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| Vocabulary Pagan: country dweller: a follower of a polytheistic religion Witch: one who is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers Wicca: a religion influenced by pre-Christian beliefs and practices of western Europe that affirms the existance of supernatural power and of both male and female dieties who inhere in nature, and that emphasize ritual observance of seasonal and life cycles Witchcraft: the use of sorcery or magic Invocation: the art or practice of patitioning someone for help Spell: a spoken word or form of words held to have magic powers Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |
| I want to be honest right from the start. I do not know that much about the history of witchcraft and paganism. The more I research, the more different versions I find. So I'm going to tell you what I do know and provide you with links so that you may research further. Human kind has been worshipping multiple dieties since the beginning of time. All they knew in the beginning was that the sun rose every day, the moon cycled regularly, and the seasons changed. So they put their faith in what they knew. They learned that certain herbs and mixtures cured ailments. Paganism was practiced world wide, from Egypt to China to the Americas. It was considered normal until Christianity took hold in the middle east. I do know that for centuries people have been punished for following pagan ideals. After that I'm sad to say I do not know much more historically accurate details. I could ramble on about the Salem Witch trials or the Inquisition, but I leave it to you to explore. I have found several highly acclaimed professors and scholars for you to read. I hope you enjoy. |
| Pagan History by: Tim Maroney |
| Paganism: A History of Witchcraft by: The Witches' League for Public Awareness |
| The Burning Times by: Margaret Parent |
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| Salem Witchcraft by: unknown |
| Witchcraft History: Ancient Times by: Rosemary Ellen Guiley |
| Eldritch by: Eldritch Firedancer |
| Temple of Gaia by: unknown |
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