Good books about magick?

Youngspells, but others may not not understand that there many things in those books that are twists of truth to create more dramatic experiences and not practical or even possible in the physical world (perhaps astral). J.R.R. Tolkein and Marion Zimmer Bradley also have made fantastic works of fiction that combine real concepts of myth and magick with fantasy but they are entertaining and thought provoking to those already past the beginner level of understanding magick, not good for those who can't see where the line of fact and fiction lies.

"It's about the elements with a twist of fiction in them. A fun way of learning about the elements. You can't say its bad before if you haven't read it.
Yes I know some of the things they do is not true and impossible. "

With all due respect, you are are not only arguing that a book of lies is a good place to find truths, but you're arguing this against people who have been studying magick longer than you've been alive. Have you considered that we perhaps have a very good reason for our convictions?

Getting ideas about magick from a fictional source has been an absolute plague upon the magical community, and it's why we're up to our ears in werewolves, vampires, mermaids, and Avatar-styled element-benders often working with elements that aren't even real (ie ice, darkness, etc.)

I also challenge you to explain how you expect an absolute newbie to read the fiction you suggested and identify which parts are true. If they've never read about the elements from a reputable source, how in the world could they be expected to recognize which "information" on elements is real and which are just fantasy elements to make the book entertaining.

And finally, wouldn't it just be more efficient to read a book on magick? Why read a 200 page fantasy novel to get 5 pages of knowledge when you could, you know, just as easily get 200 pages of knowledge from an informational magick book? It may be more entertaining, but there are plenty of more informative books that are written in an entertaining matter and, to be completely blunt, if a person can't handle some book reading then they're probably not going to have a good time in the remarkably literary study of magick.

Hi there, I’ve been practicing Wicca for a good many years now and one of the first questions that comes up is the one about where to start. My suggestion is always to start by doing some reading and studying to make certain that you understand what Wicca is really all about, and so that you can then decide whether this is truly the path that you want to follow. So with that in mind I thought I would offer some books and websites that are full of sound I information which can help you get started on your path.

To start with, here are some books that I would suggest.

"A Witch Alone" by Marian Green
"The Elements of Ritual" by Deborah Lipp
"Witchcrafting" by Phyllis Curott
"21st Century Wicca" by Jennifer Hunter
"Before You Cast a Spell" by Carl McColman
"When, Why...If" by Robin Wood
"Practical Pagan" by Dana Eilers
"Wicca; A Year and a Day" by Timothy Roderick

You can also find the recommended reading list that my coven uses at: http://www.tangledmoon.org/reading_list.htm

Here's some websites that you may find useful in helping you with questions.

http://www.witchessabbats.com/

http://wcc.on.ca/faq/faq1.html

http://www.widdershins.org/vol10iss3/04.htm

http://wicca.timerift.net/

http://www.witchvox.com

http://www.branwenscauldron.org/index.php/topic,5398.0.html

http://www.branwenscauldron.org/index.php/topic,5355.0.html

http://www.tangledmoon.org/wiccan-exercise.htm

http://www.tangledmoon.org (this is my own coven site.)

Hope this helps you get a good start on your studies. And feel free to ask me, or the others here on the board if you have any specific questions we can help you with.

black arts by richard cavendish

Another book to avoid. Cavendish appears to have looked some things up and then used them while having absolutely no idea what any of it actually meant.

The prime example of this is that he takes Crowley's account of having "turned Alan Bennett into a camel" at face value and uses this as an example while blathering on about physical transformations between human and animal shapes.

... which would be fine if Crowley hadn't just been using a layered magical metaphor for having had sex with Bennett.

Camel is the meaning of the Hebrew letter Gimel, which is attributed to the Priestess card in the Tarot, which alludes to the Scarlet Woman, which is the receiving partner in magickal sex. "I turned Alan Bennett into a camel" really just means, "I was in Alan's behind for the sake of magick."

And this is the proof Cavendish uses for his schpiel on how impossible transformations are clearly possible. Avoid unless you're looking for a laugh.

I would suggest you to visit the online shop there are some good books there

Raymond Buckland's Wicca for Life [my first book] or Scott Cunningham [he has 2 books about wicca, but a lot on herbs, incense, and spells] are good. avoid Ravenwolf at least for the year and a day ceremony. while i don't hate her, she should be avoided when starting out as i know many bad things coming from people who source her as their teacher. Also, don't read D.J. Conway, she's the same as Ravenwolf.

I am beginning to feel totally wary and weary. My access to books are limited to the esoteric sections in our local bookshops and the internet. Either the choice is too small, or too big. My first book about Magic was Wiccan Beliefs and Practices by Gary Cantrell. Through all the posts I haven't even seen the name; I just wonder how much fluff I've picked up along my solitary magic path and how much facts.

i think skulldugery is cool

Keep in mind that Wicca is not the only religion (let alone, spirituality) that practices energy working (what we call Magick, what others may call something else). Look into several things and start basing your own spirituality and style of practice.