whats a good book for a 20 year old starting to learn wicca?

Answer 1

I'll second the vote for "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham -- it gives you the information you need to start practicing the religion on a daily basis, and he is very clear that his is not the only way to practice, only a starting point.

I'll also add "The Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton for historical background on the rise of modern Neo-Pagan witchcraft.

However, I have to say stay FAR away from Silver Ravenwolf. Her scholarship is shoddy, her ethics are questionable, and her spells tend to be full of holes. Many experienced Wiccans view her with contempt. Here's an article that explains why:

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml

Best of luck to you on your path.

Answer 2

Scott Cunningham's Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner should be in every Wiccan's library from new to the experienced.

Answer 3

Get "Wicca for the Solitary PRactitioner" by Scott Cunningham and (I can't believe I'm gonna say this) "Solitary Witch" by Silver Ravenwolf.

Between the two of them, they should get you well on your way. :)

To those Obvious Christians answering:

Can't you be respectful to another religion JUST ONCE and let this person be?

As an aside...I get the Silver RavenWolf books for the raw knowledge contained in them-the associations, colors, herbs, etc. Everything else, I tend to just ignore.

Answer 4

Encyclopedia Britannica 2007 edition.

Answer 5

Hi hon; let me try to explain to you what goes through my head when I see requests like this on public forums or E-mails. Shat you are asking to me sounds like "I want someone to explain it to me to save me the time of doing the preliminary research; that way if I don't like it I haven't wasted a lot of my time, or my money on books." So basically, it sounds to me that you would rather waste my time trying to teach you someting you may not even end up being interested in, rather than waste your own time doing research. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't mean it that way-- but that's how it comes off. I'll bet just about every Wiccan here (especially those like myself who write on the topic, or manage websites or who are listed as clergy, etc.) gets a lot of E-mails from strangers looking to be taught. There is simply no shortage of people who want to "get started" and who want to interview or sit down and talk with an experienced Wiccan, who want us to give you our time and explain it all so you can determine if it's worth it to you to go forward. This is why these requests get ignored-- we could literally fill our days offering to talk to or instruct people eager to get started who want the guidance of an experienced Wiccan to teach them. And we don't get compensated for our time... and then maybe a handful of all those people actually go off and become Wiccan for any length of time. This is why we direct you to the books and websites and forums-- it's where we answer the questions en masse, and tell people how to get started. Because it would be not only impossible but an unfair demand of our time to do this for every individual person. A Wiccan is not usually looking to take on a student just to have one-- if we did, we could each have a hoard of followers and no rest. I know if I take on a student or if I am willing to privately e-mail and chat with people-- it's usually the ones who are very industrious, who go to the books and the forums and the websites, who start studies on their own, who decide they KNOW they want to be Wiccan and they are very serious about it. Basically if you're not willing to work for it or waste your time on finding things out when the answers you seek are readily available, why should I waste my time?

Answer 6

"A Witches Bible" by Janet and Stewart Farrar. It's a tad outdated, but incredibly useful and packed with information. Cunningham can be useful too, though don't take him as the final word on anything.

If you need others, wicca.timerift.net has a booklist (If you go there, there's a menu on the right and it should be right there)

Answer 7

Salam

From what I understand of the term is not of matter.
Read all the books of the Lord just as you look over the salad bar and other books you pick then read them all and then choose inshAllah.

Answer 8

"So Ya Wanna Wave a Wand." I can't remember the author.

Answer 9

The Holy Bible!
2 Chronicles 33:6
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Don't make God angry!

Answer 10

The Bible, why not? It talks about witchcraft and sorcery. Even King Saul practiced it!