909

{file "Open Letter to A New Witch" "bos200.htm"}

AN OPEN LETTER TO A WITCH

I do not know what Tradition you follow. That
not matter.
Indeed, for all I know, you may not follow any of the
traditions. You
may be one of those many lonely ones who, for
whatever reason, must
worship by 'feel' rather than through any formal
coven training or
participation. But whoever you are, and however you
worship, all that
matters to me is that you hold
true to the God and the Goddess. My purpose in
writing this letter is
to enjoin your aid in destroying that which
cripples our Craft.
Dissension is the disease. It is not a cancer,
for it can be cured; and, as with most herbal
cures, the best
treatment is that administered internally.
does

Friend,help spread theBrotherhood

andSisterhood ofthe Craft.
do not seek to establish a scale of Wicca purism,
(for no two Witches
will ever agree on the relative positions on the
scale of even their
own tradition.) There is no one religion for all
people, and THERE IS
NO ONE TRADITION FOR ALL WITCHES!
Let this be
understood, and
accepted. Choose your own path and
leave your neighbor to choose his. Remember the
primary tenet:
"AN
IT HARM NONE, DO WHAT THOU WILT."
Yetnever forget:"An it harmnone..." If your
pathleads to sex
rites, to homosexuality, to phallic-initiation...do
not pt it foreward
as "THE WICCAN WAY". It is only A Wiccan way, one
of MANY.
And by
the same token, if a path so presented is not your
way, do not decry
it simply because it is not your way. Who are you
to say another is
wrong, so long as it harms none.

Strive for honesty, friend. Do not make

false Craft claims,
whether of position, heredity, lineage, or
whatever. If you have a
quarrel with someone, seek out the one you disagree
with, rather than
utilize perhaps unreliable intermediaries.
do
not spread unfound
rumors and question those who do so.
News of
battle makes more
exciting reading than news of peace.
Why, then,
provide battle news
for publication when the serenity of the Craft is
what we should be
showing?
We have come along way, myfriend, in a
fewshort years. Let
us move on along our chosen paths till we emerge
- as we will accepted and respected by ALL as a religion in our
own right.
Help usbring anend to washingour dirty
linenin public. There
will always be disagreements, there will always be
those who cannot
tolerate others, but they are in the minority and
so they should
remain, if you wish.
But do not deny them their
right to those
differences.
Friend, weare Children ofthe Universe,
andChildren ofthe God
and the Goddess. Let us try to remember that, and
live in Peace.
Blessed Be, and Merry
Part!

910

{file "Maychants (4) (Tanscribed by SeaStrider)" "bos201.htm"}

MAY DAY CHANT

ONE

Here we come apiping,

In Springtime and in May;
Green fruit aripening,
And Winter fled away.
The Queen she sits upon the strand,
Fair as lily, white as wand;
Seven billows on the sea,
Horses riding fast and free,
And bells beyond the sand.
Valiente, Doreen; "Witchcraft for Tomorrow"; Phoenix
Publishing 1985
MAY DAY CHANT

Two

The High Priestess and High Priest lead a ring

around the
bonfire. Start out with "A Tree Song" from Rudyard
Kipling's "Weland's
Sword" story in "Puck of Pook's Hill".
dance

"Oh, do not tell the Priest of our Art,

Or he would call it sin;
But we shall be out in the woods all night,
A conjuring summer in!
And we bring you news by word of mouth
For women, cattle and corn
Now is the dun come up from the South
With Oak, and Ash and Thorn!"
Farrar, Janet and Stewart; "Eight Sabbats For
Witches"; Robert
Hale
1983
STAG CALL also MAYCHANT THREE
The men gather around the fire, next
partners, and they say
in unison:

to their

"I am the stag of seven tines;

I am a wide flood on the plain;
I am a wind on the deep waters;
I am a shining tear of the sun;
I am a hawk on a cliff;
I am fair among flowers;
I am a god who sets the head afire with smoke."
Graves, Robert; "The White Goddess"; Farrar 1970
Transcribed to computer files by Seastrider

911

{file "Magickal Stones & Gems" "bos202.htm"}

CRYSTALS & STONES

Gemstoneshave beenusedforcenturiesas
meditationalaidsand
magical magical foci.
Each individual type of
stone has different
properties. Here are some healing and spiritual
properties from a
list I have. These descriptions are based on ancient
legend and lore:

AGATE: Moss Agates considered to be most

Aid in
restoration of energy, used in healing, and believed
to bring wearer
happiness, wealth, health, and long life. Increases
ability to
ward off self-induced anger
and
inner bitterness.
Carnelian-gives protection and energy.
Moss greenbalances emotional
energy.
Moss red-balances physical energy.
Blue lace-gives
tranquility.
powerful.

Amber: Powerful healing stone with large

organic
energy. In ancient times, ground to a powder and
mixed with honey or
oil of roses for various physical problems.
Filters germs and
infections and has the power to disinfect. Worn
around the neck to
help fight infection and respiratory diseases. Lifts
the spirits.
amount

of

Apatite: Promotes communication and mental

clarity.
Amethyst: Increases spiritual awareness, has
and
soothing influence, has the ability to transmute
negative into
positive, and is very effective as a healing stone.
Warmed and placed
a

calming

on

the forehead and temples, it is good for

Has the
ability to draw through it forces directed towards
the body and repels
vibrations which the body doesn't need, thus
releasing only the energy
patterns beneficial to the body. Best worn in
healing near the heart
center.
Opens up spiritual and psychic
centers. Helps prevent
drunkeness.
headaches.

Aquamarine: Calms nervous tension.

Calming
effects of the sea.
Used to help banish fears and phobias. Means
seawater.
Soothing and cleansing.
Adventurine:
Increases
perception
insight.
Stimulates opportunity and motivation.

creative

and

Azurite: Powerful healing stone, invokes

guidance,
opens psychic eye. Good for dreams and improving
psychic ability.
spiritual

Bloodstone: Stimulates
flow of energy
for
blood
circulation, stops hemorrhaging. Removes emotional

healing
blockages.

Citrine: Stimulates openness and accelerates the

awakening of the
mind. An aid to the digestive system. Helps
eliminate
toxins.
Encourages tremendous healing on the
emotional and mental
levels, helps unblock subconscious fears, and
serves as a natural
relaxant.
Coral: Balances physical energy
Carries
the creative vibrations of the sea.

tensions.

and relaxes

912

Emerald: Promotes creativity, stimulates

and insight,
and strengthen memory. Beneficial effect on the

perception
eyes.

Garnet:Balances hormones, goodfor

mentaldepression, enhances

self-esteem, alleviates
bad dreams, and
success in
business. Thought to assist in seeing into past
incarnations.
encourages

Hematite: Calmingto the emotions. Worn as

an amuletto confer
strength and procur favorable legal judgements. In
Egypt, used to
reduce inflammation and treat hysteria. Considered
to be a grounding
stone. Helps maintain balance between body, mind,
and spirit.
Ivory: Spiritual protection.
Jade:Stimulates practicality,wisdom,and
universalattunement.
Thought to provide a link between the spiritual and
the mundane. Most
revered by the Chinese.
Jasper: For energy balancing of emotions and
stress.
Flourite: Opens andsoftens the wayfor the
useof otherstones.
Excellent used in aquariums-provides needed minerals.
Lapis Lazuli: Stimulates wisdom,
truthfulness, & psychic
experiences, healing and strengthening when worn
next to the skin.
Strengthens mind and body to spiritual awareness.
Malachite: often used asa child's talisman
to sleepsoundly &
protect from bad dreams.
Stimulates clear
vision and insight,
represents hope and inner peace, believed to
protect from danger.
Increases abundance in all areas of life.
Moonstone: Bringsgood fortune. Reflects the
wearersbeing and
feelings.
Promotes unselfishness.
Opens the heart
to humanitarian
love and hope. Good for protection while travelling
on water. Gives
clarity to spiritual understanding. Good for premenstrual symptoms
and balancing to the reproductive system. Used to
ease childbirth.
Pearl:Stimulates feminine qualities,used to
focus attention,
helps pull together mental and spiritual forces,
peace of mind.
Represents purity, modesty, & gentleness.

