Witchcraft / Witches Books

Book SynopsisA clear, concise and detailed historical analysis of the eclectic and beautiful visual and material culture of paganism. For more than a thousand years, a diverse range of peoples, from Ireland to India and from the Andes to Australia, have been labelled âPaganâ by the Christians who encountered them. Since the twentieth century new groups have emerged â wiccans, druids, neo-shamans and heathens â who openly call themselves Pagans. But who are these Pagans and what do they believe? Which gods and goddesses do they revere? Do they worship nature? Do they practise divination and magic? From sacred plants imbued with supernatural powers to hand-carved amulets that repel evil, and from mischievous spirits of nature to holy mountains, Pagans find divine value in the natural world and spiritual significance in the material universe. Delve within these pages and examine the myriad paintings and sculptures, shrines and ceremonial objects that reveal the stories, symbols and rituals of PagTrade Review'A beautiful book … provides the reader with a very comprehensive picture of Paganism and the many different forms it can take' - Alexander Alich, University of Birmingham'This exploration of non-Abrahamic religious traditions has such visual punch that art lovers will be quickly converted' - RA Magazine'Corrects misconceptions and explains [Pagans’] intricate belief systems and rich histories, some stretching back to the dawn of civilization... Some of the book's most intriguing material focuses on practices that are nearly extinct today' - New York Daily NewsTable of ContentsIntroduction Ancient Ways 1: Goddesses + Gods 2: Myths + Legends 3: Numinous Nature Ritual 1: Sacred Sites 2: Witchcraft 3: Oracles + Divination Community 1: Festivals 2: Embodied Faith 3: Journeying

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Book Synopsis''An oppressive, forensic, psychological thriller: J.K. Rowling meets Antony Beevor, Stephen King and Marina Warner ... Schiff''s writing is to die for'' THE TIMESIt began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw Massachusetts winter, when a minister''s niece started to scream and convulse. It ended less than a year later, but not before panic had infected the entire colony, nineteen men and women had been hanged, and a band of adolescent girls had brought Massachusetts to its knees.Vividly capturing the dark, unsettled atmosphere of seventeenth-century America, Stacy Schiff''s magisterial history draws us into this anxious time. She shows us how quickly the epidemic of accusations, trials, and executions span out of control. Above all, Schiff''s astonishing research reveals details and complexity that few other historians have seen.Trade ReviewStacy Schiff's The Witches deals with a horror we assume we know, but don't: the moral panic that tore apart the towns of Massachusetts in the seventeenth century. Adolescent girls, denouncing their neighbours, began a fashion for denunciation; it resulted in nineteen hangings, in torture, in the fracture of families and communities, and in the spectacle of a seven-year-old kept in miniature manacles. Was it like The Crucible? No, it was worse. Arthur Miller used the Salem story as a metaphor for the McCarthy era's paranoia. But using the past as stand-in for the present often sells it short, and gives its complexities permission to elude us. Context is everything, and Schiff defines it; she interrogates her sources, makes every detail count, and her style is intriguing - sharp-eyed, discriminating, crisp. You want to understand the subject, and you want to meet the historian. -- Hilary Mantel * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *A riveting and chilling account of the frightening events that took place in 1692 in a small town in Massachusetts when an oppressive, claustrophobic community turned upon itself, superstition fusing with score-settling... Schiff's account of these terrors reads like a nerve-shredding psychological thriller * MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Best of 2015' *Schiff is a biographer with a transcendent empathy and a sharp eye, a profoundly humane writer able to reanimate the dead, reprising their hopes and dreams, pieties and crimes ... The result is electrifying, an original contribution to our understanding of what happened and how. And in the best tradition of fairytales, picking at the subconscious, her story appeals not just because it allows us to spectate on the miseries of an unenlightened age, but because it deals with "unfulfilled wishes and unexpressed anxieties, rippling sexual undercurrents and raw terror" - universal things that we may suppress, yet which define who we are -- Malcolm Gaskill * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *[Schiff] has assembled a vast array of data and then crunched it down chronogically, enabling her to tell the story day-by-day. This is an impressive and valuable achievement ... telling the story as it might have been understood by an observer at the time, from the first disturbing outbreaks in the Parris parsonage to the final hangings and the soul-searching that followed them ... this makes her story vivid and disorientating, giving us insight into how the world might look if indeed there were witches abroad in it -- Richard Francis * THE SPECTATOR *Masterfully she has re-created history as an oppressive, forensic, psychological thriller: JK Rowling meets Antony Beevor, Stephen King and Marina Warner... Schiff's writing is to die for; clever and lyrical. Grace and gravitas make a potent brew, and there were places where her language was so good I simply noted "Wow" in the margin. So too her dry wit -- Melanie Reid * THE TIMES *Schiff writes movingly as well as wittily; this is a work of riveting storytelling as well as an authoritative history -- Lara Feigel * THE OBSERVER *[Schiff] paints a vivid, engrossing picture of a squabbling, fearful society in which prevailing superstition fused with score-settling and self-interest -- Jenny McCartney * THE MAIL ON SUNDAY *Schiff's is a feat of historical excavation and also of colourful reconstruction of the defendants, the husbands (never wives) who informed on them, the prosecutors and their grudges and the few rarefolk who evaded the hangman's noose. We are given these people's family contexts, their appearances and court dialogue is vividly captured. Much of it is moving -- Arifa Akbar * THE INDEPENDENT *Using feminist theory, ideas about power and representation and the legal issues of the time, Schiff draws some interesting parallels with modern times * CATHOLIC HERALD *Masterly... Alternately absurd and heart-rending * ECONOMIST *Schiff sets scenes brilliantly, evoking the bite of cold so deep that "bread froze in communion plates, ink in pens, sap in the fireplace." Her prose swelters with the stifling heat of a summer during which the region's crowded jails grew noisome, and bodies swung, several at a clip, from a gallows hastily erected in a pasture. "It was not a summer when you wanted to appear in your neighbor's dreams," she writes, in a muted Gothic that raises the hair on your neck. The book crackles with sonic detail, from the pitiful sound of Giles Corey's groans as his inquisitors heaped stones upon him to the "rustle of doubt" too quiet to make a difference. And everywhere there is darkness -- Jane Kamensky * NEW YORK TIMES (USA) *THE WITCHES is the fullest and finest story ever told about Salem in 1692, and no one else could tell it with the otherworldly flair of Stacy Schiff -- Joseph J. Ellis * Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE QUARTET *From Cleopatra to the Salem coven. From intelligent rule to hysteria, mayhem, and murder. The Salem witch trials offer Stacy Schiff an out-sized drama that seized Americans' imaginations more than 300 years ago. All of Schiff's books demonstrate her rigor as a historian and her dexterity as a stylist. THE WITCHES proves she has something else: the instincts of a thriller writer. This book needs a seat belt -- Kathryn Harrison * author of JOAN OF ARC *This brilliant, compelling book is the most meticulously researched, effectively constructed, and beautifully written work I have read in a very long time. It is dramatic history and also a timeless thriller: who - or what - drove a New England town to madness three centuries ago, resulting in the deaths of nineteen men and women for 'witchcraft?' The answers are astonishing -- Robert K. Massie * Pulitzer Prize-winning author of CATHERINE THE GREAT *Once again Stacy Schiff dazzles us. THE WITCHES is a must read for anyone intrigued by this baffling and horrifying chapter from America's Puritan past. What Schiff uncovers is mesmerizing and shocking. Her meticulous research and lyrical writing lay bare an injustice that we should never forget - lest we repeat it -- Patricia Cornwell * author of DEPRAVED HEART *Stacy Schiff has beautifully combined remarkable story telling with historical accuracy and insight. She has opened up important new avenues for Salem scholarship -- Bernard Rosenthal * editor of RECORDS OF THE SALEM WITCH-HUNT *Stacy Schiff's THE WITCHES is an indelibly etched morality fable, the best recounting of the Salem hysteria in modern times. Clear-eyed and sympathetic, Schiff makes the complex seem simple, crafting a taut narrative that takes in religion, politics, folklore, and the intricate texture of daily life in Massachusetts Bay, with particular attention to those 'wonder-working' women and girls who chose this moment to blow apart the Puritan utopia they'd helped to found. It's all here in one devilish, oracular book -- Megan Marshall * Pulitzer Prize-winning author of MARGARET FULLER *Enchanting. Out of the shadows of the past come excitable young girls, pompous ministers, abusive judges, grieving parents, and angry neighbours, all of them caught up in a terrifying process that seemed to have no end: discovering who among them deserved death for being in league with Satan. THE WITCHES is as close as we will ever come to understanding what happened in and around Salem in 1692. Courtrooms, streets, churches, farmyards, taverns, bedrooms - all became theatre-like places where anger, anxiety, sorrow, and tragedy are entangled. An astonishing achievement -- David D. Hall, Bartlett Research Professor of New England Church History, Harvard UniversityStacy Schiff has brought her extraordinary gifts as researcher and writer to revivify the old but endlessly compelling story of the 1692 Salem witch hunt. Her mastery of detail, her ingenuity in spotting connections and trend lines, and her intuitive feel for the people involved combine in a brilliant portrayal of cascading human tragedy. It is sharply etched. It is ground level. It is emotionally powerful. It is full of surprising twists and turns. If history is time travel, this is a journey readers will never forget -- John Demos * author of ENTERTAINING SALEM *Schiff's exhaustive trawl through the sources sheds fresh light on this grisly episode -- Simon Shaw * MAIL ON SUNDAY *

