Magikal Path Labels

There are typically 3 labels used to define the practice or an individual within the Craft community.

* Solitaire - A person who has dedicated their spiritual life to a pagan path and are practicing alone or within their immediate family unit.
* Practioner - A person who has dedicated their spiritual life to a specific tradition and practices alone or within their family unit.
* Coven Memeber - A person who has been initiated within a formally organized coven, clan, grove or the like

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Kenneth Grant - Magical Revival
Aninymous - The Angelical Alphabet
Al Selden Leif - Pagan Spells Bath Spells
Aleister Crowley - Magick Without Tears
Nu Isis Working Group - Magical Scripts And Cipher Alphabets

Witchcraft In Yorkshire

Book: Witchcraft In Yorkshire by Patricia Crowther

Patricia Crowther`s witchcraft in Yorkshire was originally published in the UK in 1973. A small book of the region`s lore, this important and detailed book described customs, legends, spells, and beliefs of the Yorkshire area of the UK. This facsimile reproduction of the original 1973 book is now available as a limited edition, yet at an affordable price, with all the original language, observations, and commentary intact. Even the back cover photo is from that era. The front cover alone has been updated in tribute to the importance of this very influencial work. The foreword to this new edition puts this book in modern perspective, stating, "The small book you are now holding in your hands was an early effort by one of the first publicly announced practitioners to contribute to a fuller picture of the witch, and of witchcraft. The text provides samplings of how witchcraft and folk-magic manifested themselves, over many years, within the borders of Yorkshire."

Buy Patricia Crowther's book: Witchcraft In Yorkshire

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Louise Huebner - Witchcraft For All
Alan Macfarlane - Witchcraft In Tudor And Stuart Essex
Tom Peete Cross - Witchcraft In North Carolina

Czechoslovak Fairy Tales

Book: Czechoslovak Fairy Tales by Parker Fillmore

This popular classic work by Forrest J. Ackerman is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Forrest J. Ackerman then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.

Download Parker Fillmore's eBook: Czechoslovak Fairy Tales

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Ea Wallis Budge - The Book Of Am Tuat
Peter Henry Emerson - Welsh Fairy Tales And Other Stories
Parker Fillmore - Czechoslovak Fairy Tales

Getting Started In Traditional Witchcraft Now

If you are interested in becoming a Traditional Crafter, a Traditional Witch, here is where to start. With all the misinformation drifting around about this topic it is best to start with some basic essentials. When I was first starting out I wanted to get into the “fun stuff” you know, when do you get to work with tools? And rituals? Spells? Those are all interesting aspects of the Craft but you really must learn some central skills and techniques that will be useful in all those activities later on. Fortunately it is easier than you may think.

Let me share some of my own experience. I can vividly remember visiting an old family friend in the woods to the north of where I lived, it was a small home he owned and built himself. For as long as I can remember he had been a Crafter and I was always interested in what he practiced. I would always knock three times and then he would answer, the smell of aromatic dried herbs hit you as you walked into his small cottage. The first time I visited him I was not sure what to expect, would he teach me a spell, or some sort of ceremony?

I could not have been more mistaken. When I got there he took me out the back door that opened directly into the forest. We walked deep into the woods where the ancient trees grew. Finally he stopped and told me to sit on an old stump. He told me to sit perfectly still, to close my eyes and calm my mind. After a while I became very aware of my surroundings and sensitive to nature itself. I could feel the sway of the trees and the breeze that moved them; I could hear the flutter of even the tiniest of winged insects, smell the amber colored leaves as they fell from the trees, and even tastes the lingering moistness left over from summer rains. It was peaceful and wonderful, nothing had even felt this real to me.

He explained afterward that the lesson he was trying to teach me was to “Go Within,” to focus the mind, it is what some might call meditation. Being in the forest is a great place to Go Within, and to grow closer to nature. These are the first two steps a new seeker should take: Go Within, and become closer to nature.

