A few recommended witchcraft books
The Basics
Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson
This book is super popular. It is ceremonial in nature - don’t worry about needing to make Huson’s many ‘required’ items - but it has some really good stuff, especially the introduction and the Witch’s Pyramid.
Pure Magic by Judika Illes
This is the lady who wrote the Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Her book is good, leaning more towards New Age than Mr. Huson. I found the book to be generally well-rounded. It does cover a lot of basics, including plenty of rituals and spells.
The Sorcerer’s Secrets by Jason Miller
I have personally learned more from this book than any other. Instead of relying on spells, Mr. Miller teaches you the actual techniques of improving your magical skills. He also gives a reasonable explanation for how magic works and the ways you can practically apply skills to get what you want.
The Complete Guide to Psychic Development by Cassandra Eason
Mrs. Eason is the “if six candles are good, twelve is better!” type. I don’t agree with her that imagining a pink fluffy cloud (and I do not mock; this is literal) will remove all dangers. This book is perhaps best mixed with a more traditional one, such as Mastering Witchcraft. But if psychic stuff is for you, this book may be a great help.
Beyond the Basics
The Witch’s Familiar by Raven Grimassi
A surprisingly complete system of calling, working with, controlling, and dismissing familiars. If you have no idea where to start, and you prefer a slightly more ceremonial take on things, this is the book for you. It also holds value for those interested in spirit work.
Financial Sorcery by Jason Miller
You guys already know I have a thing for Mr. Miller, and I offer no apologies. He knows his stuff and he’s a good writer. Read this book if you want to make money with your magic in a way that actually works.
Seven Spheres by Rufus Opus
Not witchcraft - Hermetics. But it is a fantastic book, good for those who are looking for ‘the next step’ and are ready for spirit work and conjuration. I really learned a lot by reading this book, even if his tone is somewhat bro-ish at times.
Protection & Healing
Protection & Reversal Magick: Beyond 101 by Jason Miller
This was the first witchcraft book I ever bought! Gosh do I love it. Mr. Miller speaks in a straight-forward tone about certain dangers, and fills a book with different methods on how to fight, defend, and heal yourself after the battle. To those interested in Hekate, there are a couple original Hekatean rituals in this book. I highly recommend.
Psychic Self-Defense by Dion Fortune
An old, albeit still well-written handbook. Her accounts of psychic attack are fascinating and her solutions are practical and useful.
Spiritual Cleansing by Draja Mickaharic
This book is extremely practical and lays out several methods of cleansing for each problem addressed. Mr. Mickaharic loudly advocates against changing or substituting his spells, and basically says if you can’t do it the way he presents it in the book, don’t do it at all. So if you are the sort of practitioner who can’t get a hold of a pint of beer or seven walnuts to pop in the bathtub, this book is not for you. However, I was very pleased with the book and saw new content I had never seen before.
Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and References
Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
Yes, it’s getting on in years now. If it were a human it would have bought it’s first home and have two kids at this point. But it’s survived this long because it’s a solid reference for plants. When you get your hands on a new plant and don’t know what in the dickens you can use it for, Mr. Cunningham will give you a good overview. When planning a spell and you need to know what plants follow your correspondences, his tables in the back will list plants in accordance with your intent.
Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
What can I say. It’s like the plant book, but for crystams, gems, and metals.
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
This is the only book I’ll recommend that I haven’t *gasp* read personally. I’ve heard really good things about it. It is a big book of crystals. I just don’t care enough about crystals to get it, but if you care about crystals, then this is the book for you, I’ve heard.
(Elemental) Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes
Correct me if I’m wrong on this one, but the ‘elemental’ encyclopedia is the same as the regular, non-elemental edition. What I find to be of real value in this book is not the spells themselves, but the extensive forward which has a lot of magical knowledge. You can also pick up great tidbits by browsing the book. The formulary in the back has recipes for all kinds of oils, powders, and potions. It’s a good book, I highly recommend.
The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes
I’ll tell you what, Mrs. Illes sure does love her elemental encyclopedias. This is a solid book, covering a vast range of topics such as animals, holy days, and tools. I find the ‘animals’ section to be particularly useful.
Fabulous Creatures, Mythical Monsters, and Animal Power Symbols by Cassandra Eason
The book is full of what the title says. A good resource for mythical and regular animals.
Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes
The most sellable property of this book is that it lists many spirits by name. If you come across a certain name and want to know if it is connected to anybody, Mrs. Illes has the book for you. I find general entries such as “Ghost” or “mermaid” to be frustratingly sparse, but if you want to know who ‘Atargatis’ is, forget about it.
A Dictionary of Angels by Gustav Davidson
Want to know about angels and fallen angels? This is the book for you. Detailed. Thorough. No complaints.
