Witchcraft / Witches Books

Book SynopsisReal Witches. Real Lives. Real Magic. Real History. Take a magical tour through the lives and times of 359 of the most important sorcerers and witches throughout history.For millennia there’s been a fascination and a fear of people possibly wielding magical powers and a stigma surrounding practitioners of ancient rituals and practices. Yet, in the last 70 years, witchcraft, as well as Wicca, have gone from taboo beliefs pursued by a handful of eccentrics and misfits to major global, spiritual movements. Meet the troublemakers and rebels who pushed for change in The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches, and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age. You’ll be introduced to the history, persecutions, conjurings, and magic of some of history’s most consequential witches, sorcerers, wizards, and mavericks, including …  Circe, Medea, Hermes Trismegistus, the Chaldean Magi, and other Ancient Roman and Classical Greek witches Merlin, Morgana le Fey, Nimue, the 10 Queens of Avalon, and sorcery and witchcraft in the Arthurian legends San Cipriano, the obscure 4th century bishop whose influence today still plays an important role in folk magic and Hoodoo practices Baba Yaga, Joan of Arc, Gilles de Rais, Alice Kyteller, Lord Soulis, Michael Scott, the Golem of Prague, and medieval witchcraft King Henry VI, Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII, Catherine de Medici, John Dee, Queen Elizabeth, and witchcraft in the British royal court Isobel Gowdie, illusive Scottish witch whose voluntary confessions provided the template for traditional witchcraft beliefs Isaac Newton, Friar Roger Bacon, Nicholas Flamel, Paracelsus, Cornelius Agrippa, Robert Boyle, and other alchemists The Burning Times of the late 16th to early 18th centuries The Berwick witch trial The Salem witch trial Aleister Crowley, W. B. Yeats, MacGregor Mathers, Eliphas Levi, the Golden Dawn, Thelema and ritual magic, and the rise of esoteric movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries Jack Parsons, described as the “Jet-Propelled Antichrist” whose life of sex, rockets, and magic ended prematurely in a mysterious explosion Gerald Gardner, Old Dorothy Clutterbuck, Alex Sanders, Robert Cochrane, Raymond Buckland, Lady Sheba, Marjorie Cameron, and others in the modern Wicca and witchcraft movement And much more!! You’ll get a deeper understanding of the obscure history of witches with this enchanting and bewitching tome! The Witches Almanac brings you their rich histories and extraordinary biographies, plus it includes a helpful bibliography, an extensive index, and numerous photos, adding to its usefulness.

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Book SynopsisBring Magic and Meaning Into Every Meal You Make Make your kitchen the most magical room in your home with the help of the Witch of Whimsy. Her tasty recipes for everything from teas and spirits to sweet and savory meals and snacks are each accompanied by rituals that allow you to introduce more intentionality to mealtime. Start your morning off on the right foot with coffee concoctions and daily affirmations- the combination of which will perk you up and invite a positive mindset for the day to come. Learn how to plan a delightful cottage witch's picnic featuring delicious and heartening recipes like Wildflower Salad and Poppyseed Tea Sandwiches. Recenter yourself at the end of the day with decadent desserts, mixed drinks and oil infusions to help you prepare for a restful night. With lyrical prose and stunning illustrations, this whimsical witch's guide will brighten your day from your first sip of coffee to your final morsel before bed.

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Book SynopsisIn The Spirited Kitchen, practicing witchcraft means nurturing a relationship with the seasons and drawing on ancestral roots to find magic in small details. Here, simple ingredients—apples, hazelnuts, wheat—become magical elements of cooking and ritual crafting. The result is an enchanting culinary journey through the pagan Wheel of the Year, from the Halloween festivities of Samhain to the return of autumn at Harvest Home. With each season, readers can cook feast dinners to celebrate nature’s cycles. In winter, Cranberry Custard Tarts encourage health and well-being; in spring, Deep Dish Nettle Quiche ushers in resilience after cold months and Calendula Chicken embodies the abundance of summer. Along the way, ritual crafts like Salt Spells, hand-woven Offering Baskets and a Maypole Chandelier bring extra symbolism to the table. Complete with stunning photographs and a glossary of spirited symbols and ingredients, this book is a bewitching guide to seasonal magic.Trade Review"A lively, eclectic, and thoughtful blend of cookbook and ritual calendar infused with the flavor and spirit of the modern neopagan movement." -- John Michael Greer, author of The Druid Path and The Occult Book"This spellbinding cookbook's message is urgent: If you seek more magic in your daily life, why not try actual magic? You just might find that connectedness that your ancient soul is hungry for." -- J.B. MacKinnon, author of The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating

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Book SynopsisThis book will guide readers to read more about hedge witchcraft as a pathway, or are already following such a path and wish to progress. It only has a little about hedge riding as this book has too small a scope to include it. Please read the accompanying book in the Pagan Portal series, Hedge Riding.Trade ReviewHarmonia Saille's two books on Hedge Witchcraft are a true delight, being both informative and entertaining. Hedge Witchcraft is often mentioned 'in passing' but seldom examined in detail. Harmonia rectifies that oversight with her revelations of that practice as it may be followed throughout the year. Anyone, Witch or otherwise, who feels a true affinity with Nature will appreciate the explanations and teachings found in these books. I very much recommend them. (Raymond Buckland)

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Book SynopsisThere are a lot of things in the universe that we don’t understand. When something is meant to happen, it will whether you cast a spell or not. But you can help it on its way by guiding and encouraging it and maybe even tweaking events a little too. A spell can be worked in many ways, from a simple pointing of the finger to a complicated ritual involving lots of herbs and crystals and, of course, any variation in between. What will happen for sure is the boost of confidence and happy buzz you will receive as you cast the spell, as well as the positive vibe you get from putting something into action. Kitchen Witchcraft: Spells & Charms is a the first in a series of books which delves into the world of the Kitchen Witch. Each book breaks down the whys and wherefores of the subject and includes practical guides and exercises. Other titles include Garden Magic, Altars & Rituals and The Elements.

