"In the sixteenth century, a rise in sexual violence in European society was exacerbated by pressure from church and state to change basic sexual customs...As the centuries since have shown escalating levels both of violence, general and sexual, and of state control, the witchcraze can be considered a portent, even a model, of some aspects of what modern Europe would be like."

Over three centuries, approximately one hundred thousand persons, most of whom were women, were put to death under the guise of "witch hunts", particularly in Reformation Europe. The shocking annihilation of women from all walks of life is explored in this brilliant, authoritative feminist history Anne Llwellyn Barstow. Barstow exposes an unrecognized holocaust -- the "ethnic cleansing" of independent women in Reformation Europe -- and examines the residual attitudes that continue to influence our culture.

Barstow argues that it is only with eyes sensitive to gender issues that we can discern what really happened in the persecution and murder of these women. Her sweeping chronicle examines the scapegoating of women from the ills of society, investigates how their subjugation to sexual violence and death sent a message of control to all women, and compares this persecution of women with the enslavement and slaughter of African slaves and Native Americans.

Ultimately Barstow traces the current backlash against women to its gynophobic torture-filled origins. In the process, she leaves an indelible mark on our growing understanding of the legacy of violence against women around the world.

As one of the fastest growing Pagan traditions, Feminist Wicca appeals to many through its emphasis on the deep interconnectedness of life and its focus on the woman's religious experience. In Hidden Circles in the Web, scholar and practitioner Constance Wise explores Feminist Wicca through the lens of process thought, developing a new theaology of feminist spirituality that can enrich and deepen the religious practice. Although the twentieth-century philosophy of process thought is often portrayed as a complex and inaccessible system, Wise explains its concepts in simple language and illustrates her points with accessible examples from life. Wise invites readers into the hidden wisdom of Feminist Wicca and process thought, proposing statements of Feminist Wiccan beliefs and practices in six areas: history, anthropology, epistemology, ethics, cosmology, and theaology. While the focus of the book is on Feminist Wicca, her insights into process thought apply to an array of traditions and will interest a range of practitioners and scholars across the religious spectrum.

This is the must-have grimoire for every modern-day witch who wishes to discover a world of boundless possibilities, with spells for attracting more love, money and luck into your life, cleansing your home, healing a rift in a friendship, and much more. This lavishly illustrated compendium, written by Celtic Wiccan High Priestess Silja, covers a wide-ranging array of spells. With an easy to difficult rating system, Silja makes it simple for anyone to learn the basics and then progress to more advanced practices. She explains the history of magic and magical theory, and shares love spells and potions, seasonal rituals, vision quests and meditations. Throughout there are tips, tricks and handy advice on how to continue your magical journey. Whether you are looking to practise your craft alone or with a coven, The Green Wiccan Spell Book has everything you need to advance your magical studies.

In the late winter and early spring of 1692, residents of Salem Village, Massachusetts, began to suffer from strange physical and mental maladies. The randomness of the victims, and unusual symptoms that were seldom duplicated, led residents to suspect an otherworldly menace. Their suspicions and fears eventually prompted the infamous Salem Witch Trials. While most historians have concentrated their efforts on the accused, Laurie Winn Carlson, A Fever in Salem focuses on the afflicted. What were the characteristics of a typical victim? Why did the symptoms occur when and where they did? What natural explanation could be given for symptoms that included hallucinations, convulsions, and psychosis, often resulting in death? Ms. Carlson offers an innovative, well-grounded explanation of witchcraft's link to organic illness. Systematically comparing the symptoms recorded in colonial diaries and court records to those of the encephalitis epidemic in the early twentieth century, she argues convincingly that the victims suffered from the same disease, and she offers persuasive evidence for organic explanations of other witchcraft victims throughout New England as well as in Europe. A Fever in Salem is a provocative reinterpretation of one of America's strangest moments, and a refreshing departure from widely accepted Freudian explanations of witchcraft persecution.

A natural Witch has an appreciation of nature and an awareness of the magickal energies present in all things. This kinship with the unseen world is at the heart of Witchcraft. It is also the foundation of all magickal work. You will enhance your spellcrafting, empower your witchery, and add richness and depth to your everyday life by developing your intuition and psychic skills. Natural Witchery features straightforward how-to's, first-hand stories, spells, rituals, fun quizzes, and creative exercises to help you live a more magickal life: Learn how to tune in to many different kinds of energy, such as the cycles of the moon and the energy of the seasons, and use it to fuel your spellwork Explore different types of psychic abilities, and discover your own elemental strengths and challenges Use natural witchery to create more harmony and balance in your home, workplace, and circle This friendly guidebook also includes a Book of Witchery with magickal correspondences and a handy journal section for keeping track of your progress.

