Initiating readers in the fascinating and complex history of witchcraft, from the goddess mythologies of ancient cultures to the contemporary embrace of the craft by modern artists and activists, this expansive tome conjures up a breathtaking overview of an age-old tradition. Rooted in legend, folklore, and myth, the archetype of the witch has evolved from the tales of Odysseus and Circe, the Celtic seductress Cerridwen, and the myth of Hecate, fierce ruler of the moonlit night. In Witchcraft we survey her many incarnations since, as she shape-shifts through the centuries, alternately transforming into mother, nymph, and crone-seductress and destroyer. Edited by Jessica Hundley, and co-edited by author, scholar, and practitioner Pam Grossman, this enthralling visual chronicle is the first of its kind, a deep dive into the complex symbologies behind witchcraft traditions, as explored through the history of art itself. The witch has played muse to great artists throughout time, from the dark seductions of Francisco Jose de Goya and Albrecht Durer to the elegant paean to the magickal feminine as re-imagined by the Surrealist circle of Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, and Leonor Fini. The witch has spellbound through folktales and dramatic literature as well, from the poison apples of The Brothers Grimm, to the Weird Sisters gathered at their black cauldron in Shakespeare's Macbeth, to L. Frank Baum's iconic Wicked Witch of the West, cackling over the fate of Dorothy. Throughout this entrancing visual voyage, we'll also bear witness to the witch as she endures persecution and evolves into empowerment, a contemporary symbol of bold defiance and potent nonconformity. Featuring enlightening essays by modern practitioners like Kristen J. Sollee and Judika Illes, as well interviews with authors and scholars such as Madeline Miller and Juliet Diaz, Witchcraft includes a vast range of cultural traditions that embrace magick as spiritual exploration and creative catharsis. About the series The Library of Esoterica explores how centuries of artists have given form to mysticism, translating the arcane and the obscure into enduring, visionary works of art. Each subject is showcased through both modern and archival imagery culled from private collectors, libraries, and museums around the globe. The result forms an inclusive visual history, a study of our primal pull to dream and nightmare, and the creative ways we strive to connect to the divine.

Tarot cards have been used for over five hundred years, for gameplay, divination, creative inspiration and spiritual practice. The practice of reading Tarot comes with a rich, complex history, full of mystical, philosophical, and religious mystery. As old as the art form may be, its popularity in modern culture is growing rapidly- Tarot decks and cartomancy play a significant role in many present-day metaphysical healing practices, spiritual training, as well as artistic and creative circles...


With detailed illustrations and cryptic symbolism, Tarot can easily pique your interest--but where should you begin? There is an overwhelming amount of information out there, and since Tarot is an esoteric practice, it's difficult to know which sources have enough authority to provide accurate and reliable instruction...


In truth, there is no right way to use Tarot, nor is there a wrong way. The practice of cartomancy is all about intuition. If you don't consider yourself a deeply intuitive person, then the cards can be used to enhance your emotional instincts. Alternatively, if you are already guided by your visceral sensations, you might use Tarot to articulate and explain your gut instincts, elevating the things you feel to things you believe, understand, or "know"...


The only way to know how useful and impactful Tarot could be in your life is to try it. Roll up your sleeves and dive in, whether you already have a deck or are simply considering how and where to acquire one. The best time to get started is right now...

A lucid presentation of the meditative methods, mantras, mandalas and other devices used, as well as a penetrating interpretation of their significance in the light of contemporary meditative research. Meditative methods ofthe East might have been derived from the mystical techniques of the prophets, and this intriguing possibility, mentioned in the Zohar, is also discussed.