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to feminist witchcraft what it is, what it's not, and how it's different from other crafts.

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Book SynopsisThere are an abundance of approaches to witchcraft and modern Wicca today with many encouraging an “anything goes” approach, opposed to what Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern witchcraft, set out. Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a for the Magical Life offers an alternative for the seeker who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of a more traditional approach to the Craft. By tapping into the essence of the teachings handed down by Gardner, and later Alex Sanders, this book provides the reader with invaluable tools and techniques that will enable them to set a foundation upon which to build their ongoing magical and spiritual practice. Regardless of whether the seeker is interested in joining a coven or not, contemporary witchcraft is about dedication and devotion in order for the greater mysteries to be revealed. Contemporary Witchcraft: A Foundation for the Magical Life offers an insight into how the non-initiate can achieve this in their own practices

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Book SynopsisFind your magick and harness your inner power with this beautifully illustrated guide to modern witchcraft Practising witchcraft can provide the gateway to a life filled with prosperity, positivity and opportunity. The Little Book for Modern Witches is the perfect beginner's guide if you're looking to enrich your life with the power of magick. From the fascinating history of white witchcraft to the fundamentals of spellcasting, this inspirational guide contains all the information you need to safely practise magick. Wherever you are in your witchcraft journey, make the most of your practice by learning these valuable insights:- The history of witchcraft and its significance today - The essentials of a witch's toolkit How to make runes, wands, crystal pendants and more - How to cast different spells for love, good health, happiness, protection and much moreA magickal gift idea, this book is an all-round treat for aspiring and seasoned witches alike.

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated guide from a Celtic Wiccan High Priestess to celebrating the Wiccan way, from Halloween to handfastings, as well as everyday rituals to enhance all areas of your life. The Wiccan calendar is marked by significant festivals, called sabbats. The most famous is Halloween, also known as Samhain, but you will be familiar with others, too, such as the Summer and Winter Solstices. Wiccans celebrate these sabbats with rituals, crafts, and food and drink, and in this book, Silja reveals how you can bring some of that magic into your life, even if working as a solitary witch. She also details other special days throughout the year, such as August 23, the Roman festival of Vulcanalia, which is celebrated with bonfires. Discover, too, how Wiccans celebrate personal rites of passage, such as the naming of a baby and a couple committing to each other in a Wiccan wedding, known as a handfasting. Finally, Silja explains how to write your own daily, weekly, or monthly rituals to bring you peace and happiness. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this is your essential guide to all your Wiccan celebrations.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to creating and using your own enchanted Book of Shadows, an essential tool for any witch looking to hone their magical workings and take their ritual work to the next level.From choosing, decorating, and personalizing the book of your dreams, to chronicling your spells, rites, and charms, and observing the dates of the seasonal, astrological, and lunar calendar, this field guide contains everything you need to take your ritual work to the next level. When you track the magical correspondences that work best for you, you can power up your potions and evolve your enchantments. Most importantly, your Book of Shadows is a space for creativity—for the spells, musings, sketches, and journaling that have special significance to you. Join best-selling author Cerridwen Greenleaf to create your own Book of Shadows and make every ritual an opportunity to refine your personal magic and increase the success of your spells.

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Modern witchcraft refers to the revival and reimagining of the practice of witchcraft in contemporary times, characterized by a renewed interest in magic and a desire to reconnect with the natural world and spirituality.Encompassing a wide range of practices and beliefs, whether you're into crystals, tarot, astrology, spells, runes, mantras or candle rituals, The Little Book of Modern Witchcraft is the perfect introduction for those both new to the practice and those who wish to deepen their understanding of the mystical world of magic. Encompassing everything from hoodoo, a spiritual system rooted in traditional African religions, to New Age paganism, the one thing all witches have in common is an openness to the energy of the universe – coupled with a badass, free-spirited attitude.Whether you're an experienced Wiccan practising in a coven, or exploring your spirituality alone for the first time, this concise little book provides a comprehensive overview of modern witchcraft that will help you to focus on personal empowerment, self-discovery, and the use of magic to bring about positive change.Embrace the power within you: connect to the natural world and follow the ancient path of magic and love."Whatever energy you put out into the world, positive or negative, will be returned to you threefold." Wicca's Rule of Three

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Book SynopsisConjure the magic within you with this modern guide to the ancient art of spell work and manifestation - all you need is a little hocus focusIncluding a variety of spells for every place and occasion - and tips and tricks on how to cast them - this enchanting book is the perfect introduction to invoking the universal energies at your disposal. Complete with fill-in sections to chronicle your experiences, these pages will teach you how to:- Enrich your life with the power of intention- Use spells for healing, reflection, self-care and self-discovery- Harness the energy of the new moon to call in your deepest desires- Connect with the wisdom of the natural world, familiars and spirit guidesThis collection of rituals will guide you to a path of infinite possibilities, help you develop your unique gifts and abilities, and set you well on your way to creating the life you have always wanted.

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Book SynopsisLizzie Baty, the Brampton Witch (1729-1817), lived close to the village of Brampton in Cumbria and was said to be a 'canny auld body'. A wise woman, she achieved great notoriety in her day. Numerous tales and anecdotes have been handed down over the years relating to Lizzie's 'second-sight', witchcraft and the strange powers that she appeared to possess. They tell of spells, curses and prophecies with Lizzie turning into a hare, her knack of finding lost objects, forecasting marriages as well as strange happenings at her funeral. This book serves to collect together these varying accounts and attempts to establish which are fact and which might be fiction. Whatever conclusion the reader may reach, the Brampton Witch stories, whether real or imagined, are part of Brampton's heritage and deserve to be preserved.

