Witches

by Hans Holzer

Professor Hans Holzer, the bestselling author of Ghosts , explores the myriad forms and factions of witchcraft, taking you inside the covens and cults where the ancient rituals are practiced. This compilation of Holzer's decades of first-hand research, which occurred mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, provides a unique insider's overview of the topic.

Experience the secrets of the craft, learn spells and incantations, and read interviews and personal testimony from the foremost practitioners. Holzer not only provides the reader with the history of witchcraft, he documents the lives and practices of actual witches pursuing the world's oldest religion. Hundreds of photographs from the author's own collection illuminate the subject and bring the rituals and rites of "the Craft" to life.

Genres: Wicca, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Paranormal, Occult, Reference, Religion

673 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2005

About the author

Hans Holzer, whose investigations into the paranormal took him to haunted houses and other sites all over the world, wrote more than 140 books on ghosts, the afterlife, witchcraft, extraterrestrial beings, and other phenomena associated with the realm he called “the other side.” Among his famous subjects was the Long Island house that inspired The Amityville Horror book and film adaptations. Holzer studied at the University of Vienna, Austria, and at Columbia University, New York, earning a master’s degree in comparative religion. He taught parapsychology at the New York Institute of Technology. Holzer died in 2009.

Reviews

[C.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the author is not completely objective, there is a lot of interesting information and historical overview over the history and different sects of witchcraft. Probably not the most authoritative book on the topic, for sure.

[Hayley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was pretty impressed when I managed to get this rather huge and interesting book at the pagan moot raffle but I was sorely disappointed. It was basically a history and information on witchcraft but I didn't like that the writer seemed to refer to it as a 'cult' frequently rather than an religion (asides from that he wrote it from a positive point of view) I also didn't like that he referred to witches preferring to perform rituals naked- not all witches do!
I felt he focused too much on covens and solitary work wasn't really touched upon, while there was huge chapters about devil posession and satanism. I found myself skipping most of the book as it just wasn't interesting, even the rituals included in the back are designed for covens. Disappointing- if you want to read about covens then yes it would probably be good- but otherwise, not really.

[Krlzz Radoszycki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book is not good at all. His definition of 'magick' is so shallow and not even near to what real magick is. He talks about the sexuality in rituals, but he does not explains what the real, deep meaning is. I think he makes the witch path look like something really easy, when the real witch path is a very difficult one, and is in the Will where it really starts. I wouldn't recommend it for serious research.