You can Go Within in your home, outside, or anyplace. The idea is to focus, to turn off all the distractive thoughts that race through the mind every second of our lives. This “mental noise” prevents us from seeing clearly; but if we can focus on just one thing we can tune out all the other distractions. This is a vital ability in the Traditional Craft, and is a basic skill used in Traditional Magic. Our modern society has become dominated by industrialization and commercialization; too non-thinking, hectic, and automatic. nature is often an afterthought, but getting close to nature is exactly what a new seeker needs to do.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Howard Williams - The Superstitions Of Witchcraft
Swain Wodening - Anglo Saxon Witchcraft
Alexander Roberts - A Treatise Of Witchcraft
Michael Bailey - Historical Dictionary Of Witchcraft

The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development

Book: The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development by Christopher Penczak

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is a thorough course of education, introspection, meditation, and the development of the magickal and psychic abilities that are the birthright of the witch. Four introductory chapters present the history, traditions, and principles of witchcraft, followed by thirteen lessons that start with basic meditation techniques and culminate in a self-initiation ceremony equivalent to the first-degree level of traditional coven-based witchcraft.

This book's non-dogmatic presentation encourages an eclectic, personal approach while providing a strong foundation for the practice of witchcraft and magick. Develop your psychic abilities and practice potent magickal techniques as you explore the source of every witch's power--the temple within.

These two new titles from Llewellyn focus on witchcraft, or Wicca, a cluster of religious rituals and beliefs deriving from ancient European polytheisms or paganisms. The author of seven books on witchcraft, Grimassi is a practicing Italian witch (a strega) who has researched the history and theory of witchcraft back to antiquity, with a view to recovering and preserving teachings and lore. As a result, the book is primarily a historical study of various European Witchcraft traditions. Even when considering magickal techniques for the focusing of natural power or discussing methods of psychic development, the author takes pains to cover their historical development. While Grimassi's book will appeal more to scholars of religion, Penczak's book will appeal to believers and interested casual readers. An active witch and teacher of modern neo-Paganism, Penczak teaches classes (mainly in New England) on witchcraft and various other New Age practices such as reiki, shamanic journeying, and past-life regression. His book aims at using Wiccan techniques (generally termed "Magick") to aid in personal growth. Accordingly, after a brief history and some basic theory of Wiccan spirituality comprising four chapters, there follow 13 lesson-chapters on techniques of spiritual growth, each followed by appropriate exercises. A minor criticism: some of the material discussed, while probably hermetic or occult in origin, is not ordinarily considered Wiccan but pertains to other religious traditions. Astral travel, for instance, is more often a feature of Shamanism, while chakras are a part of yoga. Both books provide a useful introduction to Modern Witchcraft and are recommended for both academic and public libraries, particularly those with substantial religion collections.

As you progress through this year-and-a-day course of study, you will explore a wide range of topics that support and inform the dedicated witch:

- Ancient and modern magickal philosophy
- Modern scientific theories supporting a new definition of reality
- "Instant" magick techniques for protection, healing, and serenity
- Energy work and anatomy, including chakras and auras
- Astral travel, dreams, and spirit guides
- Healing techniques for body, mind, and spirit

Unlike most beginner books on Witchcraft, this book does not focus on spells, tools, or celebrating the wheel of the year (Sabbats). It is all to often that student of the Craft go straight to traditional spellwork without understanding how or why it works. The author insists that students who have not experienced energy or psychic powers, the "foundation stones or magick", will have a less profound experience in ritual. Instead this book focuses on the journey within, psychic development, meditation, and magick.

The book starts out with four introductory chapters that gives basic definitions of the word "witch", such as the healer and Walker Between worlds. It describes Witchcraft as an art, science, and spirituality and describes the ancient history and modern traditions of Witchcraft. The rest of the book is divided into 13 lessons along with exercises, meditations, and homework to go along with "a year and a day" study course. Lesson topics include meditation, ancient philosophy, magickal theory, protection, astral projection, light, energy anatomy (chakras, auras, etc.), spirit guides, and healing.

In my opinion, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is an extraordinary text. Christopher Penczak's eclectic approach and personal experience makes this book a pleasure to read. When reading a book on Witchcraft, what's better than one written by an experienced minister and practitioner of the Craft.

This book makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who can't figure out what it really is to "visualize your intent" right off the bat. It eases you into a meditative practice, visualization, affirmations, healing, chakra work, etc. He presents the skills as progressive lessons so the format is easy to follow. All the other magic 101 books say that magical skill comes with practice, but once again, this book is much more useful. Instead of just saying that you should practice, Penczak actually lists homework at the end of each lesson.