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Book SynopsisTHE WITCHES'' ALMANAC is a sophisticated publication appealing to general readers as well as hard-core Wiccans. At one level, it is a pop reference that will fascinate anyone interested in folklore, mythology and culture, but at another, it is the most sophisticated annual guide available today for the mystic enthusiast.Modelled after the Old Farmers'' Almanac, it includes information related to the annual Moon Calendar (weather, forecasts, and horoscopes), as well as legends, rituals, herbal secrets, mystic incantations, interviews, and many a curious tale of good and evil. Although it is an annual publication, much of the content is both current and timeless-not specific to the date range of each issue.The theme of Issue 43 (Spring 2024 - Spring 2025) is Fire - Forging Freedom. Also included are articles on:GeomancyThe Lunar NodesAzorean FolkloreKitchen Magic - Soul CakesThe Trickiest ToadThe Orisha Obatalaand much more.

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Book SynopsisDo you ever find that the earth stills and you suddenly feel acutely alive? Have you ever looked into an animal's eyes and felt the pull of a more primal world? Do you sometimes feel panic rise, or isolation sink upon you, or simply feel out of kilter with the modern world? 'Inside my cauldron is a thick fistful of paper, old diary entries, work "to do" lists, notes I wrote while I was in a bad place and feeling trapped in a life that was keeping my mind small and narrow; thoughts and feelings that are holding me back, keeping me tied to a time I want to let go of. These papers are flashes of lightning across a darkened room and I want them gone. As they curl and burn, twisting in their black spirals like the farewell flourish of a travelling cloak, a sense of calm sweeps through my chest and shoulders. I feel it so strongly, like a blast of ice to my system, shivering out the old thoughts. I'm burning a path for something new to come in.' One winter, Jennifer Lane reached breaking point in her fast-paced office life. In the year that followed her stress-related illness, she set out to rediscover the solace and purpose that witchcraft had given her as a teenager. The Wheel is an immersive, engaging read - exploring the life-long draw of witchcraft and our vulnerability to toxic working environments and digital demands. In her year-long journey Jennifer explores ancient festivals and rituals, and visits fellow pagans and wild landscapes, in search of wisdom and peace. For those who are sick at heart of noise, anger and disconnection, The Wheel is full of wise words, crackling rituals and natural beauty. This is a quest to discover how to live fully connected to the natural world while firmly in the twenty-first century.

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully written book will show seekers of the magical arts how to reclaim the old traditions of our pagan ancestors, which, as this book will show, were heavily rooted in shamanism. Kenneth Johnson takes the reader on a journey far into the past where these shamanistic practices of medieval and Renaissance European people can be explored while simultaneously teaching the working Witch how to incorporate these older traditions into their own magical practice. Included in this book are explorations of the mystical otherworld, instructions on how to discover one''s Tree of Power, methods of entering the World Mountain to gain wisdom, an in-depth overview of folkloric initiatory practices, the folklore of the Wild Hunt, and much more.

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Book SynopsisUnlock the mysteries of the heart...Love is at the heart of everything we do. It is the intensity and ferocity with which we give ourselves to another. It is the unlimited, uncomplicated affection we have for our friends. It is the respect and small kindnesses we show ourselves each day. It is the magical essence that nourishes and animates all things.Featuring stunning illustrations by the author, this little guide will teach you to honour love''s divine magic through spells, rituals and enchantments that will nurture your innate intuition, cultivate self-love and promote sensual well-being. The magic of an open heart will encourage your relationships to flourish by strengthening true bonds and healing old wounds.The Little Book of Love Magic enables you to connect and draw on love in its many guises to truly find the happiness you seek. Only through love can you take your spiritual practice to another level.

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Book SynopsisIntroduces neopagans and those following Earth-based spiritual paths to sustainable living practices.Trade ReviewHighly recommended. Sacred Actions is an excellent resource for developing sacred relationship with the earth in dedicated spiritual practice and acts of daily life. Pennsylvania-based author Dana ODriscoII is steeped in Druidry and the U.S. homesteading movement. She is Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA), and an OBOD Druid. She is a Mount Haemus scholar, lecturing on Channeling the Awen Within in 2018. In a recent blog post in Druids Garden (https://druidgarden.wordpress.com) she describes Sacred Actions as presenting a hybridization of nature spirituality, sustainability and permaculture practice. The book is built around the wheel of the year and its eight festivals. ODriscoII begins with the Winter Solstice, where her theme is the ethics of care, applied at both the private and public levels. New life practices are supported by specific exercises and rituals. She continues the same approach with the other festivals: Imbolc -- wisdom through oak knowledge and re-skilling; Spring Equinox -- spring cleaning and disposing of the disposable mindset; Beltane -- sacred action in our homes; Summer Solstice -- food and nourishment; Lughnasadh -- landscapes, gardens and lawn liberation; Fall Equinox -- earth ambassadorship, community and broader work in the world; Samhain -- sustainable ritual tools, items and objects. To prospective readers I suggest an initial reading, followed by more intensive engagement with the individual chapters, season by season. Use this textto identify what inspires and moves you and has the power to bring a richer sense of 'sacred actions into your own life. Sacred Actions is a powerful source of ecological and ethical inspiration, and a fine addition to Druid literature.-- James Nichol, Touchstone: the journal of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids

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'Witches occupy a clear place in contemporary imagination. We can see them, shadowy, in the corners of the past: mad, glamorous, difficult, strange. They haunt the footnotes of history - from medieval witches burning at the stake to the lurid glamour of the 1970s witchcraft revival. But they are moving out of history, too. Witches are back. They're feminist, independent, invested in self-care and care for the world. They are here, because they must be needed.'What it means to be a witch has changed radically throughout history; where 'witch' was once a dangerous - and often deadly - accusation, it is now a proud self-definition. Today, as the world becomes ever more complicated and as we face ecological, political and economic crisis - witchcraft is experiencing a resurgence. Witches are back.In A Spell in the Wild, Alice Tarbuck explores what it means to be a witch today. Rooted in the real world, but filled with spells, rituals and recipes, this book is an accessible, seasonal guide to witchcraft in the twenty-first century. Following the course of a witch's calendar year while also exploring the history and politics of witchcraft, A Spell in the Wild is the perfect primer for the contemporary witch.