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Book SynopsisAnd the Wheel turns! Yule reminds us of warmth, happiness, and a time to be thankful for all that we have. For centuries ancient healers have celebrated the restorative energy of the Yuletide festival, the traditional harsh winters reminding us of our impressive ability to weather tough storms and find support and comfort with loved ones. In Seasons of the Witch: Yule Oracle you'll discover 44 healing messages to align you with the divine wisdom of the year's darkest night and the joyful celebration associated with the winter holidays. This oracle is your path to deep reflection and tranquility and is a promise of the brighter days to come.

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Book SynopsisInteract with magical fairy folk and incorporate them into your own witchcraft practice with this detailed account of the ancient wisdom and traditions of fairies and witchcraft.Fairies have long been a part of witchcraft traditions, especially Celtic and Norse witchcraft, paganism, and other traditions deeply tied to the earth. But these fairies aren’t the harmless creatures you’ve read about in children’s tales: they are magical creatures with their own culture and rules that you need to know before venturing into their territory. Now you can explore the world of the fairies and how their magic relates to your own witchcraft practice with The Modern Witchcraft Book of Fairies. This book provides you with all the information you need to know about the different types of fae folk and how you can safely interact with them to make the most of your witchcraft practice.Trade Review“Sure to reawaken you to the enchantments of nature and magick and full of the information every witch should know.” —Bust“Packed with information… broad and balanced… well-organized, concise, and powerful.” —Grove and Grotto

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Book SynopsisReconnect with the healing wisdom of Mother Earth and to yourself with this diverse, brightly illustrated oracle deck from the author of Witchery and Plant Witchery.The Earthcraft Oracle is a tool to help you reconnect to Mother Earth and to your highest self. Each card message is an invitation to listen to Mother Earth''s guidance; each spell, ritual, or invocation an opportunity to bring these lessons off the pages and into your daily practice; and each illustration a reminder that we are part of nature, not outside of it. With bodies of every shape, size, skin-tone, and hair texture represented, this deck affirms we are all Mother Earth''s children.Mother Earth is our sacred home. We rely on her for everything from the air we breathe and the water we drink. She gives us so much and yet we take her magic for granted. We squander her gifts and ignore the results. But it is not too late. We have stopped listening, but she has not stopped comm

