Aradia - Gospel of the Witches
This first edition reprint tells how the author met a woman in Italy in the 1800's who revealed to him Strega, the Old Religion, which pre-dated Christianity. This is an important book for Wiccans, pagans and those interested in early religious beliefs. Contains an early version of an important document called the "Charge of the Goddess," plus spells in the original Italian, with English translations. A must for any pagan or Wiccan library -- their "gospel," according to the subtitle.







Introduction to Paganism
Most pagan primers jump right into the seasonal calendar, Celtic strands, pentagrams, spell casting and the like. True to form, this offers a judicious overview of the calendar and the general characteristics and essentials of Paganism as the Higginbothams see it interconnectedness and blessedness. To their credit, though, the authors have crafted a very different kind of book, one of great spiritual depth that could be of genuine and lasting service to anyone who is interested in sorting out the whats and whys of belief. Early on, they outline the "big tent" of Paganism that shelters a dozen or more passageways (Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism, Santer¡a, etc.), comparing it to Christianity and its popular denominations (Methodist, Roman Catholic, etc.). Throughout, they employ calm and rational prose that seeks not to proselytize as much as to aid discernment, making good on the authors' claim that, "Whether or not you decide to be a Pagan once you finish [the book] is not as important as providing you with tools to help you identify your values and goals." The seven chapters are nicely paced with illustrations, diagrams, visualization exercises, discussion points and journal prompts, all of which can be used by individuals or groups. The authors tackle the charge of Satanism head-on with success, but even more progressively (and clearly) they weave new discoveries in physics into the life fabric of belief and action. The final chapter explores ethics, and similar to the others, serves the broadest common good.

From Library Journal
The founders of both a pagan church and the Council for Alternative Spiritual Traditions, the Higginbothams here offer an overview of the belief systems comprising neopaganism. Included in the discussion are Wicca, Shamanism, Asatru, Celtic traditionalism, Druidism, Santeria, Voodoo, and other forms prevalent in paganism today. The authors proceed from central concepts of interconnectedness and blessedness, to a definition of neopaganism and a discussion of personal responsibility for one's beliefs, to concepts of Deity, Satan, the living universe, "magick," and ethics. The format is similar to that of many self-help books, with text, diagrams, discussion questions, and meditation exercises. This clear, rational, and sympathetic introduction to neopaganism for nonpagans will be helpful to all readers interested in exploring their spirituality. This first book by the Higginbothams complements existing introductions, such as Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon and Graham Harvey's Contemporary Paganism: Listening People, Speaking Earth, at least one of which libraries should already have. Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries and for religion collections. William P. Collins, Library of Congress



Wicca in the Kitchen
There's a reason caviar has a reputation as a love food, but a little vanilla or peppermint can work wonders too! You'll savor mushrooms like never before after experiencing their intuitive-raising effects, and a munch of celery will resonate with new meaning as it boosts your sexual desire and psychic awareness. Virtually any item in your pantry can be used for personal transformation. From artichokes to kidney beans to grape jelly, food contains specific magical energies you can harness for positive results. This encyclopedia of food magic offers twenty-seven of Scott Cunningham's favorite recipes. Magical menus for more than ten desired goals including love, protection, health, money, and psychic awareness are provided as well. This commemorative edition also presents special features and articles celebrating Scott Cunningham's remarkable life.

About the Author
Scott Cunningham practiced magic actively for over twenty years. He was the author of more than fifty books covering both fiction and non-fiction subject matter; sixteen of his titles are published by Llewellyn Publications. Scott's books reflect a broad range of interests within the New Age sphere, where he was very highly regarded. He passed from this life on March 28, 1993, after a long illness.



Planetary Herbology
Presented here are two books that address the healing qualities of herbs. The New Age Herbalist is an attempt to "form a bridge between orthodox medicine and herbalism . . . ." The authors believe that no herbalists should regard their treatment as beyond scientific explanation and analysis . . . ." The attractive book has many black-and-white drawings and color photos which clearly show the various parts of each herb described. The "glossary" of herbs is designed to be used with chapters on nutrition, healing, and body and home care; it also has a section on growing herbs. The authors provide basic psychological information and practical advice on using herbs, and include recipes for both foods and household preparations. A good, comprehensive work with sound advice on what conditions are treatable herbally, and when to obtain traditional medical treatment. Tierra, author of The Way of Herbs ( LJ 10/1/80), has compiled an impressive work that covers the philosophies of traditional Eastern herbal medicine along with describing the herbs and their uses. He compares these systems to Western herbal traditions, aiming at a synthesis to create a "planetary" herbalism. Tierra's basic assumptions, that because the Eastern systems have existed for centuries, they must work, and that "all plants must have potential therapeutic application," are unproven and probably unprovable. He sees herbalism as a religion of nature, intuitive rather than precise and scientific. The book may be of interest to Eastern herbalism researchers, but not for the practical herbalist, as the information is often contradictory or of marginal use.





Isis Magic
The Goddess is alive. She always has been.

But during the last two millennia, at least here in the West, She has been obscured. Occulted, but not erased, Her life-enhancing worship did not die. It was secreted within the inner teachings of esoteric societies, trivialized as folk custom, or enveloped within a mass of religious practices that officially denied Her Divinity while continuing to build cathedrals in Her name. For even though the Christian Fathers had long warned against making Mary into a Goddess, She functioned as Goddess1 for Her many adoring worshippers.

And this is precisely the point.

She is.

