Best mythology & folklore encyclopedias according to redditors
We found 86 Reddit comments discussing the best mythology & folklore encyclopedias. We ranked the 32 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 86 Reddit comments discussing the best mythology & folklore encyclopedias. We ranked the 32 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
It is an immensely narrow field of study. Everything I've posted so far comes out of my studies into mythopoetics in college. In essence, it is the study of the historical development of human consciousness through myth and what few written works remain. Ultimately, it's the study of the plasticity of human consciousness and how language and cultural conception develops your reality for you.
I'll link more books which touch on this subject!
Mircea Eliade - The Sacred and the Profane
Julian Jaynes - The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (Some of the science he employs has been brought into question, but his stuff on language and historical analysis of myth is super interesting and on point)
Hi, not Wiccan, but eclectic druid, which is also a subset of Paganism. There are loads of online communities to check out! Firstly, I'd say browse the r/wicca, r/pagan, and r/druidism (shameless plug lol) subreddits, as they're filled with loads of info and opinions. Be warned on r/pagan, since there are LOADS of different types of pagans, you'll get some wildly different opinions. There's plenty of other subreddits (r/witchcraft, for example), but those were the ones I started with.
I also love the Pagan channel on Patheos, which if you haven't browsed before, is a really interesting conglomeration of religious blogs. While I don't use it very often, WitchVox is also referenced as a really good online hub for finding local groups.
For books, this one is a fucking fantastic introduction to Paganism as a whole. It was my first real read on the topic. For Wicca in particular, Scott Cunningham is typically the one people point to for learning how to practice solitary. I also found Wicca for Beginners to be a super quick but useful intro. If you want a more general history of witchy goddess nature-worshipy religions, I am currently reading Drawing Down the Moon and love it.
Finally, if you have any Unitarian churches in your area, reach out-- they frequently have pagan or earth-centered study groups you can always visit!
Like I said before, I'm way more druidy, so if you want suggestions for learning about that (or just want to talk pagan-y things to admittedly a baby pagan), lemme know! :)
The Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology is a great resource for descriptions of the basic features of numerous mythologies. Amazon has a bunch of editions of it from very low prices. Here's one of them:
https://www.amazon.com/Larousse-Encyclopedia-Mythology-Felix-Guirand/dp/0517004046/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480319480&sr=1-1&keywords=larousse+encyclopedia+of+mythology
It covers Egyptian, Assyro-Babylonian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Celtic, Teutonic (including Norse), Slavonic, Finno-Ugric, Persian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, North and South American, Oceanic, and African.
There's a lot of stuff there. The myths of the Finns have wizards instead of gods. In Chinese Mythology heaven is populated by a vast bureaucracy with regulatory responsibility for everything in the universe. Indian mythology has a vast number of gods and demons, all of whom are ultimately manifestations of a single universal god. Persian mythology has a good god and a bad god; they are equally matched and locked in mortal combat to decide the fate of the universe. Roman is heavily influenced by Greek, but isn't the same. For one thing, the Romans had minor gods of families, households, and other features of everyday life that were not versions of anything from Greek mythology. For another thing, some of the Roman gods were very different from their Greek parallels. The most obvious example is Mars, who is supposed to be courageous, noble, and virtuous, versus Ares, who is supposed to be pretty much the opposite of all those things.
There's just lots of good stuff you can find in there.
It doesn't have everything. It doesn't have Wirikuta from Huichol mythology or Kokopelli from the Hopi. It doesn't cover the loa of Voodoo or the hybrid Yoruba/Roman Catholic mythology of Santeria. But it's a good place to start.
You knew what it meant. ;) Descriptive grammar is a bitch, ain't it?
For one, I can make sure that your reputation among this subreddit's user base is trash. But you're already doing a fine job of that. For another, I can ride every comment you make in this thread until you get positively sick of dealing with me. Neither of us seems to want that.
Let me tell you why you're a fucking moron in the terms that the academics use though, since you want so badly to be schooled. What you posit is that orthodoxy is problematic, and then you make a huge leap of logic by applying orthodoxy to all religion. However, all religion is not orthodoxic, only the dominant religions of western culture. So right off the bat, half the globe doesn't prescribe to your naive take on religion.
Let me familiarize you with orthopraxy, since your Dunning Kruger is showing. The difference between orthodoxy and orthopraxy is that orthodoxy describes a religion as "having proper belief", while orthopraxy describes a religion as "having proper practice". Furthermore, there is the additional component of whether any faith is dogmatic or non-dogmatic. There are orthodoxic and orthopraxic religions that are dogmatic, but many more orthopraxic religions are non-dogmatic.
So what does that look like? A good example of a dogmatic, orthodoxic religion is Christianity (and really any Abrahamic faith). Even Confucianism is arguably some degree of orthodoxic, however the teachings of Confucius have much more to do with how one lives, so it would fall under orthopraxy. You can be a great Buddhist without ever believing in Buddha, as well. There are Hindu sects that don't dogmatically believe in the gods, but they do place emphasis on "right practice".
Most, if not all, pagan faiths (allowing for marginal ones with which I haven't yet become acquainted; there are hundreds if not thousands of ancient world cultures and attempts to reconstruct their faiths start every day it seems) have no doctrine, and what's more, many of them de-emphasize the divine or even don't believe in them at all. What is common among most, if not all pagan faiths is do ut des, or "I give so that you may give". For some this is a direct exchange with the gods - myself, for example. For others this is a means of connecting with a higher consciousness. This forms the basis of ritual, offering, and sacrifice. Before you foolishly squall "herp derp nobody sacrifices in the modern day", yes they fucking do, it is legal to kill livestock in many parts of the world, even the US, and furthermore sacrifice has expanded to encompass giving up anything of value, not just life.
>You can't hold all pagan beliefs simultaneously, so please if you really had that much research on the topic it would show.
In point of fucking fact, yes I can. I don't personally - I primarily practice Norse heathenry. This is another piece of evidence of your perception of world religions through a Christian lens, that to worship divinities outside of one's religion is blasphemy. Very few pagan religions have any concept of blasphemy. Roman and Greek civic cultus focused primarily on "what was good for society", which is why the Jewish diaspora was possible, while Rome had a big problem with Christianity. Because, and only because, Christians were a threat to the civic cultus of the society in ways that Judaism was not.
This concept, the admittance of syncretism and the worship of many - even all - pantheons, is called "pluralism", and it is almost universal to paganism. There is no doctrine (see that word again?) or dogma (oh and that one) that demands or demanded historically that pagans only worship one pantheon. In fact, to think that pantheons existed discreetly from nation to nation in the first place is reductive and downright foolish, especially among tribal cultures. There is documented evidence that the Suebi in Germany for example worshipped Isis. Possibly interpretatio romana, but this is one of many examples. Another would be the similarities between Frigg and Freyja, between Ingvi and Freyr, and the many syncretisms between Greek and Roman gods. No one would have any reason to object to a person making cult offerings to another god, so long as that other god didn't demand exclusivity (like the Christian god).
