Whether you’ve just started your spiritual and/or witchy practice or have been at it for a few years, books are still usually one of the best ways to learn. With the common critique of “Witchy 101” books being that they are all the same and are more of a marketing ploy for publishers than focused on relaying unique information, stories, and practices to the reader, you may be wondering where the books are that have been key to so many people’s journeys.
I’ve listed my favorite books – what I could call spiritual classics – that I highly recommend.
To me, the basis of a good spiritual book is it includes a story of a particular person’s life or practice that we can take teachings from, or relays unique information. Keep in mind this is a limited list, is probably biased to my practice, and that if you don’t find something you like on this list, there are hundreds of recommendations out there.
1. The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer
This book is about a man who literally never said no to the universe…or at least, not that he writes in the book. It is a lovely story about a spiritual journey and tapping into the flow while trusting the universe to really guide you and put you where you need to be. It has definitely helped me relax when it comes to making plans, talking to strangers, and has become a great source for when I feel like I need a reminder to surrender. This author is more popularly known for “The Untethered Soul,” which felt more preachy to me personally, but is well loved and considered a classic among many in the spiritual community.
2. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
An absolute must if you want to work with nature, nature spirits, plants and plant energies, are interested in sustainability, or are interested in learning about Native American culture and the importance of respecting and preserving it. Beautifully written, it transports you into a seemingly other world, and has so many insights about how we can form our own associations to the environment around us.
3. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
One of the first books I read when starting my personal journey was this book, sophomore year of high-school. I remember it wasn’t my favorite, since it didn’t really follow a story – but I’ve listed it because so many spiritualists, witches, therapists, and people in general recommend this book. Maybe it’s time I reread it?
4. The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
Yes, the book may only be relevant if you work with crystals, but I find that even after ten(ish) years of practice, I find myself opening and reviewing this one. An encyclopedia of all stones, their shapes, and how to use them, this has helped me get to know my own crystals and inspired me to keep a collection – whether I use them for spiritual practice or not. My recommendation here would be to look up 1-2 for the topic your most interested in. I read “Green Witch” by Arin Murphy-Hiscock and found I really didn’t need to pick up another witchy 101 book, especially one about working with plants and the earth. Same for The Crystal Bible. There was no need for me to pick up another book on crystals.
5. These Astrology Cheat Sheets
Astrology is talked about in spiritual and witchy communities non-stop. From phases of the moon to blaming mercury retrograde to birth charts to even using planetary magic in spells, along with all the associations with deities you may work with and plants and timing and… *takes a deep inhale*Needless to say, getting to know the basics will help be a baseline for any practice, along with a baseline for communicating with and understanding other practitioners, divination specialists, and the universe as a whole. These cheat-sheets were not created by me or Cosmic Corner, but I still reference them today.
You can find them here - just scroll down to the bottom of the page.
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