Collection: Witchcraft Books

What Are the Best Witchcraft Books for Beginners?

The best witchcraft books for beginners are the ones that teach you how to practice, not only what to believe. Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, known to a generation of witches as "Big Blue," is set up like a course, with lessons and review questions at the end of each chapter. Scott Cunningham's The Truth About Witchcraft Today is short and clear on what witches actually do. Brandy Williams's Practical Magic for Beginners and Gerina Dunwich's Spellcrafting start you on spellwork, and Silver RavenWolf's Solitary Witch is written for anyone practicing alone.

If you're still sorting out what the craft is, our guides on what witchcraft is and whether witchcraft is real are a friendly place to begin. If you're wondering which path fits you, our guide to the types of witches is a good next read. Cunningham fans can work through the Scott Cunningham book list, which walks through his titles in a sensible reading order.

Books on Candle, Moon, and Spell Magic

Candle magic has the deepest shelf in this collection. Henri Gamache's The Master Book of Candle Burning dates to 1942 and still shapes how candle work is done in American folk magic. Jacki Smith's The Big Book of Candle Magic, Madame Pamita's The Book of Candle Magic, and Raymond Buckland's Advanced Candle Magick carry it forward with color, dressing, and timing. For moon work, D.J. Conway's Moon Magick covers the lunar year month by month, and Melanie Marquis's Little Book of Moon Spells fits in a bag.

Spellcraft books on specific methods round it out: charm bags, jars, bottles and poppets in Container Magic, crystal spells from Ember Grant and Devin Hunter, and Sara L. Mastros's The Big Book of Magical Incense for blending your own.

Green Witchcraft and Kitchen Witch Books

Green witchcraft books focus on plants, herbs, and the garden as the center of practice. Scott Cunningham's Magical Herbalism is the classic here, joined by Ellen Dugan's Herb Magic for Beginners and Garden Witch's Herbal, Rowan Morgana's encyclopedia of 150 plants, and Amy Blackthorn's Botanical Magic on essential oils in spellcraft. Kitchen witches will find Laurel Woodward's Kitchen Witchery and S. M. Harlow's A Tea Witch's Grimoire. Our herbalism and plant magic books go further into this corner.

Witchcraft Books From Specific Traditions

Many witches find their footing through the folk magic of a particular place. This collection includes Slavic magic in Madame Pamita's Baba Yaga's Book of Witchcraft, Italian kitchen magic in Mary-Grace Fahrun's Italian Folk Magic, Appalachian conjure in Jake Richards's Backwoods Witchcraft, and Welsh Druidry in Kristoffer Hughes's The Book of Celtic Magic. There are also books on Norse, Egyptian, and Greek magic, plus Raven Grimassi's Old World Witchcraft and Storm Faerywolf's Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft. For African American conjure specifically, see our hoodoo and rootwork books.

For Wicca, Janet and Stewart Farrar's A Witches' Bible and The Witches' Goddess are foundational texts of Alexandrian Wicca, and Sandra Kynes's Witches' Sabbats & Esbats covers the Wheel of the Year and the full-moon rites.

Blank Books of Shadows and Grimoires

A Book of Shadows is the handwritten record of your own practice: the spells you've tried, what happened, and the correspondences you keep reaching for. The term comes from Wicca, where each initiate traditionally copies the coven's Book of Shadows by hand, while a grimoire is the older, broader word for a book of magic. This collection includes latched leather journals with embossed covers, pentacle, and triple moon designs, plus a 5 by 7 inch leather blank book tied with a cord. More options live in our leather-bound journals.

Related Collections

Books on reading the future sit in our tarot books and psychic books collections, and stone lore has its own shelf of crystal books. The full library is under all books, and occult books covers ceremonial magic and esoteric study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best witchcraft book for a complete beginner?
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft is a strong first pick because it is structured as a series of lessons with questions after each chapter. Scott Cunningham's The Truth About Witchcraft Today is a shorter, gentler overview if you want to understand the craft before you start practicing.

What's the difference between Wicca books and witchcraft books?
Wicca is a specific religion that took shape in England in the mid-20th century, with its own gods, sabbats, and initiation lines, while witchcraft is the practice of magic and exists in many cultures. Books like A Witches' Bible teach Wicca; books like Italian Folk Magic or Backwoods Witchcraft teach folk practices with no Wiccan framework.

What is the difference between a Book of Shadows and a grimoire?
A Book of Shadows is a personal or coven record of rituals and spells, a term that comes from Wicca. A grimoire is the older general word for any book of magical instructions. Many witches today use the two words interchangeably for their own spell journal.

Are these witchcraft books for a particular path?
No, the collection covers many paths. It includes Wiccan texts, green and kitchen witchery, candle and moon magic, and folk traditions from Slavic, Italian, Appalachian, Celtic, Norse, Egyptian, and Greek sources, so you can read across paths before settling on one.

Which witchcraft books cover candle magic?
Henri Gamache's The Master Book of Candle Burning, Jacki Smith's The Big Book of Candle Magic, Madame Pamita's The Book of Candle Magic, and Raymond Buckland's Advanced Candle Magick all focus on candle work. Gamache is the oldest of the four and the one most folk practitioners learned from.

Are there witchcraft books for teens?
Yes, The Teen Witches' Guide series covers spells, tarot, and palm reading in a format written for younger readers. Llewellyn's Witch's Coloring Book is another gentle entry point for any age.