Book Recommendations for a Variety of Paths

As more and more books on Paganism, Wicca, and other earth-based spiritual paths become available, readers are often faced with choices about what to read. One of the things people typically find themselves asking is, "How do I know what books are reliable?," followed almost immediately by "Which authors should I avoid?" As you learn and read and study, you'll learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff, and you'll eventually be able to figure out on your own what makes a book credible, or worth reading, and what makes it one that should probably only be used as a doorstop or paperweight.

Now that you've decided you want to learn about Wicca and Paganism, what should you read? After all, there are literally thousands of books on the subject -- some good, others not so much. This list features the thirteen books that every Wiccan should have on their shelves. A few are historical, a few more focus on actual Wiccan or Pagan practice, but they're all worth reading more than once.

If you're interested in following a Celtic Pagan path, there are a number of books that are useful for your reading list. Although there are no written records of the ancient Celtic people, there are a number of reliable books by scholars that are worth reading. Some of the books on this list focus on history, others on legend and mythology. While this is by no means a comprehensive list of everything you need to understand Celtic Paganism, it's a good starting point, and should help you learn at least the basics of honoring the gods of the Celtic peoples.

If you're interested in following a Hellenic, or Greek, Pagan path, there are a number of books that are useful for your reading list. Some, like the works of Homer and Hesiod, are accounts of Greek life written by people who lived during the classical period. Others look at the ways that the gods and their exploits intertwined with the daily lives of man. Finally, a few focus on magic in the Hellenic world. While this is by no means a comprehensive list of everything you need to understand Hellenic Paganism, it's a good starting point, and should help you learn at least the basics of honoring the gods of Olympus.

Interested in a Roman Pagan path? There are a lot of books out there, and it's hard to know which ones are worth reading. Here's a list of ten reliable titles you can check out to get started on your studies of Roman magic, history and legend.

Are you interested in the legends and history of the Norse people? One good place to start learning about their gods and goddesses is in the Eddas and Sagas, collections of stories that go back hundreds of years. You can read nearly all of them online via these links.

Are you interested in some of the popular NeoWiccan texts? From Leland's "Gospel of the Witches" to Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows, there are a variety of documents you may want to explore if you're interested in following a NeoWiccan path. You can read nearly all of them online via these links.

There isn't a whole lot out there commercially available for kids in Wiccan and Pagan families. That makes it kind of tough sometimes to find books… however, once you do a little digging, you'll find there are a ton of books that support Pagan and Wiccan principles and values. Things like stewardship of the earth, respect for nature, reverence of the ancestors, tolerance for diversity, a hope towards peace -- all things that many Wiccan and Pagan parents would like to see instilled in their kids. With that in mind, here's our list of books that are great reading for the under-eight set.

Many Pagans and Wiccans are interested in magical herbalism. There is a lot of information out there on magical herb use, so if you're looking for books to guide you in your herbalism studies, here are some useful titles to add to your collection! Bear in mind that some focus more on folklore and medicinal history rather than Neopagan practice.