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It is intended to be not merely a history, but a guide to the many strange byways of a vast and fascinating subject. Witchcraft is as old as the human race, and it is actively practiced today, by people of all classes. To its devotees, witchcraft is more than spells and charms, or even secret meetings and rituals; it is a philosophy and a way of life. It claims to be the oldest form of religion, that of nature-worship and magic.
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Magic is meant to help people and Natural Magic, essentially a practical treatise revealing the magic inherent in human life and nature, shows that magic can be for everyone. Both those who are new to the practice of magic and those with experience will find it to be delightful reading and an informative handbook for use in daily life.
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Doreen Valiente shows how the oral traditions of witchcraft throw light not only upon the origins of the present day witch cult and the activities of the witch leader George Pickingill and his covens, but also upon the mystery of the founding of the famous magical order, the Golden Dawn. Also … the relationship between the witchcraft of Britain and Europe and the magical belief of the Far East.
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WHERE WITCHCRAFT LIVES
Long out of print and republishing long over due, the Centre For Pagan Studies has plans to publish this book
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Witchcraft traces the history of contemporary Wicca from it’s shadowy roots at the turn of the century to the present day. Doreen Valiente presents details never before published, some of them very revealing and surprising, on: The leading figures in this rebirth from Gerald Gardner to Starhawk, and many others
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A very personal account that reveals the ancient rituals and philosophy of witchcraft. Once a part of Robert Cochrane’s coven, the authors delve deep into modern witchcraft, exploring its very ancient roots. The rudiments of the craft and the nature of the rites are shown to revolve around traditional witchcraft passed down through families from earliest times rather than the modern Gardnerian and Alexandrian versions The authors give revelatory information on the members and oaths of the coven, its working tools and regalia from the stangs to the skull, rituals for the great sabbats, handfasting, purification and the royal cairn. The age-old rites are recalled and reworked for today, as the authors show how witchcraft can indeed be a practical working faith.
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Doreen Valiente, the Mother of Modern Witchcraft, is an acclaimed author in her own right. She rewrote and edited elements of Gerald Gardner’s Book of shadows and is largely responsible for Wicca becoming the fastest growing religion in the Western world. Just before Doreen died on the 1st September 1999, she requested that her poems be published. Here, for the first time, together with her magical artefacts and memories from friends, is a tribute to a great lady who gave, and is still giving, so much to the Craft.
PURCHASE DIRECT FROM DOREENVALIENTE.COM
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