Looking to dive into the mystical world of witchcraft? Look no further than the witchy tomes nearby. These enchanting books hold the secrets to casting spells, divination, herbal magic, and so much more. With pages filled with ancient wisdom and modern practices, these books are a gateway to understanding the power of witchcraft. Whether you're a novice or an experienced practitioner, there's a witchy tome nearby that suits your needs. For beginners, "Witchcraft for the Modern Mystic" by Cassandra Eason is a great starting point. This comprehensive guide covers everything from setting up an altar to performing rituals and spells.
The Witch's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are, Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, nature, religon, local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis) and Swim (Str).
The target must then make a Will save DC 10 half the Witches HD plus the Witches Charisma modifier or be Shaken for as long as they can see the Witch. Alternatively, their hands turn into Small Monstrous Spiders with HD equal to the Caster Level which immediately try to bite them until hacked off dealing the damage of the injury to the target and then slain.
This comprehensive guide covers everything from setting up an altar to performing rituals and spells. If you're looking to explore the world of tarot and divination, "The Modern Witch's Guide to Tarot" by Skye Alexander is a must-have. This book takes you on a journey through the meanings of each tarot card and provides insightful techniques for conducting readings.
Magical Tomes and Witch Hunting Manuals at the Ashmolean Museum
Last week I looked at the new exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Spellbound: Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft. It’s such a compelling collection of folk magic through the ages that I wanted to look a bit more in detail at a few of the magic books that were included in the exhibition, along with some of the art that belief in witchcraft inspired in pre-modern times.
The “microcosmic man” in a German manuscript, c. 1420. © Wellcome Library,
London. The idea that man is a smaller reflection of the greater universe
goes back to Plato and Aristotle, and in the Middle Ages was developed by
astrologers into a system in which certain parts of the body correspond
to signs of the Zodiac. Medical texts used these charts to know whether
or not to bleed a patient. If the moon was in the sign corresponding to
the body part, it was unhealthy to bleed them.
The Apprehension and Confession of three notorious Witches, published in
London, 1589. © Lambeth Palace Library. Accounts of witch trials sold well.
This pamphlet recounts the crimes of three women who were all found guilty
of witchcraft and hanged. Joan Cunny, aged about 80, said that she made a
circle on the ground, knelt within it, and prayed unto Satan. Two sprites
appeared as two black frogs named Jack and Jill and demanded her soul in
exchange for power. Cunny agreed to this. From then on the sprites acted
as her servants, stealing milk from neighbors’ cows, tossing over their
woodpiles, and causing people to get injured. The chief witnesses against
her were her two grandsons, the eldest no more than 12. You can read the
entire text here.
The Discovery of Witches, by Matthew Hopkins, 1647. © The Provost and
Fellows of The Queen’s College, University of Oxford. Hopkins (c.1620-1647)
was a notorious witch finder during the English Civil War, traveling with
safety across a war-ravaged land to root out witches. He charged a fee for
his work and extracted confessions from witches through various methods such
as “swimming”. Since a witch had rejected their own baptism, the water would
reject them and they would float. Another method was “pricking”, using pins
or dull knives to find “witches’ marks”, spots on the body that had no feeling
of pain and did not bleed. Hopkins, of course, was the final judge of what was
or wasn’t a witch mark. He would also use other methods of torture such as
sleep deprivation to gain a confession. He led some 300 people, mostly women,
to the gallows between 1644 and 1646. He charged a hefty fee for his work.
Hopkins’ methods were outlined in this book, which was used as an investigatory
manual in later cases, including the Salem witch trials. You can read the
entire text here.
Just as books about witches were popular, so were paintings. Witches at their
Incantations was painted by Salvator Rosa (1615–73) around the year 1646. Rosa
was a successful Italian painter and considered one of the predecessors to the
Romantic movement. © National Gallery, London.
Interest in witchcraft continued even after people in educated circles no longer
believed in them. Henry Fuseli (1741–1825) drew The Witch and the Mandrake
around the year 1812. The Anglo-Swiss artist was fond of depicting the supernatural,
such as this image of a witch collecting a mandrake root, believed to have magical
properties because it vaguely resembled a person. A mandrake root was said to
scream when pulled out of the ground. © Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.
Sean McLachlan is the author of the historical fantasy novel A Fine Likeness, set in Civil War Missouri, and several other titles. Find out more about him on his blog and Amazon author’s page. His latest book, The Case of the Purloined Pyramid, is a neo-pulp detective novel set in Cairo in 1919.
Trickery: at every 4th level, one ability may be chosen from the following list to allow the Witch to cheat death.
-Energy Resistance 10 + Hit Dice to any one energy type. This may be taken multiple times, either granting resistance to another energy or adding +10 to all energy resistances (which will apply to future energy resistances gained).
-Damage Reduction 3 + Half Hit Dice, overcome by Iron. This may be taken multiple times, adding +6 to the DR each time.
-Spell Resistance 5 + Hit Dice. This may be taken twice more, each adding +3 to the SR.
-Immune to Detect _____ spells and True Seeing
-A +4 bonus on saving throws against [Mind Affecting] Effects. This may be taken twice more, increasing the bonus by +4 each time.
-Immune to Poison
-Immune to Disease
-A +4 bonus on saving throws against the spell-like and supernatural effects of Outsiders, Elementals and Fey. This may be taken twice more, increasing the bonus by +4 each time.
For those interested in herbal magic and healing, "The Green Witch's Herbal: Restoring Nature's Magic in Modern Life" by Arin Murphy-Hiscock is an excellent choice. This book delves into the power of plants and teaches you how to harness their energy for healing and spellwork. If you're ready to delve deeper into the study of witchcraft, "The Witch's Book of Shadows" by Phyllis Curott is a captivating read. This book explores the history, philosophy, and practices of witchcraft, providing guidance for personal growth and spiritual development. So, why wait? Step into the mystical realm of witchcraft by exploring the witchy tomes nearby. These books hold the key to unlocking your true magical potential. **Embrace the power of witchcraft and let these enchanting books be your guide.**.
Reviews for "Deepen Your Understanding of Witchcraft with these Essential Reads"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Witchy Tomes Nearby" to be incredibly disappointing. The storyline was weak and predictable, with no exciting twists or turns. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect and get invested in their journey. The writing style was also lackluster, filled with clichés and overused phrases that made the whole reading experience feel dull. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell way short of my expectations.
2. James - 2 stars - "Witchy Tomes Nearby" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow parts that dragged on and abrupt shifts that left me confused. The world-building felt underdeveloped, leaving unanswered questions that left me disengaged. Additionally, the dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to believe in the interactions between the characters. Overall, I found the book to be hard to get through and unfulfilling.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to "Witchy Tomes Nearby", but unfortunately, it was a letdown. The writing was subpar, filled with grammatical errors and typos that made it distracting to read. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary side stories that didn't add value to the main narrative. The characters lacked depth and growth, making it hard for me to feel invested in their journey. Overall, I found this book to be a frustrating and confusing read that fell short of its potential.