Magick Matters

“Learning Latin the Ancient Way: Latin Textbooks from the Ancient World” by Eleanor Dickey (eTextbook edition)

"What did Greek speakers in the Roman empire do when they wanted to learn Latin? They used Latin-learning materials containing authentic, enjoyable vignettes about daily life in the ancient world - shopping, banking, going to the baths, having fights, being scolded, making excuses - very much like the dialogues in some of today's foreign-language textbooks. These stories provide priceless insight into daily life in the Roman empire, as well as into how Latin was learned at that period, and they were all written by Romans in Latin that was designed to be easy for beginners to understand. Learners also used special beginners' versions of great Latin authors including Virgil and Cicero, and dictionaries, grammars,...>>

“The Haindl Tarot: The Major Arcana” by Rachel Pollack (2002 edition)

"The Haindl Tarot is the most comprehensive Tarot ever—a contemporary deck that illustrates traditional archetypes with modern symbols. The cards interweave themes of ecology, mythology and the Goddess, with true visionary power. To write about these remarkable cards, Rachel Pollack traveled to Germany and spent weeks living with Hermann Haindl and his wife, Erica. Together, they went over every card, its symbolism, its inner levels, its esoteric history. The result is a book countless admirers of the Haindl Tarot have described as "indispensable" to a full knowledge and use of the deck. In this book Rachel describes each card of the Major Arcana in great detail. She explores the symbols and meanings for each card,...>>

“Witches: The History of a Persecution” by Nigel Cawthorne

"When bigotry and power-mania take control, disaster always follows for subjugated persons - even when the power is wielded by the Church. Witchcraft was viewed as devil-worship. Between 1450 and 1750, one hundred thousand people were accused, subject to the most bestial tortures and usually executed. Witches examines the wildfire-spread of witch hunting across Europe and America, as well as its roots in misogyny and religious persecution. It includes: • Letters and trial testimonies from those charged with witchcraft, as well as some from self-proclaimed witches • Biographic detail of key witch hunters, such as Matthew Hopkins (the so-called Witchfinder General) who was responsible for hundreds of executions • Accounts of famous witch trials, from Chelmsford to Salem"...>>

“Wicca Herbal Magic: A Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Spellcraft” by Lisa Chamberlain (retail ebook version, alternate rip)

"Since the beginning of human history, healers and shamans have understood the nutritional, medicinal, and magical properties of herbs. Whether you’re well versed in magic but are just discovering herbs, or are new to Wicca altogether, this handy guide by popular author Lisa Chamberlain covers all the basics, from creating your own magical garden to gathering, harvesting, drying, and storing the herbs. She centers the spells around 13 herbs, most easy to find and inexpensive: basil, bay laurel, chamomile, cinnamon, dandelion, elecampane, hibiscus, lavender, mugwort, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Because they’re primarily culinary and/or medicinal herbs too, you’ll have plenty of options for using the leftovers from your spellwork. The spells include magical...>>

“Wicca Crystal Magic: A Beginner’s Guide to Crystal Spellcraft” by Lisa Chamberlain (retail ebook version)

" How do you begin collecting crystals—even on a budget? How do you clean, clear, and charge them? And which crystals are the best and most versatile? Wicca Crystal Magic explores these gifts of the earth, providing an overview of 13 popular crystals and stones in contemporary witchcraft, along with a comprehensive look at their practical applications in everyday spellwork. Since the spells themselves use only the stones featured in the guide—amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, citrine, hematite, jet, moonstone, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, quartz, rose quartz, and tiger’s eye—this is perfect for beginners. The wide variety of elixirs, candle spells, and charms includes a Citrine Empowerment Elixir, Blessing for a New Home, Crystal Money Spell,...>>