Book Recommendations & Reviews
Here I will post a list of books that I would recommend to interested persons, and some times a word or two of my own opinions on specific titles.
Selections will not be limited to Heathenry or Paganism, but will also include books that have inspired me mystically or encouraged me as a parent endeavoring to raise wholesome children.
Pagan or Heathen Works of Note
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The Way of Wyrd: Tales of an Anglo-Saxon Sorcerer - Brian Bates
An eye-opening read that helped open my mind to the whole new horizon of Pagan spirituality, limitless experience.
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Neolithic Shamanism: Spirit Work in the Norse Tradition - Kaldera, Raven, Krasskova, Galina, Unknown
I will re-read this one before placing a short review here. I do not believe my own training is necessarily in line with some of the points made on Norse Shamanism in this work, but it's still an important work.
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Teutonic Mythology, Volumes 1, 2, & 3 - Rydberg, Viktor
Perhaps the most important work in relaying as accurate as possible information about our ancient Gods and Goddesses without the influence of Christianization. A VERY difficult read, though - much of the syntax is difficult to understand as it was written by an academic in a very different era. Still highly recommended, but not for the faint of heart.
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Our Fathers' Godsaga: Retold for the Young - Viktor Rydberg, John Bauer, William P. Reaves
A much more accessible read than Rydberg's three volume work listed above. I highly recommend this work as a starting point for anyone wishing to learn about our Theology.
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The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes - Crawford, Jackson, HACKETT
Dr. Jackson Crawford's translation of the Poetic Edda. I respect his work as a modern scholar of linguistic expertise, and even highly recommend looking him up on YouTube as he has some great educational videos on our Heathen literature.
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The Kalevala: An Epic Poem after Oral Tradition - Lönnrot, Elias, Bosley, Keith
The great epic of Finland, detailing the account of Vainamoinen and a good way to learn of Suomenusko (Finnish Paganism).
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Forn Threifa: Ancient Healing Touch - Valarie Wright
An important contribution to shamanism in the Northern Tradition, very similar to what I am learning with my own teacher.
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Exploring the Northern Tradition - Krasskova, Galina, Career Press, Inc.
This one has a long subtitle which I chose not to include. A very nice reference book for people of our faith.
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Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner - Krasskova, Galina, Kaldera, Raven, Career Press, Inc.
This one also has a long subtitle which I did not include :) A very nice book of prayers and tribute from experienced practitioners of our faith. Some do venerate Loki, however, which is not taught in the particular tradition I come from as he is the opposite of the honorable Shining Ones which we choose to venerate.
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The Wanderer's Havamal - Crawford, Jackson, Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Aside from the benefit of Dr. Crawford's expertise in ancient Norse translations, I like this one because it pairs the Old Norse language side-by-side with the modern English as translated by Crawford. There are ample explanations and comments at the beginning and end, but it is just a nice way to connect with the older tradition through its language with the side-by-side translation if you enjoy studying the words of the High One.
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Odin's Wife: Mother Earth in Germanic Mythology - Reaves, William P.
A great contribution to modern practitioners of our faith, this is an extremely detailed examination of the history of Northern Europe's veneration of Mother Earth as well as some of her family. The author draws some interesting conclusions that all may not agree with, but that is perfectly fine.
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Family Books
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The Magickal Family: Pagan Living in Harmony with Nature - Crosson, Monica
Written from a more Wiccan point of view rather than Heathen, this work gave my heart hope as I was shifting from Christianity to Heathen Paganism. The author, like me, is/was a homeschool mom who loved her children more than anything, held family values high, and sought to honor what is Sacred.
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The Awakened Family: How to Raise Empowered, Resilient, and Conscious Children - Shefali Tsabary Ph.D.
I cannot recommend this one highly enough to any parent on any path in any situation! This is a wonderful work and it challenges parents to be better people more than anything to help their children make their way successfully in the world.
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How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare - Ken Ludwig
While not necessarily nature or Pagan influenced, I will always love this book as I am a lover of Shakespeare and it encourages family time together...it is a great read and lays out how to share this greatest playwright of all times with your own kiddos. "I know a bank where the wild thyme grows!" Do you? :)
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The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice - Edwards, Carolyn McVickar
A nice look at world-wide mythology regarding Winter Solstice.
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Children's Books
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The Adventure's of Thor the Thunder God - Lunge-Larsen, Lise, Madsen, Jim, Lunge-Larsen, Lise/ Madsen, Jim (ILT)
A fun book for children to learn of this great Deity. I think boys especially find this one engaging!
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D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths - d'Aulaire, Ingri, d'Aulaire, Edgar Parin, Chabon, Michael, New York Review of Books
Beautiful artwork paired with the stories of our Gods and Goddesses, our Theology as we could call it rather than mythology. Very nice for children and adults!
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A Child's Introduction to Norse Mythology - Alexander, Heather, Hamilton, Meredith
This one has a long subtitle which I did not include. It is a good starting point for children.
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The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice - Pfeffer, Wendy, Reisch, Jesse, Dutton Juvenile
A great book explaining the science behind our Wheel of the Year and Yul celebrations!
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The Solstice Badger - McFadden, Robin
A lovely children's tale for Solstices!