So shut the fuck up.
Edit:
Reference Materials:
Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games.
So on fun fact to note is from here on out you are in charge of developing your relationships with the Gods / Your higher power / Whatever. There’s no dogma. Even if you decide to go with a group or tradition or go it alone there’s no hie holy book or judgmental spirit that will damn you or tarnish you. There’s only the path you choose, and every direction holds lessons to learn if you’re open to it. Specific traditions do have rules you must adhere to to be a member, but you’ll also find there’s a lot of creativity. You don’t need to buy any expensive ritual gear or altar stuff, keep weird herbs or bedazzle yourself in pentacles and Birkenstocks (that’s still a thing right?)
So what to do now?
First thing, you read books. You’ll find plenty of reading lists (like in the side bar). When deciding on a book, check the index and look at the sources and probably the amazon reviews too. There seems to be a switch that flips in half of 5 year pagans where they decide to write a book about Wicca/magic and some actually succeed. Some have poor scholarship and others are just bad. Like I said there aren’t ‘rules’, but folks like to fudge historical facts. Paganism in general often involves learning mythology & the stories of the Gods, and lots of folks like to romanticize the history of Wicca, so you want books that have good scholarship. A book I still recommend to beginners to read first is Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America. It was last updated in 06 but still is useful in learning about the modern pagan movement and many of its flavors. It’ll start you off.
Learn the basics of the different types of meditation. Most rituals have a time where visualization is used, and group rituals often use [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_meditation](guided meditation) as a technique. You decide how much or how little you do it in your own practice, but it’s a thing pretty much every tradition has in one from or another. It’s good to be aware of anyway.
Go for walks in nature, at least once a week if you can. Paganism and Wicca are nature based so, go outside.
I personally suggest you dig outside of pagan books for reading material also. I know, a lot of reading right? Wicca some say is called the craft of the wise, and since we drive our own spiritual busses we have to be proactive in knowing stuff. To point you in a direction there I’d suggest you start with Joseph Campbell, especially his ‘hero of a thousand faces and power of myth series. If you dig you can find full lectures of his on YouTube https://youtu.be/bny-U3XlqxY
Last pagan groups. Well there are all kinds and they’re everywhere. http://www.witchvox.com is still a place to poke around outside of Facebook. Lots of pagans are kinda off the grid a little so sometimes they can be hard to find. If there’s a local pagan or new age shop, pay them a visit. The clerk may seem standoffish, don’t take that personally. Lots of wackadoodles visit those places and become a huge annoyance or time suck for them. Usually just mentally ill folk that are pretty much harmless. All religions attract crazy people, but Wicca/pagans attract crazy fringe people that support each other in their delusions. It’s not anything to worry about,, just many shop folk have learned to be a midge guarded. Most are cool, and if you ask how to find resources and groups in your area they will point you in the right direction. Just don’t expect them to be gurus.
Note on that. Remember you are ultimately your own teacher, and never to accept the word of anyone blindly, even if it sounds good. No writer, teacher, coven leader, or grand poobah has ‘the way’. Anyone who says they do, ignore them. I personally have never ran into any cults in the last 20 years of being in the pagan community, but there are shysters that will take advantage of the naive. The Isaac Bonewits cult o meter (also a pagan author) is a handy tool for groups. In all things though follow your gut. Someone or a situation feels creepy, trust that. If someone asks you to do something, like give you money or pushes you to be naked in rituals when you aren’t comfortable with that, know you don’t have to and you have the right to say no. I have not ever ran into that personally but it has to people I know. Pagan culture likes to challenge people to be themselves and will tap at comfort zones because in challenging ourselves we grow, but pagans are also HUGE on consent. Trust your instincts. You have them for a reason.
I don’t mean to squick you with warnings, most folks are cool. The neopagan movement is a vast group with a mishmash of different subcultures, and Wicca is a mishmash of different traditions within paganism. Nobody is in charge, so sometimes you find assholes, as you would in any group. Only with paganism you get dicks who claim they’re a powerful shaman taught by some sorcerer Native American chief who is also the reincarnated soul of Alister Crowley n they have a coven that uses ritual circle jerks to increase their psychic powers to to battle on the ethereal plane where they fight demons and shit. Also for them to be your high priest/ess you need to give them 10 bucks. I’m mostly joking, but yeah ther are some weirdos out there.
Anyway. Lots to chew on. Enjoy the rabbit hole! Most folks are pretty awesome really. You’ll never find a group more accepting. Good luck.
Check out Drawing Down the Moon for a good primer on the history of modern witchcraft. Here's the description
>Almost thirty years since its original publication, Drawing Down the Moon continues to be the only detailed history of the burgeoning but still widely misunderstood Neo- Pagan subculture. Margot Adler attended ritual gatherings and interviewed a diverse, colorful gallery of people across the United States, people who find inspiration in ancient deities, nature, myth, even science fiction. In this new edition featuring an updated resource guide of newsletters, journals, books, groups, and festivals, Margot Adler takes a fascinating and honest look at the religious experiences, beliefs, and lifestyles of modern America's Pagan groups.
Titus Burckhardt - Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul
Jung - Psychology and Alchemy
Jung - Alchemical Studies
Samael Aun Weor - The Perfect Matrimony: The Door to Enter into Initiation, Tantra and Sexual Alchemy Unveiled (don't take this guy too seriously because he's a bit of a nutter, but he is certainly worth a read)
Though it's not a book, also check out this album of images, particularly this image and this one
As for all the symbols, I highly recommend getting a dictionary of symbols and reading it straight through, from A to Z. My favorites are The Herder Dictionary of Symbols and The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols.
You have a tiny fraction of the bases covered, but you're better off than many people. Some people only read Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide and call it a day.
You really ought to learn of the history of religious witchcraft in the 20th century, the many layers of symbolism and tradition in Gardnerian and Alexandrian witchcraft of the 50s and 60s, then the spread and change of the newly arrived Pagan and witchcraft scene of the 70s and 80s in America, which leads to Dianic Wicca, Eclectic Wicca, and finally the form presented in Scott Cunningham's books and most, if not all books published in the past ten years (and continuously) by Llewellyn.
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler: https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Down-Moon-Witches-Goddess-Worshippers/dp/0143038192/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469827845&sr=8-1&keywords=drawing+down+the+moon
Then eventually learn of the history not of the religious traditions of witchcraft which have caught on by many, but the figure of the witch as a religious follower (as opposed to an evil baby-killer, a Halloween decoration, or something dreamed up in the minds of the Catholic church with no foundation in actual religion).
Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by Charles Leland: https://www.amazon.com/Aradia-Gospel-Witches-Charles-Godfrey/dp/0982432356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828055&sr=8-1&keywords=aradia
Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath by Carlo Ginzburg: https://www.amazon.com/Ecstasies-Deciphering-Witches-Carlo-Ginzburg/dp/0226296938/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828085&sr=8-4&keywords=carlo+ginzburg
The Witch Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Murray: https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Cult-Western-Europe/dp/1515244024/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828141&sr=8-2&keywords=witch+cult+western+europe
and then, in a timeline-fashion,
Witchcraft Today by Gerald Gardner: https://www.amazon.com/Witchcraft-Today-Gerald-Gardner/dp/0806525932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828213&sr=8-1&keywords=witchcraft+today
Then learn how religious witchcraft, as presented by Gerald Gardner and his covens, was and is practiced, the meaning behind the practices, and why the meanings matter.
A Witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Bible-Complete-Handbook/dp/0919345921/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828310&sr=8-1&keywords=witches+bible
Also inserted in this section might easily be Buckland's Book of Witchcraft, but I don't personally recommend that book as it does stray from Gardnerian tradition in many respects, sometimes changing whole chunks of traditional texts to a more Pagan or celtic format, and conveniently brushes over the use and symbolism of an important tool, the scourge, in witchcraft. But there are many good pieces of knowledge in that book.
Its also important to read up on influential figures in the Craft movement, and their thoughts, opinions, and reasonings behind their beliefs.
Firechild by Maxine Sanders: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Child-Magic-Maxine-Sanders/dp/1869928784/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828518&sr=8-1&keywords=maxine+sanders
King of the Witches by June Johns: https://www.amazon.com/King-Witches-World-Alex-Sanders/dp/B000NT7OYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469828547&sr=8-1&keywords=king+witches+june
And there's so much more, probably more books than anyone could ever read and find all of.
And one of the best sources of knowledge of the Craft is an experienced High Priest(ess) within a coven that knows their stuff. Much of witchcraft's knowledge comes from its mysteries, which must be experienced to understand.
Good luck on your journey.
> the ancient ritual of slaying Tiamat wasn't simply a dummy show, a pantomime of what happened in ancient times, it was actually a recreation of what happened. Since the world was made from Tiamat's corpse, if they didn't re-kill the dragon the world might end!
May I recommend M. Eliade's The Sacred and the Prophane (originally published 1957), not the latest and greatest but a good read none the less.
My parents were very a-religious. My Mother took us to church approximately twice in our lives, and besides celebrating the normal holidays (Christmas, even Easter to an extent), religious sentiment never entered our lives: no prayer, no bible, no discussion about God whatsoever, etc.
I don't believe my Father has ever darkened the door of a church, and is even more a-religious. If you asked him, now, he'd say that Christianity is necessary to the fabric of being American, but that's more to do with his sense of patriotism and the history of rule-by-law than by any sense of an omnipotent being in control of his destiny. That is, he'd say that the value of Christianity is a cultural force and not a spiritual one.
I'd feel comfortable telling either of them that I'm atheist, although honestly it's a non-issue so it just hasn't come up.
FWIW, one of the features of this upbringing is that I majored in Religious Studies in college. I wanted to learn more about what it was all about, why people espoused this particular set of beliefs, what the foundation of their psychology was based on. Since I had very little informal exposure to it.
What I can say is that, for a significant part of humanity, they need to feel that there is "A Plan", or the effort and suffering that they go through with just isn't worthwhile. And someone that can still manage to get up everyday, who has actively resisted a sense of having A Plan, is very disturbing to their psyche. It's as alien to their way of thinking as an ascetic.
Some of the best (but dense) reading on this is Mircea Eliade's The Sacred and the Profane.
the tl;dr is that an ungrounded existence is terrifying for a large part of humanity, so they have established religious constructs and rituals, and imbued them with meaning, to give them a sense of grounding. To them, someone that can live ungrounded may as well be able to defy gravity at will.
This is a textbook example of weaponizing identity. Thiel literally wrote a book entitled "The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and Political Intolerance on Campus", take a wild guess as to which types of 'diversity Thiel and his coathor rail against. He's also getting richer building and expanding on the surveillance state we find ourselves in. None of this even touches his political views ..
Read the book Science of Monsters for more of that.
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Monsters-Origins-Creatures-Love/dp/145166799X
Usually, for every magickal endeavor you want to make incense for, there is a household correspondence that you can use to make it. We wouldn't be Witches if we weren't crafty, right?
Some texts that will help you find correspondences (If you can't buy them yourself, you can always browse them at a bookstore and take notes. Places like Barnes and Nobles carries these kinds of books. They are worth buying secretly and sneaking home, imho.) :
and while you're at it, for extra sneakyness:
There are other books out there about herbalism, but Cunningham's books are simple and effective primers to get you started down the road towards Herbalism. Just remember, there is WAY more advanced stuff out there, and if you care to learn it, you can.
For more immediate help regarding making incense, A video about Herbalism from Cunningham: [Herb Magick] (http://youtu.be/Mn6B2m1pLoE). The video may not have an extensive correspondence list, but it'll get you down the road.
PLEASE DON'T POISON YOURSELF.
> I picked up my first book on religion from the school library. It's called "Gods and Rituals: Readings in Religious Beliefs and Practices." It is a collection of passages written by different authors on religions, mainly ancient religions. How should I go about my possible conversion to Wicca, assuming I keep the door open?
Is that the Middleton book? I think if you're interested in modern paganism that "Drawing Down The Moon" by Margot Adler would be of more use to you. It addresses the diversity among Neopagan religions and will give you a better handle on Wicca and other modern paganism.
There is also a reading list on the sidebar regarding Wiccan-related practices. I'd suggest also picking up "The Witches God" and "The Witches Goddess," both by Stewart and Janet Farrar. They're a good introduction to understanding deity from a Wiccan perspective. Their "A Witches Bible" also has useful information overall and is an example of coven-based practices.
If after reading Adler you find another form of paganism or witchcraft interests you, there are other subreddits to check out: r/witchcraft, r/realwitchcraft, r/pagan, and r/paganism. There are also subreddits that are for specific forms of paganism, like r/HellenicPolytheism.
>kitchen witch
Kitchen witch is specifically a term for those who practice magic that is quick and simple. More like "folk magick" -- so called because a lot of the ingredients for this magic are found in the kitchen. For example, a kitchen with might boil someone's picture in salt in order to purify them of any bad influences. Or put a representation of someone in the freezer in order to cool them off and stop them from doing harm.
>What resources do you use for herbal knowledge?
It really depends on how much you already know. If you are an absolute beginner I recommend Cunningham's two books on the subject. The first is a reference book on Herbs and their magical properties called Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. The second is his Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews. The first one really talks abotu the herbs themselves, but the second one gives you different ways to use the herbs by making oils or essences out of them.