An engrossing portrait of this complex and enigmatic figure and his eclectic system of magick. Poet, Magician, Mountaineer, Polemicist and Pornographer, Aleister Crowley was the most famous, or infamous, name in twentieth century occultism. With his usual flair and style, Colin Wilson brings this complex and enigmatic figure to life and provides an engrossing portrait of the self-styled Great Beast, the man whom the contemporary press dubbed "The Wickedest Man in the World". The popular image of him as, in the words of Francis King, 'an insatiable sexual athlete, a pimp who lived on the immoral earnings of his girl-friends, and a junkie who daily took enough heroin to kill a roomful of people', has a basis in fact; but there were other, less obnoxious and despicable, aspects of this highly original character. Crowley's greatest legacy is his eclectic occult system: his Magick persists, a potent synthesis of Golden Dawn magic, oriental esoteric techniques, sexual magic, and the all-encompassing Law of Thelema with its two fundamental principles, 'Every man and woman is a star' and the notorious 'Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the Law'.

As one of the fastest growing Pagan traditions, Feminist Wicca appeals to many through its emphasis on the deep interconnectedness of life and its focus on the woman's religious experience. In Hidden Circles in the Web, scholar and practitioner Constance Wise explores Feminist Wicca through the lens of process thought, developing a new theaology of feminist spirituality that can enrich and deepen the religious practice. Although the twentieth-century philosophy of process thought is often portrayed as a complex and inaccessible system, Wise explains its concepts in simple language and illustrates her points with accessible examples from life. Wise invites readers into the hidden wisdom of Feminist Wicca and process thought, proposing statements of Feminist Wiccan beliefs and practices in six areas: history, anthropology, epistemology, ethics, cosmology, and theaology. While the focus of the book is on Feminist Wicca, her insights into process thought apply to an array of traditions and will interest a range of practitioners and scholars across the religious spectrum.

An insider's guide for beginner mystics, How to Study Magic is your ultimate introduction to the main areas of magic-from witchcraft to grimoires-what it means to practice them, and, most of all, how to get started.Have you ever wanted to dive into the world of magic, but weren't sure where to begin? You're not alone! Knowing where to start can be mystifying, but it doesn't have to be. In How to Study Magic, author, educator, and seasoned witch Sarah Lyons guides you through an introductory course of study, and an enchanted entry point to the wide world of magical paths.Drawing on Sarah's own experience practicing and teaching magic for more than a decade, this interactive exploration takes novice witches through basic tools they can use in their studies-from divination and meditation to cleansing and protection-before diving into the history, lore, and modern incarnations of a wide range of magical practices. With chapters on Witchcraft, Chaos Magic, Spellbooks and Grimoires, Gods and Goddesses, and more, this dynamic guide gives readers an insider's perspective on how to craft their own, personalized practice. Each chapter also contains interactive activities, journal prompts, and suggestions for further reading, allowing baby witches to chart their own paths and explore their own power. For anyone who knows they want to study magic, but has no idea where to begin, How to Study Magic is the answer you've been waiting for.

This collection of forty elegant botanical cards draws inspiration from healers, helpers, and shaman who walk the thin places between one world and another. These wise folks find the plants of their practice at the edges of cultivated fields as well as deep in the woods, wilds, and along shorelines. From artist Siolo Thompson, the creator of the popular Linestrider Tarot (978-0-7387-4829-0), the lovingly illustrated cards in this deck each include an oracle property that provides guidance or meditative focus to a seeker. Includes plant diagrams, recipes, and folklore.

Witchcraft meets astrology in this comprehensive guide to the power of the planets tailored specifically for witches so you can incorporate the celestial study into your spellcasting and magical rituals. This guide to astrology was written just for witches, with information to help you understand how the positions of the celestial bodies can affect your magic and spellcraft-and how you can use that understanding to strengthen your magic by becoming in tune with the planets. The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology includes expert information on the magical energies and correspondences for the astrological seasons, the planets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies, and the houses so you can understand how you can time your magick to be as powerful and effective as possible. This book also contains tons of spells to try, organized by the astrological season so you have powerful magick to choose from at every point in the wheel of the year.

Welcome to the world of witchcraft! Create 22 easy-to-make tools you'll turn to again and again from magic candles and fumigation sticks to runes and oracles and much more.

