Absolute Beginner: Where To Start?

[BlacKgNo]

I am completely new to this, some strange stuff happened to me in real life that has raised my interest in the occult.
I want to understand how it works and explore it. I tried reading the forum, but it confused me even more, most of the threads contained terms I have never heard of.
I basically am looking for a place to start.There are so many different types of studies represented here but I have chosen to go with the witchcraft path.
I want to learn this path but i don't know where to get all the learning material.
I'm wondering if any knowledgeable members might tell me what books I should start reading, books that really opened the "door" for you.
I know this is a noobish question, but this could make things much easier for me.
Thanks for any or all information!

[Etar]

http://hermetic.com/crowley/libers/

Start with 4/IV.

[BlacKgNo]

http://hermetic.com/crowley/libers/

Start with 4/IV.

Thanks

[Moth]

Don't know how much help it will be, but the first book I bought when I started looking at the occult was

The Roots of Coincidence

[SchemeliaC]

This is an old post and would think the your not on here any more. Of course I would state that my book, The Book of Maat:truth explains the beginning of the journey you are attempting to take. To give you a non-bias answer even thought I really don't lean in the direction of witchcraft anymore I would still have to recommend Raymond Bucklands Complete Book of Witchcraft. It give an all-round good foundation for witchcraft.

[Muloc7253]

Books (can probably find them all in pdf):
Advanced Magic for Beginners by Alan Chapman
Book of Results by Ray Sherwin
Book IV by Aleister Crowley
Chaos Magick: A Quick Guide to Practical Chaos Magick by Dead Jellyfish
Do_OBE: Astral Projection Class by Donald J. DeGracia
Liber Null by Peter Carroll
Modern Magick by Donald Michael Kraig
Practical Sigil Magic by UD Frater
Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey
SSOTBME: An Essay on Magic by Ramsey Dukes

Audio, all by Alan Watts:
Not What Should Be, But What Is
Spiritual Authority
Image of Man

Also get a tarot deck (whichever appeals to you most, avoid novelty). Shuffle and draw a card once a day and contemplate it, look up other peoples meanings, and see if it links to anything in your day. Keep a diary. Also keep a diary of your dreams. And explore www.chaosmatrix.org

[SchemeliaC]

thats a fair list of books and there are tons available for free download, but most beginners wont understand half of them.... def get a tarot deck, start with more modern books, most of the people on here wouldn't read or recommend a modern book but at least you will be able to understand them and get yourself ready for the better books

[TheSeeker]

Try this on for size.
http://english.grimoar.cz/?Loc=book&Lng ... t&UID=1609

Written in very plain speaking vernacular English. Straight and to the point. Ophiel, a.k.a. Ed Peach was a little known American occult author from, I think, the 1960's and 70's.
Anyway, reading him is like listening to your Grampa talk, and in this book he covers a lot the 'occult basics' very succinctly.

For witchcraft specifically, you need to be a little more specific. [eek]
Witchcraft is a broad term the covers many traditions and cultures globally.
Is it British [sorry Nahemah] Traditional Witchcraft you meant?
If that's the case you might consider "The Pillars of Tubal Cain," by Nigel Jackson and Michael Howard.
Also, "Call of The Horned Piper," also by Nigel Jackson.
"The White Godess," by Robert Graves wouldn't hurt either, and you might also want to get a copy of "The Book of Enoch," which --if I'm not mistaken-- is one of the missing books from the Old Testament, published I think via Lewellyn, and relevant to the study of BTW.

Hope that helps!
PM me if you can narrow down your interests a bit, culturally, and I might be able to help you out further.

Happy Reading! [geek2]

[Nahemah]

Is it British [sorry Nahemah] Traditional Witchcraft you meant?
If that's the case you might consider "The Pillars of Tubal Cain," by Nigel Jackson and Michael Howard.

Hahaha.....s'ok,mate. [rofl]

Good suggestion. [thumbup]

I'd add,J and S Farrar:

A Witches Bible

The Witches God

The Witches Goddess

And...I rather like John Coughlin and think this would make a good reference too,for balance? [greensmile] :

http://www.waningmoon.com/darkpagan/library.shtml

[Nahemah]

http://www.occultforum.org/forum/viewto ... =2&t=32338


General stuff,from the beginners resources thread :

Models of Magic,a very interesting read.

http://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/chao ... model.html

Why this one,here?

I think everyone should make themselves aware that Magickal practice is not necessarily always equivocal with Religious belief.

Magick in the Urban Jungle:

http://learnmagick.com/articles/

Library of articles:

http://occultlibrary.info/

http://magickgarden.freehostia.com/

Libraries of Occult texts:

http://www.english.grimoar.cz/

http://www.sacred-texts.com/

http://www.hermetics.org/library/Library_Grimoires.html

http://www.esotericarchives.com/esoteric.htm

http://golden-dawn-canada.com/library.html


Symbols and their meanings:

http://www.symbols.net/

http://www.ancient-symbols.com/

http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html

http://www.symbols.com/

[TheSeeker]

Show off! [grin2]

[Alfred Abaddon]

If witchcraft is the path which you are most drawn to, I'd recommend you get The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak. It's part of a large series of "temple of witchcraft" books that are meant to be read sequentially to teach you everything you need to know to become a well-grounded witch. The Inner Temple focuses on meditative practices and basic magickal theory. The exercises are a great foundation for magick even if you decide that a witchcraft/Wicca path is not right for you. I learned a lot from it even though I'm more of a Chaos mage than a witch. Penczak actually draws a lot from chaos magick.

Good luck with your occult journey! Hope you're till on the forum. Just stick with it and read all you can about all traditions