Brown - The door to witchcraft: a new witchs guide to history, traditions and modern-day spells

Copyright 2019 by Althea Press, Emeryville, California

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Interior and Designer: Emma Hall

Art Producer: Sue Bischofberger

Editor: Pippa White

Production Editor: Erum Khan

Illustrations 2019 Chlo Besson

ISBN: Print 978-1-64152-399-8 | eBook 978-1-64152-400-1

This book is dedicated to the three strong, amazing women who raised me:

Erin Brown,

Kandi Meadors,

and Jill Fields.

CONTENTS

If you have picked up this book, there is a good chance that the world of witchcraft has enticed you. Whether it incites a light curiosity or a passionate craving, witchcraft is a personal pursuit that you can adapt to fit your goals. Do you want to be an herbal witch with a warm home filled with dried herbs and tinctures? Do you seek to connect to the spirit world for meaningful messages? Does the idea of glamour magic fill you with seductive power? Or do you simply want to hone your skills of intuition? What a lot of people dont realize is that witchcraft does not have just one purpose or one school of thought. Instead, it is a labyrinth of opportunities and a way to fine-tune your unique blend of magic. As the editor in chief of Witch Way Magazine, my goal has always been to empower readers to find what sparks their passion. Magic isnt about doing a spell in a particular way; its about practicing in whatever way works for you. The goal of this book is to help you discover what your way is and how wonderful witchcraft can be.

As a child, I always felt different. I had quite a few spiritual encounters. I didnt know it then, but it was witchcraft calling out to me. I was too young to fully comprehend that the universe was telling me something: I was a witch. I grew up in a Christian community, and everything I read about witchcraft tied it to the Wiccan religion. I thought my choice of identity was limited to either being a Christian or a Wiccan, and honestly, neither felt right to me. Over the years, Ive come to learn that Wicca and witchcraft arent the same thing, and that being interested in the world of magic doesnt need to have an impact on your religious faith (or lack thereof) if you dont want it to. My skills and abilities did not feel tied to a religious belief because they werent.

Witchcraft offers the ability to be a part of a community, as well as the chance to be true to yourself. Since I began my journey, I have discovered plenty of places within the magical realm where I feel that I fit. I cant wait to share them with you and help you discover your own!

Witchcraft is about creating your own place within spirituality. Do you enjoy rituals? Does your soul sing when you see the moon? Do you have a tarot deck itching to be played with? Do you enjoy creating oils? These things are common among witches, but your answers to these questions do not dictate your authenticity as a witch. If you are someone who feels drawn to mysticism in any way, if you seek to discover lifes mysteries, or if the label witch feels comfortable or intriguing to youthen you, my amazing reader, are a witch. And I wrote this book for you.

The best way to figure out which parts of witchcraft are going to appeal to you is by learning enough to create a foundation for yourself. To be a witch of substance, youve got to know a little history, what the core beliefs and values of witchcraft are, how to access your powers, and the various ways to practice your craft. Those are the topics we will explore in part 1.

Lets start with the basics. In this chapter, well define key terminology, discuss who is and is not a witch, and briefly learn history that every witch must know.

WHAT IS WITCHCRAFT?

A witch, by modern definition, is anyone who practices witchcraft. Witchcraft is not a religion. It is a craftsomething that we do with our hands, our minds, and our energy.

I think my very first introduction to the idea of witchcraft was in the beloved cult classic Hocus Pocus. The movie is about the Sanderson sistersevil, hag-type women who declare that they must take the lives of children to stay young and beautiful forever. This depiction is the classic interpretation of witches: ugly, child-killing, and full of bad intentions. While this image understandably comes from many years of religious and cultural fear, its not the truth by any means.

Witchcraft is an empowering practice that any person can learn, cultivate, and personalize. It is all about stepping outside of our mundane world and choosing to take on a perspective of mysticism and reverence for nature, life, and the energetic forces of this world. But what makes witchcraft simply intoxicating is that its about appreciating the world around us. Its not just about what we