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Book SynopsisFrom 1563 to 1736 Scotland put thousands of women to death for witchcraft. Their supposed crimes have much to tell us about attitudes to women in the past, and in the present day. This book introduces sixteen women who lost their lives or lived in the long shadow of the persecutions.'Witches' who, like MARGARET AITKEN, confessed, implicated others, even aided the hunters before they were burned.Nonconforming women like MARY MACLEOD, who saw their reputations tarnished when they did not bend to society's expectations.Creatures of the imagination, like Robert Burns's NANNY, who embody deep-seated associations between womanhood and the occult.Weaving fiction with the facts where these are known, We Are All Witches invites the reader to explore the forces at work in one of the darkest episodes of Scotland's history and consider their echoes in the present day.Trade ReviewSpringing directly from the pioneering Witches of Scotland campaign, Kidd has imagined lively and convincing voices from the past to commemorate the lost lives of Scotland's witches, reminiscent of Jenni Fagan's Hex. * Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists *We Are All Witches is a compelling, moving book that invites the reader to consider not only the background to the Scottish witch trials and the mythology surrounding witches, but also the lives of those affected. * Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAt last, a really intelligent, well-written and informative book on present-day witchcraft. * The Australian *For a growing readership Farrar's book is a balanced and authentic account of real interest. * Publisher's Weekly *Despite changing times and practices, What Witches Do is is still an important text exploring the theories and principles of the Alexandrian initiate and the workings and rituals of a traditional Wiccan coven. -- Witch Zine reviewer * Witch Zine *

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Book Synopsis* MINI MORTAR AND PESTLE FOR POTIONS AND COCKTAILS: Whether you''re creating a tincture to invite creativity, or creating your own bitters for craft cocktails, this brass-coloured, food-safe ceramic mortar and pestle will bring a touch of magic to rituals, holistic medicine, and at-home mixology. * DELUXE FULLY ILLUSTRATED PACKAGE: This mini set is housed in a vibrant, full-illustrated magnetic closure box, and includes a mortar and pestle (approx. 2 tall), cleansing crystal, and mini book. * INCLUDES RECIPES AND DIYS: A 48-page bonus mini book includes cocktail recipes, and DIY instructions for infusions, tinctures, and home brewed kombucha.* A PERFECT GIFT: This beautiful set is an ideal gift for witches, mixologists, and herbal remedy enthusiasts.

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Book SynopsisA savvy witch’s guidebook on strengthening their innate capacity to speak the symbolic language of the universe and trusting their inner knowing—their intuwitchin.From the founder of Witch School Mia Magik (@miamagik) comes a guide to what she calls IntuWitchin. There’s a key difference between intuition and IntuWitchin. While they both come from within us, IntuWitchin involves our innate capacity to learn and fluently speak the symbolic language of the Universe. It allows us to receive information from every animal or number, any part of our body, dreams, conversations, and more. We’ve all been told to follow our intuition, but IntuWitchin shows you how. It means reclaiming your magik to see how the world around you is always communicating with you and letting you know which way to go.IntuWitchin makes you your own teacher, guide, healer, and hero of your story. Putting the Witch in IntuWitchin supports you in owning your witchiness—how your wisdom expresses through you—and synergizing that unique essence with the magik of the world all around you.The book describes how to tap into your Intuwitchin and apply it in your life with rituals, magikal practices, journaling prompts, and chapters on:– Reclaiming the witch wound in order to move forward in courage and empowerment– Understanding signs and symbols from the Universe– Divination tools like astrology, tarot, numerology, and color magik– Recognizing how your body speaks to you– Incorporating the wisdom of the elements into your magik

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Book SynopsisThe modern witch's guide to protection spells and karma magic

