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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems > Occult studies > Witchcraft
Belief in magic and particularly the power of witchcraft was once a
deep and enduring presence in popular culture. "Diving into Brian
Hoggard's Magical House Protection is a remarkable experience...
[It] provides an immersive and fascinating read."-Fortean Times
People created and concealed many objects to protect themselves
from harmful magic. Detailed are the principal forms of magical
house protection in Britain and beyond from the fourteenth century
to the present day. Witch-bottles, dried cats, horse skulls,
written charms, protection marks and concealed shoes were all used
widely as methods of repelling, diverting or trapping negative
energies. Many of these practices and symbols can be found around
the globe, demonstrating the universal nature of efforts by people
to protect themselves from witchcraft. From the introduction: The
most popular locations to conceal objects within buildings are
usually at portals such as the hearth, the threshold and also voids
or dead spaces. This suggests that people believed it was possible
for dark forces to travel through the landscape and attack them in
their homes. Whether these forces were emanations from a witch in
the form of a spell, a witch's familiar pestering their property,
an actual witch flying in spirit or a combination of all of those
is difficult to tell. Additional sources of danger could be ghosts,
fairies and demons. People went to great lengths to ensure their
homes and property were protected, highlighting the fact that these
beliefs and fears were visceral and, as far as they were concerned,
literally terrifying.
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.
'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
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.
In early modern England, the practice of ritual or ceremonial magic
- the attempted communication with angels and demons - both
reinforced and subverted existing concepts of gender. The majority
of male magicians acted from a position of control and command
commensurate with their social position in a patriarchal society;
other men, however, used the notion of magic to subvert gender
ideals while still aiming to attain hegemony. Whilst women who
claimed to perform magic were usually more submissive in their
attempted dealings with the spirit world, some female practitioners
employed magic to undermine the patriarchal culture and further
their own agenda. Frances Timbers studies the practice of ritual
magic in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries focusing
especially on gender and sexual perspectives. Using the examples of
well-known individuals who set themselves up as magicians
(including John Dee, Simon Forman and William Lilly), as well as
unpublished diaries and journals, literature and legal records,
this book provides a unique analysis of early modern ceremonial
magic from a gender perspective.
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.
On September 20, 1587, Walpurga Hausmannin of Dillingen in southern
Germany was burned at the stake as a witch. Although she had
confessed to committing a long list of "maleficia" (deeds of
harmful magic), including killing forty--one infants and two
mothers in labor, her evil career allegedly began with just one
heinous act--sex with a demon. Fornication with demons was a major
theme of her trial record, which detailed an almost continuous orgy
of sexual excess with her diabolical paramour Federlin "in many
divers places, . . . even in the street by night."
As Walter Stephens demonstrates in "Demon Lovers," it was not
Hausmannin or other so-called witches who were obsessive about sex
with demons--instead, a number of devout Christians, including
trained theologians, displayed an uncanny preoccupation with the
topic during the centuries of the "witch craze." Why? To find out,
Stephens conducts a detailed investigation of the first and most
influential treatises on witchcraft (written between 1430 and
1530), including the infamous "Malleus Maleficarum" ("Hammer of
Witches").
Far from being credulous fools or mindless misogynists, early
writers on witchcraft emerge in Stephens's account as rational but
reluctant skeptics, trying desperately to resolve contradictions in
Christian thought on God, spirits, and sacraments that had
bedeviled theologians for centuries. Proof of the physical
existence of demons--for instance, through evidence of their
intercourse with mortal witches--would provide strong evidence for
the reality of the supernatural, the truth of the Bible, and the
existence of God. Early modern witchcraft theory reflected a crisis
of belief--a crisis that continues tobe expressed today in popular
debates over angels, Satanic ritual child abuse, and alien
abduction.
Elegantly designed and gorgeously illustrated, The Path of the
Witch presents the key paths and practices of witchcraft.
