This book is exclusively devoted to demonic possession and exorcism in early modern England. It offers modernized versions of the most significant early modern texts on nine cases of demonic possession from the period 1570 to 1650, the key period in English history for demonic possession. The nine stories were all written by eyewitnesses or were derived from eyewitness reports. They involve matters of life and death, sin and sanctity, guilt and innocence, of crimes which could not be committed and punishments which could not be deserved. The nine critical introductions which accompany the stories address the different strategic intentions of those who wrote them. The modernized texts and critical introductions are placed within the context of a wide-ranging general Introduction to demonic possession in England across the period 1550 to 1700.

Lucifer: Princeps is a seminal study on the origins of the Lucifer mythos by Peter Grey. It is the first in a two volume work; the companion volume, Praxis, being an exposition of ritual actions, will be published in 2021. The fall of Lucifer, and that of the rebel angels who descended upon the daughters of men, comprise the foundation myth of the Western occult tradition. Lucifer: Princeps is a study of origins, a portrait of the first ancestor of witchcraft and magic. In tracing the genealogy of our patron and prince, the principles that underlie the ritual forms that have come down to us, through the grimoires and folk practices, are elucidated. The study draws on the extensive literature of history, religion and archaeology, engaging with the vital discoveries and advances of recent scholarship, which render previous works on Lucifer, however well intentioned, out of date. A concomitant exegesis of the core texts conjures the terrain and koine of the Ancient Near East, the cradle cultures and language of his nascence. Of critical importance are the effaced cultures and cults that lie behind the Old Testament polemics, viz. those of Assyria, Ugarit and Canaan, as well as Sumeria, Egypt and Greece; they provide the context that give meaning to what would otherwise be an isolated brooding figure, one who makes no sense without being encountered in the landscape. Intended to be the definitive text on Lucifer for the witch, magician and student of the grimoires, Princeps spans wingtip to wingtip from the original flood myth and legends of divine teachers to the Church Fathers, notably Augustine, Origen and Tertullian. The tales of the Garden of Eden, the Nephilim, of the fall of Helel ben Sahar and the Prince of Tyre, the nature of Azazel, and the creation of the Satan are drawn beneath the shadow of these wings into a narrative that binds Genesis and Revelation via the Enochian tradition. The story of the Serpent in the Garden and that of Lucifer are revealed to be a singular myth whose true significance had been lost and can now be restored. It illuminates the path to apotheosis, and the role of the goddess as the transforming initiatrix who bestows the crown.

In 1510, nine men were tried in the Archbishop’s Court in York for attempting to find and extract a treasure on the moor near Mixindale through necromantic magic. Two decades later, William Neville and his magician were arrested by Thomas Cromwell for having engaged in a treasonous combination of magic practices and prophecy surrounding the death of William’s older brother, Lord Latimer, and the king. In The Magic of Rogues, Frank Klaassen and Sharon Hubbs Wright present the legal documents about and open a window onto these fascinating investigations of magic practitioners in early Tudor England. Set side by side with sixteenth- and seventeenth-century texts that describe the sorts of magic those practitioners performed, these documents are translated, contextualized, and presented in language accessible to nonspecialist readers. Their analysis reveals how magicians and cunning folk operated in extended networks in which they exchanged knowledge, manuscripts, equipment, and even clients; foregrounds magicians’ encounters with authority in ways that separate them from traditional narratives about witchcraft and witch trials; and suggests that the regulation and punishment of magic in the Tudor period were comparatively and perhaps surprisingly gentle. Incorporating the study of both intellectual and legal sources, The Magic of Rogues presents a well-rounded picture of illicit learned magic in early Tudor England. Engaging and accessible, this book will appeal to anyone seeking to understand the intersection of medieval legal history, religion, magic, esotericism, and Tudor history.

