The Witch of Auldearn

 

Bitter Magic

Nancy Kilgore

In Audearn  Scotland around the 1800's when catholics and protestant were still at each other's throat there lived in Scotland a certain cunning woman named Isobel Gowdie. This women had commerce wit the faery queen and king. Her charms would heal just about an sickness. In the end she was accused of practicing witchcraft and using baneful magic to harm her neighbors. Held in a tower witches were imprisoned, denied food and sleep and ultimately tortured. In the end everyone confesses just o escapre the torture, because once one was accused they were automatically considered guilty. The people of Auldearn were beyond dirt poor. they lived in hovels with mud as a floor. Oftentimes there was not enough food to feed the starving children. In each of these villages there was a lord who sort of owned everything. If there was a shortage they would often plunder from the peasants. the peasants were often oppressed by the lords and their only recourse was magic.

Nancy Kilgore did some serious research for this book, she researched Isobel Gowdie and Scottish witchcraft. She also studied the coventers who were part of the reformation. People's view on faeries and magic was in the process of change. Some of the religous people felt that the only power on earth was that of god and that devils and faeries was the stuff of mere fantasy. Other moched both religion and magic. Many of the Lutherans and presbyterians believed that Catholicism was filled wit superstition and the magic was a result of that. During this time there was much upheaval and the English had nominal control over scotland.

The story itself centers around three women. The first and most obvious  is Isobal Gowdie. Next is Margaret she is the eldest daughter of the Hays family.  Third is Katherine Collerace who is a deeply religious and compassionate woman who believes strongly in god and in kindness. For Margaret this is a journey into another world. Meeting with her friend Henrietta is a meeting that will change her life forever. As she was riding wit her horse she has a chance encounter with Isobel Gowdie. they exchange a few words and then as she is about to go back to her castle she hears the rustle of hooves . The MacDonald's raid the village an steal  plenty of crops and cattle. At this point Margaret's life will change drastically. Her friend Henrietta is kidnapped and she meets and English soldier named Andrew.  The English soldiers are tasked wit rescuing Henrietta but cannot find her. As the search progresses the soldier and Henrietta develop a courtship.   No one can find her until Isobel gowdie uses her second sight. That is when her friend is found. This prompts more meeting between Isobl and Margarete. Margarete explores the reals of magic with Isobel. She learn charms to heal sick people and she gets great insight into the world of magic. But things come to end when isobel is accused of witchcraft and confesses. No one knows for sure the ultimate fate of the accused witch but the ending does put a more positive spin on things.

The Devil and the Witch

 Magic at the Crossroads

By Kate Frueller 

The Witch and the Devil the two most iconic and evil characters in literature. Going back to the beginning both were depicted in the most vile way. As time rolls by their image in literature improves. The witch who was once portrayed as an old hag who lived out in the forest and performed spells to harm mankind. Having made a pact with the devil it was her undivine mission to harm mankind. The Devil was the highest angel who was cast out due to his pride and arrogance. Often he was portrayed at a beast with cloven hoof and horns. Over time their image and meaning have improved. Kate frueller does just that and more in this awesome and ground breaking work. Not only is she covering the two iconic images in literature and history but she also delves into witchcraft and Satanism often times standing two parallel elements side by side which often times have conflated meaning . The paths of Satanism and Witchcraft are two different path that have often interwined with each other. 

The witch has definitely changed over time. In the olden days she was portrayed as an evil hag. Lately though she is being portrayed in a more positive manner. Now she is being portrayed an young and good looking and is usin her magic for the benefit of mankind. For women she is seen as a rebel going against the oppressive patriarchy and rules that should be overturned and changed. Witches are now seen as social warriors fighting for the good of mankind. In fact witches have been showing up for protests that are all about immigrant rights, abortion rights etc. You name it and they have been doing spells for this end.

The Devil once seen as evil has also gone through an overhaul.  During different periods of time he has been pictured in a variety of different way.  Now he is seen as a liberator, rebel an warrior. He fights for freedom, womens rights. He is the opposer and the light bringer. The Devil can also be seen as a seductive force leading one o follow ones will in defiance of outdated taboos. The Devil is the one who tells you take care of yourself.