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Book Synopsis''a brilliant history'' The Sunday Times ''makes for riveting reading'' The IndependentModern pagan witchcraft is arguably the only fully-formed religion England has given the world, and has now spread across four continents.This second edition of The Triumph of the Moon extensively revises the first full-scale scholarly study of modern pagan witchcraft. Ronald Hutton examines the nature and development of this religion, and offers a history of attitudes to witchcraft, paganism and magic in British society since 1800. Its pages reveal village cunning folk, Victorian ritual magicians, classicists and archaeologists, leaders of woodcraft and scouting movements, Freemasons, and members of rural secret societies. We also find some of the leading figures of English literature, from the Romantic poets to W. B. Yeats, D. H. Lawrence and Robert Graves, as well as the main personalities who have represented pagan witchcraft to the public world since 1950. Thriller writers like Dennis Wheatley, and films and television programmes, get similar coverage, as does tabloid journalism. The material is by its nature often sensational, and care is taken throughout to distinguish fact from fantasy, in a manner not previously applied to most of the stories involved. Meticulously researched, The Triumph of the Moon presents an authoritative insight into an aspect of modern cultural history which has attracted sensational publicity but has hitherto been little understood. This edition incorporates new research carried out by the author as well as research by others who have been inspired by this book over the twenty years since its first publication.Trade ReviewHutton's book is a must-read not only for anyone interested in modern Paganism, or the occult, but it also embodies a deep insight into the development of British society and culture. * Pavel Horák, Czech Academy of Sciences, Religious Studies Review *It is to the credit of Ronald Hutton that he has documented its history so clearly and recognises its spiritual value to so many people. * Paula Dempsey, Fortean Times *Review from previous edition this work ... makes for excellent reading. Hutton's extensive scholarship allows him to make and clarify connections between people and movements in recent centuries. * Northern Earth, No.83 *spirited, amusing and immensely informative ... Hutton's exceptional work is by far the most scholarly, comprehensive and judicious analysis of the subject yet published. It will remain the standard for many years to come. * Publishers Weekly *A remarkable book ... passionate yet written with calm and clarity ... a passionate, important and consistently fascinating book. * Journal of Ecclesiastical History *The Triumph of the Moon, which is densely argued and heavily annotated, leaves little doubt that the history which modern occultism has constructed for itself is bunk ... It all makes for riveting reading and, despite Hutton's demolition of the supposed lineage of witchcraft, I am tempted after reading his book to become a witch myself. * Robert Irwin, The Independent *Hutton's book is excellent ... Hutton uses his historical skills to tease apart some of the themes in this popular rural romanticism, and to locate their purely modern origin. * T. M. Luhrmann, Times Literary Supplement *Hutton's professional expertise shows paganism in a new light * Katrina Dixon, The Scotsman *An excellent study of the only religion England gave the world: pagan witchcraft. Scholarly and incisive, writing with verve and passion, Hutton exposes the Victorian fascination with the pagan ... Hutton writes a brilliant history of a faith that draws on ancient texts yet speaks to present concerns. * Kevin Sharpe, The Sunday Times *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Macrocosm 1: Finding a Language 2: Finding a Goddess 3: Finding a God 4: Finding a Structure 5: Finding a High Magic 6: Finding a Low Magic 7: Finding a Folklore 8: Finding a Witchcraft 9: Matrix 10: God (and Goddess) Parents Microcosm 11: Gerald Gardner 12: Gerald's People 13: The Wider Context: Hostility 14: The Wider Context: Reinforcement 15: Old Craft, New Craft 16: The Man in Black 17: Royalty from the North 18: Uncle Sam and the Goddess 19: Coming of Age 20: Grandchildren of the Shadows Notes Index

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Book SynopsisYour magical burn bookHave you ever experienced low-level rage? Does everything annoy you? Do some people just need to get in the bin? For centuries, black magic has been seen as a means to spread evil and to promote purely selfish desires - and is that so wrong? It''s time to stop caring about what low energy people think, to create a little chaos and embrace your villain era. Instead of internalising the negativity and hurt from a bad breakup or friendship, learn to let it all out and come into your power with black magic - because after all, maybe it''s not you, it is them.

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Book SynopsisAmbrosia Hawthorn is a traveling eclectic Pagan, astrologer, and card slinger with indigenous roots in Yup'ik shamanism and Puerto Rican folk magic. She is the founder of Wild Goddess Magick, a witchcraft blog, and the editor of Witchology Magazine.

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Book SynopsisConjure an intention-filled life with this practical guidebook of magickal rituals for every season of the zodiac, from Erica Feldmann, owner and founder of the Salem-based store, HausWitch.Let?s face it, we could all use a bit more magick in our lives. Even if you?re not ready to commit to a black velvet cloak or join a coven (yet),IntentionObsessionis a book for all types of seekers, sharing practical magick and self-care rituals for any kind of lifestyle. Think of the magick in this book as an antidote to our world of relentless productivity, oppression, and estrangement.As the owner of the popular HausWitch store in ?Witch City? Salem, Massachusetts, Erica Feldmann knows firsthand that many people are curious about witchcraft, but don?t quite know where to start. This book is her invitation into a new, enchanting realm, where you can learn to create exactly the life you want to live by working with intention.Organized by the seasons of the zodiac, from Aries to Pisces, this guide will showcase the archetypal powers of each season and teach you how to create a ritual regimen you can honor all year long.Filled with fun spells and DIY projects, like: Planting a pleasure garden for indulgent Taurus season Creating a DIY Shower Salt Scrub for watery Cancer season Mixing up magickal sun tea recipes to celebrate the sun in Leo Throwing a super-organized dinner party for type-A Virgo season This book will empower you to craft a life of intention; defy oppressive structures like capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy; and connect deeply with the energies of the universe. Just let each page awaken your intuition and empower you to manifest your most intentional life.