As a religious institution consecrated by and literally acknowledging the Prince of Darkness, the Church of Satan enjoyed an inspiring, and occasionally either thrilling or terrifying, existence from 1966 to 1975. Beginning as a whimsical and satirical countercultural statement against the social and institutionally-religious hypocrisy of the 1960s, the Church of Satan proceeded to evolve into a positive, sincere, and to its own surprise] virtuous organization, though not without periodic individual and group growing pains: the consequence of allegiance to a supernatural entity only dimly apprehended and understood by Western Judaeo-Christianized civilization. From its 1979 1st Edition to this 2013 8th, _The Church of Satan_ remains the only complete documentary history of that fascinating and bizarre adventure, from Anton & Diane LaVey's founding of the Church in their San Francisco home to its surprising dissolution into a secular business a decade later and metaphysical supersession by the Temple of Set. Ever since its 1981 2nd Edition, _The Church of Satan_'s growing size made it impossible to print. Volume I of this 8th Edition finally fits all of the text and plates into fewer than 500 pages: 285,300 words, 39 chapters, 73 color plates. This companion Volume II contains all 161 Appendices (247,000 words, 460 pages, B&W). Both volumes should be acquired and read together.

"Confessions" is my first person account of how I was physically occupied by demons after I received a spirit claiming to be "Jesus" and of the spiritual warfare that followed as I struggled to survive. I include actual excerpts from the daily journal I kept during the first five months of the battle. I also devote a chapter to the biblical evidence that a Christian can have demons, that is, be demonized. Other chapters on the means I used to survive and thrive will be helpful to those who have become occupied or even possessed by demons. And those in Christian ministry will find this book helpful in ministering to those afflicted by demons. In addition, I include an appendix on how to avoid the hazard of demonization or occupation by demons, a phenomenon likely to increase given the re-Paganization of Western Europe and America. This section includes the spiritual counterfeits such as apparitions of dead relatives that demons use to deceive and enter the spiritually unwary.

'Terra - Satana' is a renewed Satanic psychic conveyance that espouses 'Left Hand Path' occult philosophy with Satanic Rites. The weight and structure of this writing deepens the perception of who and what Satan is. It is a devil's trove of Luciferian influencing, which is sweeping over planet earth, as never before. An evil that everyone pretends does not exist. Yet, it is everywhere and pervasive.

Since the beginning of time, humans have fought with one another in the quest to endure and emerge victorious. Whether with sword, mace, staff, knife or gun the human has tried to annihilate their own species in order to claim the spoils. Modern times are no different. We are still symbolically cutting off each others head except we do so with a pen, paper or with our words and voice. The attacks are just as real and the effects, just as devastating.

'Liber-Luciferi' is a fire and force, black magic recitation of Satanic power. 'Liber-Luciferi' translates to mean, 'Book-Lucifer' and rightfully so, it contains a varied collection of Satanic rituals and philosophies that are lacking in most occult grimiers. It is the single most significant Satanic volume in the genre. 'Liber - Luciferi' compels and supersedes all previous occultnik compendiums before it. This work escapes the commonplace to cause upheaval in the known universe.

Timothy d'Arch Smith is a well-known bibliographer, reviewer and antiquarian bookseller with a special interest in the by-ways of literature, notably the occult and the curious. For Aleister Crowley a book was a talisman and their every part right down to colour, dimension, and price was symbolic. He also used magical techniques to gain literary success--thus new editions of Crowley's writing multiply daily, tantalizing the bibliographer. All the more indispensable is this authoritative guide to his magical first editions. Timothy d'Arch Smith, widely acknowledged as a leading expert on Crowley and on underground literature, offers several shorter articles on: *Oxford's demonologist Montague Summers; *R A Caton and his Fortune Press; *Sexual prophet Ralph Chubb; *Florence Farr; *The British Library Private Case; *and Timothy d'Arch Smith. *For this new edition, he also adds an extra chapter on Crowley. ''...one could hardly wish for a more stimulating guide...'' -The London Magazine ''One of the more immediately striking things about the book is its gentle humour.'' - Time Out

