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Miracles of Our Own Making: A History of Paganism
“An absolute must for anyone interested in the development of paganism in the modern world. I cannot recommend this book enough.”—Janet Farrar, coauthor of A Witches’ Bible
“At last, we have a history of British Paganism written from the inside, by somebody who not only has a good knowledge of the sources, but explicitly understands how Pagans and magicians think.”—Ronald Hutton, author of The Triumph of the Moon and The Witch
What do we mean by “paganism”—druids, witches, and occult rituals? Healing charms and forbidden knowledge? Miracles of Our Own Making is a historical overview of pagan magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. Exploring the beliefs of the druids, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings, as well as Elizabethan Court alchemy and witch trials, we encounter grimoires, ceremonial magic, and the Romantic revival of arcane deities. The influential and well-known—the Golden Dawn, Wicca, and figures such as Aleister Crowley—are considered alongside the everyday “cunning folk” who formed the magical fabric of previous centuries. Ranging widely across literature, art, science, and beyond, Liz Williams debunks many of the prevailing myths surrounding magical practice, past and present, while offering a rigorously researched and highly accessible account of what it means to be a pagan today.
“At last, we have a history of British Paganism written from the inside, by somebody who not only has a good knowledge of the sources, but explicitly understands how Pagans and magicians think.”—Ronald Hutton, author of The Triumph of the Moon and The Witch
What do we mean by “paganism”—druids, witches, and occult rituals? Healing charms and forbidden knowledge? Miracles of Our Own Making is a historical overview of pagan magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. Exploring the beliefs of the druids, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings, as well as Elizabethan Court alchemy and witch trials, we encounter grimoires, ceremonial magic, and the Romantic revival of arcane deities. The influential and well-known—the Golden Dawn, Wicca, and figures such as Aleister Crowley—are considered alongside the everyday “cunning folk” who formed the magical fabric of previous centuries. Ranging widely across literature, art, science, and beyond, Liz Williams debunks many of the prevailing myths surrounding magical practice, past and present, while offering a rigorously researched and highly accessible account of what it means to be a pagan today.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2020
72 people are currently reading
996 people want to read
About the author
Liz Williams
146 books266 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.
Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland
Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.
Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 3, 2020
Technically the subtitle should probably be "A History of British Paganism," because that's the focus here. I'm an American, for better or worse; I didn't think I was particularly interested in British Paganism. But I was wrong. I thought I knew most of this already. But I was wrong. Liz Williams does an excellent job of showing the big picture and making the relevant connections. I found this illuminating and was especially fascinated by the chapters spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. A remarkable accomplishment.
December 1, 2023
Dieses Sachbuch der englischen Historikerin und Science-Fiction-Autorin Liz Williams gibt, wie der Untertitel schon sagt, einen historischen Überblick über heidnische Religionen in Großbritannien. Die Kelten brachten ihre Religion mit, dann die Sachsen und die Wikinger die nordische. Auch im Mittelalter wurden viele Bräuche trotz der Dominanz des Christentums fortgeführt. In der Neuzeit gab es Logen und Zusammenschlüsse von Briten, die Magie und Alchemie praktizierten und in der Moderne schließlich gibt es paganistische Religionen, von den Wicca mit Abstand die bekannteste sein dürfte. Williams berichtet objektiv und gewissenhaft von den einzelnen Strömungen, ihren Protagonisten und deren Theorien, aber auch von neuen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen der Religionsforschung. So führt sie beispielsweise aus, dass selbst feministische Archäologinnen anerkennen, dass es leider substantielle Zweifel an der Theorie des frühzeitlichen Matriarchats gibt, die von Marija Gimbutas propagiert wurde und weitläufig übernommen wurde (so auch von Schriftstellern wie Robert Graves und prominenterweise Marion Zimmer Bradley in „Die Nebel von Avalon“). Ich schreibe „leider“, da auch ich eine Anhängerin dieser Theorie war und mich ungern von ihr abkehre. Aber Wissenschaft ist Wissenschaft und ich bin die letzte, die zur Wissenschaftsleugnerin wird.
Dass Williams selbst Magie praktiziert und in Glastonbury einen entsprechenden Laden betreibt, hat keinen Einfluss auf ihre sachlichen Schilderungen. Es sei jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass am Ende des Buches auch ein paar Rituale geschildert werden. Ich fand das Buch äußerst informativ und gut lesbar und konnte ihm einige Anregungen zu weiterer Lektüre entnehmen.
