The History of Wicca and Modern Pagan Witchcraft
Books I own The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ronald Hutton Trials of the Moon: Reopening the Case for Historical Witchcraft by Ben Whitmore Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival by…
1.1 Wicca, Witchcraft, Paganism
Notes made while reading “Towards the Wiccan Circle” by Sorita d’Este. Witchcraft is a folk magic practice that utilises spells of various forms to make manifest one’s Will. Paganism is term used to describe a range of pre-Christian religious beliefs…
Differences Between Witches and Non-Witches
Notes made while reading “A Deed Without a Name” by Lee Morgan. Shamanic, ecstatic practice blurs the lines between physical, “in the body”, experiences and spiritual, “in spirit”, experiences. Extension of the senses leading to Other ways of being. Thus…
Shamanic, Ecstatic
Notes made while reading “A Deed Without a Name” by Lee Morgan. An ‘ecstatic’ is a type of mystic who leaves or transcends the flesh in powerful visions and has congress with another world. But a ‘shaman’ is one who…
How to become a witch
Notes made while reading “A Deed Without a Name” by Lee Morgan. Born that way -> approached by spirits or the Devil and informed of vocation/gifted with power. Initiated by other person -> share food/drink with fey/shifter, agree 3 times…
Images of (Traditional) Witchcraft
Notes made while reading “A Deed Without a Name” by Lee Morgan. Choosing the path of witchcraft because drawn to imagery like spirit flights, hedge crossing, bubbling cauldrons, wild dances in wild places, death and ghosts, shape-shifting, sorcery. Imagery created…
Animals
Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. Sending forth the fetch in animal form. White rabbits as animal forms of witches in Essex. Toad Bone / Horseman’s Word. Frogs/toads as medieval familiars. Diana & Hecate have dogs…
Paradigm
Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. The Italian witches… are taught the pantheistic and Hermetic philosophy that the world is a living organism ‘where stars, planets, birds, plants, stones and humans interact with each other in…
Initiation
Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. How to become a witch (magical transmission of knowledge and ‘passing on of power’): Initiation by faeries Initiation by other witches via ceremony Witch blood/elven blood Literary transmission, via texts/grimoires…
Practice
Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. On the Cultus Sabbati: ..It practices ‘the spells and customs which generations past have bequeathed’ such as healing, divination, toad bone magick, the use of knotted cords for magical purposes,…