United States of Witchcraft Traditions

 

New World Witchery

By Corey Thomas Hutchinson

The crossroads is a meeting place for witches, and America serves as a massive crossroads for global magical paths. This book explores that rich tapestry, touching on Southern Voodoo and Hoodoo, Appalachian and Ozark traditions, Northern German Powwow, New England cunning folk, and Southwestern Brujería.

Rather than focusing on one region at a time, the author organizes the book by magical actions. The chapters walk you through the definition of a witch, the initiation process, spellcasting methods, and "second sight" fortune-telling. It is an exhaustive resource filled with stories, legends, and factual history. Best of all, each chapter ends with practical suggestions to help you implement these traditions into your own magical practice

Here is an example of a spell from that book It is a floor washing spell.  Combine ammonia and salt in floor-washing water, in order to remove negative energy from a home. Folk magic is very practical. It uses common herbs purchased from the grocery store, picked up on the beach and other everyday things.

Another money drawing spell is putting a Rose of Jericho in water in order to increase your financial prosperity. The resurecting plant has it's energy activitated by water or lucky water.

Another spell is placing urine in floor washing water to keep a lover faithful and bound to the house.

Revival of the Olympians

 

Modern Witchcraft and the Greek Gods

By Jason Manley and Astrea Taylor

This is an excellent fourth book on working magic with the Greek gods. It begins with a solid overview of Greek history, which provides essential context for everything that follows.

The next section introduces the main Greek Olympians—including Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter, and others. Each god gets a dedicated chapter that starts with their mythological background, followed by insightful personal experiences and contributions from guest authors. These accounts are particularly engaging. The chapter then concludes with practical spells and workings associated with that deity, along with their purposes.

The appendices offer helpful structures for crafting spells and performing Greek rituals. Keep in mind that Greek rituals and magic are quite flexible, having been adapted across many different pantheons and cultural traditions over the centuries.

The historical section is informative without getting bogged down in specific dates. It starts with the Minoans, an island culture on Crete that likely had early prototype versions of the Greek gods (though with different names and characteristics). Not all gods originated in the same place—some, like Zeus and possibly Poseidon and Demeter, came from outside Greece, and their stories often differ from the familiar versions we hear today.

After the Minoan civilization declined, the Mycenaeans rose to power on the Greek mainland. They absorbed much of Minoan culture and eventually dominated the surrounding islands. Greece later fragmented into independent city-states, most famously Athens and Sparta. Over time, these evolved into a more unified culture. Alexander the Great then led Greek armies across Asia all the way to India, aiming not just to conquer but to Hellenize the regions—essentially turning conquered peoples into Greeks culturally.

The Greeks were highly syncretic: when they encountered new civilizations, they often equated foreign gods with their own, absorbed them into their pantheon, or blended traditions. For example, Zeus may have originated in the forests of Ukraine or Thrace rather than Greece itself. Hera might once have been the supreme queen of the universe before Zeus, the upstart, took power.

The book also highlights fun and lesser-known myths, such as Ares (the god of war, more brute force than strategy) being outfoxed by his brother Hephaestus, the lame and ugly smith-god. Hephaestus was famously thrown from Olympus by his mother Hera; he later married Aphrodite, only for her to begin an affair with Ares. Hephaestus caught the lovers in a golden net, leading to further adventures.

Poseidon and Demeter were also imports from outside Greece, with Poseidon once paired with Demeter in earlier traditions. When the Romans conquered the Greek world, they absorbed the Greek gods, renamed them, and merged them with their own deities—creating the familiar Roman versions many people know today.

Overall, this is a very informative, well-rounded, and practical book for anyone wanting to know the gods and work with them magically. Highly recommended—give it a read.

Forest Witches

 

Slavic Witchcraft

By Natasha Helvin

The Slavic world encompasses countries such as Poland, Ukraine, parts of Russia, and much of Central Europe. This book explores the simple spells traditionally performed by witches and sorceresses in those lands. The author provides a clear history of the Slavic peoples, tracing the evolution of their pre-Christian spirituality up through their eventual adoption of Orthodox Christianity.

The spells address many practical areas of life, including money, love, protection, house cleansing, and working with graveyard spirits.

One of the first spells covered is a love attraction ritual designed to make a friend or acquaintance notice you and develop romantic feelings. You begin by placing a basin of water outside overnight. The next morning, you bathe with that water while reciting: “Like the moon I am needed, and like water I am gentle. As the traveler wanders through the desert and collapses onto the water, so shall the right person find me as though they have found water in the desert.” You then wipe yourself dry with the hem of your shirt and repeat the ritual for one full lunar month.

For a money-drawing spell, you’ll need a long green canvas thread, a needle, and a church candle. Wrap the green thread around the candle and place it on a stand beside your bed. Light the candle before sleep, wearing a new shirt turned inside out. In the morning, remove the thread from the cooled wax and sew it into the lower hem of the shirt while saying: “As the thread belongs to the needle, so does money belong with me. As the thread is always with the needle, money will always cling to me. A thread needs a needle to be sewn. I need money in order to live. As this thread is attached to the needle, so money attaches itself to me.” When the thread runs out, tie ten knots in it and keep the knotted thread on your person at all times.

