Recommended Reading

  
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Wicca/Witchcraft

Wicca: A Guide for the solitary practitioner; Scott Cunningham
A perennial favourite recommendation to those new to paganism or Wicca.  It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about Magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth.  It is the essential primer from one of the best known authors on Wicca. Focusing on the importance of individualism in your spiritual path, Cunningham explains the very basics of Sabbats (holy days), ceremonies, altars, and other nuts and bolts of Wicca that a solitary practitioner may have trouble finding elsewhere.

Drawing Down the Moon : Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today; Margot Adler
Popular demand for this clear-sighted compendium of information about the rebirth of Pagan religions hasn't waned since its initial publication in 1979. Distinguished by the journalism of National Public Radio columnist Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon explains this diverse and burgeoning religion's philosophies and activities while dispelling stereotypes that have long been associated with it. Most people don't realize that pagan simply refers to pre-Christian polytheistic nature religions, such as the various Native American creeds, Japanese Shinto, Celtic Druid, and Western European Wicca. Originally, the word pagan meant "country dweller" and was a derogatory term in Rome in the third century A.D., not unlike calling someone a hick today. If you find yourself feeling queasy when you hear the words witch or pagan, a healthy dose of re-education via Drawing Down the Moon could be the cure

Check the Reading Room for a sneak read of this book!

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft (Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development)
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is a thorough course of education, introspection, meditation, and the development of the magickal and psychic abilities. Four introductory chapters present the history, traditions, and principles of witchcraft, followed by thirteen lessons that start with basic meditation techniques and culminate in a self-initiation ceremony equivalent to the first-degree level of traditional coven-based witchcraft.

Magick Without Peers: A Course in Progressive Witchcraft for the Solitary Practitioner; David Rankine, Ariadne Rainbird
This is a book about Progressive Witchcraft which the authors see as being more eclectic and universal than Alexandrian and Gardnerian Wicca. Witchcraft is composed of three main elements - Magic, Mysticism and Religion - each treated in depth, and integrated in this excellent, practical book. Witchcraft contains elements of Shamanism and this book includes techniques such as dance, breathing techniques and the use of sacred herbs to explore other states of consciousness. Techniques and teaching from many different countries and cultures are integrated and used to great effect, drawn from the courses and teachings carried out by the authors. The book gives a solid grounding in personal magical work, aimed primarily at the sole practitioner, though members of groups will also benefit from the teachings given. Highly recommended and suitable for beginners and those of us who have been around a bit longer!

Natural Magic; Doreen Valiente
Did you know...that the thickness of the layers in a locally grown onion will indicate the severity of the coming winter? Magic is all around us. All we need is the ability to see it, understand it, and apply it. Natural Magic allows us to do just that. Doreen Valiente shows how to tap the magic of: Herbs and flowers; Amulets and talismans; Water, Air, Earth, and Fire; Card reading; Numbers and colors; Weather predicting; Love relationships; Dreams; Birds and animals; Traditional Spells...and much more. "Natural Magic", essentially a practical treatise revealing the magic inherent in human life and nature, shows that magic can be for everyone.

Good beginners book

Sisters of the Dark Moon: 13 Rituals of the Dark Goddess; Gail Wood
I don't know if this is further evidence of LLewellyn's disappearance into the world of fluffy but they have retitled the book Rituals of the Dark Moon: 13 Lunar Rites for a Magical Path. Ho-hum!  Everyone is familiar with the image of Witches performing rituals under a Full Moon. Mysterious but not frightening, the Dark Moon (the night before the New Moon) is lesser known but equally powerful.

This guidebook reveals the hidden wisdom of the Dark Moon Path. It presents the thirteen Dark Moons of the year by the zodiac sign in which they fall, along with rituals designed to help you experience and learn from their energies

The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess; Starhawk
This overview of the growth, suppression, and modern-day re-emergence of Wicca as a Goddess-worshipping religion has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness. Starhawk reveals the ways in which the practice of ritual and Goddess religion have, in the face of a changing world, developed over the last 20 years -- and the ways in which these changes have influenced and enhanced her original ideas. This important spiritual guidebook provides both the tools of ancient practice and the means to adapt them to our lives today.

