Money, magic and the theatre were powerful forces in early modern England. Money was acquiring an independent, efficacious agency, as the growth of usury allowed financial signs to reproduce without human intervention. Magic was coming to seem Satanic, as the manipulation of magical signs to performative purposes was criminalized in the great 'witch craze.' And the commercial, public theatre was emerging - to great controversy - as the perfect medium to display, analyse and evaluate the newly autonomous power of representation in its financial, magical and aesthetic forms. Money and Magic in Early Modern Drama is especially timely in the current era of financial deregulation and derivatives, which are just as mysterious and occult in their operations as the germinal finance of 16th-century London. Chapters examine the convergence of money and magic in a wide range of early modern drama, from the anonymous Mankind through Christopher Marlowe to Ben Jonson, concentrating on such plays as The Alchemist, The New Inn and The Staple of News. Several focus on Shakespeare, whose analysis of the relations between finance, witchcraft and theatricality is particularly acute in Timon of Athens, The Comedy of Errors, Antony and Cleopatra and The Winter's Tale.

A rare combination of personal and academic, this book showcases the myriad avenues for transcending the boundaries of reality through direct sensory experience. The Varieties of Magical Experience: Indigenous, Medieval, and Modern Magic provides a comprehensive volume that examines magic in all its aspects. Through detailed case studies, verbatim accounts of personal experiences, and first-hand experience from the authors' own active participation in many alternative religious rituals and ceremonies, this unique book reveals how magic can be a universal phenomenon that crosses cultural, historical, and spatial boundaries. The work is organized in five sections that embrace several broad themes: indigenous magical and shamanic practices; medieval witchcraft; sorcery and hermetic magic; and contemporary Western magical practices, including the role of sexuality, trance, and meditation. The introductory section explores the idea of magic, other realities, and the employment of all the senses, while the final section discusses contemporary issues of ecology and cybermagic. The authors give voice to the powerful emotions and feelings that result from a magical encounter, providing engaging and accessible information to general readers, while those well versed in the opaque world of magic and occultism, consciousness studies, and imaginal and disembodied realms will appreciate the book's content at a deeper level. Highlights techniques, rituals, and training of magical practitioners Counterpoints the rational with the emotional and compares the past with the present Takes a cross-cultural, historical, and anthropological approach that is accessible to all readers Includes experiences of academics, shamans, occultists, healers, sorcerers, pagans, medieval magicians, cybermagicians, and indigenous peoples across the world

Delve into the magickal world of spells and white witchcraft with this informative and friendly guide for baby witches Calling all baby witches! Have you ever wanted to develop your intuitive powers to look into the future and manifest your dreams? Are you interested in learning how to harness the moon's power to cast the most potent spells for love and happiness? Or maybe you're just curious about all this witchy stuff and want to know more? If so, this journal is for you! Find out what kind of witch you could be! Are you a celestial witch, who looks to the moon and stars for guidance? Are you a weather witch, who uses the power of the elements for the most potent spell-casting? Maybe you're a divination witch, who can see the future in a black mirror? Or perhaps an earth witch, who enjoys a bubbling cauldron of herbal delights? With easy-to-follow spells and rituals for every occasion, and grimoire pages to record the spells you have cast and any that you've devised yourself, this beautifully designed journal will set you on the path to discovering your true witchy self.

This is the only book of its kind on witchcraft that has been written by a practising witch. It is intended to be not merely a history, but a guide to the many strange byways of a vast and fascinating subject. Witchcraft is as old as the human race, and it is actively practised today, by people of all classes. To its devotees, witchcraft is more than spells and charms, or even secret meetings and rituals; it is a philosophy and a way of life. It claims to be the oldest form of religion, that of nature-worship and magic. Since the last Witchcraft Act was repealed in 1951, the revival of public interest in witchcraft has been the subject of continuous controversy. This book is a serious contribution to the study of a subject too long obscured by prejudice and sensationalism.

Whether you're an out-and-proud witch in progress, or a witch in the broom closet, this spellbinding beginner's book will teach you how to discover the natural magick within you, and use it to thrive! Natural magick is all about working in harmony with your environment, harnessing the power of nature to unlock your inner magickal potential. From foraging and using herbs in spells, to using sun or moonlight in cleansing rituals to understanding the changing of the seasons and their impact on your powers, this book is an invaluable guide to anyone interested in exploring natural magick. This magick has the power to transform your relationship with yourself, the people around you, and the natural world. Featuring introductions to everything you need to know to get started in your Craft, this is the ultimate guide that you will want to return to again and again as you develop your practice, and discover how magical Witchcraft is as a form of self-care. Including tried-and-true tips and tricks taken from The Witch of the Forest's personal grimoire, learn about: How to build a budget-friendly practice using only simple tools and ingredients in your cupboards The witch's wheel of the year Spellcraft Candle magick Herbs and foraging Divination, such as tarot, scrying and pendulum dowsing Creating your own sigils A witch's relationship to the moon, sky and nature How to practice witchcraft discretely in the broomcloset ... and much more! Suitable for every type of witch and witchling - green, house, eclectic, solitary, or undecided! - this book also includes a pendulum board that you can remove to help answer all your questions. If you are a witch in the broom closet, simply remove the jacket from this book or download as an ebook for more discreet reading. Ground yourself in your magick, and embrace the simpler, but just as powerful side of the modern witching hour! The Witch of the Forest's Guide to... series are a collection of guides for different areas of witchcraft, focusing on the relationship between magic, the natural world and the self.

Edited and introduced by Stephen Fared Flowers, Ph.D. This book opens the gate to the use of the authentic Hermetic formulas concealed in the magical papyri of Egypt. Students can use this information as a basis for developing and enacting their own magical systems.

Alchemy is the ancient sacred science concerned with the mysteries of life and consciousness as reflected through all Nature. It is a harmonious blending of physical and subtle forces which lifts the subject, whether it be man or metal, to a more evolved state of being. The Way of the Crucible is a ground-breaking modern manual on the art of Alchemy that draws on both modern scientific technology and ancient methods. A laboratory scientist and chemist, Bartlett provides an overview of how practical alchemy works along with treatises on Astrology, Qabalah, Herbalism, and minerals, as they relate to Alchemy. He also explains what the ancients really meant when they used the term "Philosopher's Stone" and describes practical methods toward its achievement. The Way of the Crucible provides directions for a more advanced understanding of the mineral work -- what some consider the true domain of Alchemy.

The first book to deal with the history and source of complete superstitions which exist, or have existed among British people throughout the world. They are presented in encyclopaedic form, so that any individual superstition, or collective superstitions related to one particular subject, can be found under a specified heading. Some 2300 superstitions are listed in a work of over 230,000 words. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.