witchhunts

fueled by the hysteria of the witch craze that swept through Europe from around 1450-1700.
Video to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqRir6a3VHk&feature=related
Part2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZie-CLJsY&feature=related
Part3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejYTgFr_gqI&feature=related
Part4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQb_YLz9qtU&feature=related
Part5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR2dHbA-orw&feature=related
Part6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF8-XxbQ3EA&feature=related



Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt

John Dee

John Dee is sometimes refereed to as the last magician because of his services to Queen Elizabeth 1 as her astrologer

John Dee born 13 July 1527–1608 or 1609 was a noted mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy.
Dr. John Dee was a famous Alchemist, Mathematician, Astronomer and Astrologer; he was also an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I on matters pertaining to science and astrology, as such he was sometimes referred to as “the last royal magician”. A serious academic some thought him to be the most learned man in the whole of Europe. Fascinated by all things occult, he was an adept in Hermetic and Cabbalistic philosophy, and spent much of his later life in efforts to communicate with Angelic spirits.
Dee was invited to the court of King Edward VI (then only 13 years of age), there to act as an advisor and tutor on scientific matters. In return he was given a post as Rector of Severn-upon-Severn in Worcestershire, and with it the assurance of a home and an income of one hundred crowns a year. This would allow Dee to continued his scientific studies without financial worry, during which time he devoted himself more and more to astrology. He also enjoyed the patronage of the Earl of Pembroke and entered into the service of the Duke of Northumberland as a private tutor to his children.

After the death of the young boy King in 1553, Dee’s hopes for a financially secure future died with him. By this time though, he had gained a reputation as a leading astrologer, and when Queen Mary (Bloody Mary) ascended to the throne, he was asked to cast her horoscope and that of her prospective husband King Philip II of Spain. However, Mary’s reign brought with it a turbulent time for England. A staunch Roman Catholic, she quickly instigated a campaign of persecution against eminent Protestants.

One such person arrested was Roland Dee, John Dee's father, who was taken prisoner in August 1553. He was later released, but only after he had been deprived of all his financial assets, he died later without recovering his wealth. This was a terrible blow for John Dee, as he had expected to inherit a considerable fortune from his father, which would have enabled him to carry on his studies free from the need to earn an income. In 1554, Dee was offered a post as Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, a position that may have resolved his financial problems, but once again he turned the position down. Dee was still disillusioned with the English sceptical mistrust toward science, as once again controversy came knocking.

One of Dee’s cousins was a Maid of Honour to princess Elizabeth I, who because of her Protestant sympathies was forced to live in seclusion at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Through his cousin, Dee dangerously formed a link with Elizabeth and cast her horoscope prophesising Mary’s death and her own accession to the throne. Because of this involvement, Dee was arrested and accused of trying to murder the Queen by black magic. Fortunately for Dee the only evidence his accusers could find was Mary’s horoscope, which he had shown to Elizabeth. Although being acquitted of the charge, Dee was imprisoned at Hampton Court near Richmond, London.

Resources
http://www.controverscial.com/Dr.%20John%20Dee.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dee
http://www.donaldtyson.com/dee.html
http://www.paralumun.com/deehist.htm

Doreen Valiente

The mother of modern Witchcraft Doreen Edith Dominy Valiente (craft name Ameth) born 4 January, 1922, Mitcham, South London, England A High Priestess of Gardnerian Wicca Valiente produced many important scriptural texts for Wicca, such as The Witches Rune and the Charge of the Goddess, which were incorporated into the early Gardnerian Book of Shadows. Valiente also published five books about Wicca in her lifetime. 1951, the Witchcraft laws in England were repealed, making Witchcraft no longer a crime. With this change, Gardner broke from the New Forest Coven and formed his own. 1953 saw Gardner initiate Doreen Valiente into his coven. They worked together from 1953 to 1957, forming the Book of Shadows, which is what is referenced today as being the authority on what is the Gardnerian Tradition of Witchcraft

Bibliography

• 1962: Where Witchcraft Lives
• 1973: An ABC of Witchcraft
• 1975: Natural Magic
• 1978: Witchcraft for Tomorrow
• 1989: The Rebirth of Witchcraft
• 2000: Charge of the Goddess, a collection of poems, published posthumously

Valiente also edited and wrote the introduction to the 1990 book, Witchcraft: A Tradition Renewed by Evan John Jones, which was about forms of Witchcraft other than the Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions, such as Cochrane's Craft.

