Learning about Witchcraft Through Audiobooks

The most common advice given to people who are just starting to learn about Wicca and witchcraft is to read a few books to find out about the basics. I was at a pagan moot recently when the topic of what books were worth reading was brought up - and one person made a very good comment. Not everyone finds it easy to read books.

If you are dyslexic, have poor eyesight or are simply too busy to settle down and read a book, is there an alternative?

Well yes, there is. Quite a few books on Wicca and witchcraft are available as audiobooks, either as MP3 downloads or on CD. Here are a few:

Wicca: The Only Introduction You'll Ever Need
This book by Vivianne Crowley in the Principles series by HarperCollins is one I would recommend in any format and is a best seller as a regular book. If you have trouble reading words on paper, then go for the audio download version, which is 90 minutes long and offers simple guidelines to show how the beginner starts practising Wicca.

It explains what Wicca is and includes exercises for spiritual and magical developments, simple rites, magic and spellcraft. I would point out that the audiobook is an abridged version, so you will get more if you buy it as a regular book.

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Another highly recommended book - and one that you will find on many solitary witches' bookshelves - is Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham. I was delighted to see that it is also available as an audiobook on CD. The description, which was written for the paperback, but also describes the audio version, says:

"Cunningham's classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God. Wicca also includes Scott Cunningham's own Book of Shadows and updated appendices of periodicals and occult suppliers."

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
This is another classic book on modern pagan witchcraft that is also available as an audio CD, although I'm going to be honest here and admit I haven't read it myself - or listened to it.

From what I gather, it this book is used less frequently by witches in the UK than in the US. I would probably recommend buying the first two audiobooks I've mentioned first, but this could be an interesting addition to a witch's audiobook collection.

Witchcraft: A Very Short IntroductionIf you are looking for a book on the history of witchcraft from ancient times up to now, rather than a book that teaches you how to be a witch, I can thoroughly recommend this one. I reviewed the paperback version on my blog a while ago and you can see that here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/03/review-witchcraft-very-short.html

The audiobook, which is available as a download, is unabridged. That means you won't lose anything by getting it that way. This is the kind of book that should appeal to anyone interested in witchcraft, whether they are beginners, have been practising the craft for years, or are just a bit curious about the real history of witchcraft.