, but this is all easily digested and understood. Also cited is Crowley’s The Best of the Equinox: Sex Magick. Introduction by Lon Milo DuQuette. San Francisco, CA: Red Wheel/Weiser, 2013. This is a great little volume featuring some of Crowley’s better-known sex writings, including the original written version of the Gnostic Mass. Astute readers who go through the Gnostic Mass will find a whole host of “borrowings” from it that have become a part of many Witch rituals.
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1988. Thirty years after its initial publication, this is still my go-to book for stones and crystals.
Davies, Owen. Popular Magic: Cunning-folk in English History. New York: Hambledon Continuum, 2007. After Ronald Hutton, Davies is probably the preeminent scholar of all things esoteric.
d’Este, Sorita, and David Rankine. Wicca: Magickal Beginnings. London: Avalonia Press, 2008. One of the books for anyone interested in the origins of Modern Witchcraft. When I cite something from this book, I’m probably omitting ten other equally fascinating things next to that citation. Also, Sorita is absolutely wonderful, and I shall forever cherish the memory of sharing several pints of cider with her one glorious August day in Glastonbury.
Dening, Sarah. The Mythology of Sex: An Illustrated Exploration of Sexual Customs and Practices from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Macmillan, 1996. This is a beautiful book, and the history is pretty good for not being overly academic.
Deveney, John P. Paschal Beverly Randolph: A Nineteenth-Century Black American Spiritualist, Rosicrucian, and Sex Magician. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1997. Deveney’s biography of Randolph kicked off an era of renewed interest in one of America’s greatest magicians and occultists.
Drury, Nevill. Stealing Fire from Heaven: The Rise of Modern Western Magic. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Upon first reading this book, I didn’t get much out of it, but after reading it a second, third, and fourth time, I changed my opinion. A great look at traditions outside of Witchcraft.
DuBois, Thomas A. Nordic Religions in the Viking Age. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. I’m sure there’s someone champing at the bit to tell me I’m wrong about Nordic religious practices, so thankfully I’ve got this book to back me up. Despite all the myths we have of the Norse gods (most written long after Christianization), we don’t know as much about Scandinavian pagan practices as most people think. This is a great book.
Duncan, Malcom C. Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor. Originally published by Dick & Fitzgerald in 1866. Today, Duncan’s Monitor can be found easily and quickly online as a PDF, and it has been republished numerous times since 1866.
Farrar, Janet, and Gavin Bone. The Inner Mysteries: Progressive Witchcraft and Connection with the Divine. Portland, OR: Acorn Guild Press, 2012. I spend 20,000 words talking about drawing down the moon and related events in my book. Janet and Gavin wrote a whole book about it!
Farrar, Janet, and Stewart Farrar. A Witches’ Bible: The Complete Witches’ Handbook. Custer, WA: Phoenix Publishing, 1996. Originally released as Eight Sabbats for Witches (1981) and The Witches’ Way (1984), the content of A Witches’ Bible allegedly comes from an Alexandrian Book of Shadows. For anyone interested in ritual in the style of Gardner and other initiated British Witches, this is the closest one can get without joining a coven. I consult this book with much frequency in my own practice. Doreen Valiente contributed a great deal to this book and has a couple of essays in it.
Ferguson, Robert. The Vikings: A History. New York: Penguin, 2009. This is a nice little volume detailing the history of the people we today call Vikings. It’s not particularly exhaustive, especially when it comes to their religious practices, but it’s a good start.
Fortune, Dion. The Sea Priestess. Originally privately published in 1938. I use the Samuel Weiser edition from 1978. Fortune’s novel is a must-read for anyone looking into the origins of drawing down the moon. The 1,000 words I spend on it in my book do not do it justice. Fortune had a profound influence on Witchcraft, despite not being a Witch.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft. London: Aquarian Press, 1959. Witchcraft Today. London: Rider & Co., 1954. Most of what’s in Gardner’s books doesn’t have much bearing on today’s Witchcraft, but there are a few passages here and there that provide some insight into not just Gerald’s beliefs but also possibly those of the original New Forest Coven. These are important books even if they are difficult reads.
Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft. New York: Facts On File, 1999. Some of the historical articles don’t hold up particularly well since its initial publication in 1989, but there’s still a lot of useful information here. I use it far more often today than I did when it was originally released.
Hayden, Brian. Shamans, Sorcerers, and Saints: A Prehistory of Religion. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 2003. This book is full of information and illustrations documenting the rise of spiritual and religious ideas in prehistory.
Heselton, Philip. Witchfather: A Life of Gerald Gardner, Vols. 1 and 2. Loughborough, Leicestershire: Thoth Publications, 2012. Heselton’s research into Gerald Gardner and his probable membership in the New Forest Coven has been groundbreaking, and Philip has become the leading scholar of contemporary Witch history in the world. I can’t recommend his work enough, and much of this book would not have been possible without his efforts. Also cited is Heselton’s Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival. Somerset, UK: Capall Bann, 2000.
Hohman, John George. The Long-Lost Friend: A 19th Century American Grimoire. Edited by Daniel Harms. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2012. The Friend (sometimes called Pow-Wows) is one of the most influential grimoires in American history. The Harms version provides extensive notes regarding the text and fascinating historical materials.
Homer. The Iliad of Homer. Translated by Richmond Lattimore. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1961. Why this version of the Iliad? Probably because it was the one I read in high school and I still have it sitting on my bookshelf.
Howard, Michael. Children of Cain: A Study of Modern Traditional Witchcraft. Richmond Vista, CA: Three Hands Press, 2011. Howard wrote perhaps dozens of Witchcraft-related books before his death in 2015, and Cain is one of his better offerings. I don’t think he’s a very reliable historian, but his enthusiasm for all things witchy is contagious and he shined a light on many forgotten and/or overlooked Craft traditions. Also cited is Howard’s Modern Wicca: A History from Gerald Gardner to the Present. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2009. Modern Wicca is a must-read for history nerds since Howard was around for much of Modern Witchcraft’s most formative years. He’s also partially responsible for Lady Sheba.
Huson, Paul. Mastering Witchcraft: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks, and Covens. Originally published in 1970. I use the Perigee edition from 1980. Huson’s book is commonly seen as the first book about Traditional Witchcraft, but the last chapter of it was dedicated to something that looks very much like Wiccan-Witchcraft. Huson’s book was one of the first books about Witchcraft to actually be useful.
Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. When this book was released almost twenty years ago as of this writing, it was a complete game-changer. People had speculated on the origins of Modern Witchcraft before, but never so thoroughly and eloquently. Some people can’t get past the academic style of Hutton (a professor at the University of Bristol), but I love it! This is one of my absolute favorite books ever. Also cited is Hutton’s Witches, Druids, and King Arthur. London: Hembledon and London, 2003. This book is a collection of essays dealing with several things related to modern Paganism, including Glastonbury, England, the Greek Magical Papyri, and C. S. Lewis (along with Druids and King Arthur obviously).
John of Monmouth. Genuine Witchcraft Is Explained: The Secret History of the Royal Windsor Coven and the Regency. Somerset, UK: Capall Bann, 2012. I don’t know the true identity of John, but I do know that his book is a winner and one of the best Cochrane resources to ever see print. Highly, highly recommended.
Jones, Evan John, and Robert Cochrane. The Roebuck in the Thicket: An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition. Edited by Michael Howard. Somerset, UK: Capall Bann, 2001. Though I’ll never be much of a Cochranite, many of his ritual techniques are effective, and I absolutely love everything ever written by Evan John Jones. This particular book contains several letters written by Cochrane, along with a few articles by Jones that were published in Michael Howard’s The Cauldron magazine. Even more of Cochrane’s letters were published in The Robert Cochrane Letters, with editing by Howard and a few essays by Jones. Somerset, UK: Capall Bann, 2003.
