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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Occult studies > Witchcraft
Mephistopheles is the fourth and final volume of a critically
acclaimed history of the concept of the Devil. The series
constitutes the most complete historical study ever made of the
figure that has been called the second most famous personage in
Christianity.In his first three volumes Jeffrey Burton Russell
brought the history of Christian diabology to the end of the Middle
Ages, showing the development of a degree of consensus, even in
detail, on the concept of the Devil. Mephistopheles continues the
story from the Reformation to the present, tracing the
fragmentation of the tradition. Using examples from theology,
philosophy, art, literature, and popular culture, he describes the
great changes effected in our idea of the Devil by the intellectual
and cultural developments of modem times.Emphasizing key figures
and movements, Russell covers the apogee of the witch craze in the
Renaissance and Reformation, the effects of the Enlightenment's
rationalist philosophy, the Romantic image of Satan, and the
cynical or satirical literary treatments of the Devil in the late
nineteenth century. He concludes that although today the Devil may
seem an outworn metaphor, the very real horrors of the twentieth
century suggest the continuing need for some vital symbol of
radical evil.A work of great insight and learning, Mephistopheles
deepens our understanding of the ways in which people in Western
societies have dealt with the problem of evil.
Devil worship, black magic, and witchcraft have long captivated
anthropologists as well as the general public. In this volume, Jean
La Fontaine explores the intersection of expert and lay
understandings of evil and the cultural forms that evil assumes.
The chapters touch on public scares about devil-worship,
misconceptions about human sacrifice and the use of body parts in
healing practices, and mistaken accusations of children practicing
witchcraft. Together, these cases demonstrate that comparison is a
powerful method of cultural understanding, but warns of the dangers
and mistaken conclusions that untrained ideas about other ways of
life can lead to.
A fiery, intersectional guide for activists and witches alike,
Revolutionary Witchcraft is an empowered introduction to the
history and practice of politically-motivated magic. From the
politically charged origins of the word "witch" to the present-day
magical resistance, this bold handbook explores the role of
witchcraft in our modern world. Author, activist, and practicing
witch Sarah Lyons takes readers on a journey through a leftist
history of magic -- from the witch hunts of early modern England,
through the Salem Witch Trials, and up to our present moment.
Pairing mystical acts, including sigil magic and soul flight, with
core organizing tactics, like power mapping and protests,
Revolutionary Witchcraft offers a blueprint for building a
politically grounded magical praxis. From social justice to
environmental activism, this radical re imagining of political
activism addresses today's most pressing problems with empowering,
inclusive rituals and magical actions. Each chapter introduces a
key concept, like dreaming big, experiencing magical initiation,
and joining the revolution, supported by a surprising historical
case study on the power of mystical action. Full of actionable
ideas for magical organising, and an appendix packed with
customised spells, Revolutionary Witchcraft is the perfect
companion for the magical uprising.
'Gripping ... a story of loss, ambition, misogyny, family love and
what it means to belong ... evocative and atmospheric' Irish Times
1324, Kilkennie: A time of suspicion and conspiracy. A place where
zealous men rage against each other - and even more against uppity
women A woman finds refuge with her daughter in the household of a
childhood friend. The friend, Alice Kytler, gives her former
companion a new name, Petronelle, a job as a servant, and warns her
to hide their old connection. But in aligning herself with a
powerful woman, Petronelle and her child are in more danger than
they ever faced in the savage countryside ... Tense, moving and
atmospheric Her Kind is vivid reimagining of the events leading to
the Kilkenny Witch Trial. __________ 'Masterful ... Boyce
delicately unfolds this atmospheric, magical thriller with pace and
juice, while also making sure that the sentiments (vilification of
women, policing of female biology) echo through time' Sunday
Independent 'Shines a light on women who have been silenced. This
tightly paced novel confirms Boyce as an important voice in Irish
literature' Louise O'Neill 'Sings of these modern times' RTE Guide
'Pulls us into a world both seductively alien, yet uneasily,
all-too-humanly, familiar' Mia Gallagher 'The plot is pacey and
menacing, and the writing is clear, sharp and studded with
glistening phrases ... a wonderful shout through time' Nuala
O'Connor 'Beautifully absorbing ... highly recommended' Hot Press
'Moving and atmospheric' Irish Country Magazine 'Enthralling' Irish
Examiner 'Niamh Boyce has taken a bleak and dismal period and sent
a bolt of beautiful and revealing light into the darkness' John
MacKenna
Poison Prescriptions is a stunningly illustrated grimoire of some
of the most notorious plants: henbane, datura, belladonna, among
others. It is also a practical guide to plant magic, medicine and
ritual, offering advice to professional and home herbalists, to
those interested in forgotten lore and the old ways, and to all
those who wish to reclaim control of their own wellbeing. This book
urges the resurrection of the ancient tradition of using these
witching herbs in ritual and medicine. Now is the time to relink
magic and medicine in the context of modern herbalism and
contemporary witchcraft. Discover: Safe ways of interacting with
the witching herbs to usher in wellbeing and healing. Practical
activities ranging from meditations and folklore writing to wreath
making and beer brewing. Step-by-step instructions to creating the
powerful witches' Flying Ointment and using it in ritual, sex magic
and lucid dreaming.