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft; Ronald Hutton
Ronald Hutton's The Triumph of he Moon is a history of modern pagan witchcraft, examining not only its origins half a century ago but the many ideas and enthusiasms of the last few centuries that paved the way for it. He finds powerful influences in 18th and 19th-century Freemasonry, 19th-century Rosicrucian-type societies, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as in the tradition of wise women, dispensers of herbal remedies and folk wisdom. Interestingly, these last, who many Wiccans would see as the main forerunners of themselves, Hutton finds to have little real significance. With the benefit of scholarly insight, he also points out the unreliability of the most influential literary and / or supposedly academic works supporting the idea of ancient European religion, such as Charles Leland's Aradia, Margaret Murray's The Witch-Cult in Western Europe and The God of the Witches, J.G. Frazer's The Golden Bough and Robert Graves' The White Goddess

An essential read for anyone interested in the history of the Craft, but don't expect to find hard evidence of an unbroken lineage disappearing back into the depths of history.  If you do, then you'll be very disappointed!!

Complete with an explanation of the relationship of witchcraft to Jungian psychology, this book aims to shed light on what has traditionally been seen as a shadowy and slightly malevolent religion.

Includes a fair amount about coven rituals but still of value to the solitary practitioner

Includes a fair amount about coven rituals but still of great value to the solitary practitioner

Witches, Druids and King Arthur; Ronald Hutton
In Stations of the Sun and The Triumph of the Moon Ronald Hutton established himself as a leading authority on the historian of Paganism. His wealth of unusual knowledge, complemented by a deep and sympathetic understanding of past and present beliefs that are often dismissed as strange or marginal, and an ability to write lucidly and wittily, gives his work a unique flavour. The essays which make up Witches, Druids and King Arthur cover elegantly and entertainingly a wide range of beliefs, myths and practices.

The Witches' Goddess: The Feminine Principle of Divinity; Janet Farrar, Stewart Farrar
This book is of great practical value in discovering and celebrating the transforming energy of the Feminine Principle of Divinity.  Part I covers the myriad faces of the Goddess revealed, including:

• Her presence throughout history

• Her Earth and Moon symbolism

• Her Madonna and Magdalene disguises

• Her revelation within the psyche

• Her relationship with women

• Her influence today

• and much more
   

Part II covers ritual invocations of the Goddess in 13 guises:

• from Ishtar to Isis

• from Hecate to Aphrodite

• from Epona to Ma'at
   

Part III gives an alphabetical listing of more than 1000 goddesses including a brief history and the main correspondences of each

This is an important work by the Farrars providing an in-depth exploration of the Goddess in her many aspects at a time when Western culture is awakening to the influence of Feminine Divinity, both individually and collectively

The Witches' God; Janet and Stewart Farrar

Exploring the Masculine Principle of Divinity, this companion volume to The Witches' Goddess re-establishes the ancient balance between God and Goddess.
Part I covers the many concepts of the God examined, including:
His faces throughout history

• the Son/Lover God

• the Vegetation God

• the War God

• the Anti-God

• and more

Part II gives a close look at 12 individual gods of history with an appropriate invoking ritual for each.

Part III presents a comprehensive dictionary of over 1000 gods from many world cultures, past and present.

The Farrars are among the best-known authors on the Craft, and in The Witches' God have written what is likely to become the standard work on the masculine god aspect.

I have to say that the cover (see left) for the latest version of the book is dreadful!!

Pagan Parenting

Raising Witches: Teaching the Wiccan Faith to Children; Ashleen O'Gaea.
This book centres on a Wiccan coven or group setting but all of the rituals and ideas would be very simple to convert to any Pagan belief system and for solitary use. It isn't just a book full of cutesy Sabbat suggestions (which are great, don't get me wrong!) but is, in essence, a book about child development that "introduces and explains the concept of Regency Parenting, an exciting, new Pagan-sensitive approach to raising children in which emphasis is taken off parental power over children and is placed on the importance of helping children grow and reach their full potential as adults". I was amazed at how much her ideas and theories of child development fall in line with mine. The only thing I disagree with is the bit about children taking part in Skyclad ritual. She doesn't say do it and in fact, strongly cautions against it if you are risk of being reported to Social Services, but she basically says it is up to the parent. I personally think no under-aged members of the Circle should be exposed to nudity. There are other ways of teaching respect and reverence for the human body. Other than that, I really recommend this book. (Garnet)

