Witchcraft from the Inside: Origins of the Fastest Growing Religious Movement in Americaorigins of the Fastest Growing Religious Movement in Ameri

by Raymond Buckland

Book Overview

The word Witchcraft has been misunderstood for centuries. In the past 500 years, millions of people have faced persecution, torture, and even death after being accused of practicing Witchcraft. For... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1567181015
• ISBN13: 9781567181012
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Witchcraft from the 'Insider'

I read the book some years ago.It reminded me a lot of Robbins' book,'The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonolgy',from the 1950s.I do not understand what all the flakk is about.Buckland's book refers to proto-wiccans as followers of the 'Olde Religion'.The overall point is that the Christians were trying to destroy the cunning country folk,in order to appease the Jewish merchant-bankers.This has been the case since the dawn of christianity.The Salem area witches (or innocent peasant folk thereof) are still remembered today for their ordeals at the hands of the witch-finders.Close to four hundred years have passed,and we still study their names and lives.Will you be remembered in four hundred years time ? The May-pole may have started as a monolithic phallus created by the stone-age peoples of the pre-historic times.The german name 'Bohrman' ,i always thought was a 'drill-worker',who aided in the construction of ships and buildings.When in fact,the bohrman or drexler,were the ones who drilled the holes into 'May-pole' or 'May-stone'. The feastive may-pole is always the center-piece for Spring Beltane rituals today.Eventhough,it was surpressed and shunned for decades and centuries by the christians and later by the communists.The communists transformed 'May-day' into a national Labour day celebration,yet the rebirth of Spring has never disappeared.-When i was traveling through Austria some years ago,i saw the Kufstein castle.That year they had an interesting display of European torture instruments from the Middle Ages.I think most Europeans would agree that the devises were cruel and inhumane.Yet,this is what the christians did to the just and weak,in order to instill fear among the populace.-If you are not a Gardnerian wiccan,you probably would wince at this Buckland book.I would recommend at least reading this classic one,as well as,that of other wicca-craft authors.It will only broaden your vision on the topic,and therefor you can judge for yourself.

Informative Read

I read all of the reviews myself and than decided to leave one as well. I found this book delightful to read, and do not see it as it was described by other reviews. It might not be for beginners - but those with some knowledge of the craft should have open minds. It has a lot of wonderful information in it and even if it leans toward one tradition (even if you don't follow that tradition) it's not worth overlooking everything else. Highly Suggest!

Good to get ideas...

I found this book rather interesting but it wasn't for what I was looking as a solitary witch. It talked mainly about the Gardnerian tradition, which I don't follow, but accept, as any witch should. :) It's a good book from which to learn, but make sure you know the basics of witchcraft, and an idea of the different traditions as a beginner, or you may become discouraged with the structure of this one tradition! We must be open-minded, People! Blessings, Guinevere