Baby's First Book of Runes - Overton, Carrie, Brand: Huginn Muninn
This book is an okay visual reference for some of the Runes, however it does not include all 33 Northumbrian runes as taught to me in our particular line of traditional observance. It includes pictures, but not definitions, so it can help children learn some of the runes but doesn't go farther.
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My First Book of Runes Younger Furthark - Overton, Carrie
Again, not the complete Northumbrian set that our particular traditional line embraces. The alphabet is not in order and the pictures with the runes and letters have nothing to do with the Rune meanings but teaching phonetic sounds to children learning ABCs. I have not to this day been able to understand why this one is laid out in the order it is- it's fun, but confusing.
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An Earth Child's Book of the Year - Camden, Marian Louise, Wright, Diane Beem
A lovely book of art and short excerpts for celebrating the Wheel of the Year.
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An Earth Child's Book of Verse - Camden, Marian Louise, Wright, Diane Beem
Lovely poems for the Wheel of the Year, to go with An Earth Child's Book of the Year.
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Rupert's Tales: The Wheel of the Year - Kyrja
There are two books to encompass both halves of the year: light and dark. We have loved using this since Kekri (Samhain) last year!
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Peace - Wendy Anderson Halperin
One of our family favorites! Peace starts within.
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E Is for Ethics - Corlett, Ian James, Holt, R. A.
A great book for building and understanding virtuous moral character, a cornerstone of our faith traditions. Each virtue is presented in a concise manner so children do not have to be able to sit still for long to benefit from this one :)
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Brother Sun, Sister Moon - Paterson, Katherine, Dalton, Pamela, Chronicle Books
While this is an inherently Christian book, the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi is nature-based and probably the most "Pagan"-Christian work I have encountered. I will always love the artwork in this rendition and it's sweet recognition of the natural world.
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A Kid's Herb Book: For Children of All Ages - Tierra, Lesley, BOOKS & MEDIA
This is a fantastic book connecting children and families to the personalities of the green world. Herbs are our friends and provide medicine for us as well!
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Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story - Gates, Mariam, Hinder, Sarah Jane
Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story - Gates, Mariam, Hinder, Sarah Jane, Sounds True
These two are wonderful for incorporating mindfulness and movement in elementary age children!
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A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles - Nhat Hanh, Thich, Plum Blossom Books
This is a lovely book for children, incorporating imagination, focus, breath, and nature.
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Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors - Sidman, Joyce, Zagarenski, Pamela, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
A very lovely book to connect hearts with the heart of nature and Mother Earth. Inspiring.
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The Children's Book of Virtues - William J. Bennett, Michael Hague, Simon Schuster
Our rich Heathen tradition is founded in strong virtuous living, so this is an excellent book for our children!
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Spirituality - Not Particularly Heathen or Pagan
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The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion - Mircea Eliade, Willard R. Trask
A very interesting look at ancient global practices regarding sacred space and relation of self to that space.
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The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music - Wooten, Victor L., Penguin Books
One of my all-time favorites! If you enjoy journeys of consciousness and miracles, especially in relation to music, this is a must read!
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The Holy Science - Yukteswar, Sri
Important work attempting to detail the world ages which are commonly accepted by many Pagan traditions worldwide, including ours. Although terms may vary from tradition to tradition, the descriptions and information given are extremely helpful for those interested in this topic.
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Self-Help and Empowerment Books
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The Emotion Code - Bradley Nelson, Wellness Unmasked Publishing
Working with the body's energy field, Dr. Nelson lays out how one can clear negative trapped energies for healing. As a Body Code practitioner (a certification program further developed by Dr. Nelson himself), I simply had to recommend this one! Although written from a Christian perspective the methods of healing remain without any particular belief system.
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BioGeometry Signatures: Harmonizing the Body's Subtle Energy Exchange with the Environment - Karim Dr.Sc., Ibrahim
Very interesting studies and practical tools for balancing the body systems and organs.
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Books that Helped Me Transition from Christianity
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Jesus Christ, Sun of God: Ancient Cosmology and Early Christian Symbolism - Fideler, David, Brand: Quest Books
While I'm sure Christian mystics could use this book to confirm their position, it helped me understand that so much of modern Christianity, built on the New Testament, is actually rooted in ancient Gnostic symbolism and is not originally Christian at all...rather disheartening if that is what you are looking for.
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Reincarnation: The Missing Link in Christianity - Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Erin L. Prophet, Summit University Press
A more mystic Christian perspective. Many details of church history are laid out, such as the date for rejecting reincarnation as a doctrine (yes, reincarnation was originally held to be true) as well as the deification of Jesus Christ, if I remember correctly (no, not originally held as an actual deity..."Son of God" would have meant any man as all were considered Sons of God during the early church period).
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Not In His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief - John Lamb Lash, Brand: Chelsea Green Publishing
John Lamb Lash is brilliant in piecing ancient information together, analyzing the psychological driving factors of Christianity, and merciless in his rejection of it. Another read that is not for the faint of heart as it is a more meaty read, Gnosticism and the origins of Christianity have probably never been examined in such a way as this work.
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The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World - Nixey, Catherine, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
A wonderful work! Respectfully written regardless of one's religious or spiritual beliefs, it simply details actual history for this time period and Christianity's role.