Beginner Occult Reading List

I am called Professor Harbinger. And if you know me, you know that my occult pedigree is garbage. I am the occult equivalent of a raccoon rummaging through the garbage cans behind the temple. This has worked well for me. But this strategy has left me with large gaps in my understanding. I don’t know many things that are commonplace to more traditional occultists.

And it occurred to me that I might not be alone in this. And so I began picking the brain of my colleagues, my more traditional fellow occultists. Following this very unscientific bit of research, I have compiled a list. Here then is a list of recommended reading for new occultists. This list is not aimed at any particular flavor of esotericism. This is not Masonic lore for dummies, or Thelema for beginners. This list is much more cross-disciplinary in style. A reader could be excused for assuming that this will result in a scattershot list of everything under the sun. But this did not happen. Repeats emerged even across occultists working in very different areas.

The most recommended authors were Jason Miller and Christopher Penczak. And their books The Sorcerer’s Secrets (Miller), and The Inner Temple of Witchcraft (Penczak) were the most recommended individual books. Although more than one person simply recommended both authors generally. Also recommended were Grant Morrison’s Pop Magic! Essay and Advanced Magick for Beginners by Alan Chapman.

On the ceremonial side of things, certain authors were repeat recommendations. Lon Milo Duqette and Israel Regardie to be specific. The Magick of Aleister Crowley and My Life with Spirits were the most recommended of Duquette’s books. The Golden Dawn, and Garden of Pomegranates came up most often from Regardie. The Ritual Magic Manual by David Griffins was also recommended.

On the Wiccan and Witchcraft front, Scott Cunningham was the clear winner. His books Wicca, and Living Wicca repeat recommendations. Although Penczak and Miller came up here as well. Witch Crafting by Phylis Curott was also recommended.

With regards to eclectic practices and Chaos Magic, I was surprised to find that Peter Carroll was not recommended. Grant Morrison’s Pop Magic! was the most common recommendation. This essay was published in the Book of Lies, but is also available online. Advanced Magick for Beginners by Alan Chapman was also a popular recommendation. Phil Hine was recommended via his book: Condensed Chaos. Also recommended was Isaac Bonewits’ book: Real Magic. This last book is one with which I was unfamiliar, and which appears to be out of print. Postmodern Magick by Seth was also recommended.

Two works of fiction also made the list of recommendations here: American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.

So there you have it. I found several items I hadn’t read, and which I will be purchasing and reading. I hope you also find value in this, perhaps you can add to this list some day in the future.

• The List (From most frequently to least frequently recommended)
• The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christophe Penczak
• The Sorcerer’s Secrets by Jason Miller
• Pop Magic! by Grant Morrison
• Advanced Magick for Beginners by Alan Chapman
• My Life with Spirits by Lon Milo Duquette
• The Magick of Aleister Crowley by Lon Milo Duquette
• The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie
• Garden of Pomegranates by Israel Regardie
• The Ritual Magic Manual by David Griffins
• Wicca by Scott Cunningham
• Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham
• Witch Crafting by Phylis Curott
• Condensed Chaos by Phil Hine
• Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits
• Postmodern Magick by Seth
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett