STUFF TO SEE, HEAR & READ

When asked, “what are readings (books, poems, whatever) you consider important or essential for faery witches?”, a few folks had something to say:

Andrada said:

Starhawk certainly comes to mind, the Spiral Dance book anyhow. The books I pulled off the shelf that have struck me so about the traditional Faery Faith in the British Isles:

1. The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries—W.Y. Evans-Wentz

2. British Fairy Origins—Lewis Spence

3. The Fairy Tradition in Britain—Lewis Spence

4. Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland—Lady Gregory

5. The Folklore of the Isle of Man—A.W. Moore

Also the Irish epic poem, in which various Sidhe appear, The Tain Bo Cuailnge, translated by Thomas Kinsella, as well as various poems about Thomas the Rhymer (who was taken away for years to live with the Elf Queen in Scotland) and about Tam Lin, who was rescued from the Fairy Queen by his sweetheart Janet. Also, a song by Heather Alexander on her Wanderlust CD called Faerie Queene.”

Gabriel said:

The Most Important book I could recommend for a student of Faery is, oddly enough, a work of Literary Criticism on a Middle Scots poem: A Midsummer Eve’s Dream; Variations on a theme by William Dunbar, written by A.D Hope, published by Thames and Hudson. The Main body of the book is an examination of pagan survivals and the Faery cult in Scotland, both Highlands and Lowlands; it provides invaluable documentation of pagan practices unabated right into the 18th century, and gives a good picture of the Faery Cult from which Faery Trad probably descends.

Another critical book is The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries by W.Y. Evans-Wentz, who went on to do the first translations from Tibetan. It is a monumental work, examining both the living Fairy Faith in his period, and the literary sources, including the Mabinogion and the Arthurian cycle.

I also recommend Celtic Heritage by Alwyn and Brinley Rhys, which examines the shared heritage of Celtic Mythology, including extensive info on quarter systems and life cycles.

And of course anything by R.J Stewart or John & Caitlin Matthews: John Matthews Taliesin; Shamanism and the Bardic Mysteries of Britain and Ireland is a particular favorite, and contains a new translation of the entire Taliesinic body of poetry.

Finally, Rafael Pattai’s The Hebrew Goddess, a book that was of considerable influence on Victor and Gwydion, which details step by step the key role of Goddesses in pre-Judaic Hebrew Religion.

Witch Eye hosted a small spontaneous gathering of Feri witches, at which we canonized the core video viewings essential to every Feri witch.

2001, A Space Odyssey
The Believers
The Blair Witch Project
Burn Witch Burn (the power of apotropaic charms)
The Craft (explains why all Feri witches must wear kick-pleat skirts. What? You don't have a kick-pleat skirt?!?!?)
Midnight Offerings
Practical Magic
The Secret Life of Plants
Serpent and the Rainbow
Simon King of the Witches
To Wong Foo, So Long, Julie Newmar
Wicker Man

Also suggested: Hocus Pocus, and Horror Hotel

WARNING: DO NOT VIEW: Season of the Witch

Witch Eye says: Do you have movies or books or other stuff you’d like to recommend to other Feris? Send it in to Witch Eye! witcheye@feritradition.org