“The proper study of mankind is man.” — A. Pope, Essay on Criticism An in-depth and complete evaluation of your thoughts and beliefs involves examining

Belief in magical practices was apparently widespread in the cultures of the ancient Middle East. Magical power to heal sickness and other acts of white

The familiar witch of folklore and popular superstition is a combination of numerous influences, but is generally based on the European tradition of witchcraft. During

The “Atharvaveda”, the fourth of the sacred “Vedas” of Hinduism, which dates from Iron Age India, is a collection of charms and spells classically associated

In Native American culture, magic is unique for each region, with different kinds of and charms, vision-inducing rituals, masks, costumes, carvings and ceremonies. However

Different African tribes refer to witchcraft differently: the Nyakyusa tribe of East Africa refer to it as a “Python in the belly”; the Pondo tribe

Most what we usually consider “witchcraft” is the European tradition of witchcraft (which also later migrated across to North America), and that is what this

Joan Wytte was born in 1775 in Bodmin, Cornwall. She was sometimes called the “Fighting Fairy Woman” or the “Wytte (White) Witch”. Joan was famed

Monique Wilson was one of the original High Priestesses of Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, and she has been labelled the “Queen of

Johann Weyer (or Johannes Wier or Ioannes Wierus or Piscinarius), was a Dutch physician, occultist and demonologist, and the disciple and follower of Cornelius Agrippa.

Arthur Edward Waite was a scholarly American mystic who wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters, and was the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

Catherine Monvoisin (maiden name Catherine Deshayes, and popularly known as “La Voisin”), was a French sorceress, who was one of the chief personages in the

Doreen Valiente was a member (and later High Priestess) of an early Wicca coven, led by Gerald Gardner. She was one of the most respected

Stewart Farrar was an influential English Wiccan, and author of several books on Alexandrian Wicca and Neopaganism, as well as a number of works of

Starhawk is an American writer, feminist, anarchist, peace activist and self-described Pagan and witch. She co-founded the Reclaiming tradition of Wicca in the late 1970s,

Little is known of Agatha’s life except that she died very young, after giving birth to a daughter, Ursula Southeil (later known as Mother Shipton),

King Solomon is a well-known figure described in the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Old Testament and the Islamic Qur’an (where he is known as Sulayman

Mother Shipton was a 16th Century English soothsayer, prophetess and supposed witch who is said to have made dozens of unusually accurate predictions, including the

Alex Sanders was the founder of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca, which has proved popular particularly in Britain and Canada. He deliberately courted publicity and

Silver RavenWolf is a nationally recognized American leader and elder of Wicca. She has been a prolific author and lecturer on Neopaganism and witchcraft issues

“Old George” Pickingill (or Pickengale or Pitengale) was an English cunning man and agricultural labourer living in the Essex village of Canewdon, who has become

Rosaleen Miriam Norton (known as “Roie”) was an Australian artist, occultist and witch. She became popularly known as “The Witch of King’s Cross”, and revelled

Witches have been popular subjects throughout history in tales, myths and legends. These biographies of selected personalities from the days before reliable documentary evidence include

Margaret Alice Murray was a prominent British anthropologist and Egyptologist, well known in academic circles for scholarly contributions to Egyptology and the study of folklore.

Morgan Le Fay (alternatively known as Morgaine le Fey, Morgane, Morgain, Morgana, Fata Morgana, and other variants) is a powerful sorceress and antagonist of King