THE
REAL WITCHES’ HANDBOOK
A Complete Introduction to the Craft for Both Young and Old
KATE WEST
Element
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
Element is a trademark of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
First published by Thorsons, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 2001 This edition published by Element 2003
© Kate West 2001
Kate West asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Illustrations by Chris Down
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007105151
Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2016 ISBN: 9780007483389 Version: 2016-01-06
CONTENTS
SEVEN: Spellcraft and Herb Lore
EIGHT: Out of the Broom Closet
Welcome to The Real Witches’ Handbook. This book is written for all those who are young to the Craft of the Witch, whether in years or in experience. Within these pages you can discover how Witchcraft can be practised by anyone who wishes to, even in this, our modern, crowded world. Welcome to a new way of thinking where you can take charge of your life and your destiny.
Today there is a new growth in spirituality and Witchcraft is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world. People are turning away from the better known patriarchal belief systems, with their rules and regulations. They are turning away from religions where they need an intermediary or priest to intercede and interpret their Gods for them. They are tired of being told what to believe, how to worship and what decisions they should make in their personal lives. They want to take charge of their lives, their morality and their beliefs. Having seen the mess that authority of one sort or another has made, people are no longer content to take on trust the information which is passed down to them. They want to talk to their God and/or Goddess directly, and to worship in a way which seems natural and right to them.
Thanks largely to the World Wide Web and the Internet there is an increasing amount of information available on religions both old and new and an increasing openness about Witchcraft, which was previously a very reticent religion. As a result more and more people, of all ages and occupations and of both sexes, are becoming interested in Witchcraft, or ‘the Craft’, as it is also known. This interest is also being encouraged by fictional portrayals in books, films and TV. However, these come complete with many misconceptions and elaborations and it can be difficult for those new to the Craft to determine what is accurate and what is myth, especially if they have no one to guide them.
For the young it is especially hard as Witches have traditionally held that reputable Covens (the name for a group of Witches) do not accept members who are under 18 years old. This is partly because it is felt that the individual should have the opportunity to make an informed decision about their choice of spirituality (and therefore needs time to assess the options), partly because they should also have some life experience and maturity (although 18 is quite an arbitrary age to choose for this) and partly because taking on candidates under that age would (in most parts of the world) leave the group open to all kinds of accusations of corrupting minors.
This combination of increased interest and information