Kitchen Toad’ Reading List
I would like to preface this list by mentioning that every book listed here is one I have read and applied in practice; my recommendations are based on what works for me and my spirits. If you find that certain books do not mesh with your practice, just don’t pay it any mind!
I’ve divided this list into different sections, for ease of reference. The list below will be divided into beginner-friendly, intermediate, and specialized topics. I also hope to update this list as time goes on, to include new books and remove those I no longer align with. Books which are in bold font are what I would consider essential reading, while those in italic font are books which I consider to be encyclopedic references, rather than practical guides.
Further, because my practice encompasses four key areas — magical herbalism, spirit-work, North American folk magic and to an extent, conjure* — I will be organizing each section into these categories. I have also included a category titled ‘foundational’, for well, foundational texts.
*I am not of African-American descent, nor hail from the American South, and thus I do not adopt this term as a descriptor of my craft. However, ignoring the influence that this practice has had on my decade of magical work, as a cornerstone of North American folk magic, would be incredibly disrespectful to those who have worked to revitalize this movement since the early 90s. Thus, I include a range of foundational texts on the topic, which informed my first understanding of magic when I first began practicing at the age of 11.
Books for the Beginner
These books contain a wide range of information, serving as introduction to witchcraft and magic as a whole.
Magical Herbalism
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This is an excellent book taking a look at traditional indigenous knowledge in relation to the Land as a living being, and us as its stewards. Deeply evocative, nostalgic, and healing, I recommend this book to those who wish to enter into communion with their local spiritual ecosystem.
Spirit-Work
The Witch at the Forest’s Edge by Christine Grace
An excellent survey of a variety of techniques traditionally associated with the witch, including thought-provoking journaling prompts which help gently guide you towards your personal practice. This book includes a lovely introduction to spirit-work and ancestor worship, which I found helpful even after a decade of working in close relation to a variety of spirits.
Folk Magic
The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes
This is an excellent encyclopedic text exploring witchcraft, folk magic, and other magical practices throughout history. Wonderful when you want to cross-reference with various historical texts.
Walking the Tides by Nigel G. Pearson
This book explores the folk customs and beliefs of England throughout the months of the year, serving as an in-depth almanac for the traditional witch. Although a large portion of the text may not apply to North American practitioners, there is enough that is shared between the two regions for this text to be an excellent reference to the budding witch.
The Crooked Path by Kelden
A general introduction to the art of witchcraft, covering the basics of energy-work, spirit-work, and ritual. It also delves into more involved topics such as the witch’s familiar and fetch, the Man in Black, and the Dame Elphame.
Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne
A primer of folk witchcraft, covering simple practices and techniques for spirit flight, protection, luck, spirit-work, etc...
The Black Toad by Gemma Gary
This book was my first foray into the world of witchcraft proper, and I cannot recommend it enough. Balancing historical and folkloric knowledge with practical applications, this text surveys the folk practices of England in a way that makes them accessible to practitioners of any region. The pictures of Gary’s collection of various curios and tools was deeply inspiring to me as a budding witch.
Conjure
The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes
The book which got me started! I used to hide this absolute tome between my bed and the wall, to avoid my mother finding it. Inside, you’ll find spells for every. single. thing. you may need to address in your life, as well as a range of recipes to begin stocking your apothecary. Illes draws on a range of American practices, notably Hoodoo, presenting a variety of spells and charms in a straightforward, practical fashion.
The Secret Keys of Conjure by Chas Bogan
In this text, Bogan explores the wide range of conjure oils, powders, curios, etc... found in the American South, giving suggestions on their use and personal recipes for many of them. This text also goes over the various methods and techniques found in American conjure, providing a handful of spells for love, money, success, domination, etc...
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by Catherine Yronwode
THE Hoodoo herbal reference you’ll never want to get rid of. In this amazing tome, Yronwode presents every herbal ally imaginable in alphabetical fashion, providing a wide range of charms, spells, tricks, and formulas calling on each plant. Yronwode also includes curios of all sorts, from pins to padlocks, which I have not seen described in a magical context anywhere else.
Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course by Catherine Yronwode
This is truly a foundational text, or course, rather, which Yronwode offers to this day. The textbook alone is incredibly valuable and irreplaceable, in my opinion, presenting every technique of Hoodoo imaginable, in a concise, practical, and inspiring way. This text goes over the use of name papers, doll-babies, oils, candles, altars, and any other technique you can think of. It also delves into client-work, graveyard work, how to handle love magic gone wrong, as well as how to deal with rivals. Truly a practical guide to becoming a professional!
