Recommended Reading List
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Be in the know before you go!
Witches love books. We always have. From grimoires passed hand to hand in secret to the libraries we build in our homes, the written word has carried our traditions across centuries. The books below offer excellent introductions to the world of initiatory Witchcraft, ancient Egyptian religion, and the magical practices that flourished along the Nile—the very traditions we will encounter on this journey. Consider them preparation for the magic ahead.
Isis in the Ancient World
This is the definitive scholarly work on the spread of the Isis cult from Egypt across the ancient world. Witt traces how the Goddess of Ten Thousand Names journeyed from the temples of the Nile to Alexandria, Greece, Rome, and eventually to Britain itself—where archaeological evidence confirms a temple of Isis stood in London. The book explores her priesthood, her mysteries, her three degrees of initiation, and her role as the great sorceress and healer. Your co-host, Brian Cain, cites Witt extensively in his own work, and for good reason: this is the book that demonstrates how Isis became the Queen of Heaven to people the world over, and why her cult posed the greatest threat to rising Christianity. For those who wish to understand how the magic of Egypt flowed into the Western esoteric tradition, Witt's work is essential reading.
Egyptian Magic: The Quest for Thoth's Book of Secrets
This beautifully illustrated volume explores the theory and practice of magic in ancient Egypt—not as superstition, but as a sacred science studied by the greatest minds of the ancient world. Raven, curator of the Egyptian Department at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, examines how magicians served as guardians of the cosmic order, using their craft to protect the vulnerable, support the gods in their battle against chaos, and guide the dead into immortality. The book traces the quest for Thoth's legendary Book of Magic and reveals how Egyptian magical knowledge was preserved in the Hermetic treatises, rediscovered during the Renaissance, and passed into the hands of Freemasons, Rosicrucians, theosophists, and—as Raven himself notes—witches. For those seeking to understand the magical worldview we will encounter in the temples along the Nile, this is essential preparation.
Initiation Into Witchcraft
A guide to the path of initiatory British Traditional Witchcraft, this book explores the history, practices, and meaning of the three degrees that form the heart of the Craft. Brian traces the thread of initiation from the ancient Mystery Cults to the modern coven, offering both seekers and initiates a deeper understanding of why this path demands commitment and transformation. Throughout the book, he draws connections between the priesthood of Isis—who practiced healing, magic, and three degrees of initiation—and the traditions we carry forward today, demonstrating that modern Witchcraft is as intimately intertwined with the veil of Isis as it is with any Celtic or Saxon belief.
The Religion of Witchcraft
This book establishes Witchcraft as a legitimate religion with its own theology, ethics, and priesthood—not merely a collection of spells but a path of devotion to the Old Gods. Brian examines the roots of our faith and its place within the broader history of Western spirituality. He devotes particular attention to the Cult of Isis, the Goddess of Ten Thousand Names, whose Mystery religion spread from Egypt to Britain and whose influence can still be felt in our rites, our symbolism, and our understanding of the Divine Feminine.
The Witches' Book of the Dead
A grimoire of necromantic practice, this book explores the art of communing with the dead—from ancestor veneration to spirit communication to the rites of the Dumb Supper. Christian examines how cultures throughout history have honored their beloved dead and offers practical workings for those who wish to strengthen their connection to the other side. Egypt figures prominently in these pages, particularly the Festival of the Valley, when the people of ancient Thebes would cross the Nile in a grand procession to dine with their ancestors at the tombs on the West Bank—a tradition that lives on in our own practices today.