Over 3000 authoritative, cross-referenced entries, covering magical traditions from all around the world.

This second volume in the popular Watkins Dictionary series is filled with fascinating explanations for all things magical, from spells and secret rituals to mythical creatures. More than just handy reference, the many definitions and articles here—including pieces on Kabbalah, Tarot, and Gnosticism—provide a great introduction for neophyte occultists interested in expanding their understanding. But even seasoned readers will benefit from access to quick facts and interesting information, and enjoy dipping into the many biographies of occult figures (both well-known and obscure) as well as myths and folklore from around the world.

Your Ultimate Acacia-to-Zinnia Guide 550+ Magical Plants for Rituals, Spellcraft, Divination & More An indispensable resource for magical practitioners, this illustrated encyclopedia offers detailed profiles of all the herbs, houseplants, fruits, vegetables, trees, and flowers you could ever need. This comprehensive reference guide is packed with familiar favorites, like apple and lemongrass, alongside lesser-known options, like moonwort and pignut. With hundreds of plants to choose from, you are sure to find the best botanical partners for raising healing energy, communing with your ancestors, increasing psychic abilities, manifesting your dreams, and more. Reflecting herbal traditions from around the world, the meticulously researched profiles include: Botanical, common, and folk names • Description and attributes History and lore • Inspiration for spells and rituals Correspondences • Appropriate cautions With the option to look up entries by name, magical use, zodiac sign, planetary association, or element, this book makes it easy to find the right plant for the job. The Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants will support all your botanical needs along your unique spiritual path, making it an essential addition to your home library.

First published in 1978, Don Juan, Mescalito and Modern Magic begins with an analysis of the Castaneda material from the viewpoint of its inherently magical content. The author examines the symbiotic gestures, the magical actions and the mind-altering techniques employed by the brujo Don Juan, and then goes on to draw comparisons with two other schools of thought: the psychedelic development of the 1960s and the Western Magical Tradition. The essential aim throughout is to show that there is a basically Western shamanism which uses Western symbols and is easily accessible. The shamanistic practices of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn are examined in this context. Considerable emphasis is also placed on mythological aspects associated with out-of-the-body experiences and their relevance to both the Don Juan Mescalito imagery and the Qabalistic and Tarot symbols found in Western Magic. This book will be of interest to students of religion, history and literature.

“Like a modern Saraswati [the author] leads us through the brainstorming for a topic, rhythm, meter, poetic form, self-editing, and ritual literature.” —Barbara Ardinger, Ph.D., author of Pagan Every Day You’ve attended rituals that took your breath away. You’ve borrowed spells out of books. You’ve read splendid Pagan poetry in magazines. Now learn to compose all these types of magical writing yourself! Composing Magic guides you through the exciting realm of magical and spiritual writing. You’ll explore the process of writing, its tools and techniques, individual types of composition, and ways of sharing your work with other people. The book shows you how to write: • Basic and advanced forms of poetry • Spells • Chants and rounds • Prayers • Blessings • Solitary and group rituals Each type of writing includes its history and uses, which cover diverse traditions. Step-by-step instructions lead you through the creative process. Examples demonstrate finished compositions of each type, while exercises help you develop your skills by practicing what you’ve just read. You’ll discover that magical writing has more impact when it comes from the heart. Anyone can develop the skills needed to create effective compositions, but the most successful writers reveal their souls. Composing Magic will also show you ways of deepening your craft through performance and publication. Whether you practice solitary or in a group, this book will help you write with more power, more beauty, and less effort. “A smart, well-crafted book.” —Kenaz Filan, managing editor of newWitch “Composing Magic blends the craft of poetry and the Craft of magic in one dish.” —Chas S. Clifton, author of Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America

This exciting multi-authored volume provides a fascinating overview of the many different pathways that help defi ne esoteric belief and practice in modern Western magic. Included here are chapters on the late 19th century Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the infl uential Thelemic doctrines of Aleister Crowley, and the different faces of the Universal Goddess in Wicca and the Pagan traditions. Also included are chapters on Neoshamanism in Europe and the United States-and an account of how these traditions have in turn infl uenced the rise of techno-shamanism in the West. Additional features of this collection include insider perspectives on Seidr oracles, hybridised Tantra, contemporary black magic, the Scandinavian Dragon Rouge and Chaos magic in Britain-as well as profi les of the magical artists Ithell Colquhoun, Austin Osman Spare and Rosaleen Norton. Contributors: Nikki Bado Jenny Blain Nevill Drury Dave Evans Amy Hale Phil Hine Lynne Hume Marguerite Johnson Thomas Karlsson James R. Lewis Libu e Mart nkov Robert J. Wallis Don Webb Dominique Beth Wilson Andrei A. Znamenski Nevill Drury, editor of this collection, received his PhD from the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2008. His most recent publications include Stealing Fire from Heaven: the Rise of Modern Western Magic and The Varieties of Magical Experience (co-authored with Dr Lynne Hume).

Magic Words: A Dictionary is a oneofakind resource for armchair linguists, popculture enthusiasts, Pagans, Wiccans, magicians, and trivia nuts alike. Brimming with the most intriguing magic words and phrases from around the world and illustrated throughout with magical symbols and icons, Magic Words is a dictionary like no other. More than sevenhundred essay style entries describe the origins of magical words as well as historical and popular variations and fascinating trivia. With sources ranging from ancient Medieval alchemists to modern stage magicians, necromancers, and wizards of legend to miracle workers throughout time, Magic Words is a must have for any scholar of magic, language, history, and culture.

Now is the Time to Do Witchcraft, Not Just Read About It Packed with hands-on exercises, inspiring journal prompts, and confidence-boosting activities, this book helps build your magical foundation and eases any concerns you have about getting started in witchcraft. Whether you live in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, Josephine Winter provides easy ways to celebrate not only your spiritual practice, but the seasons as well. This comprehensive, accessible book introduces you to: Sabbats • Elements • Witchy Tools • Divination • Plant Magic • Rituals • Spellcasting • Deities and Spirit • Planetary Magic • Meditation • Altar Work • Talismans • Magic Circles • Hearth Magic Witchcraft Discovered encourages you to examine what it means to be a modern practitioner (witchcraft of the head), work with magical energy (witchcraft of the hands), and dance to your own drumbeat as you work (witchcraft of the heart). Josephine teaches you about witchcraft's history, traditions, and terminology, shares some kitchen witch recipes, and offers additional resources at every turn.

By bringing together in one place specific objects, materials, and features indicating ritual, religious, or magical belief used by people around the world and through time, this tool will assist archaeologists in identifying evidence of belief-related behaviors and broadening their understanding of how those behaviors may also be seen through less obvious evidential lines. Instruction and templates for recording, typologizing, classifying, and analyzing ritual or magico-religious material culture are also provided to guide researchers in the survey, collection, and cataloging processes. The bulleted formatting and topical range make this a highly accessible work, while providing an incredible wealth of information in a single volume.