Charles Godfrey Leland Biography

In 1856 Leland married and became deeply devoted to his wife of 46 years ‘Eliza Bella “Isabel” Fisher’. While acting as an editor for Graham's Magazine, he published the first of his German-English poems “Hans Breitmann's Party” (1857). These he wrote in a mixture of German and broken English, imitating the dialect and humour of the Philadelphia Germans (also called Pennsylvania Dutch). Collectively they were first published in the 1860’s and 1870’s and so popularized Leland that he soon became a sought-after and prosperous writer. The poems were later collected in “The Breitmann Ballads” (newly edited in 1895).

It was about this time in the late 1850’s and during the build up to the American Civil War of 1861-65, that Leland developed strong pro-Union sentiments, and founded the Continental Monthly, a pro-Union Army publication to support their views. He coined the term “emancipation” as an alternative to “abolition” in referance to the Union’s anti-slavery position. After the war broke out on the 12th April 1861, Leland enlisted in 1863 and joined an emergency regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war ended Leland traveled extensively throughout America developing his knowledge of folklore and the occult. On one occasion he tried his hand at prospecting for oil and on another while traveling through the old Wild West, he stayed for a short visit with General Custer at Fort Harker.

During his travels he lived and studied with the Algonquin Indians for months at a time recording their stories, myths and legends. He also studied the myths and legends of the Eskimos, the Finno-Ugric languages of the Finns and Lapps, and delved into the anthropology of a number of Mongoloid peoples. He found parallels in various Norse and North American Indian myths in as much as the Algonquin Indian stories could be related to Norse legends, he then developed a theory on their themes. He postulated that certain myths had spread from Greenland down to Canada and into Northeastern America. Leland’s studies led him to the conviction that the US did not have a meaningful legitimate folk ethos, and maintained that the American Indians understood nature and spirituality better than even Ralph Waldo Emerson or Walt Whitman.

In 1869 Leland’s father died, and with the inheritance from his estate together with the income he was generating from sales of his “Breitmann” poems, Leland abandoned journalism, being able finically to pursue his interest in folklore, mysticism and the occult. In 1870 he moved to England and began his study of the English Gypsies. Over the course of time he won the confidence of the then “King of the Gypsies” in England, Matty Cooper. From Cooper, Leland learned to speak Romany the language of the Gypsies, but it took many years before the Gypsy people accepted him as one of their own. They called him Romany Rye, meaning a non-Gypsy who associates with Gypsies.

Surviving the death of his beloved wife Isabel on the 09th July 1902, Leland himself died on the 20th of March 1903 in Florence. He had suffered with in ill health for the pervious seven years, and toward the end a bout of pneumonia and resulting heart problems caused his death. Leland was cremated in Florence and his ashes returned to America, where they were buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.

Elizabeth Robins Pennell, Leland’s niece who inherited much of his notes, letters and unpublished materials, wrote a two-volume biography on him: Charles Godfrey Leland: a Biography (published in Boston by Houghton, Mifflin and Co in 1906). Her biography is filled with comments on his early passionate interests in witchcraft, magic and the occult, of his passion she writes:

“As might be expected of the man who was called “Master” by the Witches and Gypsies, and whose pockets were always full of charms and amulets, who owned the Black Stone of the Voodoo’s, who could not see a bit of red string at his feet and not pick it up, or find a pebble with an hole in it and not add it to his store – who in a word, not only studied Witchcraft With the impersonal curiosity of the scholar, but practiced with the zest of the initiated”.

Sadly Leland departed without completing his work on Italian Witchcraft, however his legacy lives on through his books. Until his time, no other books existed claiming to contain material obtained directly from a practicing witch. His book Aradia: Gospel of the Witches became one of the most influential works to affect and influence Modern Witchcraft and Wicca. It is also one of the few books on witchcraft to remain in print for over one hundred years.

A select bibliography:

1855: Meister Karl's Sketch-book
1855: Mystery of Dreams
1856: Piaui es of Travel
1862: Sunshine in Thought
1862: Heine's Book of Songs
1864: Legends of Birds
1870: Music Lesson of Confucius
1871: Hans Breitmann Ballads
1872: Pidgin-English Sing-Song
1873: The English Gipsies
1873: Egyptian Sketch Book
1879: Johnnykin and the Goblins
1879: Life of Abraham Lincoln
1880: The Minor Arts
1882: The Gypsies
1883: Industrial Education
1884: Algonquin Legends of New England
1889: A Dictionary of Slang (with Albert Barrerre)
1891: Gyspsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling
1892: The Hundred Riddles of the Fairy Bellaria
1892: Etruscan Roman Remains in Popular Tradition
1893: Memoirs
1895: The Breitmann Ballads (newly edited)
1895: Songs of the Sea and Lays of the Land
1896: Legends of Florence Collected from the People (2 vols.)
1897: Hundred Profitable Acts
1899: Unpublished Legends of Virgil
1899: Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches
1899: Have You a Strong Will?
1901: Legends of Virgil
1902: Flaxius, or Leaves from the Life of an Immortal
1903: Kuloskap the Master, and other Algonquin Poems (with J. Dyneley Prince)