Dass Williams selbst Magie praktiziert und in Glastonbury einen entsprechenden Laden betreibt, hat keinen Einfluss auf ihre sachlichen Schilderungen. Es sei jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass am Ende des Buches auch ein paar Rituale geschildert werden. Ich fand das Buch äußerst informativ und gut lesbar und konnte ihm einige Anregungen zu weiterer Lektüre entnehmen.
October 13, 2021
This is a fantastic new volume from luminary author Liz Williams, providing an informative and balanced overview of paganism (and magic) throughout British history. The periods explored range from the Neolithic to the modern, encompassing the enigmatic druids, the magical orders of the seventeenth century and into the 'graphene' age.
I was drawn to the book after delving into Hutton's 'Pagan Britain', which looked at the historical footprint of paganism in the country. While well-researched and written, it proved a little dry for my tastes. An overview of the beliefs, practices and pantheons of early Britain was what I was after (scant as they are) and I found a wellspring here. The text is crisp and engaging, with many a fascinating insight and anecdote, deftly avoiding dense archeological discussion and concrete theosophical conclusions. The lightness of touch and clearly headed sections capture the spirit and mystery of the subject at hand. While the book focuses solely on Britain, the author embraces influences from around the world, lending scope and richness to proceedings.
Overall, 'Miracles Of Our Own Making' is the perfect resource, pointing readers to texts for further research while establishing itself as a handy tome that readers will doubtless turn to again and again.
I was drawn to the book after delving into Hutton's 'Pagan Britain', which looked at the historical footprint of paganism in the country. While well-researched and written, it proved a little dry for my tastes. An overview of the beliefs, practices and pantheons of early Britain was what I was after (scant as they are) and I found a wellspring here. The text is crisp and engaging, with many a fascinating insight and anecdote, deftly avoiding dense archeological discussion and concrete theosophical conclusions. The lightness of touch and clearly headed sections capture the spirit and mystery of the subject at hand. While the book focuses solely on Britain, the author embraces influences from around the world, lending scope and richness to proceedings.
Overall, 'Miracles Of Our Own Making' is the perfect resource, pointing readers to texts for further research while establishing itself as a handy tome that readers will doubtless turn to again and again.
July 27, 2022
The review of this book, and interview with the author, will be available shortly on The Folklore Podcast. I will post links to both once they are available.
July 27, 2025
As an author myself I hate giving overly negative reviews. Even more so, I hate DNFing a book only 65 pages in. Out of respect for the love and dedication that goes into a book, even if I don’t like it or disagree with its conclusions, I am reluctant to drag it through the mud out of respect to the human being who wrote it.
Yet when a writer so blatantly disrespects his or her readers, I cannot give them my respect in return. Hence I am content with leaving this book a one star rating.
Throughout the first couple of chapters of this book, Williams gives a summative account of the prehistoric religion(s) of the British Isles, and then leads into the religion of the Roman period. I forgave Williams’s classification and generalisation of the religions of the Britonnic and Irish peoples as the ‘Druid religion’ and accepted it as a choice made for the reader’s ease of understanding (I might start calling Christianity the “bishop religion”). I looked past paragraph after paragraph of weak ums and uhs and the multitude of “maybe, we don’t know” as an answer to generally accepted historical consensuses, because perhaps something written like a first-year history essay sells better.
But what I could not overlook was, in her discussion on the goddess Ēostre, Williams finally makes a staunch and definitive statement by possessing an utter disregard for the scholarly conclusions of *actual* experts like Professor Carole Cusack — backed by decades of historical and linguistic analysis, studies on comparative mythology, and archaeological evidence — in favour of the amateur opinion of a children’s fiction author. I will concede that the origins of the word ‘Easter’ and the existence of Ēostre as an Anglo-Saxon goddess is debated in academic circles, but rather than citing the works of actual historians and linguists to back her sceptical stance, Williams cites only an inconclusive statement written in a Guardian article by Adrian Bott.
Whether Williams’s conclusion on Ēostre is true or not is irrelevant to me — what makes me unable to finish this book is the fact that someone holding a PhD would insult their readers with this crude mockery of the historical method. Rather than engaging with the scholarship and taking a more nuanced approach to a controversial matter, Williams dismissively concludes that the Venerable Bede — a man who knew much more about his language and the religion of his ancestors than we ever will — “more or less invented a goddess” simply because a YA writer said he *might* have.
I suppose it’s my fault. If I wanted to read about the actual history of British pre-Christian religion, I should have picked up a book about it.