Peridot: Dispels fears, guilt, and

depression.
Used to
counteract negative emotions and healing of the
spirit.
Affects top
three chakras.
Once worn as a means of gaining
foresight and divine
inspiration.
QUARTZ: Amplifiesthe healing energyof the
one usingit. Used
to help draw out pain. Able to tap into the energies
of the
universe.
A good stone for meditating on. Works
primarily with the
Third Eye center, also relates well with the heart
center. To be able
to tune into the quartz promotes clarity while
concentrating on it.
Also affects the crown chakra. Very potent and often
worn to protect
from negative vibrations.
Cleanse regularly.
Rudilated-rutile
needles help focus attention.
Smoky-good for
calming the mind.
Rose-vibrations of universal love & inner serenity.
cleanses

Ruby: Increases vigor, renews

the blood.
The stone of courage.

vitality and

913

Topaz: Calms emotions, protects against

external stresors.
To
restore physical energy & quiet emotional nature.
Tiger Eye: Very powerful protection, clarity of
thought.
Tourmaline: Causes the wearer to be
more flexible, more
understanding and more objective in purpose and
reason.
Calming.
Each person has a different response to this stone.
Causes a
reaction in
the intestinal tract.
Black and
Crystal-removes
negativity and cleanses. Some say it should not be
worn as jewelry.
Electric and magnetic properties.
Turquoise: Vibratescalmingradiations,
protective,andrestores
healthy mental attitude.
Stone of friendsship.
Balancing and
healing.
Great strength and vitality. Takes on
characteristics of

the wearer.

914

CRYSTALS & STONES

NAME
Calming,grounding, a

AMETHYST

COLOR
Violet

CHAKRA

USES

Crown
cleanser and

spiritual
stimulator, yin/yang
balance, strengthens

heart, cleanses liver of

toxins, excellent for

lung

problems.
Soothes emotions,
for

ADVENTURINE

Green

Heart
used

the heart and

heartache, for acceptance

self and others, for

inner

peace.
AGATE
Varied
Compelstruth, promotes
Plexus,
good manners, happiness,
intelligence, prosperity.

Solar-

Heart
longevity, fertility,
and
good
health,

affects

stomach,

throat,

heart.
AZURITE-

Blue-green Heart,

Allpurpose healing

stone,

affects

MALACHITE
ethericbody,parathyroid
nerve,

Crown
glands,

f o r

spleen,
pancreas, used to release
repressed emotions and
physical detoxing.

courage,
t

BLOODSTONE

Green-red

endurance, harmony, used

Root

Offers

stop bleeding, helps

i

making decisions, used

f o r

iron deficiency, in

t h e

blood, for moving

kundalini

energy, and to

invoke
are

peace in all who

drawn

to it.

CITRINE
Generates radiant, happy

Golden

SolarPlexus

vibrations, helps
thoughts to be clear and
emotions controlled,
raises thinking to
intuitive levels, on a
physical level it can be
used
to help eliminate
toxins from the colon,
gall
bladder and kidneys
a n d
entire eliminative
system.

915

CHRYSOPRASE
quality of

compassion and a

Plexus,

capacity
for
fine

Green

Solar-

Has a

attunement works
Heart

on
the
solar
plexus
and

heart areas to sooth

emotions, will help
tranquilize many forms of

a n d
t

unwanted

neurosis, also used

absorb or deflect
energies.
FLOURITE

Clear,

Crown,

dimensional

Multistone,

balances

Blue,
3rd

Eyeandintegrateslower
(human)

self

Purple

withhigher(spiritual)
self, good for meditation
over
3rd eye chakra,
works well
with virulent
diseases.
GARNET
Red
Stimulates happiness,
peace, balance, patience,
inspiration, persistence,
good
for rebirthing,
menstruation and life
passages, disorders,

Root

fertility, eases
arthritis

pain.

HEMATITE
verygrounding stone,
very cooling to the
physical body, use for
fevers, alleviates worry
a n d
anxiety as it allows
f o r
mental clarity, often
known
as the "worry
stone".

Grey-black Root

HERKIMER
Clear
balancing special
variety of quartz crystal
"DIAMOND"
with yin/yang

Crown

Very
works

energies,
often
known
as

the

"Dream Crystal", aids

bringing teachings
dream

in

of

the

state
into
conscious awareness, very
highly attuned
spiritually.
KYANITE

all chakras,
directed

Blue,

Crown,

Aligns

if so
Black
3rdEye
can

openchakras(energy
in

the

centers

body),
dispells frustration and
anger, excellent

attunement

stone, good
for meditating,
aids in
s t
l i f e
regression.

p a

LAPIS

Blue

Throat,

Used

over 3rdeye
916

(brow)
chakra,

LAZULI

3rd Eye

in opening

assists

and

clarifying
(Brow)

inner
vision,
provides
strength, vitality and
self-assurance, used for
disorders of the throat,
heart,spleen, blood, skin
a n d
good

to counter effects of
stroke and epilepsy, also
for dream work.

LITHIUM
to reduce stress
and ease depression,
to cycles of

Lavender
with Pink

Crown,

Solar-

Helps
relates

Tourmaline
Plexus

birth
and
deathand
eases
transition, good
preparatory stone inner

spiritual work, on
physical

helps with

digestion.
MOONSTONE

avery calming effect

White

Crown

Has
on the

emotions,

Pastel

stimulatesthe pineal
gland, assists in
stimulating the feeling
(intuitive) nature, eases
menstrual pain,
alleviates
many
degenerative
conditions
in
the skin,
hair, eyes,
and body fluids
(tears,
digestive juices).
OBSIDIAN

tosharpen both the

Black-

Used
internal

and external
Snowflakevision,oneofthemost
important

ones
contrasts
night,
light,

"teachers" of
the New Age stones,
teaches one the truth of
oneself in relation to
ego, depicts the
of life-day and
darkness and
truth
and error.

Promotes digestion,
ailments
Brow inthedigestive
for
forprotection,
emotional

PERIDOT

Green

Heart,
eases
Yellow/
system, used
Green
prosperity,

calming, purifies,
balances.

PHANTOM

Clear

All

powerful tool

Very
for the New

Age,

Redor

used togroundand

center while
917

Yellow

to higher

energies.

attuning

spiritual energies, in
healing work used to
disperse congested

PYRITE
very protecting,
shielding aspect which

Gold

Solar-

Hasa

Plexus

works
on
the
physical,
o

strengths

mental, emotional levels.

