Lets Burn Some Stuff

The Magus

The Book of Ceremonial Magic

Sixth Book of Moses

Seventh Book of Moses

The Key of Solomon The King

The Lesser Key of Solomon

Abratel of Magick

Grimoire of Armadel

Grimoire of Honorius

Grimoirium Imperium

Grimoirum Verum

Heptameron

Libellus Magicus

Well Adobe is retiring flash in 2020 (rip) and this dude BlueMaxima has created a project to save online flash/shock/java/etc games and animation though a launcher software. HERE

There’s literally thousands of games that have been found and saved.

@ms-noided

Hello everyone. I hope you’re having a beautiful day, and that it gets even better. As some of you have seen, I have an extensive reading list up about witchcraft-related topics that I periodically revise. 

Said list only features non-fiction books about magick, divination, and related topics, though. Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of people asking me to recommend some fiction, as well. I understand the itch and the impetus to read some well-written books about witches, especially witches that have something in common with us ourselves and how we practic!

Many of us (me included) were first introduced to the concept of magick through fiction, and fiction can provide an excellent window into different paradigms and ways of looking at things. 

The thing is, though, almost every fantasy genre novel out there features magick of some sort in some capacity, so an exhaustive list of books about witches and magicians wouldn’t really be possible. So, I’ll just be listing a) books that have a more realistic portrayal, and b) my personal favorites. Here we go.

The Circle of Three Series, by Isobel Bird. This series of thirteen books designed for young adults chronicles the involvement of three normal high school girls in Wicca, their deepening understanding of magick and the Craft, as well as their spiritual growth. It’s a really cute, well-written series and especially appropriate for kids who are curious about Wicca or magick in general. It’s also very realistic - all of the spells and rituals the girls do could conceivably be done in real life, and they reference a lot of important information about the history of the Craft and Wicca. The only unrealistic part is probably the idea that so many interesting things would happen to the same three people! Highly recommended if you’re Wiccan or don’t mind reading about Wicca!

Sweep Series, by Cate Tiernan. This series is probably familiar to anyone who came of age in the early 2000s; it was incredibly popular and introduced the concept of witchcraft to a lot of people. It’s well-written and imaginative, but there are some caveats. Firstly, the book calls the practices of the characters “Wiccan” and “Wicca” and features tidbits of Wiccan theology, but skips on historical accuracy in favor of fantasy aspects. Secondly, very little of what the characters do is possible in real life (throwing bolts of energy, etc). Still, it’s an interesting little series and a little bit more realistic than Harry Potter. I read it when I was young, and still have a soft spot for it!

Revolt of the Magicians, by Lon Milo DuQuette. A lot of titles have semi-realistic portrayals of witchcraft or Wicca, but this is a rare gem in that it focuses on ceremonial magick. In particular, it’s basically a fanfic about Aleister Crowley’s involvement with the Golden Dawn, mixing actual history and what probably actually happened with fantasy elements (Moina Mathers shapeshifts into a cat)! It’s worth reading if you like fantasy and also have an interest in Aleister Crowley and/or the Golden Dawn, but it won’t please everyone, particularly given how Crowley’s opponents are portrayed. It’s also written in script format, which I know some people dislike.

Blue is For Nightmares Series, by Laurie Faria Stolarz. Another title for young adults that will please older people, as well, this is a series of mysteries featuring a young witch and amateur sleuth. The characters are well-written, but some of them are rather childish and their gaffes will have you facepalming. As to witchcraft, the book features folk magick rather than Wicca and while some of it is somewhat fanciful, it’s far more realistic than Sweep, to compare. I will warn that a lot of the books have exceedingly dark denouements and I do remember sobbing at the end of the first one as a young adult.

T*Witches Series, by H.B. Gilmour. This series is decidedly for young people, and probably best suited for preteens interested in magick. It will not appeal much to older people, and has very simple plots. The witchcraft featured is a mixture of fantasy and folk magick. I include it here mostly because the final book in the series has a section in the back about correspondences and, y’know, actual witchcraft. It seemed a bit out of place when I first read it, but it’s a cute series for kids.

