Paganism, Recommended books on

[eric.bell]

What books can any of you recommend as the essential books on Paganism? Is there a canon, or any such thing, for it?

[Lokasenna]

That depends on whether you mean the original stuff, or the modern reinventions of it - the two tend to be quite different. And do you mean primary texts, or secondary books of criticism? And which area as well? I can help with Norse or Germanic heathenism, but Celtic or Irish stuff is less well known to me.

[Dark Muse]

There is no Pagan cannon. The word pagan itself is an umbrella term which can imply a great multitude of different things, different cultures, different beliefs, and so forth. So there is no "Bible" for Paganism, as it is a spiritual belief that does not follow a specific dogma.

As far as reading material goes as stated above it depends upon what you are more interested in. More traditional Paganism? If that is the case I would recommend going to the ancient myths themselves. Or Neo-Paganism?

In any case it really depends just what within Paganism you are curious about.

[eric.bell]

That depends on whether you mean the original stuff, or the modern reinventions of it - the two tend to be quite different. And do you mean primary texts, or secondary books of criticism? And which area as well? I can help with Norse or Germanic heathenism, but Celtic or Irish stuff is less well known to me.

Specific books on Norse and Germanic heathenism would be nice: historical critiques or the best translations of the original stories. I am interested in most any paganism (not neo- for now); I just wanted to get an idea of what books are considered to be best and most credible.


There is no Pagan cannon. The word pagan itself is an umbrella term which can imply a great multitude of different things, different cultures, different beliefs, and so forth.

I am merely looking to read into any branch of Paganism and am just wondering where to start.


Thanks to you both,

Eric.

[JuniperWoolf]

You should try the Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells (http://www.amazon.com/Element-Encyclopedia-5000-Spells-Reference/dp/0007164653). It sort of follows paganism throughout the centuries and is pretty special in that it gives you information on magic in other countires and cultures. It also gives you "bad magic," which is something that you wouldn't find in your usual wimpy new-age paperback.

[Lokasenna]

Righty-ho!

From the Norse literature side of things, the two most important books are the Poetic Edda (also known as the Elder Edda), and the Prose Edda (also known as the Younger Edda or Snorra Edda) - these are the closest things you will find to Norse sacred text. It is, however, worth remembering that both of these texts are post-Conversion - these were oral cultures until Christianity brought literacy with it. That said, we are certain that a lot of the poems in the Edda significantly predate the manuscript in which they appear. I'd also have a look at Völsungasaga.

In terms of secondary literature, John McKinnell is probably your man, particularly his Both One and Many: Essays on Late Norse Heathenism and his Meeting the Other in Norse Myth and Legend. There are also some excellent introductory essays in Rory McTurk's A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture. Finally, Heather O'Donoghue's recent From Asgard to Valhalla not only outlines the main facets of the mythology, but also traces the cultural history of Norse heathenism in a way that may interest you.

In terms of Germanic mythology, things are a lot harder - it simply has not been preserved. The best one can do is have a read of the Nibelungenlied and compare it to the Norse Völsung cycle. Similarly, if you read carefully, you can pick up traces of Anglo-Saxon conceptions of heathenism in poems like Beowulf and The Dream of the Rood, but it is tricky - so little material survives!

In terms of secondary material, the best I can suggest is the peerless The Shadow-Walkers, edited by Tom Shippey, which ignores deities, but focuses in excellent detail on the other supernatural figures of Germanic cultures.

Finally, and though its not really my area, if you want to have a look at Celtic mythology then you should have a look at the Mabinogion and the Book of Taliesin.

Hope that helps!:D

[Katy North]

I've always had a soft spot for Greek mythology... it may be somewhat obvious but read The Odyssey and the Iliad, and get yourself a good book on Greek Mythology if you're interested in that Parthenon.

[eric.bell]

Wow! thanks ever so much, Lokasenna. I have made note of your recommendations and will be trying to obtain as many as I can shortly. You were very helpful.