In this landmark book, Ronald Hutton traces witchcraft from the ancient world to the early-modern stake.   This book sets the notorious European witch trials in the widest and deepest possible perspective and traces the major historiographical developments of witchcraft. Hutton, a renowned expert on ancient, medieval, and modern paganism and witchcraft beliefs, combines Anglo-American and continental scholarly approaches to examine attitudes on witchcraft and the treatment of suspected witches across the world, including in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Australia, and North and South America, and from ancient pagan times to current interpretations. His fresh anthropological and ethnographical approach focuses on cultural inheritance and change while considering shamanism, folk religion, the range of witch trials, and how the fear of witchcraft might be eradicated.

    But wearing witchy jewelry and casting a few spells does not make one a witch, for Wicca is a lifestyle and those who walk its path have solemnly dedicated themselves to the service of the Goddess and God.Wiccan Beliefs and Practices was written for the solitary witch or non-traditional small coven. Written by a Wiccan High Priest and retired aerospace engineer, Wiccan Beliefs & Practices includes crucial information not found in other introductory Wiccan books, including:Ethics of a Witch, including the Code of Chivalry How to write and develop your own spells and rituals The physically-challenged Witch Out of the broom closet: is it right for you? Know your rights: the legal protection of Wicca as a legitimate religion Author Gary Cantrell speaks from personal experience with Wiccans of all ages and degrees of physical ability, bringing you an earnest examination of modern Wiccan beliefs and a practical guide to the Craft of the Wise.In the following excerpt, the author explains why he chose to come out of the broom closet.I elected to reveal my practice of witchcraft publicly simply because I personally feel that the time for intentionally hiding ourselves has come to an end. We are practitioners of a kind, gentle, and peace-loving religion. We are not the bloodthirsty or depraved, orgiastic fanatics all too often portrayed by the entertainment and news media. The general public has been misled about witchcraft for over a thousand years, and now with our numbers reaching an all-time high, possibly in excess of one million people worldwide, we need to stand up and set that record straight.We are out there by the hundreds upon hundreds of thousands. We are in the arts, the sciences, and the humanities. We are law enforcement officers, engineers, builders, doctors, and farmers. We are a legally recognized religion under the protection of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and our isolation from the rest of the religious community should and must come to an end. With the phenomenal growth of witchcraft since the 1970s and with the free and easy interchange of information afforded to us by things like the Internet, that time will come to pass and it will happen soon. It may be happening now.

    We can see them, emerging shadowy, from 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…‘In A Spell in the Wild, Alice Tarbuck explores what it means to be a witch today. Where ‘witch’ was once a dangerous - and often deadly - accusation, it is now a proud self-definition. And as the world becomes ever more complicated and we face ecological, political, social and global health crises, witchcraft is experiencing a resurgence.Magic is back. Alice describes what she practises as ‘intersectional, accessible’ witchcraft - it’s about the magic you can find in an overgrown snicket or a sixth floor stairwell; whatever your gender; whether you’re able to climb a mountain or can’t leave the house. Month by month, Alice walks us through everyday magic for extraordinary times.

    Llewellyn's 2019 Witches' Datebook features beautiful illustrations from award-winning artist Kathleen Edwards, a variety of ways to celebrate the Wheel of the Year, and powerful wisdom from practicing Witches.Find fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons and enhance your practice with sabbat musings (Raven Digitalis), tasty sabbat recipes (Estha McNevin), Witchy tips (Elizabeth Barrette), and the Witch's tools (Mickie Mueller). Also included are fascinating articles on connecting magically with birds (Monica Crosson), prioritizing spells and rituals (Diana Rajchel), ethically disposing of offering items (Blake Octavian Blair), visualizing with all five senses (Autumn Damiana), and changing your body to match the energy of your goal (Charlynn Walls). This indispensable, on-the-go tool will make all your days more magical.

    What is interesting, here, is that all of the above and more are contained in one work, instead of separately. Speaking of everything from fortune telling to folk healing, the Book of Forbidden Knowledge is perhaps better classed as a modern grimoire than most contemporary works of similar origin; the paper covers of any of a number of competing Victorian and Edwardian era titles.

    The perfect introduction to magic and the occult, it explores forms of divination from astrology and palmistry to the Tarot and runestones, mystical plants and potions such as mandrake, the presence of witchcraft in literature from Shakespeare's Macbeth to the Harry Potter series, and the ways in which magic has interacted with mainstream religions.The most comprehensive illustrated history of witchcraft available, A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult will enthrall and fascinate you with its lavish illustrated, accessible entries, whether you are a believer or a skeptic.

    It provides insights into soul attractions and how relationships develop within the framework of reincarnation.

    Start with personal day and year cards, and learn how to relate Tarot to your own interests, in order to find specific blind spots and personal resistances, as well as how to look for new chances and unexpected directions. Then you progress to the larger and theme cards, and learn to interpret networks of cards and also "to view every card as a world by itself." You'll become acquainted with the Cycle of the Year (with 20 major layouts) and with the practice of Tarot and astrology, using the respected Golden Dawn System developed by Arthur A. Waite and Alistair Crowley. Soon you'll appreciate the variety and creativity inherent in Tarot, to see the cards as a mirror of yourself, and to discover what the authors mean when they say that "being lucky has nothing to do with luck." 192 pages, 114 b/w illus., 6 x 9.

