Few topics are so secretive or controversial. Yet, whether in the 1800s or the early 2000s, when disasters struck or personal misfortunes mounted, many Britons found themselves believing in things they had previously dismissed – dark supernatural forces.Historian Thomas Waters here explores the lives of cursed or bewitched people, along with the witches and witch-busters who helped and harmed them. Waters takes us on a fascinating journey from Scottish islands to the folklore-rich West Country, from the immense territories of the British Empire to metropolitan London. We learn why magic caters to deep-seated human needs but see how it can also be abused, and discover how witchcraft survives by evolving and changing. Along the way, we examine an array of remarkable beliefs and rituals, from traditional folk magic to diverse spiritualities originating in Africa and Asia.This is a tale of cynical quacks and sincere magical healers, depressed people and furious vigilantes, innocent victims and rogues who claimed to possess evil abilities. Their spellbinding stories raise important questions about the state’s role in regulating radical spiritualities, the fragility of secularism and the true nature of magic.

    Come on a journey through the Wheel of the Year, joining in the celebration of the Gods, Goddesses and festivals that have been a part of mankind since the Dawn of Time.Although aimed at beginning Solitary Practitioners, the original Heartsongs would add depth to the workings of even the most seasoned Pagan.

    By the author of 'Stations in the Sun' and 'The Triumph of the Moon', in which Ronald Hutton established himself as a leading authority on the history of paganism, this title contains his essays which cover a wide range of beliefs, myths and practices, also on the subject of paganism.

    While some are drawn to the idea of practicing in total secrecy and solitude, others crave a group of like-minded individuals to learn from and worship with. Those who seek a structured, traditional form of Wicca to follow are likely to benefit from coven membership. After all, this is how Wicca began-as a group-centered practice taking place within a gathering of Witches for the purpose of conducting ritual and magic. In fact, the coven was the vehicle for the rise of Wicca, first in Europe and then in the United States and beyond. There are covens practicing today whose members can trace their initiatory lineage back to the mid-20th century, and will continue carrying on their traditions well into this century and beyond. Yet coven life is not for everyone. Some people work best within the looser structures of Wiccan circles, which are more informal but still offer a sense of belonging to a spiritual community. These groups can be a great place to acquire knowledge and experience, while marking the important Wiccan holidays - the Sabbats and Esbats - with rituals and celebrations. Still others opt for solitary practice, either because there isn't a Wiccan community in their vicinity or because they simply like to chart their own course in a completely independent manner. Those who choose this solo path have the most freedom and flexibility, yet they also face a wider range of decisions to make. If you're going it alone, do you still want to follow a particular Wiccan tradition? If so, where can you find information about what to do, and how and when to do it? And what does it mean if you prefer to develop a more individualized approach to your practice? After all, Wicca has always been a continually evolving religion, so to adapt traditions according to your own intuition is actually a sort of tradition in and of itself! A Traveler's Guide to the World of Wicca As you can see, there are many ways to understand and experience the core essence of Wicca, and it may take awhile for you to discover where your individual journey begins. Finding Your Path, by best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain, was created as an orientation to these possibilities. In this book, you'll be introduced to the wide spectrum of contemporary Wiccan practice, with tips to help you make well-informed decisions about where you want your journey to take you:The role of the coven in the birth and rise of Wicca The benefits and potential drawbacks of belonging to a coven The differences between covens and circles The pros and cons of solitary practice The differences between traditional and eclectic practices Introductions to the most widely-practiced Wiccan traditions: Gardnerian, Alexandrian, and Dianic, as well as a handful of other, less common forms How to find your Wiccan community, should you desire to join one By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of the amazing diversity of the Wiccan religion. You will also, ideally, have a clearer view of what your own next steps along the path will be! If you're ready to start your journey, scroll to the top of the page and select the buy button. Readers will also be treated to an exclusive free eBook!

    But magic - the idea that we have a connection with the universe - has developed a bad reputation.It has been with us for millennia - from the curses and charms of ancient Greek, Roman and Jewish magic, to the shamanistic traditions of Eurasia, indigenous America and Africa, and even quantum physics today. Even today seventy-five per cent of the Western world holds some belief in magic, whether snapping wishbones, buying lottery tickets or giving names to inanimate objects.Drawing on his decades of research, with incredible breadth and authority, Professor Chris Gosden provides a timely history of human thought and the role it has played in shaping civilization, and how we might use magic to rethink our understanding of the world.

    English authors such as J.R.R.Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, and J.K.Rowling, dominate the world of magic in fiction, but from the earliest times, England has also acted as home to generations of eccentrics and scholars who have researched and explored every conceivable kind of occult art. Most people are torn between a fascination with magic and an almost instinctive fear of the occult, of a world redolent with superstition and illusion. And yet more people now practice magic in England than at any time in her history. The Book of English Magic explores this hidden story, from its first stirrings to our present-day fascination with all things magical. Along the way readers are offered a rich menu of magical things to do and places to visit.

