I Was A Real Teenage Werewolf: The Seventeenth Century Witchcraft Trial of Jean Grenier In 1603, the French teenager Jean Grenier was tried for assault, murder, cannibalism and witchcraft by the Parlement of Bordeaux. Despite the loss of the trial records, the case is known through the writing of Pierre de Lancre (1553?–1631), but was…
Tag: witchcraft
15th Anniversary of Witchcraft Out of the Shadows
It’s amazing to think that my first book was published fifteen years ago this year. A lot has happened since then, I got my PhD, published five more books and fifty-eight articles and chapters (as well as a ton of online posts), launched six websites and became the editor of the Paranormal Review. But Witchcraft…
I finally get my A-Levels
My first book, Witchcraft Out of the Shadows, is cited in the 2016 edition of the A Level Sociology Student Book. Thanks to Jack Hunter for pointing this out. But, strangely, he found a different reference… Better just buy the book, then.
Little Horrors
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Anomalous Children and the Construction of Monstrosity, edited by Simon Bacon and Leo Ruickbie
Witchcraft Out of the Shadows
A Complete History
Something for Hallowe’en
A recent survey by face-paint retailer Snazaroo found that two thirds of British children did not know why we celebrate Halloween. One in 10 thought it was to do with burning witches, while five per cent said it was the Devil’s birthday. You can read the rest of my Hallowe’en article at http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/529024/Halloween-traditions-and-superstitions.
Hallowe’en in the Sierra Sun
Read my article on Hallowe’en in the Sierra Sun: Faith Factor: Hallowe’en then and now.
Harry Potter and Witchcraft
Satanist to some, saint to others, why have the religious reactions to Harry Potter been so contradictory? Plus, just how do you make a Horcrux? New pages on the website exploring my recent work on Harry Potter from fundamentalism to the concept of the external soul. Read it all here http://www.witchology.com/contents/harrypotter/articles.php
Magic, Witches and Parapsychology
Books received for review: Butler, Alison, Victorian Occultism and the Making of Modern Magic: Invoking Tradition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011) Description In the midst of increasing secularization and the birth of scientific naturalism, a curious group emerged in Victorian Britain. From 1888-1900, hundreds of men and women were initiated into the Hermetic Order of the Golden…
Call to End Ghana ‘Witch Camps’
George Asekere of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has issued an emotional plea to abolish the so-called ‘witch camps’ and bring the persecution of alleged witches to an end. Many Ghanaians believe witchcraft is real and can be destructive. This non-empirical and intuitive mentality with no justification in today’s scientific world, is unfortunately the bane behind…
Witchcraft Out of the Shadows 2nd Edition
A second edition of Witchcraft Out of the Shadows is now in the works. First published in hardback in 2004, the last copies of the first edition of Witchcraft Out of the Shadows left the warehouse some months ago. There are now only four copies being sold through Amazon.co.uk. There are more Stateside with ten…
New Article on Magic
I saw him do it. On national TV. Took a voodoo doll out of his pocket and wrapped a thread around it. His victim was watching him, not quite believing. But when he’d finished, could she move her arms? Legs? In the July 2010 edition of Paranormal Magazine you can read my latest article on…
Hexen – Mythos und Wirklichkeit
Interesting new exhibition on witchcraft: Hexen – Mythos und Wirklichkeit 13. September 2009 bis 2. Mai 2010 Das Historische Museum der Pfalz widmet sich in der Sonderausstellung „Hexen – Mythos und Wirklichkeit“ der Bedeutungsvielfalt des Hexenbegriffs. Dabei stellt die Ausstellung das Stereotyp „Hexe“ auf den Prüfstand. At the Historisches Museum der Pfalz Speyer until 2…
Witches Cast Spell for Haiti
Witches across the world joined forces to cast a global spell to help the people of Haiti. Rev Terry Power, High Priest of the Correllian Nativist Tradition of Wicca, issued a call to all witches to join him in performing a ritual for Haiti at 17:00 on Saturday, 16 January. Power said ‘this ritual is…
Witchcraft Collection: New Acquisitions
Fourth Quarter 2009 Amulet. Described as a goodluck amulet. Inscribed with unidentified symbols. Metal. 20th century. Amulet. Christian ‘Schutz-Amulette’. Provenance: Trier, Germany. Metal. 1933. Carnival Mask. Carved wood in the form of a ‘witch’. Provenance: Tirol. Wood. 20th century. Poison Bottle. Marked with skull and crossbones. Glass. 20th century. Ritual Object. Described as a ‘Voodoo…
Witchcraft: in the shadows no more
An old review, but a good one, written before I got my PhD, hence the use of ‘Mr’: Witchcraft: Out of the Shadows Leo Ruickbie (Hale) Mr Ruickbie has written a tight overview of the history and current trends (including some interesting statistical analysis) in Witchcraft. Unlike some books on the subject, there is no…