Ever had a "gut feeling" that proved to be correct? Ever gathered up your courage in the form of "intestinal fortitude"? Modern science has discovered that our digestive organs have a rudimentarty form of consciousness that corrsponds to these sayings, and this would be old news to our Celtic ancestors, who believed the human form contained three cauldrons that directed energy, inspiration and wisdom.
This book explores a set of basic experiences, ideas and techniques that used to be at the heart of every magical Tradition, but which are frequently overlooked or ignored in modern times. But they are the very things that breathe life into magical systems, the secret key that makes the magic actually work.
Peter Paddon, author and Witch, has had the fortune to encounter these techniques and practices in several forms, and here he documents his own journey - and the results - as well as laying out exercises and practical applications to enable the reader to stop visualizing and just plain see. Magic is a real force, one that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck, and become a living breathing part of your everyday life. This book will show you how to get there.

Traditionally, the Witch's arsenal of magical power has always included the ability to influence others from a distance, blessing, cursing and placing a glamour or the Evil Eye on someone in order to reward, punish or control them in some way. Many of these techniques have been lost, though we can see their descendants in the techniques of mesmerism, faith healing and stage hypnotism.
As part of his exploration of Visceral Magick, Author and Witch Peter Paddon has rediscovered techniques and exercises that enable the practitioner to use gestures, gaze and energy connections to influence others from across a room, or in some cases around the world.
In this book, Peter describes the underlying theories and philosophies (drawing on the mysteries of Ancient Egypt, Pre-Christian Celtic Wales and medieval Christian Mysticism), and lays out a series of techniques and the exercises that develop the required skills to use them, on order to heal, curse, entrance, bless, and create illusions and other subtle influences in others to manipulate their thoughts and actions. He includes a discussion of the ethical ramifications of these techniques, as well as practical applications in ritual, spell-crafting and daily life.
Whether it is the "Evil Eye," "Jedi mind-tricks" or "defense against the Dark Arts," these techniques have been the mainstay of myth, legend and fantasy for millenia, but their place in our worldview stems from real magical tools wielded by our ancestors.
"Too often, the modern witchcraft movement has focused its attention on being an "acceptable" practice in a modern world. It has often sacrificed much of its unique contributions upon the altar of religion. Albeit, this aspect of our resurgence heeded a deep call and the initial sacrifice had wisdom and purpose. But as they say "how many stripes can a zebra loose before it is no longer a zebra?" In the case of the Craft, witches do witchcraft, and magic is at the heart of our soul; and we must return our "stripes." It is time for witches to be witches... and enchantment is one of the major stripes on the metaphorical zebra of witchery. Thank you Peter for bringing all of us to that state of spirit that wields the power of change through the arts of enchantment. This practice helps to give us back one of our most legendary attributes. My advice is that readers of this book apply the lore and techniques offered. It invites witches to wield the power of change upon self, the world and our universe. Now let's cast enchantment for a better life and a better world. It all starts in the mirror."
Orion Foxwood
Author of "The Candle and the Crossroads" 2012 Red Wheel Weiser
"Introduction to Southern Conjure" DVD 2009 Pendraig Publishing

Issue 7 of The Crooked Path Journal includes the following articles:
Guided Visualizations Throughthe Caucasus - Michael Berman
The Thinking Witch Top Reads of 2010 - Steven Posch
Interview with Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone - Tony Mierzwicki
Storm Mother - Veronica Cummer
Sonnets to the Morrigan - S. P. Hendrick
The Witch and the Well and the Dark Rider - Orion Foxwood
Pagan Parenting - Renee Berg
The Future Through the Writing onyour Forehead - Michael Berman
Pendraig Publishing Catalogue
Invocation and theAncient Art of Ritual Possession - Peter Paddon
Gardner Redux - Ann Finnin
Spotlight on: Visceral Magick - Peter Paddon
Before the Battle - Peter Paddon

Issue 5 of The Crooked Path Journal includes the following articles:
Moved By The Shakers by Grace Victoria Swann
Conjure In The South by Gar Pickering
Ancestors and Sacred Space by Peter Paddon
Becoming a Traditional Witch by Robin Artisson
The White Penis Cult of Forest Grove by Sarah Lawless
Where Three Roads Meet by Cory Hutcheson
Faerie: The Awe of the Unseen and the Unknown by Robin Artisson
Of Faerie, Fetch and Familiar by Veronica Cummer
Does a System of Chakras Exist in Traditional Witchcraft? by Radomir Ristic
The Fire Brand and the Silver Thread by Robin Artisson
Egg-Dyeing Secrets by Steve Posch
Shaitan by Veronica Cummer
The Origin of Coven Structure by Radomir Ristic
Two Book Reviews by Peter Paddon

