The book that opened your mind?

April - posted on 08/19/2011

Crazy as it sounds...The DaVinci Code. It all just made sense to me and it moved from there. I was raised Catholic but I don't have any sort of feeling left for it. Seems like a lifetime ago,

Sarah - posted on 06/02/2011

I had read a couple books in my teenage years because I wanted to do spells and be all magical, but I took it nowhere and learned nothing. However I borrowed the Witches 10 Commandments a few months ago and realized how wrong I was when I was younger. The Witches 10 Commandments is the book that opened my eyes and pointed me in the right direction for me to start my path.

Janice - posted on 05/27/2011

Well I was in high school when I got a literal glimpse of a book titled, "Wicca". There might have been more to it, but that was all I saw. Don't even know the author. Later in life, I picked up Raymond Buckland's "Big Blue" and after that it was a 3 in 1 combo of Cunningham's, books. Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner, Living Wicca and his Herb Grimoire. I was hooked after reading the 3-in-1.

Etheena - posted on 05/04/2011

@ Kristen, now I don't feel so bad. I too got the boot from Sunday school. The book that got my started on my path was actually a fiction novel by L.J Smith, The Secret Circle. After I finished the first book in the series, I went to the computer and typed in the word Wicca. All of sudden I was home.

√v^√v^√♥ - posted on 04/16/2011

It wasn't a book for me, but one persistant Online friend that when I curse texted 'God' he simply said 'What god?' and we began discussing, researching and talking about it. Yep, two words started it for me at age 16.

Jamie - posted on 11/15/2010

started studiying the craft when I was 12, first book i ever bought was "teen witch" by Silver Ravenwolf, after that was "To light a Sacred Flame" also by ravenwolf, and at this point ive lost track of my overflowing collection lol

Angela - posted on 10/01/2010

I was raised in the church and have a great appreciation for the church but it was never for me. Even as a child I always worshiped in my own way on my own away from church cause I never felt spiritually connected while at church. I didn't get my first book until I was 16 but like many others on here my first book was Scott Cunningham's guide for the solitary practitioner. It is one of many in a large collection on my shelf and one I still pull out regularly.

Jeanine - posted on 09/10/2010

All the above. Don't remember which I read first.

Nateira - posted on 08/25/2010

Teen Witch was a lifesaver for me, I was able to read it with my parents so they could have a better understanding of what I was interested in. Spiral Dance was extremely helpful and enlightening too.

Lisa - posted on 08/07/2010

After my father traced our bloodline, my first book was Celtic Druidry

Kimberly - posted on 06/14/2010

I'd had misgivings since I was 5 about the prospects of Christianity (I was raised Methodist/Baptist) as being "the only path." When I was about 14, I ordered Teen Witch by Ravenwolf for a friend and glanced through it. Soon there after I got my own copy since I had found an explanation about all those "odd" feelings I'd had over the years. I soon got Broomstick and Angels by RW as well as Bucklands Guide to Herbs and the Fairy Fold Encyclopedia. Since then I've been a practicing Solitary ecclectic Pagan and my husband is a mash up of Shamanism and Druidism, heavy on the Druid.

Holly - posted on 06/12/2010

this isn't so much about paganism as it is about spirituality in general. "a new earth: awakening to your life's purpose" by ekhart tolle definitely helped me to be more open minded, positive and just "aware." GREAT READ! i suggest it to ANYONE.

Jessie - posted on 03/18/2010

My first book was Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft a.k.a.The Big Blue Book :)...that's the one peaked my intrest but the one that helped me most was Buckland's Wicca for Life

Jacqueline - posted on 02/01/2010

sooo many good books one of the best books i have read so far is a short one called you are a spiritual being having a human experience...that book just opened my mind a lot to a lot of different possibilities. and i have to thank the bible for convincing me that i was not a christian, its a great book but not for me.

Jen - posted on 01/22/2010

I second Phyllis Curott's "Book Of Shadows" as well as her second book, "Witch Crafting" - both have fabulous introductory info about what it is to be wiccan and its presented in a "this is what I do - YMMV" attitude.

Sharlee - posted on 01/20/2010

It wasn't a book, but my mother.
But the book that really showed me the path was The 21 Lessons of Merlin, as inaccurate as it is about Druids. But then, there's not really much accurate about Druids, as they did not write down their teachings. Also the Rites of Odin, as our family is a Druidic/Asatru blend.

Erica - posted on 11/19/2009

it's not the 1st book i read, but the witch in every woman by laurie calbot is really good. has alot of good advice in it.

Kristy-Lee - posted on 10/13/2009

The book that helped wake me up.... "The Celestine Prophecy" My spiritual journey started with that book....

Rebecca - posted on 10/12/2009

Glory, that is so great that you have the support of your base! I never found much support (and in some cases, outright bigotry) when I was in the military, though I haven't tried since being here in Japan. Actually, I'm headed to Hawaii on a vacation in January, any chance we could meet? Message me either way!