Witchcraft is not one defined path-rather, it is a diversity of
practices you can curate and align with based on your lifestyle and
unique gifts. Which witch are you? Do you have an affinity for
working with plants and herbs for magic and medicine? You may be a
Green Witch. Is the kitchen and home space sacred to you? Are you
able to tap into the sensory and healing properties of food for
spellwork? Is cooking an intentional act for you? You may be a
Kitchen Witch. Are you able to easily connect with the spirit world
or the liminal realms? You may be a Hedge Witch. Can you do many
practices with ease? You may be an Eclectic Witch. The Path of the
Witchdescribes the many different types of witches, their gifts and
abilities, and their practices. Each path shows readers activities
and rituals that they can use to discover and explore that type of
witchcraft and discern which one is the fit for them.
An array of original stories from around the world bring a new and
exciting twist to one of the most beloved figures in fiction:
witches. Witches! Whether you know them from Shakespeare or from
WICKED, there is no staple more beloved in folklore, fairy tale, or
fantasy than these magical beings. Witches are everywhere, and at
the heart of stories that resonate with many people around the
world. This dazzling, otherworldly collection gathers new stories
of witches from all walks of life. Whether they be maiden, mother,
crone, or other; funny, fierce, light and airy, or dark and
disturbing; witches are a vital part of some of the greatest
stories we have, and new ones start here! Bringing together
twenty-nine stories and poems from some of the greatest science
fiction and fantasy writers working today, including three tales
from a BIPOC-only open submission period, THE BOOK OF WITCHES
features Linda Addison, C.L. Clark, P Djeli Clark, Indrapramit Das,
Amal El Mohtar, Andrea Hairston, Millie Ho, Saad Hossain, Kathleen
Jennings, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Cassandra Khaw, Fonda Lee, Darcie
Little Badger, Ken Liu, Usman T. Malik, Maureen F. McHugh, Premee
Mohammed, Garth Nix, Tobi Ogundiran, Tochi Onyebuchi, Miyuki Jane
Pinckard, Kelly Robson, Angela Slatter, Andrea Stewart, Emily Teng,
Sheree Renée Thomas, Tade Thompson, and E. Lily Yu—and contains
illustrations from three-time Hugo award-nominated artist Alyssa
Winans throughout. This extraordinary anthology vividly breathes
life into one of the most captivating and feared magical
sorceresses and will become a treasured keepsake for fans of
fantasy, science fiction, and fairy tales everywhere.
Beginning in January 1692, Salem Village in colonial Massachusetts
witnessed the largest and most lethal outbreak of witchcraft in
early America. Villagers-mainly young women-suffered from unseen
torments that caused them to writhe, shriek, and contort their
bodies, complaining of pins stuck into their flesh and of being
haunted by specters. Believing that they suffered from assaults by
an invisible spirit, the community began a hunt to track down those
responsible for the demonic work. The resulting Salem Witch Trials,
culminating in the execution of 19 villagers, persists as one of
the most mysterious and fascinating events in American history.
Historians have speculated on a web of possible causes for the
witchcraft that stated in Salem and spread across the
region-religious crisis, ergot poisoning, an encephalitis outbreak,
frontier war hysteria-but most agree that there was no single
factor. Rather, as Emerson Baker illustrates in this seminal new
work, Salem was "a perfect storm": a unique convergence of
conditions and events that produced something extraordinary
throughout New England in 1692 and the following years, and which
has haunted us ever since. Baker shows how a range of factors in
the Bay colony in the 1690s, including a new charter and
government, a lethal frontier war, and religious and political
conflicts, set the stage for the dramatic events in Salem. Engaging
a range of perspectives, he looks at the key players in the
outbreak-the accused witches and the people they allegedly
bewitched, as well as the judges and government officials who
prosecuted them-and wrestles with questions about why the Salem
tragedy unfolded as it did, and why it has become an enduring
legacy. Salem in 1692 was a critical moment for the fading Puritan
government of Massachusetts Bay, whose attempts to suppress the
story of the trials and erase them from memory only fueled the
popular imagination. Baker argues that the trials marked a turning
point in colonial history from Puritan communalism to Yankee
independence, from faith in collective conscience to skepticism
toward moral governance. A brilliantly told tale, A Storm of
Witchcraft also puts Salem's storm into its broader context as a
part of the ongoing narrative of American history and the history
of the Atlantic World.
