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The Meaning of Witchcraft [Paperback]

Gerald B. Gardner (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Thought to be the father of modern witchcraft, Gerald Gardner published The Meaning of Witchcraft in 1959, not long after laws punishing witches were repealed. It was the first sympathetic book written from the point of view of a practicing witch.

"The meaning of witchcraft is to be found, not in strange religious theories about God and Satan, but in the deepest levels of the human mind, the collective unconscious, and the earliest developments of human society. It is the deepness of the roots that has preserved the tree."

The Meaning of Witchcraft is an invaluable source book for witches today. Chapters include:
• Witch’s Memories and Beliefs
• The Stone Age Origins of Witchcraft
• Druidism and the Aryan Celts
• Magic Thinking
• Curious Beliefs about Witches
• Signs and Symbols
• The Black Mass
• Some Allegations Examined

About the Author

Gerald Brosseau Gardner( 1884-1964) has been called the father of modern Wicca. His published works are supposedly the teachings of a coven in which he was a member--teachings passed down by word of mouth since early pagan times. Along with his written legacy, he was also the founder of the Museum of Witchcraft.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser (March 1, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1578633095
  • ISBN-13: 978-1578633098
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #585,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Gerald Brosseau Gardner
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
My Directorship of the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft at Castletown, Isle of Man, brings me a great deal of correspondence from all parts of the world; some interesting, some abusive (a very little, just enough to enliven matters), some fantastic, and some funny in all senses of the word. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
foliate mask, witch cult, witch tradition, witchcraft today, coloured lady, hunting god, witch goddess, ceremonial magic, phallic god, horned god, witch coven, wax image, naked goddess
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Madame de Montespan, Black Mass, Charles Walton, Wild Hunt, Bronze Age, King Arthur, Margaret Murray, May Day, Meon Hill, Middle Ages, Aleister Crowley, Rollright Stones, Von Spee, Green Man, Lady Raglan, Long Compton, Marguerite Monvoisin, Montague Summers, Isle of Man, Lord of the Gates of Death, Chambre Ardente, Church of England, Holy Ghost, May Eve, Roman Church
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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Serious Seeker's Must Have!, April 5, 2002
By "shera345" (the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Meaning of Witchcraft and Witchcraft Today (Paperback)
Gerald Brosseau Gardner found Witchcraft to be a beautiful, deep, and meaningful religious path. After his initiation into the New Forest coven in 1939, he dedicated his life and resources to preserving and promoting Witchcraft, which he feared was a religion on the verge of extinction.

GBG, with the help of Doreen Valiente, gave structure and form to what he learned. His followers have come to be called "Gardnerians", and it's a name they are proud to claim. Many traditions abound in Wicca, and all of them have gleaned something from GBG's writings. These influential books are a must have for any serious student of the "Craft", but a bit deep for those who only play at being "Witches".

It's only fair to warn you: Gardner's writing style can be dry and his organization a bit erratic. Sometimes it can be downright tedious reading his books. However, the information and opinions he gives are well worth the occasional headache! If you only want to play around and "cast spells" as a game, don't bother with his books. There are plenty of recipe-format spell books out there that will serve you just fine. If you are into the Religion of Wicca, then this book will find its way into your library ... one way or another. You might as well get it now! You'll thank yourself ... maybe not *while* you're reading it, but *after* you've (finally) finished!!!

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a history lesson, August 29, 2005
This review is from: The Meaning of Witchcraft (Paperback)
Students of witchcraft are often advised to read the works of Gerald Gardener. It is true that he is the father of modern witchcraft and his writings are the core of modern practices. Upon reading this book it is clear that things have come a long way in the past 50 years.

This book is not meant as an introduction for aspiring witches, but as a history lesson for those who might persecute witches. The book is filled with old practices and superstitions that formed the basis of modern witchcraft, as well as the origins of witch prosecutions.

The Meaning of Witchcraft may certainly deserve some scrutiny as Gardner obviously has an agenda and occasionally leaps to a conclusion that supports his claims when the evidence does not offer as much support as he claims.

The book is a heavy read that may take some effort to get through if you are used to lighter modern writing. Gardner is primarily concerned with the origins of witchcaft in Britain, and witchcraft's future in Britain. The book has many local anecdotes that may lose meaning over time and distance.

The information I found most interesting was the history of the Christians moving into Britain, how they pushed out the native pagan beliefs, and how those pagans left traces of their beliefs.

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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading better than anticipated, August 29, 2005
This review is from: The Meaning of Witchcraft (Paperback)
I had never read any of Gerald Gardner's books before. Being more than a generation removed and being subjected to the formualted books on the subject I was suprised with the integrity of the subject matter.
It was unknown to me that Mr. Gardner was somewhat of an accomplished anthropologist and folklorist. This should be required reading of anyone with a serious interest in Wicca.
For those who haven't had the pleasure this work bears a resemblace to Star Hawks famously acclaimed The Spriral Dance,Sir James Frazier's The Golden Bough and Robert Graves The White Goddess.
It's also good reading for students of Welsh, Celtic and European-Arayan folklore in general.
I definitely intend to read all of his works.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars the meaning of witchcraft
This is a must for any student of esoteric arts as Gerald Gardner is the founder of one of the most influential paths of the modern craft movement with connections to the other... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. A. J. Henchliffe

4.0 out of 5 stars The Meaning of Witchcraft
This book is very informative, if a little on the dry side. (LOL) He goes very indepth starting with the paleolithic times o forward. I enjoy Gardner's view from the inside.
Published on June 19, 2008 by Robin R. Snyder

3.0 out of 5 stars It is a good reference book, like a Latin Textbook
The title is somewhat misleading - this is more a thesis on where witchcraft's roots are than the meaning. Read more
Published on August 3, 2007 by Steve

4.0 out of 5 stars Gardner's Best Written Work
If you don't know of Gerald Gardner, he was one of Aleister Crowley's last henchmen and the founder of the religion of Wicca as we know it today. Read more
Published on June 18, 2006 by Joseph Adams

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