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Book Synopsis''Prepare to be dazzled'' Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger''Fresh and original'' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches Four lives, one woman, a star-crossed love . . .In 1895, sixteen-year-old Juliet begins a passionate, doomed romance with a married artist.In 1932, aspiring actress Nora escapes New York for the bright lights of Hollywood and a new chance at love.In 1970, Californian musician Sandra''s secret love affair threatens to tear her band apart.And in 2012, Helen is starting to remember the tragic details of lives that never belonged to her.Bound to her lover in 1895, and trapped by his side ever since, Helen has lived through multiple lifetimes, under different names, never escaping her tragic endings. Only this time, she might finally have the power to break the cycle . . .Absorbing, magical Trade ReviewFresh and original... a narrative rich in historical detail, brightened by flashes of humor, and filled with colorful characters and fascinating settings. A most rewarding read! -- Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of WitchesA captivating tapestry of a tale, A Witch in Time weaves together the supernatural, historical fiction, and a humorous present day heroine, while travelling the macabre brambles of a dark curse - through lifetimes - with a compass to the heart -- Gwendolyn Womack, bestselling author of The Fortune Teller & The Time CollectorI fell in love with Sayers' perfectly plotted debut. There's history and romance, humour and heartache, Paris and Hollywood, and a protagonist who's bewitching no matter the decade. It's time travel with a fresh twist! -- Karin Tanabe, author of A Hundred SunsA sweeping story of magical, star-crossed love, as glamorous as it is romantic. Prepare to be dazzled -- Alma Katsu, author of The HungerSayers cleverly twists the loves-lost-through-time motif . . . A smart, engrossing debut from a writer to watch * Kirkus Reviews *With lush historical details and a wicked sense of humour, A Witch in Time fully immerses the reader in the story of Helen and her fated demon, unpacked like nesting dolls across time and lives, fortune and chance. From Belle Epoque France to modern-day D.C., from worlds pastoral, decadent, flashy to commercial, Sayers weaves a spell of love, lust and magic to create a page-turner like no other -- Steph Post, author of MiraculumDark magic creates a love triangle that spans lifetimes in this complex, genre-bending debut . . . Sayers traverses time periods effortlessly with lush, graceful descriptions . . . This spiralling narrative will appeal to fans of historical fiction and complicated love stories * Publishers Weekly *Sayers weaves deep historical context with rich characterisations to create a melancholic novel, reminiscent of Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveller's Wife and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, that readers of historical fiction and romance will enjoy * Library Journal *A thrilling, magical story . . . a real page-turner * Red Carpet Crash *An intriguing romp through history . . . Sayers balances a lot of elements in this story - it's part historical fiction with a time-travel twist, part romance with a supernatural kick * Ars Technica *You won't be able to resist A Witch In Time * The Young Folks *Fans of Deborah Harkness will devour this page-turning tale of love, reincarnation, and dark magic. A highly unique and enjoyable read! -- Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow HallIncredibly engrossing and decadent in all the best ways, A Witch in Time is a sumptuous story of love and loss that's perfect for fans of historical fiction with a touch of fantasy * Hypable *Loved A Witch In Time by Constance Sayers! Perfect combo of historic locales (Paris to Los Angeles), artists (painters to 1970s rockers), and cool witchery to tie them together -- Jay Asher, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth look at some of the most fascinating witchcraft cases from across the British Isles.

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Book Synopsis"Fascinating and vivid." New Statesman "Thoroughly researched." The Spectator "Intriguing." BBC History Magazine "Vividly told." BBC History Revealed "A timely warning against persecution." Morning Star "Astute and thoughtful." History Today "An important work." All About History "Well-researched." The Tablet On the morning of Thursday 29 June 1682, a magpie came rasping, rapping and tapping at the window of a prosperous Devon merchant. Frightened by its appearance, his servants and members of his family had, within a matter of hours, convinced themselves that the bird was an emissary of the devil sent by witches to destroy the fabric of their lives. As the result of these allegations, three women of Bideford came to be forever defined as witches. A Secretary of State brushed aside their case and condemned them to the gallows; to hang as the last group of women to be executed in England for the crime. Yet, the hatred of their neighbours endured. For Bideford, it was said, was a place of witches. Though ‘pretty much worn away’ the belief in witchcraft still lingered on for more than a century after their deaths. In turn, ignored, reviled, and extinguished but never more than half-forgotten, it seems that the memory of these three women - and of their deeds and sufferings, both real and imagined – was transformed from canker to regret, and from regret into celebration in our own age. Indeed, their example was cited during the final Parliamentary debates, in 1951, that saw the last of the witchcraft acts repealed, and their names were chanted, as both inspiration and incantation, by the women beyond the wire at Greenham Common. In this book, John Callow explores this remarkable reversal of fate, and the remarkable tale of the Bideford Witches.Trade ReviewCallow’s intriguing book is both a case study of the Bideford witch trail and an examination of how superstition prevailed in a time of increasing rationality… Callow’s fascinating and vivid unpicking of the English Salem is also an account of the birth pangs of the modern age. -- Michael Prodger * New Statesman *Callow examines in detail the surviving evidence of the Bideford case, while also imaginatively reconstructing events to create a convincing picture of how superstition and belief in sorcery lay just beneath the surface of a mercantile society struggling to be born. -- Nigel Jones * The Spectator *One 17th-century pamphlet about the Bideford trial promised "many Wonderful Things, worth your Reading"; a line that could justifiably be slapped across the cover of [The Last Witches of England]. -- Tristram Saunders * The Telegraph Culture *A retelling of a 17th-century witchcraft trial that never loses sight of the women at its heart, nor the social and economic factors that contributed to their plight… There is no plain explanation for the witchcraft accusations of 1682, but then acts of evil never have a simple origin. The Last Witches of England faces that fact and marshals an intriguing story around new research on the case. -- Marion Gibson * BBC History Magazine *Carrow meticulously explores the haunting tale of the Bideford witches. -- Suzannah Lipscomb * UnHerd *An elegantly presented, well illustrated and readable book on how class conflict played out through witch hunting… A timely warning against persecution and intolerance. * The Morning Star *In The Last Witches of England John Callow painstakingly reconstructs the lines of three beggar women accused of witchcraft in Bideford, Devon in 1632 by trawling administrate records, parish registers and dole lists. It is a remarkable piece of scholarship…astute and thoughtful. * History Today *Vividly told, detailed and extremely moving. * BBC History Revealed *The Last Witches of England is an important work of social history that presents valuable insights into the workings of life, death, and belief in a cosmopolitan 17th-century town. * All About History *A well-researched and even-handed account of this landmark case, giving pen portraits of all the major players, and providing a comprehensive picture of life in seventeenth-century Britain. -- Chris Nancollas * The Tablet *[Written] with flair and colour… Excellent local studies such as [this] bring[s] us closer to understanding the reality of witchcraft beliefs and accusations in the early modern English world than we have ever seen before. -- Ronald Hutton * Fortean Times *I rarely feel deeply moved by academic publications but John Callow’s exploration of the ‘Bideford Witches’ had a profound effect on me… Callow’s work invites the reader to bear witness to the persecution of the poor and the marginalised… Callow’s work adds considerable weight to a strong moral argument. -- Julie Ward * Chartist *This riveting read is important albeit uncomfortable. In this book, Callow has allowed readers to look at their shared past unflinchingly so that we may go into a less tragic future. -- Hilary Wilson * The Folklore Podcast *A marvellous overview of not only the fate of three women but also of Bideford which was an important port in the 17th Century... with an in depth study of the social and political conditions surrounding the fate of ‘The last witches’ is extremely valuable for those who are interested in the historical background to Wicca, but also for understanding the recent interest in Witchcraft as a political tool. * Wiccan Rede *The Last Witches of England: A Tragedy of Sorcery and Superstition offers a thoroughly engaging account of the lives and afterlives of Temperance Lloyd, Susanna Edwards, and Mary Trembles, three women who were executed for witchcraft in 1682. It is a well-told narrative that will be of interest to scholars of witchcraft, as well as those working more broadly in early modern British social history. * Canadian Journal of History / Annales canadiennes d'histoire *[Callow] brings to the Bideford episode a nuanced sense of how witches’ supposed powers were understood and experienced at different levels of early modern society. * Inside Higher Ed *The Bideford witches' story is an essential piece in England's witchcraft history. Callow has researched it properly and deeply for the first time, and his astonishing discoveries shed new light on this tragic and bizarre story. He draws the reader into the story, retelling it with vibrant characterisation. We come away with a thoughtful understanding of what it meant to be deemed a witch, tried as a witch, and to die as a witch. * Dr. Christina Oakley Harrington, Founder & Director, Treadwell's, UK *I read the book with considerable interest and enjoyment - others have written on the Bideford witches, but not in this sort of depth. John Callow has been remarkably successful in reconstructing the story of the three 'Bideford Witches' executed in 1682. He maintains an imaginative and accessible narrative grounded in the relevant documentation and the relevant historical context, which will immerse the modern reader in the tragedies and complexities of the early modern witch hunts. * James Sharpe, Professor Emeritus of Early Modern History, University of York, UK *This is a stirring and multilayered book. At its heart is a very sad story, but one that needs to be heard. The cautionary tale Callow spins here is not the war between superstition and reason, but in the ways in which we have historically vilified and marginalized those in poverty, especially women, and the lengths we go to in silencing their voices. * Dr Amy Hale, Anthropologist and Folklorist, writer of Ithell Colquhoun: Genius of the Fern Loved Gully, USA *With 17th Century culture wars, conspiracy theories and non-science, it wasn’t just the people who spread deadly superstition. Political, religious, media, scientific and even legal establishments literally demonised vulnerable women. John Callow’s meticulous and gripping history of the Bideford Witches is unputdownable. * Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Politician, Barrister and Human Rights Activist, UK *Table of ContentsIllustrations Acknowledgements A Note on Dating & Terminology Prologue: The Magpie at the Window Chapter One: Fortune My Foe Chapter Two: England’s Golden Bay Chapter Three: An Underground Religion Chapter Four: The Cat, the Pig and the Poppet Chapter Five: The Stolen Apple & a Farthing’s Worth of Tobacco Chapter Six: A Fine Gentleman Dressed All in Black Chapter Seven: The Discourse of the Sleepy Chimney Chapter Eight: The Politics of Death Chapter Nine: At the House of the White Witch Chapter Ten: Where are the Witches? The Crafting of Memory and Survival Endnotes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAn oracle deck that helps you cut through the bullsh*t the world throws at you, from chaotic wellness witch Mandi Em.