One positive about this book I noted: Williams identifies that pre-Christian Celtic peoples likely performed human sacrifice, a controversial fact that pagans especially like to downplay. I commend Liz Williams for her acknowledgement of this historical reality in the face of modern attempts to romanticise pre-Christian peoples.
Yet when a writer so blatantly disrespects his or her readers, I cannot give them my respect in return. Hence I am content with leaving this book a one star rating.
Throughout the first couple of chapters of this book, Williams gives a summative account of the prehistoric religion(s) of the British Isles, and then leads into the religion of the Roman period. I forgave Williams’s classification and generalisation of the religions of the Britonnic and Irish peoples as the ‘Druid religion’ and accepted it as a choice made for the reader’s ease of understanding (I might start calling Christianity the “bishop religion”). I looked past paragraph after paragraph of weak ums and uhs and the multitude of “maybe, we don’t know” as an answer to generally accepted historical consensuses, because perhaps something written like a first-year history essay sells better.
But what I could not overlook was, in her discussion on the goddess Ēostre, Williams finally makes a staunch and definitive statement by possessing an utter disregard for the scholarly conclusions of *actual* experts like Professor Carole Cusack — backed by decades of historical and linguistic analysis, studies on comparative mythology, and archaeological evidence — in favour of the amateur opinion of a children’s fiction author. I will concede that the origins of the word ‘Easter’ and the existence of Ēostre as an Anglo-Saxon goddess is debated in academic circles, but rather than citing the works of actual historians and linguists to back her sceptical stance, Williams cites only an inconclusive statement written in a Guardian article by Adrian Bott.
Whether Williams’s conclusion on Ēostre is true or not is irrelevant to me — what makes me unable to finish this book is the fact that someone holding a PhD would insult their readers with this crude mockery of the historical method. Rather than engaging with the scholarship and taking a more nuanced approach to a controversial matter, Williams dismissively concludes that the Venerable Bede — a man who knew much more about his language and the religion of his ancestors than we ever will — “more or less invented a goddess” simply because a YA writer said he *might* have.
I suppose it’s my fault. If I wanted to read about the actual history of British pre-Christian religion, I should have picked up a book about it.
One positive about this book I noted: Williams identifies that pre-Christian Celtic peoples likely performed human sacrifice, a controversial fact that pagans especially like to downplay. I commend Liz Williams for her acknowledgement of this historical reality in the face of modern attempts to romanticise pre-Christian peoples.
January 30, 2024
Enjoyed this very much. Authoritative and full of interesting details. Obviously knowledgable and informed. Tried to cover an awful lot of ground but a great starting place to decide which aspects would interest at more length
October 22, 2020
A thorough history of paganism is Britain. Williams is objective about the history without being dismissive of any of the practitioners along the way.
December 9, 2024
It’s so wild to read historical nonfiction interspersed with the author’s anecdotes like “I once went to this weird gnostic mass where the sacrament contained the priestess’s blood”
June 3, 2022
I am relatively new to paganism, started my spiritual journey roughly 2 years ago. I’ve struggled with how many books, articles, and opinions are out there, and what to believe or agree with. For a while I’ve been looking for a source that looks at the beliefs and tellings of paganism, and showed what was based on truth or fiction, and analysed what is automatically accepted by others.
This is that book.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It has done everything I wanted, and was looking for, to fully explain the history & current context of paganism. I’ve eagerly read the differing paths, and loved the analysis that stayed open minded yet factually critical.
This is the kind of book where every page has knowledge you don’t want to miss - at times I did find it difficult to stay focused (definitely not something you read before bed!), and at certain points reads more like an academic essay (which is understandable given the writer’s background, just something to be cautious of for readers who are not used to that way of writing).
Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in spirituality, and understand the history, and what has made it what it is today.
This is that book.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It has done everything I wanted, and was looking for, to fully explain the history & current context of paganism. I’ve eagerly read the differing paths, and loved the analysis that stayed open minded yet factually critical.
This is the kind of book where every page has knowledge you don’t want to miss - at times I did find it difficult to stay focused (definitely not something you read before bed!), and at certain points reads more like an academic essay (which is understandable given the writer’s background, just something to be cautious of for readers who are not used to that way of writing).
Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in spirituality, and understand the history, and what has made it what it is today.
July 23, 2025
Miracles of Our Own Making by Liz Williams is a fascinating dive into the history of British paganism, and while it offers many compelling insights, it also left me wanting more in certain areas.