Buy Christopher Penczak's book: The Inner Temple Of Witchcraft Magick Meditation And Psychic Development

Books in PDF format to read:

Summers Montague - The History Of Witchcraft And Demonology
Justin Winsor - The Literature Of Witchcraft In New England
Bjarke Folner - Theoretical Foundations Of Witchcraft And Demonological Development

Witchcraft And Christianity

The earliest Christian document to examine witch craft was the Canon Episcopi, which appeared in round year 906, even though it may have been written centuries earlier. The canon was intended as a guide for the use of bishops in carrying out their duties.

Year 1324 in Ireland, in one of the most bizarre cases in the history of witch craft, this barrier collapsed as sorcery and rising religious concepts of the devil became inextricably entwined. The victim, Ireland’s first major witch, was neither helpless nor an aging crone, and desire for her property and power was certainly a significant motivation behind her trial. For lady Alice Kyteler was the wealthiest woman in Kilkenny when she was accused of being a witch. Her accuser, Bishop Richard de Ledrede, a Franciscan trained in France, was at the time less powerful than Lady Alice.

Among the charges brought against Lady Alice were that she denied Church allegiances, parodied religious ceremony, sacrificed animals, using the words ‘fi, fi, fi, amen’, creating powders and ointments containing worms, herbs, parts of dead men and unborn baby, and engaged in intimacies with a man who appeared as a cat and a black dog.

Even though she certainly was involved in practice of some sort of ritual magick, Lady Alice fought the charges repeatedly before finally seeking refuge in England. Unfortunately she left her maid Petronilla behind, and Petronilla was tortured until she admitted that her mistress was a sorceress of extraordinary talents and a participant in lavish nocturnal orgies.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Max Heindel - Teachings Of An Initiate
Samuel Sharpe - Egyptian Mythology And Egyptian Christianity
Jaroslav Nemec - Witchcraft And Medicine

Witchcraft History

Infused with mystery, fear, unbelievable and grim facts and records, Witchcraft History can be traced back to centuries.

The word ‘Witchcraft’ has been derived from the word ‘Wicca’ which means ‘the wise one’. witchcraft has been seen as a magical phenomenon, a pagan worship or religion, sorcery, and others, at different periods in Witchcraft History.

The earliest records of the concept and practice of witchcraft can be traced to the early days of humankind when witchcraft was seen as magical a phenomenon that was invoked for magical rites which ensured good luck, protection against diseases, and other reasons.

However, it was not until 1000 AD that the practice of Witchcraft and witches invoked the wrath of priests, Christianity, and members of the society. Witchcraft, seen as a religion of the ancient and traditional pagan religion which worships the feminine, earthly, and masculine aspects of God, was considered as anti-Christian and a heresy.

Held to be against the declarations and beliefs of the Church, witches were considered as evil, making pacts and connections with the Devil. It was even believed that witches engaged in practices such as flying, invisibility, killing, taming black wolves and cats to spy on people, and others.

The belief in the existence of witches was strengthened particularly after Pope Innocent VIII issued a declaration in the 1498 confirming their existence in society, and inquisition increased, although in 1200, killing of witches had already become authorised by Pope Gregory IX.

The Inquisition thus began after 1200 on orders of the Church to discover the witches or heretics who were believed to be evil and against the Church. Full-fledged killing of witches was, however, recorded in the 1500s and 1600s.

The first crusade against witches was held in 1022 AD when a witch was burned to death. Witchcraft History echoes the terrible campaign against Witchcraft in Salem in 1692 in which 150 people were tried as suspects of practicing witchcraft.

People suspected as witches were usually burned at stakes, and those pleading their innocence were either stoned to death or even sometimes thrown in water to prove their innocence. Witches usually faced severe and painful deaths or punishments.

A juxtaposition of good as well as evil views, Witchcraft History is, thus, a stock of shocking, yet hypnotising incidents of humankind and their crusade against the practice of Witchcraft.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Jaroslav Nemec - Witchcraft And Medicine
Yogi Ramacharaka - Yogi Philosophy
Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised
Louise Huebner - Witchcraft For All
Gerald Gardner - Witchcraft Today

What Is Witchcraft

Witchcraft (aka witch Craft) in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the use of certain kinds of supernatural or magical powers. witchcraft can refer to the use of such powers in order to inflict harm or damage upon members of a community or their property. Other uses of the term distinguish between bad witchcraft and good witchcraft, the latter involving the use of these powers to heal someone from bad witchcraft. The concept of witchcraft is normally treated as a cultural ideology, a means of explaining human misfortune by blaming it either on a supernatural entity or a known person in the community. A witch (from Old English wicce f. / wicca m.) is a practitioner of witchcraft.

