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Showing posts with label wicca and witchcraft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wicca and witchcraft. Show all posts

Sunday, 3 October 2010

Witchcraft In North Carolina

Witchcraft In North Carolina Cover

Book: Witchcraft In North Carolina by Tom Peete Cross

The study of popular delusions has far more than an antiquarian or academic interest. Its results constitute one of the most fascinating and instructive chapters in the story of human progress. Written history is not so much the record of battles, conquests, and legislative acts as of social and intellectual development, and no true chronicle of any people can be written until account is taken of its popular beliefs and superstitions, as well as of the more obvious forces that ordinarily engage the attention of the historian. Witch stories are human documents and as such they must be reckoned with in any account of the mental temper of a people who believe in witches and whose actions are, even to a limited extent, ordered in accord with such belief.

With these facts in mind, the branch of the American Folk-Lore Society recently organized in North Carolina has undertaken the task of collecting and recording the popular tradition of that state. The following sketch, prepared at the request of the society, was designed originally to deal with only one of the many phases of folk superstition—Witchcraft ; but owing to the heterogeneous character of the collectanea submitted, it has in process of time become a sort of omnium-gatherum of North Carolina tradition regarding magic and supernaturalism. Its purpose is twofold: first, to enumerate such items of witch lore as have already been collected in North Carolina and to point out their traditional character; second, by means of illustrations from the folk-lore of neighboring territory, to indicate what other Articles of the diabolical creed future collectors may hope to discover.

Download Tom Peete Cross's eBook: Witchcraft In North Carolina

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Hesketh Bell - Obeah Witchcraft In The West Indies
Walter Gibson - Witchcraft A History Of The Black Art
Louise Huebner - Witchcraft For All
Tom Peete Cross - Witchcraft In North Carolina

Czechoslovak Fairy Tales

Czechoslovak Fairy Tales Cover

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

A Short History Of The Salem Village Witchcraft Trials

A Short History Of The Salem Village Witchcraft Trials Cover

Book: A Short History Of The Salem Village Witchcraft Trials by Martin Van Buren Perley

This short history meets that earnest desire; it gives the origin, growth, and death of the hideous monster; it gives dates, courts, and names of places, jurors, witnesses, and those hanged; it names and explains certain "men and things" that are concomitant to the trials, with which the reader nuiy not be conversant and which are necessary to the proper setting of the trials in one's mind; it compasses the salient features of witchcraft history, so that the story of the 1692 "delusion" may be garnered and entertainingly rehearsed.

The careful reader may discover, between the lines, in questions, in answers, and in the strange exhibitions, the real state of mind pervading all, which has been mildly characterized as a "delusion"; also he may be able to compare the Mosaic, the 1692, and the modern spirit manifestations, and advantageously determine for himself what is worth while in modern spiritualism, mindreading, clairvoyance, mesmerism, and the rest.

Though men of education, religion, titled dignity, and official station, of the professions and the 61ite, were responsible for the horrible cataatrophy, and in one instance or more forced the yeoman jurors to convict (who at the end signed recantations and expressed their grief), — religion and education must not be undervalued; a religious education will yield the highest type of manhood.

Download Martin Van Buren Perley's eBook: A Short History Of The Salem Village Witchcraft Trials

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe - A Historical Account Of The Belief In Witchcraft In Scotland
John Campbell Colquhoun - An History Of Magic Witchcraft And Animal Magnetism
Martin Van Buren Perley - A Short History Of The Salem Village Witchcraft Trials Ocr Version
Martin Van Buren Perley - A Short History Of The Salem Village Witchcraft Trials

What Is A Wizard

What Is A Wizard Cover (Anglo-Saxon) Includes both sexes; One who is born with naturally given talents, energies and great knowledge of Magikal practices. One who adheres to the pagan traditions. A wizard usually acts alone and is sometimes considered to be a semi-divine authority. Merlin would be a good example. However, this divine perception is often rejected and most often redirected to the proper deities by the wizard himself/herself.

Everyone is born with gifts and talents, however, a wizard is born with an inner instinct toward magikal practices. That person still has to make the 'choice' to use those gifts on the pagan path. A witch or wizard is making a choice to follow the principles and beliefs of the pagan path and exercise their given talents. They are not born with an all knowing wisdom. Just like everyone else; they have learning to do and wisdom to achieve.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Arthur Edward Waite - What Is Alchemy
Anonymous - What Is Wicca Article 2
Stephen Mcnallen - What Is Asatru
Lil Bow Wow - What Is A Warlock

Saturday, 2 October 2010

Witchcraft In Kenmore From 1730 To 1757

Witchcraft In Kenmore From 1730 To 1757 Cover

Book: Witchcraft In Kenmore From 1730 To 1757 by John Christie

This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Download John Christie's eBook: Witchcraft In Kenmore From 1730 To 1757

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Tom Peete Cross - Witchcraft In North Carolina
Wallace Notestein - A History Of Witchcraft In England From 1558 To1718
John Christie - Witchcraft In Kenmore From 1730 To 1757

A Witchs Beverages And Brews Magick Potions Made Easy

A Witchs Beverages And Brews Magick Potions Made Easy Cover

Book: A Witchs Beverages And Brews Magick Potions Made Easy by Patricia Telesco

This book is dedicated to good friends, without whom there would be little worthy of toasting. Specifically, to Walker, I promise never to serve you anything other than Coors Light and Sam Adams again. Rowan, Kit, and Danya, you can
show this to him when he gets uppity. To Maggie, AJ, Wade, Diane, Betsy, Talyn, Corwyn, T’sa, the Guardians, and many others who never forget a cold beer and a warm smile. And finally, to all the wonderful festival coordinators everywhere, who deserve far more thanks for their time and efforts than any one dedication can manage. Without you, our community would be sorely wanting. Cheers!

Buy Patricia Telesco's book: A Witchs Beverages And Brews Magick Potions Made Easy

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Kathryn Paulsen - Witches Potions And Spells
Sepharial - Primary Directions Made Easy
Patricia Telesco - A Witchs Beverages And Brews Magick Potions Made Easy

Thursday, 30 September 2010

The Nocturnal Witch Collection Book Of Shadows From The Shadows

The Nocturnal Witch Collection Book Of Shadows From The Shadows Cover

Book: The Nocturnal Witch Collection Book Of Shadows From The Shadows by Konstantinos

Let me begin by saying that Konstantinos' "Nocturnal Witchcraft" and its companion "Gothic Grimoire" included in the set are one of the few Llewellyn books I would ever recommend to anyone. Please do not let the titles suggest that what you will receive is a wrist-slitting church of satan tome intended to teach you how to summon up the forces of darkness to curse your enemies and enslave lovers. No, what you are receiving here (and as is clearly stated by the back matter, and clearly stated by the publisher name?...) are two manuals on a nocturnal take on Alexandrian Wicca. Those of you who favor the romantic "shadowside", the mysteries of the night, the energies of the Moon, and dark Gods and Goddesses of ancient pantheons, but want to maintain strong, ethical and moral values should buy this set.

Embrace the shadows and explore the dark side of magick with this boxed set of Konstantinos favorites. Nocturnal witchcraft introduces how to work with lunar powers and spiritual entities that prefer the darkness. Learn to cast a nocturnal magick circle, skry the night, open the gates to the underworld, and use dark symbols in your night rituals. Expand your connection to the dark ether and the unseen world with Gothic Grimoire. This book features techniques and rituals taken directly from Konstantinos’ personal magickal notebooks, including the Nocturnicon, rites for overcoming obstacles that appear in the life of the nightkind. From astral travel to working with thoughtforms, The Nocturnal Witch Collection will help you connect with the positive side of the dark-ness.