She died on 1st September 1999 from pancreatic cancer

Resources http://www.controverscial.com/Doreen%20Valiente.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doreen_Valiente http://www.hecatescauldron.org/Valientee%20on%20Gardner.htm http://www.earthspirit.com/fireheart/fhdv1.html
www.chalicewellcoven.com/id24.html

Edain McCoy

Self-initiated Witch

Born August 11, 1957

Edain has a web site http://www.edainmccoy.com/
And a Blog http://edainmccoy.blogspot.com/

Books By Edain McCoy

THREE WITCHES DEAD & THE LAST ONE SAID.... A Novel of Samhain Suspense

IF YOU WANT TO BE A WITCH: A Practical Introduction to the Craft

ADVANCED WITCHCRAFT: Go Deeper, Reach Further, Fly Higher

PAST LIFE & KARMIC TAROT:
Llewellyn's Special Topics in Tarot Series

CELTIC WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY: Accessing the Cauldron of Life

Includes a special "Soul Friends" bonding ritual for Witches who are BFFs (Best Friends Forever!)

THE WITCHES' COVEN: How To Find or Form Your Own

SPELLWORKING FOR COVENS: Magick For Two Or More

***
CELTIC MYTH & MAGICK: Harnessing the Power of the Gods & Goddesses

MAGICK & RITUALS OF THE MOON
(A retitle of the popluar book LADY OF THE NIGHT)

OSTARA: Customs, Spells & Rituals For The Rites of Spring (Part of Llewellyn's "Eight Sabbats" book series)

ENCHANTMENTS: 200 Spells for Bath & Beauty Enhancement

A WITCH'S GUIDE TO FAERY FOLK: How To Work With The Elemental World

ASTRAL PROJECTION FOR BEGINNERS From Llewellyn's "For Beginners" book series

MAKING MAGICK: For Witches and Pagans

THE SABBATS: A Witch's Approach to Living The Old Ways

Resources
http://www.llewellyn.com/author.php?author_id=2561
http://www.edainmccoy.com/

Scott Cunningham

Solitary

Scott Cunningham was born at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA on June 27, 1956 He one older brother, Greg, and a younger sister, Christine.

He practiced a fairly basic interpretation of Wicca, often worshipping alone, though his book series for solitaries describes several instances in which he worshipped with friends and teachers.
Scott’s writing style was easy to understand being simple and direct, his teachings focused on encouraging people to employ whatever works for them in their religious, spiritual, and magickal endeavors.

He also believed that Wicca, which had been a closed tradition since the 1950s, should become more open to newcomers. He viewed the craft as a modern religion created in the 20^th century, and thought that Wicca, while containing pagan folk magic derived of ancient times, should be stripped of it’s quasi-historical and mythological trappings and represented to the public as a modern religion utilizing ancient concepts. He also believed that Wicca, which had been a closed and secretive tradition since the 1950s, should become more open to newcomers. Due to his influence, the Wiccan religion shifted primarily from the hands of initiates into the public arena, and many eclectic traditions were formed as a result.

28^th March 1993 he died of Lymphoma cancer. As an ambassador of the pagan way of life, his books today continue to influence us all.

Books

• 1980 - Shadow of Love (fiction)
• 1982 - [[Magical Herbalism: The Secret of the Wise
  
• 1983 - Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic
  
• 1985 - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
  
• 1987 - The Magical Household (
• 1987 - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic
  
• 1988 - The Truth About Witchcraft Today
  
• 1988 - Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
  
• 1989 - The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews
  
• 1989 - Magical Aromatherapy: The Power of Scent
  
• 1991 - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic
  
• 1991 - The Magic in Food
  
• 1993 - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen
  
• 1993 - Divination For Beginners
  
• 1993 - Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
  
• 1993 - Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects
  
• 1993 - The Truth About Herb Magic
  
• 1994 - The Truth About Witchcraft
  
• 1995 - Hawaiian Magic and Spirituality
  
• 1997 - Pocket Guide to Fortune Telling
  
• 1999 - Dreaming the Divine: Techniques for Sacred Sleep
  
• 2009 - Cunningham's Book of Shadows: The Path of An American Traditionalist* A rediscovered manuscript written by Cunningham in the late 70's or early 80's. Set to be released October 2009.^[

