Wicca and Paganism is sometimes portrayed accurately -- and sometimes, not so much -- in movies, television, and books. How much can you learn about Wicca from Harry Potter, the Charmed sisters, or the Sweep series? Here's the place to get the scoop on which films, books and tv shows get it right -- and which ones don't!
Got a favorite novel that includes witches, wizards, magic or Paganism? Share it with our other readers here!
It's summertime, which means there's ample opportunity to do some reading. For fun, I put together a list of my favorite Pagan Fiction books and series. Although not all of these are written by Pagan or Wiccan authors, all include elements of magic, witchcraft, Paganism, or a combination of the three. Titles are presented in no particular order.
Poet Robert Burns wasn't Wiccan or even Pagan, but his work is highly regarded by many members of the Pagan community. Find out why, and see which poems are most popular.
Joseph Campbell was a well-known scholar on the topic of myth and comparative religion. His analysis of the hero's journey can be connected to many of the legends and lore in modern Pagan traditions.
Who was James Frazer, and why do so many modern Pagans keep his books on their shelves?
Ritchie Blackmore, formerly of Deep Purple, and singer/songwriter Candice Night formed Blackmore's Night in 1997. Since then, they've been collaborating on Renaissance-themed music, and "Secret Voyage" is their sixth CD. Read a review here!
David Wood is a Pagan musician who marches to his own beat. Learn what drives David and keeps him going in this exclusive interview!
Herbalist Cass Shipton and her friends have recently formed a Wiccan coven. When a child killer begins preying on their small New England town, the five of them band together in a dangerous hunt that will test all of their strength and power. Read a review of "Circle of Five" by Dolores Stewart Riccio.
The second book in Dolores Stewart Riccio's Circle series finds herbalist Cass Shipton and her Wiccan friends up to their pointy hats in danger when they hunt for a missing family. Read a review of "Charmed Circle" here.
Long before Dorothy dropped in on the Land of Oz, there were two friends named Elphaba and Glinda (that's Ga-linda, with a "Ga"). If you've ever wondered why the Wicked Witch of the West got such a bad rap, seeing "Wicked" will give you a whole new perspective!
Ellen Leventry's excellent article from Beliefnet about the inaccurate portrayals of Wiccans and Pagans in modern film and television. Leventry addresses the three stereotypical Hollywood witches: historical ("The Crucible"), funny ("Hocus Pocus") or sexy ("The Witches of Eastwick").
Judika Illes, author of "The Elemental Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells," blogged about some of the inaccuracies presented in television shows such as "Charmed" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." An excellent article, and one that should make you stop and think about stereotypes and the media.
In 2006, Rev. Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist for the Vatican wrote a scathing condemnation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, announcing that once children start believing in magic, it's just a few steps until they're worshipping Satan. Despite the fact that Potter is fictional, this is a worthy read just to get some perspective on how intolerance spreads.
Blogger and writer Kitty Campbell wrote this clever article about the television show, "The Ghost Whisperer," and points out that for all its silliness, the show manages to get portray Wicca far more accurate than most movies or tv shows.
This clever list is a compilation of different works of fiction that include information about Tarot. From Piers Anthony to William Butler Yeats, if you enjoy Tarot and you enjoy literature, this is a great list to have handy when you head to the library.
The Witches' League for Public Awareness (WLPA) has spent years monitoring the depiction of Witchcraft in movies and television. Also has a section for book reviews. Some of the information is a bit dated, but still a useful resource.
