Margaret Murray was an anthropologist who upset the comfortable consensus of her day with the idea that Western Europe did not convert 'en masse' to Christianity. Using contemporary accounts she was able to show that, while European rulers and nobles were successfully targeted by Christian missionaries, the majority of the population held tenaciously to the Old Religion. These far older beliefs centred upon the worship of Cernunnos, the figure of a male, horned god. The result was centuries of conflict between Christianity and 'Paganism' in which the adherents of the Cross gradually gained the ascendant. And following the general principle that 'the God of the old religion becomes the Devil of the new', the Christian 'Evil One' was given the characteristics of the pagan deity - horns and all. Those who stubbornly held to the Old Ways were seen as devil-worshippers, witches, followers of the left-hand path who fully deserved the stake and death by purging fire. Margaret Murray gives a convincing account of this God of the witches, and shows how many famous characters in European history - among them William Rufus, Joan of Arc and Thomas a Beckett - must be counted as members of The Old Religion. A book for all those interested in the roots of Wicca and neo-paganism.

Want to experience happiness and inner peace? High Priestess Moonwater SilverClaw reveals the powerful and uplifting spirituality known as Wicca. She pulls back the curtain and lets you in on real secrets. Moonwater shares her personal stories of how Wicca saved her life and empowered her to release herself from a destructive marriage. She introduces Wicca practice with potent spells for healing and increased prosperity. She helps you overcome the blocks of low self-esteem, limiting beliefs about money, and subconscious barriers. This book helps you make breakthroughs to manifesting what your heart desires. In Praise of Moonwater SilverClaw's book: "Moonwater expresses profound Wicca concepts. Wicca actually saved her life and empowered her to leave an abusive marriage, and this shows the power of this sacred path to positively change the course of our lives, too." - Patrick McCollum, recipient, Mahatma Gandhi Award for the Advancement of Religious Pluralism. "A well-written, fresh look into Wicca. This book] almost feels as if a close friend or trusted mentor were explaining the ins and outs of the Wiccan experience. Rather than saying, 'Here's how it's done, ' the book extends its hand and says, 'Here, let me show you.' I would certainly recommend this book." - Heather Greene, blogger, www.miraselena.com "Moonwater's writing provides] a story about making your own happy endings, about rescuing yourself." - Jason Pitzl-Waters, blogger at WildHunt.org "This is like sharing a nice cup of coffee with a new friend, while you two are taking a walk in the woods. Moonwater has a LOT to teach all of us, from the young person who wants to know why she feels 'special, ' to us seasoned practitioners of Wicca." - Angus McMahan, blogger, http: //www.patheos.com/blogs/askangus/ About the Author: Moonwater SilverClaw is a Wiccan High Priestess and member of the Covenant of the Goddess and the New Wiccan Church. Her personal story reveals how Wicca saved her life and helped her strengthen herself to secure her release from an abusive marriage. Moonwater posts at her blog, TheHiddenChildrenoftheGoddess.com, which has readers from over 101 countries. Called to write the blog even through she is dyslexic, she works with a team of editors. She has addressed college students in Comparative Religion classes for over ten years. She leads workshops, and her work is endorsed by notables including Patrick McCollum (Mahatma Gandhi Award for the Advancement of Religious Pluralism). Moonwater SilverClaw can be contacted at: [email protected] Or at her popular blog: TheHiddenChildrenoftheGoddess.com

The Grimoire of Santa Muerte is an introductory manual for devotees of Most Holy Death, the powerful folk saint of Mexico who has drawn the wrath of both the church and state. Santa Muerte has millions of devotees and the numbers are growing all over the world To those devoted to her, she is their friend, a spiritual mother and the source of unconditional love and protection from whom all of the necessities of life flow. She is an advocate, a healer and the performer of miracles. Santa Muerte is the patron saint of those who have confronted death and lived and those who must confront deadly situations every day. She is a spirit of second chances who avenges those who are devoted to her and punishes evil-doers. She is a godmother who guides those under her care and arranges things in much the way a benevolent and powerful living benefactor might. This book shows you how to connect with Santa Muerte and includes information about how to construct an altar for her, how to consecrate items, how to pray the Rosary of Santa Muerte and provides prayers, spells and rituals for a variety of purposes.