Shields from many forms
negative energy,

circulatory
clears
oxygen in
the blood.
system,

QUARTZ
purpose, all
amplifies
personal

thought-forms,

Clear

Trans-

All-

healing,

transmutes

energy
point

and
forms
protective

work,

shield around auric

field, excellent for
meditation stone, color
aura work, very
energizing.
IRRADIATED

Very

QUARTZ

Black

Absorbs

all formsof
energy,placed on or

negative

near
electrical
equipment
(T.V.,

microwave,
computer) to absorb
harmful energies.
ROSE QUARTZ
Pink
Comfortsheart from all
wounds, helps heal
emotional
pain, enhances
l o v e ,
self-love, positive
outlook, joy and oneness,
helpful for heart,
throat,
ears, nose,
hypertension.

Heart

918

depression,

SMOKEY

Black

Root,

Eases
fear and

panic,
QUARTZ

aura, very

Grey

SolarPlexus

positive

clears
grounding,
enhances

attitudes, tranquilizes,

works

well with root

chakra

to

release
blocks
emotional
and
physical,
used for
menstrual
cramps,intestines,
stomach
and digestion.
negative

TOPAZ
negativity from
Plexus

protects

Yellow

Solar-

Draws
chakras,

against
insomnia

and

depression,
mood
elevator, revitalizes,
very
stimulating to the
creative thinking
processes,
eases death.
TOURMALINE
Works as a protective
shield, consumes negative
energy without releasing
i
t
into the atmosphere,
h a s
to do with visions
a
n
d
"seeing" with
compassion,
good for the
eyes,
teaches
to expand
l i m i t e d
concepts of
thinking,

Varied

Root,

love,

relates
to
aspirations for higher
very complete

stone.

TURQUOISE

Aqua

Heart,

as"The Sky
is
excellent for both
Spiritual attunement and
healing of the energy
centers and the physical
body,
valuable for
grounding
as
well as for
vision
quests
and astral
t r a v e l ,
purifies all
levels
of
being and is
capable
of
handling
strong
negativity,
also
used for wounds and

Known
Stone",

Throat

for

damage

to bones.

919

{file "Modern Pagaism, Q&A" "bos203.htm"}

920
M O D E R N
P A G A N I S M :
QUESTIONS
&
ANSWERS
To promote community harmony and freedom of
religious practice.
Distributed by : The Committee for Religious
Freedom, Salt Lake City,
Utah.
Thanks to LesleyPhillips andLinda Pinti
ofThe Covenantof
Unitarian Universalist Pagans for original material.
Contemporarysociety
isexperiencingaresurgence ofinterest
in earth- and nature-centered spirituality. Modern
Paganism is a rich
and diverse religious movement drawing the
attention of the media,
law-makers, and spiritual seekers. This pamphlet
attempts to answer
some of the questions frequently asked about modern
Pagan beliefs and
practices.
What is Paganism?
Theterm"Pagan" comesfrom aLatinword
for"country dweller"
first used in early Christian times to refer
to those not yet
converted to Christianity. "Pagan" was an epithet
that cast aspersions

on those not seen as "true believers." Today, it

refers more general
to the faith of those whose spiritual center is
drawn to native and
natural religions, usually pantheistic
or
polytheistic, and almost
always earth-centered.
What then is "Modern Paganism"?
ModernPaganism,orNeo-Paganism,
isamodern, Earth-centered
religious
perspective which borrows and adapts
from pre-Christian
paganism as well as
from contemporary
religious thought. While
reconnecting with ancient wisdom,
it speaks
eloquently to the needs
and concerns of the present.
What is meant by "The Old Religion"?
The term describes the pre-Christian
religion of much of
western and northern Europe, which was based on
the agricultural
cycles and other natural rhythms of the Earth.
It coexisted with
Christianity for centuries, from the so-called
"Dark Ages" up until
the Inquisition and the "Burning Times" (witch
hunts) of the late
Middle Ages. It also can refer more generally to
other
native and tribal religions of the world.
What is the difference between Paganism and
Witchcraft?
SomecontemporaryPagans
callthemselvesWitches.The termhas
many
meanings, some
carrying
rather heavy
negative baggage.
"Witchcraft" or "The Craft" is most properly
applied to three broad
categories: Descendants of the European witches of
the Middle Ages,
practitioners of the "reconstructed" Witchcraft of
the 20th century,
and "feminist Witches" whose religion and
politics center in the
contemporary womens' spirituality movement. It can
generally be said
that all modern Witches are Pagans, but not all
modern Pagans are
Witches. At least one writer, Aidan Kelly, has begun
to use the term
"Neo-Pagan Witchcraft" to describe
the largest
portion of the
contemporary Pagan community.

921
What is meant by the term "Wicca"?
Oftenused asa synonymfor
Witchcraft,"Wicca" isthought to
derive from an Anglo-Saxon root meaning to bend or to
turn. It is more
properly applied only to those Witchcraft traditions
which originated
in or derive from practices in the British Isles.
What about Shamanism?
Shamanismisnot areligion, butaset
ofspiritual techniques
used for healing and the acquisition of knowledge
through forays into
non-ordinary states
of consciousness. Now
gaining increasing
attention in the counseling
profession, this
journeying is usually
aided by sonic driving (such as repetitive drumming
or chanting) and
often involves interactions with totemic and
archetypal figures. These
techniques are used in virtually every tribal
society and are widely
used by contemporary Pagans.
What do modern Pagans believe?
The centralbeliefs ofmodern
Pagansdiffer in specificsyet
share many
fundamentals. Deity is seen as
immanent rather than
transcendent.
Experience is preferred over
doctrine. It is believed
that there are and should be
multiple paths to the
Divine. There is
no prescribed creed, but there are a number of
beliefs shared by most
contemporary Pagans, summarized at the end of this
pamphlet.
Isn't this just Humanism by another name?
Noand Yes.Likereligious
Humanists,modernPagans havealove
and reverence for this world and the physical
plane generally. The
rational is seen as important. Great emphasis is
also placed on the
intuitive, however, and the belief that the physical
and non-physical
worlds are equally real, and
are interconnected,
interpenetrating
manifestations of nature. This means that
spiritual work, whether
called meditation, prayer, or magic, and whether
done as ritual,
worship, or celebration, is efficacious and can
result in changes in

the physical world. The majority of Pagans also

the
survival of the consciousness or soul after physical

believe in
death.

How do modern Pagans worship?

Some groups have formalworship services
or similar group
meetings. Others conduct rituals that have varying
degrees of set
forms. Some Pagans worship by themselves without
formal ritual. Most
contemporary Pagans hold rituals corresponding to
the turning of the
seasons and the phases of the moon. Rituals are
often performed in a
sacred space defined by the demarcation of a circle,
within which the
celebration and worship take place. Celebrations
include eight major
seasonal holidays, sometimes collectively referred
to as "Sabbats".
These Sabbats, as most frequently observed by
North American and
European Pagans, follow the agricultural cycles
of the northern
temperate zone,
and include the solstices and
equinoxes as well as
four intermediate festivals
which fall in between,
sometimes called
"cross-quarters," on or near the first days of
February,
May, August, and November. Regular public Sabbat
rituals, reflecting
a variety of contemporary Pagan styles, are held in
many communities.
Rituals may
include meditation, chanting,
drumming, myth- and
story-telling, ritual drama, dance, and so on.
Deeper ritual work is
most often practiced at private gatherings, which
for many traditions
coincide with
the phases of the moon. The work
may include more
intense raising of energy,
healing work, and
personal spiritual
development.

