The Real Witches’ Handbook: The Definitive Handbook of Advanced Magical Techniques

The Real Witches’ Handbook: The Definitive Handbook of Advanced Magical Techniques
Kate West

A down-to-earth introduction to Witchcraft that gives plenty of practical advice on becoming a wiccan. Whether you want to join a group or work as a Solitary this is an invaluable guide to the wiccan lifestyle.The chapters will include:• Myth and Reality – what being a witch is all about, how it compares with the Hollywood image• What Witchcraft is – the beliefs and practices• Moon worship, the elements, Gods and Goddesses, the cycles of death and rebirth• The Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year• Becoming a Witch – what does it involve?• Magic – how it works and the responsibilites involved. How to avoid potential danger• Spellcraft – how to help you pass exams, attract partners, improve family relationships• Herbal work – herbs for skin, hair, scents, traditional recipes• How to tell your family and how to make contact with groups and other teenage Wiccans

THE

REAL WITCHES’ HANDBOOK

A Complete Introduction to the Craft for Both Young and Old

KATE WEST

COPYRIGHT (#ulink_846b3d4c-368a-54b7-a306-5bee22e67c49)

Element

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/)

Element is a trademark of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

First published by Thorsons, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 2001 This edition published by Element 2003

© Kate West 2001

Kate West asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

Illustrations by Chris Down

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.

Source ISBN: 9780007105151

Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2016 ISBN: 9780007483389

Version: 2016-01-06

CONTENTS

Cover (#u95912918-ece3-5e1a-bff8-0583daf9cbd1)

Title Page (#uc51153a0-e8ef-50c5-974f-515f8590ea7d)

Copyright (#uba62c9a1-b3c7-5032-8e1e-71b7e819f3a6)

Introduction (#u0d706bb0-495f-50a6-9f76-257459f00109)

ONE: Witchcraft: The Myths (#ufdded40c-6505-5e4d-813f-84e96cc62eb3)

TWO: Witchcraft in Reality (#u9a7f8a9f-4526-5d1e-8404-9677f26c3b63)

THREE: Moon Worship? (#u1f67de40-7542-5408-b82b-632d32ca9d42)

FOUR: The Eight Sabbats (#litres_trial_promo)

FIVE: Becoming a Witch (#litres_trial_promo)

SIX: Magic (#litres_trial_promo)

SEVEN: Spellcraft and Herb Lore (#litres_trial_promo)

EIGHT: Out of the Broom Closet (#litres_trial_promo)

NINE: Getting in Touch (#litres_trial_promo)

Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)

Terms and Definitions (#litres_trial_promo)

Further Reading (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

INTRODUCTION (#ulink_10702809-b807-5f08-835a-70f8b49efde9)

Welcome to The Real Witches’ Handbook. This book is written for all those who are young to the Craft of the Witch, whether in years or in experience. Within these pages you can discover how Witchcraft can be practised by anyone who wishes to, even in this, our modern, crowded world. Welcome to a new way of thinking where you can take charge of your life and your destiny.

Today there is a new growth in spirituality and Witchcraft is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world. People are turning away from the better known patriarchal belief systems, with their rules and regulations. They are turning away from religions where they need an intermediary or priest to intercede and interpret their Gods for them. They are tired of being told what to believe, how to worship and what decisions they should make in their personal lives. They want to take charge of their lives, their morality and their beliefs. Having seen the mess that authority of one sort or another has made, people are no longer content to take on trust the information which is passed down to them. They want to talk to their God and/or Goddess directly, and to worship in a way which seems natural and right to them.

Thanks largely to the World Wide Web and the Internet there is an increasing amount of information available on religions both old and new and an increasing openness about Witchcraft, which was previously a very reticent religion. As a result more and more people, of all ages and occupations and of both sexes, are becoming interested in Witchcraft, or ‘the Craft’, as it is also known. This interest is also being encouraged by fictional portrayals in books, films and TV. However, these come complete with many misconceptions and elaborations and it can be difficult for those new to the Craft to determine what is accurate and what is myth, especially if they have no one to guide them.

For the young it is especially hard as Witches have traditionally held that reputable Covens (the name for a group of Witches) do not accept members who are under 18 years old. This is partly because it is felt that the individual should have the opportunity to make an informed decision about their choice of spirituality (and therefore needs time to assess the options), partly because they should also have some life experience and maturity (although 18 is quite an arbitrary age to choose for this) and partly because taking on candidates under that age would (in most parts of the world) leave the group open to all kinds of accusations of corrupting minors.

This combination of increased interest and information leads to the modern Witch’s dilemma: how to treat those who are under the age of 18? A few reputable groups have always had a policy of encouraging exceptional candidates, usually by a process of one-to-one support given by a senior member of the Coven, until such time as the ‘age limit’ has been passed. This support sometimes takes the form of supplying a formidable reading list and counselling patience, something which simply tends to alienate all but the most dedicated seeker. This is especially true as most of the better books were written a long time ago and were intended to be read by those who already had access to a group setting. In this day and age we have to recognize that from the age of 14, people are making decisions which could affect the rest of their lives, in exam choices for example, and at 16 they may set up home and/or marry.

There are also many mature people who live in the company of those who may not be tolerant of the study and practice of Witchcraft, and who may not be able to find, or travel to, a Coven which accepts newcomers.

The new enthusiast may set about discovering the Craft via the many books and websites that are available and quite often may end up setting off in the wrong direction, misled by some of the more dubious texts which abound. Additionally, and unfortunately, there have always been disreputable individuals and groups who are prepared to take advantage of earnest seekers, whether sexually or financially, and any Witch who turns away a prospective candidate is always aware that this is a lamentable possibility.

What I have set out to do with this book is to bridge these gaps and to dispel many of the misconceptions. Being a Witch, I believe that everyone is entitled to their own spirituality and that they are entitled to make an informed choice. Hence I feel there is a need to provide that information and in a way which is practical and usable under all but the most trying of domestic circumstances. This book is for all those who wish to explore this path whilst being sensitive to the needs of those around them.