Travis Simpkins: Wicca

Showing posts with label Wicca. Show all posts

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Gerald Gardner. Witchcraft. Book of Shadows. Gardnerian Wicca. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dr. Gerald Brosseau Gardner

(1884 - 1964)

Anthropologist and Archaeologist

“Father of Wicca”

Founder of Gardnerian Wicca

Author of the Gardnerian “Book of Shadows”

“The Meaning of Witchcraft”

and “Witchcraft Today”

Initiated in the New Forest coven

Founder of the Bricket Wood coven

Member of

Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.)

Member of the

Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship

Freemason, Member of

Sphinx Lodge No. 107, Irish Constitution

Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

by Travis Simpkins

Interview with Gerald Gardner

For more info, please visit:

british-wicca.com

Gerald Gardner. Book of Shadows. Gardnerian Wicca. The Meaning of Witchcraft. by Travis Simpkins

Thursday, September 11, 2025

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft. Christopher Penczak

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft. Christopher Penczak. Occult. Wicca

I'm enjoying "The Inner Temple of Witchcraft" by Christopher Penczak.

Connect with the Source of Magickal Power with this Foundational Course from Renowned Teacher Christopher Penczak

This limited-edition hardcover celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Penczak's groundbreaking work, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft.

The inner temple is your personal sacred space where there are no boundaries and all things are possible. With enhancements, corrections, and a focus on inclusivity, this edition of The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is an updated course for developing the magickal and psychic abilities that are the birthright of the witch.

Discover the history, traditions, and basic techniques of witchcraft, followed by thirteen hands-on lessons that culminate in a self-initiation ceremony equivalent to the first-degree level of traditional covens. This year-and-a-day course of study explores a wide range of topics that support and inform the dedicated witch:

· Ancient and modern magickal philosophy

· Modern scientific theories supporting a new definition of reality

· "Instant" magick techniques for protection, healing, and serenity

· Energy work and anatomy, including chakras and auras

· Astral travel, dreams, and spirit guides

· Healing techniques for body, mind, and spirit

In addition to serving as the textbook for the Temple of Witchcraft Mystery School's first-degree course, this book is designed to be used by witches everywhere. With study, dedication, and practice, the lessons and exercises will empower you to transform the repetitive rigors of the daily grind into a witch's web of magickal experiences.

https://amzn.to/46xrLs9

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Power of the Witch. The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment. Laurie Cabot

I'm enjoying "Power of the Witch" by Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem.

Unleash your inner power and embark on a journey of self-discovery with this thoughtful guide to the ancient wisdom of witchcraft.

Laurie Cabot, a practicing Witch and a renowned spiritual counselor, invites you to unlearn the misconceptions about witchcraft and embrace the potential that comes from this vibrant religion. She traces the history of magic and its manifestations across different cultures, from ancient creation myths to medieval Christianity and beyond, and offers a comprehensive overview of witchcraft’s basic principles.

An accessible roadmap to witchcraft, Power of the Witch provides useful advice on:

• The different paths to becoming a Witch
• How to join or create a coven
• The best practices when building an altar
• Herbal magic and divination
• The power of color and number
• And much more!

With Power of the Witch, Laurie gives you an invaluable resource to integrating witchcraft into your daily life so you too can experience personal growth, empowerment, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

https://amzn.to/3JCNWo5

Saturday, February 15, 2025

The Craft. 1996. Witchcraft. Wicca. Fairuza Balk. Robin Tunney. Neve Campbell

Four high school misfits who experiment with witchcraft must deal with the consequences of their newfound abilities

Having just moved to Los Angeles, Sarah (Robin Tunney) is an outsider at St. Benedict's Academy until she meets three other social outcasts. Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell) and Rochelle (Rachel True) will never fit in with the “in” crowd. But together with Sarah, they learn that being an outsider has its own kind of power. Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle dabble in the occult, and when they notice Sarah has the powers of a natural witch, they talk her into joining their coven. With the addition of a fourth witch they find they can cast spells they couldn't before, and the teenage witches are suddenly not only able to get the attention, praise and love they have long been denied-but also to exact vengeance on classmates, parents and boyfriends. They learn, however, that everything comes with consequences.

