Because my path is largely concerned with words, it’s only natural that I should be such a bookworm. In fact, it really should be said that I found my path because I am such a bookworm. This list will be added to occasionally, but for now, here is a short list of those books which have brought me great insight and thought with concerns to my path of story-making.
Religion as Story, edited by James B. Wiggins–
Story, from a theological and religious perspective. Very, very interesting food for thought on the nature of story itself, and its relationship to religion.
The New Polytheism: Rebirth of the Gods and Goddesses, by David LeRoy Miller–
Most interesting for its perspective of polytheism with regards to psychology. Though it isn’t speaking of polytheism as a religious movement, or even as a form of spirituality, I began thinking about multiplicity, in both religion and spirituality as well as the human soul.
Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales, by Alwyn and Brinley Rees–
The text for understanding Celtic spirituality and religious thought, as well as other aspects of ancient Celtic culture, a culture made around stories, if ever I saw one. This classic, though slightly dated, remains on pretty much every Celtic scholar’s must-read list.
The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell–
Though I have many problems with Campbell as a scholar and as a folklorist, and find his monomyth restrictive and disrespectful of many mythologies, the fact remains that my journey into story and myth as religion began with him, and I remain touched by his enthusiasm for stories, and profoundly moved by his wisdom and the immense world of mythology he opened up for me. This is story-making, at one of its best.
Tree and Leaf, by J.R.R. Tolkien–
Contains “Leaf by Niggle” and “On Fairy Stories”, two of the most important essays on story by my very favourite author and storymaker. If my journey to spirituality began with Campbell, my journey through life began before that, with Tolkien.