    Having grown up in an extended Italian family in North America and Italy, the author presents us with the stories, characters, saints, charms, and prayers that form the core of folk religion, setting them in context in an authentic, down-to-earth, and humorous voice. A delight to read!"—Sabina Magliocco, Professor of Anthropology, University of British ColumbiaItalian Folk Magiccontains:magical and religious ritualsprayersdivination techniquescraftingblessing ritualswitchcraftThe author also explores the evil eye, known as malocchio in Italian, explaining what it is, where it comes from, and, crucially, how to get rid of it.This book can help Italians regain their magical heritage, but Italian folk magic is a beautiful, powerful, and effective magical tradition that is accessible to anyone who wants to learn it.

    Explore how ancient yogis sought out magic. Discover some of the goddesses and gods of yogic and witch culture. Weave magic through spells, mantra, meditation and yoga practice. Explore the magic of the chakras. Connect to the power of the Sun, Moon and Earth via witchcraft and yoga. Namaste, Witches!Sarah Robinson is a yoga and meditation teacher based in Bath, UK (once named after a goddess: the ancient Roman town of Aquae Sulis). Her background is in science. She holds an MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience and has studied at Bath, Exeter and Harvard Universities.

    From analyzing palms, fingers, fingerprints, mounts, and nails, find the hidden strengths and weaknesses within yourself and others. Can your hands unveil your future? Author Roberta Vernon explores this question in the introduction. Each chapter address a different aspect of palmistry, including: looking at hands; the fate line; the Apollo line or sun line; marks, colors, and warts; and skin ridge patterns.An 18 x 24-inch wall chart for quick reference contains key information for deciphering palms are included with the book to provide a quick interpretation reference. With practice, and with In Focus Palmistry in hand, readers will be able to decipher the following areas:Love and relationshipsSexualityMoneyBusinessCareerAptitudes and talentsSuccesses and failuresParents and in-lawsChildrenOther people of influenceHome and property mattersHealthTravelPetsThe In Focus series applies a modern approach to teaching the classic body, mind, and spirit subjects, using expert authors in their respective fields and featuring relevant visual material to smartly and purposely illustrate key topics within each subject. As a bonus, each book is packaged with index cards and/or a poster, to give readers a quick, go-to reference guide containing the most important information on the subject, for easy practice and retention.

    It covers all the key practices and principles of Wicca in a structured way for the seeker, such as the Goddess & God, the Wheel of the Year, the Four Elements, Lunar phases, Wiccan Ceremonies, the Wiccan Rede, magick, skyclad and initiation.Throughout the book, practical exercises,meditations and simple ceremonies are provided, together with suggestions for further reading. You will learn about the history, whilst exploring the practices and deepening your understanding of the four elements and the natural world, whilst exercising your visualisation skills and building on your understanding of the tradition through an experiential approach.INTRODUCTIONUSING THIS GUIDECOURSE LESSONSLESSON 1 * PAGANISM, WITCHCRAFT & WICCALESSON 2 * MAGICK: TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDINGLESSON 3 * THE GODS & GODDESSESLESSON 4 * THE FOUR ELEMENTSLESSON 5 * THE TIMES OF MAGICKLESSON 6 * SACRED SPACELESSON 7 * INITIATION & RITES OF PASSAGEAPPENDIX1. HOW TO USE INCENSE2. KEEPING YOUR MAGICKAL JOURNAL3. THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS4. TREE MEDITATION5. CHAKRA WORK

    There are full instructions for each spell, as well as blessings and directions for using incense in rituals.

    In It's a Wonderful After Life, Robinett delves into what heaven is like, if there is a hell, and what the transition to the Other Side is like depending upon cause of death (suicide, natural, accidental, illness, etc). With personal experiences and stories from clients, she also discusses the many signs and symbols that our loved ones share with us to assure that it is a wonderful afterlife.

    An initiation signals a beginning: a door opens and you step through. Traditional Wiccan initiates are usually brought into the craft through a ceremony with a High Priestess. But even though Amanda Yates Garcia's mother, a practicing witch herself, initiated her into the earth-centered practice of witchcraft when she was 13 years old, Amanda's real life as a witch only began when she underwent a series of spontaneous initiations of her own.Descending into the underworlds of poverty, sex work, and misogyny, Initiated describes Amanda's journey to return to her body, harness her power, and create the magical world she longed for through witchcraft. Hailed by crows, seduced by magicians, and haunted by ancestors broken beneath the wheels of patriarchy, Amanda's quest for self-discovery and empowerment is a deep exploration of a modern witch's trials - healing ancient wounds, chafing against cultural expectations, creating intimacy - all while on a mission to re-enchant the world. Peppered with mythology, tales of the goddesses and magical women throughout history, Initiated stands squarely at the intersection of witchcraft and feminism. With generosity and heart, this book speaks to the question: is it possible to live a life of beauty and integrity in a world that feels like it's dying?Declaring oneself a witch and practicing magic has everything to do with claiming authority and power for oneself, of taking back our planet in the name of Love. Initiated is both memoir and manifesto calling the magical people of the world to take up their wands: stand up, be brave, describe the world they want, then create it like a witch.