First published in 1974, this book established itself as a seminal text of the magical revival--a thinking person's guide to the unthinkable.

Tap into the power of nature and learn how to unleash your inner magic to navigate modern-day life and the issues the universe throws at you. Curative Magic shows you how to work with the tools that witchcraft provides, including spells, rituals, and herbs as well as meditation and recipes. Nature is incredibly clever plants, herbs, crystals, and other natural materials can improve spells, provide guidance, enhance your personal health, and help you work through life's challenges. Kitchen witch and author Rachel Patterson shares her own experiences, personal rituals, recipes, and remedies to help you manage depression, anxiety, insomnia, ailments, and many other common issues we confront.

Navigate the ups and downs of motherhood with a little magic! Written for mothers, by mothers, Witchy Mama offers ideas and inspiration to help new mothers create a magical home. Discover stones, scents, and colors to increase energy, reduce stress, and attract good fortune to yourself and to your family. Learn how to use simple charms and rituals to ease conflicts, banish fears, protect children, and increase happiness. Master breathing techniques and easy yoga moves that will help you feel healthy, beautiful, and comfortable throughout pregnancy and beyond. This book won't tell you how to parent, but it will help you be a better a parent while still being your own person, too.

The twentieth century has seen a remarkable revival of 'the Old Religion, ' as adherents of New-paganism call the native religious traditions of Europe and tribal traditions from North America that predated Christianity. Many neo-pagan groups identify with Celtic (Druidic), Egyptian, Native American, Norse, or Roman traditions; others with modern science-fiction motifs; and still others with witchcraft. Neo-paganism is occultic in nature. A central figure in much of Neo-paganism is the Mother Goddess, who has been introduced and worshiped among certain feminists even in some mainline Protestant churches. Why this series? This is an age when countless groups and movements, old and new, mark the religious landscape in our culture, leaving many people confused or uncertain in their search for spiritual truth and meaning. Because few people have the time or opportunity to research these movements fully, these books provide essential information and insights for their spiritual journeys. Each book has five sections: - A concise introduction to the group - An overview of the group's theology -- in its own words - Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group - A bibliography with sources for further study - A comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group -- The writers of these volumes are well qualified to present clear and reliable information and help us discern religious truth from falsehood. This is an age when countless groups and movements, new and old, mark the religious landscape in our culture. As a result, many people are confused or uncertain in their search for spiritual truth and meaning. Because few people have the time or opportunity to research these movements fully, the Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements series provides essential information and insights for their spiritual journeys. The second wave of books in this series addresses a broad range of spiritual beliefs, from non-Trinitarian Christian sects to witchcraft and neo-paganism to classic non-Christian religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. All books but the summary volume, Truth and Error, contain five sections: -A concise introduction to the group being surveyed -An overview of the group s theology --- in its own words -Tips for witnessing effectively to members of the group -A bibliography with sources for further study -A comparison chart that shows the essential differences between biblical Christianity and the group -- Truth and Error, the last book in the series, consists of parallel doctrinal charts compiled from all the other volumes. Three distinctives make this series especially useful to readers: -Information is carefully distilled to bring out truly essential points, rather than requiring readers to sift their way through a sea of secondary details. -Information is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow outline form with menu bar running heads. This format greatly assists the reader in quickly locating topics and details of interest. -Each book meets the needs and skill levels of both nontechnical and technical readers, providing an elementary level of refutation and progressing to a more advanced level using arguments based on the biblical text. The writers of these volumes are well qualified to present clear and reliable information and help readers to discern truth from falsehood."

Dusty Miller 13th is an English Shaman and Folk Magician. He is descended from the aboriginal inhabitants of Britain, the Elfin tribes who dwelt in the primeval forest before the Celtic invasions. He carries the traditions and wisdom of his Elfin ancestors through into the modern day. In this book, written with the consent and active co-operation of Dusty and his family, Dusty's relationship with the Ancient Tree Spirits known as Dryads is explained, along with the manner in which he gathers LiveWood from the Dryads - wood which still contains a living, sentient spirit - and crafts it into magical tools, such as wands, staves, cudgels and pendants. These LiveWood artifacts are items possessed of powerful and ancient Magick, with an emphasis upon healing, protection and becoming successful in life. Dusty's story is a fascinating one, which also includes many ancestral tales of Britain before the Celts and insights into Leylines and megalithic stones and the ways in which they can harness and intensify Magick. But most of all, Dusty is revealed to be a very humble and unassuming man, with an honest desire to help folk around him with his unique skills and wisdom.