The book also discusses the importance of offerings to spirits and ancestors, with a strong emphasis on ancestral work throughout. Death and funeral rites receive extensive coverage as well.

Overall, this is an excellent primer for anyone interested in entering the world of Slavic witchcraft. Highly recommended!

The Bigfoot Encyclopedia

 

The Bigfoot Book

By Nick Redfern

Bigfoot-type creatures have been reported all over the world, with the highest concentration of sightings in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Evidence of their existence remains scant—primarily footprint casts and eyewitness accounts. While this is not considered conclusive proof by mainstream science, these creatures are classified as cryptids: animals whose existence is claimed but not yet scientifically verified. New species continue to be discovered every year, reminding us that we still have much to learn about the natural world.

Stories of these hairy, ape-like hominids date back centuries. Native American tribes have long told tales of these beings. Some describe them as protectors of the forests, guardians who ensure humanity respects the wilderness. Others view them as elder brothers—wise beings sent to warn or protect mankind when society strays too far from balance. However, not all accounts are benevolent. There are also reports of aggression and violence.

One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1924 at Ape Canyon, near Mount St. Helens in Washington State. A group of gold prospectors was attacked by several large, ape-like creatures. The beings reportedly bombarded the prospectors’ cabin with rocks throughout the night in an attempt to break in. The men held them off until dawn, after which they fled and never returned to the area.

In Theodore Roosevelt’s book The Wilderness Hunter, set in Montana, Roosevelt recounts a story told to him of two hunters who were harassed by a massive, hairy giant while camping. The next morning, one hunter returned from a solo outing to find his partner dead—apparently killed by the creature.

Another historical tale describes Native Americans and white settlers joining forces to battle a group of Bigfoot-like creatures that had abducted several young girls. The humans ultimately prevailed and rescued the captives.

These hairy hominids appear in legends and reports across the globe, each region giving them different names. In the Himalayas and parts of Russia, they are known as the Yeti or Almasty—described as similar to Bigfoot but with white or lighter fur suited to snowy environments. In Florida, they are called the Skunk Ape, while in Australia the creature is known as the Yowie. Reports also exist from India, China, and across Europe, including Britain. Ancient legends even claim that Alexander the Great encountered tribes of these hairy beings during his campaigns in India. Some researchers suggest that Green Man statues and carvings in Europe may depict similar creatures. Author Nick Redfern has compiled an extensive encyclopedia cataloging these hominids, documenting their regional names, locations, and characteristics.

Not all such creatures are described as large and imposing. Some are smaller and hairier, such as the Menehune of Hawaii or the “luxes” reported in Mexico.

Bigfoot and its counterparts have left a significant mark on popular culture. These creatures have appeared in countless movies, television shows, books, and documentaries, cementing their place in modern folklore

The Lost Knowledge of Imagination

The Lost Knowledge of Imagination 

By Gary Lachman

 Starting in the mid-to-late 1700s, there was a subtle but profound shift in human consciousness. For centuries, early humanity relied heavily on the right brain—its creativity, intuition, and imagination—to navigate the world. People believed in animism, forest spirits, gods, angels, and countless other unseen forces. Then, around the Enlightenment, the left brain began to dominate. Everything became scientific and material. Reality was reduced to cause-and-effect in the physical world, with little room left for spirit, myth, or imagination.

Lachman traces this evolution through the ideas of various philosophers and scientists. One thinker (whose name escapes me as well) made a striking distinction: there are the rules of geometry and the rules of imagination. Each mode of consciousness, he argued, operates according to its own valid set of principles.

Chapter 2 explores Owen Barfield, a member of the Inklings and close friend of J.R.R. Tolkien. Barfield proposed a radical idea: imagination actually fuels language, rather than the other way around. While many believe we first experience the world and then develop language to describe it, Barfield suggested we are born with imagination and linguistic capacity already within us. We then project that inner reality onto the physical world we encounter.

Another perspective Lachman covers is the notion that the outside world is essentially an illusion. What we perceive as reality—sights, sounds, smells, and textures—may simply be data fed into our brains, much like being plugged into a computer that generates all sensory input. In this view, our perception shapes how the physical world appears to us.

Throughout the book, many thinkers advocate for a fusion of right-brain and left-brain consciousness—merging science with imagination—to arrive at the fullest, most perfect form of truth. Yet if the world is ultimately an illusion, the very concept of objective truth becomes slippery. What we call “truth” may simply be the things we can all agree upon.

Overall, Lachman’s book is a fascinating exploration of how we lost touch with the imaginative faculty that once defined human experience. It’s thought-provoking and worth reading if you’re interested in consciousness, philosophy, and the hidden history of ideas.

