The Role of Books in Learning...Anything

Books play an integral part in learning anything. Sure you can learn from teachers...but you cannot tell me that those teachers never read any books on the subject they're teaching, and those who taught them didn't read books either.

In order to learn just about anything in the world, you need to read books. There's just no getting around it. Wicca and Witchcraft are no different. Sure there are shoddy authors out there who are the product of their own ego, there are just as many legitimate writers out there sharing their legitimate knowledge about both systems.

In college or university, you cannot expect your teachers to teach you everything about, let's say Police Foundations without directing you to some sort of book, be it a text book or a practical book about the law. Books are the foundation of learning, hence why people advocate so hard that reading is essential.

When people ask me "how can I learn about Witchcraft or Wicca", I (and many others) tell them to read as much as they can. Granted, chances are they're going to find the shoddy books written by ego-boosters, but if they find the right resources, they're on the right track and can get through the spirituality fluidly. Unfortunately it could take about 4 bad $RW books before they get to the good Thea Sabin book and understand that Wicca is not about cleansing spells and spells to get parking spaces (and to be fair, neither is Witchcraft).

But for someone to tell me that I'm wrong to suggest a novice read all they can to learn what they need to know about Wicca is flat out wrong themselves. There is absolutely ***NO** way around reading books. You absolutely MUST read books if you're going to get a solid grasp on Wicca.

I'm not saying that teachers are obsolete. No. Teachers are just as invaluable...but forget...these teachers ALSO read books on the subject to gain the proper knowledge needed to teach. ALL teachers read in order to teach. Books are just little paper versions of teachers.

It doesn't matter if you've gone on to your first initiation in a traditional coven before you cracked a book (and I highly question that one never read anything in that time)...at some point, you HAD to have read something.

Gardner didn't vocally transfer all his information to everyone when he started his religion, even HE had access to books. I think it's a pretty naive to expect someone to not read a book and learn Wicca...even in a traditional sense.

I may not be a part of a tradition, nor a part of a coven, but I can be absolutely damned sure each one of those traditional covens out there has suggested their supplicants read at least one book. Don't piss on me and tell me it's raining. Books are essential. If you want to learn about Wicca, you NEED TO READ BOOKS. Period.