In The Discovery of Witches, Matthew Hopkins - the Witch Finder General of England during the early 1600s - details the process by which he found and captured suspected witches. Hopkins' treatise is comprised of answers to various queries he had received by members of the public curious about his investigatory techniques in finding witches. This book answers a total of fourteen queries, with replies ranging from a few sentences to a few paragraphs in length. The book is an illustrative portrayal of a society fervently given to superstitions about the powers of witchcraft. At three hundred women killed, the efforts of Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne were prolific. Accorded status, Hopkins encountered opposition to his witch finding. That his 'investigations' required scant evidence to secure death sentences dismayed figures in the Church of England. Today, historians judge Hopkins as an opportunist who took advantage of unfounded suspicions to advance his own fame.

Explore the history of the witch trials in Connecticut, which predated the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, by nearly fifty years.

The Book of Black Magic is Arthur Edward Waite's magnum opus of occult lore; this edition contains the author's original icons, symbols, seals and drawings. This supreme guide to occultist history, lore, magick, and ceremony is split into two parts: The first is entitled ""The Literature of Ceremonial Magic."" Here, Waite examines the ritualistic traditions which surrounding the occult movement for centuries. He notes various texts, and how these had a bearing upon the practice of the occult and of magical ceremony. The second part, ""The Complete Grimoire,"" concerns how those who practice black magic and occult ritual become versed in the craft. The stringent physical and mental requirements, and the need to practice a spiritual attunement and inner ablution, is detailed. Astronomical knowledge of the planets and their movements is a necessity, as is possession of a variety of instruments, plus a deep knowledge of the various symbols and scripts used in occultism.

This book is of great practical value in discovering and celebrating the transforming energy of the Feminine Principle of Divinity. Part I covers the myriad faces of the Goddess revealed, including: Her presence throughout history; Her Earth and Moon symbolism; Her Madonna and Magdalene disguises; Her revelation within the psyche; Her relationship with women; Her influence today; and much more. Part II covers ritual invocations of the Goddess in 13 guises: from Ishtar to Isis, from Hecate to Aphrodite, from Epona to Ma'at. Part III gives an alphabetical listing of more than 1000 goddesses including a brief history and the main correspondences of each. This is an important work by the Farrars providing an indepth exploration of the Goddess in her many aspects at a time when Western culture is awakening to the influence of Feminine Divinity, both individually and collectively. Over 40,000 sold!

Wicca is growing in popularity, and Cassandra Eason--much admired for her writing on spiritual subjects- takes a look at its origins, its uses in everyday life, and its gods and goddesses. She explains how magick functions; how to create an altar and what tools you'll need; how to make your own spells, rituals, and chants; how to find a coven, and so much more!

Now, for the first time, a book reclaims the lost, rich heritage of working with faery folk that our pagan ancestors took as a matter of course. Learn to work with and worship with faeries in a mutually beneficial way. Practice rituals and spells in which faeries can participate, and discover tips to help facilitate faery contact. Photos and illustrations.

With the vision of an historian and the voice of a novelist, prize-winning author John Demos explores the social, cultural and psychological roots of the scourge that is witch-hunting, both in the remote past and today. "The Enemy Within" chronicles the most prominent witch-hunts of the Western world - women and men who were targeted by suspicious neighbours and accused of committing horrific crimes by supernatural means - and shows how the fear of witchcraft has fueled recurrent cycles of accusation, persecution and purging. A unique and fascinating book, it illuminates the dark side of communities driven to rid themselves of perceived evil, no matter what the human cost.

Discovered in a hidden compartment of an old chest long after his death, the secret writings of John Dee, one of the leading scientists and occultists of Elizabethan England, record in minute detail his research into the occult. Dee concealed his treatises on the nature of humankind's contact with angelic realms and languages throughout his life, and they were nearly lost forever. In his brief biography of John Dee, Joseph Peterson calls him a "true Renaissance man, " detailing his work in astronomy, mathematics, navigation, the arts, astrology, and the occult sciences. He was even thought to be the model for Shakespeare's Prospero.

All this was preparation for Dee's main achievement: five books, revealed and transcribed between March 1582 and May 1583, bringing to light mysteries and truths that scholars and adepts have been struggling to understand and use ever since. These books detail his system for communicating with the angels, and reveal that the angels were interested in and involved with the exploration and colonization of the New World, and in heralding in a new age or new world order. While Dee's influence was certainly felt in his lifetime, his popularity has grown tremendously since. His system was used and adapted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and subsequently by Aleister Crowley.

This new edition of John Dee's Five Books of Mystery is by far the most accessible and complete published to date. Peterson has translated Latin terms and added copious footnotes, putting the instructions and references into context for the modern reader.

A year-long magical adventure with everything the modern witch needs to develop their witchy practice. Have you ever looked at a full moon on a clear winter night and shivered? Have you walked in an ancient forest or sat in a stone circle and felt a deep sense of peace and belonging? Do you wonder if there is more to life than the grind of the everyday? Do you believe in magic? If the answers to any of these are yes, then you need witchcraft in your life. No longer tainted by notions of sorcery, hexes and cobwebs, witchcraft has been rediscovered by those of us yearning for re-enchantment. This card deck will guide you through a year of magic. Based on the cycles of nature and guided by the seasons, it will give you the tools and knowhow to unveil the magic that surrounds us. By celebrating the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, you will work with nature to activate your hidden power and trigger miraculous happenings. Witchcraft can attract love, give your career a boost, protect your home and help with healing. It will enrich your life. Packed with information and practical rituals and exercises, this card deck boosts well-being, self-worth and happiness by tapping into the healing power of nature, the cycle of the seasons, the pull of the moon, the wisdom of ancient trees and forgotten paths, and the spiritual rewards of creativity. It includes: Seasonal spells, remedies, rituals and affirmations that use the power of plants, herbs and stones to offer guidance and healing. Features including crystal gazing, dowsing, reading the Tarot, the magic of stone circles and folklore traditions, to increase knowledge and inspire curiosity. Creative projects with a witchy purpose that can be used in rituals and spells. Whether you are a solitary hedge witch, part of a coven, a practising witch or an aspiring one, this card deck will furnish you with the vital knowledge to enrich your journey and to sprinkle magic and enchantment over every day.