Ben GruagachComments Off on Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: Critical Thinking Skills for Pagans
(Excerpted from “The Wiccan Mystic”, chapter four.) Information on the occult and on alternative religious paths such as Wicca is readily available now more than ever before. Most mainstream bookstores carry at least a few books with titles like “Easy Wicca” or “Casting Spells in 3 Simple Steps,” or might have a wider selection from scholarly philosophical tomes to straightforward… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Putting Critical Skepticism In Practice: Tips For Critiquing An Occult Book
(This is an excerpt from my book, “The Wiccan Mystic.” It’s from chapter four, following a section about critical thinking and healthy skepticism.) Don’t judge a book based on findings that came out after the book was published. Do judge a book based on the material that is presented. Note the worthwhile information while acknowledging other sources of newer or… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Pagan Booklist: Spooky Fiction for Samhain
Samhain, or Halloween as it’s commonly known in North America, has long been a time for ghost stories and spooky tales. Some authors, like Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker, have become famous writing horror. But when it comes to Halloween tales, there is one writer who is master: Ray Bradbury. Ray Bradbury has October in his bones, his… 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 Pagan Booklist: Fairies
[Updated Sept. 14, 2021 to include some more recent books.] Most people are aware of midsummer (the summer solstice) as a key time when the realm of the fairies overlaps with our own. Not as many realize though that there is another time of year when the veil is thin: the winter solstice, or Yule. It’s obvious when you think… Read more »
Ben GruagachComments Off on Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt
In the late 1500s and early 1600s in the English county of Lancashire in Pendle Forest a cunning woman known by the nickname Old Demdike served the local populace. Demdike, whose real name was Elizabeth Southerne, lived in the ruins of Malkin Tower with her daughter Liza and her grandchildren James (Jamie), Alizon, and Jennet. In 1612 a local magistrate… Read more »
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 »