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Book SynopsisFor any serious scholar of Russian and Ukrainian witchcraft and magic, this volume is a 'must read.'... Scholars of folklore and popular culture also will find much of value. âFolklorica This sourcebook provides the first systematic overview of witchcraft laws and trials in Russia and Ukraine from medieval times to the late nineteenth century.Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 10001900 weaves scholarly commentary with never-before-published primary source materials translated from Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian. These sources include the earliest references to witchcraft and sorcery, secular and religious laws regarding witchcraft and possession, full trial transcripts, and a wealth of magical spells. The documents present a rich panorama of daily life and reveal the extraordinary power of magical words. Editors Valerie A. Kivelson and Christine D. Worobec present new analyses of the workings and evolution of legal systems, the interplay and tensions between church and state, and the prosaic concerns of the women and men involved in witchcraft proceedings. The extended documentary commentaries also explore the shifting boundaries and fraught political relations between Russia and Ukraine.Trade ReviewThis substantial volume by two leading scholars in the field is a major contribution to the study of witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine and to the study of witchcraft in general, which often omits these regions. Overall, this is a tremendously useful book for students of witchcraft history, especially non-Slavists, and all historians of Russian and Ukrainian culture would do well to have it on their bookshelves. * Russian Review *[This book] allows us to see dozens of examples[,] each presented in English translation with extensive coverage that provides a great introduction to the topic, even for a person unfamiliar with the subject. [This] is an extremely important and well-made sourcebook that should be read not only by religion and history scholars studying witch trials, but also by a wide range of historians studying the medieval, early modern, and modern ages in general. * Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft *For any serious scholar of Russian and Ukrainian witchcraft and magic, this volume is a 'must read.'... Scholars of folklore and popular culture also will find much of value. * Folklorica *Valerie Kivelson and Christine Worobec number among the leading scholars who study the history of witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine. Scholars of witchcraft outside the area of Russian and Ukrainian studies can use this volume as an entrée into that milieu. * Folklorica *Kivelson and Christine Worobec have succeeded in editing a similarly impressive broad collection of documents that spans nine centuries related to witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine.Kivelson and Worobec have put together a truly astounding piece of scholarship that will be of great service to scholars and students throughout the world wishing to know more about the prevalence and special characteristics of witchcraft in the Eastern Slavic realms of Russia and Ukraine.Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine is an essential work for specialists in many fields of the cultural and social history of Russia and Ukraine since 1000. * Slavonic and East European Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: HISTORICAL EVOLUTION, LAW, AND PROSECUTION 1. Early Accounts of Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Magic in Medieval Rus 1.1. Pagan Soothsayers and Magicians in the Primary Chronicle 1.2. "Maybe, but God Knows": Sorcery in the Novgorodian Chronicle (1227) 1.3. Bishop Serapion of Vladimir Condemns Belief in Witchcraft (1274) 1.4. St. Alimpii and the Leper Who Consulted Magicians (Kyivan Patericon) 2. Witchcraft and Politics in Muscovy and the Hetmanate 2.1. The Death of Maria of Tver, Ivan III's First Wife, by Witchcraft (1467) 2.2. Witchcraft Accusations against Grand Princess Sofia Paleologue (1497) 2.3. Witchcraft Accusations against Grand Princess Solomonia Saburova (1525) 2.4. Trials of Maksim the Greek for Treason, Heresy, and Sorcery (1525 & 1531) 2.5. The Great Moscow Fire and the Sprinkling of Human Hearts by the Tsar's Grandmother, Anna Glinskaia (1547) 2.6. Ivan Peresvetov's 1549 Tale about Sorcery at Court in the Final Days of the Byzantine Empire (Excerpts from the "Greater Petition") 2.7. Jerome Horsey on Witchcraft at the Court of Ivan IV (the Terrible) 2.8. The Vicious Sorcerer Eleazar Bomelius Described in a Russian Chronicle 2.9. Sorcery Allegations from Ivan the Terrible's Correspondence with Prince Kurbskii and Kurbskii's History of the Grand Prince of Moscow 2.10. Loyalty Oaths 2.11. Grigorii Kotoshikhin and Samuel Collins on the Alleged Poisoning or Bewitchment of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich's First Betrothed, and on Bewitchment at Weddings (1647) 2.12. Hetman Ivan Briukhovetskii's Burning of Witches (1666) 2.13. Political Sorcery against the Prussian King (1760) 3. Laws and Guidelines concerning the Prosecution of Witchcraft, Late Twelfth Century to 1885 3.1. Byzantine Church Law and Its Echoes in Russia Kormchaia kniga, 1653 Excerpt from a court case from the late 1660s containing a fragment of the Kormchaia Church Statute of Iaroslav the Wise (late twelfth/early thirteenth century) Russian Orthodox penitential listings involving sorcery and magic (fourteenth—early nineteenth centuries) The Domostroi: A household handbook of the mid-sixteenth century 3.2. Excerpts from Charles V's 1532 Constitutio Criminalis Carolina and the 1559 Polish Version 3.3. Procedures for the Courts and Affairs of Towns under Magdeburg Law under the Polish Crown (1559) 3.4. Questions and Answers from the Moscow Church Council (Stoglav) of 1551 3.5. Ivan IV's 1552 Law on Witchcraft 3.6. 