Mount TBR

[Jenett]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

[Jenett]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your mountain of things to be read?

I'm looking forward to some time in August to read Brianna Saussy's Making Magic - I've liked a lot of her other material, including her Spinning Gold year-long class, I just haven't had time to set aside to work through her first (and still very new) book yet.

I also have From Gabriel to Lucifer: A cultural history of angels by Valery Rees, which I am largely not reading for religious reasons (but for fiction book background research), but which still fits in this category anyway.

[Uneryx]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

Oh golly, I have SO MUCH on my list. I still haven't slogged my entire way through Katherine Briggs's "Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries" despite it being THE book for fairies.

Other than that I would really like to read An Carow Gwyn but it is almost $70 so I'm saving up.

[Edited to fix link code - SP]

[EclecticWheel]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

I had Children of Lucifer, by Ruben Van Luijk on my reading list but have recently started reading it.  It is very informative, but a book that takes some effort.  I think there were at least 95 footnotes in the introduction alone.  It is a history of Satanism.  I wasn't originally reading this for spiritual purposes, but some of the folk magic associated with medieval Christianity I'm coming across in the book is starting to influence my practices.  I am doing some spiritual work right now in my personal life the form of which is directly influenced by this book.

I'm also planning to read Events of Grace: Naturalism, Existentialism, and Theology, by Charley D. Hardwick.  I am interested in philosophical re-interpretations of Christianity like this and am looking for any insights that I can incorporate into my own system and practices or my thoughts and perspective.

At some point I need to get around to finishing The Religions of Man, by Huston Smith, an overview of large world religions/philosophies.  In that book I am particularly interested in Buddhist perspectives which to some extent have influenced my worldview.

I also want to read Bulfinch's Mythology which has been recommended to me by a friend.  I want to get more familiar with Greek mythology in particular which is what I'm already most familiar with anyway in the realm of pagan mythology.  For the time being it doesn't work for me well to build systems of ritual around Greek mythology, but I would like to get more deeply acquainted with it and select gods for the purposes of reflection and meditation and see where things lead from there.

I'll probably be delving into books on neo-pagan subjects in the near future.  It has been a while since I've picked up any books on that subject, but when I do start adding those to my list I'll be looking for something other than the paganism 101 books that seem so numerous.

[Sefiru]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

I already posted about the book in German on Swiss nature worship ... I've at least started practicing my German reading with other materials, so that's under way.

I have The History of Japanese Religion, which is a doorstopper, so I'll be leaving that for a bit. Also found a copy of How To Meditate (1974) on the dollar table at the used book place, and Religion in Ancient Egypt (1991 ed. Byron Schafer; there are too many books with similar titles to this).

Speaking of similar titles, I have The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck out from the library, and need to reserve The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving A F*ck, which was the one I intended to read. I'll probably do a thread on those two books once I've read them both.

[Dynes Hysbys]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, and the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner by Roger Horne is next on my list.  Nigel Pearson gave it a lot of praise in a facebook group recently so I'm looking forward to starting it.

[SunflowerP]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

My current TBR pile (which is not a pile, but is on shelves!) is mostly fiction, and doesn't have anything I expect to have religious, spiritual, or magical content of use to me, but there's a good chance there'll be serendipitous tidbits, since it includes Parke Godwin's Robin and the King (sequel to Sherwood, which had such bits) and a couple of C.J. Cherryh.

Other than that I would really like to read An Carow Gwyn but it is almost $70 so I'm saving up.

[Edited to fix link code - SP]

(Off-topic: I fixed the quote code on that.)

Looks like Artisson is overrating himself again (or more likely still). My guess is that he thinks of it as an academic book, and has set his price accordingly (and believes he's offering a generous bargain, because that's the low end for academic books). (I'm seeing an Amazon.ca price of CAD53.11, which is a bit more reasonable but still on the high side.)