Exactly where did witchcraft begin ? well witches have been with us for ages , ever since the first civilizations of mankind. The witch even back in Sumerian times would be called upon to work her magic, usually for healing and for fertility. Sometimes the witch would do baneful magic for hire.   While he witch was called upon for healing and such she was also feared because she was powerful. If one offended a witch one could be sure they would experience bad luck. If someone experienced bad luck they would usually blame the local witch. This fear carried into the middle ages with the burning times. Everyone feared the witch had had something to do with their misfortune. It was during the burning times that mostly women but also some men were burned or hung after weeks of being tortured and denied food. A mere accusation could get one thrown in prison. There were laws passed against Witchcraft. Eventually as society became more enlightened the laws against witchcraft were repealed.

What are the origins of the devil ? That is a good question. In the old days there was no evil incarnate. Gods like humans had both good and evil traits. Set was Osiris's evil brother.  Lord of foreigner and desert, good old Seth was a master of Chaos. he could also be a trickster god. Papa Legba could also be a devil prototype. He was a shape shifter and a trickster.  Or maybe Hades the greek God of the underworld.  In the Hebrew Bible he is called the Satan which means the opposer. He was a servant of god meant to test the loyalty of mankind and then give his report. Lucifer means "Morning Star"   he was called the light bringer or a giver of knowledge. The Mornin Star used to refer to the planet Venus which is associated with Venus or Aphrodite. Could it be that the devil was once a womon.

Satanism is a spiritual form of atheism that does no believe in the spirit realm or in any deities. It is more of an attitude that says take care of yourself and your needs first. It is ok to be selfish and indulge in the things you love. No one should be allowed to dim your light. Rituals are a form of psycho drama that strive for a release of psychic o mental forces. The Rituals tend to be rather simple. Wicca or witchcraft believes that the spiritual world exists  and depending on the tradition gods and goddesses.  No one knows what witchcraft looked like back in the day. When Gerald Gardner introduced witchcraft to the world it had many elements of Ceremonial Magic thrown in. Groups that venerated the devil went through their progressions as well. Mostly with groups trying to break the mold.

The book has rituals, recipes , symbols and spells that could be used by either witch or Satanist.  There is a huge difference between the Black Mass and the Witch's Sabbath.

The Hidden History of Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison : Secret Teacher of the Occult

By Paul Wyld

 If there was a bible to Jim Morrison's life and how to be like him I would say the best go to book would be "No One Here Get's Out Alive"  . This book somehow gets into the nooks and crannies of Jim's life and somehow manages to garner some occult secrets.  It is common knowledge among Jim's fans that he was impacted immensely by the death of native American Children he saw lying dead on the road after a traffic accident. He believed one o the souls entered him and lived through him.  It could have been the source of his divine madness. Jim could be classified as one of those poet thinkers who sa away rom the crowd and sought mysical wisdom. He was meant to open the doors to the mystical world and lead others to it.  While in high school he would devour many written works penned by many great thinker and poets. He would read Nietze, Rimbaud, Zeligman,  T.E Lawrence and many others. He spend high school in Alameda wit his girlfriend Tandy Martin. His father was in the navy and wa a hihly decorated officer as well, Jim and his dad did no get along too well. In fat they were polar opposites.  Whie his dad was tightly would and uber disciplined, Jim was wild and unruly .

These prophetic poets often times were isolated from everyone else.  Poets and mystics try to develop something called faculty "X"  According to Colin Wilson this faculty is the laten power in human beings to reach beyond the present. It gives them a glimpse into another world, the world of the subconscious. Jim saw his role as helping humanity wake up and shake off the shackles of society and pursue thei enlightened dreams.  Often times these messianic mystics are persecuted by those that want to remain asleep and by those who want everyone to remain asleep. This could be evidenced by the way Jim had all those run ins with law enforcement. Messianic people often had a masochistic streak. Jim would often confront people without having the intention of hurting them. .T.E Lawrence could also endure lots of pain and seemed  relish in it.

In all much o what yo read here can be found in" No One Here Get's Out Alive"  but I was unaware o Jim's dealings with he occult. Jim read Seligman's  "History of Magic and the Occult" and Colin Wilson's "The Occult" when he wsas in high school and had no idea that they strongly influenced him.  Of Course he one time married a witch named Patricia. Jim was a Dionysian mystic o poet which meant that he reached ecstacy and wisdom through strong drink and physical exertion and relations.  If you are a fan of Jim and the Occult this book is one you will enjoy.