https://amzn.to/3EAEyyE

The Craft. 1996. Witchcraft. Wicca. Fairuza Balk. Robin Tunney. Neve Campbell

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Wicker Man. 1973. Paganism. Witchcraft. Occult. Christopher Lee. Britt Ekland

Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents' frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders' strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.

https://amzn.to/42Suvz6

The Wicker Man. 1973. Paganism. Witchcraft. Occult. Christopher Lee. Britt Ekland

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

A Magical Education. Talks on Magic and Occultism. John Michael Greer

I'm enjoying "A Magical Education" by John Michael Greer

An extraordinary exploration of the forgotten history of the esoteric and its unexpected possibilities in our time.

In these talks, written and presented to a variety of audiences between 2001 and 2010, John Michael Greer explores the forgotten history of occultism and its unexpected possibilities in our time.

From practical methods of occult training to the politics and metapolitics of magic, from the shadowy world of Victorian sex magic to the alchemy of initiatory ritual, from the complex origins of modern Neopaganism to the approaching twilight of Neopagan pop culture and what comes next, the talks collected in this book seek to inspire curiosity and reflection, not to set out an ironclad case for this or that point of view.

This book is an extraordinary insight into the life and work of a working magician and occultist.

https://amzn.to/4jRSMv8

Friday, August 23, 2024

The Witch's Coin. Prosperity and Money Magick. Christopher Penczak

I'm enjoying "The Witch's Coin: Prosperity and Money Magick" by Christopher Penczak.

Along with quick-fix money spells, this timely book explores the consciousness of prosperity and how to transform poverty into abundance through magick, meditation, affirmations, and astrological timing. The Witch's Coin offers a materia magicka of the most powerful correspondences in wealth spellwork, including gods, stones, metals, herbs, and coins. Unlike most money magick books, it builds upon a foundation of real-world financial principles. Penczak also discusses offering magickal services professionally, including how and when to charge for readings and healings.

Praise:
"The first book of financial tips and advice that I have ever enjoyed reading. I highly recommend this book."―Judika Illes, author of The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells and Pure Magic

"A refreshing examination of the connection between money, magic, and the attitude people put toward both."―Taylor Ellwood, editor of Manifesting Prosperity: A Wealth Magic Anthology

https://amzn.to/3MfLBNy

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Spells for Change. A Guide for Modern Witches. Frankie Castanea. Chaotic Witch Aunt

I'm enjoying "Spells for Change: A Guide for Modern Witches" by social media influencer Frankie Castanea aka Chaotic Witch Aunt.

Forget warts and cauldrons—a new generation of witches is on the rise. From justice spells to protective charms, Frankie Castanea brings their fresh style to an ancient practice, showing that contemporary witchcraft is a powerful force for good and a tool for manifesting positive change.

Modern-day witches are a blend of the old and the new. They travel to the grocery store, work nine-to-five jobs, and teach in our classrooms. They also carry black tourmaline and quartz, and wave bay and rosemary bundles over their doorways.

Within an ancient and sacred practice, a new type of Craft has taken hold: one that combines the power of action with energy and intent, prioritizes self-realization, and matches its activism with manifestation.

With chapters on meditation, grounding, cleansing, banishing, binding, and more, Spells for Change will help the modern witch create change within the hearth, the heart, and the world—one spell at a time.

https://amzn.to/3ADlsWp

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Book of Shadows. Phyllis Curott. Autobiography. Wicca. Witchcraft

I'm enjoying Phyllis Curott's autobiography "Book of Shadows."

When Phyllis Curott, a high-powered Manhattan lawyer began exploring Witchcraft, she discovered a spiritual movement that defied all stereotypes. Encountering neither satanic rites nor eccentric spinsters, she came to embrace the reconstruction of Europe's indigenous spirituality; the religion of the Goddess. Book of Shadowschronicles Phyllis' introduction and initiation inteo Wicca, her ascension to the position of Wiccan High Priestess, and her efforts to reconcile her newfound spirituality with her struggles as a woman rising through the ranks of the corporate world. Along the way, she relates the history of Witchcraft and shares many traditional Wiccan practices. Engagingly written and rich with detailed rituals, spells, and techniques, this inspirational book traces a modern woman's spiritual journey into a realm of extraordinary experience and enlightenment.

