The Witches Almanac | Free Book
Real Witches. Real Lives. Real Magic. Real History. Take a magical tour through the lives and times of 359 of the most important sorcerers and witches throughout history.
For millennia there’s been a fascination and a fear of people possibly wielding magical powers and a stigma surrounding practitioners of ancient rituals and practices. Yet, in the last 70 years, witchcraft, as well as Wicca, have gone from taboo beliefs pursued by a handful of eccentrics and misfits to major global, spiritual movements. Meet the troublemakers and rebels who pushed for change in The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches, and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age. You’ll be introduced to the history, persecutions, conjurings, and magic of some of history’s most consequential witches, sorcerers, wizards, and mavericks, including …
Circe, Medea, Hermes Trismegistus, the Chaldean Magi, and other Ancient Roman and Classical Greek witchesMerlin, Morgana le Fey, Nimue, the 10 Queens of Avalon, and sorcery and witchcraft in the Arthurian legendsSan Cipriano, the obscure 4th century bishop whose influence today still plays an important role in folk magic and Hoodoo practicesBaba Yaga, Joan of Arc, Gilles de Rais, Alice Kyteller, Lord Soulis, Michael Scott, the Golem of Prague, and medieval witchcraftKing Henry VI, Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII, Catherine de Medici, John Dee, Queen Elizabeth, and witchcraft in the British royal courtIsobel Gowdie, illusive Scottish witch whose voluntary confessions provided the template for traditional witchcraft beliefsIsaac Newton, Friar Roger Bacon, Nicholas Flamel, Paracelsus, Cornelius Agrippa, Robert Boyle, and other alchemistsThe Burning Times of the late 16th to early 18th centuriesThe Berwick witch trialThe Salem witch trialAleister Crowley, W. B. Yeats, MacGregor Mathers, Eliphas Levi, the Golden Dawn, Thelema and ritual magic, and the rise of esoteric movements of the 19th and early 20th centuriesJack Parsons, described as the “Jet-Propelled Antichrist” whose life of sex, rockets, and magic ended prematurely in a mysterious explosionGerald Gardner, Old Dorothy Clutterbuck, Alex Sanders, Robert Cochrane, Raymond Buckland, Lady Sheba, Marjorie Cameron, and others in the modern Wicca and witchcraft movementAnd much more!!You’ll get a deeper understanding of the obscure history of witches with this enchanting and bewitching tome! The Witches Almanac brings you their rich histories and extraordinary biographies, plus it includes a helpful bibliography, an extensive index, and numerous photos, adding to its usefulness.
In The Press
“★ Starred Review. ... a true compendium of who’s who in the world of
witchcraft throughout Western civilization. ... Each chapter defines
an era of how magic and witches were perceived, defined, accepted, or
persecuted in Europe and North America. The book provides numerous
known details about the lives of practitioners of magic, witches, and
alchemists, from the Middle Ages to the age of TikTok. ... Extremely
thorough and engagingly written, this title is an excellent historical
reference for readers and students of the occult and witchcraft.” –
Library Journal
“... And as far as operating as a
“biographical dictionary” of magicians, “The Witches Almanac”
does a fantastic job. I was hard pressed to think of any practitioners
that may have been missed. Also, rest assured, “The Witches Almanac” has an excellent index, just in case you want to find a specific
person. If you’re looking for a rough history of magic that has the
main focus on the practitioners that shaped it, “The Witches Almanac” by Charles Christian is not to be missed!” –
The Magical Buffet
“… truly an engaging must-read
that will give insight to the witchcraft that has been seen in history
such as witch trials, popes accused of sorcery, and even Henry VII’s
accusations of Anne Boleyn. … riveting biographies in a well-organized
format with some that date back to Apollonius of Tyana (c. 3 B.C.E-97
C.E.) and going to modern witches such as Starhawk and Zsuzsanna
Budapest. There hasn’t been another book like this that contains this
vast of an assortment pertaining to witches. An incredible resource
that touches upon the history of witches in an almanac that is perfect
for readers interested in witches and history, those studying wicca,
students, and teachers.” – Manhattan Book Review
“... reins in a significant volume of biographical and
historical material. A plethora of personalities and events are
considered ... the book begins in the Classical world ...
contextualises the Middle Ages and the Renaissance periods …
theocratic authoritarianism of the 16th and 17th centuries gives way
to a heterodox cauldron of alchemy, ceremonial magic, Freemasonry and
“toad bone” cunning folk ... draws a clear genealogical line between
the centuries … By concluding with a brief mention of a more recent
trend in North American witchcraft ... he strikes a positive note
amidst a dark and disturbing history in part. ... A thoroughly
enjoyable survey with copious illustrations, thematic inset panels,
index and basic bibliography ...” – Fortean Times
“... profiles about 360 witches and sorcerers from
antiquity to the present, focusing on the Western/English-speaking
world. He organizes individuals by theme or chronological era, such as
the Middle Ages, witches at the royal courts of Europe, the Salem
Witch Trials, feminism, witchcraft in postwar Germany, witch-hunts and
black magic in modern times, and witchcraft in the digital age, with
introductory information on the historical context and issues,
followed by biographical entries. He does not include fictional
characters or Satanism, Devil worship, Wicca, or other variants of
Neopagan religion.” – Book News
“… a biographical
directory of witches, sorcerers, and individuals who practiced magical
arts. … Each section is introduced by a multi-page essay that provides
background context and sets the scene regarding the prevalence of
witchcraft and its legal, religious, and social influence on everyday
life. … Many of these accounts are surprisingly detailed, perhaps due
to having been recorded in church records or legal proceedings …” –
Booklist
- Title: The Witches Almanac | Free Book
- Author: Steven
- Created at : 2024-10-23 02:31:33
- Updated at : 2024-10-26 17:57:17
- Link: https://novels-ebooks.techidaily.com/210723312-9781578598144-the-witches-almanac/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.