1589 Law on the Honor of Witches 3.7. 1648 Decree against Devilish Conduct 3.8. Sobornoe ulozhenie: The Conciliar Law Code of 1649 3.9. Aleksei Mikhailovich's Decree Prohibiting Witchcraft and Activities Repellent to God (1653) 3.10. "Newly Established Articles on Robbery, Brigandage, and Murder" (1669) 3.11. Grigorii Kotoshikhin on Muscovite Judicial Process, Torture, and Execution (1660s) 3.12. Peter I's 1715 Decree against Shriekers (the Demonically Possessed) 3.13. Peter I's 1716 Military Statute and Suggested Revisions to Its Religious Articles (1725) 3.14. Excerpts from the Spiritual Regulation (1721) 3.15. Holy Synod's Decree against the Swimming of Individuals (1721) 3.16. Empress Anna Ioannovna's Decree against Wizardry (1731) 3.17. Catherine II's 1767 Instructions to the Legislative Commission and the Holy Synod's Response 3.18. Senate's Ruling Admonishing Judges (1770) 3.19. Catherine II's Decrees (1775 and 1782) 3.20. Excerpts from the Criminal Laws: 1842, 1845, and 1885 editions 4. Witchcraft Trials' Processes (Charges and Countercharges) and Extralegal Prosecution of Witchcraft: Complete Records A: Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (PLC) and The Hetmanate 4.1. Andrei Kurbskii's Sorcery Allegations against His Wife, Marina Andreevna Golshanskaia, in Divorce Proceedings (1578) 4.2. False Accusation of Witchcraft against Siemionowa Pauciutina, a Cossack Woman (1634) 4.3. Swimming of Witches in Podillia (1711) 4.4. Witchcraft and Infanticide (1753) B: Muscovy and Imperial Russia 4.5. The Trial of the Old Peasant Woman Baba Daritsa and Others (1647) 4.6. A Case of Suspicious Roots: Rogataia Baba and the Use of Torture (1647–48) 4.7. A Mass Outbreak of Possession in the Town of Lukh (1656–60) 4.8. The 1758 Trial of Chamberlain Petr Vasilevich Saltykov 4.9. The 1764–65 Case against the Peasant Ekaterina Ivanova for Dabbling in Witchcraft 4.10. An Epidemic of Demonic Possession in a Urals Foundry Town (1839–40) 4.11. The 1853 Case against the Serf Gerasim Fedotov for Witchcraft 4.12. The Mob Murder of Agrafena Dmitrievna Chindiaikina, a Suspected Witch (1880) 4.13. A Woman Accused of Sorcery Has Her Day in Court (Early 1900s) Part II: MAGICAL PRACTICES, EVERYDAY MATTERS,AND THE POWER OF WORDS: TRIAL EXCERPTS 5. Healing and Harming 5.1. Consultation with the Doctors of the Apothecary Chancellery (1628) 5.2. A Case of Enchanted Brew (1653) 5.3. Healing or Cursing? Mysterious Ingredients Raise Suspicion (1658) 5.4. The Bewitchment of Priest David and His Family by Their Domestic Workers (1676) 5.5. Witchcraft Suspected as the Cause of a Child's Death (PLC, 1732) 5.6. A Case of Milk Magic: Borrowed Pots and Bewitched Cows (PLC, 1728–31) 5.7. An Alleged Murder by Way of Witchcraft (1844–45) 5.8. No Place Is Safe from This Witch: The Case against Agafia Poliarpova (1848–49) 6. Sex/Love/Anti-Love Magic 6.1. A Case of Peasant Women's Love Magic and Vengeance, Shatsk (1647) 6.2. Bewitchment at Weddings (1648) 6.3. Iatsykha Polyveichykha Seeks to Bewitch her Husband's Lover (Hetmanate, 1675) 6.4. A Case of Rape and Spells to Inflame Desire (Semen Aigustov, Borovsk, 1689) 6.5. A Wife Suspected of Witchcraft: The Case of Anna Grekowiczewa (PLC, 1717) 6.6. Seeking a Witch or Sorcerer to Kill a Husband? (PLC, 1742) 7. Power Relations and Hierarchy 7.1. "Making My Master and All Women Bend to My Will": A Case of Subversive Spells (1648) 7.2. The Serf Woman Onuitka Avenges Ill-Treatment by the Estate Bailiff (1658) 7.3. The Servant Motruna Perysta Accused of Bewitching Her Master's Family (PLC, 1730) 7.4. How to Make All Authorities Subservient: The Magical Notebooks of Defrocked Priest Petr Osipov (1732) 7.5. A Matter of a Love Potion and Sexual Pursuit of a Menial by His Mistress, Lady Ruszkowska (PLC, 1749) 7.6. "So His Master Would Treat Him Well": The Peasant Grigorii Shilin's Ritual Use of Roots and Wax (1762) 7.7. Securing Patronage: A Spell in the Hands of Ivan Sokolov, A Highly Ranked Officer and Nobleman (1774) 7.8. Controlling a Master's Will: Divination and Enchanted Wax (1840) 8. Possession 8.1. Bewitchment at a Communal Banquet: The Petition of Ivan Shenin (1611) 8.2. Testimony of the Bewitched from the Possession Outbreak in Lukh (1656–58) 8.3. A Healer Accused of Dabbling in Witchcraft and Exorcising Demons (PLC, 1710) 8.4. An Epidemic of Shrieking and Writhing in a Village Destabilized by Manumission (1833) 8.5. Fits of Hiccuping (1833) 9. Satanic Pacts/Diabolism 9.1. "I Swear Allegiance to Satan": A Satanic Pact in the Seventeenth Century (1663–64) 9.2. "My Father Satan": Spells, Possession, and Fraternal Rivalry (1672) 9.3. A Case of Satanic Love Magic (Avdotia Borisova, 1733) 9.4. A Pact with the Dark-Visaged Master of the Hellish Abyss and His Servant Demons (Hetmanate, 1749) 9.5. The Priest Makarii Ivanov and Others Are Charged in 1753 with Possessing Booklets about Sorcery: A Demonic Incantation for Lust 9.6. God-renouncing Letters (1751): Perdun 9.7. Case of the Soldier Semen Popov, Who Renounced God and Gave His Soul to the Devil (1759) 10. Orality/Literacy 10.1. Case of the Siberian Trapper Found Carrying Spells (1652) 10.2. A Theological Defense of Herbal Healing: Petition of Ivan Ivanov, Priest of the Church of the Nativity in Komersk District, to Simon, Archbishop of Vologda and Belozersk (1679–80) 10.3. A Hegumen's Possession of Magical and Fortune-telling Texts (1720) 10.4. Transcription of an Offensive Note by a Noble Architectural Journeyman, Aleksei Petrovich Evlashev (1731) 10.5. An Incriminating Notebook of Incantations and Spells (1737) 11. Specialists in Magic 11.1. Specialists in Plants and Roots: Poisoning and Healing in Consultation with a Professional Herbalist (1692) 11.2. Spoiling a Harvest by Means of Witchcraft: Knotted Grain Stalks— a Reluctant Specialist (Hetmanate, 1765) 11.3. Case against a Fourteen-Year-Old Boy for Fraudulent Divination (Russian Ukraine, 1839)