A collection of essays on Scottish witchcraft and witch-hunting,
which covers the whole period of the Scottish witch-hunt, from the
mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth. Includes studies of
particular witchcraft panics such as a reassessment of the role of
King James VI. Covers a wide range of topics concerned with
Scottish witch-hunting and places it in the context of other topics
such as gender relations, folklore, magic and healing, and moral
regulation by the church and state. Provides a comparative
dimension of witch-hunting beyond Scotland - one on the global
context, and one comparing Scotland with England. It is a showcase
for the latest thinking on the subject and will be of interest to
all scholars studying witchcraft in early modern Europe, as well as
the general reader wanting to move beyond shallow and sensational
accounts of a subject of compelling in. -- .
Contrarreste los efectos del "mal de ojo," limpie su nueva vivienda
de energA-as negativas, incremente su poder de seducciA3n,
interprete sus sueAos profA(c)ticos. Obtenga todo lo que desea a
travA(c)s de Hechizos y Conjuros. Por medio de velas, hierbas o
cualquier cosa que tenga a la mano, aprenderA la prActica de la
magia folklA3rica basada en viejas tradiciones europeas y
africanas.
Selected by "Choice" magazine as an Outstanding Academic Book
for 2001The highly-acclaimed first edition of this book chronicled
the rise and fall of witchcraft in Europe between the twelfth and
the end of the seventeenth centuries. Now greatly expanded, the
classic anthology of contemporary texts reexamines the phenomenon
of witchcraft, taking into account the remarkable scholarship since
the book's publication almost thirty years ago.Spanning the period
from 400 to 1700, the second edition of "Witchcraft in Europe"
assembles nearly twice as many primary documents as the first, many
newly translated, along with new illustrations that trace the
development of witch-beliefs from late Mediterranean antiquity
through the Enlightenment. Trial records, inquisitors' reports,
eyewitness statements, and witches' confessions, along with
striking contemporary illustrations depicting the career of the
Devil and his works, testify to the hundreds of years of terror
that enslaved an entire continent.Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther,
Thomas Hobbes, and other thinkers are quoted at length in order to
determine the intellectual, perceptual, and legal processes by
which "folklore" was transformed into systematic demonology and
persecution. Together with explanatory notes, introductory
essays--which have been revised to reflect current research--and a
new bibliography, the documents gathered in "Witchcraft in Europe"
vividly illumine the dark side of the European mind.
A landmark contribution to women's history that sheds new light on
the Salem witch trials and one of its most crucial participants,
Tituba of The Crucible In this important book, Elaine Breslaw
claims to have rediscovered Tituba, the elusive, mysterious, and
often mythologized Indian woman accused of witchcraft in Salem in
1692 and immortalized in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
Reconstructing the life of the slave woman at the center of the
notorious Salem witch trials, the book follows Tituba from her
likely origins in South America to Barbados, forcefully dispelling
the commonly-held belief that Tituba was African. The uniquely
multicultural nature of life on a seventeenth-century Barbadan
sugar plantation—defined by a mixture of English, American
Indian, and African ways and folklore—indelibly shaped the young
Tituba's world and the mental images she brought with her to
Massachusetts. Breslaw divides Tituba’s story into two parts. The
first focuses on Tituba's roots in Barbados, the second on her life
in the New World. The author emphasizes the inextricably linked
worlds of the Caribbean and the North American colonies,
illustrating how the Puritan worldview was influenced by its
perception of possessed Indians. Breslaw argues that Tituba’s
confession to practicing witchcraft clearly reveals her savvy and
determined efforts to protect herself by actively manipulating
Puritan fears. This confession, perceived as evidence of a
diabolical conspiracy, was the central agent in the cataclysmic
series of events that saw 19 people executed and over 150
imprisoned, including a young girl of 5. A landmark contribution to
women's history and early American history, Tituba, Reluctant Witch
of Salem sheds new light on one of the most painful episodes in
American history, through the eyes of its most crucial participant.
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