Belief in witchcraft, and by consequence witch-hunts, is found in many cultures worldwide, today mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. in the witch smellers in Bantu culture), and historically notably in Early Modern Europe of the 14th to 18th century, where witchcraft came to be seen as a vast diabolical conspiracy against Christianity, and accusations of witchcraft led to large-scale witch-hunts, especially in Germanic Europe.

The "witch-cult hypothesis", a controversial theory that European witchcraft was a suppressed pagan religion, was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Since the mid-20th century, Witchcraft has become the self-designation of a branch of neopaganism, especially in the Wicca tradition following Gerald Gardner, who claimed a religious tradition of Witchcraft with pre-Christian roots.

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Dr Leo Martello - Weird Ways Of Witchcraft
Louise Huebner - Witchcraft For All
Mike Nichols - Eight Sabbats Of Witchcraft
Michael Harrison - The Roots Of Witchcraft
Paul Huson - Mastering Witchcraft

Tantra And Witchcraft Defamed As Black Magic Tricks Violating Moral Ethics

"Both - tantra and witchcraft - were defamed as black magic tricks violating moral ethics of society... tantric practitioners in India and witches all over the world were killed en-mass during ancient and medieval periods of history." - I stated the well-known historical fact in front of Eva. "Were they really magicians?" - She looked at me in disbelief.

"Honesty is the biggest magic - not the Black Magic using evil magic tricks - and they were honest to the core of their heart. And when their heart said, "Love", they did. How could our artificial moral ethics - that we humans have built our monumental culture on the foundation of - tolerate getting jolted at its very base? They charged them with immorality, satanic ritual abuse, blood libel, spells, necromancy, idolatry, wicca and shamanism; which ultimately resulted in large scale repression of the both - massacre of the saivist tantra practitioners in Kashmir by the proponents of yoga and witch-hunts along with witch-burning at the hands of people and religious and political establishments of the lands and the times the world over!" - I dug a little bit of history to her. "Yes, I heard things like that." - She was looking to be in pain. I stopped for a while... to play the game of life a bit slower...

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Tupman Tracy Ward - Theatre Magick Aleister Crowley And Rites Of Eleusis
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Medieval Witchcraft

Witchcraft refers to the use of certain occult and spiritual practices to seek the assistance of the supernatural powers in resolving the problems whose solutions can not be achieved through the known rational means. The process involves reciting prayers and performing rituals in a certain specific format or craft. Prayers and rituals when performed with utmost sincerity and faith do quite often fructify into the desired results. Since there is no reasonable explanation for the manifestation of the result, they are termed miracles or magic. witchcraft is therefore considered synonymous with magic.

Witchcraft has existed since man was born and he had to struggle for his survival against the unpredictable and unmanageable forces of nature such as famines, rains, floods, epidemics or some other occurrences at personal level which could not be easily explained. Witchcraft had all the more reason to exist in the medieval times when human knowledge was still at a rudimentary stage and there appeared no other solution to day-to-day problems that confused and befuddled the people of those times.

In their desperation to seek the desired results, some times the practitioners of the witchcraft went out of the way of prayers and resorted to certain extreme practices and rituals such as the use of blood and so on or invoking evil spirits for help. Moreover witchcraft, like every other branch of knowledge, was manipulated and misused by vested interests. A few such cases here and there gained wide spread notoriety and provided the ecclesiastic powers, which commanded influence in formulating the secular policies of the kings and rulers of those times, an excuse to brand the witches or wizards as agents of the evil or Satanic powers. Now Satan is considered the greatest enemy of the Church and therefore God. Consequently any person who was suspected to be indulging in witchcraft was hounded out and persecuted with the punishment of death through hanging or burning at stake.

Persons accused of practicing the witchcraft were labeled as heretics. Once caught, the victim was coerced into confessing his crime through inhuman tortures and was either hanged or burnt alive during the inquisition. The law against the witchcraft was further exploited by the vested interests to score personal vendetta or to snatch the property or land of victims. Some influential persons in the society, in collusion with the priests, would manage to arouse suspicions against their targets as being witches or wizards. They victims were arrested, made to confess and killed.

Witches were generally portrayed as ugly old hags so as to make them the target of dislike and hatred, but the matter of fact is that they were and still are quite normal men and women and in some case witches were and are quite pretty and presentable ladies.

The witches used scrolls for witchcraft in those times. Some of them survive even today. Besides the spells, the witches also used some herbs and animal parts to make potions to cure some diseases and heal the wounds. Potions were brewed in cauldrons in order to combine them properly. Cauldrons were often made of wood, but other materials such as stones were also used. These potions, though denigrated as superstitious, were quite efficacious in those times as they are equally efficacious now.

A widely used tool of witchcraft was a broom. The use of broom can be traced to the peasants, both men and women, who used them to fertilize their crops. They would, then, ride on the top of them as horses.

In some cases, the priests were genuinely concerned about the souls of the ‘witches’ and burnt them alive for their salvation. The case of Joan of Arc, who was later canonized as Saint Joan is one of the most glittering examples of such acts of papal fanaticism. She was branded as a heretic or a witch and burnt alive on stake.

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Medieval Grimoires - The Picatrix
Mike Nichols - Eight Sabbats Of Witchcraft
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How To Learn Witchcraft

Witchcraft or wicca is a pagan religion--a religion of nature.

The first step to learn witchcraft is to study the religion itself.

You can do this by studying as many books and journals both offline and online. This will enable you to understand the basic tenets and beliefs of the witchcraft. Since witchcraft is the religion of nature, it would do you much good to directly go into the lap of nature to experience its feel, to read books from brooks and sermons in stones. Watch the flight of birds through the glorious sunrises and sunsets across the mountains and seas. Look with wonder at the earth and sky, which are the bodies of the God and Goddess. Now take a notebook and write down why you want to become a witch. How do you visualize the God and Goddess? Be honest. Later on this notebook shall become your Book of Shadows.

The next step is to explore the magic.

Magic is not a hocus pocus way of bending the laws of nature to suit your needs. The magic of the witchcraft is to raise and channel energy that is within you to bring it in harmony with the nature to achieve the desired result.

For this you need to understand the fundamental principles of

* casting circles,
* calling quarters,
* invoking God/ goddess,
* raising and directing the energies
* and finally, grounding, centering and closing the circle.

Try to understand the various phases of the moon, its waxing, growing full and waning and their effect on your moods and body.

You must also do some meditation and visualization exercises to increase your concentration and focus. Learn to derive strength from the earth, sun, moon and stars. Learn to be still, calm and quiet and hear the voice of God and Goddess when they call you.

Now you can begin your basic spell work starting with your new moon ritual.

Do not go after the word-for-word rituals that you read everywhere. These are only the guidelines. Write down your own rituals. Having done that you should dedicate yourself to the Witchcraft. Then you may join some coven or network of your fellow Wiccans. You must be particular about the ethical aspect of performing witchcraft. If you try to harm someone with your magical powers, you will face the results of your ill intended actions very soon.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Michael Harrison - The Roots Of Witchcraft
Gerald Gardner - Witchcraft Today
Paul Huson - Mastering Witchcraft

Egyptian Witchcraft

Like the witch craft of any other region, the Egyptian witch craft is based upon the country’s tradition, myth, legend, rituals, drama, poetry, song, dance, worship, magic and living in harmony with the earth. Egyptian Zodiac Wheel

The practitioners of Egyptian witch craft honor the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses including the Triple goddess of the waxing, full and waning moon and the horned god of the sun, death and animal life.

Since moon has an important place in Egyptian witch craft, therefore both men and women in city apartments, suburban backyards and country glades meet on full moons and on festival occasions to raise their energy levels and harmonize themselves with the natural forces.

Congregations in Egyptian witch craft are called temples and covens where the seekers are initiated into learning the witch craft. The repeated patterns of changing seasons have great importance in the Egyptian witch craft. ritual and festivals evolved to celebrate these seasonal cycles more especially during the sowing and harvesting seasons.

