Books for Beginner Witches
So you watched The Craft back in the 1990s and you’ve wanted to be a witch ever since. No? Just me? Well, even so. I have this awesome list of books for beginner witches to help you start your practice.
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There are definitely tons of lists full of the top books for beginner witches out there. And a lot of them are filled with books on practicing.
I think that’s fine.
To me, however, good books for beginner witches are the books that show you a little about what it’s actually like. You get to see someone else’s practice and what it looks like in their everyday life. You get to walk a mile in their pointy witch boots, if you will.
(Just kidding. I feel like most witches know the value of a good wide footbed and arch support. Real magic can only be practiced when your feet don’t hurt all the time.)
Before we jump in, know that I have a lot of posts about magical books, so if you’re looking for books for developing intuition, intuition books to help you trust your gut, books for witches, the best tarot books for beginners, or books on tarot card meanings, I have you covered.
Books for Beginner Witches
The best books for beginner witches are the books that open the door and allow you to peek inside and make you want to come back for more. Sure, that’s going to be different for everyone, and that’s why I’ve made a super diverse list of titles here to help you on your witchy journey.
001: American Brujeria: Modern Mexican American Folk Magic by J. Allen Cross
I was so stinkin’ excited when this book came out. Most of the books on witchcraft I come across are about a specific witch lineage. You know, the Celtic tradition and all that. But your girl is an Iranian-Mexican-Citizen Potawatomi Nation woman, and finding books that align with my cultural history has been tough.
I love everything about this book. There’s information in this book about limpias, Mexican folk saints, and the intersection of brujeria and Catholicism. Plus, it’s written by a Mexican American, and as a Mexican American, I was happy to find a cultural connection with this book.
002: Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power by Pamela Grossman
This book dives deep into the way witches have been presented in the past and all the archetypes we typically associate with them. The author is also the host of the popular Witch Wave podcast.
If you’re looking for something that analyzes the culture surrounding witches with some personal elements, this is a great book. And if you’re particularly interested in the intersection of witchcraft and feminist theory, then you’ll really love this one.
003: Initiated: Memoir of a Witch by Amanda Yates Garcia
This memoir reflects on the life of the author and how claiming the title of witch is about taking back your power. Rather than focus on the traditional form of initiation most Wiccans go through, this book takes a look at all the events after that rite that the author considers to be the true initiation.
I love memoirs for their power to help us see the paths that others took and imagine what that might look like in our own lives. If you’re a woman and you desire to take back your power and claim your title as witch, you need this book.
004: High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices that Saved My Life on Death Row by Damien Echols
Damien Echols was wrongfully accused of murder when he was 17 years old, and then spent the next 18 years of his life in prison on death row. During his time there, he meditated heavily and practiced magick.
This book contains the meditations he did while in prison, as well as the visualization exercises he did to help him envision a future where he was free. While in prison, Echols read about the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and his practices follow their rituals. This book is a great entry point into those rituals.
005: The Altar Within: A Radical Devotional Guide to Liberate the Divine Self by Juliet Diaz
Juliet Diaz does some radical work in the witch space, and I’m here for it. Her work is about decolonization and she is here to call out all the “love and light” bullshit that permeates the wellness industry.
If you want to avoid spiritual bypassing and toxic spiritual practices, grab this book. Plus, if you’re burned out on personal development books that do nothing to address the legacy of colonization and how it still affects many communities today, this is your book.
006: HausMagick: Transform Your Home with Witchcraft by Erica Feldman
If you want to welcome a little witchery into your everyday life, start with this book. It’s simple and clear, and gives you practical recommendations for how you can make your space more conducive to your practice.
This book has chapters on manifesting, protection, balance, and harmony, and each chapter is full of the ways you can make those happen by fixing up the space where you live. If you like setting intentions, and want to live in a very intentional space, this is your book.
007: Any Llewellyn Almanac
If you want to dive into your practice and see what it holds for you on the day-to-day side of witchin’ around, grab a Llewellyn almanac. They make them each year for pretty much everything from herbs, to the moon, to spells, to just like, being a witch.
If there’s a particular area of witchcraft you’re into, go for that almanac. Otherwise, I recommend grabbing their yearly witches companion. It’s a great thing to have if you’re building up your practice and want to learn more about what type of rituals are good for specific times.
What’s Your Favorite Book for Beginner Witches?
What book would you recommend to new witches? Is there a magical memoir I need to grab? Do you have a book recommendation for a specific type of practice?
Originally published at https://marisamohi.com on October 28, 2022.