Issue 4 contains the following articles:
Northern New Mexico by Grace Victoria Swann
In search of Watto by Steven Posch
The Black Goddess by Ann Finnin
On the Margins by Prinny Miller
Reconstruction and Recreation by Peter Paddon
The Goddess Hecate (illustration) by Cherrie Button
The Feel of Steel by Ann Finnin
Beltaine (illustration) by Cherrie Button
Celtic Witch (illustration) by Cherrie Button
The Intorkatura - Sending Back by Radomir Ristic
The Objective Astral by Ann Finnin

A practical manual of Traditional non-Wiccan Witchcraft.
While there are a lot of texts that cover advanced and academic subjects of interest to traditional Crafters, all of the introductory books tend to focus on Wicca... until now.
In this Book Peter Paddon - Magister of Briar Rose and host of the popular Crooked Path podcast - covers his particular path of Witchcraft from scratch. He goes over the basics of his personal Path, along with examples of alternatives from other traditions, covering philosophy, lore and practical techniques.
The Crooked Path is a way of Crafting based on experiencing the Mysteries of Ancestors and the Sacred Landscape first-hand, and Peter guides the seeker through the basics with competence and humor.

Issue 6 of The Crooked Path Journal includes the following articles:
Beefcake, Whine and Cheese by Grace Victoria Swann
The Drift by Jongeorgi Enos
Shamanism by Michael Berman
Weikerie by Robin Artisson
To Twist and Twine by Veronica Cummer
Witch Tales in Serbian Crafting by Radomir Ristic
The Art of Invisibility by Peter Paddon
The Travelling Man by Robin Artisson
Walking Widdershins by Jongeorgi Enos

Issue 3 contains the following articles:
The World through Eyes of Fire by Robin Artisson
Blood Rites by Peter Paddon
Harvest Home by R.J. Thompson
Herbal Lore by Radomir Ristic
If Only by Mick Wragg
In Praise of the Lords journey by R.J. Thompson
Ritual Healing in Balkan Craft by Radomir Ristic
In Search of Gwyddbwyll by Peter Paddon
The Mother Nights Spiral by R.J. Thompson
Urban Witchcraft by Radomir Ristic
Encountering Ancestors At Home and Away by Peter Paddon
Spirits of the Hollow Hill by Eric De Vries
Lady Fate by Kristine K.
Biblical References in Traditional Witchcraft Peter Paddon

By a bent line, by a straight line, by a crooked line.
The Crooked Path Podcast, hosted by Peter Paddon, was a weekly offering of lore and practical instruction offered up to the Traditional Craft community. Delivered with humor and wisdom, and a soft British accent, the podcast proved to be very popular with its target audience, and this book offers a selection of transcripts from the show. Included in this volume are:
The Path of the Outcast
Sacred Space and Ancestral Work Ancestral Work
Spring Equinox
Witch's Mark and Witch Blood
Witch-Wear & Herb Lore
Beltaine
Pathworkings
Pagan Books and Authors
Karma/Fate
Tapping the Bone
Interview With Dave Finnin (Clan of Tubal Cain)
Oaths and Pacts
Lammas
Traditions of Witchcraft
The Mystery of Initiation
Crises of Faith
Angels, Demons and Other Entities
Why Do a Podcast? (plus interview with Ann Finnin)

Issue 2 of The Crooked Path Journal contains the following articles:
Artemisia - Eric De Vries
Bag of Bones - Steven Posch
Balkan Traditional Witchcraft - Radomir Ristic
Sympathetic Magic - R.J. Thompson
The Call - Veronica Cummer
The Dragon and the Dragon Slayer - Robin Artisson
Away With the Fairies - M.V. Wragg
Childe Ballad 243 - Steven Posch
Scourges and Traditional Craft - Radomir Ristic
Occult Significance of the Crossing Rite - R.J. Thompson
Cupmarks - Steven Posch
Great Spirits of Fate - Radomir Ristic
Virtues and Ethics - R.J. Thompson
Young Hornie Steals Fire - Steven Posch

Issue 1 of The Crooked Path Journal contains the following articles: Inside the Wicker Man - Peter Paddon The Origin of the Word "Witch" - R.J. Thompson Witch's Ritual For Getting Rid of Evil Magic - "Ku Potula" - Radomir Ristic Tapping the Bone - Peter Paddon Morning - Hedgewizard Usage of Animals and Animal Body Parts in Traditional Witchcraft - Radomir Ristic Candlemas and the Land Ceremonies Charm R.J. Thompson Cosmic Soup and the Mighty Dead - Peter Paddon The Rite of Candlemas and the Land Ceremonies Charm R.J. Thompson Blacksmith as Magus - Radomir Ristic Celtic Nine Poems - Peter Paddon As I Do Will It - Ann Finnin Walking the Crooked Path - Peter Paddon Turning The Hand of Fate - Raven Womack Making a Traditional Witches' Besom - Peter Paddon The Crooked Path Journal is a quarterly magazine for Traditional Witches, Cunningfolk and other practitioners of the Nameless Art.