https://amzn.to/4a3kwaN

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Alex Sanders. Witchcraft. Alexandrian Wicca. Occult. Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Alex Sanders

Orrell Alexander Carter

(1926 - 1988)

"King of the Witches"

Occultist and High Priest

Co-Founder of the

Alexandrian Wicca

tradition of Witchcraft

Ex-husband of Maxine Sanders

by Travis Simpkins

Alex Sanders and Doreen Valiente

For more info, please visit:

witchcraftandwitches.com/alex-sanders

Alex Sanders. Witchcraft. Alexandrian Wicca. Occult. Magick. Maxine Sanders. by Travis Simpkins

Friday, October 27, 2023

The Meaning of Witchcraft. Gerald Gardner. Wicca. Occult

I'm enjoying some of the newly reissued Occult books in the Weiser Classics series. "The Meaning of Witchcraft" by Gerald Gardner is an essential Wiccan text.

"Those of us who use the word witch with all of the pride and fortification that it offers us do so thanks to Gardner’s lucid, liberating vision.”—Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power

Often called the father of modern witchcraft, Gerald Gardner’s life and works were ground-breaking in opening the door for the modern revival of Wicca and neo-paganism. The Meaning of Witchcraft (originally published in 1959) was the first sympathetic book written from the point of view of a practicing witch.

“The foundation of magical beliefs,” Gardner wrote, “of which witchcraft is a form, is that unseen Powers exist, and that by performing the right sort of ritual, these Powers can be contacted and either forced or persuaded to assist one in some way. People believed this in the Stone Age, and they believe it, consciously or not, today. It is now well known that most superstition is, in fact, broken-down ritual. The meaning of witchcraft is to be found not in strange religious theories about God and Satan but in the deepest levels of the human mind, the collective unconscious, and the earliest developments of human society.”

The Meaning of Witchcraft is an enduring and invaluable source book for witches today. This Weiser Classics edition includes a new foreword by Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch. In it, Grossman revisits the historical role and mixed legacy that Gardner has played in the revival of witchcraft and magic in modern times.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Raymond Buckland. Seax-Wica. Witchcraft. Gardnerian Wicca. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Raymond Buckland

(1934 - 2017)

Author and Occultist

High Priest

in the Gardnerian Wicca tradition

Founder of Seax-Wica

Author of

Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft

(Book informally known as “Big Blue”)

Founder of the

Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick

by Travis Simpkins

Raymond Buckland - Witchcraft

For more info, please visit:

bucklandmuseum.org

Raymond Buckland. Seax-Wica. Wicca for One. Solitary Witchcraft. by Travis Simpkins

Monday, July 31, 2023

Maxine Sanders. Witchcraft. Alexandrian Wicca. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Maxine Sanders

Author and Occultist

Co-Founder of

Alexandrian Wicca

Wife of Alex Sanders (1926 - 1988)

Key Figure in the Development

of Modern Pagan Witchcraft

Founder of

The Temple of the Mother coven

by Travis Simpkins

A Conversation with Maxine Sanders

Maxine Sanders Interview

For more info, please visit:

thewitchesalmanac.com/maxinesanders

and

museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk

Maxine Sanders. Witchcraft. Alexandrian Wicca. Alex Sanders. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Witchcraft Today. Gerald Gardner. Wicca. Occult. Magick

First published in 1954, "Witchcraft Today" was a landmark text that inspired a Revival. Written by Gerald Gardner, the Father of Wicca. Still an interesting read 70 years later.

An expanded edition of the quintessential Wiccan classic written by the father of the pagan renaissance.

First published in 1954, this landmark exploration of Wicca inspired a passionate revival of interest in indigenous British religion and led to the rebirth of a way of life. Encompassing an explanation of Wiccan rituals and tenents, as well as a comprehensive study of occult practices worldwide and throughout the ages, Witchcraft Today is a book that "belongs on the bookshelf of every Witch and every person . . . interested in the whole vast field of the occult" (Raymond Buckland, author of Wicca for Life).