What you get here are two manuals on non-fluffy Wicca for night owls. In Nocturnal Witchcraft, you will learn the preliminaries. Beginners and even experienced witches will benefit greatly from the practices and exercises here, compromised of banishing rituals, circle casting, consecration of tools, invocation, godform assumption, relaxation exercises, vizualization exercises, concentration exercises, scrying lessons, an introduction to the god and goddess of night, basic rites and spells, and much, much more. Nocturnal Witchcraft can easily double as a Wicca premier, but with a night side take. After you've read and mastered "Nocturnal Witchcraft", the "Gothic Grimoire" will take you much further. Nocturnal sabbats and esbats, advanced thoughtforms, astral projection, astral manipulations, night vision, creation of an elemental servant, advanced spells and rites, opening the gates to the Underworld, and much, much more await you herein. Not all darkness is evil. And many of the "darkly inclined" tend to display an interest in neopaganism, and ethical neopaganism at that, do well to check out Konstantinos' books. Also highly recommended are John J. Coughlin's "Out of the Shadows: An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick", Denise Dummars & Lori Nyx's "Dark Archetype" and everything by Demetra George and Michelle Belanger. As Konstantinos would say, blessings, nocturnal witch.

Buy Konstantinos's book: The Nocturnal Witch Collection Book Of Shadows From The Shadows

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Sekhet Sophia - The Alexandrian Book Of Shadows
Gerald Gardner - The Garnerian Book Of Shadows
Asatru Free Assembly - The Odinist Anthology Selection From The Runestone
Austin Osman Spare - The Sorceries Of Zos From Cults Of The Shadow

Discovery Of Witches

Discovery Of Witches Cover

Book: Discovery Of Witches by Thomas Potts

Were not every chapter of the history of the human mind too precious an inheritance to be willingly relinquished -for appalling as its contents may be the value of the materials it may furnish may be inestimable -we might otherwise be tempted to wish that the miserable record in which the excesses occasioned by the witch mania are narrated could be struck out of its pages and for ever cancelled.

Download Thomas Potts's eBook: Discovery Of Witches

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Anonymous - History Of Nordic Runes P9
Margaret Alice Murray - The God Of The Witches
John Stearne - A Confirmation And Discovery Of Witchcraft
Reginald Scot - The Discoverie Of Witchcraft
Thomas Potts - Discovery Of Witches

Saturday, 18 September 2010

The Dark Powers

The Dark Powers Cover I felt (once again) the need to submit this article based on the fact that there is little known about this aspect of The Craft. I have recieved many questions about this subject and will try to cover as much of it as possible in this article.

The dark powers I refer to are the dark aspects of the Goddess and God. These powers come from the Crone and Lord of Shadows; the Hag and the Hunter. These are the two dark forms of the Lady and Lord. These powers are not only about the negative in our lives, but also very potent with the negative aspects in the universe. It is possible, in time, to turn these negatives to positives and apply them to your spellcraft. By accepting that the dark powers are in balance with the light powers, you are able to utilize the wholeness of the power. Shadow and light must be equal in our lives. Energy can be drawn to either light or dark, so when we die, the energy we have drawn will provide the soul's passage.

Dark powers are not something we should fear. When you are able to utilize the dark powers in balance with the light, you are able to take control of the power in whole. The unity you make with light and dark offers wholeness and peace, which may then be transferred to external energies and spells. Dark moons, however, are not very productive in spells and rituals. These signify a time not to call on the Lady and Lord, but to have quiet time or sleep and dreamtime.

Using dark power in meditation and spellcraft is very useful. You can call upon this power and use it's strong negativity for good, not for an increase of anger or rage. Casting a circle for a dark aspected spell or meditation is done deosil (N-W-S-E) or counter-clockwise. Call the elements and begin your practice. You can also use some of your tools for dark and dark only. Some of these are: a black mirror, gourd rattle, athame (if you can afford to), and cauldron. I use all the same for both light and dark. Some witches have seperate for each power.

