I'm often asked which of my books are my personal favourites, and why?

The 'why' is easier to answer.  My favourites are those that have taken the longest to research and write, rather than any 'best-selling' status.  To qualify as a favourite there has to be a lot of blood, sweat and tears gone into the writing and, more importantly, the books have to stand the test of time in my own eyes.  Because I write esoteric books there has to be a large amount of magical input - some I can write off the top of my head, others require a great deal of thought and preparation, often taking on a life-force of their own.  It's the latter I find most rewarding.

Top of the list has got to be The Dictionary of Magic & Mystery (Moon Books) because it took over ten years to compile purely for my own personal use, before offering it up for publication; for much the same reason The Hollow Tree (ignotus) an elementary guide to the Tarot and Qabbalah written for my own students goes on the list.  Magic Crystals, Sacred Stones and The Atum-Re Revival (published by Axis Mundi) reflect the intermediary level of teaching within the Coven of the Scales and were both originally written as teaching manuals.  Last but certainly not least, is Traditional Witchcraft & the Pagan Revival: A magical anthropology (Moon Books) due for publication later this year, which has been carefully vetted by the editor of The Cauldron, Michael Howard, to prevent any bloomers and has also taken many years to compile.

The publication of a magical title carries a grave responsibility, simply because we (the author) are imparting magical directions for those who would follow in our footsteps.  If our directions are misleading or inaccurate this could cause serious complications for the reader; and if the author's knowledge can only take the reader so far along the Path, it could result in someone standing on the brink of the Abyss with no idea of how to proceed.  In magic, a little knowledge can be extremely dangerous, especially if it is couched in terms of expertise!

It is also important to state that the advice or guidance we are giving is only pertinent to our own Path or Tradition, simply because there are so many pagan paths, that it is impossible to say which is right - or wrong.  There are no 'secrets of the Universe', no template for Initiation, or access to the inner Mysteries and we should be extremely suspicious of any publisher's blurb that suggests that there are.

Caveat emptor: let the buyer beware! 

Melusine Draco