"The seidr current is fresh and vibrant, with the strength and solidity of the Norse deities behind it." - Katie Gerrard Seidr is the intriguing and powerful early Norse system of shamanistic trance practices. In Seidr: The Gate is Open, Katie Gerrard has contributed a major work on the practices of seidr and trance prophecy, providing a practical manual full of dynamic group rituals and techniques based on known Seidr practices. Foremost amongst these techniques is the prophetic rite of the High Seat, where the Volva (seer) sends her consciousness to the underworld realm of Hel to gain answers to the questions posed to her. Combining more than a decade of research and experimentation, this book is characterised by both its scholarship and its accessibility. Katie Gerrard shares her own experiences on the path of the seer, and also draws inspiration from original sources in the old texts of the Sagas and the Eddas, as well as contemporary researchers and groups working with seidr in Scandinavia, Europe and America. Techniques for achieving trance, levels of trance possession, coming out of trance, the vardlokkurs (chants), necessary equipment, and the requirements for the roles of the different participants, are all discussed in a clear and concise manner, as is the relevance of contacting the ancestors, the dead and the appropriate gods, including the goddesses Freyja and Hel, and the Allfather god Odin. As befits such an inspirational book, the author provides both the relevant background information for the eleven rites contained within, together with explanations of their inclusion and purposes. The rites emanate practical effectiveness, a result of their regular use over many years for successful exploration of the mysteries of trance prophecy, the High Seat rite and Norse witchcraft. "This is a spiritual journey laid bare for an audience who are either already treading a similar path or are looking for guidance in order to follow a well trodden path to a similar end point." * * * * * Katie Gerrard is a writer, researcher, and workshop facilitator with a passion for the magic of Seidr and the Runes. She has been studying the different forms of norse magic and working with norse gods since discovering them in the 1990s. Katie is also the author of Odin's Gateways (about working with the runes) and the forthcoming The Gate is Open (about Seidr and Northern tradition magical techniques), both publised by Avalonia Books. An essay on the High Sear Rite written by Katie Gerrard appeared in the Avalonia anthology 'Priestesses, Pythonesses, Sibyls'. She also regularly hosts seidr and other seer and norse rites within the London (UK) area.

The 'creation myths' of modern witchcraft and Paganism were decisively toppled at the turn of this century in Ronald Hutton's celebrated book, Triumph of the Moon. But did Hutton topple more than just myths? Are some truths also hidden in the rubble? Did paganism really die out centuries ago? Was witchcraft really no more than a fantasy? Were the Gods of Wicca really born out of the Romantic movement? Did Gerald Gardner lie about his initiation into witchcraft? Ben Whitmore has retraced many of Hutton's steps, critically evaluating the evidence, and he now suggests that the truth may be quite different and even more fascinating. Drawing on a wealth of scholarly material, Whitmore demonstrates that the field of Pagan history is anything but barren ground - it is rich and fertile, and we have barely begun to cultivate it.

Written for the busy witch, Everyday Witchcraft is all about creating a spiritual practice in just a few minutes per week. This positive and practical guide to living the Craft shows that, no matter how busy or hectic life is, even small moments and simple acts can add meaning and depth to your life. Everyday Witchcraft is filled with creative ideas and an array of fun, easy ways to connect with the rhythms of nature every day, not just on sabbats or full moons. From five-minute rituals and hibernation vacations to mini daily divinations, readers can easily make the wisdom and practice of Witchcraft an enriching and empowering part of everyday life.