Dark power colors are as follows:
Black - absorb/block negativity; remove negativity; focus on Shadowland/Underworld
Gray - Feary paths; neutralizing negativity; veiling
Purple - spiritual development; power, cleansing and intuition; progress
White - protection/truth; peace
Red - Power, energy and strength
Lavender - Sidhe magics, psychic growth and spiritual development
Silver - lunar energy

Dark powers are extremely strong and very useful. I do recommend that one know their own strength and know their Craft before one attempts working with them. Being that they are dark, and negative at that, it is possible to misuse them. Be careful what you do, and blessed be!

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Sri Swami Sivananda - Thought Power
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Saffron Robe
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis
Paul Foster Case - The Life Power
Ona - The Dark Forces

Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Mysterious Delusions Witchcraft In Salem

Mysterious Delusions Witchcraft In Salem Cover

Book: Mysterious Delusions Witchcraft In Salem by Walter Rowe

The Salem witchcraft trials are events that most Americans have heard of, but about which they actually know very little. For example, some people believe that witches were burnt in Salem. Actually, the prescribed punishment for witchcraft under English law was hanging. Another commonly held belief is that the witchcraft hysteria started when a group of young girls in Salem, under the tutelage of Tituba, an African slave, used magical spells to try to find out the occupations of the men that they would marry. This cluster of beliefs now has the status of an academic urban legend. The notion that a group of girls was using magic to find out about their future husbands stems from a careless reading of a remark of Rev. John Hale, who wrote that one of the young accusers had confided to him her own use of magic in this way. (by Walter F. Rowe, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Forensic Sciences The George Washington University Washington, DC)

Download Walter Rowe's eBook: Mysterious Delusions Witchcraft In Salem

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Michael Harrison - The Roots Of Witchcraft
Paul Huson - Mastering Witchcraft
Walter Rowe - Mysterious Delusions Witchcraft In Salem

Sunday, 5 September 2010

Do All Witches Practice Magick

Do All Witches Practice Magick Cover Magick is a tool. As a tool, it can be used within any religion. Some people who follow the religion of Witchcraft do not practice magick. It would be inaccurate to say that magick has nothing to do With Witchcraft. Still, there are those who choose not to practice magick. Foremost, witchcraft is a religion.

Books in PDF format to read:

Anonymous - Rep Insight The Witches Resource Pack
Lincoln Order Of Neuromancers - Apikorsus An Essay On The Diverse Practices Of Chaos Magick
Lisa Mcsherry - The Alchemy Of Abundance Practical Money Magic
Anonymous - Witchcraft A Guide To Magic
Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic

Thursday, 2 September 2010

A History Of Magic And Experimental Science

A History Of Magic And Experimental Science Cover

Book: A History Of Magic And Experimental Science by Lynn Thorndike

Lynn Thorndike's History of Magic and Experimental Science, in 8 volumes, is still the premier reference work for the history of magic in the west. The first 2 volumes cover late antiquity through the 13th century, and volumes 3-4 cover the 14-15th century. These are strong volumes, copiously researched and well-indexed, and a major source for work on the period. But it is the last 4 volumes that are the heart of the work. Covering the 16th, and 17th Centuries (2 volumes each), these four volumes remain entirely unsurpassed. Thorndike has chapters on almost everything, from major figures (Agrippa, Cardano, Bruno, etc.) to broad themes (Astrology, pseudo-Aristotelian works, etc.). Just about everything worth mentioning is at least mentioned here; the index alone is worth the price of admission...Now to whom would this set be useful? Well, anyone who has a good reason to want to investigate something in the history of magic fairly thoroughly. The primary difficulties with the book, you see, are (1) it was completed in the early 1950s, so none of the more recent Scholarship (e.g. any of Frances Yates's work) is taken into account, and (2) Thorndike was something of a positivist, and so he tends to pass rather summary judgment on the more unabshedly magical of his subjects --- note his hatchet-job on Cornelius Agrippa, a personal favorite of mine. If, however, you expect to do any scholarly research on some figure or problem in especially 16th-17th century magic, you need to read Thorndike on the subject. Sure, his judgments may be dated, and his scholarly methods even more so, but you will never find another reference work on magic which packs so much information so densely. Every library which claims to be a research library needs this boook; for private individuals, nobody can really claim to have much of a "magical library" (for whatever purpose) unless he or she has shelled out for this set. Scholars of the subejct who don't know about this ought to be ashamed of themselves. And any occultists take note: chuck out that dreadful Man, Myth, and Magic set, and buy this instead!