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Chapters Of Life
Marty Dodge - Reviews Of Leo Ruckbie Work
Aleister Crowley - The Confessions Of Aleister Crowley An Autohagiography

Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows

Book: Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows by Ann Moura

The author of the popular Green Witchcraft series presents her personal Book of Shadows, designed for you to use just as she uses it-as a working guide to ritual, spells, and divination. This ready-made, authentic grimoire is based on family tradition and actual magical experience, and is easily adaptable to any tradition of Witchcraft.

This is an excellent compendium of basic (non-Gardnerian, non-trad) wiccan/ witch ritual, theology and symbology. I believe it will be especially helpful for solitary (that is, not aligned with a coven or other group) pagans who are further along their paths than absolute beginners - people who need access to well-organized, non-fluffy material to bolster their personal practice. It would probably be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but that's not a bad thing as there are already too many beginning pagan books and not enough intermediate and advanced.

One of the most attractive qualities about Moura's writing is that she makes no extravagent claims of ancient lineage and she doesn't attempt to distort history to fit her version of the Craft; many Llewellyn books in the past have been rendered nearly useless by this tendency. The material is offered as neutrally as can be, and therefore it is easily adaptable for an individual's tastes and beliefs.

Is it just me, or is the overall quality of pagan books going up recently? Kudos to Llewellyn for finally putting out a quality witchcraft reference!
Grimoire for the Green Witch offers a treasury of magical information- rituals for Esbats and Sabbats, correspondences, circle-casting techniques, sigils, symbols, recitations, spells, teas, oils, baths, and divinations. Every aspect of Craft practice is addressed, from the purely magical to the personally spiritual. It is a distillation of Green practice, with room for growth and new inspiration.

It is extremely thorough, well written as a ritual and spell book, and NOT a teaching book at all. If you are looking for a teaching book, get "Green Witchcraft III." This is the compilation of all the rituals and magical work from her earlier books, all written out and put into one manual. They are easy to find, easy to follow, flow together very well, and she includes a ton of extra information so it is right at your fingertips. No more hunting around and thinking "Where did I read that??" You will LOVE this book!

Born in 1947 and raised in a family oral tradition of at least three generations, Ann Moura began writing about her heritage as a Green Witch in 1993 when her mother passed away. Her maternal heritage is Brazilian/Celtic-Iberian through her mother and grandmother. From them she learned folk magics and Craft concepts that included Rules of Conduct, spiritism, herbal spells, candle magics, reincarnation belief, calling upon the Elementals, and working with “The Power.”Ann holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in History and writes from the perspective of her personal experience and family training. Her books are sold internationally in English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and Russian. Ann is the author of Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore, & Herb Craft, Green Witchcraft II: Balancing Light & Shadow, Green Witchcraft III: The Manual, Green Magic: The Sacred Connection to Nature, Grimoire for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows, and Tarot for the Green Witch.

Buy Ann Moura's book from amazon.com: Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows

Books in PDF format to read:

Sekhet Sophia - The Alexandrian Book Of Shadows
Oberon Zell Ravenheart - Grimoire For The Apprentice Wizard.pdf
Gerald Gardner - The Garnerian Book Of Shadows

Short History Of Pagan Altars

In many of the world's religions, practitioners reserve a place in their homes where deities are honored with prayers and offerings. Petitions are made to the gods of the home altar for things desired or needed: health, wealth, success, love, protection, and other blessings. This practice originated in ancient magickal ritual. Places of spiritual significance can be found in the dwellings of the earliest civilizations

Exactly what goes on the altar varies by Witchcraft tradition. Some common elements include: candles, a bowl of water, salt, incense (and incense holder or censor), a statue or picture of gods or goddesses (either gods or goddesses related to the specific ritual being performed, or gods or goddesses that are special to you). Flowers, berries, crystals and rocks, leaves, twigs, just about anything natural, wine glass (and ceremonial wine).