"The four elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth exist as spiritual essences, as philosophical concepts, as energy states and as a tangible physical reality. " Working magick with the elements helps to connect us to the tangibly present natural powers in our physical world, whilst at the same time we are returning to the building blocks of magick by rooting our feet in the material world. Since Empedocles formalized the system in ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE, the four elements have become an integral part of the Western Esoteric Tradition passing from ancient Greek magick, through the Qabalah, & Grimoire Traditions into modern derivative traditions of ceremonial magick and paganism. In Practical Elemental Magick the authors provide an unprecedented combination of research and techniques for working the magick of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, as well as the spiritual creatures associated with each. The Elemental Gods, Archangels, rulers and other types of elemental beings (including Sylphs, Salamanders, Undines & Gnomes) are discussed and explored. Both the spiritual and physical aspects of the four elements are considered, together with how they interact with each other and their appropriate use for magickal work. The creation and use of Elementaries (Elemental Thought Forms); Elemental Tools, the Elemental Tides and correspondences are all considered in detail, together with previously unavailable original ritual & meditative material including the Unification Rite, the Inner Talisman, the Elemental Pyramids, the Elemental Magick Circle & the Elemental Temples. In mastering the four elements within & without we master ourselves, bringing the external forces of the natural world & the internal forces of our existence into harmony.

From its earliest days to the present, Ann and Dave Finnin have been at the center of the Pagan community in Southern California. Here is the story of the groups and covens that came and went, and those that grew into thriving Traditions. In particular, this is the story of the Roebuck, how it came to be, and the influences that led to its creation. Ann writes about all the 'Big Names' in the Craft from Los Angeles and beyond from personal experience - she was there, working with and interacting with the people and the groups that are legendary in Craft circles. With foreword by Ed Fitch.

Also known as "The Witch Hammer," The Malleus Maleficarum was a handbook for hunting and punishing witches-written by Inquisitors HEINRICH KRAMER (c. 1430-1505), an Alsatian clergyman, and JAMES SPRENGER (c. 1436-1494), a Swiss monk-to assist the Inquisition and Church in exterminating undesirables. Mostly a compilation of superstition and folklore, the book was taken very seriously at the time it was written in the 15th century and became a kind of spiritual law book used by judges to determine the guilt of the accused. While some of the articles covered in "The Witch Hammer" are humorous to modern audiences, they were a matter of life and death in the mid-1400's. Anyone interested in religion, the Inquisition, or the witch hunts that ravaged Europe will find this 1928 translation, by MONTAGUE SUMMERS (1880-1948), an unbelievable and enlightening read.

Identify, Cleanse, and Heal from Hexes, Curses, and Psychic Attack. Anyone can be the target of a psychic attack, whether it's an intentional curse or an incidental crossing. This book shares effective techniques and practices for recovering from psychic attacks and protecting yourself in the future. Katrina Rasbold shares how to identify the different types of attacks by their symptoms and provides tips for managing an attack with IOB techniques, which stands for Identify, Objectify, and Banish. Discover step-by-step instructions for setting up a healing space, ritual baths and showers, egg cleansing, and working with sacred sprays and smudging bundles. Learn how to do a chakra check and work with spiritual tools such candles, stones, and incense. You will also find advice for cleansing the home, an important step for recovering from many types of intentional crossings. Negative energies initiated by others can have a strong influence on vitality, relationships, and prosperity. With Katrina's guidance, you can uncross yourself from intentional psychic attacks and incidental entity infiltrations, past and current traumas, hooks to unhealthy relationships, and destructive habits that create obstacles to your success. Whether you are suffering from a curse, hex, haunting, possession, the evil eye, or even an accidental self-crossing, this book is a powerful guide to healing and recovery.

Here is a thoughtful and honest relationship guide that combines real-world expertise with spiritual and magical principles of Wicca and Pagan religions, employing an eclectic mix of ancient mythology, modern psychology, and spiritual empowerment spells to help readers build loving, lasting bonds. The Wiccan Circle offers readers a template for a successful union, with one principle for each of the four cardinal directions (Equality, Consensus, Honesty, Freedom) and one (Balance) for the center.

Because every relationship is unique, a variety of partnerings are considered and celebrated without judgment or bias -- from same-sex couples to traditional marriage and Pagan handfastings to multi-partner relationships.

