The Rebirth Of Witchcraft

Download or read book The Rebirth of Witchcraft written by Doreen Valiente and published by The Crowood Press. This book was released on 2018-01-31 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since 1951, when the last of the Witchcraft Acts was repealed, many books have been written about the reappearance of witchcraft and the development of a pagan theology. Churchmen have denounced it. Sociologists have wondered at it. Journalists have penned sensational stories about it. But until the publication of this book, no one had told the real story of it from the inside as frankly as it is told here. Doreen Valiente, one of witchcraft's most widely known figures, was a close friend of the late Gerald Gardner, generally regarded as the founder of present-day witchcraft. Initiated by him and for a time High Priestess of his coven, Doreen Valiente helped him rewrite his seminal Book of Shadows. She records the break with Gardner that split his coven, the controversy surrounding Alex Sanders, 'King of the Witches' and memories of many other witches whom she has known, including the lady called 'Dafo', Robert Cochrane, Leslie Roberts and Sybil Leek. Doreen Valiente took part in many witchcraft rituals and had strange psychic experiences as a result. Described here are the clairvoyant communications she received purporting to come from 'John Brakespeare', an eighteenth-century witch. The Rebirth of Witchcraft traces the lineage of the present-day witchcraft from its forerunners through to modern feminist neo-paganism and the new wave of interest in ecology and holistic medicine.

Download or read book Doreen Valiente Witch written by Philip Heselton and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2016-06-08 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Heralded as one of the greatest figures in the history of modern witchcraft, Doreen Valiente made an unparalleled contribution to contemporary spiritual practice. This book tells her fascinating story, from her earliest encounters with the Craft to her work with Gerald Gardner and her emergence as one of the foremost thinkers in the revival of Paganism and witchcraft. Revealing previously unknown details drawn from first-hand testimony and her personal papers, Doreen Valiente Witch reveals how Valiente's singular vision captivated millions of modern witches and Pagans around the world. Published in association with the Centre for Pagan Studies and the Doreen Valiente Foundation. Praise: "Doreen Valiente is the mother of the modern witchcraft movement."—Christopher Penczak, bestselling author of The Inner Temple of Witchcraft "Doreen Valiente is a shining star, a heroine, and role model for the witchcraft community."—Judika Illes, author of Encyclopedia of Witchcraft "Doreen Valiente has been called the mother of modern witchcraft and that is no exaggeration. She helped open the path that many of us walk some variation of today, and led the way with a grace and strength we could all hope to emulate."—Deborah Blake, author of Everyday Witchcraft "I am thrilled to see at last a well-researched biography of Doreen Valiente...This is a must read for the historical and personal perspective on the modern adaptations of the Old Religion."—Ann Moura, author of the Green Witch series "Doreen Valiente was a seminal influence on the modern magical world. Her lasting contributions to our community are both valuable and vast."—Tess Whitehurst, author of Holistic Magic "An amazing story of a strong and powerful-minded woman who truly took her own spirituality by the reigns...The best way to describe this book is that it is not just a biography, but it is a public service and a true gift to the Craft community."—The Wild Hunt "It is a wonderful read...Philip Heselton writes beautifully and has researched with his usual care...Above all, he paints Doreen to the life, with accuracy and affection."—Ronald Hutton, Professor of History, University of Bristol

