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: A Study in Magic and Religion is a wide-ranging comparative study of mythology and religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941). It was first published in two volumes in 1890; the third edition, published 1906-15, comprised twelve volumes. It was aimed at a broad literate audience raised on tales as told in such publications as Thomas Bulfinch's The Age of Fable, or Stories of Gods and Heroes (1855). It offered a modernist approach to d...

In 'Myths of the Norsemen (Illustrated Edition),' Hélène Adeline Guerber expertly navigates the rich tapestry of Norse mythology, unraveling the intricate narratives surrounding deities, heroes, and cosmic events. Written with an engaging style that balances scholarly rigor with accessible prose, this illustrated edition enhances the reader's experience through vivid imagery that brings these ancient tales to life. Guerber's work is situated within the greater context of European folklor...

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...

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 ...

Magic is all around us - in stones, flowers, stars, the dawn wind and the sunset cloud. All we need is the ability to see it, understand it, and apply it. Natural Magic explains how to practise the age-old white magic that village wise women have used for centuries. It deals with the magic of herbs and flowers, of the four elements, of numbers and colours, amulets and talismans, how to read cards, how to interpret dreams, and much more. There are chapters on the secrets of sex magic, and o...

Illuminating the Dark Side’s Spirits, Fiends, Devils, and Demons.Throughout human history, we have been obsessed with the dark opposites of God and angels, light, and mercy. Whether it is our religious and sacred texts, folklore and myths of old, legends, fairy tales, novels, or the movies and television shows of today, the dark entities enthrall us, terrify us, and remind us of the dualities of life. But where did they originate? Are they real? Does every religion...