Herb Lore

Here you will find the spirit of the great sixteenth-century herbalist; his caustic observations about the practices of his time, the values he placed on his herbs and their medicinal values.  The addition of prevailing views by a modern practitioner enables you to complete the progress made - and it makes truly fascinating reading. A man of substance himself, Nicholas Culpeper was greatly influenced by the contrast between the lifestyle of his family and that of the working population of London. He had a deep commitment to the health of his impoverished clients and a strong antagonism towards apothecaries who preserved Latin as their lingua franca to help them to sell expensive imports of questionable value to people who could not afford them. Culpeper worked with English herbs in the English language and frequently indicated to his clients where in the countryside their medicines could he found naturally.  Though he died at only 38, he was undoubtedly a popular apothecary and his ideas persist to this day.

Cunningham's Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs
The main part of this book is the listings of the herbs. Each one includes names, associations, and magical attributions. Violets can be used for protection, luck, love, and more. Primrose is for protection and love. Garlic is for protection, healing, exorcism, lust, and prevention of theft. This book is considered a classic.

Ritual Magick

Angels, Demons & Gods of the New Millennium: Musings on Modern Magick; by Lon Milo DuQuette
One of the most widely respected members of the magic community, Lon Milo DuQuette is known for his ability to address the rather intimidating aspects of magick with a casual candour; he makes the subject accessible to the initiate while still holding the interest of the experienced reader. Angels, Demons & Gods of the New Millennium is a collection of loosely connected essays surveying the state of magick in the face of the new millennium. It showcases DuQuette's knack for combining wit with profundity, producing chapters such as "Qabalah-Zen of the West" and "Demons Are Our Friends," while addressing contemporary topics such as initiations and the procession of the equinoxes.

Circles of Power (Ritual Magic in the Western Tradition); John Michael Greer
Clear away the outdated clutter that has obscured the power and beauty of the Golden Dawn magical system and feel for yourself the difference these techniques can make in your life.  Explore dozens of new rituals developed from the fragments and core documents of the greatest magical Order in the Western world.  Step out of the darkness and into the light of understanding.  Not recommended for the new comer to paganism.

The Circuit of Force; Dion Fortune and Gareth Knight
 Dion Fortune describes techniques for raising the personal magnetic forces within the human aura and their control and direction in magic and in life, which she regards as 'the Lost Secrets of the Western Esoteric Tradition'. Gareth Knight provides subject commentaries on various aspects of the etheric vehicle, filling in some of the practical details and implications that she left unsaid in the more secretive esoteric climate of the times in which she wrote.
 

The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic; Chic & Sandra Tabatha Cicero
The Golden Dawn is one of the most influential and respected systems of magic in the world. Over a century old, the teachings of this once-secret society are considered the capstone of the Western Esoteric Tradition. Yet many of the available books on the subject are too complex or overwhelming for readers just beginning to explore alternative spiritual paths. The Essential Golden Dawn is for those who simply want to find out what the Golden Dawn is and what it has to offer. Written by recognized experts on the topic, this introduction to High Magic is both straightforward and succinct. It explores the origins of Hermeticism and the Western Esoteric Tradition, as well as the rich history of the Golden Dawn and its founders. This guide explains the "laws" of magic and magical philosophy, describes different areas of magical knowledge that a Golden Dawn magician can expect to learn, and presents basic rituals for the novice.

If you have been curious about the Golden Dawn, but intimidated by its scope, this concise guide will shed light on this powerful system of practical magic and spiritual growth.

The History of Magic; Eliphas Levi, Arthur Edward Waite (Translator)
This text presents a classic history of magic and occultism, and is a book of which A.E. Waite said "there is nothing in the occult literature to compare with it..."The History of Magic" is the most arresting, entertaining and brilliant of all studies on the subject".

Well, that's what the synopsis said.  Personally I found it a wonderful cure for insomnia and wouldn't recommended for anything else!!