Raymond Buckland, the best-known and most respected practitioner in today's magickal world, as well as the bestselling author of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft and Practical Candleburning Rituals, has created an important and essential work to guide Wiccans through the seasons of their lives

Readers will learn how to use positive, age-old magic to create the reality they desire. Buckland clearly instructs them on how to become a witch and follow Wiccan tenets, share knowledge through celebration, and create the tools necessary to make daily magic. In "Wicca for Life," readers will learn how to use magic to:
-- Develop natural psychic abilities and healing tendencies
-- Focus powers and sharpen Wiccan wishing
-- Block curses and open up channels for positive energy
-- Balance the dimensions of home, using elements of feng shui
-- Cope with crises and ward off negativity
-- Improve relationships with friends, family, and lovers.

Cord magic is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to make magic. This book shows you how to quickly and effectively twist your own magical cords, with specific tips for choosing colors, setting your intention, charging the cords, and incorporating powerful knot spells. You will discover dozens of hands-on instructional worksheets and specific project ideas for a myriad of magical purposes, including protection, transitions, finding new love, blessing a graduation, improving one's creative life, celebrating a handfasting, and many more. Cord magic is portable and versatile you can twist a cord in a matter of minutes, whether you're at home or out in public. You can wear a magically charged cord as an accessory or simply carry one in a pocket or bag. This book explores the history of cord magic and it teaches everything you need to know about the tools and techniques you need to create your own magical twists and knots.

"This is foremost an engaging textbook designed for home schooling the advancing witch, and it is encyclopedic in its rituals, charts, and even homework assignments." --Publishers Weekly Take your spiritual evolution to the next level by mastering the essentials of ceremonial magick. In this much-anticipated fourth volume in Christopher Penczak's award-winning series on witchcraft, he introduces the concepts of the Qabalah and the rituals of high magick, and explores the deeply interwoven relationship between these traditions and the Craft. The teachings in this book correspond to the element of Air, guiding you into the realm of creative and critical thinking, communication, knowledge, and truth. Four preliminary chapters introduce the basic concepts, history, and skills you will need for your journey. Next, twelve formal lessons, in the witches' traditional year-and-a-day format, provide instruction in the fundamentals of ceremonial magic: -The Qabalah -The Tree of Life -Symbol and sigil magick -Elemental constructs -Qabalistic Cross -The four worlds and their correspondences -Middle Pillar -Pathworking -The Ritual of the Rosy Cross -Invoking and banishing rituals -Fluid condensers -Barbarous words of power, magickal constructs, and the Goetia The book's thirteenth lesson culminates in a ritual initiation fusing the traditions of witchcraft and high magick--the creation of your own Reality Map. The cosmology you create will be based on your own spiritual experiences as well as the philosophies and practices of ceremonial magick.

This sourcebook provides the first systematic overview of witchcraft laws and trials in Russia and Ukraine from medieval times to the late nineteenth century. Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 1000–1900 weaves scholarly commentary with never-before-published primary source materials translated from Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian. These sources include the earliest references to witchcraft and sorcery, secular and religious laws regarding witchcraft and possession, full trial transcripts, and a wealth of magical spells. The documents present a rich panorama of daily life and reveal the extraordinary power of magical words. Editors Valerie A. Kivelson and Christine D. Worobec present new analyses of the workings and evolution of legal systems, the interplay and tensions between church and state, and the prosaic concerns of the women and men involved in witchcraft proceedings. The extended documentary commentaries also explore the shifting boundaries and fraught political relations between Russia and Ukraine.

From the Modern Witchcraft series comes a complete guide to all of the sacred days and holidays of the Wiccan calendar-with spells, rituals, and other tips to celebrate. In The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year, you'll learn about the most celebrated days in the Wheel of the Year-Samhain, the end of the harvest season; Yule, the celebration of the New Year; Imbolc, the celebration of rebirth; Ostara, the arrival of Spring; Beltane, the celebration of Earth's fertility; Litha, the song of the summer; Lughnasad, the halfway point between Summer and Autumn; and Mabon, the festival of home and harvest. For each of these special days, there will be information about the history and its meaning, and the ways you can fully celebrate. Each chapter describes the celestial events associated with the sabbat, astrological influences during that time, meditation rituals, and charms to perform. It also includes a practical craft, such as candle making, that you can create to celebrate each day. The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year is your complete guide to everything you need to know to celebrate the Wheel of the Year and the Wiccan sabbats, from Yule to Samhain, as part of your own spiritual practice.