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Book SynopsisBeginning in January 1692, Salem Village in colonial Massachusetts witnessed the largest and most lethal outbreak of witchcraft in early America. Villagers--mainly young women--suffered from unseen torments that caused them to writhe, shriek, and contort their bodies, complaining of pins stuck into their flesh and of being haunted by specters. Believing that they suffered from assaults by an invisible spirit, the community began a hunt to track down those responsible for the demonic work. The resulting Salem Witch Trials, culminating in the execution of 19 villagers, persists as one of the most mysterious and fascinating events in American history. Historians have speculated on a web of possible causes for the witchcraft that stated in Salem and spread across the region-religious crisis, ergot poisoning, an encephalitis outbreak, frontier war hysteria--but most agree that there was no single factor. Rather, as Emerson Baker illustrates in this seminal new work, Salem was a perfect storm: a unique convergence of conditions and events that produced something extraordinary throughout New England in 1692 and the following years, and which has haunted us ever since.Baker shows how a range of factors in the Bay colony in the 1690s, including a new charter and government, a lethal frontier war, and religious and political conflicts, set the stage for the dramatic events in Salem. Engaging a range of perspectives, he looks at the key players in the outbreak--the accused witches and the people they allegedly bewitched, as well as the judges and government officials who prosecuted them--and wrestles with questions about why the Salem tragedy unfolded as it did, and why it has become an enduring legacy.Salem in 1692 was a critical moment for the fading Puritan government of Massachusetts Bay, whose attempts to suppress the story of the trials and erase them from memory only fueled the popular imagination. Baker argues that the trials marked a turning point in colonial history from Puritan communalism to Yankee independence, from faith in collective conscience to skepticism toward moral governance. A brilliantly told tale, A Storm of Witchcraft also puts Salem''s storm into its broader context as a part of the ongoing narrative of American history and the history of the Atlantic World.Trade ReviewHis rock solid historical work and lively, engaging prose made this book both an indispensable contribution to scholarship and a delight to read. I suspect that this is the book on Salem witchcraft for this generation." * Scott D. Seay, Christian Theological Seminary *...[A] cogent, readable, and comprehensive analysis of the literature on the Salem witch trials.... His emphasis on the choices made by individuals - to take action or remain passive - makes this work a welcome addition to our attempts to understand the significance of the Salem events of 1692. * Journal of American History *Of many books about the Salem witch-trials, only a few really matter. This is one of them. Combining deep learning and clear-sighted good sense, A Storm of Witchcraft retells a story that has long managed to be familiar yet puzzling and misunderstood. Emerson Baker's masterly dissection of events is both genuinely original and utterly persuasive, not least because the importance of political circumstance, legal expediency and personal relationships seems obvious once it is pointed out. Baker reminds us that witchcraft was above all a religious crime, which took on terrifying significance at a time of extreme danger in New England's history. But his analysis of Salem's causal roots and painfully enduring ramifications does more than just demystify the trials: it illustrates universal truths about human emotions and their place in modern society. * Malcolm Gaskill, author of Witchfinders: a Seventeenth Century English Tragedy *Baker, professor of history at Salem State College, places the trials in the larger context of American and English history, examining not only their prominent place in our collective memory, but also what made them so different from other witch trials of the era. Baker convincingly demonstrates that the trials were a pivotal point in American history and presents the mass hysteria surrounding them in very poignant terms. * Publisher's Weekly *This extraordinarily researched, expertly written, and convincing study is suitable for and will appeal to a wide audience. * Library Journal *By almost any measure, Emerson W. Baker's new history, A Storm of Witchcraft, is a masterpiece. Few volumes pass the exacting standards needed to be described as such. Baker's does.... Anyone interested in the Salem witch trials and the shaping of the nation should treat themselves to this book. * Maine Sunday Telegram *an excellent survey of the state of knowledge and opinion concerning the Salem witch trials and their implications. * Clive Holmes, English Historical Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: An Old Valuables Chest Chapter One: Satan's Storm Chapter Two: The City upon a Hill Chapter Three: Drawing Battle Lines in Salem Village Chapter Four: The Afflicted Chapter Five: The Accused Chapter Six: The Judges Chapter Seven: An Inextinguishable Flame Chapter Eight: Salem End Chapter Nine: Witch City?