The Law Is For All: The Authorized Popular Commentary of Liber Al Vel Legis Sub Figura CCXX, the Book of the Law; by Aleister Crowley
Crowley's life and thought are inexorably linked with 'The Book of the Law.' He received this visionary work by direct-voice dictation in Cairo in 1904. As an intelligent sceptic, he first found this improbable means of communication difficult to accept. Yet he could not ignore it or its message. He worked for decades to interpret its meaning for initiates and the general public. Eventually he entrusted the task to his best friend, Louis Wilkinson who possessed impressive literary qualifications. The result of his work, completed and augmented by Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta of the O.T.O., is this long-awaited authorized popular edition of Crowley's "new commentary" on 'The Book of the Law' and its first appearance as Crowley wished it.  Only really buy this if you are into Crowley or Thelema.

The Magick of Aleister Crowley: A Handbook of the Rituals of Thelema; Lon Milo Duquette
Aleister Crowley’s ascension into the pantheon of alternative gurus was cemented by his appearance on The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. Unfortunately, he was known more for his reputation as "The Beast 666" and "The Wickedest Man in the World." All well and good for publicity, but this infamy eclipsed his teachings, as did his technical and opaque writing style, meant more for adepts contemporary to him than the average modern reader. Enter Lon Milo DuQuette to decipher and explain Crowley’s texts and more important rituals. The Magick of Aleister Crowley is a clear introduction to the works of Crowley by a modern master of the occult and one of the wittiest writers in the field. DuQuette takes the mystery out of both the rituals themselves and Crowley’s writing in this modern grimoire. Step by step, he presents a course of study in plain English, with examples of rituals and explanations of their significance. DuQuette also includes a course of study for Crowley’s original works with an extensive bibliography and fastidious footnotes.

This is the perfect introductory text for readers who wonder what the works—rather than the myth—of Aleister Crowley are all about.

Magick Without Tears; Aleister Crowley
Magick Without Tears is a personal encyclopaedia of magickal instruction, annotated by experience and explained in unguarded language. Crowley covers: how to use the Qabalah as a tool rather than merely as a system of reference; the symbols of magick; etymology and its philosophy; the three major schools of magick--white, black and yellow--their approach to life and use of power; hints for meditation and astral projection; the I Ching; The Book of the Law; the Tarot; Astrology; the importance of talismans, lamens and pentacles; how to distinguish prophecy from coincidence; etc.; etc.

The Middle Pillar: The Balance Between Mind and Magic; Israel Regardie
Break the barrier between the conscious and unconscious mind through the Middle Pillar exercise, a technique that serves as a bridge into magic, chakra work, and psychology. This classic work introduces a psychological perspective on magic and occultism while giving clear directions on how to perform the Qabalistic Cross, The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, the Middle Pillar exercise, along with its accompanying methods of circulating the light, the Vibratory Formula, and the building up of the Tree of Life in the aura.  Essential to anyone working magick seriously.

My Life with the Spirits: A Magical Autobiography; Lon Milo DuQuette
This is the first time a true magician has written an autobiography since The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, and it's the next best thing to being able to sit with tDuQuette. It's intimate, straightforward, and neither self-deprecating or egotistical. It contains excruciatingly honest revelations by a contemporary individual attempting to understand the universe and how it works. Here's a man who comfortably accepts himself and urges the reader to do the same. If you are not interested in magick, think of this as a fascinating autobiography. If you are, it's required reading.

The Tree of Life: An Illustrated Study in Magic; Israel Regardie.
This is not a book to read -- it's a book to contemplate. It's a reference book, one that will soon be bristling with post-it notes.  Delve into the astonishing depths of Regardie's magical magnum opus - one of the most comprehensive books on magic ever to appear.  Lavishly illustrated and annotated with critical commentary and explanatory notes.  Includes a new introduction, glossary, bibliography, and index.  From the day it first appeared, this book has remained in high demand by ceremonial magicians for its skilful combination of ancient wisdom and modern magical experience.  Not recommended for newcomers to Paganism but an essential if you are interested in ritual/ceremonial magick

An Introduction to Ritual Magic; Dion Fortune and Gareth Knight
In a work that had only before appeared in fragmented form in rare journal articles, Dion Fortune deals in successive chapters with Types of Mind Working; Mind Training; the use of Ritual; Psychic Perception; Ritual Initiation; the Reality of the Subtle Planes; Focusing the Magic Mirror; Channelling the Forces; the Form of the Ceremony; and the Purpose of Magic - with appendices on Talisman Magic and Astral Forms. Each chapter is supplemented and expanded by a companion chapter on the same subject, by Gareth Knight. In Dion Fortune's day the conventions of occult secrecy prevented her from being too explicit on the practical details of magic, except in works of fiction.  These veils of secrecy having now been rolled back, Gareth Knight has taken the opportunity to fill in much practical information that Dion Fortune might well have included had she been writing today. In short, in this unique collaboration of two magical practitioners and teachers we are presented with a valuable and up-to-date text on the practice of ritual or ceremonial magic "as it is".

