Excellent books on the history of witchcraft

[sara_super_id]

I have been reading a few very excellent books on the history of witchcraft practices. It is very helpful considering how much bad history is passed along in neo-paganism and how much polite disagreement there is among historians as well. I don't want to fall into the trap of reading just one professors or just one school's opinions and getting

Comments

[ai731]

I highly recommend the biography of Alistair Crowley, "A Magick Life" by Martin Booth.

[tryst_inn]

The OP was asking about witchcraft, not Ceremonial Magic?

[ai731]

The histories (which is what the OP was asking about) of witchcraft and Ceremonial Magic are intertwined, not totally separate subjects. Crowly researched and practiced a little bit of everything.

[tryst_inn]

I think we're confusing the practice with the history of witchcraft. Insulting High Priestesses doesn't really constitute history-making.

Could you give a few examples of what you are considering intertwining histories here?

[sara_super_id]

I go back and forth with this. Crowley said some very insulting things and it times dogged on witchcraft, but on the other hand he was also a mentor to Sybil Leek, who is a traditional witch. So I don't quite know what to think of this. But reading about his life might cast some light on the issue. Its not at the top of my list though, I am grateful to everyone for sharing their ideas.

[ianphanes]

Is there any evidence to support Leek's claims that Crowley was a mentor to her?

[sara_super_id]

Comsidering how many witches want to avoid connection with him, you'd think one would believe someone who said they did know him. Lol, I never thought to check on that.

[ianphanes]

Hutton (Triumph, 300) says:
"[Crowley's] diaries, much cited above, cover in detail what would be the last dozen years of it, and reveal no trace of such an acquaintance, with a family and a young woman of the sort described in some detail in [Leek's] autobiography."

[sara_super_id]

I wonder why she would have wanted to claim that association. But meh, it doesn't really matter to my tradition although I do enjoy her saucy writing style.

[ianphanes]

Remember that she was writing in a very different time. She was a media Witch in the late 60s and early 70s. Crowley was much more in fashion at that time. The Beatles had an image of Crowley, after all.

And I also enjoy her writing, though I treat her "autobiography" as fiction.

[sara_super_id]

Well I cannot deny the impact Crowley has had on modern witchcraft, this one sounds worth a read. Thanks!