In late seventeenth-century New England, the eternal battle between
God and Satan was brought into the courtroom. Between January 1692
and May 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts, neighbors turned against
neighbors and children against parents with accusations of
witchcraft, and nineteen people were hanged for having made pacts
with the devil.
Peter Charles Hoffer, a historian long familiar with the Salem
witchcraft trials, now reexamines this notorious episode in
American history and presents many of its legal details in correct
perspective for the first time. He tells the real story of how
religious beliefs, superstitions, clan disputes, and Anglo-American
law and custom created an epidemic of accusations that resulted in
the investigation of nearly two hundred colonists and, for many,
the ordeal of trail and incarceration. He also examines life during
this crisis period of New England history--a time beset by Indian
wars, disease, severe weather, and challenges to Puritan
hegemony--to show how an atmosphere of paranoia contributed to this
outbreak of persecution.
Hoffer examines every aspect of this history, from accusations
to grand jury investigations to the conduct of the trials
themselves. He shows how rights we take for granted today--such as
rules of evidence and a defendant's right to legal counsel--did not
exist in colonial times, and he demonstrates how these cases relate
to current instances of children accusing adults of abuse.
"The Salem Witchcraft Trials," a concise history written
expressly for students and general readers, contains much new
material not found in the author's earlier work. It sheds important
light on the period and shows that our horror of these infamous
proceedings must be tempered with sympathy for a people who gave in
to panic in the face of a harsh and desolate existence.
This is the first published edition of a fascinating manuscript on
witchcraft in the collection of the British Library, written by an
unknown sixteenth-century scholar. Responding to a pre-publication
draft of Reginald Scot's sceptical Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584),
the treatise represents the most detailed defence of witchcraft
belief to be written in the early modern period in England. It
highlights in detail the scriptural and theological justifications
for a belief in witches, covering ground that may well have been
considered too sensitive for print publications and presenting
learned arguments not found in any other contemporary English work.
Consequently, it offers a unique insight into elite witchcraft
belief dating from the very beginning of the English witchcraft
debate. This edition, which includes a comprehensive analytical
introduction, presents the treatise with modernised spelling and
relevant excerpts from Scot's book. -- .
Now you can find love faster than ever with this complete guide to
magical matchmaking! The Witch's Book of Love has all the spells
and solutions to help you on your quest for love-and shows you how
to make your relationship grow and prosper into the love you've
always dreamed of! The Witch's Book of Love has all you need to
know about attracting the perfect partner with everything from
spells and palmistry to astrology and numerology. Check your
compatibility and seal your new relationship with charms and other
magical mojo so you can make your love last a lifetime.
Many of the herbal and magical practices of the Scots are echoed in
traditional Norwegian folk medicine and magic. This is a valuable
resource book not only for the serious folklorist, but also for a
wider audience interested in a deeper look at rural Scottish
practices. Ms. Hopman has done an amazing amount of research, and
her Scottish herbalism section is far more detailed than I've seen
elsewhere. A "must have" for the northern European folklorist's
library.
Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D., author of "The Hammer of the Smith" and "The
Divine Thunderbolt: Missile of the Gods."
Through her books, Ellen Evert Hopman lifts the veil between worlds
of the present and the past. She guides the reader on a fascinating
journey to our ancient Celtic history, simultaneously restoring
lost knowledge and entertaining the reader. Be prepared to be
educated and delighted.
Wendy Farley, Clan McKleod
The first things is WOW Ellen Hopman has given us a volume that
belongs in Harry Potter's library. This wonderful collection of
enchantments, faery lore and herbal potions, is presented by a
practicing herbalist and (I suspect) magician. It is a useful
manual of magic, an unusual tourist guide to Scotland, certainly a
delightful read, and at the very least, a comprehensive and
thoroughly footnoted collection of folk lore for humorless
librarians and scholars.
Matthew Wood MS (Scottish School of Herbal Medicine) Registered
Herbalist (American Herbalists Guild)
Every now and again, a book emerges from the waves of occult and
magical authorship that delves into the deep and ancestral waters
of old magic This book is one of those rare occasions. From the
lore of herbs to the blessing of stones; from avioding the
elf-blast to healing through Faerie blessing - Ellen guides the
reader through ancient groves of oral lore to discover a power and
spirit that connects the reader to the oldest of magics, the earth
and her elements. I am confident that the Scottish Ancestral Wise
Ones, are renewed through this book and the old ways live once
again
Orion Foxwood, Traditional Witch Elder, Conjurer in Southern
Root-Doctoring and Faery Seer (www.orionfoxwood.com), author of
"The Faery Teachings" (R.J. Stewart Books) and "The Tree of
Enchantment" (Weiser Books).