Download or read book The A to Z of Witchcraft written by Michael D. Bailey and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2009-09-15 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A great deal has been written about the history of witchcraft, but much of what has been written is unreliable, exaggerated, or inaccurate. This problem is especially acute in regard to modern witchcraft, or Wicca, and its supposed connections to historical witchcraft in medieval and early modern Europe. The A to Z of Witchcraft provides a reliable reference source for both academics and general readers interested in the actual historical development of witchcraft in the western world. The focus of the dictionary is on Western Europe during the late-medieval and early modern periods, when the specific idea of diabolical witchcraft developed and when the so-called 'great witch-hunts' occurred. Entries are also provided that deal with magic and witchcraft in the earlier Christian period and classical antiquity, as well as with the lingering belief in witchcraft in the modern world, and with the development of the modern, neo-pagan religion of witchcraft, also known as Wicca. For comparative purposes, some entries have been provided that deal with aspects and systems of magic found in other parts of the world that seem to bear some relation to the idea of witchcraft as it developed in Christian Europe. The regions dealt with are mainly Africa, along with such New-World practices as Voodoo and Santeria. Entries in the dictionary cover important people in the history of witchcraft, from the medieval inquisitors and early modern magistrates who developed the stereotype of the historical witch to the modern individuals who have developed the religion of Wicca. Also included are legal terms and concepts important to the prosecution of the supposed crime of witchcraft, and religious and theological concepts pertaining to the demonic elements that came to be associated with witchcraft, as well as more popular beliefs and aspects of common folklore and mythology that became attached to the developing idea of witchcraft. Geographic entries are also included, discussing the scope of witch-hunting in various regions of Europe and the world, and describing specific examples of major witch-hunts such as those that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts.

Download or read book The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca written by Rosemary Guiley and published by Infobase Publishing. This book was released on 2010-05-12 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Praise for the previous editions:"Clearly the best reference work on the subject now available."

Download or read book Women and Gender Issues in British Paganism, 1945–1990 written by Shai Feraro and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-06-11 with total page 325 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the ways in which changing views on gender and the place of women in society during the latter half of the twentieth century affected women’s participation and standing within British Paganism. More specifically, it examines how British Wiccans and Wiccan-derived Pagans reacted to the rise of 'second-wave' feminism and the Women's Liberation Movement in the UK – with a special emphasis on the reception of feminist theory hailing from the USA – and to the emergence of feminist branches of Witchcraft and Goddess Spirituality during the 1970s and 1980s. The book draws on primary sources never before analyzed in an academic context and makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of knowledge on gender and religion during the twentieth century, as very little research has been conducted on the relations between the history of modern Paganism and that of second-wave feminism in the UK.

Download or read book Queen of All Witcheries written by Jack Chanek and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2023-06-08 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enhance Your Connection to the Goddess through Historical Writings & Hands-On Rituals Who is the Goddess and how did she become the iconic figure we know today? Queen of All Witcheries explores the mythology of the Goddess through a historical lens, introducing you to influential voices that shaped the modern Goddess movement, including Charles Godfrey Leland, Margaret Murray, Dion Fortune, and Gerald Gardner. Jack Chanek examines classic titles that build upon each other, like The Golden Bough and The White Goddess, showing how they impacted our contemporary understanding of the Goddess. Each chapter includes a solitary ritual, a group ritual, and a hands-on exercise to deepen your devotional experience. You will reenact the witches' esbat, light a divinatory ritual bonfire, make flying ointment, and more. Sharing extensive research and his own experiences, Jack provides you a richer understanding of the goddess and her evolving mythology.

Download or read book The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism written by Shelley Rabinovitch and published by Citadel Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you're looking for information on blessings, the Green Man, divination, ritual components, or spellwork, you can find it all in the Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism. Here is the ultimate source of information on all things Wiccan and Neo-Pagan, an indispensable tool for anyone wanting to learn about the history, traditions, and major figures of modern nontraditional religions. Organized alphabetically and designed to be both clear and comprehensive, this book provides definitions and detailed entries on a wide range of subjects -- including Witchcraft, Shamanism, Gaia theory, the Burning Times, Pagan festivals, Wiccan holidays, and much more. There are essays on Witchcraft and Paganism's influence on pop culture, including the crop of Wicca-inspired books, movies, and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, The Craft, and the Harry Potter series. From Altar to Otter Zell, and all points in between, the illustrated Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism is the first and last Wyrd on nontraditional religion -- the ultimate reference for anyone interested in past, present, and practice. Book jacket.