Witchcraft has proven an important, if difficult, historical subject to investigate and interpret over the last four decades or so. Modern historical research into witchcraft began as an attempt to tease out the worldview of ordinary people in 16th- and 17th-century England, but it quickly expanded to encompass the history of witchcraft in most cultures and societies that have existed with scholarly studies now extending back to the time of earliest law code that punished sorcery, the Baby...

The Golden Bough was originally published in two volumes in 1890, but Frazer became so enamored of his topic that over the next few decades he expanded the work sixfold, then in 1922 cut it all down to a single thick edition suitable for mass distribution. The thesis on the origins of magic and religion that it elaborates "will be long and laborious," Frazer warns readers, "but may possess something of the charm of a voyage of discovery, in which we shall visit many strange lands, with str...

Following on from the hugely successful Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, comes the next bumper encyclopedia celebrating all facets of witchcraft. This definite book is the most comprehensive, authoritative and entertaining guide you'll ever find on the mythology, folklore and traditions of magic.In this mammoth magical treasure trove, Judika Illes explores the history, folklore, spirituality, and mythology of witchcraft. A feast of facts and curiosities, rooted in magical and s...

When a murderous psychopath goes on a killing spree, law enforcement officials and the media never make his religion the central issue-unless he happens to be a Muslim. Then it sets off another frenzied wave of commentary about the inherent evils that lurk within the Muslim faith. From Fox News talking heads, who regularly smear Muslim leaders as secret terrorists, to Bill Maher, who has made Islam a routine target, it has become widely acceptable to libel a religion with a following of ov...

Bringing together scholars from Europe, America, and Australia, this volume explores the more fantastic elements of popular religious belief: ghosts, werewolves, spiritualism, animism, and of course, witchcraft. These traditional religious beliefs and practices are frequently treated as marginal in more synthetic studies of witchcraft and popular religion, yet Protestants and Catholics alike saw ghosts, imps, werewolves, and other supernatural entities as populating their world. Embedded w...

Reveals the true nature of medieval belief in the Double of the Soul• Demonstrates the survival of a pagan belief that each individual owns three souls, including a double that can journey outside the physical body• Explains the nature of death and the Other World hidden beneath the monsters and superstitions in stories from the Middle AgesMonsters, werewolves, witches, and fairies remain a strong presence in our stories and dreams. But as Claude Lecouteux shows, th...

A look at the forgotten ancestors of the modern-day vampire, many of which have very different characteristics• Looks at the many ancestoral forms of the modern vampire, including shroud eaters, appesarts, and stafi• Presents evidence for the reality of this phenomenon from pre-19th-century newspaper articles and judicial recordsOf all forms taken by the undead, the vampire wields the most powerful pull on the modern imagination. But the countless movies and books i...

A folklorist chronicles the history and lore of witchcraft in the Keystone State from William Penn's 17th century witch trial to 20th century occultism.As English and German settlers migrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their beliefs in magic with them from the Old World—sometimes with dangerous consequences. In 1802, for example, an Allegheny County judge helped an accused witch escape an angry mob. But Susan Mummey was not so fortunate. In 1934, she was killed ...

Examines how the ancient customs of constructing and keeping a house formed a sacred bond between homes and their inhabitants• Shares many tales of house spirits, from cajoling the local land spirit into becoming one’s house spirit to the good and bad luck bestowed by mischievous house elves• Explains the meaning behind door and window placement, house orientation, horsehead gables, the fireplace or hearth, and the threshold• Reveals the charms, chants, prayers, and...

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Halloween? Have you ever wondered what it is really about? For centuries, countries all over the world have celebrated this and I wanted to know why? Come with me, back to the 15th century, and see what I have found.

Where did China come from? What is China's history? How did China become one of the leading countries of today?Those are great questions, and not always easy to answer. To do so you need to go back to the dawn of time and the very first people that came to ancient China.These ancient cultures existed as long as 10,000 years ago and they'd form the basis for the first Chinese dynasty in 2070 BC, the Xia Dynasty.Long before that, however, there were ancient myths and ...