Mythology of the Mexica

 

Myths, Gods and Rituals of Aztec Mythology

 by Matthew Torres

Because European invaders destroyed indigenous houses of worship and burned their codices, much of Aztec lore has been lost to history. Today, we are left to reconstruct what remains. In Myths, Gods and Rituals of Aztec Mythology, Matthew Torres does exactly that, beautifully reconstructing these ancient myths in alignment with the true spirit of Mexica spirituality to make history both accessible and entertaining.

First, let us set the record straight: the "Aztecs" never actually called themselves by that name. They were the Mexica (pronounced Meh-shee-ka), a Nahuatl-speaking people whose origins lie in the mythical, undiscovered land of Aztlan [1]. Once nomadic wanderers, their journey ended when they witnessed a divine prophecy: an eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a snake. On that exact spot, they founded their magnificent capital, Tenochtitlan [2]. Today, modern Mexico bears their name, and this sacred foundational emblem is proudly displayed on the Mexican flag.

When Spanish conquistadors arrived in Central America, they decimated native villages through military conquest and the introduction of devastating European diseases [3]. While a popular myth suggests the Mexica viewed these pale newcomers as gods, reality tells a different story. In truth, the Europeans smelled so poorly from months of travel without bathing that the hygienic Mexica—who bathed daily—had to douse them with incense and perfume to endure their presence.

Eurocentric history often paints the Mexica as savage barbarians, yet they built an incredibly sophisticated civilization featuring lavish architecture and masterful gold craftsmanship. The Spanish ultimately destroyed this vibrant empire, igniting a war based on a fabricated rumor of an assassination plot against Hernán Cortés [4]. Upon the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the invaders constructed modern Mexico City [2].

Furthermore, the text accurately challenges the sensationalized numbers regarding Mexica human sacrifice. While the practice did exist, claims that they sacrificed 80,000 people in a single week are wildly exaggerated; a timeline of 1,000 over a month is far more historically plausible. Ironically, European societies of the same era routinely practiced their own brutal forms of public execution and sacrifice.

Overall, Torres has delivered an excellent, highly enjoyable book. While I have summarized the historical context here, you will have to dive into the book yourself to fully experience the rich mythology he uncovers.

Bird's Eye View of Witchcraft

 

Witches Among Us

By Thorn Mooney

Witchcraft is currently experiencing a massive surge in mainstream popularity, transforming from a hidden subculture into a highly visible movement. In Witches Among Us: Understanding Contemporary Witchcraft and Wicca, author Thorn Mooney pulls back the curtain on this often-misunderstood spiritual landscape. This book is not designed as a practical how-to guide for novice practitioners seeking spells or rituals. Instead, it serves as an accessible introduction for curious observers, families of practitioners, or professionals encountering the craft in their work. Leveraging her unique dual perspective as both a religious studies scholar and a longtime practitioner, Mooney frames witchcraft as an individual spirituality and a practical tool for self-improvement. By explicitly contrasting its decentralized structure against organized, hierarchical religions governed by popes, rabbis, or priests, she delivers a comprehensive and engaging primer that avoids overly dense theological jargon.

The foundational chapters of the book establish definitions and map out the diverse lineages within the modern movement. In the opening chapter, Mooney defines the modern archetype of the witch and explores how practitioners view their own craft. She places a heavy emphasis on personal autonomy, demonstrating how contemporary witches customize their spiritual paths to fit their individual needs. The second chapter deepens this exploration by categorizing major traditions and drawing a clear line between Wicca and broader witchcraft. Here, the text outlines the core tenets of Wicca—a religion founded by Gerald Gardner—including the Wiccan Rede and the Three-Fold Law. Beyond the well-known Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wiccan branches, Mooney introduces readers to non-Wiccan paths such as Feri, Luciferian, and Traditional British witchcraft, while tracing their historical debts to movements like Theosophy, Spiritualism, and Ceremonial Magic.

In addition to defining these paths, the book demystifies the actual practices, tools, and spiritual interactions that define a witch's daily life. Mooney details the seasonal celebrations tied to the lunar cycle, equinoxes, and solstices, focusing heavily on major holidays like Samhain and Beltane. She clarifies that modern spellwork is often directed at practical, real-world goals like love or prosperity, and is frequently paired with divination techniques involving Tarot cards, pendulums, and Ouija boards. To execute these practices, witches utilize specific ritual objects—such as athames, wands, chalices, and incense—to channel their internal power. This power is often used to interact with various spiritual forces, ranging from ancient pantheons and nature spirits to familial or lineage ancestors.

Finally, Mooney tracks the profound structural evolution of the witchcraft community from its mid-twentieth-century roots to the digital age. Historically, entry into the craft was gatekept by exclusive, secretive covens that required formal, in-person initiation. The modern landscape, however, has shifted toward a highly solitary and accessible model. Today's seekers regularly learn and practice independently, utilizing books, online creators, and public festivals to build their faith. Ultimately, Witches Among Us stands as an exceptional, objective, and thoughtful survey of contemporary witchcraft. By balancing scholarly objectivity with insider empathy, Mooney has crafted a foundational resource that is highly recommended for anyone wanting to better understand the modern practitioners in their life