Ok, my mum (bless her) is getting into pagans, witchcraft etc, since she started watching the 'pagans' programme, she knows that i practise witchcraft, and am intersted in the herbs and oils and crystals etc, i was woundering if i should let her borrow my 'scott cunningham's book a guide for the solitary practitioner' to read, what do u lot think, any ideas or advice?

Better still invite her to join this site

I would but she don't have an computer, and she's basically got no time to go to a library either,

Having just read it (well skimmed through it) all I can say is that there is probably a lot worse out there.

If you want something more general, try 'Pagan Paths' by Pete Jennings.

let her read it...everyone has to make up their own mind....any additional information cant be a bad thing.......

Yes there are worse to be had out there. Why not try printing out some of the beginners forums or other appropriate forums for her to read as well.

The best thing to do is lend her any books you have - and be sure to tell her that no book is definative, and to take all that is written as opinion that she may or may not agree with.

I agree with all the above and yes Pagan Paths is a good book I think to find out about the variety of paths under the umbrella of Paganism.

Getting into Pagans?

Well I don't know about anyone else but usually plying me with drink works


Sorry, I was just being faecetious and have a dirty mind !

elswyth!

I don't know what to say!

elswyth

"i was woundering if i should let her borrow my 'scott cunningham's book a guide for the solitary practitioner' "

Whilst my immediate reaction was a yelled 'no' because for me that book is so completely wrong, I think it would only help your mum if that is similar to your own path. If it isn't then she will have the wrong idea completely about your beliefs. If you have a book that fairly sums up your beliefs then let her read that since the nearest to what you believe is best, then she can ask about your path and beliefs based on her understanding of what she read. Pagan paths cover a *huge* different range and no one book could ever really cover them all IMO

Ha ha ha ha ha


re: scott cunningham and good books to read... Well I thought that that guide for a solitary practitioner, while it's helped a lot of people when they're just starting out, I do think that some of it is just absolute pap. Why don't you just start with a generic 'Introduction to Paganism' book? It'll give her a broad idea of modern Paganism and it's different branches and then you can further explain from there and then hit the details. I'd give her that Teresa Moorey introduction as it gives the reader a vague idea of various Pagan paths, it stresses the point that not all Pagans have the same views, even from the different branches of Paganism and it's non-threatening to non-Pagans and non-Pagan parents.

Thank you to all of you

I agree that Cunninghams book is probably too specific to be immediately helpful. Maybe a more broad book would enable your mum to see some of the facets of paganism.