Official sanction has nothing to do with Her reality. Diminishing Her rituals into folk custom has nothing to do with Her power. Denying Her existence has nothing to do with our human need of a relationship with Her. Our humanity calls out for our Divine Mother, Sister, Grandmother, and Wife. We need the Creatrix, the Warrior Woman, the Wise Queen, the Lover and the Beloved, and the Divine Feminine Mystery. We need the entire range of aspects that the wholeness of Goddess provides us. God, too, needs Her; for without Her, He is incomplete.

Throughout the history of the worship of Feminine Deity, She has been known by many names. Modern Goddess worshippers have understood, with Dion Fortune, that all the Goddesses are one Goddess. This is expressed in a common hymn in the Goddess community that sings the names of many Goddesses as a way to invoke the one Goddess: Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hekate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna!



Three Books of Occult Philosophy
This huge tome, written in the 16th century by Henry Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim, is a gathering together of ideas from a myriad of scholarly sources describing the role of magic in the Universe. Largely drawn from Greek, Roman and Bibilical sources, the philosophy -- later recanted by Agrippa when in danger of falling into accustaion of heresy from the still influential Catholic Church -- is the cornerstone of Western Magic. Indeed, it was very influential with such 19th century occultists as Francis Barrett (The Magus), Lord Bulwer-Lytton, the Goldern Dawn and OTO.

Each book describes a facet of occult philosophy in a differnt focus. Book I describes the occultism of the physical world and relies much on neo-platonic thought. Book II deals with the Cellestial world, with a heavy focus on astrology. Book III deals with the world of the divine with a heavy Judeo-Christian philosophy.

While many of the ideas put forth appear rediculous today, relying on the validity of heresay evidence and the reknown of the sources he uses, it is interesting to see how, despite the knowledge of empiricism at that time, the word of the Church and Greco-Roman Philospohers are accepted with little question to validity.

Much of this massive book, minute in detail with the space given to the editor's footnotes often exceeding that of the chapters of the original text itself, will prove tedious and silly. And yet, one can find gems of wisdom as well as an understanding of the progression of scholarly thought in the West at that period.

A tue occultist will delight in the detailed description of the correspondences and the orginal thought behind why one thing such as Mars, is associated with another such as the color red. But while today we may see this all as mere symbolism, back then they really believed there was a true physical or spiritual link between such objects.

One of the benefits of this version of the Occult Philosphy is the bibliographical dictionary at the end of the book, compiling short sketches of most of the famous and obscure philosophers, historians and other writers whose works Agrippa cites in his text.



The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy
This book is a milestone in Western magical practice. Often erroneously called a forgery, it is in fact six separate books in one, the first two being by Agrippa (1486–1535). One of them, Of Magical Ceremonies, is Agrippa’s clearest step-by-step formulation of how to perform an evocation, much more openly expressed than in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In addition there is the key grimoire, Of the Magick of the Ancients by Arbatel, which clearly defines the different types of magic, focusing on the invocation of angels and of the Olympic spirits. The Heptameron by Peter de Abano is a complete, self-contained set of instructions for conjuration of spirits according to the day of the week. Also included is Villinganus’ work on the nature of spirits, illusions, prophecies, and miracles, and how they may be used. Two complete geomancies (one by Agrippa) complete the volume, which has been reset in modern type and edited with a commentary by Stephen Skinner.






Sabbat Entertaining
Share Wiccan traditions with friends and family!

And much more

Gorgeous Color Photos and Illustrations Throughout



5000 Elemental Spells
Enter the world of folklore, myth, witchcraft and magic! The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, a comprehensive guide to the magical arts, features five thousand spells spanning five thousand years of magical history drawn from Earth’s every inhabited corner, from ancient to modern Egypt, from old Mesopotamia to today’s African Diaspora. There are spells from Celtic, Chinese, Italian, Jewish, Romany, Slavic and Tibetan traditions plus many more. There’s practical magic, high ritual magic, spells that demand careful planning and spells to be cast spontaneously, spells one might wish to cast daily as well as spells that should perhaps never be performed, spells whose components include precious resins and priceless gems and spells whose every ingredient is free: ocean water, moonbeams, dirt.

Within The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells’ more than one thousand pages you’ll discover:

and more . . .

The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells also serves as a tribute to the magical books of the past. According to many anthropologists, the need to record magic spells and divination results (and taxes!) may have stimulated the very birth of writing.

According to legend, the very first books that ever existed were grimoires, (the technical name for books of magic spells) such as the Book of Thoth, authored by the Egyptian god of both magic and writing or the Book of Raziel, authored by an angel and given to Adam as consolation for his expulsion from Eden. (The angels preferred giving human women private tutorials rather than books.)

The Book of Thoth has been missing for thousands of years although a version of The Book of Raziel is currently in print. (The original volume, engraved on sapphire, is allegedly beneath the sea.) During the Burning Times, when magical practitioners were burned by the thousands or the millions, depending upon whose count one finds reliable, grimoires too were destroyed and burned, together with alchemists’ texts and witches’ private books of shadows, countless volumes of occult wisdom forever lost in the shadows.

The majority of the spells contained in The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells are traditional spells. Although the Burning Times are over, traditional magic remains under siege in much of the world. Spells are lost daily. In a world of 'rationalists' and fundamentalists, ancient Earthly wisdom as well as its practitioners are an endangered species.

Magic spells are our common human heritage as are knowledge of magical techniques, whether we choose to use them, whether we wish to keep them on hand for times when they’ll be needed or whether they serve as inspiration and guidance so that we may create our own individual, personalized spells, furthering the evolution of that oldest of human arts, magic.