Not since The Confessions of Aleister Crowley has a true magician told his own story. My Life with the Spirits is a rare glimpse into the fascinating, sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious world of a modern ceremonial magician. Hailed by critics as the most entertaining author in the field and one of the most widely respected members of the magick community, Lon Milo DuQuette gently draws you into the introspective world of the modern magician, tickles you with hilarious observations and self-effacing confessions, then (often in the same paragraph) slams you in the heart with breathtaking profundities.

DuQuette's most impressive quality is that in spite of his many accomplishments he doesn't take himself too seriously, which makes what he has to say all the more appealing. He's been through experiences that many Americans can relate to from his "agonizing years of Sunday School" and service as an altar boy, to riding the waves of the cultural revolution of the 60s. After sorting through an abundance of spiritual paths, he finally came upon one that resonated with him. By shedding light on his own development -- as a person and a magician -- DuQuette provides a beacon for aspiring magicians everywhere.

Ellen Dugan, the author of "Garden Witchery, " is the ideal guide to show us how to bring the beauty of nature and its magickal energies indoors. Using common household and outdoor items-such as herbs, spices, dried flowers, plants, stones, and candles-she offers a down-to-earth approach to creating an enchanted home.
From specialized spells and charms to kitchen conjuring and color magick, this hands-on guide teaches Witches of all levels how to strengthen a home's aura and energy. Readers will learn how to use begonias and lilacs for protection, dispel bad vibes with salt and lemon, perform tea leaf readings, bless the home with fruit, invite the help of home faeries, perform houseplant magick, and create a loving home for the whole family.

The Little Book of Spells is a practical introduction to everything you need to know to enhance your life using spells. Whether you have never so much as burned a smudge wand of sage, or have been dabbling in spellcasting, this portable guide offers instruction on the tools needed, important information on timing of spells, and a variety of spells for simpler situations and more complicated matters. The spells included are as useful and the practical guidance is achievable and informative, covering everything from protection from danger and golden rules for things to do and avoid.

Now you can learn how to evoke and communicate with 50 spirit entities and make use of their abilities, when you get "Summoning Spirits "by Konstantinos.
Evoking spirits is one of the most powerful magical techniques you can use-but, until now, most of the material available on evocation has been virtually unusable because it was written by those with little practical evocation experience. "Summoning Spirits "was written by a practicing magician who has successfully performed many evocations. With his guidance and clear directions, performing evocations will be easy and safe for anyone.
-Learn to safely evoke powerful spirits to aid you with any task
-Create sigils charged with the energy of spirits to magnify the effects of your evocations
-Make an etheric "egregore," a manufactured spirit that will perform the task of your choice
-Perform easy exercises to train your magical abilities and to develop clairvoyance and clairaudience
-Construct, prepare, and use special magical tools to aid your evocations
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"Summoning Spirits" is a complete manual for evoking entities to effect positive changes in your life. Learn how the spirits that dwell on the other planes can be evoked to the astral and physical planes to help you obtain mystical abilities, locate hidden "treasure," and even command a spirit "army" to protect your home while you're away.
"Summoning Spirits "describes the specific attributes and abilities of 50 entities that you can evoke to uncover valuable knowledge, and who will help you succeed in nearly any task, magical or mundane.
Whether you need help to face life's challenges or to work a minor miracle, you will find the art of magical evocation a tremendously potent tool for change. Included are information and theory, as well as full instructions for all the rituals you will need to prepare for and then evoke spirits. No other book makes this ancient magical technique as easy to understand and use, as does this one. That's why you must get "Summoning Spirits.

Originally released in 1999, this bestselling guide to magickal practices-based on the experiences and successes of a third-degree working Witch-has been revised and updated! Written for today's seeker, "To Light a Sacred Flame" contains techniques that unite divinity with magick, knowledge, and humor.
- New cover - New interior design - New edit - Updated artwork

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.

The Crooked Path is a primer for readers new to the practice of Traditional Witchcraft that is rooted in British folklore and history. This book shares hands-on tips and techniques to get started on this powerful and dynamic spiritual path, including guidance on establishing a practice that is based on your own location and natural landscape. You will also discover how to work with the tools, rituals, and spells of Traditional Witchcraft, and explore the profound work of connecting to ancestors, familiar spirits, and deities. This book is the perfect guide to safely navigating your own journey, helping you learn even advanced practices such as hedge-crossing as you transform your day-to-day experience into a life filled with magic and spirit