Working Conjure by Hoodoo Sen Moise
This book, by the late Hoodoo Sen Moise, is an excellent exploration of the concepts of conjure as experienced by a professional conjure man. Within, find tricks such as jack-balls, crossroads dealings, graveyard work, and a variety of techniques to acquire love and success. Moise also puts an emphasis on his relationship with the spirits of his surroundings, which I find incredibly powerful.
Foundational
Six Ways by Aidan Wachter
Wachter’s approach to animism and living a magical life in accord with your spiritual ecosystem is a refreshing take on traditional chaos magic, and I cannot recommend this book enough. Within, you’ll find exercises to build power, to communicate with spirits, to align yourself with particular energies, to manifest change in yourself and the world around you, and build a working relationship with the spirits of home and land. Wachter’s technique for sigil shoaling and servitor creation is also incredibly effective, and Six Ways is worth purchasing if only for these chapters.
The Devil’s Dominion by Richard Godbeer
A great read on the implications of magic in the Early-Modern period. This book is a good starting point for those who wish to learn about the history of witchcraft and magic in America.
Elements of Spellcrafting by Jason Miller
This book is excellent at outlining the pitfalls and caveats of spellcrafting, and is a great read for those who aren’t exactly sure how to perform magic without prescribed ritual or correspondences. It is also filled with practical examples and personal anecdotes which help bring a much needed perspective in relation to working with spirits and planetary powers.
The Sorcerer’s Secrets by Jason Miller
I recommend this book specifically for the first few chapters, which delve into various techniques of breath, visualization, enchanting, and energy work. The practical portion of this book is somewhat lacking, but the development exercises outlined in the first part are, in my opinion, invaluable assets to the beginning witch. I find myself returning to this book whenever my personal practice feels lacking, to return to the basics.
Liber Null & Psychonaut by Peter J. Caroll
The only book on chaos magic you’ll realistically need as a witch; the techniques within are a great introduction to building power, creating change through the use of sigils, as well as obtaining gnosis when working with spirits. Although the book approaches the topic of magic from a psychological model, the techniques remain applicable to good ol’ dirt-under-the-fingernails witchcraft!
Books on intermediate topics:
These books offer general approaches to particular systems, such as goetic evocation, ceremonial magic, and magical herbalism.
Spirit-Work
The Three Magical Books of Solomon, edited by Aleister Crowley, S.L. MacGregor Mathers, and F.C. Conybear
A classic text, foundational to modern Solomonic magic. Although there are much better editions, this is the copy I learned with, and it has served me incredibly well. This system is a great introduction to working with Goetic spirits if followed to the letter.
The Magus by Franz Bardon
I recommend this book specifically for the chapter concerning Drawing Spirits into Crystals, which is a very approachable method to planetary, angelic, and demonic evocation. The tools described therein can be swapped out for practically anything, achieving similar results with ease. DSIC is an excellent introduction to evocation, as it is extremely safe and easy to modify to better suit your needs.
The True Grimoire by Jake Straton-Kent
This is likely to be the most comprehensive and practical guide to working with the Grimorium Verum, or True Grimoire. The author’s commentary and personal explorations are invaluable to the witch wishing to pursue work with the Verum family of grimoires.
Magical Herbalism
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham
This book is a formulary of various oils, incense, brews, soaps, etc... The recipes themselves are fine, and can be adjusted to better suit your needs, which the author provides helpful tables for. Where this book truly shines, however, is in its presentation of the various ‘bases’ and methods of incense and soap making, from combustible and non-combustible incense to glycerin and liquid soaps.
Under the Bramble Arch by Corinne Boyer
This is Boyer’s second book in her series of wortcunning, which includes Under the Witching Tree, and her latest book, The Witch’s Cabinet. This book explores the folk beliefs, magical applications, and medicinal uses of a variety of wayside plants. Boyer also provides a range of spells and recipes from her personal practice, for necromancy, healing, protecting a babe, and a variety of other applications. Her poetry marks each chapter, and is a delight for the witching heart.
Under the Witching Tree by Corinne Boyer
Similarly to Under the Bramble Arch, this book explores the various spirits of North American trees, their uses in magic and medicine, as well as the various folk beliefs surrounding them. A must for any North American witch.
The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth
Roth’s exploration of the witching herbs is incredibly valuable to anyone wishing to work with this set of famed allies. The book presents the history, uses and cultivation of a variety of plants such as Belladonna, Henbane, Poppy, and more. Roth also presents a range of recipes and methods to work with these allies in a safe and traditional way.
