Teenage Witches

Teenage Witches
Author: Helen Berger
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2007-05-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0813541360

A popular new image of Witches has arisen in recent years, due largely to movies like The Craft, Practical Magic, and Simply Irresistible and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Charmed. Here, young sexy Witches use magic and Witchcraft to gain control over their lives and fight evil. Then there is the depiction in the Harry Potter books: Witchcraft is a gift that unenlightened Muggles (everyday people) lack. In both types of portrayals, being a Witch is akin to being a superhero. At the other end of the spectrum, wary adults assume that Witches engage in evil practices that are misguided at best and dangerous at worst. Yet, as Helen A. Berger and Douglas Ezzy show in this in-depth look into the lives of teenage Witches, the reality of their practices, beliefs, values, and motivations is very different from the sensational depictions we see in popular culture. Drawing on extensive research across three countries--the United States, England, and Australia--and interviews with young people from diverse backgrounds, what they find are highly spiritual and self-reflective young men and women attempting to make sense of a postmodern world via a religion that celebrates the earth and emphasizes self-development. The authors trace the development of Neo-Paganism (an umbrella term used to distinguish earth-based religions from the pagan religions of ancient cultures) from its start in England during the 1940s, through its growing popularity in the decades that followed, up through its contemporary presence on the Internet. Though dispersed and disorganized, Neo-Pagan communities, virtual and real, are shown to be an important part of religious identity particularly for those seeking affirmation during the difficult years between childhood and adulthood.

The Complete Book of Magic and Witchcraft

The Complete Book of Magic and Witchcraft
Author: Kathryn Paulsen
Publisher: Signet Book
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1980
Genre: Magic
ISBN: 9780451168320

Compiled from ancient as well as modern sources, this is a unique guide to the practice of witchcraft around the world. From magic stones and herbs to theories and spells, all the forbidden arts are here for anyone interested in magi c--black, white, or gray!

The Encyclopedia of Magic & Witchcraft

The Encyclopedia of Magic & Witchcraft
Author: Susan Greenwood
Publisher: Hermes House Press
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2014-01-07
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9781843094678

This volume offers an examination of the history and traditions of magic and witchcraft, from very early times to the present. The book gives an examination of magic and its relationship with religion, from prehistory to the modern eras.

A History of Magic and Witchcraft

A History of Magic and Witchcraft
Author: Frances Timbers
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Total Pages: 339
Release: 2019-05-09
Genre: History
ISBN: 1526731827

The author of Magic and Masculinity explores the history and development of magic and witchcraft in Western society. Broomsticks, cauldrons, familiars, and spells—magic and witchcraft conjure a vivid picture in our modern-day imagination. While much of our understanding is rooted in superstition and myth, the history of magic and witchcraft offers a window into the past. It illuminates the lives of ordinary people in the past and elucidates the fascinating pop culture of the premodern world. Blowing away folkloric cobwebs, this enlightening new history dispels many misconceptions surrounding witchcraft and magic that we still hold today. From Ancient Greece and Rome to the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Era, historian Frances Timbers details the impact of Christianity and popular culture in the construction of the figure of the “witch.” The development of demonology and ceremonial magic is combined with the West’s troubled past with magic and witchcraft to chart the birth of modern Wiccan and Neopagan movements in England and North America. Witchcraft is a metaphor for oppression in an age in which persecution is an everyday occurrence somewhere in the world. Fanaticism, intolerance, prejudice, authoritarianism, and religious and political ideologies are never attractive. Beware the witch hunter!

The Cambridge History of Magic and Witchcraft in the West

The Cambridge History of Magic and Witchcraft in the West
Author: David J. Collins, S. J.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 897
Release: 2015-03-02
Genre: History
ISBN: 1316239497

This book presents twenty chapters by experts in their fields, providing a thorough and interdisciplinary overview of the theory and practice of magic in the West. Its chronological scope extends from the Ancient Near East to twenty-first-century North America; its objects of analysis range from Persian curse tablets to US neo-paganism. For comparative purposes, the volume includes chapters on developments in the Jewish and Muslim worlds, evaluated not simply for what they contributed at various points to European notions of magic, but also as models of alternative development in ancient Mediterranean legacy. Similarly, the volume highlights the transformative and challenging encounters of Europeans with non-Europeans, regarding the practice of magic in both early modern colonization and more recent decolonization.