922
What about Satanism?
Contrary
to the claims
of illinformed Christian
fundamentalists, the practices of modern Pagans are
in no way related

to Satanism. Most Pagans do not even believe

Satan exists. As a
profanation of Christian symbolism, Satan worship
is a Christian
heresy, not a Pagan religion.
Do Pagans proselytize?
No,Pagansdo notproselytize.Most
modernPagantraditions do
welcome newcomers. Most modern Pagans also do not
discourage other
Pagans from integrating other religious and
spiritual practices and
beliefs into their practice.
WHAT CONTEMPORARY PAGANS BELIEVE
while there is no set of beliefs shared by all
Pagans, most would
agree that similarities far outweigh differences.
There are a number
of beliefs held by the vast majority of modern
Pagans. Some of these
are:
1. Divinity is seen as immanent.
2. Divinity is as likely to manifest itself in
as male form,
the God or the Goddess, in the interconnectedness of
all life.
female

3. Multiple paths to the divine exist, as symbolized

by many goddesses
and gods. These are often seen as archetypes or
gateways to the
unconscious.
4. We respect and love Mother Earth as a living
being, Gaia, of which
we are a part.
5. The physical world, as an emanation of the
good and to
be enjoyed by all living beings in love and harmony.

divine, is

6. Ethics and morality are based on avoidance of harm

to other beings,
including Earth as a whole, which mandates
environmental activism as a
spiritual responsibility.
7. Human interdependence implies the need for
community cooperation.
8. The solar and lunar cycles and the cycles
our lives are
celebrated. This leads to the maintenance and
revival of old customs
and the creation of new ones.
of

9. A strong commitment
growth, evolution,

to personal and

planetary

and balance are vital.

10. One's lifestyle must
beliefs. The
personal is political.

one's

be

consistent

with

11. A minimum of dogma and a maximum of individual

responsibility in
all things are goals to strive for. Thus a healthy
skepticism is to be
fostered,
and ideas are not to
be accepted
without personal
investigation of their validity.
12. Messiahs and gurus are to be avoided. The
of another
being is unnecessary for an individual to
with Deity.
Power-from-within is preferred to power-over.

mediation
commune

13. All beings are personal

Divine. Thou art
Goddess, thou art God.

emanations

of

the

923

{file "A Booklist of Pagan/Magickal Titles" "bos204.htm"}

A Booklist of Pagan/Magickal

Titles

I. Tarot:
A. The Tarot - Paul Foster Case (f)
B. The Qabalistic Tarot - Robert Wang (a,f)
C. The Book of Tokens - Paul Case (f)
D. TheBook ofThoth Crowley(a,f)
II. The Qabalah:
A. The Mystical Qabalah - Dion Fortune (f)
B. The Kabbalah Unveiled - MacGregor
Mathers (f)

C. The Sepher Yetzirah - W. Wynn Westcott

(f)

D.APracticalGuideto

QabalisticSymbolism-GarethKnight
(a,f)
E. The Ladder of Lights - William Grey (f?)
III. Magick in general:
A. The Tree of Life - Israel Regardie (a,f)
B. Magick in Theory and Practice - Aleister
Crowley (a,f,b)

C.TheGolden Dawn;TheComplete
Golden DawnSystem of
Magic- Israel Regardie (c)
D. Magick without Tears - Crowley (c)
IV. Meditation
A. The Training of the Mind - Alan Bennett
(a)
Chogyam

B. Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism Trungpa(d)

C. Book 4 - Crowley (a)
D. The Experience of Insight - Goldstein

(d)
V. Crowley
A. The Holy Books of Thelema (a)
B. The Vision and the Voice (a)
C. The Eye in the Triangle - Israel
Regardie (c)
the King (a)

F. Cumont (b)

D. The Equinox, esp The Temple of Solomon

E. The Book of Lies (a)
VI. Paganism, historical
A. The Golden Bough - Frazer
B. The Mystery Religions - S. Angus (b)
C. Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism D. The God of the Witches - Margaret Murray
E. The Golden Ass - Apuleius, transl.

Robert Graves

Gardner (g)

Evans-Wentz

Wentz

VII. Paganism, modern

A. Drawing Down the Moon - Margot Adler
B. The Meaning of Witchcraft - Gerald
VIII. Eastern Mysticism
A. Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines B. Shakti and Shakta - Arthur Avalon (a)
C. The Serpent Power - Arthur Avalon (a)
D. The Tibetan Book of the Dead - EvansIX. Egyptian religion (all b)
A. The Gods of the Egyptians - E.A. Budge
B. The Egyptian Book of the Dead - Budge
C. Egyptian Magic - Budge
D. The Leyden Papyrus - Budge

924
X. Miscellaneous
A. The Chaldean Oracles - Westcott (f,e)

B. The Life of Apollonius of Tyana Philostratus

(c)

C. Prometheus Rising - Robert Anton Wilson

D. Cosmic Trigger - Robert Anton Wilson (c)
Sources
(a) Samuel Weiser, Inc
Box 612
York Beach, Maine 03910

-EXCELLENT source
all high quality.
Especially good source for
on ceremonial
magick. Highly recommended.

for books of all sorts,

books

by

Crowley

&

(b) Dover Publications

31 East 2nd St.
Mineola, NY 11501
-reprints manyold books,most notably
Budge'sclassic egyptian
series
(c) Falcon Press
3660 N. 3rd St
Phoenix, AZ 85012
-small press specializing in Crowley,
Regardie,& the
Golden Dawn. Also carries Robert
Anton Wilson's
latest
works,
such as PROMETHEUS RISING, THE NEW INQUISITION,
and the reprinted
classic COSMIC TRIGGER.
Israel

(d) Shambalah Publications

314 Dartmouth St.
Boston, MA 02116
-mainly Eastern religion & Buddhist, but
also some western
magick, and recently lots
of high-quality New Age
works. Recently
reprinted the classic series HERMETICA by Sir Walter
Scott.
(e) Heptangle Books
Box 283
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
-small specialty printing house
issuing
volume per
year, beautifully
typeset.
Issued
the
classic
ENOCHIAN
INVOKATION by Geoffrey James, which was still in
print in April.
one

(f) The Best of Cards Catalog

Division of US Games Systems
38 East 32nd St
NY, NY 10016
-sells every Tarot pack
in existence,
has
a
surprisingly extensive booklist
of occult
books.
Good source for
Eliphas Levi & tarot material & carries many of
the books issued
by the above publisher. Catalog is $2. Delivery is
the fastest I've
ever seen.
&

also

925

(g) Magickal Childe

35 West 19th St.
NY,NY 10011
-excellent listing;
carries
Gardner's
assorted
paraphanalia such as Abramelin oil. Carries many
more books than
listed in their catalog; reportedly
if you call
them they can get
ANY occult book, if it's available anywhere. No, I
don't have their
phone #.
books &

(h) Llewellyn Publications

P.O. Box 64383-873
St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
-not so good a source these days,but
carries reprints of
many of Israel Regardie's classics. Their catalog
resembles
the
National Enquirer;
caveat
emptor.
Interesting
to read
for
entertainment purposes, occasionally one will find a
good book there.
(i) Circle
P.O. Box 219
Mt. Horeb, WI 53572
-apagan organizationpublishinga newsletter&
sellssome books,
most notably Circle Guide to Pagan & Wiccan
Resources, for contacts.
(j) Dharma Publishing
2425 Hillside Ave
Berkeley CA 94704

-sellsbooks onBuddhism, posters of Tibetan

Thanka paintings;
much more hardcore Buddhist than Shambalah.
These opinions are my own, & where I
recall purchasingthese
books in the past. They may no longer be available.