This special expanded edition of the historic volume, reissued in celebration of its 50th anniversary, includes the original introduction written for the book by Dr. Margaret Murray, former president of the British Folklore Society and the author of influential books on Witchcraft. It also includes new material by contemporary practitioners and scholars:

- Judy Harrow, author of Wicca Covens and Devoted to You, discusses the context of Gardner's life and work and gives an analysis of his published sources as well as which later books carry on the major themes.
- Ronald Hutton, eminent historian and author of Triumph of the Moon, looks at Gardner's life and times.
- Wren Walker, coproducer of the Witches' Voice website, shares her observations about Wicca today.
- Graduate student Tara Nelson looks into the religion's possible future.

This audacious work is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the ancient practice of Witchcraft, or by its growing influence on contemporary culture, including references to the practice of Wicca on TV and in movies, and courses that teaches its principles in mainstream academic institutions. Combining an exploration of the often-secret past of Witches with a look at its current practice, Witchcraft Today is an essential tool to be used for study, reflection, inspiration, and transformative ideas.

Saturday, July 8, 2023

Celtic Magic. D.J. Conway. Llewellyn Publications

I'm enjoying "Celtic Magic" by D.J. Conway. This interesting little book was part of a series published by Llewellyn 20+ years ago.

Celtic magic. These words conjure up images of Druids and mystical oak groves, daring Irish warriors, fairies, elves, and ancient deities who took an active part in the lives of the people who worshipped them. Practical and easy to understand, Celtic Magic offers important features that distinguish it from other books written about the Celts:An in-depth discussion of Celtic culture and customs
A complete listing of Celtic myths and deities
Step-by-step instructions for spellwork, ritual, meditations, and divination to help you gain insight or make changes in your life

This friendly Celtic magic book is designed for both beginners and those who possess intermediate-level magical skills―and anyone who simply has a great interest in Celtic history, lore, and magic.

Friday, July 7, 2023

Love Magic. Laurie Cabot. Salem, Massachusetts. Witchcraft

I'm greatly enjoying "Love Magic" by Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem!

Discover the power of love through the mystical practice of magic in this wide-ranging collection of spells, rituals, and meditations from the authors of Power of the Witch.

You don't have to be a Witch to use Love Magic. This enlightening book—a rich treasury of spells for men, women, and couples to attract, enhance, or end relationships—addresses both the novice and the experienced magic worker. Following an inspiring and informative overview on the meaning of love magic and on the craft of performing it, Love Magic offers an extensive array of rituals to bring warmth, affection, pleasure, and passion into your life and the lives of others. Told in Laurie Cabot's friendly voice and reflecting her many years of experience as a Witch, Love Magic promotes magic for the good of all and the harm of none, so readers can't hurt their chances at love, only increase them.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Maxine Sanders. Witchcraft. Alexandrian Wicca. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Maxine Sanders

Author and Occultist

Co-Founder of

Alexandrian Wicca

Wife of Alex Sanders (1926 - 1988)

Key Figure in the Development

of Modern Pagan Witchcraft

Founder of

The Temple of the Mother coven

by Travis Simpkins

A Conversation with Maxine Sanders

Maxine Sanders Interview

For more info, please visit:

thewitchesalmanac.com/maxinesanders

and

museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk

Maxine Sanders. Witchcraft. Alexandrian Wicca. Alex Sanders. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Monday, May 22, 2023

Eileen Smith. Lady Cara. Author. Gardnerian Wicca. Witchcraft. Ceremonial Magick. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Eileen Smith

also known as

Lady Cara

Author of

The Witches' Heart

Gardnerian Wicca

by Travis Simpkins

Different Types of Wiccans

For more info, please visit:

bucklandmuseum.org

and

museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk

Eileen Smith. Lady Cara. Author. The Witches' Heart. Gardnerian Wicca. by Travis Simpkins

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Esoteric Orders and Their Work. Dion Fortune. Occult. Ceremonial Magick

I'm enjoying "Esoteric Orders and Their Work" by Dion Fortune. Some of the material is a bit dated, but fascinating nevertheless.

Esoteric Orders and their Work examines how and why esoteric schools have restricted admission to their secret societies and orders, and shrouded their practices in mystery. The knowledge guarded by these schoolspassed down through the ages, and revised from time to time by great teachersis a secret traditional science that studies the causes that lie behind observable phenomena.

Dion Fortune reveals every aspect of these secret organizations and the training they offer to initiates.