Egyptian witch craft, therefore, has an image of the ‘Wheel of the Year’ with its eight spokes which symbolize the four agricultural and pastoral festivals and the four solar festivals commemorating seasonal solstices and equinoxes. Like the ancient Pagans and witches, Egyptian witches consider the day as beginning at sundown and ending at sundown the following day.

Egyptian witches hone their divinatory skills in the increasing starlight and moon light and as winter begins, they work with the positive aspects of the dark tides. Therefore October 31-November eve is the most auspicious period for the Egyptian witches as this, according to them, is the time when the veil that separates our world from the next is the thinnest. This period allows the dead to return to the world of living when their kith and kin welcome and feast them.

Egyptian witches perform magic at gatherings called Moon Celebrations or Esbats which coincide with the phases of the moon. Witches practice healing magic, protection, retaliation and channeling of energy to develop themselves spiritually. They create circles to work magic. The primary tool that they use to work magic is a ritual knife called a Sacred Blade or Athame. The sacred blade gets charged with energy of the owner and is used to define space such as drawing a sacred circle where the owner’s will and energy work. A bowl of water is used to symbolize the element of water and its properties: cleansing, regeneration, and emotion.

Other important tools denote the elements earth, air, fire, and water. A pentacle (a pentagram traced upon a disk, like a small dish) is often used to symbolize earth and its properties, stability, material wealth and practical affairs. Alternatively, a small dish of salt or soil can be used to symbolize the earth element.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Mike Nichols - Eight Sabbats Of Witchcraft
Paul Huson - Mastering Witchcraft
Gerald Gardner - Witchcraft Today

Witchcraft And Devil Lore In The Channel Islands

Book: Witchcraft And Devil Lore In The Channel Islands by John Linwood Pitts

TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE GUERNSEY ROYAL COURT, WITH AN ENGLISH Translation AND Historical INTRODUCTION.

In presenting to the public another little volume of the "Guille-Alles Library Series," it affords me much pleasure to acknowledge various kindnesses experienced during its preparation. From Edgar MacCulloch, Esq., F.S.A., Bailiff of Guernsey, I have received several valuable hints and suggestions bearing upon the subject; and also from F.J. Jeremie, Esq., M.A., Jurat of the Royal Court. I am also particularly indebted to James Gallienne, Esq., Her Majesty's Greffier, for his uniform kindness and courtesy in allowing the fullest access at all times to the Archives under his care, not only in respect to the subject-matter of the present publication, but also in other historical researches which I have wished to make. I am equally obliged to Mr. E.M. Cohu and Mr. H.J.V. Torode, Deputy-Greffiers, and to Mr. A. Isemonger, Bailiff's Clerk, for various Information and much ready help, which materially facilitated my investigations. All these gentlemen have my cordial acknowledgments and best thanks. J.L.P. Guernsey, December, 1885.

Download John Linwood Pitts's eBook: Witchcraft And Devil Lore In The Channel Islands

Books in PDF format to read:

Hesketh Bell - Obeah Witchcraft In The West Indies
Fransis Bragge - Witchcraft Farther Displayd
Kate Dumycz - Female Power Witchcraft And Gender In Elizabethan England
John Linwood Pitts - Witchcraft And Devil Lore In The Channel Islands

A History Of Witchcraft In England From 1558 To1718

Book: A History Of Witchcraft In England From 1558 To1718 by Wallace Notestein

In its original form this essay was the dissertation submitted for a doctorate in philosophy conferred by Yale University in 1908. When first projected it was the writer's purpose to take up the subject of English witchcraft under certain general political and social aspects. It was not long, however, before he began to feel that preliminary to such a treatment there was necessary a chronological survey of the Witch Trials. Those strange and tragic affairs were so closely involved with the politics, literature, and life of the seventeenth century that one is surprised to find how few of them have received accurate or complete record in history. It may be said, in fact, that few subjects have gathered about themselves so large concretions of misinformation as English witchcraft. This is largely, of course, because so little attention has been given to it by serious students of history. The mistakes and misunderstandings of contemporary writers and of the local historians have been handed down from county history to county history until many of them have crept into general works. For this reason it was determined to attempt a chronological treatment which would give a narrative history of the more significant trials along With Some Account of the progress of opinion. This plan has been adhered to somewhat strictly, sometimes not without regret upon the part of the writer. It is his hope later in a series of articles to deal with some of the more general phases of the subject, with such topics as the use of torture, the part of the physicians, the contagious nature of the witch alarms, the relation of Puritanism to persecution, the supposed influence of the Royal Society, the general causes for the gradual decline of the belief, and other like questions. It will be seen in the course of the narrative that some of these matters have been touched upon.

