Witchcraft, also known as witchery or sorcery, refers to the practice of magical skills and abilities. It carries with it a complex set of rules that vary across different traditions and belief systems. While there is no definitive set of rules that applies universally to all forms of witchcraft, there are certain principles that are commonly observed by practitioners. These rules are designed to promote ethical behavior, responsible use of power, and respect for the forces at play in the mystical realm. 1. Harm none: The Wiccan Rede, a central ethical principle in many forms of witchcraft, emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm to others.
Winnie's Haunted House
One sunny afternoon Winnie the witch and Wilbur, her big, black cat decide to have a snooze. A bumblebee flies in through the window. Wilbur can't resist chasing a bee. He jumps and lands on Winnie's favourite vase, smashing it to pieces.
Winnie wakes up and tries to find out what has happened, but she has lost her glasses and can't see much without them. Wilbur's attempts at hiding from Winnie cause more chaos, convincing Winnie that her house is haunted.
How can she find a spell to fix her house and read it without her glasses? Suppose she reads the wrong spell? More fun with Winnie and Wilbur, and a wealth of detail and humour in the lively illustrations.
Valerie Thomas
Valerie Thomas was born in Australia and has lived there for most her life. She has worked as a teacher, but her special hobby is travelling, and she has travelled to most parts of the world, even Antarctica, but she doesn't travel by broomstick.
She is now trying to organise her life so that she never has to experience another winter. She used to live with a big black cat exactly like Wilbur but luckily her house was not black.
Korky Paul
Korky Paul was born in Harare Zimbabwe in 1951. He enjoyed a wild and privileged childhood in the African Bushveldt. He studied Fine Arts at Durban Art School and Film Animation at CalArts. He began his career in advertising before becoming an award-winning illustrator of children's books. He has sold more than two million books world wide in over twenty languages.
Known only to himself as the 'World's Greatest Portrait Artist', Korky regularly visits schools promoting his passion for drawing. He is a patron of The Art Room, Pegasus Theatre and Reading Quest. Korky Paul is married with two children. He lives in Oxford but they spend the summer living it up in Greece.
Witches and Wizards
These are some of our absolute favourite books about witches and wizards, guaranteed to engage younger children.
Winnie's Haunted House
Front cover of an edition of Winnie's Haunted House.
Winnie's Haunted House (ISBN 0192744062) is a 32-page children's picture book with text by the Australian-born author Valerie Thomas and illustrations by the Zimbabwean-born author Korky Paul. It was first published in the United Kingdom by Oxford University Press in September 2015. It was republished in September 2016 as Winnie and Wilbur: The Haunted House (ISBN 0192748297). It is the sixteenth book in the Winnie and Wilbur picture book series that began with the 1987 publication of Winnie the Witch.
The story's main characters are a witch named Winnie and her big black cat Wilbur. The plot is set in motion when Wilbur accidentally breaks some things in Winnie's house. Not realizing that her cat is to blame for the breakages, Winnie decides that they must be the work of a ghost.
Harm none: The Wiccan Rede, a central ethical principle in many forms of witchcraft, emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm to others. Practitioners are encouraged to consider the potential consequences of their actions and to strive for positive outcomes that do not cause harm to themselves or others. 2.
Plot [ ]
While Winnie the Witch is taking a nap one afternoon, a bee flies in through the window. Wilbur the cat chases after the bee and jumps to catch it. He misses the bee, falls into a vase and breaks it. The sound of the breaking vase wakes Winnie up. At first, she blames Wilbur for breaking the vase. Since she cannot see the cat, however, because he is hiding under her armchair, Winnie decides that Wilbur cannot be to blame after all.
Winnie also cannot find her glasses, not realizing that they are on top of her head. She thinks that somebody might have taken them. She gets up to look for the glasses. At the same time, Wilbur runs out from under the armchair to hide behind the curtains. The curtains fall down on top of Winnie. She begins to suspect that her house might be haunted.
Looking for a better place to hide, Wilbur runs upstairs and jumps onto a chandelier. The chandelier falls from the ceiling, Wilbur being able to jump off the chandelier and onto a banister just in time.