Kabbalah

A Garden of Pomegranates - Skrying on the Tree of Life; Israel Regardie
When Israel Regardie wrote A Garden of Pomegranates in 1932, he designed it to be a simple yet comprehensive guidebook outlining the complex system of the Kabbalah and providing a key to its symbolism. Since then, it has achieved the status of a classic among texts on the Hermetic Kabbalah. The Kabbalah is the ancient system of Hebrew mysticism that is the foundation of all Western magical and esoteric studies. Its primary symbol is the Tree of Life, used since ancient times to study the nature of the Universe, the essence of God, and the attributes of the human mind. This book stands as the clearest introductory guide for magicians, with an emphasis on direct experience through meditation on the Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom

The Ciceros have redrawn all of the original diagrams and added a score of notes, as well as a glossary, a bibliography, and an index to make finding information easier than ever. Plus, they have added more than 300 pages of additional material on working with the Tree of Life that can be put into use no matter what your level of experience.

If you only ever buy one book on Kabbalah, make sure it's this one!

The Complete Guide to the Kabbalah; Will Parfitt
The Kabbalah is a collection of teachings that date back to the ancient Egyptians and which offers an explanation of who we are, why we are here, and how we can make the best of ourselves and our lives.

The Kabbalah is a very straightforward and logical system to learn. It is also a very practical system and can be used for self-help and personal development, intellectual understanding and spiritual growth. Kabbalistic teachings can be easily and genuinely applied to all areas of your life for deeper understanding, problem solving and generally enhanced appreciation of whatever issues are currently on your mind. The teachings are summarized in a diagram called the Tree of Life which presents visually the information accessible through the Kabbalistic teachings and reveals incredible patterns of connections that explain previously misunderstood areas.  My personnel recommendation as a starter if you want to use the Kabbalah in your everyday life.

Kabbalah - Your Path to Inner Freedom; Ann Williams-Heller
The symbolism of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life is explained, and its connections to astrology, numerology, angel lore, tarot, and the meaning of colours are shown. The Tree of Life is a potent tool for self-discovery and profound inner knowing, as the author shared in her popular workshops. Ann Williams-Heller was a student of world religions and of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, Paramahansa Yogananda, H. P. Blavatsky, and J. Krishnamurti before turning her full attention to Kabbalah. Her Tree of Life workshops brought Kabbalah to the attention of thousands of students. After Williams-Heller's death her student Karen Goodrun put the finishing touches on this book.

The Mystical Qabalah; Dion Fortune
Dion Fortune’s THE MYSTICAL QABALAH remains a classic in its clarity, linking the broad elements of Jewish traditional thought - probably going back to the Babylonian Captivity and beyond - with both eastern and western philosophy and later Christian insights.  Dion Fortune was one of the first Adepts to bring this ‘secret tradition’ to a wider audience. Some before her often only added to the overall mystery by elaborating on obscurity, but her account is simple, clear and comprehensive.

The Qabalah could be described as a confidential Judaic explanation of the paradox of ‘the Many and the One’ - the complexity and diversity within a monotheistic unity. Whereas the Old Testament outlines the social and psychological development of a tightly knit ‘chosen group’ culture, the supplementary Qabalah provides a detailed plan of the infrastructure behind the creative evolutionary process.

THE MYSTICAL QABALAH devotes a chapter to each of the ten schematic ‘God- names’, the qualities or ‘Sephiroth’, which focus the principle archetypes behind evolving human activity: the Spiritual Source; the principles of Force and Form; Love and Justice; the Integrative principle or the Christ Force; Aesthetics and Logic; the dynamics of the Psyche and finally, the Manifestation of life in earth in a physical body.

THE MYSTICAL QABALAH works in a profoundly psychological way. Its lessons for the individual are invaluable and this book is a must for all who feel drawn to getting to know themselves better so that their inner world and their outer world may be at one.