926

{file "Talespinner's Neopagan Reading List" "bos205.htm"}

TALESPINNER'S NEOPAGAN READING

LIST

by J. Brad ("Talespinner")

Hicks
THE BEST FIVE:

(Read these five first,they are by themselves

thebest possible
introduction to Neopagan Witchcraft and practical
magic that I've
found anywhere.)
Starhawk, _The_Spiral_Dance_.
& Rowe, 1979).
Paperback, $10.95

(San Francisco: Harper

This isthe essential firstbook fora

newwitch, Neopaganor
otherwise.
In fact, many new covens have been
formed with no other
sources than this book.
Starhawk details the
myths, legends, and
magic of the Craft in a beautifully elegant, easyto-read way. Often
found in bookstores on the "Women's Studies" shelf,
Starhawk's vision
of the Craft emphasizes the Goddess as the source of
inspiration, with
secondary emphasis on the Horned God. Perhaps a bit
too Feminist, but
still the best introduction yet.
Margot Adler, _Drawing_Down_the_Moon_.
Beacon Press, 1979).
Paperback, $9.50

(Boston:

Althoughit isnow 7yearsout-of-date,

thisis stillthe best
history of the
been published yet.

modern, Neopagan

Craft that has

Includes many valuable interviews with some of the

gave
shape to the Craft as we know it. While the book
does include some
instruction in magic, its primary thrust is
philosophy and history.
Keep an eye out--there's an updated second edition
due out some time
in late 1986.
people who

B.C.:

Marion
Weinstein, _Positive_Magic_.
(Surrey,
Phoenix
Publishing, revised 1981). Paperback, $8.95

I see-saw betweenthis book andthe next

onefor 3rd and4th
place. Both are good, detailed texts on magic and
spell-casting.
At
the moment, I recommend _Positive Magic_ first
for the following
reasons:
1) it is more practical, teaching actual
techniques before
tackling theoretical justifications, and 2) the
language is a bit
easier to follow for non-scientists. The topics
covered include the
karmic effects of magic, astrology, divination with
tarot cards and
the I'Ching, and general spell-casting.
Its
strongest point is the
section on tarot, which is the best I've seen yet.
Its weakest point
(in my opinion) is that it under-emphasizes poetry
and ritual.
P.E.I. Bonewits, _Real_Magic_. (Berkeley: Creative
Arts Publishing,
revised 1979). Paperback, $8.95
Thisis theother"best" bookon magic.
Itcovers amuch wider
variety of topics, including ritual, psychic selfdefense, and many
other psychic phenomena. Isaac's approach is
scientific and rational,
not "religious," and his language is often more that
of a scholar than
a witch, but this is nevertheless an essential book
for any student of
magic. WARNING: Make sure that you get the second
edition (1979) or
later, as the 1971 edition includes much material
that is misleading,
extraneous, and sometimes just plain false--the
1979 edition was
heavily edited.

927

Llewellyn

Scott Cunningham, _Earth_Power_.

Publications,
1983).
Paperback, $6.95

(St. Paul:

Agood, reliablevolumeof
spellsandcharms, compiledfromthe
Family Traditions and other witchcraft sources.
The magic in this
book consists entirely of what scholars call "Low
Magic"--the magic of
village herballists, midwives, and healers--and as
such, it is very
practical, simple, and unpretentious. Missing is
much of the ceremony
of Neopagan Witchcraft; in its place, a huge
vocabulary of magic that
can be used easily and quickly, regardless of where
you are and what
you have for tools.
THE BEST OF THE REST:
(Onceyou have a good background, from the
previous five books,
you will find the following all make good
reference books, worth
having on your shelf.)
Stewart Farrar, _What_Witches_Do_.
Phoenix Publishing,
revised 1983). Paperback, $8.95

(Custer, WA:

Thisbook isso goodthat it ALMOSTmade

itinto thetop five,
displacing _Earth Magic_. When its first edition
came out in 1971, it
was the only book on modern Witchcraft that was
written for outsiders.
It is surprisingly well-written, and very thorough.
Its only serious
problem is that it is very specifically Alexandrian
Witchcraft (named
after Alex Sanders, its first High Priest), and some
of it doesn't
generalize well. Nevertheless, it has the bestwritten chapter on
initiation, among other things, that I've seen yet.
(York

Herman Slater (ed.),

Beach, ME:
Samuel Weiser, 1978).

_A_Book_of_Pagan_Rituals_.
Paperback, $8.95

This is thecomplete Bookof Shadows ofa

Neopagantradition
called The Pagan Way. It includes complete, very
well-written rituals

for all eight of the High Holidays (both solo and

group ritual), plus
a mixed bag of rituals for healing, trance
work, and so forth.
Requires some basic knowledge of the Craft and its
symbolism, so its
not for beginners, but it is definitely useful
to any worthwhile
fully-initiated witch.
Ellen Cannon Reed, _The_Witches'_Qabala_.
Llewellyn

Publications, 1985).

(St. Paul:

Paperback, $7.95

So far, only Book 1, "The Goddess and

the Tree" has been
published, but it's already the best book on the
Qabala that I've een
yet, and the only one I would recommend to a new
Neopagan Witch. The
Qabala and its commentary to date contain a lot of
sexist material,
reflecting their Judeao-Christian origins. Ellen
Reed strips all of
that away, but in a way that is truer to the
Qabala's origins and
meaning than was the offensive material.
Where
she changes the
traditional attributions,
she documents it,
and includes
the
traditional ones as well.
This book is almost a "must-read."

928
Jack Schwarz, _Voluntary_Controls_.
Dutton, 1978).
Paperback, $7.95

(New York: E.P.

Jack Schwarzis NOTa witch,but don't

letthat stopyou from
profiting from the single clearest, most practical
book on kundalinistyle meditation that has been published in the West.
If you are
having trouble meditating, or wish to do serious
trance work, turn to
this book first.
(Phoenix:

Camden Benares, _ZEN_Without_Zen_Masters_.

Falcon Press,
1977).
Paperback, $6.95

VERYhappy to beable to
recommend it
things, proof that

Outof printfor almost 7years, Iam

again.

This book is,

among other

there is more to the Discordian branch of

Neopaganism than just
practical jokes. It is also the best practical
book on Zen for the
western world that I have seen yet.
All of the
best zen koans,
including these, are also humorous (and therefore
memorable).
The
book also includes MANY valuable exercises. As
Robert Anton Wilson
(see below) says in the Commentary at the
beginning, "If you don't
laugh at all, you've missed the point.
If you
only laugh, you've
missed your chance for Illumination."
Robert Anton Wilson,
_Cosmic_Trigger:_The_Final_Secret_of_the_Illuminati_.
(New York: Pocket Books, 1977). Paperback, $3.95
Inthisautobiographical work,Wilson
detailshis initiation
into and experience with almost every form of
shamanic magick that is
still practiced today, and draws some very
surprising conclusions.
Strongest point: this is a fantastic synthesis of
magick, psychology,
and physics.
Weakest point: its central theme--that
all of the great
mystical societies and movements in history have
been in contact with
aliens from Sirius--is not taken seriously by Wilson
(no matter how
serious he seems in this book), and should not be
taken seriously by
the reader.