> I live in an apartment and would like to grow my own herbs, no balcony. Where do I start?
I would google search for something called "urban gardening" it's a really big movement of people who discuss just this. I don't know a lot about it personally but I'm sure you will find others here who do.
Hope this helps :-)
Agreed--just fin(n)ish already. But if you want theory: Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane. Classic, good read, Amazon comments & reviews can give you a sense of what's there.
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Profane-Nature-Religion/dp/015679201X/ref=la_B000AP85TS_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395197838&sr=1-1
Yes, here is a link to the book "The Mythical Creatures Bible" on Amazon. Our daughter really enjoys it and there are certainly a bunch of creatures in there I'd never heard of.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Mythical-Creatures-Bible-Definitive/dp/1402765363
It's a bit old but The Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology is really great and has a number of cool illustrations with pictures too.
https://www.amazon.com/Larousse-Encyclopedia-Mythology-Felix-Guirand/dp/0517004046/ref=pd_cp_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0517004046&pd_rd_r=JMJV466AVEZ6CFTXEF6N&pd_rd_w=PGUXw&pd_rd_wg=6gXak&psc=1&refRID=JMJV466AVEZ6CFTXEF6N
I would skip Lewis, honestly. He's popular among certain Potestant trends of thought, but the Anglicans consider him something of an embarrassment, and he himself readily admits that he's no theologian. If you really want a pop-theology argument, I'd go to Chesterson's Orthodoxy instead, but even that's pretty low tier apologetic.
If you want serious theology and apologetic, Lewis has plenty of contemporaries that are worth reading. I'd suggest the following:
Even the longest of those three is still less than 300 pages, so they shouldn't be too daunting in terms of bulk, but they're all three packed with some very serious and challenging thought, so they should give you plenty to chew on. My only caution is that all three of them veer in their latter thirds towards a bias for specifically Christian theism, and particularly Protestant varieties. It's a bit of a disappointing given how they all three start out admirably ecumenical.
All of those are specifically books written by theologians with the intent of making the 20th century comfortable with religion again, but while I'm at it I thought I'd throw out a few books that don't quite fall into the group:
Good luck.
[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Idea-Holy-R-Otto/dp/0195002105/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253024930&sr=8-1
[2]: http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Milieu-Pierre-Teilhard-Chardin/dp/1903900581/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253025127&sr=1-3
[3]: http://www.amazon.com/Dynamics-Faith-Perennial-Classic-Tillich/dp/0060937130/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253025305&sr=1-3
[4]: http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Profane-Nature-Religion/dp/015679201X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253025876&sr=1-1
[5]: http://www.amazon.com/Reason-Faith-Revolution-Reflections-Lectures/dp/0300151799/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253025995&sr=1-1
Also, Scott Cunningham's The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews is a great resource for figuring out what oils will work best for you and ideas on how to use them. :)
> Is this really offensive? If it is, please explain it to me. It's not enough to tell me it is, I've got to know why.
For some it will be, for others not so much.
If you asked me if you could approach paganism, but dropping the "supernatural" stuff from it, I'd say "Hell yeah!" because I do just that. I don't really have much use for divination or crystals or anything like that, so I just don't use them in my practice. I can see why some would use it and I understand how some use them practically, but I just don't feel the need for it.
For me, Paganism is really about the Natural world. The Earth is my Mother (My goddess, if you might like to say so), and the Sun is my Father (My god, if you will). I know a lot of other pagans do this do, but not all. Some pagans use pantheons for deity, but deity is not a necessity in paganism.
I still like ritual, though I don't do much pagan ritual in my personal practice, because the symbols used in it represent natural forces and things going on in the world. A "supernatural non-believer" could find use and spiritual meaning in ritual (as well as gods and crystals and magic), because to me (and surely others out there) they're just symbols, but symbols have a lot of personal power. They can help you change your mindset, help you understand things better.
Some will find calling things "supernatural" offensive, because some pagans do believe "supernatural" things exist, and don't view them as "supernatural." This is perfectly okay, to me, it's just not my way of approaching things.
TL;DR It will vary from person to person, and can be a sensitive topic for some. Not for all, though.
As for books without too much of a supernatural inclination about Paganism, I'd try out Ronald Hutton. His Triumph of the Moon is more about the history and roots of paganism, but he's very detailed and descriptive, as well as academic.
Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon is of the same vein as Triumph of the Moon. Both are pretty heavy and tome-like, but are filled with invaluable information.
If you're looking into Wicca theology, I found Bryan Lankford's Wicca Demystified to be a great in depth explanation, especially for an "outsider." A lot of the "beginners" books on Wicca you'll find are heavy on ritual and magic, and seeing how you don't have much fondness for it, I think Lankford's book might be better suited for you.
And I haven't read it, but Dana Eiler's Practical Pagan might be of interest to you. It seems to have the less "magicy-supernatural" and more of a mundane, practical approach to paganism. Not sure about it, though. You might find some good info in the amazon's review section of the book.
I feel like there's another book or two that I've read that taps into what you're looking for, but I just can't think of it. There are some cool anthologies full of essays of paganism in the real world, which I find are invaluable for their information, and not so heavy on the "supernatural side," like Pagan Visions for a Sustainable Future and Celebrating the Pagan Soul.
PS
>I'm use to kinda being primed to attack fundamentalism in Christianity and I've got little good to say about Islam at all.
I wouldn't be so dismissive of Christianity and Islam in general. Interfaith can be a very important. You don't have to agree with what they believe, but personally I know a few Muslims who are very kind and generous, and if they give credit to their religion for their kindness and generosity, I wouldn't say there's nothing good to say about Islam. But that's neither here nor there.
My personal favorite is Cotterell's Illustrated Encyclopedia, which is extremely well-organized and thorough. Michael Jordan's Encyclopedia is also an excellent place to start, as it covers some historical information absent from Cotterell's work. J. A. Coleman's Dictionary is massive and covers several thousand figures, but his work is not always accurate, often times collected from outdated sources. A combination of Cotterell and Jordan should cover all your reference needs.
Go here to read critiques of his work by people who are real professionals that aren't using reference material that is decades old.
Edit:
As a further note, open mindedness means being open to ideas that have sufficient evidence to support them. If you think belief in evolution is a close minded approach then that says you don't understand the evidence supporting it. Study that evidence, not this crap book.
How much information are you looking for on it?
I did a quick Google search and pulled up a list.
Volume 20 is "Spring to Theosophy".
Here's the particular volume on Amazon
This was actually for a class on creation myths. Initially, I was going to focus solely on the Timaeus, but I decided to broaden my scope to cover the ways Plato broke with Hesiodic and Homeric tradition.
edit: This was our text book for the class. It's a good read. Sproul writes a great introduction, and provides good analysis and background for each myth.