Download Wallace Notestein's eBook: A History Of Witchcraft In England From 1558 To1718

Books in PDF format to read:

Anonymous - History Of Witchcraft Vol 1 Of 7
Nathan Beier - Spiritualism As Modern Witchcraft In New England From 1848 To 1866
Julia Phillips - History Of Wicca In England
Wallace Notestein - A History Of Witchcraft In England From 1558 To1718

Halloween Spells

Book: Halloween Spells by Leo Ruickbie

Hallowe'en is traditionally a time of spells and magic. Learn more about these old seasonal charms and modern wiccan spellcraft for Samhain.

Free information sheets (typically one-page pdf documents) to download, print and re-distribute. You can hand these out to your friends, at festivals, post on forums and upload to your own website. Terms and conditions apply.

Download Leo Ruickbie's eBook: Halloween Spells

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Anonymous - White Magic Spells
Anonymous - Book Of Spells
Anonymous - Hypnotism Spells
Leo Ruickbie - Halloween And Samhain
Leo Ruickbie - Halloween Spells

Against The Neopagans

Book: Against The Neopagans by Julius Evola

Extracted from "Grundisse" by Julius Evola The Misunderstandings of the New "Paganism".

It is perhaps appropriate to point out the misunderstandings that are current at the moment in some radical circles, who believe that a solution lies in the direction of a new paganism. This misunderstanding is already visible in the use of terms such as "pagan" and "pagandom". I myself, having used these expressions as slogans in a book that was published in Italy in 1928, and in Germany in 1934, have cause for sincere regrets. Certainly the word for pagan or heathen, paganus, appears in some ancient Latin writers such as Livy without an especially negative tone. But this does not alter the fact that with the arrival of the new faith, the word paganus became a decidedly disparaging expression, as used in early Christian apologetics. It derives from pagus, meaning a small town or village, so that paganus refers to the peasant way of thinking: an uncultured, primitive, and Superstitious way. In order to promote and glorify the new faith, the apologists had the bad habit of elevating themselves through the denigration of other faiths. There was often a conscious and often systematic disparagement and misrepresentation of almost all the earlier traditions, doctrines, and religions, which were grouped under the contemptuous blanket -term of paganism or heathendom.

To this end, the apologists obviously made a premeditated effort to highlight those aspects of the pre- Christian Religions and Traditions that lacked any normal or primordial character, but were clearly forms that had fallen into decay. Such a polemical procedure lead, in particular, to the characterization of whatever had preceded Christendom, and was hence non-Christian, as necessarily anti-Christian.

Download Julius Evola's eBook: Against The Neopagans

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Bernard King - Meanings Of The Runes
Franz Bardon - Frabato The Magician
Arlo Bates - The Pagans
Julius Evola - Against The Neopagans

Cunningham Encyclopedia Of Wicca In The Kitchen

Book: Cunningham Encyclopedia Of Wicca In The Kitchen by Scott Cunningham

There's a reason caviar has a reputation as a love food, but a little vanilla or peppermint can work wonders too! You'll savor Mushrooms like Never Before after experiencing their intuitive-raising effects, and a munch of celery will resonate with new meaning as it boosts your sexual desire and psychic awareness.

Virtually any item in your pantry can be used for personal transformation. From artichokes to kidney beans to grape jelly, food contains specific magical energies you can harness for positive results. This Encyclopedia of food magic offers twenty-seven of Scott Cunningham's favorite recipes. Magical menus for more than ten desired goals including love, protection, health, money, and psychic awareness are provided as well.

This commemorative edition also presents special features and articles celebrating Scott Cunningham's remarkable life.