929

{file "Witchcraft (Annotated bibliography)" "bos206.htm"}

W I T C H C R A F T
the Magic of Ancient Celtic
Beliefs

in a Contemporary Society

===================================
The purpose
novice sortout the

of this listingis to helpthe

reliable from the sensational in the wealth

of
that
is
now
available on Witchcraft.
I have left
out old historical
treatises
(records of the Inquisition and such)
which are of little
value to the
modern student, and have
concentrated instead on
contemporary sources.
This also yeilds a much
more objective
perspective.
Michael Nichols
material

THE TEXTS:
'Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, GoddessWorshippers, and
Other Pagans in America Today' - 2nd ed. - by
Margot Adler.
Beacon
Press trade paperback.
You may have already heard Margot's
voice, as shewas once
hostess of
National Public Radio's news
program, 'All Things
Considered'. This book is the end result of five
years of research
and interviews.
(The 2nd edition is an update
published eight years
after the
original.)
This landmark study
focuses
on the rise
of the Neo-Pagan movement (which includes
Witchcraft, of course)
especially as it relates to the values and
beliefs
of
the
counterculture
of the mid-60's, hippies, flower
children, et. al.
It is the single most comprehensive
study of
modern American
Witchcraft in existence.
'What Witches Do: The ModernCoven Revealed' - 2nd
Stewart
Farrar. Phoenix trade paperback.
If Adler's book gives a comprehensive
overview of modern
American Witchcraft,
Farrar's
is a
complimentary
look
at
traditional
British Witchcraft.
Concentrating
on
the
Alexandrian
tradition
(which
is only
marginally different from
Gardnerian,
easily the largest Craft tradition
extant),
Farrar
lays stress on the actual working of Covens
and the integration
of novice Witches into them.
Also included is
much of the
Gardnerian (via Alexandrian) Book of Shadows. So
there is plenty
ed. -

by

here for someone who wants to begin practice.

'The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient
of the Great
Goddess' by Starhawk (pseud. for Miriam Simos).
Harper & Row trade
paperback. This book shifts back to America again,
this time with a
slight emphasis on feminist Witchcraft, arguably the
fastest growing
branch of the Craft. Starhawk
is herself High
Priestess of two
California Covens and her book is insightful,
genuine, and beautifully
poetic.
This
overview also contains specific
instructions for
Circles,
chants,
spells,
invocations, creating
rituals and, in
short, everything you need to get started.
And
it is a
delight to read.
Religion

930

'Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft' by

Buckland.
Llewellyn trade paperback.
British-born Ray Buckland can, with
some validity,
be
considered
Gerald Gardner's American successor.
Not only did he
introduce Gardnerian Witchcraft to the United
States, but he also
founded his
own tradition
of the
Craft,
called
Seax (Saxon)
Wicca, which has grown to worldwide practice.
His
early books, like
'Witchcraft from the Inside', did much to
dispel negative
stereotypes of Wicca in the 60's.
And 'The
Tree: Complete Book
of Saxon Witchcraft' remains one of the best
published Books of
Shadows to
date.
The present volume has a
practical orientation,
with chapters set up as 'lessons', covering every
imaginable aspect of
modern Wicca.
The book is Traditionalist in
approach, making a nice
counterpoint to works by Adler and Starhawk.
Raymond

OTHER SOURCES:
Farrar.

'A Witches' Bible, Compleat' by

Magickal

Janet & Stewart

Childe trade paperback tandum edition of 'Eight

for Witches'
and 'The Witches' Way', respectively, also called
'A Witches' Bible,
Vol 1 & 2'.
The first book is an examination of
thefestival Holidays
of
the Old Religion the Solstices and
Equinoxes and the
cross-quarter days
- together with the rich folk
customs associated
with them. The second book contains the longawaited remainder of
the previously unpublished portions
of
the
Gardnerian Book of
Shadows.
In
both of these books, the Farrars
had the invaluable
help of Doreen Valiente, who actually wrote parts of
the Gardnerian
liturgy.
The three Farrar books taken together
form the most
complete system of Witchcraft currently available.
Their
more
recent book
'The
Witches' Goddess'
focuses on
the
feminine
archetype,
and
contains a gazetteer of
Goddesses
that is
mind-boggling in its thoroughness.
Sabbats

'Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, & Politics' and

Dare:
Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery'
both by Starhawk.
Beacon Press trade paperback and Harper & Row
hardback, respectively.
If we have gained new religious
insights from Pagan and
feminist philosophy, how are we to incorporate
those insights into
our daily lives? Starhawk, the author of one of our
principal texts,
pulls
together a wide range
of materials to
answer this question
in two books as beautifully poetic as her first.
Some of these things
have waited a long time to be said and they
couldn't have been
said better!
'Truth

or

'The White
Goddess' by
Robert Graves.
Straus, &
Giroux trade paperback.
A rather weighty and yet poetic book,
tracing the female
deity of Witchcraft - Goddess of Birth, Love,
and Death; of the
New, Full, and Old Moon,
worshipped
under
countless
titles.
Fascinating
for
the
advanced student.
Know
your
Celtic
Farrar,

mythology (particularly Welsh) before you start,

(If you need
a quick intro to this book, check out the feature in
the Reviews SIG.)
though!

931
'Witchcraft Today' and 'The Meaning of
Witchcraft' byGerald B.
Gardner. Magickal Childe trade paperbacks.
GeraldGardner hasthe distinction ofbeing
thefirst practicing
Witch to write a book
about Witchcraft. He
was initiated into
one of the surviving traditional British Covens, and
onto the tattered
remnants of magic and ritual inherited
from
them, he grafted
elements of ceremonial magic.
The synthesis that
emerged came to be
called 'Gardnerian' Witchcraft,
and it became
the major cause
of the
Witchcraft
revival
of the twentieth
century.
Because
Gardner was the first to deal with this material in
written form, it
sometimes seems very disorganized, but its
historical importance is
immense 'An ABC of Witchcraft', 'Natural Magick', and
'Witchcraft for
Tomorrow' all by Doreen Valiente. Phoenix trade
paperbacks.
British Witch Doreen Valiente isperhaps
best known for her
work
with Gerald
Gardner
in creating the
Gardnerian canon of
liturgy. However, in her own books, she really
shines as an amateur
folklorist, managing to
convey a sense of
Witchcraft as a folk
religion, tied very much to the locality, the
land, and the oldest
strains of folk wisdom and nature.
Her sense
of
history and
tradition is rich and deep, and she often
presents fascinating
historical tidbits about the Craft. From no other
author can one gain
such a rich sense of heritage.
'A History of Witchcraft:
Sorcerers,
& Pagans' by
Jeffrey B. Russell. Thames and Hudson trade

Heretics,
paperback.

Cornellhistorian.

