What are your favorite or most useful books on witchcraft, occultism, or spirituality in general? Poetry and myth count, too.

  • Tin@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    The Tao Te Ching. Honestly I really adore The Tao of Pooh as well, and I habitually buy copies for people.

    • d0c@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      +1 for Tao of Pooh and Te of Piglet. I’m reading it right now and already know I’ll be buying it for some friends.

    • SteleTrovilo@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      I came here to say Tao Te Ching as well. It’s an easy read, and short, but it showed me a very different outlook on life than what I’d encountered up to that point.

    • distractedcactus@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      I have the 1997 translation / version by Ursula Le Guin and it’s fantastic. It’s a more poetic translation and has some great commentary by Le Guin.

  • StringTheory@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    “It’s Easier Than You Think” by Sylvia Boorstein

    “Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?” by Ajahn Brahm

    I learn well from stories, and both of these books teach basic Buddhist philosophy through very short stories.

  • distractedcactus@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    On witchcraft I recommend:

    • Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler
    • Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland
    • Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practicioner by Scott Cunningham

    I read these years ago, though I enjoyed the first two more than the third.

    Some other books of a spiritual nature that I have re-read (which I suppose is the best recommendation of any book) are Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton.

    For myth I have to recommmend The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. I feel it’s kind of essential reading to more deeply understand why specific types of stories (spiritual or otherwise) resonate with people. Also, there is a lecture series available for free on Youtube if you prefer to watch or listen, or can’t find a copy of the book.

  • The Doctor@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago
    • Peter Carroll - Liber Null and Psychonaut
    • R.A. Wilson - Prometheus Rising
    • Aleister Crowley - Magick Without Tears
    • Nicholas Graham - The Four Powers
    • Don Webb - Uncle Setnakt’s Essential Guide to the Left Hand Path
    • T. Thorn Coyle - Kissing the Limitless
    • Israel Regardie - Middle Pillar
    • Grant Morrison - The Invisibles
    • Patrick Dunn - Postmodern Magic
    • Anton LeVay - The Satanic Bible