The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A–Z for the Entire Magical World
Judika Illes
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 spiritual traditions, from all over the world, there are recipes from the witch's cauldron, magical sacred dates, and methods of witches' flights. Discover how witchcraft has inspired popular culture from Shakespeare to Harry Potter, and how witches have suffered persecution and death in centuries past.Packed full of amazing facts, bizarre information and fascinating stories, you will also be introduced to mythic witches, modern witches, sacred goddess witches, even demon witches, male and female witches, and witches from all over the globe.Ideal for both the dedicated follower and casual reader, as a perfect gift for yourself or someone else to treasure, this definitive encyclopedia is essential reading for anyone interested in folklore, mythology and magic.
The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft
Judika Illes
the complete a–z for the entire magical world
For Clara Fisher and Irma Illes, with love
In memory of Zsuzsanna and Margit Grosz
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#u80b47a1d-c2da-50be-a4ca-d8a53363f4a8)
Title Page (#udd869208-cf85-55db-9bb2-81c19d97b2c6)
Dedication (#uf2d3d506-10f2-526a-95e2-000a4cf64187)
Introduction (#u7378b979-2ed2-5a23-a9e5-d5594c8caf90)
Elements of Witchcraft (#u5555ac10-e9e7-5721-a983-48a24abc5007)
Animals (#u3df7baf8-7b1d-525a-831c-02220dc4ff12)
Books of Magic and Witchcraft (#u81591edf-30de-54b5-9ca3-3523e7a25bbb)
Botanicals (#u748f468f-8cb7-5b4e-b765-a7e3476c0047)
Calendar of Revelry and Sacred Days (#u9ab0e529-4b14-5267-ba2a-51d2fa372b87)
Creative Arts (#litres_trial_promo)
Dictionary of Witchcraft: A Magical Vocabulary (#litres_trial_promo)
The Divine Witch: Goddesses and Gods (#litres_trial_promo)
Ergot, The Corn Mother, and The Rye Wolf (#litres_trial_promo)
Fairies (#litres_trial_promo)
Fairy-Tale Witches and Mother Goose (#litres_trial_promo)
Food and Drink (#litres_trial_promo)
The Hag (#litres_trial_promo)
The Horned One and The Devil (#litres_trial_promo)
Magical Arts (#litres_trial_promo)
Magical Professions (#litres_trial_promo)
Places: A witch’s Travel Guide (#litres_trial_promo)
Tools of Witchcraft (#litres_trial_promo)
Witchcraft Hall of Fame (#litres_trial_promo)
Witchcraze! Persecution of Witches (#litres_trial_promo)
Women’s Mysteries (#litres_trial_promo)
Wormwood and Garlic: Dangers and Protection (#litres_trial_promo)
Bibliography (#litres_trial_promo)
Acknowledgments (#litres_trial_promo)
Other Book By (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Introduction (#ulink_3480907e-1a53-5f75-8a59-bb38d6695917)
Most of my clothes are black. I have a black cat. My favorite holiday is Halloween. I have perpetually unruly hair. Given the right company, I will happily chatter on about astrology, magic, herbs, and divination. I write books of magic spells. So perhaps it’s not surprising that periodically I’m asked whether I’m a witch.
Invariably, my response is to say that my answer depends upon the inquirer’s definition of witchcraft. Inevitably this leads to frustration (and often to anger) on the part of the inquirer: they think they’ve asked a very simple, straightforward question because, of course, every child, any idiot so to speak, knows the definition of “witch.” Their perception is that I’m being snippy and evasive (stereotypical witch behavior, incidentally) when in fact I’m just wary. I’ve already experienced too many unpleasant encounters with those whose definitions of witchcraft did not correspond with my own—or with each other’s for that matter. I’ve learned that, just like beauty, what constitutes witchcraft is dependent upon the eye of its beholder.
Don’t believe me? Let’s look in the dictionary.
The following definition is from Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary:
WITCH (n ME wicche fr. OE wicca, masc. wizard and wicce fem. witch; akin to MHG wicken to bewitch, OE wigle divination, OHG wih holy—more at victim)
1a. Wizard, Sorcerer
1b. a woman practicing the black arts: SORCERESS
1c. one supposed to possess supernatural powers esp. by compact with devil or familiar
1d. or Witcher: Dowser
2. an ugly old woman: HAG