Videos

• Herb Magic (ISBN 0-87542-117-2)

Film references

Cunningham's Wicca book in the film Never Say Macbeth

Never Say Macbeth, a 2007 film, is based around a group of actors who battle the curse of Macbeth by using Scott's book, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. This film was released on DVD by Vanguard Cinema in August, 2008

Resources
http://www.controverscial.com/Scott%20Cunningham.htm

http://www.controverscial.com/Scott%20Cunningham.htm


part Two here http://www.wiccantogether.com/video/video/show?id=1070680%3AVideo%3A1675190
Sorry not sure how to get link into blog.

Silver Ravenwolf

A practicing witch and follower of the nature-centered religion known as Wicca

Silver RavenWolf born Jenine E. Trayer on September 11, 1956 is an American author and lecturer who focuses on Neopaganism. She is married and has four children. She currently resides in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

Silver RavernWolf draws the most divided reactions among the community.

• "Why We Despise Silver Ravenwolf" from
  Wicca for the Rest of Us
• "Tarnished Silver: Why I don't recommend Silver Ravenwolf" from ecauldron.com
• "The Problem With Silver Ravenwolf" from Smiling Panther's Den

An Open Letter from SilverRavenWolf


Website http://www.silverravenwolf.com/ is currently down

Bibliography

Non-fiction

• American Folk Magick: Charms, Spells & Herbals (1999)
• Angels: Companions in Magick (2002)
• Halloween: Spells, Recipes & Customs (1999)
  
• HedgeWitch: Spells, Crafts & Rituals For Natural Magick (2008)
  
• Hex Craft: Dutch Country Pow-wow Magick (1997)
  
• Mindlight: Secrets of Energy, Magick & Manifestation (2006)
• Silver's Spells for Abundance (2004)
  
• Silver's Spells for Love (2001)
  
• Silver's Spells for Protection (2000)
  
• TeenWitch!: Wicca for a New Generation (2003)
  
• To Light a Sacred Flame: Practical Witchcraft for the Millennium (2002)
• To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft (2002)
• To Stir a Magick Cauldron: A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring (2005)
  
• Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation (2003)
• Witches Runes: Insights from the Old European Magickal Traditions (Cards)
  
• A Witch's Notebook: Lessons in Witchcraft (2005)
  

Fiction

• Beneath a Mountain Moon (1995)
  
• Murder at Witches' Bluff: A Novel of Suspense and Magick (2000)
  

Witches' Chillers series:

• Witches' Night Out (2000)
  
• Witches' Night of Fear (2001)
  
• Witches' Key to Terror (2001)

Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_RavenWolf
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1033/RavenWolf-Silver-1956.html
http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Silver_Ravenwolf

Alex Sanders

King of the Witches.

Born Orrell Alexander Carter, June 6, 1926, a High Priest and the founder of the tradition of Alexandrian Wicca. He died on the 30^th April 1988 after a long battle with lung cancer.

His Grandmother was a hereditary witch, a descendant of the Welsh chieftain Owain Glyndŵr. His grandmother let him copy her Book of Shadows when he was nine and taught him the rites and magic of Witches. He was taught clairvoyance first by scrying in inky water, then in his grandmother's crystal.

He claimed to have initiated more than 1,623 witches working in 100 covens around the country, all-practicing what had become known as the Alexandrian Tradition


Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Sanders_%28Wiccan%29
http://www.controverscial.com/Alex%20Sanders.htm
http://www.callaighe.com/photo_archive/A%20&%20M.htm

Gerald Brousseau Gardner

The Father of Wicca
Born June 13, 1884 -at The Glen, The Serpentine, Blundellsands, near Liverpool in England to a well-off middle class family as one of four brothers. From an English hereditary Witch and Gerald is largely responsible for reviving Witchcraft in the modern Western world. Gardner claimed to trace his roots to a Witch named Grissell Gardner who had been burned at the stake in 1610 at Newburgh.


He was instrumental in bringing the religion of Wicca to public attention and wrote some of its definitive religious texts.

