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Wicca – Witchcraft
A range of useful reference items with which to familiarise yourself.
AMDUAT: The Book of the Hidden Chamber
The Amduat: the Book of the Hidden Chamber is a mythological story from the Ancient Egyptians of the Sun's journey through the hours of the night. At a metaphorical level it is the Soul's journey and it's renewal. This book, or more correctly the painted and inscribed tombs of a number of Pharaohs, contains a detailed description of the Sungod Atum's journey through the night-world of the Amduat and provides for us a symbolic representation of an inner psychic process and it's transforming power.
My particular interest in the Amduat is in context to the Witches' Sabbat where there are a number of similarities between the Horn-headed god Atum and the Witches' Horned god, Cernunnos.
The Ram-headed Atum of the Admuat is the Sungod in his night-world form. Shown carrying the fire of the Sun between his horns he passes through the twelve gates of the Night, encountering many challenges and secrets. More than two millenia later we see a dim reflection of this same image and night-world journey: the Horn-headed god worshipped in the midnight rituals of the Witches' Sabbat. Here the god also carries the fiery torch and symbol of the Sun between his horns as he conducts the rites of passage into a forbidden and secret place. There are a number of interesting similarities that seem to connect this ancient mythology to the practices recorded in the medeaval Witch-Cult; mostly notibly the initiation rites that take place in the Hidden Chamber of the Amduat and the initiuation rites of the Witches' Sabbat.
In this detail from the seventeenth century, we see depicted the God of the Witches; note how the god is flanked by two females just as Atum is flanked by Isis and Nephthys. The Witches' god also has a radiating fire from between the his horns as does Atum. The seated Witch-priestesses are shown holding serpents just as Atum (shown above) is frequently accompanied by the great serpent Apep. (Note too that the symbol for Isis is the throne shown above her head – see top image.)
After passing through the twelve Gates of the Hours, Atum emerges born again. In the above engraving by Pierre de Lancre, we see illustrated an infant brought to face the old god. Despite the implication of child sacrifice, might this not be the old god looking to his future?
The Amduat is one of several well-known Ancient Egyptian books used in the tombs of the Dead at certain periods. The Book of Gates and The Book of Coming Forth By Day are perhaps better known, although they provide a somewhat different message as guide books to the Afterlife. The Amduat is thought to date from at least 1470 BCE when its was used to illustrate a formal series of stages in Atum's journey through the hours of the night.
Gerald B. Gardner
One of the best ways to understand the man artributed with having fathered the birth of modern Witchcraft is to read his books. Gardner's books still read well over fifty years after their publication, and it's an interesting read. His first exploration into the field of serious writing on the subject of Wicca was Witchcraft Today. It is not only an hsitorical exploration, but also provides a glimps into the psychic phenomena of Witchcraft.
The links below provide some of the best online research on the man behind contemporary Witchcraft as well as revealing something of the people who have followed after him.
Paul Huson
Paul Huson is best known for his wonderful book "Mastering Witchcraft" written in 1969. He has written many other worthwhile books such as "Mastering Herbalism" and the "The Devil's Picturebook". Huson, British-born author and artist, currently lives in the United States. In addition to writing several books about occultism and witchcraft, he has worked extensively in the film and television industries. 
"As you chant the words, use your imagination to visualize great iron shackles struck off your hands and feet by sizzling bolts of lightning and disintegrating into molten shards to either side of you... feel the burden of all your inherited guilts, all those awful shalt's and shalt not's, all that vast edifice of twaddle and claptrap, sliding easefully from your back." Chapetr One First Steps, Mastering Witchcraft
Mob burns to death 11 Kenyan 'witches'
Reuters | ABC – Posted Thu May 22, 2008 5:10am AEST: A mob has burned to death at least 11 people accused of witchcraft in an area of west Kenya where traditional beliefs run deep, police said. "Their houses were torched. Eight women and three men suspected of being witches died," Kenya's deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said. Kisii district residents confirmed the killings, saying an enraged crowd had gone house-to-house on Tuesday night (local time), using a list of supposed witches in the region. "They burned them alive in their homes," one resident said, asking not to be named. About 30 houses were torched.
Police drafted extra personnel into the area to prevent revenge attacks in a region already reeling from tribal killings during Kenya's post-election crisis. Traditional African beliefs, Christianity and Islam co-exist peacefully in Kenya. But there is widespread suspicion of sorcery, particularly in west Kenya, which has a long tradition of witchdoctors and faith healers. Mr Owino said almost all the victims were elderly Kenyans, aged between 70 and 90, although one was nearer 40. In 1993, eight elderly people from Kisii were also accused of witchcraft and burned to death in their huts by a mob.
"WITCHCRAFT 2008.06.13 Fifteen people were brutally murdered in western Kenya in a witch hunt. CNN's David McKenzie investigates."
BBC NEWS – Eleven elderly people accused of being witches have been burned to death by a mob in the west of Kenya, police say. A security operation has been launched to hunt down villagers suspected of killing them in Kisii District. The BBC's Muliro Telewa in the region says the gang had a list of the victims and picked them out individually. The area has witnessed similar attacks in the past when people suspected of engaging in witchcraft have been killed or ostracised. But our reporter says that this is a surprisingly large number of people to be attacked at the same time.
