Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. Today’s post is my recommendation for some great non-fiction reading for the Season of the Witch! None of these will be ranked; these are just nine books I think would make ideal non-fiction reads for this time of year. Without further ado, let’s look at the list!
Of Blood & Bones: Working with Shadow Magick & the Dark of the Moon by Kate Freuler
~This is a really good book for those wanting to deepen into Shadow Work and even delve into a little bit of a darker aspect of their magickal practice. The author does a good job of explaining how to do this safely and also recommends only doing what feels correct for you, which I appreciate! It is a nuanced view on how to approach often misunderstood aspects of magick. This makes it a great read, even if you do not want to work this into your practice. After all, knowledge is power, which is why I read all sorts of magickal books, even if I never use the knowledge, I would rather have it, just in case!
Persephone Unveiled: Seeing the Goddess & Freeing Your Soul by Charles Stein
~This is one of my favorite non-fiction books about Persephone. It is a great book to read to get to know the Greek Queen of the Dead! There is also a lot of discussion of the famed Eleusinian Mysteries. I have read this one several times since first discovering it in college.
Vampires and Vampirism by Montague Summers
~This is a book by a famed occult scholar and clergyman, as are the next two books on this list. It contains a lot of old Vampire folklore, ideal for Spooky Season reading!
The Vampire in Lore and Legend by Montague Summers
~Another volume of Vampire folklore by the same author. It is ideal if you just cannot get enough of the creepy old Vampire folklore stories for Spooky Season!
The Werewolf in Lore and Legend by Montague Summers
~If you want to explore Werewolves, this collection of folklore is a great way to learn how they were perceived in bygone eras! Another good way to learn about creatures of the night for Spooky Season.
Malleus Maleficarum by Heinrich Kramer
~Ah, is there a better non-fiction book for the Season of the Witch than the horrifying Hammer of the Witches? This one is scary because it is a witch-hunting manual and was used to actually condemn many people to death. It is important reading for anyone interested in the history of the witch trials around the world. This one, translated by Montague Summers (the same academic clergyman who wrote the previous titles), is free online. Here’s the link: https://sacred-texts.com/pag/mm/index.htm.
Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms by Frances Billinghurst
~This is a great book that gives insights into several Dark Goddesses, making it a great read during the Season of the Witch! Maybe you will even discover a new Goddess who calls out to you.
Mysteries of the Dark Moon: The Healing Power of the Dark Goddess by Demetra George
~Another great book on the Dark Goddess. This one is a book that I have never forgotten and read a few times. It really stuck with me after my initial read in college! So, yes, this is the second book I discovered in college to appear on this list. For me, college was a time of exploring folklore and mythology in a much deeper way and delving into magick for the first time, hence the trove of interesting reading materials!
The Victorian Book of the Dead selected and edited by Chris Woodward
~Finally, you cannot have a non-fiction Spooky Season book recommendation list without showing some love to those ever-eerie Victorians. This book brings together several stories, news articles, and descriptions of practices surrounding the dead that were common in the Victorian era. We all know the Victorians were obsessed with death, and this book shows just how true that is! I really love this book for its treasure trove of content, as there is just so much in here. It can also serve as a jumping-off point to deep dive down the rabbit hole into a particular subject in the book!
~I hope you have enjoyed this list of nine books to read if you want to do some non-fiction reading this season. What is your favorite of these recommendations? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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