The Witches Qabala: The Pagan Path and the Tree of Life Ellen; Cannon Reed
Because the classic writings on the Qabala have been expressed primarily in the terminology of the Western Mystery Tradition or in terms of the ceremonial magician, its usefulness as a tool for the Craft has been overlooked. With this book, Ellen Cannon Reed—a High Priestess of the Isian tradition—brings the symbolism of the Qabala into a new light so pagans can see its value and use it to enhance the Great Work.

Reed explains the Tree of Life—the primary symbol used to represent the universal energies as “revealed” by the Qabala— and how its spheres and paths correspond to elements in the pagan tradition. Teachers can use the Qabala to understand the growth of students and their problems, using the Vices and Virtues to recognize stages of growth. Reed also provides exercises, meditations, and encouragement to students who are studying without a teacher. She discusses the Qabala as it appears in everyday life, which spheres of the Tree of Life to use for specific workings, and details two rituals using the Tree: a Dedication to the Journey, and the Rite of Mending Love. Reed’s command of the material allows teachers and students alike to gain powerful insight into their own search for spirituality.

General Paganism

Out of the Shadows: An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick; John J. Coughlin
So often darkness is associated with evil. Since the term evil has no place in a nature-based religion, we Pagans are forced to look beyond such stereotypes. But what then is "darkness"? Why are so many of us drawn to themes associated with darkness such as death, mystery, wisdom, magic, and the night? These themes and symbols are empowering to many of us because they tap into the deepest reaches of our unconscious.  The goal of this book, which is a culmination of over 16 years of study and practice, is to not only share with you the author's views on Dark Paganism and spirituality, but to encourage you - if not challenge you - to personalize your own belief system. While the first part explores the aspects and spirituality of darkness, the second part of this book discusses the nature and practice of magic by exploring the underlying principles at work.

An interesting book and worth reading but I failed to see the relevance of an in-depth look at Goth culture in a book about Paganism.  Maybe I just missed the point!

The Path Through The Labyrinth (Paperback); by Marian Green
Underlying the evolving culture of the West there hides a complete strata of folk-lore, of traditional skills and wisdom, of ancient arts and festivals. These are still emerging in myth and legend, in song and celebrations, each retaining aspects of a very great initiatory system rooted in the land and its magic.  Most available sources tell the reader about the how to of magic, but for the first time this book explores the why of magic, and the what happens when... of modern magical techniques.  In The Path Through the Labyrinth, Marian Green, a highly respected practitioner and teacher of the Western Tradition, examines these questions and guides the reader safely to the heart of the magical maze, and then out again.

The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy; Ronald Hutton
This is the first survey of religious beliefs in the British Isles from the Old Stone Age to the coming of Christianity, one of the least familiar periods in Britain's history. Ronald Hutton draws upon a wealth of new data, much of it archaeological, that has transformed interpretation over the past decade. Giving more or less equal weight to all periods, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, he examines a fascinating range of evidence for Celtic and Romano-British paganism, from burial sites, cairns, megaliths and causeways, to carvings, figurines, jewellery, weapons, votive objects, literary texts and folklore

Not an easy read.

Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain; Ronald Hutton
Comprehensive and engaging, this colourful study covers the whole sweep of ritual history from the earliest written records to the present day. From May Day revels and Midsummer fires, to Harvest Home and Hallowe'en, to the twelve days of Christmas, Ronald Hutton takes us on a fascinating journey through the ritual year in Britain. He challenges many common assumptions about the customs of the past, and debunks many myths surrounding festivals of the present, to illuminate the history of the calendar year we live by today.

Not really a Pagan book, but an inspiring read nonetheless

The White Goddess : A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth; Robert Graves
In The White Goddess Graves explores the stories behind the earliest of European deities—the White Goddess of Birth, Love, and Death—who was worshipped under countless titles. He also uncovers the obscure and mysterious power of "pure poetry" and its peculiar and mythic language.

While the book is so poetically written that many of the passages amount to prose poems, it is also frequently plot driven enough to feel like a novel, and it is rich with scholarly insight into the deep wells of poetry. Especially fascinating is the chapter in which Graves explores the ancient and ongoing practice of poets' invoking the muse. Graves details the practice in both the Eastern and Western literary traditions, and shows specific similarities and differences among Greek, British, and Irish tales and myths about the muse.