Anthony Kibunguchy, the provincial police officer, told the BBC that the eight women and three men were all aged between 80 and 96 years old. The mob dragged them out of their houses and burned them individually and then set their homes alight, our correspondent says. Residents have been ambivalent about condemning the attacks because belief in witchcraft is widespread in the area, he says.
But local official Mwangi Ngunyi spoke out against the murders. "People must not take the law into their own hands simply because they suspect someone," he told AFP news agency. Villagers told reporters that they had evidence that the victims were witches. They say they found an exercise book at a local primary school that contained the minutes of a "witches' meeting" which detailed who was going to be bewitched next. The victim's families have gone into hiding, fearing for their lives.
GUARDIAN-OBSERVER - CHILDREN become targets of Nigerian witch hunt spurred on by an Evangelical pastors. The churches are helping to create a terrible new campaign of violence against young Nigerians. Children and babies branded as evil are being abused, abandoned and even murdered while the preachers make money out of the fear of their parents and their communities.
In Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, evangelical preachers encourage people to believe children are witches, and abuse, abandonment and even murder follows. Photo: Twin boys Itohowo and Kufre stand surrounded by angry villagers who believe they are bringing evil to their lives. Robin Hammond/The Observer
The fight against children being stigmatised as witches is far from over - http://www.steppingstonesnigeria.org/mediapack
Snapshot of Wicca in England circa the early 1960s
Notting Hill, London - Something unique was happening in London in the early 1960s – the return of a spiritual tradition kept underground for centuries. "I stand blindfolded and I am conscious of being led into a room where incense is so all-pervading... the circle is cast... four candles lit at the four points... my robe being opened and taken off. I am walking into the circle." – from "Maxine, the Witch Queen" Star Book, 1976.
Alex and Maxine Sanders were well and truly in the lime-light when journalist Stewart Farrar was sent by the "Reveille" to interview the well-known couple. Farrar did the article and then was invited by Alex to explore a book to go with his already successful biography by June Johns "King of the Witches". Farrar says, "...but this time [a book] dealing with what modern witches do..." and the rest, as they say, is history. "What Witches Do" is arguably one of the most well-read books on the subject of Wicca.
The Wild Hunt is a Witchcraft Blog with many fine posts and articles including "Snaphot of Wicca in England circa the early 1960s". The blog is hosted by Jason Pitzl-Waters, a writer with a keen pen writing regularly in a number of magazines - including newWitch, Llewellyn’s 2007 Wicca Almanac, and the influential PanGaia magazine.
VINUM SABBATI - in a can!
The Original Vinum Sabbati 'White Powder' – don't accept cheap imitations, demand the original and the best! haha!
"In its powdered form, Vinum Sabbati (witches' wine) is an occult preparation of awesome potency, capable of affecting startling transformations of fascinating sorts. Machen's Powdered Vinum Sabbati is a highly concentrated compound elaborately prepared from rare plants and mineral salts in accordance with medival processes. When used in the correct proportion, it facilitates the sumentes calicem, principis inferorum." HPLHS BAZAAR
What is Wicca?
Using Music as a metaphor for the different varieties of Witchcraft, each holds a unique voice and each provokes a different emotional response. From the time Gerald Gardner (pictured left) reintroduced the term Wicca back into the English language in the 1950s there has evolved a great many ritual styles. His two books of note "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft" provided an academic approach to the exploration of the religions history, much as anthrologist Dr. Margaret Murry has done with her works "The Witch-cult in Western Europe" 1921 and "The God of the Witches" 1931.
But where does the psychic phenomena come into all this acedemic exploration of the subject? Too often the written history of Witchcraft leaves us dry, like so much bleached driftwood. Gardner did attempt to explore something of Wicca's psychic and mysterious side, but you get the feeling that he wanted to be taken so seriously that he foregoes much reference to psychic phenomena. In the 1950s you had to keep it scientific. Today with a largely well-explored history accomplished we are free to experience those deep hidden places again. These are places of dreams and imagination where our Witch-within can embrace the Psyche.
"WITCHCRAFT is a practical system of mysticism whose method is known as magick. At the core of my experience, Witchcraft is a direct and personal encounter of the psychic reality. I have come to understand Witchcraft as a type of gnosis or mysticism through which communion with the Divine is the principle initiation. Akin to the Mystery Cults of the ancient Pagan world, the experiences hold an occult quality that may lead you far from the usual encounters of secular religion and into the practice of magick." –'Practising the Witch's Craft' contributing chapter by Tim Hartidge.
WitchesWorkshop eGroup
Started 10 years ago the group has not only stood the test of time, but has remained the largest Australian based pagan networking eGroup for many years. It is often the first point of contact that people have to test-the-waters. From the beginning what made the WitchesWorkshop eGroup different to many online communities was it's encouraged to members to promote anything of interest to Aussie Pagans; in contrast to a complete discouragement by other groups. This has help to members to feel free to promote and develop their local community and events.
WitchesWorkshop Facebook
Networking through organised events such the Witch Camps the Facebook page was created to help bring real people together. Providing a more personal connection and a face to many real world events it's a fast growing communtiy.