Download Lynn Thorndike's eBook: A History Of Magic And Experimental Science

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Joseph Ennemoser - The History Of Magic Vol 2
John Campbell Colquhoun - An History Of Magic Witchcraft And Animal Magnetism
Lynn Thorndike - A History Of Magic And Experimental Science

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Salem Possessed The Social Origins Of Witchcraft

Salem Possessed The Social Origins Of Witchcraft Cover

Book: Salem Possessed The Social Origins Of Witchcraft by Paul Boyer

This is a wonderful book. Boyer and Neissenbaum take you to society and the time right before the witch trials took place. They give you all the information you need to feel what life was like there and to understand the underlying tensions and disputes, jealousies and arrogance. Things were changing. Some people wanted --and benefited from the changes-- others didn't want, and were antagonistic to, the changes. The ideal of the community was being tested by economic opportunity, which was fostering economic greed. An increasing stratified society was coming into being. Meanwhile, there was no mechanism available for petty disputes to be resolved via the courts or other public venues -- this is just a short list of the variety of problems that sat unresolved and which eventually broke loose in the hysteria of a witch hunting. This is an amazingly complex and fascinating story--the research and scholarship here is extraordinary. If you want to know what lead up to the witch trials this is the book you want to read.

Provides an admirable illustration of the general rule that, in Old and New England alike, much of the best sociological history of the Twentieth Century has only been made possible by the antiquarian and genealogical interests of the nineteenth...This sensitive, intelligent, and well-written book will certainly revive interest in the terrible happenings at Salem.
--Keith Thomas (New York Review of Books )

The authors' whole approach to the Salem disaster is canny, rewarding, and sure to fascinate readers interested in that aberrant affair. (The Atlantic )

This is an 'inner history' of Salem Village that aims to raise the events of 1692 from melodrama to tragedy...It is a large achievement. This book is progressive history at its best, with brilliant insights, well-organized evidence, maps, and footnotes at the bottom of the page.
--Cedric B. Cowing (American Historical Review )

This short book is a solid contribution to the understanding of the 1692 witch trials. The authors use impressively rich demographic detail to support the thesis that the witch trials are best explained as symptoms of typical social tensions in provincial towns at the time. According to Boyer and Nissenbaum, Salem villagers played roles determined by economic, geographic, and status interests.
--Richard Ekman (Canadian Historical Review )

An important, imaginative book that brings new insights to the study of the 1692 witchcraft outbreak in Massachusetts. Building on Charles Upham's Salem Witchcraft (1867), Boyer and Nissenbaum explore decades of community tension and conflict in order to explain why Salem was the focus of this episode. The authors reveal a complex set of relationships between persons allied with the growing mercantile interests of Salem Town and those linked to the subsistence-based economy of outlying Salem Village.
--Carol Karlsen (Journal of Women in Culture and Society )

