Practical Magic

[Ancestral]

For those new to witchcraft, I would recommend reading the following:

" Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life " by Shakti Gawain;
" Art & Practice of Creative Visualization " by Ophiel;
" Art and Practice of Astral Projection " by Ophiel;
" 13 Moons: A Journal of a Natural Witch " by Fiona Walker-Craven;
" Liber Noctis: The Handbook of the Sorcerous Arte " by Gary St M. Nottingham; and
" Treading the Mill: Practical CraftWorking in Modern Traditional Witchcraft " by Nigel G. Pearson.

You can read my complete list of recommendations for beginners at my blog.

Of course there are just as many ways to practice magic as there are strands of paganism. So, what are your recommendations for beginners to your style of magic: ceremonial, Wicca, Seidr, Galdr or something completely different?

[Lavender]

Check my bookshelf as well. Although I admit it is not up to date.

[Ancestral]

Have you a tag for beginners on your bookshelf, Cyndi, so that newcomers can easily find your recommendations?

[Lavender]

I'm not that versed at this bookshelf thing yet. Sorry.

[Ancestral]

For anyone interested in trance, but doesn't know where to start, I would recommend this month's book, " Trance-portation: Learning to Navigate the Inner World by Diana L. Paxson. Ideally, a beginner would join a group under an experienced teacher, but this book does allow for solo work to begin if a group is not available locally.

[Jessica]

I am looking for a book about working with the Gods and Goddesses of a variety of pantheons. If possible, with some mythology and ideas of how to evoke and interact with them. Any suggestion? Thanks! :D

[Faith]

Jessica wrote: "I am looking for a book about working with the Gods and Goddesses of a variety of pantheons. If possible, with some mythology and ideas of how to evoke and interact with them. Any suggestion? Than..."

My book Sacred Cycles: Ancient Doorways to Inner Space talks about a variety of expressions of the Goddess and the God from different cultures, and gives meditations to work with both for each pagan holy day.

Not sure it's exactly what you need, but if you check it out on Amazon.com, the intro and table of contents should tell you if it'd be helpful for what you have in mind.

Also, a few of the chapters are on my web site www.vivian-hadleigh.com, and an informal recording of one of the meditations which you can download.

[Faith]

EXCELLENT advice!!! Interesting surprises isn't the half of it.

[Faith]

Those involving a deity usually being the most memorable. My most exciting "learning experience" was with the Yoruba trickster god, whose name I've repressed (at his suggestion ... It was something along the lines of "never darken my door again, you idiot female").

[Jessica]

Thanks everyone for your responses! Is there anyone with a personal story about how they first started working with deities they would like to share? I am just beginning this type of work and any tips/stories on how you started out would be very helpful! I am also interested in interactions with angels and faeries, so any advice or books on those topics would be appreciated.

[Julie]

I would just take the time to recommend a book for everyone who's interested in creative visualisation, yoga, exercises for the mind & spirit etc.

It's called Full Contact Magick, written by Kerr Cuhulain. I read it about a year ago, but personally I didn't find the book appealing. However I still think it's a good book, and I think it may suit a lot of you.

Anyone who's read it before who has any opinions on the book? :)

[Little]

Full Contact Magick: A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior :):)

[Sara]

Little wrote: "Full Contact Magick: A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior :):)"

Fascinating. I'm well familiar with "warrior shamanism" (think Carlos Castaneda) however warrior wiccans is a new one. Wish I could look at this one without having to buy it, however, somehow I don't think it's on the shelves at my local library. :-)

[Julie]

Sara wrote: "Little wrote: "Full Contact Magick: A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior :):)"

Fascinating. I'm well familiar w..."

I found the book in a downloadable version here http://www.pdfbook.co.ke/details.php?... (as a .pdf file), however you need to sign up/login to download it, not sure if it costs money or not. Worth a try! :)

Note: I have this book myself and it's about 250 pages long, whilst the downloadable version only contains about 160. I may have a newer edition, not sure. Just wanted to inform you about this. :)

[Sara]

Jule, thanks for this link. I will definitely check it out, as I am curious.

[Julie]

Sara wrote: "Jule, thanks for this link. I will definitely check it out, as I am curious."

You are very welcome!
And oh, please tell me if the website is good or not, if you choose to use it. I'm curious for other books there, but not sure wether I want to sign up. :)

[Jae]

If you go on the Amazon page here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Full-Contact-...

and click on the book image for the Look Inside function, you can check out the content of the book.

[Julie]

Julie wrote: "If you go on the Amazon page here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Full-Contact-...

and click on the book im..."

Oh, that's great! Thanks for sharing the link. :)

[Nell]

Added it - thanks Jaq.

[Jae]

One of my shamanic friends was talking about Jan Vries just the other day.

[Little]

Jaq wrote: "Just an alternative recommendation on the subject matter:
Visual Magick: A Manual of Freestyle Shamanism

This one is primarily about using visualisation, but it's an excellent book from a well-est..."

Ditto. Ta Jaq.

[Aaron, Moderator]

Jaq wrote: "Some unsolicited advice: Make sure you know them well before working with them."

Yes, some of them can be stroppy.

[Javed]

nice advice and feeling good to read the discussion, here is a gift for all of you.
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People | Pdf Books Free Download
http://pdfbooksinfo.blogspot.com/2014...

[Aaron, Moderator]

Would you say it's practical magic Javed? Perhaps it might be better suited to the Free Books thread? Thank you by the way.

[Michaela]

I find so many neat tips and tricks for practical magic all over tumblr.

[Lesley-anne]

Nigel (Pearson) will be pleased by your recommendation. Have you read his companion book, 'Walking the Tides'?

[Rachel]

Faith,
I went to Amazon to get your book Sacred Cycles and it says that the book isno longer available. Is there another site I could buy it from orf do you offer it free for reviews

[D]

Little wrote: "
Visual Magick: A Manual of Freestyle Shamanism

This one is primarily about using visualisation, but it's an excellent book fro..."

This is an excellent book! The thread is old so I don't know who will see this post, but this would be on my own recommendations.

I also recommend Chaos Witch, on Amazon B0B6CVQ8G2, which hasn't been added to the GR database yet.