Witches and witchcraft are everywhere in the modern world—from pop culture to book stores, universities to protest marches. But, for many, what is known about witches is still rooted in the past. Being labelled a witch in the earliest days of the North American colonies was to be persecuted, prejudiced and—in many cases—killed. Why? To those making accusations at the time, it was for being evil and in cahoots with the devil. In hindsight, research suggests it may have been for looking and acting differently, for following practices influenced by non Anglo-European cultures, or simply for being a woman. Out of that troublesome history, witchcraft did not disappear. Instead, it survived, evolved, and even flourished as a mainstream idea that encompasses so much more than cartoon figures with broomsticks and pointy black hats. This is the story of witches: a phenomenon with roots that extend all over the world, and practitioners who live by a code that encourages good deeds, fair treatment, and living in accordance with rules and standards that are at one with nature.
SEASON OF THE WITCH • They have been with us forever, but what do we really know about witches?
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF WITCHCRAFT • With origins lost to time, one fact is clear: The first people to be called witches were made to suffer
WITCHES AROUND THE WORLD • Different cultures use different names, but ancient witchcraft practices are still common—as well as feared
SALEM • An unfortunate event in early American history had enormous repercussions
NOTEWORTHY WITCHES • All of these individuals—except for possibly one—lived temporal lives. Some are still shaping the world of witchcraft
EVIL… OR POWERFUL? • Over time, witchcraft has evolved into something much bigger than an image
WITCHES IN FICTION • Many of our best known (and beloved) witches come from literature
WITCHCRAFT ON THE RISE • Today, witches are everywhere—but what they stand for defies tradition
DISPELLING MYTHS • Most of what we think we know about witches is wrong
The Story of Witches