The traditional witch has a plethora of resources at his or her fingertips. BUT to make it even easier, we’ve created a HUGE list of traditional witch books including on witchcraft, herbalism, and folklore. FIRST – what type of traditional witch will these books benefit? Every witch will benefit from reading these books, but when we say “traditional witch” we are speaking particularly of those who follow an older path apart from Wicca and Gardnerianism.
If you’re wondering what is a traditional witch, let us answer to the best of our abilities. A Traditional Witch is one of a few things. It could mean that you have been initiated into a Wiccan coven under a specific tradition like Gardnerian or Alexandrian. Being a traditional witch might also mean that you follow your family’s tradition that’s been passed down from person to person. OR it means you practice British or American traditional witchcraft, which is something separate of Wicca and seeks to follow an older path of the craft. The books we list here are traditional witchcraft books in the sense that they approach topics British and American trad witches are drawn to.
Above and beyond the books we list here, we recommend reading any and all works of folklore. Especially that which includes witches, witchcraft and sorcery. Even reading Grimm’s Fairy Tales will give you some insight into witchcraft from an old Germanic perspective. Take the tale of Mother Holle or Rapunzel as examples. Reading your own local folklore about witches is also highly beneficial to your craft. In addition, witch trial documents may give us a “skewed” understanding of true witchcraft in the past, OR we may be inspired by the magic found there when we read between the proverbial lines.
As a child, I was obsessed with fairy tales and nursery rhymes. They took me …
May 16, 2022The abundance of publications and materials available to individuals who want to learn more about …
April 30, 2022
Elizabeth | 3rd Dec 20
What’s the open book on Merfolk and Sea Serpents in that picture called? Is it on this list?
Celtic Witch Books: Our 14+ MUST-READS from Myth to Magick | 15th Oct 19
[…] HUGE List of Traditional Witchcraft Books […]
Becca | 28th Sep 19
What are your thoughts on The History of Witchcraft by Montague Summers?
Chastity | 26th May 19
Nice list…thank you for taking the time to compile this however, I was hoping for some titles that were published in the 1800″s or perhaps earlier if they exist. Obscure works or even published journals/spell books etc. Most of what I can find from that time is more on how witches/pagans/druids are the devils servants(insert eye roll) written by churches. Have any good ideas where to find such older works?
@Micheline, I love that you found your path so young. No matter what path we choose to practice we are all sisters. Thanks for sharing.
@MORGANTHONY You can usually apply for your states library card online and you can check to see if they happen to have any of these books in digital form. If so, you can just check them out and read them on your preferred device. Local county libraries have the same option. I get most of my reading material for research this way. You can also access genealogical records this way as well and best thing its all FREE! Its fantastic! Hope this helps.
Blessings to all )0(
Liz | 16th Apr 23
I know I’m super late to the party, but The Fairy Faith of Celtic Countries records very old beliefs. I forget when it was published but some of those interviewed would have been alive in the mid-late 1800s. And the Mabinogion is extremely old, but most available texts are modern translations since not many people understand mediaeval Welsh any more!
Morganthony | 20th May 19
Any suggestions for people with a limited budget?
admin | 21st May 19
You can get some of these on Kindle Unlimited. It’s a service through Kindle that has dozens of free books for a smaller fee.
Micheline | 6th May 19
I didn’t see Diary of a Witch by Sybil Leek? My first intro at the age of 13 in 1965
admin | 8th May 19
Micheline – Sybil Leek wasn’t the traditional kind of witch that this list is geared towards. Read the intro. Thank you!
Sothis | 15th Aug 21
Actually I would very much disagree with you about Sybil. She cursed and fought against much of Gardner’s vision of witchcraft. I would say she is more deserving of the traditional witch title than any of the witchcraft brat packers you’ve listed here. You might want to look at her books before judging her.
kitty fields | 17th Aug 21
I’m unsure where you got the idea that I’m judging Sybil Leek. I actually grew up on her books and very much respect her. But she is not considered “traditional” in the modern sense. I disagree with the authors here being “brat packers”. The fact that I mention Gardner as not a traditional witch is merely separating him from a tradition different from Wicca. Please read a few more sources on the topic before slandering people.
Debbie Paltridge | 5th Apr 22
Oh my gosh, what an angry reply! Just saying.
kitty fields | 3rd May 22
It’s annoying when people don’t read the intro to an article and then give their 2 cents.