    These men and women regarded themselves as professional anti-witches, who (in dream-like states) apparently fought ritual battles against witches and wizards, to protect their villages and harvests. If they won, the harvest would be good, if they lost, there would be famine. The inquisitors tried to fit them into their pre-existing images of the witchesâ�� sabbat. The result of this cultural clash which lasted over a century, was the slow metamorphosis of the benandanti into their enemies â�� the witches. Carlo Ginzburg shows clearly how this transformation of the popular notion of witchcraft was manipulated by the Inquisitors, and disseminated all over Europe and even to the New World. The peasantsâ�� fragmented and confused testimony reaches us with great immediacy, enabling us to identify a level of popular belief which constitutes a valuable witness for the reconstruction of the peasant way of thinking of this age.

     Use these powerful recipes to create powdered blends which can enhance your love or financial life, promote peace and good health, or increase creativity. Magical powders have many useful applications in your work. You can use these powders in your home, your business, on your ritual tools or spell parchments, and on yourself. A hyperlinked table of contents makes it easy to navigate between recipes.

    They were far more representative of magical practice than the arcane delvings of astrologers and necromancers. Mostly unsensational in their approach, cunning-folk helped people with everyday problems: how to find lost objects; how to escape from bad luck or a suspected spell; and how to attract a lover or keep the love of a husband or wife.While cunning-folk sometimes fell foul of the authorities, both church and state often turned a blind eye to their existence and practices, distinguishing what they did from the rare and sensational cases of malvolent witchcraft. In a world of uncertainty, before insurance and modern science, cunning-folk played an important role that has previously been ignored.

    She takes readers on an enchanting tour through witchcraft’s history, mythology, and folklore, where they will discover a miscellany of facts including magic spells, rituals, potions, recipes, celebrations, traditions, and much more.

    Add a little magic to each day and keep pace with the ever-turning Wheel of the Year with this indispensable, on-the-go tool.Find fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons and enhance your practice with seasonal spells by Deborah Blake, inspiring Sabbat musings by James Kambos, tasty Sabbat recipes by Susan Pesznecker, and Moon rituals by Elizabeth Barrette. For spellwork, there’s astrological information and daily colors. Also included are articles on The Power of the Mind by Dallas Jennifer Cobb, Smartphone Sorcery by Michael Furie, Beating the Bad-Day Blues by Melanie Marquis, and Enchanted Stomping Grounds by Jane Meredith.  At-a-glance guide to the best days to plant and harvest Wiccan holidays, Sabbat musings, and tasty seasonal recipes for celebrating the Wheel of the Year Daily planetary and color correspondences to empower your magical work Moon lore and Esbat rituals, plus Moon phases for successful spellcasting 17th Year of Publication!Spiral bound for easy use.

    In particular, he employs his own extensive work in the rich archives hidden away in those Franco-German borderlands in which so many cases became known. Briggs reveals how ordinary people diverted ordinary and not-so-ordinary grievances into a complex structure of blaming and scapegoating. Villagers inhabited a harsh and dangerous world, where real and fantastic fears mingled. Through his study of real cases and real lives, individual hysteria and disillusionment, institutional skepticism and opposition, Briggs skillfully and stylishly traces the ways in which beliefs about witchcraft responded to changes in European society. Witches and Neighbors is an illuminating social and cultural history of a period all too often darkened by myth and misinformation.

    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

    When you think of a witch, what do you picture? Pointy black hat, maybe a broomstick. But witches in various guises have been with us for millennia. In Waking the Witch, Pam Grossman explores the cultural and historical impact of the world’s most magical icon. From the idea of the femme fatale in league with the devil in early modern Europe and Salem, to the bewitching pop culture archetypes in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Harry Potter; from the spooky ladies in fairy tales and horror films to the rise of feminist covens and contemporary witchcraft, witches reflect the power and potential of women. In this fascinating read that is part cultural analysis, part memoir, Pam opens up about her own journey on the path to witchcraft, and how her personal embrace of the witch helped her find strength, self-empowerment, and a deeper purpose. A comprehensive meditation on one of the most mysterious and captivating figures of all time, Waking the Witch celebrates witches past, present, and future, and reveals the critical role they have played—and will continue to play—in shaping the world as we know it.

    The Reader traces the development of witch beliefs in the late Middle Ages, the social and political dynamics of witch-hunts in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the continuing relevance of the subject today.This second edition has been extensively revised and updated to include important new research in the field. There are expanded sections on witchcraft in the Middle Ages and the role of gender in witch trials, as well as new work on demonic possession and the decline and survival of witch beliefs. The major themes and debates in the study of witchcraft are brought together in a general introduction, which places the extracts in a critical context and each extract has an introduction which contextualizes its author.The Witchcraft Reader offers a wide range of historical perspectives in a single, accessible volume aimed at anyone intrigued by this complex and fascinating subject.