In the late 70s, early 80s, the subject of Satanism and Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) was making headlines across the land. Mike Warnke, Lauren Stratford, Rebecca Brown and others came forward with harrowing tales of their own involvement in Satanism. Though others began to come forward with similar horrific tales, due to the efforts of a few staff writers at Cornerstone Magazine who set out to debunk it, the entire topic died virtually overnight. No longer did anyone feel comfortable discussing it for fear of being cast as a lunatic or worse. Roughly forty years later in 2010, the level and intensity of Satanic evil is once again on the rise and has become far more blatant. Where are the naysayers now? Why was it summarily squelched then, but becoming accepted now? Is there a connection? We know without doubt that Satan has worked for thousands of years to perfect His strategies; engaging, ensnaring, and utlimately controlling people for his purposes. Those strategies work themselves out in a variety of ways, some of them extremely difficult to believe, all of them sick, demented, and vile. Christians need to wake up to the fact that wars rage all around us constantly. Certainly, God has already won the battle; however, each individual Christian is responsible for his or her part in that war. Do you know what the enemy is doing? Are you aware of how his tendrils have forced their way into every aspect of our society? Are you also aware that souls hang in the balance? Get up, open your eyes, and prepare to take on the enemy with God's strength and in His armor. It is a victory that is already ours

Is it ok for a national government to negotiate with terrorists? Should we be prepared to make a pact with the demon Terrorism - or should we remain forever sworn to the demon No Compromise? Many old and new demons lurk on these pages: black magic, sexism, elitism, satanism, publishers, prejudice, suicide, liberalism, violence, slime, old age, bitterness, war and the New Age.Some reviewer comments: "Ramsey Dukes has a clarity, and creativity, of thought that means each of the many and varied chapters of this book leaves you with something to think about long after you've finished reading.""He should be required reading for anyone considering a move into the dark byways of occulture - he smashes preconceptions and enlightens with one fell swoop.""Remarkable, inspirational and thought provoking"

The history of witchcraft and sorcery has attracted a great deal of interest and debate, but until now studies have been largely from the Anglo-Saxon perspective. This book shows how that approach has blurred our understanding and definition of the issues involved, and sheds new light on the history of witchcraft in England. What had thus far been seen as peculiar to England is here shown to be characteristic of much of northern Europe. Taking into account major new developments in the historiography of witchcraft--in methodology, and in the chronological and geographical scope of the studies--the authors explore the relationship between witchcraft, law, and theology; the origins and nature of the witch's sabbath; the sociology and criminology of witch-hunting; and the comparative approach to European witchcraft. An impressive amount of archival work by all of the contributors has produced an indispensable guide to the study of witchcraft, of interest not only to historians, but to anthropologists, criminologists, psychologists, and sociologists.

Satanism is a complex and controversial phenomenon co-existing in many social and rhetorical contexts. Some consider it the root of all evil in the world. Others see it as a juvenile proxy for rebellion or as a misapplication of serious esoteric beliefs and practices. Then again, some consider it a specific religious or philosophical position serving as a personal and collective identity. This book, written by three experts in the field of Satanism studies, examines Satanism as a contemporary movement in continuous dialogue with popular culture, aiding as a breeding ground for other new religious movements. Shifting the focus from mythology to meaning-making, this is a book about the invention of Satanism among self-declared religious Satanists. Like all ideologists and believers, Satanists incorporate, borrow, and modify elements from other traditions, and this book explores how traditional folklore and prior strands of occultism were synthesized by Anton LaVey in his founding of the Church of Satan and the creation of the Satanic Bible. Later chapters examine contemporary Satanist subcultures from various perspectives, also demonstrating how Satanism, despite its brief history as an organized phenomenon, continues to reinvent itself. There are now numerous Satanisms with distinctive interpretations of what being a Satanist entails, with some of these new versions deviating more from the historical "mainstream" than others. In this fascinating account of a seemingly abstruse and often-feared movement, Dyrendal, Lewis, and Petersen demonstrate that the invention of Satanism is an ongoing, ever-evolving process.