The early chapters are excellent, the sections on ancient druids were particularly informative and engaging. I found myself wishing the book had spent more time here, as this was easily the strongest part for me. Similarly, the chapter on the witch trials was well written, highlighting the brutality and injustice of the era without sensationalism. I appreciated how Williams grounded the narrative with real facts and stories. The inclusion of Freemasonry was an unexpected but welcome thread, adding a layer of historical context I hadn't previously considered.
The book is written in a clear and accessible style, which makes complex topics easier to follow even for readers who aren't well-versed in history or religious studies. I also appreciated the author's effort to contextualize modern paganism within its historical roots, showing how the threads of the past still influence contemporary practices.
That said, the book falters somewhat in its later chapters. The Georgian and Victorian sections felt like a slog, overly detailed, with too much name-dropping and mention of figures whose connections to paganism felt tenuous at best. While it's clear Williams has a deep well of knowledge, the structure began to feel bloated and meandering. I also felt that certain key topics, like the druids and witch trials, could have been explored in greater depth. She also seems to completely cast aside the misogyny of the witch trials, which is both short sighted and problematic. Some sections referenced movements or individuals without much explanation, making it difficult to stay engaged unless you're already familiar with them. It also would have benefited from visual aids to support discussions of symbolism and ritual, for a subject so tied to imagery, the absence of these made some parts feel flat.
By the time I reached the modern chapters, my interest had already waned, and I found myself forcing the finish. Overall, this is a worthwhile read for those interested in the roots and evolution of paganism in Britain, just be prepared for uneven pacing, some dry stretches, and a few missed opportunities for deeper exploration.
The early chapters are excellent, the sections on ancient druids were particularly informative and engaging. I found myself wishing the book had spent more time here, as this was easily the strongest part for me. Similarly, the chapter on the witch trials was well written, highlighting the brutality and injustice of the era without sensationalism. I appreciated how Williams grounded the narrative with real facts and stories. The inclusion of Freemasonry was an unexpected but welcome thread, adding a layer of historical context I hadn't previously considered.
The book is written in a clear and accessible style, which makes complex topics easier to follow even for readers who aren't well-versed in history or religious studies. I also appreciated the author's effort to contextualize modern paganism within its historical roots, showing how the threads of the past still influence contemporary practices.
That said, the book falters somewhat in its later chapters. The Georgian and Victorian sections felt like a slog, overly detailed, with too much name-dropping and mention of figures whose connections to paganism felt tenuous at best. While it's clear Williams has a deep well of knowledge, the structure began to feel bloated and meandering. I also felt that certain key topics, like the druids and witch trials, could have been explored in greater depth. She also seems to completely cast aside the misogyny of the witch trials, which is both short sighted and problematic. Some sections referenced movements or individuals without much explanation, making it difficult to stay engaged unless you're already familiar with them. It also would have benefited from visual aids to support discussions of symbolism and ritual, for a subject so tied to imagery, the absence of these made some parts feel flat.
By the time I reached the modern chapters, my interest had already waned, and I found myself forcing the finish. Overall, this is a worthwhile read for those interested in the roots and evolution of paganism in Britain, just be prepared for uneven pacing, some dry stretches, and a few missed opportunities for deeper exploration.
June 30, 2025
An honest and thoroughly enjoyable review of pagan history.
This book is not only packed with fascinating facts but is also delivered with a brilliant sense of humour and a down-to-earth tone that makes it accessible and relatable. It offers a refreshingly honest look at the twists and turns of pagan history, shining a light on what we know and how much we’ve made up along the way …pretty much all of it.
What really comes through, for me, is the simple truth that so many seem to miss: real wisdom and enlightenment aren’t found in elaborate rituals or far-fetched beliefs — they lie within us. The true elders have always known this, even if the rest of us get a bit lost along the way, creating all sorts of weird and wonderful religions and practices to try and fill the gap.
A funny, insightful, and thought-provoking read — well worth picking up!
February 6, 2022
Really enjoyed reading this book, which sets out to be a broad going-over of the entire history of paganism in Britain, as well as covering some religious & spiritual movements that might not necessarily be considered pagan but that certainly deserve mentioning in the context.
As you might expect, which each chapter covering a different period of history (such as the 17th century, Georgians, Victorians, etc) some chapters can be less engaging than others owing to what they're able to cover in each period and relate to paganism, but that being said, this book is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the history of paganism in Britain.
As you might expect, which each chapter covering a different period of history (such as the 17th century, Georgians, Victorians, etc) some chapters can be less engaging than others owing to what they're able to cover in each period and relate to paganism, but that being said, this book is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the history of paganism in Britain.