A provocative book. Drawing upon an impressive range of unpublished local sources, Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum provide a challenging new Interpretation of the outbreak of witchcraft in Salem Village. They argue that previous historians erroneously divorced the tragic events of 1692 from the long-term development of the village and therefore failed to realize that the witch trials were simply one particularly violent chapter in a series of local controversies dating back to the 1660s. In their reconstruction of the socio-economic conditions that contributed to the intense factionalism in Salem Village, Boyer and Nissenbaum have made a major contribution to the social history of colonial New England...[They] have provided us with a first-rate discussion of factionalism in a seventeenth-century New England community. Their handling of economic, familial, and spatial relationships within Salem Village is both sophisticated and imaginative.
--T. H. Breen (William and Mary Quarterly )

An illuminating and imaginative interpretation... of the social and moral state of Salem village in 1692. A sensitive, intelligent, and well-written book. (New York Review of Books )

A large achievement. This book is progressive history at its very best, with brilliant insights. (American historical Review )

Salem Possessed is a provocative book. Drawing upon an impressive range of unpublished local sources, Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum provide a challenging new interpretation of the outbreak of witchcraft in Salem Village... A major contribution to the social history of colonial New England... Sophisticated and imaginative. (William and Many Quarterly )

Buy Paul Boyer's book: Salem Possessed The Social Origins Of Witchcraft

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Michael Bailey - Historical Dictionary Of Witchcraft
Howard Williams - The Superstitions Of Witchcraft
Reginald Scot - The Discoverie Of Witchcraft
Michael Harrison - The Roots Of Witchcraft
Anonymous - Basic Technologies Of Witchcraft

Saturday, 31 July 2010

Using The Seven Pins In Candle Magick

Using The Seven Pins In Candle Magick Cover In Hoodoo and Voodoo, use of the seven-day candle, or "7 day vigil candle" is commonplace. The seven day candles are used in difficult cases and cases where concentrated energy is needed. The candle is burned over a period of seven days whereby the practitioner pays attention to revealing and divinatory signs from the candle.

To use your pins with a candle, you start with
a regular offeratory or large candle and seven pins of the seven colors. The candle is divided into seven equal parts by sticking the pins into the candle at seven equal intervals. The seventh pin goes into the top or bottom of the candle. Make sure the pins go all the way in the candle. Take a piece of parchament paper (best to start with a rather large piece of paper) and write down seven wishes. Fold the paper at a 90 degree angle and write your full name over your wish, then fold again and write your name again, proceeding with this process seven times. Dress your candle with the appropriate oil and place the folded paper under the candle. The candle is burned for seven nights, with the flame pinched out each time a pin falls. Save all of the pins and when the last needle falls, stick the pins into the paper so that it looks like the one in the picture. According to the law of attraction, bury the paper, pins and leftoverwax under your doorstep to attract your wishes to you. If your wishes are of the repelling type, throw the ritual remains in a crossroads, graveyard, or in a moving stream or river.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Thirteenth Candle
Julian Wilde - Grimoire Of Chaos Magick
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic

Thursday, 29 July 2010

What Goes In A Book Of Shadows

What Goes In A Book Of Shadows Cover The book of shadows is a reference, a guide, a journal, a means of record-keeping. Within it's pages you will keep details of spells cast and the results, of rituals conducted with a note of the intention and any work done, you can record dreams, divinations, thoughts and ideas. Basically, anything that you find important as a pagan or a witch.

Our family BOS starts off with our family history. My husband and I decided that we wanted ours to be very much used like an old-fashioned family bible. We therefore printed up the family line for both of us back 2 generations, and have left space for future generations. Future additions will be handwritten in.

After that, I have put a drawing of my preferred altar set up with explanations of what goes where as I have detailed in Tools of the Witch.

The remaining pages are used for recording rituals that we have done as a family. Sometimes we have a formal ritual with all the smells and bells, other times we just invite family around for an informal dinner.

Some rituals that can be found in our family BOS include Circle Opening and Closing rituals, symbolic great rite, initiation rituals, naming ceremonies and a handfasting ceremony. The naming and handfasting ceremonies are detailed in Life Rituals.