Kelly, Aidan A. A Tapestry of Witches: A History of the Craft in America, Vol. 1. Tacoma, WA: Hierophant Wordsmith Press, 2014. Aidan won’t like hearing this, but I think he’s a little unfair to Gardner in his work sometimes, and way too trusting of others who claim their Witchcraft is far older. This is an interesting read for anyone curious about American-born Modern Witch traditions.
Kurtz, Katherine. Lammas Night. New York: Ballantine Books, 1983. Though Kurtz’s book is fiction, it still provides a fascinating glimpse into English occult practices circa 1940. Though the cone of power operation she writes about is probably very unlike the one Gardner and friends performed in 1940, it’s still worth a read.
Lady Sheba (Jessie Wicker Bell). The Grimoire of Lady Sheba. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2001. The Book of Shadows by Lady Sheba was originally published in 1971, with an expanded version published as her Grimoire in 1973. Shadows was rather revolutionary for its time, marking the first appearance in print of recognizable Modern Witch rituals. Since Sheba broke her oaths to print her book, I won’t say anything else about her or it.
Leek, Sybil. The Complete Art of Witchcraft. New York: Signet, 1973. Originally published in 1971. While Leek’s book doesn’t live up to its rather grandiose title, it was pretty revolutionary for its time. What Leek’s book lacked, though, were rituals! Leek wrote literally dozens of books dealing with astrology and Witchcraft up until the 1980s, but her work is now sadly out of print. Even used paperback copies of her work sometimes fetch up to seventy-five dollars. My copy of this book is currently selling for about fifty bucks online. Apparently much of the demand for Leek’s books comes from Christopher Penczak, who uses them with his students.
Leland, Charles Godfrey. Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches. London: David Nutt, 1899. I think Aradia is the most influential book in the history of Modern Witchcraft, and many of its best lines are still a part of many Witch rituals. In 1998 Mario and Dina Pazzaglini released a new translation of Leland’s text taken from his notes (Phoenix Publishing, 1998). Their edition of Aradia contains a wealth of background information as well. Chas Clifton, Robert Mathiesen, and Robert Chartowich also contribute to their edition. Also cited is Leland’s Etruscan Roman Remains in Popular Culture. New York: C. Scribner’s Sons, 1892. Though not as well known as Aradia, Etruscan Roman Remains is equally fascinating, and in some places even more so.
Lévi, Éliphas. Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual. Translated by Arthur Edward Waite. London: George Redway, 1896. This has been published by a whole host of different publishers over the years and can be found legally online for free. Lévi was one of the most important architects of the occult revival, even if he’s not spoken about a whole lot in Witch circles.
Lomas, Robert. Turning the Hiram Key. Gloucester, MA: Fair Winds Press, 2005. It surprises me just how free the Masons are with their secrets these days, but it’s probably good PR for Freemasonry. It’s clear from reading this book that Lomas’s initiation experience was moving and powerful.
Magliocco, Sabina. Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in America. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004. This book—and Magliocco—have never gotten as much attention as they deserve, and both are a treasure trove of Witch and Pagan history. Also cited is Magliocco’s essay “Aradia in Sardinia: The Archeology of a Folk Character,” from Ten Years of Triumph of the Moon. Hidden Publishing, 2009.
Mankey, Jason. The Witch’s Book of Shadows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2017. It’s probably a bit self-serving to include my own book here, though in truth I’m only citing it in order to highlight the contribution written by my friend Christopher Drysdale.
Mitchell, Chaffin. “Do Full Moons and Supermoons Really Influence People and Animals?” AccuWeather. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/do-full-moons-and-supermoons-really-affect-human-animal-behavior/61402994. Not my usual source material, but it’s an informative article.
Murray, Margaret Alice. The Witch-Cult in Western Europe. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1921. The God of the Witches. London: Faber & Faber, 1931. Murray was an Egyptologist by trade but began writing about Witchcraft during World War I when she was stuck in her native England. Many of her ideas aren’t held in high regard by modern scholars, but she had a tremendous impact on Witchcraft and the modern Horned God construct. The God of the Witches is a much better and often more informative read than the more well-known Witch-Cult.