In Gardnerian Wicca, the two principal deities are the Horned God and the Mother Goddess.

Gardnerian Wiccans organise into covens, that traditionally, though not always, are limited to thirteen members. Covens are jointly led by a High Priest and High Priestess. Gardnerian Wicca and other forms of British Traditional Wicca operate as an initiatory, membership is gained only through initiation by a Wiccan High Priestess or High Priest. Any valid line of initiatory descent can be traced all the way back to Gerald Gardner, and through him back to the New Forest Coven. A Gardnerian Wicca family tree can be viewed here

Died February 12, 1964. Several years after Gardner's death, the Wiccan High Priestess Eleanor Bone visited North Africa and went looking for Gardner's grave. She discovered that the cemetery he was interned in was to be redeveloped, and so she raised enough money for his body to be moved to another cemetery in Tunis,^[54] where it currently remains. In 2007, a new plaque was attached to his grave, describing him as being "Father of Modern Wicca. Beloved of the Great Goddess

Books by Gardner:

• 1936: Keris and Other Malay Weapons
• 1939: A Goddess Arrives (fiction)
• 1949: High Magic's Aid (fiction)
• 1954: Witchcraft Today
• 1959: The Meaning of Witchcraft
• The Story of the famous Witches Museum at Castletown, Isle of Man, a guidebook

Books about Gardner:

• 1960: Gerald Gardner: Witch by J.L. Bracelin
• 2000: Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revival by Philip Heselton
• 2003: Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration by Philip Heselton

Resources
http://www.geraldgardner.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Gardner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardnerian_Wicca
http://www.chalicewellcoven.com/id24.html
http://www.bcholmes.org/wicca/gardner.html

Janet Farrar

Modern day Witch

Born as Janet Owen on the 24^th June 1950, in Clapham a district of London, England

She married Stewart Farrar, thirty-four years her senior in Surrey 1975. Janet married their family friend and business partner Gavin Bone on the 5^th May 2001.

Janet and Stewart Farrar have done much to make Wicca and the pagan way available to the public. Their books have become classics in their own time, and over the years through faultless and diligent hard work, they became England’s most eminent and respected modern day witches.Today some seventy five percent of Wiccans, both in the Republic and Northern Ireland can trace their beginnings back to the Farrar’s.

Bibliography

Farrar has co-authored a number of books about Wicca and Neopaganism.

With Stewart Farrar

• 1981: Eight Sabbats for Witches
• 1984: The Witches' Way
• 1987: The Witches' Goddess: The Feminine Principle of Divinity
• 1989: The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance
• 1990: Spells and How they Work
• 1996: A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook (re-issue of The Witches' Way and Eight Sabbats for Witches)

With Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone

• 1995: The Pagan Path
• 1999: The Healing Craft: Healing Practices for Witches and Pagans
• 2001: The Complete Dictionary of European Gods and Goddesses

With Virginia Russell

• 1999: The Magical History of the Horse

With Gavin Bone

• 2004: Progressive Witchcraft: Spirituality, Mysteries, and Training in Modern Wicca

Resources
http://www.controverscial.com/Janet%20Farrar.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/janet-farrar

http://www.callaighe.com/

Shopping

We called into local shop - such a fun vibrant place to call into. An oracle card came my way this week - which lead us to look further into oracle cards. Our dd brought this set the Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards by Doreene Virtue

Ellen Dugan

Garden Witch
Born September 14, 1963 the Co-High Priestess of Greenwood Coven, a mixed magickal tradition Coven in the St. Louis area. Married with three teenage kids.

Ellen has written a number of books on magical gardening, herbalism, and modern witchcraft.

Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up
Elements of Witchcraft; Natural Magick for Teens
7 Days of Magic: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for the Bewitching Week
Cottage Witchery: Natural Magick for Hearth and Home
Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon
The Enchanted Cat: Feline Fascinations, Spells & Magick-
Herb Magic for Beginners: Down-to-earth Enchantments
Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick -
How to Enchant a Man: Spells to Bewitch, Bedazzle & Beguile Garden Witch's Herbal: Green Magick, Herbalism & Spirituality
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week

Ellen has a blog http://ellendugan.wordpress.com/
And a website http://www.ellendugan.com/

Reference
http://www.ellendugan.com/

Dorothy Morrison

Modern Witch
Born May 6, 1955 is an author and teacher in the fields of magic, Wicca and Neo-Paganism.
A Wiccan High Priestess of the Georgian Tradition The Georgian tradition is an eclectic mix of Gardnerian, Alexandrian and British Traditional practices in that it’s members are initiated and bound by oath

She has written over 13 books.

