Unpublished Wishlist?

[Ancestral]

What kind of pagan book would you like to see published? Is there any topic that you have not seen (yet) that you would like to see?

Something relating to a particular path? A biography of a particular personality? What would you particularly like to read, but have yet to find?

[Madge]

I'm sure that such a book exists, but I haven't seen one yet. I would really like to find a book that is strictly devoted to Gods and Goddesses that many people seem to fear (typically Crones, and Gods dealing with things like war, destruction and chaos). Something with personal accounts from people who have worked with said deities personally, their experiences, how they view that deity, etc. I've been tempted to write such a book later in life. My Matron Goddess is Hekate at the moment (she's been with me for a while now, though), and I constantly hear other Pagans talking about how she can not be a Matron Goddess, because she should only be called upon in times of extreme need. I did not seek out Hekate, nor did I begin to forcefully and disrespectfully work with her. I actually tried to avoid Crones at first, because I, like many others new to the path, was a bit afraid of her. She came to me in a vision while I was working on achieving an altered state of consciousness. Shortly after, I kept seeing signs that it was indeed her.

Essentially, I would like to see a book that not only goes into detail about deities, but also gives personal accounts (not just one) of time spent working with that deity. I would also like to see it debunk some misunderstandings about deities (like chaos deities are bad), because there are at least two sides to everything and everyone and every deity. All is capable of light and dark, good and bad, chaos and order, etc., and I would like to see that pointed out, as more than just one line or two in a book. Sorry this was so long! I tend to ramble and rant some on this type of discussion (especially when I'm tired).

[Ancestral]

Interesting Madison. I must say I certainly have not seen a book like that anywhere, but I, too, would be interested to read it.

[Ben]

There are books about Hecate in particular that provide historical info as well as personal accounts from modern devotees. One recent book is "Hekate: Her Sacred Fires" edited by Sorita d'Este published by Avalonia. It's an excellent book.

[Ben]

Here's a link to the Hekate book: http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/221/?page_...

[Michael]

My "wish-book" dovetails somewhat with Madison's. While there are a number of books on the crones or other feared Goddesses, I would like to see a book dealing specifically with aspecting (invoking for the sake of communing)with these god/dessforms. (sorry about the grammar and run on sentence structure, they always seem to be hallmarks of my posts. :)

[Ben]

Here are two good books on aspecting/ritual possession particularly in the context of modern practitioners:

"Summoning Forth Wiccan Gods and Goddesses" by Maeve Rhea (available at http://www.amazon.com/Summoning-Forth... )

"Drawing Down the Spirits" by Kenaz Filan and Raven Kaldera (available at http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Down-Sp... )

[Kendra]

I'd like to see more on male deities. I've got an interesting and big book on 1,000s of Goddesses (well-known and not-so-well-known) around the world, and enjoy it, but there's not really anything similar with the Gods. More books that work with the male aspects.

We've almost shifted to far to the Goddess side of things to make up for the patriarchal hurts done to Pagans, and it's still unbalanced.

[Ancestral]

Didn't the Farrars do a book on gods, " The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance ", or is it just that you like see as much emphasis on gods in general, Kendra?

I must admit to only knowing of four books specifically written for neo-pagan men.

[Ruby]

It's quite surprising I know, but D. J. Conway (usually not a fave of mine) did write an excellent book on the God called Lord Of Light & Shadow: The Many Faces of the God. A lot of research went into making it very comprehensive. There's a book on the God I haven't read - Nicholas Mann's His Story: Masculinity in the Post-Patriarchal World. Not sure exactly what's in it, but it sounds interesting. :)

For specific faces of the God, there are books on some of them, if not others. John Matthews has written more than one book on Taliesin and one on Robin Hood as the Green Man. For more on the Green Man archaeologically there is Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth, for a very thick, dense book on a complicated face there is Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, & Art. It is sort of sociological more than anything. One of my favorites (favorite book & favorite face) is Merlin: Priest of Nature, which is absolutely amazing. The French author is a real academic but also coming from a Pagan perspective. Galina Krasskova has written books on both Odin and Loki, with help from others working within Northern Tradition Shamanism. I'm sure there are others but these are most of the ones I've got, sort of tailored to my tastes, I'm sure!