5 of the Best Books for Beginner Witches

If you’re just beginning your journey as a witch, these are some of the best books for beginner witches. As a baby witch (or beginner witch), it’s great to get information firsthand from other witches. Asking your coven, your witchy friends, or your community on Facebook, Reddit, or WitchTok, is a great place to start.

But books come in handy too. Especially at midnight or simply when you want a more thorough answer and want to go deep on a subject. This is a shortlist of the books I recommend for beginner witches. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, so let me know your favorite if it’s not listed here.

Some of the Best Books for Beginner Witches

1. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland
Buckland studied Gerald Gardner and first published this hefty book in 1986. It’s well regarded and covers all the basics of witchcraft and Wicca from how to build your altar and choose a witch name to the basics of herbalism, magic, and healing. Whether or not you’re going to follow Wicca as a religion, it’s a good place to start to build your understanding of the Craft.

2. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner By Scott Cunningham
Like Buckland’s book, Cunningham’s isn’t just for Wiccans. His conversational language makes reading about witchcraft feel a little less like reading a textbook, unlike Buckland’s tome. It’s also much smaller and easier to tuck inside a bag and bring to the park (or beach for all you sea witches). Like Buckland’s, it provides an overview, but is meant specifically for those practicing without a coven.

3. The Wicca Spellbook by Gerina Dunwich
Every witch has a favorite Wiccan author and she’s mine. My copy is well-worn as it’s been in my possession for years. It’s a good spellbook and it also will teach you the basics of candle magic, what herbs to use for what intentions, and the meaning of certain symbols and amulets.

4. The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs by Judy Ann Nock
If you have a green thumb and are looking to improve your herbalism knowledge or skills as a kitchen witch, this book is a wonderful guide. It opens by explaining how to set up your garden in a magical way. Nock then walks you through the properties and uses of 100 different magical herbs. Finally, she closes by sharing some beauty, love, luck, and other spells and rituals you can incorporate into your practice.

5. The Magick of Candle Burning by Gerina Dunwich
I’ve been delving deeper into candle magic and have found this book a helpful companion. It’s a good one is if you want to know more about candle burning symbolism (like what it means if your flame goes out), the meanings of candle colors, and what deities are connected to each. She’s also included spells and rituals for each of the Wiccan Sabbats.

These books are all great whether you’re just starting out or want to learn more about different aspects. Of course, my selections connect to what aspects I most often find myself drawn to. As I uncover great books on crystals, divination, astrology, tarot, and more, I will add them here or to another book list.