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller The long-awaited next book from actress and New York Times bestselling author of The Rural Diaries, Hilarie Burton Morgan. Through memoir essays and magical practices, Grimoire Girl connects us to the enchantment that exists inside us all.Since childhood, Hilarie Burton Morgan has felt the call to record, keep, and catalogue life in all its strange wonder. It was a whimsical habit, with no clear goal. And then, when she became a mother, the importance of all that collecting snapped into focus. In an effort to patchwork together an anthology of traditions, curiosity, and magical thinking that she could pass down, Burton Morgan realized she was crafting a grimoire. In her most intimate book yet, Burton Morgan shares how she’s creating an inheritance of mischief and magic that will outlive her. What’s more, she shows readers how they too can look at the elements of their lives and collect the pieces into a tangible collection of a lifetime of learning. Because in its purest form, a grimoire was a guide to keep you alive.Like the grimoires of old, full of life-saving wisdom, these pages record the people, places, ideas and habits that have kept Burton Morgan alive, in her signature voice that is at once honest, witty, and charming. Accompanied by whimsical two-color illustrations by Olivia Faust, the book also includes Simple Spells, which are ways to bring magic into your daily life: create an altar that delights and inspires, practice candle magic and poetry spells, make an oracle deck, or channel your inner kitchen witch with recipes and potions.So begin creating your own inheritance, take a long look inward and decide...What wisdom will be written on the pages of your Grimoire?Trade Review“There’s a new reason to know and love Hilarie Burton Morgan, as she’s just written a lovely, thoughtful, and tad weird book called Grimoire Girl, full of sweet, funny, Burton-esque anecdotes and stories.” — Scary Mommy

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Book SynopsisDiscover magical solutions to cope with whatever life throws your way in this fun self-help guide to invoking your inner power.Self-help is hard (and therapy is expensive!), but magic makes it easier than ever. In Witchcraft Therapy, you will learn how to use the mystical powers of intention, mindful manifestation, divination, and righteous indignation to cope with whatever life throws your way. Author and witchy wellness guru Mandi Em offers advice in her own unique brand of positivity providing spells, rituals, and more that you can do right at home. Complete with wisdom like “Remember that ‘f*ck off’ is a banishing spell,” Witchcraft Therapy will have you feeling more empowered and liberated than ever.Trade Review"Fun, upbeat and friendly." —Reader's Digest“The self-help book you didn’t know you needed.” —Bust“One read will never be enough.” —Witch with Me

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Book SynopsisWales had a rich gallery of magical specialists (prophets, cunning-men, physicians etc), including many who were suspected of harmful witchcraft. Richard Suggett examines all types of magical specialists, including those regarded as beneficial as well as harmful. Popular belief in witchcraft in Wales did not decline with the abolition of the Witchcraft Act in 1736. Indeed belief in witchcraft beliefs became darker in form and was transformed into a novel form of cursing the use of cursing wells, many of which are still in existence in Wales.