Nabarz, Payam. The Square and the Circle: The Influences of Freemasonry on Wicca and Paganism. London: Avalonia Press, 2016. I found this book to be a little disappointing, as many of the things written about by Nabarz can be found in the works of Hutton and others. On the plus side, this is a very concise version of those previous findings.
Randolph, Vance. Ozark Magic and Folklore. New York: Dover Publications, 1967. Originally published in 1947. Many people use this book to argue that there was a community of self-identifying Witches in the American Ozarks in the early twentieth century. I get just the opposite from his work, but no matter how you interpret this book, it’s a fun read.
Regardie, Israel. What You Should Know About the Golden Dawn. Phoenix, AZ: Falcon Press, 1983. Regardie was the first person to make an attempt at printing the rituals and rites of the Golden Dawn, and during his lifetime he was universally respected as one of the foremost historians (and custodians) of modern ceremonial magick. Also cited is Regardie’s The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2015. This is the seventh edition, revised and corrected by John Michael Greer. This is a giant of a book but is invaluable to the Golden Dawn historian/seeker.
Ridley, Jasper. The Freemasons: A History of the World’s Most Powerful Secret Society. New York: Arcade, 2001. For anyone looking for an informed and less speculative history of Masonry, this is the book.
Rollin, Tracey. Santa Muerte: The History, Rituals, and Magic of Our Lady of the Holy Death. Newburyport, MA: Weiser Books, 2017. I love Rollin’s book on Santa Muerte, and it’s helped me foster a deeper relationship with the Boney Lady. While I would never summon Santa Muerte into a Wiccan circle, she’s the subject of near-daily devotions in my house ( by me).
Rosenzweig, Rachel. Worshipping Aphrodite: Art and Cult in Classical Athens. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 2006. Though a mostly academic work, this is an easily read look at Aphrodite in Athens. Highly recommended! For readers looking for a challenge and to drain their bank accounts, I’m also a huge fan of Stephanie Lynn Budin’s The Origin of Aphrodite. Bethesda, MD: CDL Press, 2003. This book is an exhaustive and extremely scholarly look at the origins of Aphrodite. It had a small print run, and my copy is now selling for about four hundred dollars online, which is crazy.
Society of Esoteric Endeavour. The Society of the Horseman’s Word. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Caduceus Books, 2009. Much of this book is full of contemporary accounts of the Horseman’s Word, along with modern essays discussing their ritual techniques and beliefs. Sources such as Amazon and Goodreads list William Rennie as the author, though his name doesn’t appear on the title page and is only included in the acknowledgments section at the end of the book. This book is also listed as The Society of the Horsemen’s Grip and Word in most places online, though the title on the book’s cover and spine omits the words Grip and, using only Word. Despite these oddities, this book is a treasure.
Stavish, Mark. Freemasonry: Rituals, Symbols, & History of the Secret Society. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2007. This book is good reading, with easy-to-understand explanations of Masonic rituals and symbols.
Strabo. Geography. The exact date of composition for Geography is a matter of some scholarly debate, with dates ranging from 7 BCE to 17 CE (a period of over twenty years). For this book I used the Perseus Press edition edited by H. L. Jones and published in 1924.
Tann, Mambo Chita. Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haiti’s Indigenous Spiritual Tradition. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2012. It was almost as if Llewellyn knew I was going to need Tann’s book to write my own. This is one of my favorite books on Vodou.
Valiente, Doreen. The Rebirth of Witchcraft. Tacoma, WA: Phoenix Publishing, 1989. To put it so simply, Doreen is the Mother of Modern Witchcraft, and Rebirth is her incredibly fabulous memoir. So much of what we say in the circle comes directly from the heart and pen of Valiente.
West, M. L. Indo-European Poetry and Myth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. This is a fantastic and extremely readable look at the origins of some of my favorite deities and their associated pantheons.
Zimmerman, Denise, and Katherine A. Gleason. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books, 2000. This is a surprisingly good book, though the “Complete Idiot’s Guide” fad of books didn’t last very long.