Representations of the elements (earth, air, water, and fire, for most Western traditions, or the five Chinese elements of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth), a ceremonial knife (called an athame), a wand, any ingredients for the rituals or spells to be performed, any special tools of your Witchcraft tradition, and anything that you feel helps connect you to the divine or to Witchcraft.

Whether permanent or temporary or some combination of both, the altar becomes a personal expression of your spirit, your spirituality, and your magick. Your altar should be both decorative and functional. Your altar should "feel right" to you.

Churches were frequently built over ancient sacred Pagan sites. The Christian altar was placed on the East side of the church, however, a Pagan altar was sometimes included and was placed by the North door.

Churches in as late as the 11th century had a Pagan altar. These north doors of most churches were walled over from the 1300's onward as Witches were less tolerated. ~Taken from Squido~

Also try this free pdf e-books:

Joseph Ennemoser - The History Of Magic Vol 1
Samuel Croxall - The Secret History Of Pythagoras
William Phelon - Our Story Of Atlantis

Tags: biblia cabalistica  born 1930s  astronomical geomancy  study kabalah  have witch tools  assembly sages  heptameron magical elements  invocation horned  magus bennett aleister  history period  odin song  dogma rituel magic  

Biddy Early The Healer The Wise Woman The Witch The Tulla Woman

The name Witch comes from the Celtic word Wicca meaning wise one. Biddy Early was born on Faha Ridge to a poor irish farming couple John & Ellen Connors, she was baptized as Bridget Ellen Connors, but she became known by her mothers maiden name of Early, Biddy's mother Ellen taught her many herbal recipes and cures as she was also known as a wise woman and her gifts she passed onto Biddy

As a child Biddy spent most of her time alone and was said to talk to the faeries, she could not read or write,but this was common for the poor classes & country people of that period in time, coming from the country Biddy spoke Gaelic, she was also known to speak Shelta, the language of ancient mystics and Irish travellers, this is a secret language with no written code.
When Biddy was 16 years old, her mother died of malnutrition, leaving Biddy in charge of the household. Just six months after her mother's death, Biddy's father died of typhus and as biddy had no means to pay the rent she had to leave their home, homeless she wandered the county roads, working where she could along the way and experimenting with herbal cures. she had a period of living in a poor house, finally she met and married Pat Malley who was twice her age, but I suppose biddy felt the need to be looked after, and they had a son whom they called Paddy. They lived in a three room cottage in Feakle, and once settled Biddy began to earn a reputation for her cures, as local peasants couldn't afford to pay for a doctor they would turn to Biddy for help, she never requested money for her services, but allowed her clients to decide how to compensate her. Whiskey and poitin were common trade items in those days, so her house was frequently stocked with an abundance of alcohol and eventually became known as a place where people could also go to drink and play cards.

Biddy’s cures are the main reason she became well-known, but she was also an independent and stong willed woman, life had thrown hard circumstances at her, she had survived the poor house, the famine, and outlived four husbands, but she triumped against all odds and had the courage to stand up against priest and landlords.
The Catholic church did not approve of Biddy’s activities, but none the less she encouraged people to listen to the priests. In contrast, the priests openly disapproved of Biddy and discouraged people from visiting her. They mistrusted the herbal medicine folklore and mystism that surrounded her. Biddy acquired a bottle that became as famous as she was. She would frequently look into the bottle, which contained some sort of dark liquid, when considering possible cures for her visitors. She took the bottle everywhere, and it was even with her when she died.

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Tobias Johansson - The Crucible And The Reasons For The Salem Witch Hunt
Zenaide Alexeievna Ragozin - Siegfried The Hero Of The North And Beowulf The Hero Of The Anglo Saxons
Joanne Pearson - Wicca And The Christian Heritage Ritual Sex And Magic
Aleister Crowley - Book Of The Heart Girt With The Serpent
Frater Achad - The Egyptian Revival Or The Ever Coming Son In The Light Of The Tarot

The Book Of Shadows

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Most Wiccan traditions treasure a Book of Shadows. Such books are rarely published or even shown to non-initiates. In them, the Tradition's specific beliefs and modes of worship are thoroughly or sketchily outlined. Though contents and organization of these ritual manners vary, most Books of Shadows include instructions for the circle casting and banishing; religious rituals; the consecration of tools; laws; coven organizational notes magical rites; prayers and perhaps herbal lore. Some contain lists of the Traditions pantheon, training exercises for new students and, finally, initiation ceremonies.

Such books are vitally important to the establishment and maintenance of all Wiccan traditions, for without them, the tradition's specific rites and other lore must be carefully memorized and passed down by word of mouth. This always leaves room for error, misinterpretation, and even loss of the material. Don't misunderstand this: no Wiccan tradition has been able to record every single bit of information. Much is verbally passed from teacher to student. Still a tradition's Book of Shadows provides and unchanging guide and memory trigger for the practitioner.