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Book Synopsis''Gripping ... a story of loss, ambition, misogyny, family love and what it means to belong ... evocative and atmospheric'' Irish Times1324, Kilkennie: A time of suspicion and conspiracy. A place where zealous men rage against each other - and even more against uppity womenA woman finds refuge with her daughter in the household of a childhood friend.The friend, Alice Kytler, gives her former companion a new name, Petronelle, a job as a servant, and warns her to hide their old connection.But in aligning herself with a powerful woman, Petronelle and her child are in more danger than they ever faced in the savage countryside ...Tense, moving and atmospheric Her Kind is vivid reimagining of the events leading to the Kilkenny Witch Trial.__________''Masterful ... Boyce delicately unfolds this atmospheric, magical thriller with pace and juice, while also making sure that theTrade ReviewShines a light on women who have been silenced. This tightly paced novel confirms Boyce as an important voice in Irish literature -- Louise O'NeillGripping ... a complicated story of loss, ambition, misogyny, family love and what it means to belong ... evocative and atmospheric * Irish Times *The plot is pacey and menacing, and the writing is clear, sharp and studded with glistening phrases ... a wonderful shout through time -- Nuala O'ConnorPulls us into a world both seductively alien, yet uneasily, all-too-humanly, familiar -- Mia GallagherMoving and atmospheric * Irish Country Magazine *A beautifully absorbing novel, illuminating the remarkable story of a woman whose life has since been subsumed into folklore. Highly recommended. * Hot Press *Masterful ... Boyce delicately unfolds this atmospheric, magical thriller with pace and juice, while also making sure that the sentiments (vilification of women, policing of female biology, etc) echo through time -- Hilary White * Sunday Independent *Niamh Boyce has taken a bleak and dismal period and sent a bolt of beautiful and revealing light into the darkness -- John MacKennaBeautifully written and transports us to the 14th century, though its themes loudly resonate today -- Eileen Dunne * RTÉ Culture *[Her Kind] sings of these modern times * RTÉ Guide *Enthralling * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisIn this ground-breaking book, Professor Norman Cohn traces popular beliefs about witches to their origins. He examines the fantasies that inspired the great European witch-hunt of the 16th and 17th centuries when thousands of innocent people were tortured and burned alive. It is a fascinating history of the need to imagine antihuman conspiracies and an investigation of how those fantasies made the great European witch-hunt possible. In addition, Professor Cohn''s discovery that some influential sources on witch trials were forgeries has revolutionized the field of witchcraft studies, making this one of the most essential books ever written on the subject.Trade ReviewIt is not too much to say that Professor Cohn has revolutionised the study of the subject - It is a brilliant book. -- Bernard Levin * Observer *An indispensable study. -- Robin Lane Fox * Financial Times *This is a book of real stature which I hope will have a side impact. Only if we begin to understand the horrifying recesses of the human imagination can we prevent the recurrences of those dreadful, irrational persecutions which have so disfigured human history. -- Anthony Storr

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Book SynopsisConnect to the enchanted mystery of trees, plants, and forests as you engage in green witchcraft, rituals, spell work, and seasonal magic crafted by the bestselling author of Practical Magic, Nikki Van De Car.“The clear instructions and inventive ritual interpretations are suffused with the author’s genuine and infectious wonder at the natural world…an ideal gift for the pagan-curious.” — Publisher's WeeklyForest Magic is a guide to befriending the mysterious and wise guardians of our woodlands. Ancient and wise, trees and plants watch over us—sheltering us and guiding us. At the same time, it is our calling to cherish and honor them, as we work together in eternal reciprocity. Humans have always lived in mutual communion with the forest, dwelling in its shadowy depths, tending to it as it protects us, trading oxygen for carbon dioxide, again and again, with each day, each

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Book SynopsisA complete introduction to modern magic and witchcraft with spells and incantations for love, happiness, and success.The Practical Witch''s Spell Book is an enchanting handbook for anyone with a penchant for the magical and who wants to add joy to their daily life. To practice witchcraft is to be purposeful whether it''s to help heal, bring about prosperity, imbue your home with positivity, or even to fall in love. To be a practical witch is to tap into an inner place of intention, energy, and magic to bring about positive change in your life and those of your loved ones. With life''s increasingly frenetic pace, a magical approach to living is more important now than ever.In this must-have guide for spell-casters of all levels you will find hundreds of spells, blessings, and incantations for love and romance, contentment and happiness, success and prosperity, health and healing, work and vocation, and money and wealth, all to enrich your mind and sp

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Book Synopsis''Richly imagined and elegantly told, with plenty of satisfying secrets, heartaches, and twists'' SADEQA JOHNSON''A spellbinding romp. The Montrose women will have you clutching your pearls on this rollercoaster of a debut'' CAROLYN HUYNH''Written with warmth and an eye for detail, Diane Marie Brown''s Black Candle Women explores the bonds of family and the magical power of belief to transform our lives'' SHAUNA J. EDWARDS & ALYSON RICHMAN..............................................................''All of you are cursed, you hear me?An ugly death for the ones with whom you fall in love''Generations of Montrose women - Augusta, Victoria, Willow - have lived together in their quaint two-story bungalow in California for years. They keep to themselves, never venture far from home, and their collection of tinctures and spells is an unspoken bond between them.But when seventeen-year-old NicTrade ReviewRichly imagined and elegantly told, with plenty of satisfying secrets, heartaches, and twists -- Sadeqa JohnsonA spellbinding romp. The Montrose women will have you clutching your pearls on this rollercoaster of a debut. This book will have you asking yourself, who amongst us isn't cursed? More importantly, how far would you go for a chance at love? -- Carolyn HuynhWritten with warmth and an eye for detail, Diane Marie Brown's Black Candle Women explores the bonds of family and the magical power of belief to transform our lives -- Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman

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Book SynopsisMEET YOUR INNER WITCH THIS WINTER WITH THIS SAPPHIC, SPELLBINDING AND SEXY NEW ROM COM!--------''The queer witchy rom com of my heart . . . Teen Witch meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days!'' Ali Hazelwood''Read this if you want a cosy, witchy romance with women empowering women!'' ***** Reader Review''This steamy, sapphic delight is about to become your new obsession'' Courtney Kae''Fun, sapphic and witchy!'' ***** Reader Review--------When ''messy witch'' Morgan Greenwood drunkenly offers to fake date her dream woman Rory Sandler during the New England Witches'' festival, she''s sure she was hexed at birth. And things go from bad to complicated when Rory accepts. Although they''re ''pretending'' to be a couple, the chemistry between them is undeniable. And the line between real and fake starts to blur Until Morgan realizes she may have broken a mostTrade ReviewThis Spell Disaster is the queer witchy romcom of my heart! I loved the small town setting, the magic system, the feel-good humor of the story, but above all I loved Rory and Morgan's transition from friends into lovers, and the way they constantly made each better! Teen Witch meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in this delightfully heartwarming, enchanted romance -- Ali Hazelwood, Sunday Times bestselling authorHits every bewitching element I could ever want in a rom-com! Morgan is the perfectly-relatable messy witch, and Rory Fucking Sandler is Every F*cking Thing. This book casts one hell of a charming spell and I never wanted it to end -- Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of The Love WagerThere's a special kind of magic to falling in love, and in This Spells Disaster, Rory and Morgan have to figure out what's real and what's an illusion. The Witch Council, the festival, the cleverly named potion shop-I lost myself in this world and found myself wishing it were real! This sapphic witchy romance from Tori Anne Martin totally had me under its spell -- Alicia Thompson, national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial KillersThe witchy romance of my dreams .... Hilarious and angsty in turns, this book has rich worldbuilding, lovable characters, and a nuanced approach to issues of consent, trauma, and the burden of expectations. This queer, magically sweet and sexy romance is an absolute joy -- Sarah Hawley, author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a DemonLiterary magic! With their sizzling chemistry, relatable flaws, and escapist thrill of a world, Morgan and Rory had me enchanted from page one. Tori Anne Martin crafts paranormal romance at its best, and this steamy, sapphic delight is about to become your new obsession -- Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of LoveWith classic rom-com hijinx and herbalist witchy vibes, this novel will have you happily spellbound * The Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisThe Rainbow Witchis a guide to color and magic that encompasses all factions of witchcraft practices and practitioners. In this book, readers are initiated into each of seven colors of the rainbow by learning the spiritual meaning, intensity, and magical purpose of each color.

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Book SynopsisThe feast is a meeting place between family and friends, between humans and gods. This decadent collection of enchanting dishes is an indispensable companion to kitchen witchcraft, revealing the storied history and seductive art of magical cooking. With witch, herbalist and chef Melissa Jayne Madara as your guide, explore five facets of the occult through food: traditional recipes, the wheel of the zodiac, devotional meals to the planets, seasonal feasts to celebrate solstices and equinoxes, and practical spellwork. Recreate a pagan feast of lamb roasted with milk and honey, with cheesecake baked in fig leaves for dessert. Celebrate a Gemini birthday with herbed fondue, followed by lemongrass pavlova. Align with the poetic pleasures of Venus with edible flower dumplings, or commune with Saturn over blackberry pulled pork sandwiches. Enjoy the vibrancy of the spring equinox with herb and allium quiche with a potato crust, radish salad with cherry blossom vinaigrette and jasmine tea shortbread. Share an evening of storytelling over mugwort and catnip divination tea, or embody an otherworldly spirit with ritual bread masks. Packed with ancient knowledge, practical advice and witchcraft expertise, this book will help you develop your craft through culinary creativity. Gather, share, and rediscover the most fundamental of human rituals: the divine indulgence of the senses and the soul.Trade Review"I truly adore this book - it's so gorgeous!" - Lisa Marie Basile "A stunning book full of enticing recipes, and thoughts on kitchen witchcraft and the history of feasts . . . a feast for the eyes, heart and mind as well as stomach awaits in this beautiful grimoire." - LoveReading review

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Book SynopsisMagic can take many forms, whether it be a desire, a wish, or a spell. It can even be a simple act of kindness for friends and family, and importantly for yourself too like a lovingly hand-made object, a comforting meal or a home-cooked gift.Many people are turning to alternative ways to find connection and meaning. Something as simple as, Are you ok?' has great strength, power and empathy. Thoughtfulness is key and this book has kindness at the heart of its magic to create a more forgiving and considerate community.Curated into colour chapters, Sam takes a look at each colour and what it represents. The book brims full of magical spells, poems, charms, rituals, recipes, makes and wishes to create a helpful guide a comfort, a tonic something that is available to everyone, whether you feel like you are a witch or not.Chapters are:White, Yellow & Orange, Red, Pink, Violet, Blue, Green, Brown, Black & Grey, Silver & GoldProjects include:Orange blossom spell, Clay incense holder, Lucky

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