The thing is, the people complaining about 101 books on the market are not beginners, so of course they do not need a 101 book. They are not who the 101 books are written for. Beginners books are written for beginners and with the wide range people new to magick, each one is bound to be looking for something a little bit different.
I hear this all the time among the spiritual community, we don't need another witchcraft or Wicca 101 book. We don't need another book for beginners on tarot. We don't need another basics of crystals and healing book.
I know, I know, this is coming off as a bit of a rant. It might be. I'll try and restrain myself a bit. However, I felt the need to acknowledge this complaint as I just read it again the other day in a forum with the complaining party discussing how a writer s/he knows is working on a beginners books for witches. My first reaction was annoyance and a little bit of anger, I must admit. Writers should be encouraged, not broken down because of the subject of their writing.
I know, I know, this is coming off as a bit of a rant. It might be. I'll try and restrain myself a bit. However, I felt the need to acknowledge this complaint as I just read it again the other day in a forum with the complaining party discussing how a writer s/he knows is working on a beginners books for witches. My first reaction was annoyance and a little bit of anger, I must admit. Writers should be encouraged, not broken down because of the subject of their writing.
As years go on, books on the basics will be called upon to cover different things in order to be relevant to the new reader. For example: new witches in the city who don't have much access to the wilds of nature need books that discuss the basics of how to live a magickal life in an urban setting. While, yes there are books about urban magick, they need to be updated for new generations as terminology, dates, spells, and illustrations will quickly become outdated as technology grows. Already, my copy of Patricia Telesco's book The Urban Pagan looks retro to most young pagans who are looking for a book written just for them. |
The same goes for books on tarot and astrology, especially in regard to relationships. Our society is evolving and changing. Our diversity is starting to be celebrated more and more and our books need to reflect this. No longer can books on romantic tarot spreads and astrological compatibility only cover heteronormative couples. We need books and spreads that also talk about same-sex couples, polyamory, and gender-queer querents.
New witches and spiritual seekers need new information (and, lets be honest, our veterans could also do with a return to the basics in new light every one in a while).
New witches and spiritual seekers need new information (and, lets be honest, our veterans could also do with a return to the basics in new light every one in a while).
That all being said, one more reason that the "Not another 101 book" argument is simply silly. Each writer, publisher, illustrator, editor, etc is different. Each one is going to create a very different book. This is great because each reader is different and is looking for something that speaks to them, not the masses. It is very unlikely that there are as many 101 books out there as there are new people to magick.
After all of that, I do want to say that I get it. I get it. It is like 500x easier to find a beginners book on a topic than it is to find one for a more advanced practitioner. This goes for nearly every topic and category on the market. There are simply more writers and publishers creating content for new people than those developing their current audience for the most part. I personally am overjoyed when I find books that teach more than basic card meanings and the Celtic Cross spread (yes, these books do exist, they're just hard to find...like unicorns).
I have often wondered why it is that there aren't as many intermediate and advanced books on the market.
- For one, it is indeed easier to write what you know and most practitioners who are writing have the basics down already.
- It is easier to re-invent the wheel than it is to, say, reinvent the whole car. Writing about something already fully developed by others is going to give authors more ideas and they will see their own angle easier when they can see the whole box.
- There already are advanced books on the market. With the complaints about 101 books being what they are, the publishers and authors of the more advanced books might not want to have the same objections raised towards their category.
- Authors that are advanced and could write books on the intermediate and advanced levels are busy. I have this image that the advanced masters of the craft are occupied with studying the mysteries of the occult and have no time to explain their findings to us mere journeymen. Or, more likely, they are busy at the conventions, gatherings, and books signings. (This is probably far far from the truth, but its an idea I had and thought I would share.)
- Lastly, authors and publishers might simply not be aware there is a market for advanced books. There certainly isn't much of a section for them in the store that I've seen. Maybe they simply need to be aware that their readers want more.
I have other theories, each more silly than the last. In the end, it all comes down to letting the author and publisher knew what we want. So when you browse the Llewellyn or Azure Green catalog, or peruse the local book store, and see a new 101 book on the area of your interest, don't bemoan it. My suggestion is, instead of being frustrated at the flood of beginner books on the market, make it known to your favorite stores, publishers, and writers what you are looking for - intermediate or advanced books on the subject of your interest. Remember, we are magickal people that bring our desires into being and manifest changes in our lives. This is relevant to the information we seek as well.
Blessings,
December
P.S. I do want to thank writers like Raven Grimassi, Patricia Telesco, Raven Kaldera, Eileen Connolly, and the many others who do write amazing books and resources not only for those just starting out but also for those practitioners wanting to deepen their magickal experience and go further. Thank you, thank you.
What is your favorite intermediate or advanced book on magick, divination, healing, etc?
*affiliate links are used in this post.
December
P.S. I do want to thank writers like Raven Grimassi, Patricia Telesco, Raven Kaldera, Eileen Connolly, and the many others who do write amazing books and resources not only for those just starting out but also for those practitioners wanting to deepen their magickal experience and go further. Thank you, thank you.
What is your favorite intermediate or advanced book on magick, divination, healing, etc?
*affiliate links are used in this post.