When I was a young witching and enrolled in a Wicca 101 class at Asheville Raven & Crone, the first book that was placed in my hands was Wicca: A Guide For the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham. It was there that I was introduced to the man who would change my life forever. The most important thing I learned from Cunningham was to trust your own instinct and forge your own path. His approach to magic was simple and straightforward. He encouraged me to experiment and find out what did and didn’t work for me. Scott’s liberating words freed me to develop a style of magic that was an amalgamation of many traditions and practices. Now that I work at the store that gave me my start, Asheville Raven & Crone, I often place this same book in the hands of those who are curious about the Craft. I cannot think of a better foundation to build on than this.

During the past two weeks I made my way through two biographies about Scott Cunningham because I was curious about the man who continues to inspire me in so many ways. The first was Scott Cunningham: The Path Taken by his sister Christine Cunningham Ashworth (Weiser Books, 2023). It is a very personal take on Scott that’s heartfelt and full of family stories. It’s also a bit of a confession of some of the regrets Christine had in not getting to know her big brother better. It was an enjoyable read and if you’re interested in learning about Scott’s personal life, it’s well worth your time.

The second book I read was Whispers of the Moon: The Life and Work of Scott Cunningham by David Harrington and DeTraci Regula (Llewellyn Books, 1997). Unfortunately, it appears to be out of print. However, it’s easy to obtain a used copy online. This was the book I was really looking for. It was written by two of his closest friends who share lots of details regarding how Scott became the best selling author at Llewellyn. You get an intimate glimpse of a man who was deeply connected to nature and took a very scholarly, experimental approach to the Craft. It gave me a deeper appreciation for all the hard work that went into the knowledge he shared with all of us. It’s a great read.

If Scott Cunningham is to a name that is not familiar to you, I hope you’ll read some of his work. All of his books are simply amazing. If you know of his work and want to get to know him better, these two biographies are a great place to start.

Blessed be! David Taliesin, ©2024, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com