My personal BOS also contains information on spells I have done and divinations I have done using either a tarot deck or my amulets, dreams, and things seen during guided imagery sessions.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Ancient Grimoires - The 8th Book Of Moses
Sekhet Sophia - The Alexandrian Book Of Shadows
Gerald Gardner - The Garnerian Book Of Shadows
Sasha Fierce - The Book Of Shadows

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Suggestions For Your Own Book Of Shadows

Suggestions For Your Own Book Of Shadows Cover You're going to see all sorts of rules and laws and thou must do this statements about creating a book of shadows online.

Let me tell you straight out. There are no rules, there are no laws, and there is nothing you must do to make your BOS your book.

Some things I have seen as "Must have in your BOS":

A dedication page - If you want to write a dedication in your book, go ahead but it isn't necessary.

Writing in a special language - Use your native tongue. If you cannot think and speak fluently in a language, do not write your BOS in it. You'll just end up having to go get a translation dictionary every time you want to read it.

A protection spell of some sort - Again, go ahead and put one on if you want, but for the most part the only person who is going to have an interest in your BOS is you. Unlike the fictional spellbooks found on popular TV shows, a BOS has no inherent magic, no special powers. It's just a book. An important book, but just a book all the same. Everything within those pages will have been put there by you, they will be of importance only to you.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Benjamin Rowe - The Book Of The Seniors
Sekhet Sophia - The Alexandrian Book Of Shadows
Austin Osman Spare - A Book Of Satyrs
Gerald Gardner - The Garnerian Book Of Shadows
Sasha Fierce - The Book Of Shadows

Monday, 26 July 2010

Witchcraft As A Means For Subduing Female Influences

Witchcraft As A Means For Subduing Female Influences Cover The subservience of women to men was a common theme in early Christian writings -- an outgrowth of both traditional patriarchal attitudes and the extreme hierarchical nature of the church itself. Groups which did not hold to hierarchy in any form were attacked immediately. There is no shared authority between the genders in traditional Christianity, either in the church or in the home. Homosexuality would be particularly threatening to this ideology, as it raises the potential of redefining gender roles, especially in the home.

Witness how the recent attacks upon homosexuality in society has progressed hand-in-hand with the mindless promotion of vague "traditional family values," particularly those which "put women in their place" and reinforce male dominance in the home. With a married couple of two women or two men, who exactly is supposed to be in charge and who meekly obedient? Never mind that the Christians who fear such relationships will never be asked to make those decisions themselves -- the mere fact that people are making such decisions on their own rather than obeying someone else's religious proclamations is quite enough to give them fits of apoplexy.

The perception of women as inferior to men, and possibly the enemy of proper religious or social order, has survived down through this day in the most conservative and fundamentalist religious movements around the world. Religious institutions and doctrines are a primary repository for ancient beliefs about the social, physical, political, and religious inferiority of women. Even if the rest of society is moving on and improving women's status, religion remains a main source of beliefs and attitudes which retard that progress in the hopes of reversing it completely. And, where women cannot be attacked directly, they are attacked indirectly through negative stereotypes about "feminine" values as compared to positive stereotypes of "manly" or "masculine" traits.

It would be a mistake to assert that the Christian persecution of witches and witchcraft was nothing but an attempt to suppress women and feminine influences. Christian society, politics, and theology at the time simply wasn't that simplistic. At the same time, it's hard to overestimate the role misogynistic attitudes and repressed male sexuality played in the persecution of witches. It seems likely that if they didn't exist, the extreme violence directed at women and alleged witches probably wouldn't have occurred.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Peter De Abano - Heptameron Or Magical Elements
Louise Huebner - Witchcraft For All
Richard Weiss - Recipes For Immortality

Saturday, 24 July 2010

Witchcraft And Christianity

Witchcraft And Christianity Cover 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

Friday, 23 July 2010

Witchcraft Magick

Witchcraft Magick Cover Magick is the term used to classify different alternative and New Age practices into one category. All of these practices involve the cause of change by non-physical means, whether it be the power to transform oneself or others.