I'm not saying 'don't buy it'; if you're already familiar with Artisson, with what he (apparently) thinks he's doing and usually isn't, and what he does do well, you'll know what you're likely to be getting and have decided it's worth the price to you - and that's reasonable, because some of what he does well, no one else is doing precisely that. If you're not familiar with him and his back history, though, I'd advise you to look into that before laying out that much cash. (I'd compare it to the decision to purchase, or not purchase, Frazer's The Golden Bough; Artisson similarly puts a lot of research work into trying to demonstrate that his mythic history is factual - the pieces can be interesting, even if the thesis is BS.)

I also want to read Bulfinch's Mythology which has been recommended to me by a friend.  I want to get more familiar with Greek mythology in particular which is what I'm already most familiar with anyway in the realm of pagan mythology.  For the time being it doesn't work for me well to build systems of ritual around Greek mythology, but I would like to get more deeply acquainted with it and select gods for the purposes of reflection and meditation and see where things lead from there.

You will almost certainly be disappointed. As with what I said to Uneryx above, I'm not necessarily saying, 'don't buy it' - but you will probably find Edward Tripp's Handbook of Classical Mythology (variously, The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology or Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology) more useful; sure, read Bulfinch, but do so by finding it someplace like Project Gutenberg, since it's old enough to be public domain, rather than spending even used-book prices on it.

I'll quit throwing cold water on everyone's TBR lists now .

Sunflower

[Dynes Hysbys]

Looks like Artisson is overrating himself again (or more likely still). My guess is that he thinks of it as an academic book, and has set his price accordingly (and believes he's offering a generous bargain, because that's the low end for academic books). (I'm seeing an Amazon.ca price of CAD53.11, which is a bit more reasonable but still on the high side.)

It's the peculiar spelling of "Fayerie" that turns me completely off this one .

[SunflowerP]

It's the peculiar spelling of "Fayerie" that turns me completely off this one .

Yeah, I rolled my eyes hard at that one.

Sunflower

[EclecticWheel]

You will almost certainly be disappointed. As with what I said to Uneryx above, I'm not necessarily saying, 'don't buy it' - but you will probably find Edward Tripp's Handbook of Classical Mythology (variously, The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology or Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology) more useful; sure, read Bulfinch, but do so by finding it someplace like Project Gutenberg, since it's old enough to be public domain, rather than spending even used-book prices on it.

I'll quit throwing cold water on everyone's TBR lists now .

Sunflower

I appreciate the recommendations, though!  I'll be writing those down in my journal for future reading along with the novels you recommended in another thread.

But right now I'm still slogging through the Children of Lucifer book.  It's fascinating, but very dense!

[Eastling]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on yours?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

Oh boy...I'm a bit behind. I have no idea how many of these I'll ever actually get to, so anyone who has opinions on any of these, feel free to advise me on how to prioritize them.

Basic (And Other) Judaica

• The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism by Daniel C. Matt (I have skimmed, quoted, and recommended this book, but never properly finished it)
• Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism by Howard Schwartz (same as above)
• Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible edited by Gregg Drinkwater, Joshua Lesser, and David Shneer

More Ancient Looooore

• Minoan Crete: From Myth to History by Andonis Vasilakis
• Architecture of Minoan Crete by John C. McEnroe
• Kinyras: The Divine Lyre by John C. Franklin
• Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, Shield translated, introduced, and noted by Apostolos N. Athanassakis
• The Homeric Hymns translated, introduced, and noted by Apostolos N. Athanassakis
• The Bacchae of Euripides: A New Version by C. K. Williams
• Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult, Lore by Jennifer Larson
• Searching for Sappho by Philip Freeman
• Gilgamesh translated by David Ferry
• Love Lyrics of Ancient Egypt translated by Barbara Hughes Fowler

Witchy History, or "Witchstory"

• The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
• Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler
• Bull of Heaven: The Mythic Life of Eddie Buczynski and the Rise of the New York Pagan by Michael G. Lloyd

General Magic & Witchery & Woo

• Trance-Portation: Learning to Navigate the Inner World by Diana L. Paxson (I have attempted to read this in the past and bounced off it, but I want to try agin)
• The Sorcerer's Secrets: Strategies in Practical Magick by Jason Miller
• Magic Simplified: A series of practical exercises for developing the neophyte magician by Draja Mickaharic
• Glamour Magic: The Witchcraft Revolution to Get What You Want by Deborah Castellano
• The Practical Art of Divine Magic by Patrick Dunn
• By Land, Sky & Sea by Gede Parma
• Ecstatic Witchcraft by Gede Parma
• Queer Magic: Power Beyond Boundaries edited by Lee Harrington and Tai Fenix Kulystin