Bud, Blossom & Leaf: The Magical Herb Gardener's Handbook (2001) Llewellyn Publications

The Craft: A Witch's Book of Shadows (2001) Llewellyn Publications

The Craft Companion: A Witch's Journal (2001) Llewellyn Publications

Dancing the Goddess Incarnate: Living the Magic of Maiden, Mother & Crone with Kristin Madden (2006) Llewellyn Publications ISBN 0738706361, ISBN 978-0738706368

Enchantments of the Heart: A Magical Guide to Finding the Love of Your Life (2002) Career Books ISBN 1564145468, ISBN 978-1564145468

Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living (2002) Llewellyn Publications

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living (2004) Llewellyn Publications

Everyday Sun Magic: Spells & Rituals for Radiant Living (2005) Llewellyn Publications

Everyday Tarot Magic: Meditation & Spells (2003) Llewellyn Publications

In Praise of the Crone (1999) Llewellyn Publications ISBN 1567184685,

Magical Needlework (2002) Llewellyn Publications ISBN 1567184707,

Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth (2000) Llewellyn Publications

Utterly Wicked: Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavoury Notions (2008) Willowtree Press


Plus she designed the Whimsical tarot card Deck Illustrated by Mary Hanson-Roberts

Dorothy has a web page Morrison Manor


Resources

http://www.dorothymorrison.com/index3.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Morrison
http://www.controverscial.com/Dorothy%20Morrison.htm
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/whimsical/

world Tarot Day

On the 25th I will offer free Tarot card readings. If you are interested in a reading leave a message with your question.

Bright Blessings Annie

Paddy Slade

Kitchen Witchery
Paddy Slade was born Patricia Harlow, 29th September 1931 and lived in Canterbury, Kent, and was the youngest of seven children. Her Mother as she was of Scottish decent and practiced the old ways of the village Witch or Wise Woman; and Patricia picked up on the traditional ways quickly and carried them on.

As time passed Paddy became known for her knowledge of herbal and magical remedies, and soon had a steady stream of students waiting to join her teaching courses, what she called “the Old Wild Magic. In them she would stress the need for individuals to experience the powers of nature and the elements for themselves, and before even trying to employ the use of spells or magic. With the sudden growth and interest in modern witchcraft as practiced as a religion and inspired by those above, Paddy felt that much of the basics of real magic was being lost.

While many entering the Craft of today start out with good intentions, they soon become bogged down with coven politics, procedures, hierarchies and the use of working tools, none of which are essential to the practice of real witchcraft. People today are in such a rush to play with spells and work with magic, that they soon become disheartened when they fail. Paddy maintains that it takes time to become familiar with nature and the elements (hence the year and a day associated with initiation), and only when you’re attuned to nature’s rhythms will the old ways of traditional witchcraft begin to work for you.

Quoted from http://www.controverscial.com/Paddy%20Slade.htm

She is the author of: the Encyclopedia of White Magic (January 1990), Natural Magic: A Seasonal Guide (November 1990), Seasonal Magic: Diary of a Village Witch (November 2001) and Tales Round the Cauldron (May 2004).


Resources
http://continuousreader.blogspot.com/2010/01/natural-magic-seasonal-guide-by-paddy.html
http://www.controverscial.com/Paddy%20Slade.htm

Email from Raymond Buckland

OOh soo thrilling I dropped Raymond Buckland an email sharing I am studying famous Witches and that I had blogged him.

Yippie he answered......

Many thanks, Annie. Nicely done. I also liked your pieces on Dame Alice and on Mother Shipton. A very nice site. Congratulations.
In love and light,
Ray-B


So many books; so little time!
Check out www.chroniclesofkernow.com for my new fantasy novels

Raymond Buckland

The Father of American Wicca

Buckland was born in London, England, on the 31^st August 1934. Buckland was introduced to Spiritualism by his uncle when twelve years old. He emigrated from England to the United States in February 1962 and was responsible for the introduction of contemporary witchcraft into the United States.

Gerald Gardner was a big influence on his witchcraft/wiccan journey. Gardner’s books went out of print, so Buckland wrote Witchcraft From the Inside to try to replace them.



He has written over 60 books mostly non fiction - his most popular being the Big Blue - Complete book of Witchcraft. A list of all his books can be found at http://www.doorwaypublications.com/bucklandlibrary.html

Buckland has a website at http://www.raybuckland.com/



Resources
http://www.controverscial.com/Raymond%20Buckland.htm
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Magic-and-Sorcery/People-of-Wicca-Raymond-buckland-1934.html
http://www.raybuckland.com/

Dame Alice Kyteler

The Witch of Kilkenny

Born 1280 in Kyteler's House, Kilkenny, Ireland, the only child of a wealthy banker.

Replica Of Dame Alice Kyteler in the basement of her old house Kysteler's Inn.

She was married four times, to William Outlawe, Adam le Blund, Richard de Valle and, finally, Sir John le Poer who suspected he was being poisoned. On his death, the children of her four husbands accused her of using poison and sorcery against their fathers and of favouring her first-born son William Outlawe.

A verse from WB Yeats Poem

Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen comes to mind.
There lurches past his great eyes without thought
Under the shadow of straw-pale locks;
Thart insolent Fiend Robert Artisson,
To whom the love-lorn Lady Kyteler brought
Bronze peacock feathers,
red combs of her cocks.

The ‘narrative' is a Latin manuscript which was written during the time of the ‘Kyteler Excommunication'. The manuscript was published in 1843 under the title Contemporary Narrative of the Proceeding Against Dame Alice Kyteler, Prosecuted for Sorcery in, 1324 by Richard de Ledrede, Bishop of Ossary.

The case of Dame Alice Kyteler was one of the first European witchcraft trials,and followed closely on the election of Pope John XXII to the Papacy, and his addition of witchcraft to the list of heresies in 1320. Kytler herself escaped, but others in her household were less fortunate.


References
http://www.irishidentity.com/extras/supernat/stories/banshee.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Kyteler
http://www.nancymonaghan.com/dame.html
http://www.kytelers.ie/history.asp
http://www.witchcraftandwitches.com/witches_kyteler.html

The Life of the Witch

Mother Shipton

An English soothsayer and prophetess.

Mother Shipton was born Ursula Southeil (possibly Ursula Southill or Ursula Soothtel)
Born 1488 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, in a cave now known as Mother Shipton's Cave Close by was an ancient well with supposed mystical powers.


The Petrifying well can be visited today

She died 1561 at Clifton Yorkshire.

At age 24 she married Tony Shipton a local carpenter in 1512. They had no children.

The stories behind Mother Shipton are of England's greatest prophetess - she is known as England's Nostradamus.


A UK moth has been nicknamed Mother Shipton due to the pattern on the fore wing resembling Mother Shipton - The moth is most common in England & Wales.

Reference
http://www.mothershiptonscave.com/the_petrifying_well.htm
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/helene.htm
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=2462
http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/shipton.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Shipton_Moth

Choosing a craft name

I stumbled across this site - How do I select the right witch name.

As I've always played with numerology and knew my number was 7

I tried out Annie and yes a 7 too - hence how I got my Witch name.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z

A = 1
N = 5
N = 5
I = 9
E = 5

1+5+5+9+5= 25

2 + 5 = 7

Annie has been my nickname for years.

Southern Hemisphere

No matter where in the world we stand, North is north. The equator divides the world into hemispheres, north and south. Most of the crafts roots come from northern hemisphere. Living in the southern hemisphere means our elements are different than northern as well as the seasons all due to the equator. Living in the Northern hemisphere people get colder the more north they go, southern hemisphere people get colder the more south we go.
Most information on the craft available is based in the northern hemisphere (UK & USA) so for Australia and New Zealand we have to make adjustments.



Southern Hemisphere Wheel of the Year

As the sun passes over the equator twice each year giving us equinoxes this changes the Southern Hemispheres wheel of the year. We have a six months difference in seasons eg we are going into winter and northern hemisphere is heading for summer.

Samhain: April 30/May 1

This is the time of the thin Veil or Communion with the dead, the ruling time of the Crone aspect of the Goddess.

Yule: June 21/22

The long, cold nights have gone and the days are getting longer and warmer now.Time of the Goddess of the Cold Darkness and the birth of the Divine Child, the reborn Sun God. A time of rebirth and the turning of the earth force tides.

Imbolc: August 1

The Earth is warming and waking up.First stirrings of Mother Earth; spring cleaning; time of cleansing and purification; preparation for growth and renewal. A festival of the Triple Goddess Brigit, whose breath gave life to the dead.

Ostara: September 21/22

This is the middle of spring - everything is growing and maturing Balance of light and dark. Sowing time in the north; earth cycle of plant and animal fertility, spell producing, new beginnings.

Beltane: October 31/November 1

The Earth is full of growing things and abundance Time of the Horned God and the Lady of the Greenwood; honor of the house guardian.

Litha: December 21/22

The days are at their longest and the weather its warmest. Rededication to the Lord and Lady. The time when the Sun casts three rays to light the world.

Lammas: February 1

The first grains are harvested and all the growing is over. The turning point in Mother Earth’s year; a harvest festival in the northern lands. The waning God, and the waxing Goddess. Spellwork for good fortune and abundance is especially appropriate.

Mabon: March 21/22

Winter starts and the Earth goes into hibernation. Leaves are falling from the trees and the Earth is preparing for the long, cold winter without the light of the Sun. Balance of light and dark. Time of rest after labor. completion of the harvest, thanksgiving. A good time for meditation on reincarnation in preparation for Samhain.

Southern hemisphere Elements:

North is fire
South is earth
East is air
West is water

The equator only affects North & South, not East & West so East & West elements are not changed from the northern hemisphere.

The craft is practiced "Sun Wise" so for Southern Hemisphere following the sun rising in the
East - Air, North - Fire, West - water, to South - earth. This is called widdershins or anti clock wise.

Sybil Leek

20th century Witch-Astrologer

Her choice of a pet Jackdaw as a familiar called Mr Hotfoot Jackson

She was born with a witch’s mark on 22nd February 1917 in the village of Normacot in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England

Died 26 October 1982 at her Melbourne, Florida home

All human beings have magic in them. The secret is to know how to use this magic, and astrology is a vital tool for doing just that…

~ Sybil Leek, 1972.

Sybil traced her family history back to the 16th century and to her ancestor Molly Leigh, who had been accused during the witch hunt.
Sybil learned a lot about the craft from her family. She only had 3 years of schooling - her grandmother home schooled her mainly in knowledge of herbs, astrology, the phychic arts and divination more than focusing on maths and English.. Her grandmother taught her astrology, by decorating biscuits and cakes with astrological symbols and asking Sybil to put them in order and describe what each symbol meant.

Her father took her on long walks and shared his knowledge about nature, animals and the power of herbs, and even discussed eastern philosophies
Sybil’s family played host to some very scholarly characters Lawrence of Arabia, Aleister Crowley and H. G. Wells. Wells took her to see her first eclipse.
She married at age 16 - was a widow at 18. She ran away with gypsies and returned to England when she was 20.

In the 1950’s her reputation as a Psychic, Astrologer and Witch, began to attract attention. Sybil wrote more than 60 books on such subjects as Astrology, Numerology and Reincarnation. Some of the many books she wrote are: Diary of a Witch (1968), My Life in Astrology, The Night Voyagers, Numerology: The Magic of Numbers, Phrenology, Reincarnation: The Second Chance, Star Speak, Astrological Guide to Love and Sex, Astrological Guide to Financial Success, Astrology and Love, Driving Out the Devils, Sybil Leek's Book of Curses (1975), Sybil Leek's Book of Fortune Telling, Moon Signs, ESP - The Magic Within You, Herbs, Medicine and Mysticism, The Complete Art of Witchcraft (1971), The Jackdaw & The Witch (Mr. Hotfoot Jackson), and How To Be Your Own Astrologer.

She had two sons Stephan and Julian

Resources
http://www.controverscial.com/Sybil%20Leek.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sybil_Leek
http://lovestarz.com/leek.html