From bill@sticky.accs.wsu.edu Sat Oct 26 17:51:36 1991

Someone asked about books to read?  By golly have I got a list for
you.  As fate would have it, I taught a Community Free University
Class last spring on the topic of 'neopaganism.'  I prepared this
reading list for that class. I share it with you now.
 
 
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Things to read in your copious spare time
 
Adler, Margot, Drawing Down the Moon, Beacon Press, Boston,
Massachusetts, 1986 
* A comprehensive review of neopaganism.  For the individual planning
on studying the topic this is the first reference.  It is not a
"how-to" book, but rather a review of neopaganism as a cultural
phenomenon.  While there is a good bit of philosophy, it comes in as
explanation of the subject.
 
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, Harper-Collins, New York, 1989
* There are many who would be spokesperson for neopaganism, if any one
person can claim that status, it would be Starhawk.  This book, in the
first two chapters, has the best focussed discussion of theological
implications and a world view of neopaganism to be found.  The balance
of the book, 13 chapters in all, is a "how-to" for those who are
interested.
 
Starhawk.  Truth or Dare.  Harper & Row, San Francisco 1987
* Not a study guide on neopaganism, but a social/political treatise on
the use of power.  Three facets of power are discussed; power-over,
power-from-within, and power-with.  An outstanding book which permits
the reader to understand how power manifests itself in daily life.
Obviously permeated with a neopagan perspective.
 
Starhawk.  Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex and Politics.  Beacon
Press, Boston. 1982
* This is a book that focuses on politics and the politics of sex.  A
powerful book of serious social comment, again permeated with a
neopagan philosophy.
 
Weinstein, Marion.  Positive Magic.  Phoenix Publishing, Custer,
WA. 1981
* A common first book for many students of neopaganism and magic.  A
little flaky in parts, but basically a good book with classic sections
on the importance and use of words.
 
Croweley, Vivian.  Wicca:  The Old Religion in the New Age.  The
Aquarian Press, part of Thorsons Publishing, Northamptonshire,
England 1989
* Literally required reading by all new members of my group.
 
Budapest, Z., The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries.  Wingbow
Press, Berkeley, CA. 1989.
Budapest, Z. The Grandmother of Time.  Harper & Row, San
Francisco 1989.
* Z. Budapest is a nearly violent feminist who sometimes has a
difficult time separating the concept of legal/religious patriarchy
from masculinity and the male gender.  These are two of her more
recent books where she seems to have grown up a bit.  Budapest can
teach and explain the philosophies of neopaganism with the best of
them and is a powerful writer.  Her theology can be very focussed and
lacks the world view of Starhawk, but a good bit can be learned from
her work.  She is a well known and well received spokeswoman for the
neopagan movement.  Of these two book, the book of mysteries is an
attempt at historically justifying her brand of neopaganism.  The
Grandmother of Time is a study guide which takes a student through the
yearly cycle with a generous bit of history, anecdotes and just plain
good writing.
 
Gadon, Elinor.  The Once and Future Goddess.  The Aquarian
Press/Harper & Row.1990
* An historical review of Goddess-centered religions.  As historically
vigorous as most, particularly in dealing with theologies which
predate written history.  A lovely book, with great pictures.
 
Rowan, John.  The Horned God.  Routledge & Kegan Paul Inc.
Press. New York.  1987.
* A view of the masculine aspect of neopaganism, a spiritual path in
large part dominated by the feminine.  A good read if only from the
point of view of men's study.  (it's OK for women to read this, too.)
 
Sjoo, Monica, Mor, Barbara.  The Great Cosmic Mother.  Harper &
Row, New York.  1987.
* This one is hard to classify.  It can be thought of as a history
book, but perhaps lacking in enough scholarly rigor to keep the purist
happy.  It is a serious bit of philosophy and is the best source I
have found for the feminine traditions and mythology associated with
Wicca.  It is a well-written book, but not necessarily an easy read.
At least these authors have done a very conscientious job of
separating patriarchy from masculinity and maleness.
 
Cunningham, Scott, David Harrington.  The Magical Household.
Llewellyn Press, St. Paul, MN.  1988 
* A book devoted to the traditions associated with daily neopagan
life.  A fun read as it identifies "old" or "traditional" things
(often without historical reference) that makes a house a home.  Sort
of a do-it-yourself guide to make your own Rivendell. 
[It's charming. --Ceci]
 
Paul V. Beyerl, A Wiccan Bardo.  Avery Publishing Group, Inc.
Garden City park, NY 1989.
* Subtitled "Initiation and Self-Transformation, this is one of the
few book I have found to take on the subject of Wiccan theology.
Philosophical, not a light read.  A good read.
 
Wolfe, A. In the Shadow of the Shaman.  Llewellyn Press, St. Paul,
MN.  1989
* Interesting in that it attempts to integrate the native American
spiritual path into neopaganism.  Sort of an applied pranayama yoga
guide.
 
