Otherkin reading list

[iamshadow.livejournal.com]

I was browsing amazon to find out details of a Barbara Hambly book due out in September, when I saw in the sidebar a link to a list compiled by a user called Orion Sandstorrm, who identifies themself as "otherkin, draconic". They have a list called So you'd like to... find your way as an Otherkin

A lot of the books are esoteric in nature, some nonfiction, others ficton. They range in theme from weres to aliens, fairies to vampires. It covers totemic magic, familiars and shapeshifting.

It's quite comprehensive from the looks of it. I don't know how good the books on the list are - maybe others on the list would be able to enlighten all of us on the pros and cons of the literature listed!

At the end, it says - This guide created with thanks to Livejournal users Ksol1460, Scribblekitty, Halyn, Elynne, and others.
More suggestions appreciated. Please take a moment to rate this guide using the stars at the top of the page. Is this user on this list, and has this been linked to before?

Comments

[sphynxcatvp.livejournal.com]

I don't know if Orion is in this particular community, however he IS on LJ as waywind. Unfortunately, I think he may still have his LJ set so that you can't comment on it unless he marks you as a friend, but his email should be off his info page.

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, okay:

Positive Magic (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0960412875/ref=cm_bg_d/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is pretty good; is one of the standard "beginner's books" for newbies in the Craft, and nobody's going to get hurt by following the advice in it. The Women's Dictionary (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0062509233/ref=cm_bg_d/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is a scholar's nightmare; Barbara Walker is a laughingstock in the serious magickal communities. Out Of Body Experiences (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1571740570/ref=cm_bg_d/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is mostly newage sewage - a few bits of decent stuff, heavily mixed with bullshit.

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystals Etc. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0875421261/ref=cm_bg_d/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is nice - all Scott Cunningham's books are nice - a good basic introduction to the subject. Creative Visualization (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1577312295/ref=cm_bg_d/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is another of the 'standard texts', and can be very useful.

Animal Magick (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1567181686/ref=cm_bg_d_31/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) I didn't actually read; just glanced through - it looked like just more of the standard Conway fare; nothing I'd recommend to a student.

Book of the Dragon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0890092419/ref=cm_bg_d_22/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is delightful, and so is Faeries (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0810932741/ref=cm_bg_d_24/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance), but the idea of anyone taking either of those books as "texts" just makes me shake my head.

The Star Fisher (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140360034/ref=cm_bg_d_43/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is a children's book of the sort that teachers like to assign. Neither I, my kid, or the kids I look after favor that genre - we're more the Series of Unfortunate Events-type readers - but still, it's not bad. I don't recall there being anything useful in it about magic, though.

A Backward Glance (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0684847558/ref=cm_bg_d_45/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) is fascinating if one is into 19th-century literature, but if one is looking for "how to be Otherkin", one won't find it in that book..

The Persian Boy (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394751019/ref=cm_bg_d/102-8472727-0218514?v=glance) utterly rocks, and everybody should read it (though it would be best to start with the first book of the trilogy, Fire From Heaven (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375726829/ref=pd_sim_b_1/102-8472727-0218514?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance)). However, it's straight historical fiction - LOL, my 'brother' duathir likes those books, which should give a clue about how non-fanciful they are.

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

Backward Glance and the Renault books were taken from our "Famous Soulbonders" list on soulbonding. ^Romaine is sitting here trying to remember if we ever posted that list anywhere else, but if we did, it was posted on this community.

We thought for a minute he'd deleted his explanations of why he chose these particular books, but they're still there. Perhaps he assumed anyone who was interested in otherkin would be interested in soulbonding.

[szczur-system.livejournal.com]

Well, ksol1460 - they run this community, alongside sethrenn. :)

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

We always thought he was on soulbonding, owing to the fact that two items on his list (he had a couple of others, but removed them) is taken straight from our list of Famous Soulbonders. We were constantly posting that list on soulbonding for a while anytime someone came on fearing they were "less than normal" or that "no one else did this". We figured he was just trying to get the word out.

[spookshow-girl.livejournal.com]

You're right, quick analysis of his user info indicates he's on soulbonding, and not here. Check it out, I'm bored industrious.

--Me

[pleiades-rising.livejournal.com]

I'd like to check out a few books on that list, mainly the ones about totem spirits (I have a wolf totem), but I'm not too sure about "Werewolves", since it seems to make reference to AHWW which is now completely dead and filled with mostly roleplayers.

I say the best places to get info on otherkin isn't in tangible books, but on 'kin communities and the various essays posted around the net. (same goes for multiplicity, I'd think.)

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

What they're overlooking is folklore.