Winnie is now convinced that her house is haunted. She goes to get her big book of spells to look for a spell to fix a haunted house. Although she is not able to read very well, since Winnie is not wearing her glasses, Winnie finds what she thinks is the right spell. She performs some actions, waves her magic wand and says the magic word "Abracadabra". Suddenly, owls, bats, huge spider webs and big hairy spiders, ghosts and skeletons appear. Winnie's house, which had not been haunted before, has become haunted for real.
Realizing that she has made a mistake, Winnie looks at her book of spells again. A passing owl knocks Winnie's glasses onto her nose. She then sees that the spell she cast before was headed "How to make a haunted house". The spell underneath it, "How to fix a haunted house", tells her that she should cast the spell that she cast to make the haunted house in reverse. She performs opposite actions to the ones she performed before and says the word "Abracadabra" backwards. The ghosts and other creatures disappear. Winnie casts another spell to repair her vase, curtains and chandelier.
Winnie goes back to her armchair to take another nap. She realizes that she still does not know what caused the damage in her house. Wilbur hopes that she never finds out.
Respect for free will: Witchcraft generally respects the concept of free will, recognizing that individuals have the right to make their own choices and decisions. Spells or rituals that manipulate or interfere with another person's free will are generally considered unethical. 3. Responsibility for one's own actions: Practitioners of witchcraft are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and to consider the potential effects of their spells or rituals before casting them. This includes understanding the potential consequences and being prepared to accept them. 4. Harmful magic: The use of magic to cause harm to others, known as "black magic" or "malevolent witchcraft," is generally frowned upon within most traditions. Practitioners are discouraged from using their skills to intentionally cause harm or manipulate others for personal gain. 5. Learning and growth: Witchcraft is often seen as a lifelong learning process. Practitioners are encouraged to continue studying and expanding their knowledge, refining their skills, and understanding the magical practices they engage in. This includes exploring new methods, traditions, and philosophies to deepen their understanding of the craft. 6. Respect for nature: Nature is often considered sacred within witchcraft, and practitioners are encouraged to develop a deep respect and reverence for the natural world. This includes practicing environmental stewardship, connecting with the cycles of nature, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all living beings. 7. Secrecy: While this is not a universal rule, some forms of witchcraft place a strong emphasis on secrecy. This is often to protect the practitioner from potential persecution or misunderstanding, as well as to maintain the sacredness and integrity of the craft. 8. Intention and focus: Intent is considered crucial in witchcraft. Practitioners are encouraged to be clear in their intentions and to focus their energy and thoughts in order to manifest their desires or goals effectively. This requires discipline, concentration, and mindfulness. 9. Tools and symbols: Many forms of witchcraft make use of various tools and symbols. These may include wands, athames, cauldrons, candles, crystals, and herbs, among others. These objects are used to channel and focus energy, as well as to symbolize various aspects of the practitioner's craft. 10. Personal responsibility: Ultimately, practitioners of witchcraft are responsible for their own spiritual journeys and magical practices. They are encouraged to develop their own belief systems, ethics, and practices that align with their own values and intuition. While guidance and instruction from more experienced practitioners are valuable, each individual is responsible for their own development and choices within the craft..
Reviews for "The Rule of Three: The Consequences of Witchcraft's Golden Rule"
1. Jane - 2 stars - "I was really disappointed by 'Rules of Witchcraft'. The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were one-dimensional. I didn't feel any connection to the story or the magic system. Overall, I found it lacking depth and originality."
2. Mark - 1 star - "I have to say that 'Rules of Witchcraft' was a complete letdown for me. The pacing was off, and the author seemed to rush through important plot points. The world-building was weak, and the magic system felt convoluted. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and the dialogue was stilted. It simply didn't live up to the hype."
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "I really wanted to like 'Rules of Witchcraft', but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing was average at best, with clunky descriptions and awkward sentence structures. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to care about their stories. The plot felt predictable and uninspired. Overall, I just couldn't get into it."
4. David - 2.5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Rules of Witchcraft', but it didn't live up to my expectations. The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was slow, and there were unnecessary tangents that added little to the overall plot. The magic system was not well explained, leaving me confused and uninterested. While the premise was intriguing, the execution failed to capture my attention."