Comments | ljbookofshadows: What would YOUR Wiccan Holy Book be?

papermoonriver in ljbookofshadows

What would YOUR Wiccan Holy Book be?

Jan 17, 2009 15:29

For those of you who don't know me, I don't identify as a Wiccan or even purely as a pagan. But I DO bring many pagan aspects to my spirituality. I plan to major in comparative religion when I finish massage therapy school in a coupla months, and have a real heart for understanding and honoring all faiths. It's just how I roll.

So on my mantle I ( Read more... )

spirituality, book of shadows

Comments 13

animamea January 18 2009, 03:09:21 UTC

I think that it is generally accepted that the (personal/coven's/tradition's) Book of Shadows is the holy book for witch/Wiccan types. There are so many different ways to practice witchcraft that there is no *one* book that you can put on your mantle.

papermoonriver January 18 2009, 04:31:31 UTC

That's what I figured. :-/ Any ideas for something similar? Is there an elder priest/ess who has written something you admire or has influenced you tremendously?

animamea January 18 2009, 07:47:22 UTC

I like Gerald Gardner's books (the non-fiction, plz). They were some of the first books written out of the broom closet. I also like Doreen Valiente and T. Thorne Coyle and Starhawk.

alu_chan January 18 2009, 05:05:29 UTC

A book of great importance to me personally would be the Egyptian Book of the Dead. But that's because I follow that pantheon, and besides the coffin and pyramid texts, that's all I really can tangibly own of the writings of Egypt. It's where all the stories and gods are described, so they're important to me. As far as something like the bible, I don't really have one. I read a lot of pagan books, and some I may like more than others, but on the whole, I'm very much still working on my book of shadows.

I hope that was the answer you were looking for. haha. I'm not too sure.

nightshade_oak January 18 2009, 10:51:24 UTC

If you're looking for "holy text" rather than explanatory books like Gardner's, you're not really going to find anything of use, as Wicca is an experiential religion. You learn it, and of the gods, through experiencing the rituals rather through reading the myths or being taught it verbally.

There are the texts that helped inspire Gardner... "The White Goddess", "Aradia, Gospel of the Witches" and "The Golden Bough" and so on which are available on sites like Sacred Texts. I think these are probably as close as you're going to get to a "sacred text" related to Wicca.

If all else fails there's the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess, one of my personal favourite myths. It's not very long but it's particularly lovely and the only myth associated specifically with Wicca.

That's Wicca. Now me personally, I read the Eddas, the Elder ones particularly.

alu_chan January 18 2009, 18:02:00 UTC

Was this a reply to my comment? Or to the OP? Me personally, I'm not really actively seeking out any kind of "Holy Text". I'm just reading what I get my hands on and learning. The texts I've listed are important to me, just like I would assume stories about Greek deities would be important to someone who follows that pantheon (though I don't know, maybe not).

But sacred texts is a really great site. I'm so glad I heard about it. It's such a valuable resource.

nightshade_oak January 19 2009, 05:50:27 UTC

Yeah, it was a reply to the OP ;) Sorry. Clicking the "reply" at the bottom is a habit I've picked up from forums.

Thread 6

secret_gyoza January 18 2009, 17:36:10 UTC

i have various books of mythology but i guess a couple of book that have served as sources of inspiration are "the circle within" by dianne sylvan, "pagan every day" by barbara ardinger, "cakes and ale for the pagan soul" compiled by patricia telesco, and my mother peace tarot books ( ... )

papermoonriver January 18 2009, 20:39:47 UTC

Thanks so much for your input! I'll certainly check those out. And I also experience a great deal of my faith through tarot. I've never really been drawn to the mother peace deck, but it's been recommended to me by several people so I'm sure it will eventually be part of my collection.

I'm not comfortable with that idea either, and IMO (and experience), most people who believe that their own scripture was directly written by a diety are misled or uneducated.

secret_gyoza January 18 2009, 22:32:49 UTC

not a problem. i've found myself very drawn to the motherpeace deck but i understand that many people are not. if you don't have a connection with something than it won't have the same worth to you as it will to someone else.

even supposedly educated people can be ignorant when it comes to their faith.

lordalfredhenry January 28 2009, 07:53:33 UTC

I have almost the exact same collection. I also have the Egyptian Book of the Dead but do not have the Tibetan one. I have a few more esoteric books...The Golden Dawn, 777, etc. I read much on twilightgrotto and sacredtexts online too. I hope I can procure the burned copies someday. I have a few Mormon books as well like Teachings of the Prophet and some of the offshoot items. (The Second Portion)