Aradia Or The Gospel Of The Witches

This book is annotated with a rare biographical sketch of the author, written by Elizabeth Robins Pennell. Indefatigable in research, Mr. Leland collects from the mouths of Italian peasants all the information still surviving concerning witches and their rites. Much of this he incorporated in his previous writings, and much more—some of it, we are glad to think, on the point of appearance—has yet to see the light. It is difficult to over-estimate the interest of these survivals in Italy of pagan faith and rite, and it is eminently desirable that so much of them as possible should be preserved. They are on the verge of disappearance, and what is not now reclaimed will inevitably perish. On this point Mr. Leland insists. There are still, however, some few people in the Northern Ramagna who know the Etruscan names of the twelve gods. Invocations to Bacchus, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and the Lares may yet be heard, and there are women in the cities who mutter over the amulets they prepare spells known to the old Roman, and have lore which may be found in Cato or Theocritus. Aradia (Herodias), it may be said, is, according to the Vangelo of the witches, the daughter of Diana by her brother Lucifer, the god of the sun and of the moon, who for his pride was driven from Paradise. Aradia — not, Mr. Leland thinks, the Herodias of the New Testament, but an earlier replica of Lilith—is the chief patron of witches and the teacher of witchcraft. Deeply interesting is all that is said concerning her, and the book, which translates the poetic invocations, is a treasure-house to the student of witchcraft and myth. Contents: PREFACE CHAPTER I - How Diana Gave Birth to Aradia (Herodias) CHAPTER II - The Sabbat: Treguenda or Witch-Meeting--How to Consecrate the Supper CHAPTER III - How Diana Made the Stars and the Rain CHAPTER IV - The Charm of the Stones Consecrated to Diana CHAPTER V - The Conjuration of the Lemon and Pins CHAPTER VI - A Spell To Win Love CHAPTER VII - To Find or Buy Anything, or to Have Good Fortune Thereby CHAPTER VIII - To Have a Good Vintage and Very Good Wine by the Aid of Diana CHAPTER IX - Tana and Endamone, or Diana and Endymion CHAPTER X - Madonna Diana CHAPTER XI - The House of the Wind CHAPTER XII - Tana, The Moon-Goddess CHAPTER XIII - Diana and the Children CHAPTER XIV - The Goblin Messengers of Diana and Mercury CHAPTER XV - Laverna Comments on the Foregoing Texts The Children of Diana, or How the Fairies Were Born Diana, Queen of the Serpents, Giver of the Gift of Languages Diana as Giving Beauty and Restoring Strength Note

First published in 1899, Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches is a fascinating record of Charles Godfrey Leland's view of Italian folk magic as told to him by hereditary Italian witches. Craig Spencer's Aradia is a new translation of the original Italian text and includes a full reprint of Leland's own words as well as notes, analysis, and commentary to help you better understand the classic manuscript and the magical practices within its pages. Aradia also includes hands-on instructions for a unique magical practice based on Leland's remarkable glimpse of 19th-century craft lore. This magical guide is designed to help you develop, expand, and enhance your current craft practices. With exercises and rituals inspired by the original manuscript, this book shares a wholly unique approach to witchcraft that harkens back to authentic practices of an earlier era.

This celebrated study of witchcraft in Europe traces the worship of the pre-Christian and prehistoric Horned God from paleolithic times to the medieval period. Murray, the first to turn a scholarly eye on the mysteries of witchcraft, enables us to see its existence in the Middle Ages not as an isolated and terrifying phenomenon, but as the survival of a religion nearly as old as humankind itself, whose devotees held passionately to a view of life threatened by an alien creed. The findings she sets forth, once thought of as provocative and implausible, are now regarded as irrefutable by folklorists and scholars in related fields. Exploring the rites and ceremonies associated with witchcraft, Murray establishes the concept of the "dying god"--the priest-king who was ritually killed to ensure the country and its people a continuity of fertility and strength. In this light, she considers such figures as Thomas a Becket, Joan of Arc, and Gilles de Rais as spiritual leaders whose deaths were ritually imposed. Truly a classic work of anthropology, and written in a clear, accessible style that anyone can enjoy, The God of the Witches forces us to reevaluate our thoughts about an ancient and vital religion.

Discover, for the first time in one complete work, the rich legacy of magick and ritual handed down by Italian witches through the generations. Ways of the Strega reclaims the beliefs and practices of southern European Pagan spirituality. Learn the secrets of Janarra (lunar) witches, Tanarra (star) witches, and Fanarra (ley lines) witches. This book also details the how-to's of modern Strega traditions.

The result of my researches has been the collection of such a number of magic formulas, tales, and poems as would have exceeded reasonable limits, both as to pages and my readers' patience, had I published them all. What I have given will, I believe, be of very great interest to all students of classical lore of every kind, and extremely curious as illustrating the survival to the present day of "the Gods in Exile ".

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1891. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV.' A GYPSY MAGIC SPELL. HOKKANI BASO LELLIN DUDIKABIN, OR THE GREAT SECRET CHILDREN'S RHYMES AND INCANTATIONS TEN LITTLE INDIAN BOYS AND TEN LITTLE ACORN GIRLS OF MARCELLUS BURDI- GALENSIS. HERE is a meaningless rhyme very common among children. It is repeated while "counting off" --or "out" --those who are taking part in a game, and allotting to each a place. There are many versions of it, but the following is exactly word for word what I learned when a boy in Philadelphia: -- Ekkeri (or ickery), akkery, u-kcry an, Fillisi', follasy, Nicholas John, Queebee - quabee -- Irishman (or, Irish Mary), Stingle 'em--stangle 'em--buck! With a very little alteration This chapter is reproduced, but with much addition, from one in my work entitled "The Gypsies," published in Boston, 1881, by Houghton and Mifflin. London: Trubner Sc Co. The addition will be the most interesting portion to the folk-lorist. in sounds, and not more than children make of these verses in different places, this may be read as follows: -- Ek-keri (yekori) akairi, you kair an, Fillissin, follasy, Nakelas jan Kivi, kavi--Irishman, Stini, stani--buck! This is, of course, nonsense, but it is Romany or gypsy nonsense, and it may be thus translated very accurately: -- First--here--you begin! Castle, gloves. You don't play! Go on! Kivi--a kettle. How are you? Stdni, buck. The common version of the rhyme begins with-- "One--ery--two--ery, ickery an." But one-ery is an exact translation of ek-keri; ek, or yek, meaning one in gypsy. (Ek-orus, or yek-korus, means once). And it is remarkable that in-- "Hickory dickory dock, The rat ran up the clock, The clock struck one, And down he run, Hickory dickory dock." We have hickory, or ek-keri, again followed by a significant one. It may be observed that while my firs...

The New Aradia is a handbook is designed to serve as a collection of ideas to teach, share, inspire, empower, protect, and guide. Within its pages are sigils, spells, recipes, essays, invocations, rituals, and more, all gathered from experienced magical practitioners. At your fingertips is an arsenal of tools to aid you on your path.

While researching regional folklore in Tuscany during the late 19th Century, an American folklorist recieves a hand written document, the "Vangel", by a mysterious woman named Maddelena. Purportedly the last remains of an ancient Roman witchcraft religion, this forms the basis of "Aradia". Though the authenticity of "Aradia" has always been questioned, it has undoubtedly helped form the basis for neo-Pagan religion today.