Ellen Evert Hopman reveals the origins and history of the New England witch hysteria, its continuing repercussions, and the multilayered practices of today's modern witches. In this book, she shares the stories of 13 accused witches from the New England colonies through interviews with their living descendants. Despite the number of false accusations during the witch hysteria in the New England colonies, Hopman reveals how there were practicing witches during that time and describes the positive role witches played in rural communities until the dawn of the industrial age.
Exploring how the perception and practices of witches has evolved and expanded over the centuries, Hopman also includes in-depth interviews with 25 modern-day practitioners from a variety of pagan faiths, including druids, wiccans, Celtic reconstructionists, and practitioners of the fairy faith. Emerging from their insights is a treasure trove of practical information on the sacred calendar, herb lore, spells, and magical practices. Bringing together past and present, Hopman reveals what it really means to be a "witch," redefining the label with dignity and spiritual strength.
