Initiatingreadersinthefascinatingandcomplexhistoryofwitchcraft,fromthegoddessmythologiesofancientculturestothecontemporaryembraceofthecraftbymodernartistsandactivists,thisexpansivetomeconjuresupabreathtakingoverviewofanage-oldtradition.Rootedinlegend,folklore,andmyth,thearchetypeofthewitchhasevolvedfromthetalesofOdysseusandCirce,theCelticseductressCerridwen,andthemythofHecate,fiercerulerofthemoonlitnight.InWitchcraftwesurveyhermanyincarnationssince,assheshape-shiftsthroughthecenturies,alternatelytransformingintomother,nymph,andcrone--seductressanddestroyer.EditedbyJessicaHundley,andco-editedbyauthor,scholar,andpractitionerPamGrossman,thisenthrallingvisualchronicleisthefirstofitskind,adeepdiveintothecomplexsymbologiesbehindwitchcrafttraditions,asexploredthroughthehistoryofartitself.Thewitchhasplayedmusetogreatartiststhroughouttime,fromthedarkseductionsofFranciscoJos矇deGoyaandAlbrechtD羹rertotheelegantpaeantothemagickalfeminineasre-imaginedbytheSurrealistcircleofRemediosVaro,LeonoraCarrington,andLeonorFini.Thewitchhasspellboundthroughfolktalesanddramaticliteratureaswell,fromthepoisonapplesofTheBrothersGrimm,totheWeirdSistersgatheredattheirblackcauldroninShakespeare’sMacbeth,toL.FrankBaum’siconicWickedWitchoftheWest,cacklingoverthefateofDorothy.Throughoutthisentrancingvisualvoyage,we’llalsobearwitnesstothewitchassheendurespersecutionandevolvesintoempowerment,acontemporarysymbolofbolddefianceandpotentnonconformity.FeaturingenlighteningessaysbymodernpractitionerslikeKristenJ.Soll矇eandJudikaIlles,aswellinterviewswithauthorsandscholarssuchasMadelineMillerandJulietDiaz,Witchcraftincludesavastrangeofculturaltraditionsthatembracemagickasspiritualexplorationandcreativecatharsis.