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Book SynopsisExplores the sociological dymanics underpinning the contemporary fear of satanism. The author shows how rumour can turn into facts; how groups set up to combat the satanism gain power and money; how the scare mirrors a moral crisis in America; and the continued effect of medieval folklore.

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Book SynopsisGold Winner, Biographical Books, COVR Visionary Awards A moving portrait ofthe iconic figure who led the way in establishing Wicca in North America?with remembrances of his life by hissister, Christine Cunningham Ashworth, and appreciations written by key figures in today?s world of witchcraft, magic, tarot, and astrology. The iconic and renowned bestselling author Scott Cunningham (1956?1993) played a significant role in establishing Wicca in North America. His pioneering book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner radically altered the practice of Wicca, enabling practitioners to self-initiate. Scott?s books, especially his encyclopedias, remain popular today, years after his death. In recent years, Scott has also emerged as a celebrated queer icon, especially in the witchcraft world. Although so many people have come to Wicca and Paganism through his books, little is actually known about Scott Cunningham as a person. His little sister, Christine Cunningham Ashworth, seeks to remedy that. Christine grew up with him, laughed with him, learned with him, fought with him, and shared joys and sorrows. She writes about their childhood, gives a peek into their parents? lives, and brings to life what it was like to grow up in the Cunningham household. She explores the trajectory of Scott?s magical path and affirms his legacy. Christine shares family photos and lifts the veil from Scott?s life. Featuring a foreword by Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch and Mastering Magick, Scott Cunningham?The Path Taken contains contributions from leading figures in today?s world of witchcraft, magic, tarot, and astrology, including Stephanie Rose Bird, Amy Blackthorn, Storm Faerywolf, Nancy Hendrickson, Dorothy Morrison, Nicholas Pearson, and Benebell Wen.

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Book SynopsisDemonology â the intellectual study of demons and their powers â contributed to the prosecution of thousands of witches. But how exactly did intellectual ideas relate to prosecutions? Recent scholarship has shown that some of the demonologistsâ concerns remained at an abstract intellectual level, while some of the judgesâ concerns reflected popular culture. This book brings demonology and witch-hunting back together, while placing both topics in their specific regional cultures.The bookâs chapters, each written by a leading scholar, cover most regions of Europe, from Scandinavia and Britain through to Germany, France and Switzerland, and Italy and Spain. By focusing on various intellectual levels of demonology, from sophisticated demonological thought to the development of specific demonological ideas and ideas within the witch trial environment, the book offers a thorough examination of the relationship between demonology and witch-hunting.Demonology and Witch-Hunting in Early Modern Europe is essential reading for all students and researchers of the history of demonology, witch-hunting and early modern Europe.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Demonology and Witch-Trials in Dialogue 1. Demonology and the Relevance of the Witches’ Confessions 2. The Metamorphoses of the Anti-Witchcraft Treatise Errores Gazariorum (15th Century) 3. "I Confess that I Have Been Ignorant:" How the Malleus Maleficarum Changed the Universe of a Cleric at the End of the Fifteenth Century 4. "In the Body:" The Canon Episcopi, Andrea Alciati, and Gianfrancesco Pico’s Humanized Demons 5. French Demonology in an English Village: The St Osyth Experiment of 1582 6. English Witchcraft Pamphlets and the Popular Demonic 7. Witches’ Flight in Scottish Demonology 8. Demonology and Scepticism in Early Modern France: Bodin and Montaigne 9. Judge and Demonologist: Revisiting the Impact of Nicolas Rémy on the Lorraine Witch Trials 10. Demonological Texts, Judicial Procedure, and the Spread of Ideas About Witchcraft in Early Modern Rothenburg ob der Tauber 11. To Beat a Glass Drum: The Transmission of Popular Notions of Demonology in Denmark and Germany 12. "He Promised Her So Many Things:" Witches, Sabbats, and Devils in Early Modern Denmark 13. Board Games, Dancing, and Lost Shoes: Ideas about Witches’ Gatherings in the Finnmark Witchcraft Trials 14. What Did a Witch-Hunter in Finland Know About Demonology? 15. The Guardian of Hell: Popular Demonology, Exorcism, and Mysticism in Baroque Spain 16. Interpreting Children’s Blåkulla Stories in Sweden (1675) 17. Connecting Demonology and Witch-Hunting in Early Modern Europe.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first major study of the most famous Reclaiming Witch community, founded in 1979 in San Francisco, written by an author who herself participated in a coven for ten years. Jone Salomonsen describes and examines the communal and ritual practices of Reclaiming, asking how these promote personal growth and cultural-religious change.Table of ContentsIntroduction PART I Guardians of the world 1 The Reclaiming community: a feminist, social construction 2 Wicca revival: Starhawk and the myth of ancient origin 3 Utopian and generic Witches: revitalizing western spiritualities 4 Holy hermeneutics: how to find truth PART II Priestesses of the craft 5 Elements of magic: learning to ritualize 6 The Spiral Dance ritual: a celebration of death and rebirth 7 Women’s mysteries: creating a female symbolic order 8 Initiation: transforming self Conclusion: Reclaiming Witchcraft and theology

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA fiery, intersectional guide for activists and witches alike, Revolutionary Witchcraft is an empowered introduction to the history and practice of politically-motivated magic. From the politically charged origins of the word witch to the present-day magical resistance, this bold handbook explores the role of witchcraft in our modern world. Author, activist, and practicing witch Sarah Lyons takes readers on a journey through a leftist history of magic -- from the witch hunts of early modern England, through the Salem Witch Trials, and up to our present moment. Pairing mystical acts, including sigil magic and soul flight, with core organizing tactics, like power mapping and protests, Revolutionary Witchcraft offers a blueprint for building a politically grounded magical praxis. From social justice to environmental activism, this radical re imagining of political activism addresses today''s most pressing problems with empowering, inclusive ritual

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Book SynopsisAlone in Practice, Alive in Spirit - everything the solo wiccan needs to know

