B is for Books

I have always found books to be magical. Well before I began my path as a pagan I was an avid reader, and found the escape and wonder that books can provide. Through books I could travel to magical lands, find answers to questions, and learn what kind of person I wanted to be.

So, when I was 16 and I began looking into wicca/witchcraft the first place I turned was books. I bought my very first books from the walden books in my local mall. The books were the witches almanac and True Magick by Amber K. The almanac went over my head in many ways. The correspondences meant nothing to me. True Magick, was a more interesting story. I read the book clear through multiple times, and truly related to many things about the religion she described, but she talked also about having to have specific tools, and only wearing natural fabrics, and not eating meat, and suddenly I wasn't at all sure about this new religion. Let me say clearly that True Magick is not a bad book, but it was not the book I needed as a seeker.
I never gave up on this new religion, but I became a dabbler for several years until I signed up for a class called Wicca 101 at a local metaphysical bookshop in my hometown. I remember that first day, feeling like an impostor, and being so nervous that everyone would be able to tell how green I was. But instead I found a group of great people, and a teacher named Heather, who explained everything, and made the religion more real, and the things more unnecessary. Over the course of the class, which was once a week for a month, she walked us through making holy water, finding a magical name, basic spell work, and it all culminated with a beltane ritual that included a may pole dance. It was amazing. I knew I had found my place.

Heather had book suggestions, and for a brand new witch she advised To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver RavenWolf. This book, and it's two accompanying books, To Stir A Magick Cauldron and To Light a Sacred Flame, would become my lifeline for years. They would also lead me to find Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and many other famous authors.

Having been a practicing witch now for 13 years (wow, that's a shocking number to me) I now have a list of favorite books and authors for different subjects and studies. Here is a list of some of my favorites. If you have something to add or have any thoughts, please comment on the post and let me know. Otherwise here is the list.

Animal Magic and Totems: Animal Speak by Ted Andrews
Herbs: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
           Garden Witch's Herbal by Ellen Dugan
Stones: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
Books for Beginners: see above, plus
            Witch by Fiona Horne
            The Witch's Guide to Life by Kala Trobe
Spells: Everyday Magic: Spells and Rituals for Modern Living by Dorothy Morrison
Sabbats: Season's of Witchery by Ellen Dugan
              Lewellyn Holiday Series by various authors

I could keep going on and on and on, but I am going to cut myself off here. I will also add that I love pretty much anything written by Ellen Dugan and Scott Cunningham, but there are also many other amazing authors out there. I find the best thing to do is go to your library or local bookstore and get reading to find the authors who speak to you the most.

Blessings
AlphaBetsy

Mabon~By RippledWater

The cycle of the year has turned once again and is drawing to a close. Mabon is the last sabbat on the wheel before Samhain, which has long represented the new year to many of the ancient agricultural societies. Mabon is a sabbat all about balance, reflection, change, and giving thanks. It's a time for honoring the Earth for all of its sacrifices and for providing us with the harvest that will lead us through the winter, ensuring our survival. This is also a sabbat of balance both celestial and within ourselves. Light and Dark equally enjoy each others company during this special moment of the year. Once this moment passes, light gives way to the dark and the days grow shorter and colder. On this sabbat we should see the balance within ourselves as well. We are not just physical beings, nor are we just spiritual. We should strive to be a combination of both and to make sure neither plane overtakes the other within our lives. It's a hard battle we fight everyday. To balance time with friends, family, members of our spiritual community, and to balance time with our crafting, work, other hobbies or necessities, and everything else life throws our way along with balancing who we are as a person is a near impossible task. But on the equinox, the universe is showing us that it is possible, even for one day a year, for anyone to be able to strike this balance. Mabon is also about change. It brings about the season of crisp, cool air and leaves turning colors. And we begin to look within ourselves and reflect upon what we have sown within our own souls, what has taken root within us. This is the time for letting go and for making these changes we want and need so bad. The leaves on the trees are shaken off and taken away on the winds. This leaves the trees burden free and allows them a clean slate to start over with in the spring. There can be no room for new growth in the future if we do not let go of what has already served its purpose and is no longer needed.

Mabon is a favorite time of year for me. It's not yet freezing and it's no longer scorching hot. I like to sit outside somewhere and just listen to and watch the changes around me. The leaves are turning colors, the flowers are dying away, and the birds are busier than ever preparing for their winter flights. There is something liberating about an Autumn wind. It's kind of like the Earth is sighing, almost to say "Ah, made it through another year." I think its safe to say that we all have problems in life. And we get so consumed by them that we let the negativity just take hold of us. I know that I definitely feel that way. So, when I sit outside, during anytime of year really, I just let the wind blow through me and take with it everything negative that I've been hoarding or that has latched onto me. And as it takes away the leaves and rustles them around I imagine it taking away my troubles. Mabon is pretty special for me this year. I consider it an anniversary. This Mabon will serve as one year that I have been out and active in my local pagan community. So it signified a huge change for me last year. I went from not knowing any other pagans and feeling completely alone, to getting to know some amazing people and even being able to call them friends. And I've begun to balance my Pagan life and my non-Pagan life into one nice little life together. This Mabon, like last year, I will be attending a Pagan Pride/Mabon/Harvest Moon festival (don't you love how we celebrate everything on the same day around here? lol). There's workshops, an open ritual, and no event around here is ever finished without a drum circle. It's going to be an amazing day and will lead me to have a perfect ending to this year. On the home front, I have already started to work on a few changes in my life as of this week. As Mabon rolls around I'm sure I will have much more I want to work on and let go of. My personal ritual at home will most certainly consist of purging (which in my case always involves lighting something on fire!) and reflecting on the past year. So much has happened since last Mabon and I have so much to look back on and be thankful for!