The word "Magick" was coined to differentiate serious magic from the staged, sleight of hand kind, such as is done by David Copperfield and others. In layman's terms, magick entails manipulating energy and focusing the will, often utilizing rituals and items containing certain properties, to accomplish a goal. This is admittedly a rather simple explanation, and the study and successful use of magick and magickal powers is a lifelong proposition. The annals of magickal history go back to the beginnings of mankind, and indeed, more information on magick has probably been lost in history than exists in all our resources today.

Magick is a powerful resource, and though it cannot be measured or proved by science, it cannot be disproved by science either. In and of itself, Magick is neither good or bad. The INTENT of the practitioner is what separates White Magick from Black Magick.

In modern America, the word Magick has become somehow intertwined with the wiccan religion, but this is not a very accurate correlation. Not every Wiccan practices Magick, and not everyone who practices Magick adheres to the Wiccan religion.

Magick and witchcraft are both essentially based on the fact that we, as spiritual beings, have innate powers to manipulate the world around us. The premise is that with practice, we can hone these innate powers to reach our aspirations and goals. Whether we use these powers for good or bad is up to us, and both scenarios will be covered on these pages. This page will strive to define the elements used in Magick and what they mean, pinpoint specific known properties of common magickal items and herbs, and provide tutorials aimed at tapping into the powers needed to successfully perform simple magick spells and rituals.

As always, if you have anything to contribute, we would very much appreciate hearing from you. Please feel free to visit the Message Board link below, or to privately E-Mail us. Also, do Bookmark and return often, as we update these pages daily.

Some of these practices include:
Alchemy: The process of trying to turn metal into gold.
Witchcraft/Wicca: Appealing to the God/ Goddess for change and healing.
Astral Projection: The practices of having a person’s soul leave the body for a period of time.
ESP: The ability to speak to another person without speech through use of their minds.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Gerald Gardner - Witchcraft Today
Jaroslav Nemec - Witchcraft And Medicine
Aleister Crowley - Intro Magick
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Thursday, 22 July 2010

Witchcraft Magic Spells

Witchcraft Magic Spells Cover The word ‘witch’ is a part of the larger word witchcraft. ‘Witch’ means magic maker. So witchcraft is the art or craft of making magic. Modern witchcraft is now closer to wicca, which besides meaning ‘wise’ also means to ‘bend’. The word ‘ bend’ brings witchcraft closer to magic or spells.

Every human heart is filled with needs, dreams and desires. They may relate to health, wealth, love, marriage, revenge, fame, success, sex, litigation, rivalry, home, job, cars, tours and travels. The list can be as long and as varied as the human needs and desires are. We make every effort including witchcraft and spells to achieve our aims.

Witchcraft magic spells are an irresistible and dominating influence, which wields great power over the animate and even inanimate objects of the natural world. Spells are a potent tool of the witchcraft. Spells may be used in many forms. They can be used as love spells, lost love spells, sleep spells and so on.

Spells are a form of magic. They can empower you to achieve your aims and transform your life from one of deprivation to that of opulence and luxury, from ugliness to beauty and charm. witchcraft magic spells are cast by observing certain rituals like the ritual of the pentagram.

The first step of the ritual involves casting a circle and calling the quarters to perform the Qabalistic Cross. The second step is to inscribe the circle. In the third step you invoke the Archangels of the Four Quarters. The last step is to perform the Qabalistic Cross Again.

Spells can be good or evil. It is the responsibility of the practitioner of spells not to misuse them in a negative way, to harm others or do something against the will of God. He can, of course, use them in a positive way for his own good and also for the good of others. The practitioner of witchcraft magic spells cannot escape the responsibility of the consequences of his actions.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Jaroslav Nemec - Witchcraft And Medicine
Louise Huebner - Witchcraft For All
Simon - The Necronomicon Spellbook
Kenneth Grant - Magical Revival