THE FINAL FREY & McGRAY MYSTERY All will be revealed... * * * * * The Devil Has Come to Edinburgh... An ill-fated grave-robbery unearths a corpse with a most disturbing symbol on it. When a patient in Edinburgh's lunatic asylum is murdered, the same sign is daubed in blood on the walls - the mark of the devil. The prime suspect: inmate Amy McGray, notorious for killing her parents years before. Her brother, Detective 'Nine-Nails' McGray, must prove her innocence - with the help of an old friend . . . Inspector Ian Frey insists he is retired. But when called upon, he reluctantly agrees to their final case. As twists follow bombshells, leading to secrets that have been waiting in the shadows all along, all will be revealed . . . This rollicking Victorian sensationalist melodrama is the epic conclusion to the marvellous Frey & McGray mysteries.

They flew through the air, consorted with animals, and made pacts with the devil. Witches were as unquestioned as alchemy or astrology in medieval England; yet it wasn't until the midsixteenth century that laws were passed against them. Now a leading historian of crime and society in early modern England offers the first scholarly overview of witchcraft in that country in over eighty years, examining how tensions between church, state, and society produced widespread distrust among fearful people.
"Instruments of Darkness" takes readers back to a time when witchcraft was accepted as reality at all levels of society. James Sharpe draws on legal records and other sources to reveal the interplay between witchcraft beliefs in different partts in the social hierarchy. Along the way, he offers disturbing accounts of witch-hunts, such as the East Anglian trials of 1645-47 that sent more than 100 people to the gallows. He tells how poor, elderly women were most often accused of witchcraft and challenges feminist claims that witch-hunts represented male persecution by showing that many accusers were themselves women.
Prosecution of witches gradually declined with increasing skepticism among jurists, new religious attitudes, and scientific advances that explained away magic. But for two hundred years, thousands participated in one of history's most notorious persecutions. "Instruments of Darkness" is a fascinating case study that deepens our understanding of this age-old cultural phenomenon and sheds new light on one society in which it occurred.

This richly illustrated history provides a readable and fresh approach to the extensive and complex story of witchcraft and magic. Telling the story from the dawn of writing in the ancient world to the globally successful Harry Potter films, the authors explore a wide range of magical beliefs and practices, the rise of the witch trials, and the depiction of the Devil-worshipping witch. The book also focuses on the more recent history of witchcraft and magic, from the Enlightenment to the present, exploring the rise of modern magic, the anthropology of magic around the globe, and finally the cinematic portrayal of witches and magicians, from The Wizard of Oz to Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

America Bewitched is the first major history of witchcraft in America - from the Salem witch trials of 1692 to the present day. The infamous Salem trials are etched into the consciousness of modern America, the human toll a reminder of the dangers of intolerance and persecution. The refrain 'Remember Salem!' was invoked frequently over the ensuing centuries. As time passed, the trials became a milepost measuring the distance America had progressed from its colonial past, its victims now the righteous and their persecutors the shamed. Yet the story of witchcraft did not end as the American Enlightenment dawned - a new, long, and chilling chapter was about to begin. Witchcraft after Salem was not just a story of fire-side tales, legends, and superstitions: it continued to be a matter of life and death, souring the American dream for many. We know of more people killed as witches between 1692 and the 1950s than were executed before it. Witches were part of the story of the decimation of the Native Americans, the experience of slavery and emancipation, and the immigrant experience; they were embedded in the religious and social history of the country. Yet the history of American witchcraft between the eighteenth and the twentieth century also tells a less traumatic story, one that shows how different cultures interacted and shaped each other's languages and beliefs. This is therefore much more than the tale of one persecuted community: it opens a fascinating window on the fears, prejudices, hopes, and dreams of the American people as their country rose from colony to superpower.