Buy Scott Cunningham's book: Cunningham Encyclopedia Of Wicca In The Kitchen

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Scott Cunningham - Cunninghams Encyclopedia Of Crystal Gem And Metal Magic
Rosemary Ellen Guiley - The Encyclopedia Of Witches Witchcraft And Wicca
Scott Cunningham - Cunningham Encyclopedia Of Wicca In The Kitchen

Witch Milk And Witches Marks

Book: Witch Milk And Witches Marks by Thomas Forbes

The term witch's milk, referring usually to the mammary secretion of newborn infants,t is an example of that small group of medical and biological words and phrases which had its origin in the popular vocabulary of past centuries. (Freemartin2' is a similar term.) Such expressions lack the classical dignity of Greek and Latin ancestry, but they have a flavor and Interest of their own. What was the source of the phrase witch's milk, with its implications of superstition and sorcery, and how has it persisted to take its place in modern scientific terminology?

Although little attention is given to the phenomenon in modern textbooks of pediatrics, it is well established that during the first weeks after birth the mammary glands of some babies hypertrophy and produce a colostrumlike secretion. Normally the secretion soon ends, and the glands regress. Partly on the basis of an important study by Lyons,' it is now generally believed that two maternal hormones, estrogen and prolactin, which during the later stages of pregnancy are Preparing the maternal mammary glands for lactation, may escape into the fetal circulation in sufficient quantity so that the same phenomenon appears in the infant. If this theory is correct, the transitory production of witch's milk can be Explained by the obvious fact that the availability to the baby of the maternal hormones ceases at birth. However, since prolactin has also been found in the pituitary glands of fetal calves,6 it is possible that a brief activity of the baby's pituitary gland may also help to account for the appearance of the secretion.

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The Spiral Dance A Rebirth Of The Ancient Religion Of The Goddess

Book: The Spiral Dance A Rebirth Of The Ancient Religion Of The Goddess by Starhawk

The Spiral Dance is a complex myriad of thoughts, dreams, creation and spiritual exercises that can challenge even the most experienced magical practicioners. This is not a light'n'fluffy read, definitely not a basic introduction to witchcraft, wicca or paganism in any of its forms. For many years, this book was the only widely available text on the Great Goddess religion and, with two updates to the original work, remains relevant to this day. This book challenges the reader to take their spiritual path more seriously and can be a truly life-changing and mind-expanding experience. All readers will find exercises to suit them, as there are plenty to choose from. The feminist aspects teaches respect for the feminine to both men and women, being honest and confronting without going to excess. I'd recommend this to anyone seeking to find/understand themselves and their spiritual path, however this is not really a starting point but a way to expand your knowledge and practices. Beginners would be better off looking at Scott Cunningham and Jennifer Hunter first. Starhawk's book goes into more depth on the Goddess aspect and on meditation and ritual, and it is useful to have a little grounding in the basics before moving into more complex intellectual and experiential territory. Fiona Horne's books are also great basic guides, with extra information for those of us in the southern hemisphere.

This brilliant overview of the growth, supression, and modern-day reemergence of Wicca as a Goddess-worshipping religion has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness. In this beautiful 20th-anniversary edition, Starhawk now reveals the ways in which the practice of ritual and Goddess religion have, in the face of a changing world, developed over the last 20 years – and the ways in which these changes have influenced and enhanced her original ideas. This important spiritual guidebook provides both the tools of ancient practice and the means to adapt them to our lives today – for, according to Starhawk, ‘a living tradition is not static or fixed; it changes and responds to changing needs and changing times.’

The Spiral Dance is very specific about spells, rituals, and how to practice. It's a basic book about witchcraft. I keep returning to it, when I need to dedicate an athame, or practice grounding. Every witch should read it.

Thank the Goddess for Starhawk. Otherwise, I would have been stuck with rules about requiring male/female polarity in my rituals. I would have been told (as I have been by others) that if I don't circle with men I can't be a witch. Etc. etc. etc. Ironic, isn't it, that Starhawk is in a mixed gender coven, now practices with her husband, etc. etc. But to the anti-feminists, all focus on the female must be anti-male. It does get tiring.

I also highly recommend Truth or Dare to all witches.

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Night Magic

Book: Night Magic by Phillip Williams

I can only imagine at this point that you are about to put down this Book and run scared due to words like Night, Darkness, Dark Power, and The title of the book itself, Night Magick. Before we begin Learning about Night Magick I Believe it will help to Understand what I mean by these "night" terms.

Evil exists only in the hearts of men, not in this book and not in nature. If you are offended by anything that challenges the world you want to believe in, stop now. Turn Back, we won't be offended.

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