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft
Author: Raymond Buckland
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
Total Pages: 344
Release: 1986
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 0875420508

"This complete self-study course in modern Wicca is a treasured classic - an essential and trusted guide that belongs in every witch's library."---Back cover

Moral Power

Moral Power
Author: Koen Stroeken
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2010
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9781845457358

Neither power nor morality but both. Moral power is what Sukuma farmers in Tanzania in times of crisis attribute to an unknown figure they call their witch. A universal process is involved, as much bodily as social, which obstructs the patient's recovery. Healers turn the table on the witch through rituals showing that the community and the ancestral spirits side with the victim. In contrast to biomedicine, their magic and divination introduce moral values that assess the state of the system and that remove the obstacles to what is taken as key: self-healing. The implied 'sensory shifts' and therapeutic effectiveness have largely eluded the literature on witchcraft. This book shows how to comprehend culture other than through the prism of identity politics. It offers a framework to comprehend the rise of witch killings and human sacrifice, just as ritual initiation disappears.

The Oxford History of Witchcraft and Magic

The Oxford History of Witchcraft and Magic
Author: Owen Davies
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2023-02-23
Genre: Magic
ISBN: 0192884050

Histories you can trust. This history provides a readable and fresh approach to the extensive and complex story of witchcraft and magic. Telling the story from the dawn of writing in the ancient world to the globally successful Harry Potter films, the authors explore a wide range of magical beliefs and practices, the rise of the witch trials, and the depiction of the Devil-worshipping witch. The book also focuses on the more recent history of witchcraft and magic, from the Enlightenment to the present, exploring the rise of modern magic, the anthropology of magic around the globe, and finally the cinematic portrayal of witches and magicians, from The Wizard of Oz to Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult

A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult
Author: DK
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Total Pages: 869
Release: 2020-08-06
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 0241483972

See the history of witchcraft, magic and superstition come to life with this spectacular supernatural book! From alchemy and modern Wicca to paganism and shamanism, this enchanting book takes you on a mystical journey that will leave you spellbound. This is the perfect introduction to magic and the occult! This reference book on witchcraft is packed with: - Informative, engaging, and accessible text and lavish illustrations - Special features on aspects of magic, such as oracle bones of ancient China, the Knights Templar, and magic at the movies, and "plants and potions", such as mandrake and belladonna examine topics in great detail - Quick-fact panels that explore magic origins, key figures, key deities, use in spells, structures of religions, and more This indispensable witchcraft book explores the common human fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural. It provides you with a balanced and unbiased account of everything from Japanese folklore and Indian witchcraft to the differences between black and white magic and dispelling myths such as those surrounding the voodoo doll and Ouija. Expect the unexpected with A History Of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult. It will open your eyes to other worlds. Discover forms of divination from astrology and palmistry to the Tarot and runestones. Explore the presence of witchcraft in literature from Shakespeare's Macbeth to the Harry Potter series, and the ways in which magic has interacted with religion. Whether you're a believer or a sceptic, this richly illustrated history book provides a fresh approach to the extensive and complex story of witchcraft, magic and the occult.

The Ultimate Book of Magic and Witchcraft

The Ultimate Book of Magic and Witchcraft
Author: Pierre Macedo
Publisher: Leirbag Press
Total Pages: 159
Release: 2019-11-30
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9811133778

Transform Your Life with Real Spells, Rituals, and Other Practices Taught in This Book The keyword of this book is practicality. It is intended for those who want to practice magic without having to read long theoretical books. The Ultimate Book of Magic and Witchcraft allows you to use magic immediately after opening it. It contains a variety of exclusive spells and rituals, such as love, money, beauty, evocations, protection. It also introduces the reader to magical sigils, such as spirit and planetary sigils. No other book teaches the right way to evoke Lucifer and Michael. No other book gives a detailed beauty ritual with the Norse gods Frey and Freya or a powerful love spell with the mysterious Lilith. No other author ever covered so many subjects, from love to planetary magic, in a single work, as Pierre Macedo did. No matter if you are a white or black magic practitioner, a Wicca follower, or if you need some spiritual help, this work was written for you. Now you have in your hands the key to change the course of your life. Here’s a Small Sample of What You Will Find in This Book of Witchcraft, Rituals and Magic Spells Instructions on how to prepare yourself to perform rituals, cast spells, etc. White magic spells Black magic spells Love spells Manipulation spells Breaking and cleansing spells Magical evocation: instructions on how to summon spirits Planetary magic It’s worth mentioning that this book contains real spells, rituals, and other witchcraft practices that work if you follow all the instructions provided.