Bonewits on Witchcraft and Wicca is probably an excellent start. It gives a detailed rundown on the history of Wicca, has a chapter on classifying different traditions, and is a great way to go for researching the different options out there. Adler's Drawing Down the Moon is also an excellent starting place. Either of those books will go a long way to familiarizing you with Wicca and helping you figure out where you want to go from there.
Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon (http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Down-Moon-Witches-Goddess-Worshippers/dp/0143038192) is an amazing look at Paganism and it's many iterations.
Richard Cavendish - The Black Arts (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Arts-Witchcraft-Demonology-Throughout/dp/0399500359/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376693481&sr=1-1&keywords=the+black+arts) is a really interesting look at the many facets and practices of the Occult.
I recommend those for laymen.
Maybe that's what she was doing at the salon every week, meeting with the demon fighting warriors guild. I do believe it was this book https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Paranormal-Gordon-Stein/dp/1573920215
This is one subject I bet we have > 90% consensus on.
Natural flying herb recipes are obsolete in 2015. We've now got LSD and DMT. Progress is not monotonically increasing in all dimensions but in this one it is.
> Even the creation process is pretty dangerous.
There is a story in Margot Adler Drawing Down the Moon about a woman overdosing on beladonna while mashing it together and it got into her bloodstream through her skin. This I think is probably false but datura and it's ilk are poisons and people do die from ingesting them.
If you're looking for a book about everything mythological I can highly recommend The New Larousse Encyclopedia Of Mythology by Felix Guirand. It covers all the bases, although it is somewhat dated academically (1987). Full index of sources and lots of pictures.
https://www.amazon.com/Larousse-Encyclopedia-Mythology-Felix-Guirand/dp/0517004046
There's not much unity within paganism. We're a constellation of different faiths, each with their own sometimes very different branches. If you really want to boil it down, then arguably the "Big Three" pagan religions are Wicca, Druidry, and Heathenry, the latter of them being sort of the flagship of the "reconstructionist" movement which is an umbrella of pagan faiths which includes non-Germanic cultures as well.
While I haven't read either of these books myself, I have heard that Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism and Drawing Down the Moon are reputable surveys of Druidry and Wicca, respectively, though they are probably a bit dated at this point (especially Drawing Down the Moon). I'm not sure if an equivalent overview of Heathenry has been published.
The Following list is taken from the Witches & Warlocks FB page. (This is Christian Day's group)
Witches and Warlocks Recommended Reading List
This is a collection of books recommended by our admins and participants in the group. Books must be approved by the admins so if you'd like to see one added to the last, please post it in the comments at the bottom of this list and, if it's something we think is appropriate, we'll add it! We provide links to Amazon so folks can read more about the book but we encourage you to shop at your local occult shop whenever possible! :)
BEGINNER'S WITCHCRAFT BOOKS
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
by Raymond Buckland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875420508
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
by Margot Adler
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038192
Grimoire of the Thorn-Blooded Witch: Mastering the Five Arts of Old World Witchery
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635500
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738702765
The Kybalion: The Definitive Edition
by William Walker Atkinson (Three Initiates)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1585428744
Lid Off the Cauldron: A Wicca Handbook
by Patricia Crowther
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861630328
Mastering Witchcraft
by Paul Huson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595420060
Natural Magic
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0919345808
Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
by Ellen Dugan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738709220
Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635055
The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705314
Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment
by Laurie Cabot
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385301898
Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation
by Silver RavenWolf
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703192
Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary Witchcraft
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703389
Witch: A Magickal Journey
by Fiona Horne
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0007121326
Witchcraft for Tomorrow
by Doreen Valiente
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0709052448
Witchcraft Today
by Gerald Gardner
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525932
The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/073870265X
The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982031882
WITCHCRAFT HISTORY AND RESOURCE BOOKS
Aradia or The Gospel of the Witches
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982432356
Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages: A Guide to Asking for Protection, Wealth, Happiness, and Everything Else!
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0062009575
The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca
by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0816071047
Etruscan Roman Remains
by Charles Godfrey Leland
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494302519
The God of the Witches
by Margaret Murray
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0195012704
The Weiser Field Guide to Witches, The: From Hexes to Hermione Granger, From Salem to the Land of Oz
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634792
ADVANCED BOOKS ON WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC
Blood Sorcery Bible Volume 1: Rituals in Necromancy
by Sorceress Cagliastro
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935150812
The Deep Heart of Witchcraft: Expanding the Core of Magickal Practice
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1780999208
Teen Spirit Wicca
by David Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1782790594
Enchantment: The Witch's Art of Manipulation by Gesture, Gaze and Glamour
by Peter Paddon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936922517
Initiation into Hermetics
by Franz Bardon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1885928122
Letters from the Devil's Forest: An Anthology of Writings on Traditional Witchcraft, Spiritual Ecology and Provenance Traditionalism
by Robin Artisson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500796360
Magical Use of Thought Forms: A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment
by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowick and J.H. Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567180841
Magick in Theory and Practice
by Aleister Crowley
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500380679
The Plant Spirit Familiar
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774311
Protection and Reversal Magick
by Jason Miller
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1564148793
Psychic Self-Defense
by Dion Fortune
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635098
The Ritual Magic Workbook: A Practical Course of Self-Initiation
by Dolores Ashcroft-Norwicki
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578630452
The Roebuck in the Thicket: An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition
by Evan John Jones, Robert Cochrane and Michael Howard
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1861631553
The Satanic Witch
by Anton Szandor LaVey
http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Witch-Anton-Szandor-LaVey/dp/0922915849
Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality
by Raven Digitalis
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VS0N5K
The Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition
by Orion Foxwood
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578634075
The Underworld Initiation: A journey towards psychic transformation
by R.J. Stewart
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1892137038
HERBALISM, CANDLES, INCENSE, OILS, FORMULARIES, AND STONES
A Compendium of Herbal Magic
by Paul Beyerl
http://www.amazon.com/dp/091934545X
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
by Scott Cunningham
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0875421229
The Enchanted Candle: Crafting and Casting Magickal Light
by Lady Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806525789
The Enchanted Formulary: Blending Magickal Oils for Love, Prosperity, and Healing
by Lady Maeve Rhea
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0806527048
Incense: Crafting and Use of Magickal Scents
by Carl F. Neal
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738703362
Magickal Formulary Spellbook Book 1
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708000
Magickal Formulary Spellbook: Book II
by Herman Slater
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0939708108
SPELLCASTING AND SPELLBOOKS
Crone's Book of Charms & Spells
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188117
Crone's Book of Magical Words
by Valerie Worth
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567188257
Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061711233
Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1567184693
Pure Magic: A Complete Course in Spellcasting
by Judika Illes
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578633915
Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions
by Dorothy Morrison
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979453313
The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635136
The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals
by Denise Alvarado
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578635543
THE ANCESTORS AND WORKING WITH THE DEAD
The Cauldron of Memory: Retrieving Ancestral Knowledge & Wisdom
by Raven Grimassi
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738715751
The Mighty Dead
by Christopher Penczak
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982774370
Speak with the Dead: Seven Methods for Spirit Communication
by Konstantinos
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0738705225
The Witches' Book of the Dead
by Christian Day
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578635063
_____
TAROT
78 Degrees of Wisdom
by Rachel Pollack
http://www.amazon.com/dp/157863408
Really hard to go wrong with Scott Cunningham:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Incense-Llewellyns-Practical-Magick/dp/0875421288. There is also an assortment of pre-made incenses on Amazon as well as materials for making. I have always enjoyed the pre-made incenses from Escential Essences.