Mundis, Hester.  101 Ways to Avoid Reincarnation: or Getting it
Right the First Time.  Workman Publishing 1989
* Offered without comment. [Hilarious! --Ceci]

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Books not necessarily on the topic of neopaganism, but which speak to
the philosophy of neopaganism.  You should read these for whatever
reason.
 
Fox, Matthew.  The Coming of the Cosmic Christ.  Harper & Row, San
Francisco 1988.
Fox, Matthew.  Original Blessing.  Harper & Row, San Francisco
1988.
* Matthew Fox is a Dominican priest.  Pagans and Neopagans have and
had a difficult time with the Dominican order.  Kramer and Sprenger of
inquisition fame where Dominicans as was Meister Eckhart.  Fox writes
eloquently about the need to reassess the role of religion in our
culture and life.  He writes of Creation Spirituality and the religion
of joy.  He decries the patriarchal church of Rome and speaks for a
return to the nurturing of the feminine as a role model on everyone's
spiritual path.  Needless to say this did not go down well with the
pope and he was officially silenced for a year.  A must read for
anyone who has any questions about religion or spirituality or
personal growth.
 
Fox, Matthew.  Breakthrough:  Meister Eckhart's Creation
Spirituality in New Translation.  Doubleday, New York 1980
* One of the great mystics of humankind, know to most practitioners of
eastern religions but practically unknown in the west is Meister
Eckhart.  Eckhart (1260-1329) was a Dominican in what is now Germany.
This book could easily be a term or two study for advanced
religion/philosophy classes.  Let me simply say that it is a good book
for learning a lot about a lot of things.
 
Hoff, Benjamin.  The TAO of Pooh.  Penguin Books, New York.
1982
* Simply one of the best reads to come along in ages.  Should be
required reading before anyone votes.
 
Grigg, Ray.  The TAO of Being.  Humanics New Age Publishers
1989.
* A study of the TAO is fundamental to understanding self.  I have
numerous translations of the TAO.  They are all good, some are better
than others.  This one is a bit new-ageish, but I seem to be in it
more and more.
 
Hart, Mickey (with Jay Stevens).  Drumming at the Edge of Magic.
Harper Collins, Publishers.  1990
* I have felt the magic of the drums on many occasions.  This book is
outstanding and should be a part of any library. The true "theology"
of Wicca cannot be found in books.  Rather, it is found drumming and
dancing at the sabbat bondfire.  This book goes into the mysteries of
the drums and offers many insights into that magical instrument.
 
Colegrave, Sukie.  Uniting Heaven and Earth.  St. Martin's Press,
New York.  1979
* The cover describes this book as "A Jungian and Taoist exploration
of the masculine and feminine in human consciousness."  Yep, I'd go
along with that.  Actually this is a fairly easy read, most really
good books, irrespective of their topic, are easy reads. (the Tao of
Pooh by Hoff is a classic example).  I don't know why, but this book
answered a whole bunch of questions about life, the universe and
everything for me all at once.  You might give it a try.
 
Fields, Rick, et al. Chop Wood, Carry Water.  St. Martin's Press.
1984.
* This is a distillation of material that appeared in the New Age
Journal.  As such it might appear to be new-ageish.  In any case there
is some very interesting reading in this book and I got a lot out of
it.  Is it neopagan?. . .well yes and no.  No posing pagan worth their
bat wings would ever actually admit to reading this stuff, but there
is some meaningful advise for getting in contact with the inner-self,
which is what most spiritual paths including neopaganism are all
about.  An easy and enjoyable read.
 
*******************************************************
 
Books to avoid, or approach with caution.
 
* Llewellyn Press, St. Paul, MN.  A strange publisher.  They have
_many_ titles on Wiccan subjects.  Some of them are very good, some of
them are absolutely awful.  Their book on Norse Magic is one of the
worst books ever written on any subject, their books on Rune Magic,
specifically The Nine Doors of Midgard is excellent.  When buying this
publisher be very careful.
 
* Books by Barbara Walker.  An interesting writer.  She is violently
anti-masculine i.e. gender related, as opposed to being anti-
patriarchal or philosophy-orientated.  It's almost like she hasn't yet
figured out that there _is_ a difference.  Her dislike of men makes
her writing difficult to wade through.
Her classic is the "Women's Encyclopedia" (the exact title escapes me,
I loaned the book out and do not have it in front of me as I type
this.) is an example of a book strongly written, with an presumption
of authority, but very poorly researched and with only a strongly
biased and incomplete set of historical defenses for her controversial
positions.  This book is amusing and fun to read, just not
particularly believable. I love her entry on "fish".  Christians
approve of my running around town with a little fish on the back of my
car.  They just aren't sure why I put it vertically, with the head
pointing up. ;-)
 
                 Bright Blessings
 
                                    Bill

JOHNSW@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU     or   BILL@STICKY.ACCS.WSU.EDU
As virtue, chastity and celibacy are about equal to malnutrition and measles.