The Seer Series, by Linda Joy Singleton. Another series designed for young adults but popular with all ages, this one features a young psychic (not technically a witch) and describes her adventures solving mysteries and resolving the conflicts that arise surrounding her psychic powers. I was struck by how utterly normal the main character is besides her abilities, and I think she’s a very relatable character, especially for young people. There’s a bit of witchcraft in some of the stories, but mostly, it’s a look at a young person grappling with extrasensory abilities and the gifts and challenges that come with them. Most of it is quite realistic, but there’s some elements that seem more fantastical. It’s worth a read!

Dead Girl Series, by Linda Joy Singleton. This series is designed, probably, to appeal to the goth crowd (with the title design, etc,) but is actually an endearing, sweet look at a young girl who finds herself in rather extraordinary circumstances and must help her friends deal with the deeper realities of life and death. The main character is a “temp-lifer,” who possesses people’s bodies during difficult times so as to allow them to retreat and heal, and is helped by a variety of interesting characters, such as a small dog acting as a psychopomp, and also her grandmother’s spirit. Does not actually feature much witchcraft, but will appeal to those interested in magick!

His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman. Where to start with this one! It’s my absolute favorite. It features a girl from a parallel world gifted with a strange divination device. She must learn to use it, and navigate the strange interdimensional political machinations that surround her. Features flying pagan witches, alchemy, and Jungian concepts. Most of the mythos of it is Christian, but it’s quite deconstructive of the same. It might not appeal to Christians, but, if understood in a certain context, is very life-affirming and positive in its portrayal of the universe.

Witches Chillers Series, by Silver Ravenwolf. I realize Ravenwolf is a deeply problematic author in her non-fiction, in terms of historical accuracy and other matters. You see some of this in her fiction, but it’s a tolerable read, regardless. Most annoying about this book was her habit of piling on minority characters as if she were just collecting them, but it’s portrayal of certain practices from American folk magick interested me. I’ve only read two of the books in this three-book series. I honestly wouldn’t recommend going and seeking this one out, but if you come across it, why not read it? Just realize that Ravenwolf is Ravenwolf, basically.

The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, by Libba Bray. Taking place in the Victorian era, this series features a young, wealthy girl who discovers she is heir to a strange secret society of women who practice magick and visit arcane realms. There are some very strange aspects to this book series, and it deals with some very serious issues (self-harm, suicide), but it does so in a very erudite and tactful manner. It’s a personal favorite of mine, though I do see some flaws in it. It’s quite fantasy-centric, with very little references to actual practices beyond mythological references. It’s a great read, though, but keep in mind that it’s quite sad at times.

 The Minister’s Daughter, by Julie Hearn. This story takes place in the early modern period in Britain, and approaches witchcraft from the imagining that long-debunked theories of pagan witch-cults in the area are actually true. An interesting premise, in my perspective, but not without its problems. Worth reading because it features bits of actual lore that are quite delightful, can be very humorous at times, and has a lot of interesting twists and turns. The final reveal alone is worth the read!

Balefire Series, by Cate Tiernan. Similar to Sweep, and by the same author, this series features witches living in and around New Orleans, and the interaction of two reunited siblings. High points here include the message that magick is truly for all, and also a lot of interesting tidbits about folk magick. It’s enjoyable, but a bit soap opera-like. Still worth a read!

Anyways… I hope you found something worth reading on this list, and I hope it fires your imagination and enriches your own love for magick! 

Bonus: This article is actually the first of a two-part series; soon, I’ll be posting a second article, entitled “So You Want to Write About Witches and Magick,” designed to be a guide for those wanting to write a more realistic portrayal of modern witches, drawing from actual traditions as they’re practiced. 