It doesn't exactly fit your description, but the Man, Myth, and Magic series is an amazing encyclopedia from the 70s. The edition I have fits your physical description, and it was compiled from a magazine of the same name. It has a much more scholarly tone than the usual "booooo spooky" Time/Life books or other pulpy paranormal compilations.
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Myth-Magic-Illustrated-Encyclopedia/dp/185435731X
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Myth-Magic-Illustrated-Encyclopedia/dp/185435731X ?
You may be able to ask the library for their record of what your mom checked out all that time ago. It's likely that they have switched record systems to digital and discarded the old ones or retained them somehow (perhaps you should ask a supervisor...). Otherwise, check the reference section and ask them. They may be able to show you where such a book can be. At least you have a location to start searching.
One of my favorites is Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. Then, if you want a little more than just hauntings, there is The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal.
Both are good books with different perspectives.
Scott Cunningham did a book on incense that has been recommended: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Incense-Llewellyns-Practical-Magick/dp/0875421288
There's also Carl Neal's book: http://www.amazon.com/Incense-Crafting-Use-Magickal-Scents/dp/0738703362
A site I buy my incense resins from: http://www.mermadearts.com
Sometimes I burn the resins on charcoal, but most of the time, I have the resins on a gently cupped piece of aluminum foil resting on a grate on top of a votive holder with a tea light candle in it.
You can get electronic incense warmers from Mermade Arts, too. It's a way to heat the resins much more gently than with charcoal or flame.
The best information comes from personal experience. That said, there is significantly more useful information in printed books than on the internet: Try books by Marian Green, Ronald Hutton, and others (disregard pretty much anything published by Llewellyn unless it was written by Scott Cunningham [who despite "fluffy bunny" leanings knows his stuff, herbally] or another author you know to trust).
You might also want to hang around the magical blogosphere at places like Runesoup, Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, Witch of Forest Grove, etc. The Lucky Mojo Curio Co. site is tacky as all hell (deliberately so) but an incredible resource, just bear in mind that Cat Yronwode (though very well-informed) is not the end-all be-all to conjure.
[Edited for Lucky Mojo typo and to add links]
Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon (the 2006 edition) is a well-written and researched survey of the American scene.
Condolences to you.
The awareness that animals have is different from ours. Dogs for example are so happy-go-lucky that while we might be brooding over a broken leg, they might just do their best to hobble around after a ball you throw in spite of themselves. I'm sure you gave your little friend a far better existence in many respects than one of her counterparts in the wild. Among her memories of trying to fly or scrabbling for food or whatever are memories of happily following you and your boyfriend around, getting tasty treats, and otherwise having fun. Certainly better than being plucked from the ground by a hawk and made into lunch!
The Immense Journey by Loren Eiseley has an eloquent passage about death.
The sun was warm there, and the murmurs of forest life blurred
softly away into my sleep. When I awoke, dimly aware of some
commotion and outcry in the clearing, the light was slanting down
through the pines in such a way that the glade was lit like some
vast cathedral. I could see the dust motes of wood pollen in the
long shaft of light, and there on the extended branch sat an
enormous raven with a red and squirming nestling in his beak.
The sound that awoke me was the outraged cries of the nestling's
parents, who flew helplessly in circles about the clearing. The sleek
black monster was indifferent to them. He gulped, whetted his beak
on the dead branch a moment and sat still. Up to that point the
little tragedy had followed the usual pattern. But suddenly, out of
all that area of woodland, a soft sound of complaint began to rise.
Into the glade fluttered small birds of half a dozen varieties drawn
by the anguished outcries of the tiny parents.
No one dared to attack the raven. But they cried there in some
instinctive common misery, the bereaved and the unbereaved. The
glade filled with their soft rustling and their cries. They fluttered as
though to point their wings at the murderer. There was a dim
intangible ethic he had violated, that they knew. He was a bird of
death.
And he, the murderer, the black bird at the heart of life, sat on
there, glistening in the common light, formidable, unmoving,
unperturbed, untouchable.
The sighing died. It was then I saw the judgment. It was the
judgment of life against death. I will never see it again so forcefully
presented. I will never hear it again in notes so tragically prolonged.
For in the midst of protest, they forgot the violence. There, in that
clearing, the crystal note of a song sparrow lifted hesitantly in the
hush. And finally, after painful fluttering, another took the song, and
then another, the song passing from one bird to another, doubtfully
at first, as though some evil thing were being slowly forgotten. Till
suddenly they took heart and sang from many throats joyously
together as birds are known to sing. They sang because life is
sweet and sunlight beautiful. They sang under the brooding shadow
of the raven. In simple truth they had forgotten the raven, for they
were the singers of life, and not of death.
No, no. I'm okay. I'm happy with my choice!
You won't regret it =)
Here's the Amazon link; I'll let the reviews speak for themselves.
Is this the right book?
EDIT: Formatting
Magical Places of Britain
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magical-Places-Britain-Rob-Wildwood/dp/0957543301
I did the bio route, specifically botany. B_Prov has a great list, but my 2 cents: The origins go back to native American traditions of animism. Trying to find some quality and formative ethnographies on their world view may give you more of a chronistic context.
Many of the modern romance authors are, sort of, a proto-revisitation of those themes. Thoreau is solid (you can certainly pick apart things, but his premise is solid). I second Muir, and Leopold. Sand County Almanac was the precursor to the modern environmental movement and the foundations of deep ecology. Again, this is a more articulated 'white-man's' animism. Edward Abbey is a bit more cynical, but also a better author then many of his predecessors.
That said, here are a couple that you may find interesting as a biologist:
Gathering Moss
lives of a cell
Natural History of North American Trees: 2 vol ,
The Immense Journey
Oddly, I thought Vonnegut's Galapagos was riveting.
how about Linda Godfrey? - been on Coast to Coast AM,
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Wolfmen-Encounters-Modern-America/dp/1585429082/
she collects Dogmen encounters
and, Steph Young, 'Predators' book, been on Coast to Coast- Goatman sightings just exactly like OP describes ; they got their knees on backwards, real weird, very muscular upper bodies.
http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Young/e/B00KE8B6B0/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
There is zero evidence that something intelligent (nature, and consciousness) can come from something non-intelligent (the big bang). None. Yet somehow millions have been indoctrinated into such a preposterous belief system. It's because they do not think. They hear that scientists say it's true, and blindly believe it on faith alone! Please understand, scientism is nothing but a religion. It is the antithesis of science.
