book notes

  • 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,…

  • Black Book

    Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. In the 19th century: “There is also evidence of home-grown grimoires or ‘Black Books’ circulating among practitioners of folk magic. These manuals of practical occultism contained spells, incantations to call…

  • The Grail

    Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. The goal of witchcraft religions is the seeking of the Grail – the archetypal symbol of spiritual illumination, divine knowledge, and mystical union with God; “the return of the divine…

  • Names and Titles of the God/dess

    Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. The twilight gods of the traditional witch. Hecate/Hekate Diana Artemis Persephone/Proserpina/Kore the Earth Mother Sovereignty Frau Holda/Percht/Bertha Habondia Herodias Sybille Benzonia Bona Domina Nicnevin Aradia/Aridia Mari Queen of Elfhame Fate/Fata…

  • Witch/Craft

    Notes made while reading “Children of Cain” by Michael Howard. Cunning folk. Wizards. Wise women. Sorcerers. Warlocks. Enchanters. Charmers. Fortune tellers. Astrologers. Pellers. Healers. Folk magicians. Seers. Diviners. Soothsayers. Witches. “A person who perceives vividly the connection between all aspects…