Wortcunning by Nigel G. Pearson
This small book explores the magical and medicinal uses of English plants, as presented by a coven of witches the author had contact with some years prior. It is a handy little reference text, although lacking in practical applications.
Folk Magic
The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet by David Rankine
A cunningman’s grimoire from the early-modern period, featuring charms for healing, cursing, finding lost objects and thieves, as well as spirit conjuration. This is an absolute monster of a book, coming in at over 600 pages; there is something for everyone here.
Conjure
Foundational
Le Traité Méthodique de Magie Pratique by Papus
This is a compilation of a variety of works published in the Victorian era and prior. Although I have only seen this book published in French, Google assures me that there is an English translation floating somewhere out there. The book explores the theory and practice of ceremonial magic through the lens of Hermeticism. I especially appreciate the various mentions of folk magic throughout the text, as well as the abundance of charts and tables containing the sigils, names, correspondences, and preferred times of a wide range of spirits.
How to Judge a Nativity by Allan Leo
An in-depth, step-by-step reference guide to reading and analyzing the birth chart of a querent, including planetary and zodiacal positions, as well as aspects and configurations. Excellent for those wanting a quick reference to remember the various planetary influences found in the natal chart.
PILLARS: Circling the Compass, by Anathema Press
This anthology, published by Anathema Press, circles the topic of circles and rings in magical tradition, including both philosophical and practical explorations of the witch’s compass in magic and theurgy. I especially enjoyed the article concerning divination by deer carcass.
Books on specialized topics:
These books explore specialized topics in depth, such as magical herbalism, divination, ritual magic, and other such things.
Spirit-Work
Jinn Sorcery by Rain Al-Alim
As the name suggests, this book focuses on Jinn Sorcery, featuring rites of evocation, protection charms, lamens, spirit pacts, and rites of exorcism. I found this book particularly helpful concerning the Al-Mandal, a technique of scrying for spirits which later formed the bulk of Western scrying practice.
Crossed Keys by Michael Ceccheteli
This text is a practical guide to the mysteries of the Black Dragon, a French grimoire of the Verum lineage. It also contains the Enchiridion of Pope Leo, which is an excellent complementary text to the Black Dragon, containing a variety of Catholic charms against illness, danger, or spirits. The author is a former leader of the Latin Kings, and his story is truly fascinating for anyone interested in the intersection of organized crime and sorcery.
Magister Officiorum by Julio Cesar Ody
This small but mighty text offers a simple introduction to Goetia, providing the reader with a range of tips and tricks, as well as techniques for the conjuration of spirits from the Lemegeton. I highly recommend it to those who have already explored the Lesser Key of Solomon and are looking for a guiding hand on the topic.
De Secretis, translated by Joseph H. Peterson
This translation of a Venetian text predating the Grimorium Verum is incredibly valuable to those who would pursue this family of grimoires. It helps fill in some gaps present in True Grimoire, while also providing instructions for the conjuration of a range of other aerial spirits, which can be called on to improve magical abilities, to bestow familiars, or effect change in the natural world through the work of elemental spirits. This text also provides a range of charms and spells calling on the eschatology of Grimorium Verum, and a set of pentacles dedicated to the aerial spirits mentioned above, which can do some truly wondrous things.
Magical Herbalism
Viridarium Umbris by Daniel Schulke
This is an incredibly important text in my practice; it is a true guide to magical herbalism, animism, working with the Neighbors, and entering into communion with nature. Though written in lavender-prose, making it difficult to digest, this is a text which keeps on giving the more you read it. Included within are a vast array of formulas, techniques, meditations, and practical instructions on building a relationship with plant allies.
Thirteen Pathways of Occult Herbalism by Daniel Schulke
This is an exploration of the various paths through which we may learn from plant allies. Although it does not present any practical knowledge, it is a great text to inspire and re-kindle the witchfire.
Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book brought me to tears. Read it.
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
The title is quite descriptive; this book is an encyclopedic text outlining the uses of pretty much any plant you can think of. It also includes handy reference tables which are helpful in choosing herbal allies for custom formulation.
Alchemy Rising: The Green Book by Heliophilus
This is an amazing book, exploring the mysteries of plant alchemy in great detail. Heliophilus outlines the various methods of preparing spagrics, ens, and magisteries, providing step-by-step instructions and vivid photographs of each process.