Scientists are largely controlled by two things - the state, and education (which is largely controlled by the state). Any researchers/scientists/universities who don't stick to the program receive no funding. This is why you must obediently preach the bang theory, Darwinism, Newtonian mechanics, the heliocentric model, etc. Questioning any of these dogmas leads to immediate ridicule and ostracism. Scientists are just people. They want to fit in, and make money. Most are not being deceptive. They've just been duped into thinking that certain things are already settled. When something doesn't fit what is "already settled", they invent complete nonsense (e.g. "dark matter" and "dark energy") to make it fit, rather than to question what is supposedly already settled.
Here's a good book on this from a real scientist. Science Set Free by Rupert Sheldrake: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Set-Free-Paths-Discovery/dp/0770436722
Another good one is Shattering the Myths of Darwinism by Richard Milton: https://www.amazon.com/Shattering-Myths-Darwinism-Richard-Milton/dp/0892818840
This is it.
I mean, it very well might not have it, especially if, as you say, it doesn't exist to our knowledge. But that book has tons and tons of creation myths I've never seen anywhere else. Whether or not it can help you for this project, you should check it out. It's really cool.
detailed report here.
The Diversity Myth : Multiculturalism and Political Intolerance on Campus
Book link
Of the ones mentioned I have only read the D&D stuff and Barlowe's Guide to Fantasy, both of which are good times but of course are concerned with creatures that have already been developed by various authors, which you might not be as excited about if you're looking for original inspiration. The D&D books are the better for that.
Another couple of books: A Wizard's Bestiary, which is similar to the Carol Rose books in that it is chock full of short entries on a wide range of critters. Potential downside: it is very New Agey at times. Interesting twist: the author has a thing for trying to find real-world explanations for various monsters, which is alternately interesting and ridiculous. Also, he once bred a one-horned goat and exhibited it as a unicorn.
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Which is more of a general reference for folklore, tradition, sayings and other weird things than a bestiary but is basically an idea-generator. I just flipped through a copy and learned of the gyrtrash, a spectral dog or donkey that waylays travellers on lonely English roads.
I linked to one of the modern editions, which are fine books, but I also have a lot of affection for the older ones, before the mid-Nineties or so. They had this very charming Victorian sensibility that added flavour to many of the descriptions, though the whole thing is of course pretty Eurocentric. If you have the cash I'd say grab a new one and check the local used bookstores for a classic edition (and if you see something called the Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable it is actually a reprint of the 1970 edition of Brewer's).
There are several Egyptian/Babylonian/Pre-History creation stories that begin like this. Pretty awesome.
I recommend Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World for an excellent survey of hundreds of these stories.
I highly recommend The Sacred and The Profane and The Myth of the Eternal Return.
Is this supposed to be shocking knowledge? I am not being sarcastic I am really unsure. I thought this and other things similar were common knowledge or at least not shocking. There are males who fly and flew too. :D
For the gents who'd like a subtle lift drink damiana to get stiff. It persuades the blood to visit the nethers. I think there may be a spot of science to back that up too, but the witches (Wiccan perhaps and mostly otherwise since that religion is pretty modern) have understood the nature of that plant for some time.
There are two recipes for flying ointment in one of Cunningham's books both of which he cautions not to use. But my favorite and clearly off base one is the creepy one Young Goodman Brown's old Sunday school teacher speaks of in Hawthorne's story of that name. Of course, she used the fat of a newborn babe.
Meh, witches always get the short end of the st... well, maybe not.
I am not the one playing with words. Please try to be more open minded and accept the fact that there are many many people making contributions in this field, other than a couple of names that comes up again and again in say /r/atheism.
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Profane-Nature-Religion/dp/015679201X
Can you remember any of the stories? I know that paranormal encyclopedias have a lot of similar entries, but it would help narrow it down.
When you say small, so you mean like a small square book? I remember getting small square books that contained ghost stories. The same company made puzzle books, two minute mystery books, etc.
Also when you say "When I was a kid", you may wish to put a time frame on when you were a kid.
edit
is it this?
https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Paranormal-Gordon-Stein/dp/1573920215
I’m heavily into African spirituality. Voodoo, crystals, candles, incense etc.
This is one of my favorite books
Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062508598/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_y7hGDb93DHJHD
And this one:
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews (Llewellyn's Practical Magick) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875421288/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_68hGDb1VGMASE
I had a wonderful spell book I bought at a botanical in Florida years ago. It worked so well for me but I lost it and can’t remember the name. Now I scour botanicas in every city I travel looking for this book.
I'm 34 and finally diving into my spirituality after mom passed away. My parents were conservative Christian and did not like me owning tarot cards...or even Magic the Gathering Cards! I moved out in my early 20's but always felt guilty finding my own faith. [Drawing Down the Moon](Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143038192/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Gn4QybJK9C7TV) helped me figure out who I am. The Kindle version is updated with social information. I now live in a fairly large city with Wiccans, Druids and eclectic witches so I'm lucky to have that resource. Meetup.com helped me find friends who mentored. Try several ideas out! It is overwhelming because there are lots of information out there. Figuring out if you want to practice solitary or with a group is a good question to start with. I'm in between, I like to practice alone but discuss ideas with friends.
https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Down-Moon-Witches-Goddess-Worshippers/dp/0143038192 its a little old but still good
The only thing that really gives me pause about Elon Musk/Peter Thiel is that they make a big deal out of how technological progress should be geared toward building flying cars and shit instead of social media websites "that aren't worth anything", meanwhile they got rich off of Facebook/PayPal and now spend tons of money to try to advance the cause of electric cars, exploding spaceships and other useless shit that nobody really wants.
That said even if you don't like that Peter Thiel took money from a neocon back in the 80s, everyone on this sub should read The Diversity Myth. He was a gay dude on a college campus in the 80s and he called gays and minorities out on their bullshit instead of being a whiny fag about it (although he's subsequently apologized for some of the more controversial stuff since Trump was running for president).
Well, as no one has posted anything here, and I hate to see the 'such empty' sad face, I will. So here is a list of books I recommend to Every Beginner.
Charge of the Goddess: The Mother of Modern Witchcraft https://www.amazon.com/dp/0953920402/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_mzqCzb91MZCTA
Written by Doreen Valiente herself.
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HTNGQY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qwqCzbKT83165
Some people say this book is out dated or no longer relevent. Those whe say that obviously don't have a brain. Margot Adler compiled four years of field and survey research to write this book, and while the data may have changed, as demographics generally do, the concepts have not.