Color Magick is the most effective, yet the most simple method of
knowledge and practice in all the fields of psychic and spiritual
development. Color surrounds us in our world and this book can show
you how to put that color to work. Color Magick is powerful, yet
safe. It is creative and fun to do. It is the use of a natural
element in a practical way. Color Magick can be used in meditation,
healing, ESP, Tarot, crystal-gazing, ritual, candle-magick, and
many other forms of magical practice. Learn all of its secrets in
this exciting book!
Now available with an updated cover, The Truth About Witchcraft
provides a wonderful introduction to Witchcraft and Wicca for those
new to the craft. Exploring the history of folk magic and the
contemporary practices of Witchcraft and Wicca, this highly
accessible book shares simple rituals for love, prosperity, raising
energy, and more. You will also discover helpful tips and
techniques for utilizing crystals, herbs, candles, cauldrons, and
wands. Dispelling the many myths and misunderstandings that
surround Witchcraft, this convenient guide shows how to work with
timeless rituals and natural energies in order to create positive
changes in your life. Whether you want to learn about the Goddess
and the God or the special holidays known as sabbats and esbats,
you will discover the answers you seek.
Witchcraft is a subject that fascinates us all, and everyone knows
what a witch is - or do they? From childhood most of us develop a
sense of the mysterious, malign person, usually an old woman.
Historically, too, we recognize witch-hunting as a feature of
pre-modern societies. But why do witches still feature so heavily
in our cultures and consciousness? From Halloween to superstitions,
and literary references such as Faust and even Harry Potter,
witches still feature heavily in our society. In this Very Short
Introduction Malcolm Gaskill challenges all of this, and argues
that what we think we know is, in fact, wrong. Taking a historical
perspective from the ancient world to contemporary paganism,
Gaskill reveals how witchcraft has meant different things to
different people and that in every age it has raised questions
about the distinction between fantasy and reality, faith and proof.
Telling stories, delving into court records, and challenging myths,
Gaskill examines the witch-hunts of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, and explores the reinvention of witchcraft - as history,
religion, fiction, and metaphor. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short
Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds
of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books
are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our
expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and
enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly
readable.
There are a lot of things in the universe that we don't understand.
When something is meant to happen, it will whether you cast a spell
or not. But you can help it on its way by guiding and encouraging
it and maybe even tweaking events a little too. A spell can be
worked in many ways, from a simple pointing of the finger to a
complicated ritual involving lots of herbs and crystals and, of
course, any variation in between. What will happen for sure is the
boost of confidence and happy buzz you will receive as you cast the
spell, as well as the positive vibe you get from putting something
into action. Kitchen Witchcraft: Spells & Charms is a the first
in a series of books which delves into the world of the Kitchen
Witch. Each book breaks down the whys and wherefores of the subject
and includes practical guides and exercises. Other titles include
Garden Magic, Altars & Rituals and The Elements.
Before Gerald Gardner ever thought to write his first book, there
was an explorer named Charles Leland who felt he could discover and
preserve the secrets of Italian Witchcraft. Leland's original quest
was to make contact with practicing Italian Witches. After years of
trying he met one by the name of Maddelena, who transmitted to him
the teachings he was searching for. The words (stories) have become
Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches. This manuscript, reportedly
handed down in an oral tradition, was later translated and
published in the late 1800's.
Today, a great amount of debate exists over whether or not
Aradia was an authentic representation of Italian Witchcraft at the
time Leland published the manuscript. Some go so far as to argue
that Maddelena never really existed. While it is true that
Maddelena's involvement with Leland can not be proven the fact
remains that even with an uncertain origin, Aradia is one of the
most important manuscripts available to the Pagan community. Even
if it does not reflect the ideology of a hidden tradition of
Italian Witchcraft, it most definitely presents such a powerful
message that even today its words are found repeatedly in various
literature. In fact, it is the foundation for one of the most
powerful and well-known documents in modern Pagan lore, The Charge
of the Goddess.
As the author notes, `The early-modern European witch-hunts were
neither orchestrated massacres nor spontaneous pogroms. Alleged
witches were not rounded up at night and summarily killed
extra-judicially or lynched as the victims of mob justice. They
were executed after trial and conviction with full legal process'.
In this concise but highly-informed account of the persecution of
witches, Gregory Durston demonstrates what a largely ordered
process was the singling-out or hunting-down of perceived
offenders. How a mix of superstition, fear, belief and ready
explanations for ailments, misfortune or disasters caused law,
politics and religion to indulge in criminalisation and the
appearance of justice. Bearing echoes of modern-day `othering' and
marginalisation of outsiders he shows how witchcraft became akin to
treason (with its special rules), how evidentially speaking storms,
sickness or coincidence might be attributed to conjuring, magic,
curses and spells. All this reinforced by examples and detailed
references to the law and practice through which a desired outcome
was achieved. In another resonance with modern-times the author
shows how decisions were often diverted into the hands of
witch-hunters, witch-finders (including self-appointed Witchfinder
General, Matthew Hopkins), witch-prickers and other experts as well
as the quaintly titled `cunning-folk' consulted by prosecutors and
`victims'. Crimen Exceptum (crimes apart). A straightforward and
authoritative guide. Shows the rise and fall of prosecutions.
Backed by a wealth of learning and research.
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