Neopaganism covers a wide range of belief systems which have emerged in the past 50 years, primarily in the UK, Europe, and the United States. This includes the better known Wicca, which is a synthesis of traditions from the British Isles, as well as many less visible groups which draw inspiration from other parts of the world.

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Book Shelf

The Gardnerian Book of Shadows
The Book of Shadows is a Wiccan text which is maintained by the initiated in manuscript form, and contains description of rituals, spells, and other knowledge. This tradition was carried on by Gerald Gardner, who (depending on the account) either synthesized Wicca, or took it public, during the 1950s.

The Witch-Cult in Western Europe
Were there ever real witches? If not, what were all the witch trials about? And how about those fairies? Murray tries to answer these and other questions objectively with plenty of documentary evidence. She is often cited as a primary source for Gerald Gardners' ideology.

Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft
By Sir Walter Scott [1885]. This book by the 19th Century novelist covers much of the same evidence as Murry (albeit in a more popular style). Scott draws few conclusions other than that our ancestors were extremely superstitious.

Pagan Prayers

Aradia, Gospel of the Witches
By Charles G. Leland [1899]

The White Goddess.
Robert Graves' primary contribution to modern Neopaganism is his White Goddess.

Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions
By James Bonwick [1894]. This book reflects a scholarly perspective on the Druids. It ties together many strands of mythology and anthroplogy to shed light on Irish Paganism.

The Veil of Isis or Mysteries of the Druids
By W. Winwood Reade [1861].  This book is fairly typical of the mid-19th Century literature about Druidry, which had some romantic misconceptions about the Druids. For instance, we now know that the builders of Stonehenge preceded the historical Celts by many centuries.

The Burning Times

From the 14th to the 17th Century a hysteria spread across Europe which involved torturing and executing people based on accusations that they were witches. Whether any actual practitioners of a pre-Christian pagan tradition were persecuted as the result of a witch trial is up for debate. These books and texts are period documents which illustrate the methods, rationale (such as it was) and history of this persecution.

The Malleus Maleficarum
Translated by Montague Summers [1928]. This is the best known witch-hunt manual, a primary source of information on this chilling subject.

The Witch-Persecutions,
Edited by George L. Burr [1896]. A short collection of translations of historical descriptions of the witch craze.

The Book of Hallowe'en
By Ruth Edna Kelley [1919]. Learn about Halloween and its pagan roots.

Irish Witchcraft and Demonology
By St. John D. Seymore [1913]. This is a fascinating study of the witch-persecutions in Ireland, along with accounts of paranormal activity.