This bookrepresents theapproach of agifted

Although Russell doesn't always adequately cover

modern sources, he
has become famous for his ability to integrate a
sensible approach to
the evidence of
medieval Witchcraft with an
acceptance of modern
Neo-Pagan Witchcraft.
'Magical
Rites
from
the
Crystal Well'
Fitch.
Llewellyn trade paperback.
A book ofrites, simple celebrations of land
and water, wind
and
fire.
Rites
of passage, seasonal
celebrations, magical
workings, healings, and many more. Ed Fitch (one
of the founders of
Pagan Way) is truly in
his element here.
And
it is one of the
most beautiful books on the Craft ever published.
The art work alone
is worth the price of the book!
by

Ed

'A Book of Pagan Rituals' by Herman Slater. Weiser

trade paperback.
Originally published in two volumes
as
the
'Pagan Way
Rituals', this extremely beautiful book is just
what it says it is:
a book of rituals. Not authentic Wiccan rituals,
but very nearly so,
these rituals are often used
by Covens
in
the training of
neophytes.
Like a good Catholic missal, the words
are printed in
'sense lines' using BOLD PRINT (easier to read by
candlelight).
Anyone who
is at least part animist or naturelover is going to
cherish this beautiful book.
'Celtic Heritage' by
Alwyn
and Brinley
Thames
and
Hudson trade paperback.
A good deal ofmodern Witchcraftcan be
tracedto ancientCeltic
sources.
This book, based in comparative
religion, mythology, and
anthropology, gives one a clear picture of the
Celtic world-view.
Drawn mainly from Ireland and Wales, the study
focuses on the
interplay of
Light and
Darkness,
Day and
Night, Summer and
Winter, and all the seasonal myths and rituals that
make up the great
Celtic yearly cycle.
Rees.

932
OTHER USEFUL BOOKS:
'The Politics of Women's Spirituality: Essays
Rise of
Spiritualist Power
Within
the
Feminist
Movement' by Charlene
Spretnak. Doubleday trade paperback.
Ahuge (and, oneis tempted tosay,
thedefinitive) anthology of
feminist and Pagan theology. Many familiar authors
here: Starhawk,
Weinstein, Daly, et. al. Subjects range from Amazons
to the ethics of
magic. A real bargain!
on

the

'Sex in History' by Reay Tannahill. Stein & Day

trade paperback.
It has oftenbeen said that Witchcraft grew
outof an earlier
'fertility religion' and,
although
'fertility'
is probably the
wrong word here, it is undeniable that the history
of Witichcraft is
irrevocably bound
up
with the history
of
sexuality.
Like
Tantrists and many others in the East, Witches tend
to view sex
as
sacramental.
Since this is
quite contrary to
the prevailing
attitudes of our own culture, it may be helpful to
understand how
our culture acquired such negative ideas about
sex in the
first
place.
Ms. Tannahill's unique landmark study
will not only answer
this question but also indicate the many
options other cultures
throughout history have chosen.
'When God Was A Woman' by Merlin Stone.
Brace, &
Jovanovich trade paperback.
At
the foundations of the religion of
Witchcraft is the
religion of the Goddess.
Ms. Stone's book is
an archeological
tour-de-force of that religion, which is found at
the beginnings of
virtually every known culture (yes, even the JudeoChristian culture).
In this book, one learns about the
worship
of
Astarte,
Isis,
Ishtar, and many others. Also recommended is her
'Ancient
Mirrors of Womanhood'. Both are splendid books!
Harcourt,

'A Different Heaven and Earth' by

Sheila D.
Judson
Press trade paperback.
Byone ofthe leading feministtheologians of
ourday, this book
asks what are the psychological
and social
implications
of
worshipping a male deity exclusively, while
ignoring the feminine
principle in religion. This is one of the most
influencial books I've
read in the last ten years. It changed my way of
thinking (for the
better) and I dare say it will change yours.
Collins.

hardback.

'The Way of Wyrd' by Brian Bates.

Harper & Row

What Carlos Castaneda didfor Native

American tradition, this
author does for ancient Pagan Anglo-Saxon tradition.
Subtitled 'The
Book of a
Sorcerer's Apprentice' and based on
authentic manuscripts
found in the British Museum, it is the chronicle of
a young Christian
monk sent into the wilds beyond Mercia in 674 to
record the heresies
(beliefs) of the Pagans.
He is lucky to have
as his guide the
Anglo-Saxon shaman Wulf. Throughout this documentary
novel, the
Christian and Pagan beliefs are juxtaposed for
abetter understanding
of both. Not since 'The Mists of Avalon' has a book
accomplished this
task so neatly.

933
'Positive Magic' - revised edition - by
Weinstein.
Phoenix Publications trade paperback.
Although a book about how to use magic
to changeyour life
could be extremely tedious, this one is far from it.
While it is true
that Marion uses a simple and direct style of
writing, it is used on
such difficult and subtle questions as the ethics
of magic.
She
draws
upon
her own
experiences
to create
a
book
that is
truely positive.
If I had to recommend one book on
magic, this would
be it!
Marion

'Earth Power' by Scott Cunningham.

Llewellyn trade

paperback.

Scott is arguablythe strongest of the young

the
immensely popular 'Llewellyn's Practical Magick
Series'.
This is,
in fact, a book of spells.
Practical, downto-earth, useful,
everyday, garden-variety spells.
It is the only
such book in this
bibliography.
Although I do not recommend a
'cookbook' approach to
magic, this book will be extremely helpful when used
as a guide
for
creating your own spells.
Also, Scott concentrates
on 'natural' or
'folk' magic, as opposed to 'ritual' or 'ceremonial'
magic.
This is
the type
of
magic (involving Sun, Moon,
stars, trees, rocks,
springs, etc.) that is the natural heritage of
Witchcraft.
An
excellent
starting-place for
the novice
spell-wright.
His
many
other books,
especially
'The Magical
Household', are all
highly recommended.
writers in

'The Medium, the Mystic, and

the
Physicist'
'Alternate
Realities' by Lawrence LeShan. Ballantine
paperbacks.
Dr. LeShandoes not deal with magic
orWitchcraft per se, but
what he has to say about the nature
of the
cosmos is magical
indeed.
He is an experimental psychologist, an
Esalen veteran,
director
of ESP research, psychic healing, and
other
projects.
His
is
a
synthesis
of
philosophy,
parapsychology,
and
Einsteinian physics.
His other books, especially
'How To Meditate'
(Bantam paperback), are also of great value.
and

'Seth Speaks' and 'The Seth Material' by Jane

Bantam
paperbacks.
Yet another startlingly clear (albeit
less scientific)
look
at metaphysics. This is probably the cream
of the crop of all
modern mediumistic data: Seth is the communicant,
and the late Jane
Roberts is the medium.
The other 'Seth' books are
also of value.
Roberts.

'Psychic Exploration: A Challenge for Science'

by Edgar Mitchell,
edited by John White. Putnam trade paperback.

This anthology serves as an excellent

introduction to the
scientific field of
parapsychology.
Each chapter
is an extensive
review article on laboratory work carried
out in
one
particular
sub-genre
of the
field: telepathy,
clairvoyance, precognition,
psychokinesis,
OOBE's, apparitions & hauntings,
etc.
These
excellent articles will bring you up-to-date on
virtually
everything that
is
currently
known
about
the
topic
in
question.
Other chapters deal with the history of
the discipline,
social
& psychological implications, military
applications, etc.
This book could open the mind of the severest
skeptic.
But at the
same time, it could serve
as
a necessary
check
on
those
too-credulous souls who have a tendency to
'believe everything'.

