I don't go in for the new-agey books or movies....to me, Lord of the Rings doesn't count as a Pagan movie just because it's a fantasy. A Pagan book/movie needs to get to the heart of the matter, the really earth and mud between toes of being Pagan or dealing with Pagan themes. Here are some of my recommendations:

Books -
"The Fifth Sacred Thing" by Starhawk
"Gossamer Axe" by Gael Baudino
"Temple of My Familiar" by Alice Walker (and nearly every one of her books or poetry collections)
"Bless Me, Ultima" by ...can't remember the author
"Legacy of Luna" by Juila Butterfly Hill
"Strange Days: My Life and Times with Jim Morrison" by Patricia Keneally Morrison
"The Telling" by Ursula K. LeGuin
"Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman
"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
"The Sandman Series" by Neil Gaiman
The poetry of Walt Whitman, Keats, and Maya Angelou

Movies -
"Practical Magic"
"Drawing Down the Moon"
The "Goddess Remembered" Series by Donna Read and the Film Board of Canada
"Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love"
"The Doors" - there is a scene of Jim Morrison getting married in an actual Witchcraft ceremony, conducted by his widow, Patricia Keneally.
"Into the Woods" - Stephen Sondheim's lyrics at one point state "Witches can be right, giants can be good" and the Witch is the voice of reason in this world of fairytales growing up.

Happy reading/viewing! Blessings
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Songflower
offline Songflower
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  • Deux
    Deux
    online 81

    Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

    Sun, May 15, 2005 - 7:51 AM
    I'd add the poetry of W. B. Yeats.

    Also, check out "The Green Man - Tales from the Mythic Forest." It's a collection of short stories by several modern authors (including Neil Gaimen, Charles de Lint, and Gregory Maguire) with Green Man themes. It was assembled by Ellen Datlow & Terri Winding.

    Thank you for the suggestions, Songflower. My reading list grows!
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    • Song...
      Songflower
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      Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

      Sun, May 15, 2005 - 12:28 PM
      No, thank you! I absolutely love Neil Gaiman! :)
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      • Deux
        Deux
        online 81

        Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

        Sun, May 15, 2005 - 2:38 PM
        Have you read "Stardust"? I read the book byt haven't been able to locate the graphic novel version, which is supposed to be very good. Charles Ness (who illustrated the Green Man book) did the art.
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        • Song...
          Songflower
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          Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

          Sun, May 15, 2005 - 6:33 PM
          Actually, no I haven't. I've read most of the Sandman series, Neverwhere, and Coraline. I had my copy of American Gods signed by him a few years ago...so cool! :)

          Ooo...that's another one I should add: American Gods
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          • Deux
            Deux
            online 81

            Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

            Sun, May 15, 2005 - 7:33 PM
            Yes, American Gods should certainly be added. Very cool that you have a signed copy. I read Neverwhere and then bought a copy of the BBC production on DVD. Trust me, stick to the book! As I'm writing this, I'm hearing my son starting the Neverwhere DVD. He's the one that introduced me to Gaiman. I wear a Sandman t-shirt to sleep. lol!
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          • Song...
            Songflower
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            Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

            Thu, May 19, 2005 - 11:07 PM
            One more book I wanted to add is "Tori Amos: Piece by Piece" by Tori Amos and Ann Powers. Not exactly your average "Pagan" book per se, but it talks a lot about how Tori weaves mythology, goddesses, faeries, lineage, and a myrad of other influences into her songs and performances. She is able to apply these myths to everyday life in a way that I think even most Pagans have a hard time trying to do.
            OT - sometimes I think that we, as pagans, are so busy worrying if so and so practice is culturally or historically correct that we miss the big picture: how it connects to our lives. I can go on and on about the Celts and how great they were, but do I really understand them? Have I walked a mile in their shoes? Experienced their pain, joys, and hardships? Not really, because I was born in 20th century California. Sometimes we miss what's right here in front of us...we miss the chance to connect.
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  • BECCA
    BECCA
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    Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

    Wed, July 20, 2005 - 10:04 PM
    I loved Kate Forsyth's series called the "Witches of Eileanan" (six books). Also I really liked Anne Bishop's three book series called the "Tir Alainn" trilogy (The Pillars of the World, Shadows and Light, and The House of Gaian). Her other trilogy I read and liked too was the "Black Jewels". Included "Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Wueen of the Darkness".

    Ursula LeGuin's books too are fun reads.
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    • Alch...
      Alchemy Elixir
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      Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

      Thu, March 22, 2007 - 3:58 PM
      love kate forsyths books also.Both witches of eileanan and rhianons ride, but has anyone here read josephine pennicott's circle of nine trilogy. also the banned and the banished series by james clemens a fav of mine, the sevenwaters trilogy by juliette marillier. I love in the woods also, as i do dead can dance, and cocteau twins.
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      • tavthe
        tavthe
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        Re: Pagan books and movies...more offbeat recommends

        Wed, July 16, 2008 - 7:17 PM
        If you enjoyed American Gods you might also enjoy Anansi Boys. But Stardust on paper was different from the Stardust on Film. Both I highly recommend. Also consider the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch.
        Daphnis & Chloe, by Longus
        The Golden Ass, by Apuleius
        Terry Brooks' Word and the Void Series.
        The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates

        Admittedly I have a fondness for pagan stories from ancient civilizations.
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