There are many different Books of Shadows today. Some are used by hundreds of Thousands of Wiccans. Others are created by Solitary Wiccans and never shown to others.

Information from Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

To me the Book of Shadows is a very special book. Mostly because it is innermost thoughts that come from your heart and soul As you study and Learn you will fill that book up with all kinds of things from Spells to Thoughts, To just writing how you are feeling about things. And it doesn't matter what kind of book of shadows you have whether it is a three ringed binder to a home made book. How you wish to organize your Book of shadows is up to you. Just make sure that you put as much love and care into as you do yourself. Cause that will always be a very special and important book in this Life's Path. And May the Goddess Shine Brightly in your Heart for Always.

Suggested e-books:

Aleister Crowley - The Book Of The Law
Gerald Gardner - The Garnerian Book Of Shadows
Sasha Fierce - The Book Of Shadows

Tags: black magic beginners  the ancient egyptian book of the dead  black magic satanism  candle magic colours  wiccan horned god  free magic spells  witches grimoire  free voodoo magic spells  

Echoes From The Gnosis Vol Vi A Mithriac Ritual

Book: Echoes From The Gnosis Vol Vi A Mithriac Ritual by George Robert Stowe Mead

The next instalment in the Echoes series was the translation of a fourth-century manuscript which had only recently been discovered by the German scholar Albrecht Dieterich in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris in 1900 and published by him in 1903. Prior to this edition, the knowledge of Mithraism was based on a few fragments; for the first time an entire text became available. Mead added an Introduction and a commentary to his translation.

Echoes from the Gnosis(1906) is a series of monographs under the title Echoes from the Gnosis (recently republished in a centennial edition) summarizing his insights into the formation of the Gnostic world-view. By this time Mead had published eight works on various aspects of the early Christian world and on “The Theosophy of the Greeks.” Together With his outstanding Translations of the Hermetic books, these works established his reputation as one of the foremost English scholars in his broadly chosen fields. Mead was the first modern scholar of Gnostic tradition. A century later, the corpus of his work remains unequaled in breadth and insight.

Download George Robert Stowe Mead's eBook: Echoes From The Gnosis Vol Vi A Mithriac Ritual

Downloadable books (free):

George Robert Stowe Mead - Echoes From The Gnosis Vol Iv The Hymn Of Jesus
George Robert Stowe Mead - Echoes From The Gnosis Vol Vii The Gnostic Crucifixion
George Robert Stowe Mead - Echoes From The Gnosis Vol Vi A Mithriac Ritual

Magick In The Life Of A Child

Whether by birth, adoption, or association with another parent, the entrance of a child into one's life is one of the finest and greatest experiences that life has to offer. An ancient Chinese proverb states, "It is the wise parent who gives his child roots and wings."

Our roots are the ties that bind us to one another by blood and make us a family. They are the collective totality of our shared experiences, both good and bad. They are the stories we tell time and again over shared meals, they are the tears that we shed at a common pain.

Our roots teach us the value of history, and learning from those who have gone before. Roots are fostered with daily doses of quality time, the ordinary things that you do together in any given day, the family traditions that make sense only to you and yours.

Our roots are present at the very moment of our conception in our mother's womb; however, we sprout our wings the day that we are born. From the moment that we take our first breath in the world, we take the first steps on our journey of becoming who we are. Though we are momentarily dependent on those who take care of us, we are striving ever forward on our journey to wholeness. Whereas our roots are the ties that bind us together, our wings represent the gift of free will, and the things which define us as individuals.

Our wings carry us through daily experiences, and most notably during those rites of passage that all must face at the appointed hour. Those moments that tell us that we are where we are supposed to be, the first love, the triumph of obtaining our driver's license, graduation, our first paycheck, the first time we make love, the first time we become parents ourselves..........

As the wheel of life revolves, we may one day have children of our own, and pass on to them the gift of roots and wings. If not to our own children, then to the child of another, for it has been said that 'it takes a village to raise a child.' And as the waters of the Earth run to the Sea, we too return to our own roots, as our progeny carries forward with this, their legacy; those intangible things more common that air, or dirt; more priceless than gold, or rubies. The child that you love becomes that adult that you respect, and the one that holds your hand when it is your time to journey to the Summerland.

Books in PDF format to read:

Naomi Janowitz - Magic In The Roman World
Aleister Crowley - Magick In Theory And Practice

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