934
BOOKS ON RELATED SUBJECTS:
ASTROLOGY: For the absolute beginner, 'Chart Your
Horoscope'
by Ursula Lewis.
Pinnacle paperback. The findat-a-glance tables
and charts are worth their weight in gold.
For
the more
advanced
students,
Michael
Meyer's
'A Handbook
for
the
Humanistic
Astrologer' is highly recommended for its
'humanistic' (a la Dane
Rudyar) approach. If you want to really learn to
do astrology, try
'The Only Way To Learn Astrology, Vol I-IV' by March
& McEvers. Books
by Linda Goodman, Grant Lewi, Ronald Davison, and
Liz Greene
are
also recommended.
Own

TAROT:
'Secrets of the Tarot' by Barbara
Walker is the best of
the newest books on Tarot. You may know Barbara as
the author of the
amazing 'Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and
Secrets'. Bill Butler's
'Dictionary of the Tarot' is a wonderful
reference book which
encompasses works by such authors as Case,
Crowley, Douglas, Gray,

Huson, Kaplan, Mathers, Papus, Waite, et. al.

ESP:
Any and all books by J. B. and Louisa
Gertrude
Schmeidler, Thelma Moss, Charles Tart, D. Scott
Rogo, J. G. Pratt,
Raynor Johnson and Lawrence LeShan would be highly
recommended.
Rhine,

PALMISTRY:
is clearly the
leader here.
just line
drawings!

Altman
not

'The Palmistry
The

book

Workbook' by N.

actually

has

hand-prints,

GHOSTS:
Firstly, I'd recommend 'An
of Phantoms'
and
'The Poltergeist Experience'
both by D.
Scott Rogo (Penguin
paperbacks), who is a kind of historian of psychical
research.
Also,
'The Poltergeist' by
William Roll,
director of
the Psychical
Research Foundation, and this country's leading
authority on ghosts.
And most importantly, 'Conjuring Up Phillip' by
Iris M. Owen, the
account of a group of Canadian researchers who
'created' a ghost!
This last title is now out of print, but if you can
find one in a used
book store, it's well worth it.
Experience

SURVIVAL:
'At the Hour of Death' by Karlis
Osis is exceptional.
Books by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross are adequate, but not
as good. And, if
you can find it, the
out-of-print
'Life Is
Forever' by Susy
Smith is perhaps the best introduction.
OUT-OF-THE-BODY EXPERIENCES:
'Journeys Out of the
'Far
Journeys' both by Robert A. Monroe. The narative of
a much-researched
psychic, he only
one of its kind. Also, 'Astral Projection' by
Oliver Fox, and any
early works
by Sylvan Muldoon and Hereward Carrington, if you
can find them.
Body'

and

MEDIUMSHIP: Firstly, the 'Seth' books by Jane

Roberts, listed above.
Any and all books by Eileen Garrett.
Plus, 'Here,
Mr. Splitfoot' by
Robert Sommerlot, 'Singer in the Shadows' by Irving
Litvag, and 'She
Spoke to the Dead' by Susy Smith.

CABALISM: Introductory works include 'The

His Training
and Work' and 'Magick: Its Ritual, Power, and
Purpose' both by W.
E. Butler.
Later, works by Dion Fortune and
Aleister Crowley
(definately not for the novice).
Magician:

935
BOOKS OF LORE & MYTHOLOGY:
'The Mists of Avalon' by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Ballantine trade
paperback.
This Arthurian fantasy novel,which reached
the N.Y. Times
best-seller list, is truly superlative. It is
narrated by Morgan le
Fay and so we finally understand that strange
antipathy that exists
between
her
and
Arthur.
The religious
and
philosophical
conflict between the Old Religion and the newer one
of Christianity is
beautifully portrayed. An excellent choice.
The Prydain Chronicles of Lloyd Alexander, a
on Dell
paperbacks: 'The Book
of Three',
'The Black
Cauldron', 'The
Castle of Llyr', 'Taran Wanderer', and 'The High
King'.
These award-winning children's
fantasies
are based
on
ancient
Welsh mythology. Alexander admits that
the two authors who
most influenced him were J. R. R. Tolkien and T. H.
White.
The books
are also the basis of the
recent animation
feature
from Disney
studios. I'm often asked about pagan books to
recommend for children.
These are them.
pentology

The Deryni Chronicles of Katherine Kurtz: 'Deryni

Rising', 'Deryni
Checkmate', 'High
Deryni',
'Camber
of Culdi',
'Saint Camber',
Camber the Heretic', 'The Bishop's Heir', 'The
King's Justice' and
'The Quest for Saint Camber', all Ballantine
paperbacks.
Set in the landscape of ancient Wales, the
Deryni are a race
with magical powers which must fight for its
life
against
a

medieval Church
knows what magic
is all about.

Militant.

Kahterine is someone who

'The Once and Future King' and 'The Book of

Merlyn' both by T.
H. White. Berkely paperbacks.
Sparkling books, and my own personal
favorites.
The final
crystalization of centuries of Arhturian romance.
The books on which
'Camelot' was based.
'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen', 'TheMoon of
Gomrath', 'Elidor', and
'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner. All Ballantine
paperbacks.
Garner isone of thebest Britishfantasy
authors, witha superb
sense of local 'color' and folklore. The first two
(related) titles
are in the heroic quest mold, the third is a story
about the four
'hallows'
of Arthurian legends, and the fourth is
an eerie modern
re-creation of the fourth branch of the 'Mabinogi'.
'A Wizard of Earhtsea', 'The Tombs of Atuan', and
Farthest
Shore' by Ursula K. LeGuin. A trilogy on Bantam
paperbacks.
This isthe chronicle of ayoung boy who isan
apprentice mage.
LeGuin, a leading science fiction and fantasy
author, has some
fascinating things to say about the light side and
dark side of magic,
and how they're related. And she says it very well,
indeed.
'The

'Lammas Night' by Katherine Kurtz.

paperback.

Ballantine

In this case, theauthor of the important

fantasies
turns
her attention to a historical setting:
England in World
War II.
There is a long-standing tradition that
Hitler's thwarted
plans for invading England owed a
certain
something to the many
Covens throughout Britain who combined their
efforts to stop him.
There is even a hint that the Royal
Family
itself was involved.
Ms. Kurtz's historical research is, of course,
impeccable.
Deryni

936

{file "Charge of The Horned God, The" "bos207.htm"}

The Charge of the God

Guardian of all
Gates of

Death,

Listen to

the words

things wild

of the Horned God, the

and free,

and Keeper

of the

whose Call all must answer:

heart...
Soul.
Knowledge
Quest
of light
Death.
we adore,

I am the fire within your

The yearning of your
I am the Hunter of
and the Seeker of the Holy
I - who stand in the darkness
am He whom you have called
I - the Consort and Mate of Her
call forth to thee.
Heed my call beloved

ones,
death and peace.
harvest
trees.
home.

come unto me and learn the secrets of

I am the corn at
and the fruit on the
I am He who leads you
Scourge and Flame,
Blade and Blood these are mine and gifts to

thee.
wild

Call unto me in the forest

and on hilltop bare
and seek me in the Darkness

Bright.
called;

search.

I - who have been

Pan,
Herne,
Osiris ,
and Hades,
speak to thee in thy
Come dance and sing;
come live and smile,
for behold:
this is my worship.

You are my children and I am

thy Father.
Mother's feet
again.
me,
wind,
your Soul.
humility,
strength.

On swift night wings

it is I who lay you at the
to be reborn and to return
Thou who thinks to seek
know that I am the untamed
the fury of storm and passion in
Seek me with pride and
but seek me best with love and
For this is my path,
and I love not the weak and

fearful.
nights
guarding Her Earth

937

Hear my call on long Winter

and we shall stand together
as She sleeps.