by Mary Beougher

Created on: August 25, 2010

For someone wanting to learn more about the subject of paganism and what it means to be pagan, it can be daunting to go into a bookstore, head for the New Age section and pick out the best book for your needs. The topics are varied and books range from simplistic overviews perfect for a beginner to complex descriptions that can make even the most experienced suffer from information overload. How do you know what is the best book for you? This top ten list should give you a good idea of how to start on your new journey.

If you’re looking for basics to get started with, Pagan Ways by Gwydion O’Hara and A Witch Alone by Marian Green are two good books for a novice. Pagan Ways covers a lot of information in a very simple and concise format that is easy for someone with absolutely no knowledge of the subject to understand. It explains everything from the elements to the sabbats, and even has a basic ritual and discusses paganism as a way of life. A Witch Alone is a little more extensive and uses the calendar of thirteen moons to essentially take you through a solitary training period of all aspects of paganism and witchcraft. This book takes a hands on approach perfect for a beginner and is tailored to someone discovering paganism on their own.

For something a little more advanced, Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galenorn, In the Shadow of the Shaman by Amber Wolfe, and Natural Magick by Sally Dubats will give you more extensive practices on the path of paganism. Embracing the Moon is more Wiccan, although not as hard core as some other books. It is a gentle easing into Wicca with information that might suggest this is the path for you to follow. She gives you some good spells and basic recipes that will aid you on your way. Amber Wolfe wrote In the Shadow of the Shaman after finding herself unexpectedly forging a path into shamanism. This book is about how she managed to combine the discipline of shamanism with the discipline of Wicca in such a way that worked for her life. Along with some basic information on shamanism, it also shows that you can combine seemingly different branches of paganism into something that works for your own personal beliefs. Natural Magick is perfect for someone wanting to further explore the path of a solitary or “kitchen” witch. It has an extensive herbal and explains simple but effective methods of practicing magic, from casting runes to constructing poppets.

Reference books are always good to purchase, because

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