June 24, 2023
It was okay. The first half was really interesting but the second half was pretty much just three very long chapters that dragged on. With 30 pages about the Georgians and 50 pages about the Victorians and all their various orders and historical groups, it started to just feel like a list of people without any thread running through it. Useful to know, but a bit dry. The first half I definitely preferred, but lots of the info I already knew. Still, an worthwhile summary of all the key historical influences.
January 7, 2022
First book of the year, woot woot!
I really enjoyed the book, well written and easy to read. I did find it slowing down its steam a few times, which is why it's not five stars.
I also enjoyed the appendixes where the author gave us insight into her own practice and beginners guide if it interests you to be part of modern British Paganism as well as giving some focus to the more problematic elements.
I really enjoyed the book, well written and easy to read. I did find it slowing down its steam a few times, which is why it's not five stars.
I also enjoyed the appendixes where the author gave us insight into her own practice and beginners guide if it interests you to be part of modern British Paganism as well as giving some focus to the more problematic elements.
July 22, 2025
Really interesting. I read this as I’ve tried to read Ronald Hutton’s books on the topic of paganism (love his lectures on the topic) but I find his writing so information-dense I tend to get exhausted. Liz Williams’ has a writing style that’s far more accessible for dummies like me. It was nice to hear her personal experiences with things covered in the book too.
June 16, 2020
A fascinating and comprehensive history of British paganism and magical practice, a must-have for newbies and veterans alike.
October 10, 2021
Not very accessible to the layperson.
January 16, 2022
I really enjoyed the broad scope of this book, it is from an objective viewpoint and makes a good foundational reading for further enquiry.
January 30, 2023
A brilliant book that looks into the history and progression of Paganism. The examples that are given (particularly around TV shows) are clever and would work well for all ages.
September 5, 2023
a decent book on paganism if beliefs and history, kinda meanseeed a bit but was ok, it also said TST isn’t a religion it’s only a political movement so taking off a star there too for ignorance.
November 19, 2023
Very academic, very detailed. Great book for research, a bit too much for someone looking for a light historical read.
July 1, 2024
Not even close to finishing it.
SHOULD be cool interesting info! But the writing is SO DULL & slow.
SHOULD be cool interesting info! But the writing is SO DULL & slow.
September 24, 2024
This was a difficult read for me, prior knowledge on the topic is definitely needed, I thought the book would discuss broader concepts but a lot of the focus was on Individual people.
May 20, 2021
I honestly skimmed the last 100ish pages of this because I was rushing to finish my project (which I just turned in by the way, wish me luck), but this book was really good!! I would honestly probably go back and re-read the parts I glossed over just because I’m actually really interested in what I missed.
July 27, 2024
An essential text to get an understanding of how and where we get our modern day paganism from. She organizes it well in a chronological fashion of where Paganism appeared. This is, however, focused on British paganism - so there is that. But, a lot of what my country's Paganism is in modern day is borrowed / sourced from Europe as it were so, this text is very beneficial. A lot of names I've known for years I finally got the backstory behind. A lot of concepts, too, that seem "old and unchanging" but were actually much more modern than people would like to admit. This book helps me strengthen my own conviction in my choice and home of being a pagan, but a more informed kind of conviction as a modern-day Heathen and ex-Wiccan. A lot of my own craft and religious path ("spirituality" wrapped up all together in one nice word) has been eclectic over the years before becoming more focused on Heathenry in general. So, this book helped me understand what I was learning and where it came from. I can now form a better understanding of my own spirituality through this text. The back, also, supplies you some basic information on crafting your own altar space and how to use it and what circles are and how to call the elements, etc., your more "core basics" of modern paganism and witchcraft.
Anyways, READ THIS BOOK if you want to know anything about Paganism. Really well written.
Anyways, READ THIS BOOK if you want to know anything about Paganism. Really well written.
January 18, 2023
An interesting read and a very good look on the history of paganism in Britain.
It goes through a timeline of what is known or inferred through history and offers a lot of sources to back up this information.
At times it can be quite dense and full of names or specific words with no definition or further explanation. So I'd say some knowledge may be needed on the topic of paganism, witchcraft, or occultism before reading, or at least the ability to read around it and research these later on.
All in all, an enjoyable, informative, and at times humorous read from a pagan author.
It goes through a timeline of what is known or inferred through history and offers a lot of sources to back up this information.
At times it can be quite dense and full of names or specific words with no definition or further explanation. So I'd say some knowledge may be needed on the topic of paganism, witchcraft, or occultism before reading, or at least the ability to read around it and research these later on.
All in all, an enjoyable, informative, and at times humorous read from a pagan author.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews