Introduction -- Gerald Gardner (1884-1964) and the Wiccan revival -- Wicca, a way of working -- What is a witch? -- What kinds of individuals become witches and Neopagans -- The Western Spiritual Tradition -- Contemporary western magic -- The transforming influence of American gatherings -- Growth of American Neopaganism from the roots of British Wicca -- The witch is the opposite of the physician -- The craft of healing -- Suffering as opportunity to "shape-shift" -- Never again the burning times: cultural radicalism -- Coming of age -- Growing up or just getting big? -- Appendix. Questionnaire on Utlization of Health Care by Magickal Folk
Summary
This fascinating ethnography explores contemporary witchcraft from the unusual perspective of self-identified witches and magicians. Readers have the opportunity to learn what kinds of individuals engage in radical thought movements such as this and view the ideas of witchcraft and magic from the vantage point of those who profess to be witches and practice magic. A description of the demographic characteristics of the group combined with an analysis of their complex belief system provides insight into the unusual behaviors shared by participants in this subculture within American society
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 293-302) and index
Notes
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL
This edition in English
digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL
