I just listened to Laura Tempest Zakroff’s “6 Minutes of Witchcraft – A Message to Experienced Witches” where she talked about recommending introductory books to seekers. Would you recommend your favourite beginner books to a newbie today? Popular books from the 1970s (Margot Adler, Starhawk), 1980s (Raymond Buckland), and 1990s (Scott Cunningham, Silver RavenWolf) may not be necessarily valid in today’s modern world.
Stating that Wicca is an ancient religion, or that 9 million witches were killed during the “Burning Times” was common to say in the past, but scholars today know that these statements are untrue. Is Cunningham’s discussion about Wicca being “European Shamanism” a form of cultural appropriation?
Many of these classics have undergone revisions, but maybe go back and read that intro book you are recommending to new seekers. Not only could it refresh your memory and spark renewed interest in a subject, but it will put the book in a modern context and you can be a better judge of whether it’s truly a good recommendation for someone starting out on their path.
© West Coast Pagan
West Coast Pagan 