I like to read a lot of books on a wide variety of topics because of how they inspire my thinking and magical practice. For this post, I thought I would share 5 books I would recommend any occultist read because of how those books will change your perspective on magic and life. Reading each of these books has influenced my practice of magic and changed my life for the better.
Defining Reality by Edward Schiappa (Affiliate link)
Why I recommend it: This book explores the power of definitions and words from a rhetorical perspective. If you want to understand how people use words and the different meanings that can be associated with words, then this is the book to read. It’s a bit academic, but its worth it because you come away with a deeper appreciation of definitions and how they are used to define and construct our perception and experience of reality.
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson (Affiliate link)
Why I recommend it: This book is full of good ideas and practices that can help you reframe your approach to life. What I really like about is how it teaches you to apply a slow, but steady process to achieving what you want. While magic can help you make some short cuts, having this kind of attitude and approach can go a long way toward helping you achieve anything you want.
Welcome to Your World by Sarah Williams Goldhagen (Affiliate link)
Why I recommend it: This book invites you to look at the spaces you live and work in a new way that helps you appreciate the aesthetic power of your space as well as recognize how you can design it. It helped me take a different to constructing ritual space that has enhanced my magical work significantly.
Opening the Energy Gates of your Body by Bruce Frantzis (Affiliate link)
Why I recommend it: If you want an introduction to Qi Gong, this book is a good place to start. The author introduces you to standing qi gong practices and explains in detail how to do the practice. The book really opens your ideas to your physiology and how even just standing can have an effect on your qi. Its good for your help and helps you develop your internal energy and awareness.
Essentialism by Greg McKeown (Affiliate link)
Why I recommend it: The philosophy of essentialism teaches you how to cut out the trivial distractions of your life and focus in on what’s essential and vital for you to do. This book helped me immensely when it came to figuring out the next steps of my life, but you can apply its methodology to magical working by creating minimalist magical workings. Whenever I start to lose focus, I turn to the practices of this book to get me back on track.