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Book SynopsisWitchcraft is rarely mentioned in official documents of the contemporary Roman Catholic church, but ideas about the dangers of witchcraft and other forms of occultism underpin the recent revival of interest in exorcism in the church. This Element examines hierarchical and clerical understandings of witchcraft within the contemporary Roman Catholic church. The Element considers the difficulties faced by clergy in parts of the developing world, where belief in witchcraft is so dominant it has the potential to undermine the church''s doctrine and authority. The Element also considers the revival of interest in witchcraft and cursing among Catholic demonologists and exorcists in the developed world. The Element explores whether it is possible for a global church to adopt any kind of coherent approach to a phenomenon appraised so differently across different cultures that the church''s responses to witchcraft in one context are likely to seem irrelevant in another.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Historical background; 3. Witchcraft in modern Vatican documents; 4. Witchcraft and the exorcists; 5. Catholicism and witchcraft in the developing world; 6. Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisStories of witchcraft and demonic possession from early modern England through the last official trials in colonial New EnglandThose possessed by the devil in early modern England usually exhibited a common set of symptoms: fits, vomiting, visions, contortions, speaking in tongues, and an antipathy to prayer. However, it was a matter of interpretation, and sometimes public opinion, if these symptoms were visited upon the victim, or if they came from within. Both early modern England and colonial New England had cases that blurred the line between witchcraft and demonic possession, most famously, the Salem witch trials. While historians acknowledge some similarities in witch trials between the two regions, such as the fact that an overwhelming majority of witches were women, the histories of these cases primarily focus on local contexts and specifics. In so doing, they overlook the ways in which manhood factored into possession and witchcraft cases. Vexed with DTrade ReviewGassers reading of these texts is close, careful, and extensiveGassers contribution to this scholarship is noteworthy. She provides a corrective to the direction that many previous studies took investigating mostly women, perhaps even women only- and failing to appreciate the attitudes about manhood that affected the outcomes of so many witchcraft cases. * Nova Religio *Vexed with Devils brings together a number of key attributes: an important topic approached through excellent research involving a broad range of early modern texts and secondary historical scholarship. Erika Gasser is to be congratulated on a broad and detailed survey of material, which is well-expressed and interesting to read. -- Marion Gibson,Professor of Renaissance and Magical Literatures, University of Exeter, Penryn CampusWriting a few years ago, Alison Rowlands urged scholars to do more research into the 'extent to which the prosecution of witches was imagined, carried out, and justified as an expression of godly, dutiful, patriarchal manhood.' Gasser's book is a necessary response: a convincing treatment. * Times Literary Supplement *While much attention has focused on the place of women in the witch trials, in Vexed with Devils, Erika Gasser...shifts focus to look at the lesser studied place of men in these incidents...[Her discussions]add additional depth to our comprehension of how issues of gender impacted not just the trials themselves, but also the broader societal discussion regarding the presence of witchcraft and possession in early modern society. * Reading Religion *Gasser argues that demonic and witchcraft possession cases throughout the Anglo-American world functioned as a form of social policing during the early modern period...Anyone seeking a fresh perspective on, and deeper understanding of, such possession accounts will not be disappointed. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisExam board: Pearson Edexcel; OCRLevel: AS/A-levelSubject: HistoryFirst teaching: September 2015First exams: Summer 2016 (AS); Summer 2017 (A-level)Put your trust in the textbook series that has given thousands of A-level History students deeper knowledge and better grades for over 30 years.Updated to meet the demands of today's A-level specifications, this new generation of Access to History titles includes accurate exam guidance based on examiners' reports, free online activity worksheets and contextual information that underpins students' understanding of the period.- Develop strong historical knowledge: in-depth analysis of each topic is both authoritative and accessible- Build historical skills and understanding: downloadable activity worksheets can be used independently by students or edited by teachers for classwork and homework- Learn, remember and connect important events and people: an introduction to the period, summary diagrams, timelines and links to additional online resources support lessons, revision and coursework- Achieve exam success: practical advice matched to the requirements of your A-level specification incorporates the lessons learnt from previous exams- Engage with sources, interpretations and the latest historical research: students will evaluate a rich collection of visual and written materials, plus key debates that examine the views of different historians

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Book SynopsisAt the center of this remarkable 1621 play is the story of Elizabeth Sawyer, the titular "Witch of Edmonton," a woman who had in fact been executed for the crime of witchcraft mere months before the play's first performance. Yet hers is only one of several plots that animate The Witch of Edmonton. Blending sensational drama with domestic tragedy and comic farce, this complex and multi-layered play by Dekker, Ford, and Rowley emphasizes the mundane realities and interpersonal conflicts that are so often at the heart of sensational occurrences. This edition of their work offers a compelling and informative introduction, thorough annotation, and a selection of contextual materials that helps set the play in the context of the "witch-craze" of Jacobean England.Table of Contents Introduction William Rowley, John Ford, and Thomas Dekker The Witch of Edmonton The Witch of Edmonton In Context from James I (James VI of Scotland), Demonology, In Form of a Dialogue, Divided into Three Books (1597) from William Perkins, A Discourse of the Damned Art of Witchcraft; so far forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience (1608) from John Cotta, The Trial of Witchcraft, Showing the True and Right Method of the Discovery: With a Confutation of Erroneous Ways (1616) Henry Goodcole, The Wonderful Discovery of Elizabeth Sawyer, a Witch, late of Edmonton, her conviction and condemnation and death. Together with the relation of the Devil's access to her, and their conference together (1621)

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Book SynopsisHave you been searching for a way to find deeper connection with your ancestors? Or would you like to learn how to reach your spirit guides? Author Cairelle Crow utilizes science, spells, and rituals to create a very profound book of ancestor working.MAGIC IN YOUR GENES offers a route to becoming more in tune with your personal genealogical background so that you can begin to understand more about your ancestors.The book offers a primer on the basics of DNA and genetic genealogy practices, so no prior knowledge is required to put the book to use. Magical tips and techniques are placed throughout to help the reader utilize both technical and magical resources as appropriate to the content in each chapter.Written in a conversational style, its content is easily understandable by those with limited knowledge of genetics and genealogy, yet the book''s technical aspects on DNA and genetic testing are based on current standards as set forth by professional associations.Included are:Real life stories and insights from a variety of pagans, wiccans, and witches who have done genetic genealogy testing and have used their personal results to explore their own magical identity and deepen their relationship with their ancestorsThe author''s own experiences with DNA testing and genealogy and how it is utilized by her in various forms of art, writing, and her own spiritual and magical practiceCorrespondences, recipes, rituals, and spellsRecommended resources, a glossary of terms, and information regarding major genealogical groups and societies wrap up the contentIt is geared to those with a known recent genealogical history (parents, grandparents) but is also appropriate for those who are adopted or who have other situations, such as a misattributed parentage event.

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