What Magic is This? : Modern Witchcraft with Emma Kathryn
Quote:What does it take to call oneself a “Witch” these days? Are there certain things one must do, things that need to be believed, practices that need to be practiced? Or has Witchcraft really become so egalitarian that pretty much anything goes? Most people’s conceptions of witchcraft are fairly modern conceptions, and many of the stories about the History of the Witch are myths. Is this a good thing, a bad thing, or just the way things go inevitably? To help out and give some guidance and direction for where one’s witchcraft should situate itself these days, WMiT? is joined by Author, blogger and Witch Emma Kathryn.
Quote:Emma Kathryn is an Author, a Blogger as well as a Podcaster. She practices Obeah, Vodou and Traditional British Witchcraft. Emma teaches courses as well as blogs at her homepage which is at Emma Kathryn – Wild Witchcraft. She also Blogs regularly at Gods & Radicals Press, and many of these posts are must-read material. Gods and Radicals has published Reclaiming Ourselves which is a fantastic read, and will soon be publishing Reclaiming Food in Autumn 2021. On top of all this, Emma has recently started a Podcast with a good friend- Lilith’s Left Hand! Emma can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Quote:Emma’s Book Recommendations!
- Apocalyptic Witchcraft by Peter Grey – a great book of real importance to witchcraft today. This isn’t a know how book but it was one of those books I read and just felt an instant connection.
- Magic, An Occult Primer by David Conway – A good book that is both theory and instructional. This is good whatever form of witchcraft you practice and contains some really good exercises.
- The Brazen Vessel by Alkistis Dimech & Peter Grey – A book of selected essays, this contains some real gems!
- Kybalion by the three initiates – a theory book as opposed to an instructional, but that in no way diminishes the helpfulness of this book to help get your head around some key occult concepts.
- The Foragers Calender by John Wright – A really good book with clear pictures and month by month advice on what is growing and where. This is based on plants that can be found in the British isles.
- The Walkers Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs by Tristan Gooley – A good book for helping to build that connection to land in practical terms. Deepens underpinning knowledge about key features of the landscape.
- Hellebore and Rituals & Declarations Zines – great little gems. These independent zines are filled with occult and folklore, stories, art and current affairs. I’ve loved every issue of them.
- Voodoo and African Traditional Religion by Lilith Dorsey – a great introduction to a range of African derived spiritualities. Lilith writes clearly and conveys complex information in an easy to understand way.
- Reclaiming Ourselves by me! – okay, so I had to include this, right. Honestly though, I feel this book is important as it bridges the gap from having an interest in many of the areas it covers and actually getting started on the path of reclaiming and rediscovering ourselves.
Quote:Show Notes
- Witch-Cult Hypothesis
- What were the Burning Times?
- Margaret Murray: Who Believed Her and Why?
- The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ronald Hutton – Pretty much the greatest History of how Modern Witchcraft came to be
- Serpent Songs: An Anthology of Traditional Craft – Scarlet Imprint
- The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic – The Chapter on Modern Witchcraft is about as succinct and amazing a history as you will find
- Counting Witches on Pinheads
- Magic and Witchery in the Modern West – Palgrave
- Ritual: A Guide to Life, Love and Inspiration by Emma Restall Orr
- The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes