The Meaning of Witchcraft: Weiser Classics

Gerald Gardner's "The Meaning of Witchcraft" was the first sympathetic book written from the perspective of a practicing witch, and it is still a fundamental text for Wicca today. It explores the belief that unseen powers exist and can be contacted through ritual. Gardner's work has had a significant impact on the revival of witchcraft and magic in modern times.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2022
Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser

Gerald Gardner, the father of modern witchcraft, revolutionized the revival of Wicca and neo-paganism with his life and works. His book, The Meaning of Witchcraft, published in 1959, was the first sympathetic book written from the perspective of a practicing witch. Gardner's belief was that unseen Powers existed and that by performing the right ritual, these Powers could be contacted and either forced or persuaded to assist one in some way. This belief was prevalent in the Stone Age and continues to be held today, often in a subconscious manner. The true meaning of witchcraft lies in the deepest levels of the human mind, the collective unconscious, and the earliest developments of human society. Gardner's book, The Meaning of Witchcraft, is an enduring and invaluable source book for witches today. In a new foreword, Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch, revisits the historical role and mixed legacy that Gardner has played in the revival of witchcraft and magic in modern times. Those who use the word witch with pride and fortification owe it to Gardner's lucid, liberating vision. Without Gardner, contemporary Wicca would not exist. The Meaning of Witchcraft remains a basic Wiccan text, and even those who have read it before may be surprised by how well it stands up after a long hiatus.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 229 x 146 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781578637898