Andrews McMeel Publishing - The Little Book of Witchcraft

The Little Book of Witchcraft

copyright 2018 by Summersdale Publishers Ltd. Illustrations 2018 by Shutterstock and Marianne Thompson. All rights reserved.No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.

Andrews McMeel Publishing

a division of Andrews McMeel Universal

1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

www.andrewsmcmeel.com

First published in 2017 by Summersdale Publishers Ltd.

46 West Street,

Chichester, West Sussex

PO19 1RP, UK.

ISBN: 978-1-4494-9481-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017950660

Text: Anna Martin

Editor: Jean Z. Lucas

Art Director: Diane Marsh

Production Manager: Carol Coe

Production Editor: Maureen Sullivan

Digital Production: Kristen Minter

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Contents

Introduction

What does witchcraft make you think o f ? For many, its the idea of ancient hags on broomsticks that fill the skies on Halloween night. For others, its the witches in classical literature, such as the weird sisters in Macbeth and Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend, while to a younger audience its the boy wizard Harry Potter, who made magic something fascinating but eminently dark and not to be meddled with unless youve done your time at Hogwarts.

For those who have delved into the history of witchcraft, its the notorious witch trials that are engraved on the memory. With these references, its not so surprising that witchcraft is considered something dangerous and forbidden. Yet modern-day witchcraft, white witchcraft in particular, is altogether more palatable and accessible. Its focus is on using magic for positive purposes, and in a contemporary context this can mean anything from aiding the pursuit of love to unifying people who dont see eye to

eye to even something mundane like assistance in finding the money to pay for an unexpectedly large water bill.

This book focuses on white witchcraft and the belief that all nature is magical. White witchcraft harnesses natures power with the help of natural resources, such as crystals, herbs, and the phases of the moon, along with items traditionally associated with witchcraft, such as a wand or cauldron to perform spells and rituals. However, its important to remember that the power of the mind is the most important tool in spell-casting.

The Little Book of Witchcraft will furnish you with knowledge as to the origins and possibilities of witchcraft; and, for those whose interest has been piqued, there is an introduction to casting spells and performing rituals for the twenty-first-century witch.

A note

Witchcraft is frequently considered the domain of women, but men and those who are gender fluid may also find that witchcraft resonates for them too.

All about white witchcraft

White witchcraft in a nutshell

White witchcraft has a close association with paganism in its appreciation and worship of the natural world. By attuning into the forces of the earth, white witches believe they can bring luck to themselves and others; they can fulfill lifetime goals and attract love, good health, success, and happiness.

Those who perform white witchcraft believe that magic is within us all and that it is our birthright to reconnect with this power and learn how to harness it into spells and rituals for the purposes of good. The basic tools for white witchcraft are elements from nature, such as herbs, flowers, trees, and crystals, as well as the phases of the moon, the seasons, and sunlight. These are manipulated and combined with powerful words and actions to produce magic.

White witchcraft is a combination of mental, mystical, and spiritual practicesthose who practice it believe that the human mind has the power to affect the world around them, as well as empowering them to take control of their own lives. The belief that the power of the mind enables the spell is akin to the principles of transcendental meditation, where a deep meditative trancelike state is achieved by clearing the mind and focusing on a mantra or image.

A word of warningwhat
goes around comes around

Witches can appear good or dark; however, those who perform white witchcraft believe in karmic law, and so the craft is never used for evil purposes. What is sent out will return to you threefold, which means the bad luck you cast will be three times worse for you when it comes back, so be careful!

White witchcraft and its relevance today

Chances are if you have picked up this book you have more than a passing interest in witchcraft. Maybe you have always been interested in the magical realm. But its not all dancing under a full moon and casting love spells. White witchcraft echoes modern societys views on the environmentthe desire to nurture and protect the natural worldand resonates with modern self-help techniques, such as mindfulness and focusing on self-improvement to attain personal and professional goals. Its also about serving a greater good and nourishing the world and the people within it, and there is a healthy dose of feminism intrinsic to the practice toowith its celebration of the equality of the sexes and a womans inner power. Seeits not just a load of hocus pocus! And thats the reason why many educated, intelligent people are swelling the ranks of those who practice witchcraft today.

Witchcraft permeates everyday life. Think of superstitions: how often do you knock on wood so as not to jinx something youve just said, or throw salt over your shoulder to get the devil in the eye? These actions are actually spells to prevent bad luck.

Its unclear how many practicing witches there are today, but over fifty-three thousand pagans were recorded in the UK census in 2011, and around two million in the United States. According to a 2016 report in the Daily Mail, educated career women are showing the most interest in witchcraft. Practicing magic is akin to mindfulness, making affirmations, and other forms of positive thinking and meditation, as it focuses the mind into experiencing the moment and reaching mentally for your goals, just with a few extra props, such as crystals, colored candles, and sometimes an altar or wand.