Ben GruagachComments Off on Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches (EPUB)
Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches by Charles Godfrey Leland was published in 1899, and is now in the public domain. It documents what Leland believed was a surviving witch cult in Italy. While its historical claims are disputed, it was influential in the development of modern Witchcraft and Wicca. This EPUB edition was formatted by Ben Gruagach.
Ben GruagachComments Off on The Common Book of Witchcraft and Wicca (PDF)
“Pagans don’t have a holy book, they have libraries.” – Phaedra Bonewits The Common Book of Witchcraft and Wicca was created in 2014 by Witch School, International, Inc., with the project spearheaded by Ed Hubbard. It was created specifically to be easily shared, in the public domain, without infringing on copyrights. It contains a wide variety of articles, chants, poems, ritual ideas, and… Read more »
“Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An’ it harm none, do what you will.” There are a lot of half-truths told about the Wiccan Rede: ☆ it’s an ancient rule ☆ it’s mandatory for all Wiccans ☆ it’s a long poem, with a short-form phrase that is commonly quoted ☆ it makes it impossible for Wiccans to curse Here’s the truth…. Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Oaths and Secrets in Wicca
Gerald Gardner liked drama and prestige[1]. When he first started promoting the religion of Wicca he included oaths of secrecy as part of the first degree initiation rite. This served to impress on initiates that Wicca was a serious secret society. It also acted to preserve Wiccan teachings as exclusive to those who had been formally admitted to the group…. Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Wiccan, Witch, Pagan – What’s the Difference?
(This article is an excerpt from “The Wiccan Mystic.”) What Is Wicca? Current historical research suggests that Wicca is a modern Pagan religion first promoted by Gerald Gardner around the 1950s. Wiccan beliefs are structured on the practices of witchcraft as outlined by Gardner. Modern scholars such as Ronald Hutton, in his detailed and highly influential book “The Triumph of the… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Pagan Booklist: Communing with Nature
One of the reasons many people turn to modern Pagan religions is to seek a way to incorporate respect for Nature into their spirituality. Some religions, such as Wicca, have a decidedly Earth-revering emphasis. How can we enhance our understanding of Nature and build a deep connection with the flora, fauna, and mineral realms? There are quite a few books… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Pagan Booklist: Magick
Many books that are available on the topic of magick present it from within a specific religious framework. Many of these sorts of books end up being mostly about religion and have only a small bit that is about magick. What’s a person to do if they want to learn about magick but are not as interested in the religious… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on The Inner Mysteries: Progressive Witchcraft and Connection with the Divine by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone have updated their 2004 classic, “Progressive Witchcraft” and given the new second edition a fresh title: “The Inner Mysteries: Progressive Witchcraft and Connection With the Divine.” This is an important book for Wiccans and is a must read for a number of reasons.
Ben GruagachComments Off on The Heart of Wicca by Ellen Cannon Reed
This slim volume (running one hundred and thirty four pages, including the index and extra materials) is a challenging read and not one I would recommend to beginners. The subtitle “Wise Words from a Crone on the Path,” implies it is an exploration of the deeper meaning of Wiccan practice and philosophy from one who is an Elder of the… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on The Witches’ Sabbats by Mike Nichols
Back in the pre-internet days computer geek Pagans like me would use our dial-up modems to connect with bulletin board systems where we could download text files, send and receive email, and participate in online discussion on a wide variety of topics. There were dozens of different networks that individual BBSs would hook into covering all sorts of interests –… Read more »
