The Story of Witches

Delve into the beguiling history of witches and uncover a fascinating world laden with myth, magic and superstition. The Story of Witches offers a tantalising insight into the dark past and modern fascination with the occult in its many forms. Demonic and deviant or liberated and revered, witches have cast a compelling spell over the cultural zeitgeist for hundreds of years, often occupying a space at the forefront of art and culture. In this enchantingly illustrated book, Willow Winsham separates fact from fiction by exploring the demonisation and reclamation of witches throughout history. The book is split into three chapters: 1. Witches of Myth and Legend 2. Witch Trials and Witch Beliefs 3. The Wheel of the Year From witch queens of fairy and folk tales and the Bell Witch Haunting, to the Witches'' Sabbath and the Green Witch, this book chronicles the spellbinding and varied forms that witches have taken across history.

Auteur

Willow Winsham is a historian of witchcraft, specialising in English witchcraft cases. She is author of Accused: British Witches Throughout Histor*y and *England's Witchcraft Trials. She is co-founder of #FolkloreThursday, a popular website and X account that brings fascinating tales and traditions from all corners of the globe to its followers every Thursday. She is based in Derbyshire.

Texte du rabat

From witch queens of fairy and folk tales and the Bell Witch Haunting, to the Witches' Sabbath and the Green Witch, this book chronicles the spellbinding and varied forms that witches have taken across history.

Résumé
An entrancing introduction to the complex history of witches and witchcraft that uncovers a world laden with myth, magic and superstition.

Contenu

Part One: From Hecate to Baba Yaga - Witches of Fairytale, Myth and Legend

Goddess of Witches: The Many Faces of Hecate

NicNevin: Scottish Witch Queen

Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble: The Witches of Macbeth

From Mother Gothel to Snow White: Witches in Folk and Fairy Tales

The Witch with the Chicken Legged Hut: Baba Yaga

Milk Magic: Butter Stealing and Milk Thieves

Milk Hares and Troll Cats

Witches and Hares

From Ale Wives to The Wicked Witch of the West: Why do Witches Wear Pointed Hats?

'Tis the Season: The Witches of Christmas

• Perchta
• Frau Holle
• La Befana
• Gryla

Part Two: The Witch Amongst Us - The Witch Trials and Beyond

Thou Shalt Not Suffer A Witch To Live

The Hammer of Witches: Malleus Maleficarum

Babyfat and Sex with Satan: The Witches' Sabbath

From Midsummer to Halloween: When Witches Meet

The Witches Sabbath Continued.

In the Name of the Devil

Taking to the Skies: Witches and Broomsticks

Pricking and Swimming: A Discovery of Witches

• Swimming a Witch
• Witch Pricking
• Searching for Teats
• Waking and Walking
• Weighing against the Bible
• Touch Test
• Reciting the Lord's Prayer
• Making a Witch Cake Imps and Demons: The Witch and Her Familiars

Protection and Charms: How to Foil a Witch.

• Iron
• Scratch the Witch
• Fire
• Words and Charms and gestures
• Born lucky
• Trees and Plants Witch Bottles

Part Three: From Wicca to X - The Many Faces of The Witch Today

The History of Wicca:

• Margaret Murray and the Myth of the Witch Cult
• Witchcraft Today: The Advent of Wicca and Beyond
• Boxout: The Mother of Modern Witchcraft: Doreen Valiente
• Boxout: The Fraudulent Mediums Act: An historicfreedom for Wicca
• King of the Witches: Alexandrian Wicca
• Dianic Wicca.

• Starhawk and The Reclaiming Tradition Wicca in Practice:

• The Wiccan Rede
• Maiden, Mother, Crone: The Great Goddess
• The Solitary Witch: Hedge Witches.
• The Horned God

The Wheel of the Year

• The Thinning of the Veil: Samhain
• Burning the Yule Log: Yule
• In the Belly: Imbolc
• New Life: Ostara
• Welcoming the Sun: Beltane
• The Longest Day: Litha
• Start of the Harvest: Lughnasadh
• Gerald Gardner and Operation Cone of Power
• Harvest Home: Mabon The Power of the Moon: Esbats

A Dark Heritage: Remembering Our Witches

Conclusion

Acknowledgements