Wands:

Ace: Lack of energy, Lack of passion, Boredom

Two: Lack of planning, Disorganization, bad planning

Three: Obstacles, frustration, delays

Four: Instability, Lack of communication, Home conflicts

Five: Respecting differences, avoiding conflict

Six: Punishment, self-doubt, Lack of recognition

Seven: Feeling overwhelmed, give up, destroyed confidence

Eight: Obstacles, waiting, slowing down

Nine: Reaching burnout, exhaustion, fatigue

Ten: Instability to delegate, Lack of priorities

Page: Feeling caged, Lack of direction, negativity

Knight: Impulsivity, recklessness, anger

Queen: demanding, selfish, jealousy

King: Impulsive, overbearing, Unachieveable expectations

Cups:

Ace: Wasted emotions, emptiness, blocked creativity

Two: Tension, Imbalance, broken communication

Three: solitude, conformity, herd mentality

Four: Taking for granted, boredom, aloofness

Five: moving on, acceptance, finding peace

Six: unrealistic expectations, resisting change, clinging to the past

Seven: diversion, temptation, confusion

Eight: fear or loss, confusion, fear of the unknown

Nine: greed, smugness, dissatisfaction

Ten: shattered dreams, broken family, bad relationships

Page: escapism, immaturity, Lack of creativity

Knight: disappointment, moodiness

Queen: insecurity, coldness, dependence

King: manipulation, moodiness, trickery

Swords:

Ace: Confusion, brutality, chaos

Two: No right choice, lesser of two evils, confusion

Three: recovery, forgiveness, moving on

Four: stress, restlessness, burntout

Five: desire to forgive, desire to reconcile, lingering resentment

Six: unresolved issues, emotional baggage, resisting transition

Seven: turn a new leaf, desire to change, desire to reform

Eight: self acceptance, freedom, new perspective

Nine: fear, despair, Lack of objectivity

Ten: reviving, rejuvenation, inevitable end

Page: rushing through, all talk, Hastiness

Knight: No direction, unpredictability, disregard for consequences

Queen: cold heartedness, bitterness, cruel

King: Manipulative, cruel, criticism

Pentacles:

Ace: Missed chance, lost opportunity

Two: Loss of balance, disorganized, overwhelmed

Three: disorganized, Lack of teamwork, group conflict

Four: Greediness, possessiveness, stinginess

Five: Isolation, recovery

Six: selfishness, debt, stinginess

Seven: distractions, Lack of rewards, work without results

Eight: No focus, No ambition, No motivation

Nine: Obsession with work, setbacks, mistakes

Ten: Lack of stability, failure, Lack of resources

Page: daydreaming, laziness, impractality

Knight: laziness, work without reward, obsessiveness

Queen: worklife imbalance, smothering

King: Indulgance, sensuality, greed

Major arcana:

The fool: Inconsideration, recklessness, being taken advantage of

The magician: Trickery, illusions, out of touch

The high priestess: Lack of center, lost inner voice, repressed feelings

The empress: dependence, smothering, emptiness

The emperor: tyranny, rigidity, coldness

The heirophant: rebellion, subversiveness, new approaches

The lovers: loss of balance, one-sidedness, disharmony

The chariot: Lack of control, Lack of direction, aggression

Justice: dishonesty, unaccountability, unfairness

The hermit: Lonliness, isolation, lost your way

Wheel of fortune: no control, clinging to control, bad luck

Strength: self doubt, weakness, insecurity

The hanged man: stalling, needless sacrifice, fear of sacrifice

Death: Fear of change, holding on, stagnation

Temperance: excess, extremes, Lack of balance

The devil: Freedom, release, restoring control

The tower: disaster avoided, delaying disaster, fear of suffering

The star: Insecurity, discouragement, faithlessness

The moon: Confusion, fear, misinterpretation

The sun: negativity, depression, sadness

Judgement: Lack of self-awareness, doubt, self-loathing