Product Description

Following on from the hugely successful Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, comes the next bumper encyclopedia celebrating all facets of witchcraft. This definite book is the most comprehensive, authoritative and entertaining guide you'll ever find on the mythology, folklore and traditions of magic. In this mammoth magical treasure trove, Judika Illes explores the history, folklore, spirituality, and mythology of witchcraft. A feast of facts and curiosities, rooted in magical and spiritual traditions, from all over the world, there are recipes from the witch's cauldron, magical sacred dates, and methods of witches' flights. Discover how witchcraft has inspired popular culture from Shakespeare to Harry Potter, and how witches have suffered persecution and death in centuries past. Packed full of amazing facts, bizarre information and fascinating stories, you will also be introduced to mythic witches, modern witches, sacred goddess witches, even demon witches, male and female witches, and witches from all over the globe. Ideal for both the dedicated follower and casual reader, as a perfect gift for yourself or someone else to treasure, this definitive encyclopedia is essential reading for anyone interested in folklore, mythology and magic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #100817 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 887 pages

Review
Previous publications: Earth Mother Magic: Ancient Spells for Modern Belles (Fair Winds Press, 2001) Emergency Magic! 150 Spells for Surviving the Worst-Case Scenario (Fair Winds Press, 2002) Spells: The Anthology (Seventh House Publications, 2002) Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells (Element, 2004)

About the Author
Judika Illes' introduction to magic and mysticism was at 6 years old. She became a professional tarot card reader in 1988, became certified in aromatherapy in 1999. Judika was a tutor at the Australasian College of Herbal Studies, and has taught multi-cultural studies, world mythology, tarot and magic to children and adults. She lives in New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Overview of Witchcraft
Judika Illes is probably best known for her huge work The Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells, a huge work containing references to anything to do with spell work. She has now completed her second huge undertaking, an encyclopedia on witchcraft. And it is just as huge as her first book.

As I see it, this is not a how to book. It's more a collection of information that defines witchcraft in its many various forms. From how the outside world still views us in some cases to how we see ourselves, there is no particular path, no one personal agenda here. This gives the book a very even, open, very multi-dimensional appeal. We do not have just a well known author pushing his or her personal path or a new author experimenting with theirs.

Rather, we have a book that combines the paths, combines the opinions and the points of view and blends it into a very readable and very useful tool. Approach with an open mind and look at all the possibilities.

The bibliography reads like a "Who's Who" in the pagan community, combining well known material with very learned sources and including the little known/hardly referenced material to present very well rounded information that is gathered together in one place.

I spent a lot of time paging through the book, reading the information, exploring the comments and following the way Ms. Illes put it all together in this book. Movie/TV reviews which are well thought out and discussed from both the Hollywood angle who's purpose is to draw an audience to how we on the other side tend to critique these same entertainment. Looking at the notes included with her contents; "Hecate, Hekate [...] endnote: Further Reading: Jacob Rabinowitz's The Rotting Goddess (Autonomedia, 1998)." This author has it together with her research. She notates her references and gives you more places to search if the included information is not enough for you.

The topics covered connect directly to the practice of witchcraft. From the opening Introduction which discusses the many, many attempts to define the word "witch" from large variety of sources, I fell the material is appropriate, works well in the context given, and is in an easy to read/reference format. As I went over her basic research, she appears to have it very well documented.

This information can take the form of material that sometimes we do not want to approach. We see both order and chaos here. And this is appropriate, as we do practice both sides of the balance. Some folks may not like this, but this is who we are.

There are twenty-one topics. Each topic is broken down into its elements, as it applies to witchcraft. There are movie reviews, information on witches books, famous witches, not so famous witches, glossary of terms, Gods and Goddesses, witches holidays around the world, food and drink, even a travel guide with places of importance to witches. There is much more than I could possibly cover here in a reasonable amount of space. I would recommend picking the book up and looking at it even before you buy it to see how much really is contained in this broad work.

The bibliography is extensive, and the index is huge to help you find exactly what you are looking for quickly and painlessly.

I see this book as a reference for those who do not have the resources but need them. This book is not a replacement but a place to start. Read through the topic you are researching, find the books referenced and work forward from there. I see this as a general research book or for someone just starting on their path. If you can not have a huge library, this book can be a handy orientation.

Well written, expertly reference, and easy to use. That is just about all you could ask for in an encyclopedia. And to have one that does covers many paths without bias, you have a book that is worth recommending. boudica

a great source of information ....
this is a huge book, filled with all the information you could possibly want to know about witchcraft!! It's not a how-to book, so don't buy it if you are looking for guidance - but the book will fill in the gaps you might have in your knowledge of the Craft and all it encompasses. A must for all witches and those interested in this path ....

Excellent - a fantastic overview of witchcraft, in all of its aspects
This encyclopedia is a companion to the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 5000 SPELLS, also by the same author.

When I first received this volume, I was surprised in some ways: I had been expecting it to be organised by A-Z reference. In a sense it is, but Judika has actually arranged subject areas into alphabetical order, rather than absolutely everything there is to know about witchcraft in general - a much better way of going about it.

The encyclopedia begins with an informative introduction. I urge everyone who picks up this encyclopedia, especially those with perhaps limited knowledge about Wicca and witchcraft, to read this first. Judika highlights in here that, as with beauty, "what constitutes witchcraft is dependent upon the eye of its beholder" (p.1). Quite an obvious onbsevation, but one that definitely warrants discussion, even in today's world.
Following the introduction, there is then a section about the elements of aitchcraft. Again, I would urge you to read this before delving into the late pages. Topics covered here are the roots of witchcraft, animism, the worship of goddesses and the image of the sacred female plus dualism.

Some of the subjects included in the reference section of the encyclopedia include Animals, Books of Magic and Witchcraft, Calendar of Revelry and Sacred Days, Fairies, Creative Arts, Women's Mysteries and Wormwood and Garlic: Dangers and Protection.

As another reviewer said, this book is really a work to be used as a point of reference. It is not a how-to of witchcraft - patly because in order to do that, it would have to take on a certain stance, or tradition, and I see this book as more a general reference to witchcraft. This volume would be a good starting point for someone who has no or a little knowledge and would like to develop that knowledge. By Judika providing an extensive bibliography, you would certainly be able to use it in such a way. Likewise, because the index is also included, it enables you to use this book as a very accessible first point of call for when you may want information quickly.

This is a brilliant encyclopedia. It serves its purpose very well. I am incredibly pleased that I purchased it. Good, informative books are not always easy to come by - books on Wicca and witchcraft can either be fabulous or very prescripted - whereas this helps you to learn more about such a wide subject with the chance to go away and develop your knowledge by further research. Highly recommended.