The Witch-cult in Western Europe A Study in Anthropology https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0082XG3Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.DqCzb5N708SD
Margaret Murray's theories may be based in fact or fantasy. The argument is still raging, but the reading is still good, and the concept is still fascinating.
The First Year and Day For Beginning Wicca: A Guided Study Workbook for the Novice (Finding Your Path 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XHL8R24/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_JDqCzb2D12H66
There are a lot of $0.99 books put there that aren't worth the effort it takes to read them. But this one is a little different in that it lays out more of a map for the beginner to follow rather than an attempt to explain somethin so complex as Wicca. This book is a new pub and currently has 1☆ rating because it contains the the F bomb a grand total of twice in the book. The content is meant to be straightforward and provide a good start for the beginner.
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Profane-Nature-Religion/dp/015679201X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
> How did you come from
Simple. I'm interested in the structure of myth, the structure of what Jung called the unconscious archetypes, and why the brain creates them, perhaps as some consequence of the human realization that we are destined to die. The dread of non-existence.
Most "pagan" religions in practice were deliberately invented in the 1960s. So to me they're not very interesting in that regard. The Wicca I've knowns are interested in is what color candle one should use to cast a love spell, and pretending that the Christians killed off the so-called Mother Goddess Witch Cult in the Middle Ages, rather than realizing Margaret Murray was just dead wrong about her theories.
> Have you been involved in nepoaganism? Do you know the research that goes into the recontruction of each branch? The books they base their research on?
You can't reconstruct what never existed in the first place. Wicca, the most popular form of modern paganism, is a sham. As is anything with "druid" in the name.
There are very few sources of authentic non-Christian religious practices from medieval Europe, never mind earlier. Most of the Norse sagas are all filtered through Christian tradition. The Slav religion is mostly lost to history except for a handful of names. Everything that survives is corrupted by Christianity.
With other gods? Well you cannot worship Aztec gods unless you perform blood letting and human sacrifice. Huitzilopochtli demands it to make the sun move. If you're not doing that, you're not "authentic".
If you argue that the gods can "update" what they want and no longer require scarification, bloodletting or ripping out the heart of a willing sacrifice, then any historical "reconstruction" is pointless to begin with -- because the gods may want something new or have changed over the centuries. So why bother? It's also a very convenient excuse to get rid of the parts you don't like (human sacrifice, which incidentally the Norse also are known to have practiced) and stick in parts you do. Of course, Christians have been doing this same thing for centuries.
> I mean, had you been a profane I would've brushed it aside, but you studied these things, you have no excuse.
Lol, a "profane"? Sounds good. One of my favorite scholars in this regard.
> You studied the documents upon which Hellenists and Asatruars base their knowledge.
And somehow, somehow you managed to dismiss them altogether.
Somehow? More like exactly because. I can actually read ancient Greek, and I know enough Old English to pretend I can read Old Norse :D
I contend it's actually impossible for anyone in the West to believe in these gods in the way they were historically worshiped, simply because we no longer live in a world where the dichotomy between the sacred and the profane was distinct. We humans of the 21st century cannot ignore our knowledge of the universe.
That is why these are merely "toy" religions. People light candles and say "norse prayers" and ask to get a job promotion, an easier pregnancy, do well on an exam.
For people practicing these religions in the Iron Age and later, their worship was a matter of absolute survival against the supernatural. For them, human sacrifice and other such barbarities was a necessity.
> Mind if I ask you exactly what you studied in occultism and Greek religion? You sound like someone who hasn't studied it.
Well, just looking at that bookshelf I count about 40 scholarly books on what I deem "mythology". So take that as you will. Most of what i know about Greek religion is about Gnosticism and Neoplatonism, which are of course later developments of the Eleusian mysteries, etc., and intercalated with earlier Christianity.
> It's not like Occultism is one singular path. Hermeticism, LaVeyanism, the Greek mysteries....get particular. What did you study?
Anton LeVey was an atheist and Hedonist. He uses Satan as a symbol in one part to represent hedonism, and in a second part to annoy the fuck out of Christians.
Otherwise I'm not sure what you're asking. I'm interested in the history and the myth, not in digging a pit in my back yard to do the taurobolium. Anton LeVey's Necronomicon is gibberish. I should know, because I've seen the real thing.
For a history of philosophy, I'll second the comments on Will Durant and Bertrand Russell's books. Also, Richard Tarnas, The Passion of the Western Mind, is a little more modern style and covers more of the 20th century.
For introductions to logic, Kant is pretty advanced. I'd start with Anthony Weston's Rulebook for Arguments for a short but fairly comprehensive explanation of the basics. For more formal logical analysis, I like Howard Pospesel's cartoon-driven explanations and exercises: Predicate Logic and Propositional Logic.
This is a really difficult question to answer, but it's still a totally fair question.
As others have said, paganism is an umbrella term for several specific traditions, and there are many different lenses through which to view and practice paganism. Some pagans are drawn to their religion out of concern for the environment, others want to connect with specific Gods, while others are seeking to honor their ancestors, and still others want to develop a variety of magical skills. Without knowing your specific interests it's hard to make any really specific recommendations. However, regardless of your interests I can pretty confidently recommend Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler and Seeking the Mystery. Both books give broad overviews of the history and world view of paganism writ large.
Thing is though, Paganism is about more than just reading books. I'd also recommend that you start trying out some simple rituals and meditations (Google is your friend here). You can make yourself a very simple alter with stuff you've probably got lying around the house. Finally, if you find that this is something that you want to continue to pursue, I'd strongly recommend trying to find some like-minded people in your area. Search meetup.com, or if there is a metaphysical shop in your area just go there and start asking around. There are pagan communities absolutely everywhere, and it's worth getting to know the pagans around you.
I'm an extreme water nerd.
I agree with all of geocurious' recommendations. For textbooks, those are the main ones for groundwater, especially. Fetter is another mainstay. I'm sure you can find the textbooks easily enough.
As for less academic, Cadillac Desert is good and goes into the policy behind U.S. dam building (which is long but interesting). Water: The epic struggle... is a history of the world with some interesting connections to water (though doesn't get enough into the water, from my perspective).
As for beautiful writing about water, I can't recommend Loren Eiseley enough. The Immense Journey has some really great chapters about water (and then goes on and on about human evolution, but still ok). A really neat excerpt book about geologic themes is Bedrock and that is how I found my pal, Loren.
I have also been amassing a public Spotify playlist of songs that have a hydro-theme. Message me if you want it. Sitting at a couple hundred songs right now, but definitely biased towards my musical interests.
Other books:
A good list by someone else: Aguanomics
Quotes
Get them a copy of a book like this - https://www.amazon.com/Mythical-Creatures-Bible-Definitive-Legendary/dp/1402765363
That's about as accurate as anything they'd have in world.