Rebecca - posted on 10/11/2009

Great post! For me, my first exposure to Wicca specifically (like Jae, I started that way but now define myself more as Pagan) was the internet, of all places! I was about 15 and my older sister mentioned the word Wiccan; I asked a friend at school (a guy) if he knew what that was, and the next day he came at me with about 200 pages printed off from a bunch of different sites. After that I was hooked. The first book, which will always have a special place in my heart, was Buckland's"big blue book that doesn't fit well on a shelf", The Complete Book of Witchcraft. Also Cunningham's Solitary Practitioner, and yes, Silver RavenWolf's To Ride a Silver Broomstick and To Stir a Magick Cauldron.

Krissie - posted on 10/04/2009

One of my personal favorite books is by Linda Goodman called " Star Signs", can't get enough of it, I don't know if there was any one book that really helped me find my path, it was more just a feeling that brought me to where i am today...

Kristen - posted on 09/24/2009

I started vacation bible school at a southern baptist church when I was 7 and they had us read the bible... I found inconsistencies... when I asked about them the preacher just had me booted from the class. From there I read a lot of text books about Native Americans, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece and seeing the pattern of their religion began to figure out my own. As for a general book "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman is probably the best fiction book I have ever read and feel that everyone should at least read it once :)

Carole - posted on 08/24/2009

my first book was witchcraft for tomorrow by doreen valiente,before reading it i didn't know much at all i had some money given for my birthday walked into a bookshop picked it up and payed and couldn't put the book down,after that there was no stopping me i read all the books i could lay my hands on and decided it was def the right path for me talk about destiny!

Jae - posted on 07/07/2009

Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A guide for the Solitary Practitioner gave me a bit more of a reference as to my beliefs but I always knew I didnt fit in with my devout christian family (who have been very supportive) I was born a natural empath and I am also sensitive to spirits. I just didnt see any growth in christianity but when I discovered paganism (I actually started wiccan but realize soon I was more pagan than wiccan) I felt more free in my beliefs.

Laura - posted on 07/05/2009

When I was around 12 I picked up Silver Ravenwolf's Teen Witch and that was the start of my path. I love Cunningham and have started the Witch School books which I am finding really helpful as well.

Mandey - posted on 06/10/2009

for me it was two books... Celtic magick and Exploring the pagan path.

Tanya - posted on 06/06/2009

About 13 years ago a friend gave me a copy of Starhawk's The Spiral Dance and that's what opened my eyes to the posibilities.

Krista - posted on 05/12/2009

Cunningham, Cunningham,Cunningham,!! And Silver Ravenwolf, who's fictional books are a great read too. I also love Raven Grimassi, he really explains why rituals work. But how energy works, the Celestine Prophesy, as a fictional book, really changed how I view our interactions with each other, which molded my spirituality and my connection to all things.

- posted on 04/19/2009

Scott Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner was my first book too, but my favorite is still: To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver RavenWolf, she also has a teen book my daughter likes.

Wendy - posted on 04/19/2009

urmm i never had access to a book until i was 14. I opened my own minnd at the age of 9 LOL. One of my fav bboks is called the techniques of high magic. The first book i came across was one i found in th local library which had everything i had been doing in it already lol. I also found the key of solomon, which i think is a fantastic read.

Rayna - posted on 02/09/2009

The first book I was given on magic was an Aleister Crowley Book. Scared the crap out of me! It took me awhile to pick up any thing else on wicca or anything of the like. But then I found Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A guide for the Solitary Practitioner. It' still my favorite go to book 15 years later. I love all his books . Magickal Herbalism is another one I still use a lot. I liked that he had a very balanced take on it all. I consider myself a feminist but some authors are all about the women and feminine deities. I have four boys. I love men, so I need that balance of the yin and yang in my magical work. But when I'm in need of some purely feminine soul work I look to Starhawk. she's another author that I have a lot of book from. I'm reading The fifth Sacred Thing for the second time and loving it every bit as much as the first. Happy Reading Sisters!

Jamie - posted on 02/04/2009

It was a combination of 3 books for me. Z Budapest's Holy Book of Women's Mysteries, Laurie Cabot Love Magic and Mysteries of the Dark moon by Demetra George. Cabot inspired me from about age 14 but I didnt get my hands on book until I was about 21. My seeking was decidedly Dianic at the beginning ... a lot of women might have started that way LOL But those 3 books are still ones that I refer back to when I need to recharge.

Glory - posted on 02/04/2009

I love Phyllis Curott's Book Of Shadows. Cunningham's Solitary Practitioner was my first book, but Book of Shadows really got me thinking and walking my path. I now run an open Circle in Hawaii sponsored by the Army Chaplains office at Schofield. I love it because I am always learning because to teach you have to learn. ~BB