Pharmakopoeia by Dale Pendell
A poetic exploration of witching plants, medicines, and shamanic relationships with plants. Deeply evocative, yet incredibly practical, this series is a must for the wortcunner.
Folk Magic
Fairies at Work and Play by Geoffrey Hodson
An account of faeries as told by one with the Sight; this book explores the habits of various Silver Peoples, their behaviours, and interactions with humans. A great little book that serves as a lovely introduction to our neighbors, through a folkloric and spiritist lens.
A Book of the Magi by Dr. Alexander Cummins
Dr. Alexander Cummins’ Book of the Magi is a wonderfully practical booklet on working with Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, the three Magi of the Old Testament. Cummins explores the various stories, histories, and folk beliefs surrounding the Magi, as well as the celebrations dedicated to them. Throughout the book, various recipes, spells, and practical workings are offered, based on the author’s own work with these sages. An excellent introductory text for those of us with Catholic leanings, wishing to mesh our magic with the beliefs of our ancestors.
The Charmer’s Psalter by Gemma Gary
No American witch should go without this lovely psalter. It is organized according to need, whether for blessing the compass, obtaining material wealth, or returning harm to an enemy. Gary also provides small charms and traditional applications of the Psalms, which I have found to be quite efficacious. The book ends with a small section on other oral charms, including the Lord’s Prayer, reversed. This has been indispensable in my work with the Devil.
The Book of Oberon, translated and edited by Daniel Harms, James R. Clark, and Joseph H. Peterson
Named as such due to a lengthy conjuration of the King of the Elves found within its pages, this book is a true treasure trove of Elizabethan folk magic. It includes instructions for the conjuration of spirits, for the crafting of rings and ointments, as well as operations for love, treasure-finding, and healing. Richly illustrated, this is a wonderful reference text for those interested in English folk magic.
A Lapidary of Sacred Stones by Claude Lecouteux
An extensive reference text going over an incredible breadth of stones, crystals, curios, and ‘magnets’ of all sorts. I especially favor this text for the making of talismans, as well as for the information it presents on the topic of healing.
The Tradition of Household Spirits by Claude Lecouteux
If you’re looking for a single book to get from this list, and do not yet have a relationship with your house spirits, make it this one! As always, the depth of Lecouteux’ analysis and research is palpable, yet does not estrange the practical applications of the information presented. Less of a guide, and more of a resource for forming your own practice, this text is a great starting point for all things house-spirit!
Conjure
The Conjurer’s Guide to Saint Expedite by Denise Alvarado
The title of this text is quite self-explanatory; it explores the mysteries and history of Saint Expedite as he is known in New Orleans. Alvarado provides a truly impressive roster of charms, spells, prayers, and novenas dedicated to Saint Expedite. I especially appreciated the inclusion of source material, taken from the Hyatt texts.
Workin’ in Da Boneyard by Denise Alvarado
An excellent book for all graveyard work, necromancy, and other such things. Alvarado goes in-depth on the topics of graveyard stewardship, collecting grave dirt, and performing magic with the Dead. A wide range of recipes and spells are also included in this short text.
Foundational
The Complete Picatrix by John Michael Greer and Christopher Warnock
The Picatrix can arguably be touted as the mother of Western astro-magical texts; it is truly an all-you-need guide to planetary and celestial magic and ritual, operating on the basis of evocation and talismanic construction.
Geosophia 1 & 2 by Jake Straton-Kent
These books explore the tradition of Goetia prior to the term’s attribution to Solomonic magic, including writings on necromancy, magic, and spirit-work in the context of Hellenic magical practice.
The Testament of Cyprian the Mage 1 & 2 by Jake Straton-Kent
Similar to Geosophia, The Testament of Cyprian the Mage explores the tradition of the Black Books, and traces the influence of this mythical ancestor through time to better understand his influence on Goetia and modern Western magic. TTCM also contains a variety of practical workings and tidbits.
Stars and Stones: An Astro-Magical Lapidary by Peter Stockinger
A great primer of astrological magic by way of gemstones and talismans. I especially loved the case studies presented by the author.
Earth Divination, Earth Magic by John Michael Greer
A great handbook of geomancy, being the precursor to the Art and Practice of Geomancy, which goes much more in-depth on the topic. I like to keep this book on hand as a quick reference, but it is definitely lacking in some areas and I would instead recommend the Art and Practice of Geomancy for those seeking to learn.
The Art and Practice of Geomancy by John Michael Greer
The revised, expanded version of Earth Divination, Earth Magic; this text contains everything you need to get started with geomantic divination and magic.