The Witch Cult in Western Europe: the original text, with Notes, Bibliography and five Appendices.

by Margaret Murray

Overview

Margaret Murray's enthralling study of witch beliefs and customs has become a timeless anthropological classic. Rejecting the consensus view that female witches were simply 'hysterical' or subject to 'suggestion', she uses sound scholarship and comprehensive research to reveal that 'Devil-worship' was in fact a bona fide pre-Christian religion, that was forced 'underground' owing to ceaseless persecution by the Church authorities.
All aspects of this 'Old Religion' are covered, from admission ceremonies and the 'witch-mark', through divining, fertility rites and the Sabbat, to spells and sacrifices - including those of children and even of 'the god' himself! According to the The English Historical Review, the book is "so comprehensive in scope, and so rich and varied in its treatment of the witch-cult ...it is not likely to be superseded."
This the full, original version of Murray's masterpiece, complete with Notes, Bibliography and five Appendices, including a chemical analysis of 'flying ointments'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911405887
Publisher:	Aziloth Books
Publication date:	07/03/2019
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.53(d)

Table of Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

I. CONTINUITY OF THE RELIGION

II. THE GOD

1. As God

2. As a Human Being

3. Identification

4. As an Animal

III. ADMISSION CEREMONIES

1. General

2. The Introduction

3. The Renunciation and Vows

4. The Covenant

5. The Baptism

6. The Mark

IV. THE ASSEMBLIES

1. Sabbath

2. The Esbat

V. THE RITES

1. General

2. Homage

3. The Dances

4. The Music

5. The Feast

6. Candles

7. The Sacrament

8. Sacrifices

9. Magic Words

VI. THE RITES (continued)

1. General

2. Rain-making

3. Fertility

VII. THE ORGANIZATION

1. The Officer

2. The Covens

3. Duties

4. Discipline

VIII. FAMILIARS AND TRANSFORMATIONS

1. The Divining Familiar

2. The Domestic Familiar

3. Methods of Obtaining Familiars

4. Transformations into Animals



APPENDIX I Fairies And Witches

APPENDIX II Trial Of Silvain Nevillon & Gentien Le Clerc

APPENDIX III

A. Names Of Witches In Covens

B. Names Of Witches

APPENDIX IV Joan Of Arc And Gilles De Rais

APPENDIX V Flying Ointments

NOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editorial Reviews

"so comprehensive in scope, and so rich and varied in its treatment of the witch-cult ...it is not likely to be superseded."
English Historical Review

From the Publisher