Feri Woo In Particular

• Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition by Cora Anderson
• Etheric Anatomy: The Three Selves and Astral Travel by Victor H. Anderson
• A Witch's Book of Silence by Karina Blackheart
• Evolutionary Witchcraft by T. Thorn Coyle

About My God

• Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic by Mark Blake
• Is This the Real Life? The Untold Story of Queen by Mark Blake
• Mercury and Me by Jim Hutton with Tim Wapshott
• Freddie Mercury by Peter Freestone with David Evans
• Queen Unseen: My Life with the Greatest Rock Band of the 20th Century by Peter Hince

Miscellaneous Pop Culture Mystic Stuff

• Into the Mystic: The Visionary and Ecstatic Roots of 1960s Rock and Roll by Christopher Hill
• The Folkloresque: Reframing Folklore in a Popular Culture World by Michael Dylan Foster and Jeffrey A. Tolbert

...and I have almost certainly missed some.

[Uneryx]

Looks like Artisson is overrating himself again (or more likely still). My guess is that he thinks of it as an academic book, and has set his price accordingly (and believes he's offering a generous bargain, because that's the low end for academic books). (I'm seeing an Amazon.ca price of CAD53.11, which is a bit more reasonable but still on the high side.)

I'm not saying 'don't buy it'; if you're already familiar with Artisson, with what he (apparently) thinks he's doing and usually isn't, and what he does do well, you'll know what you're likely to be getting and have decided it's worth the price to you - and that's reasonable, because some of what he does well, no one else is doing precisely that. If you're not familiar with him and his back history, though, I'd advise you to look into that before laying out that much cash. (I'd compare it to the decision to purchase, or not purchase, Frazer's The Golden Bough; Artisson similarly puts a lot of research work into trying to demonstrate that his mythic history is factual - the pieces can be interesting, even if the thesis is BS.)
Sunflower

Really! I did not know any of this (although i will admit doin' a squint at 'fayrie' as well, but glossed over it because I mentally put it in the same category of spelling it "magickian"  - IE the Uneryx Finds Some Things A Bit Silly And Up Their Own Ass But Who Am I To Criticize, I'm The One Buying Specific Bakeware For   category).

Thanks for the heads up, I"ll do a little more vetting and research.

[Uneryx]

Really! I did not know any of this (although i will admit doin' a squint at 'fayrie' as well, but glossed over it because I mentally put it in the same category of spelling it "magickian"  - IE the Uneryx Finds Some Things A Bit Silly And Up Their Own Ass But Who Am I To Criticize, I'm The One Buying Specific Bakeware For   category).

Thanks for the heads up, I"ll do a little more vetting and research.

After some google and reading: HMMM YIKES.

Thanks for the heads-up, Sunflower. Guess I'm bumping Trance-portation back up to the top of the pile.

[TheGreenWizard]

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a pile of things on my to-be-read list. What's on your's?

(This is in the religion and philosophy portion of the forum, so specifically, what's on your list that's related to your religious or spiritual life or practices or magic, or anything else along those lines, broadly defined.)

*TGW checks eCauldron for threads to post in. Opens and reads this thread. I can totally do this, TGW says to himself.

TGW looks at his library. Then his bedside table. Then the living room. And the bag of books in the guest bedroom closet. After a few hours, TGW goes back to his desk...*

As much as I want to share this list, I know for a fact that I have too many books all over my apartment (and probably in other places) to list here. I'll try again when I have the energy to do so.

[Jenett]

TGW looks at his library. Then his bedside table. Then the living room. And the bag of books in the guest bedroom closet. After a few hours, TGW goes back to his desk...*

You do not need to share your entire list! (Mine is also overwhelming that front). Pick one or two that you're particularly interested in, or think would be cool to mention, or whatever else is not as overwhelming.