A Brief History of Witchcraft and the Occult

A Beginner’s Journey from the Surreal to the Scientific, from Crystals and Tarot to Science and Philosophy

By: Dominic Haynes

Narrated by: Jeff Bower

Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Discover the bewitching world of spells, magic, and mystery as you dive deep into the history of this controversial ancient practice.

From being feared, persecuted, and burned at the stake centuries ago, they have now become captivating and enduring characters in pop culture, portrayed in diverse roles, such as:

• Villains–like the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz and Ursula in The Little Mermaid.
• Regular girls-next-door–like Samantha in Bewitched, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, or the Halliwell sisters in Charmed.
• Heroic figures–like Hermione in the Harry Potter series, the Scarlet Witch from Marvel, or Maleficent.

But these fictional accounts don’t fully represent the reality of the world of witchcraft.

To truly understand this often-misunderstood practice, it is essential to go back in time to see how it has transformed through centuries, and how society’s attitudes around it have changed.

Here is just a fraction of what you will discover inside:

• How religion, science, and magic interacted in ancient times, and why witchcraft was widely practiced despite being associated with death and evil.
• How crystals have been used throughout the centuries, and why they remain so popular today.
• The secret society that trained its members in the occult, and how it influenced the development of Western esotericism.
• Ouijas, seances, and mediums–how the practice of communicating with the dead came to be

And much more.

With renewed interests in the spiritual and the mystical–given the rising popularity of palmistry, astrology, crystals, and more–this subject will continue to enchant us for years to come.

And whether you’re interested in magic and the occult or you’re intrigued by the history of it all, there’s a lot to discover in this book.

©2023 Dominic Haynes (P)2023 Dominic Haynes

Incredibly interesting!

This audiobook was very engaging, and although I went into it not knowing much, I learned a ton! I liked how the author organized the information, and it made it easy to follow. I also loved the section on how mainstream religion viewed witchcraft! Very pleased.

Very interesting, couldn´t stop listening

Listening to this audiobook was a captivating and enlightening experience. The book explores the historical roots of witchcraft, delving into its transformation over the centuries and the evolving societal attitudes towards this ancient practice. The narration was engaging, and the topics were well-organized, making it easy to follow along. Whether you're already interested in witchcraft or simply curious, I highly recommend this audiobook for its thought-provoking and fascinating content.

Very interesting!! Great Listen!

I recently listened to the audiobook A Brief History of Witchcraft and the Occult: Beginner's Journey from the Surreal to the Scientific, from Crystals and Tarot to Science and Philosophy and I can truly say that it was a captivating journey through the occult. From the very beginning, I couldn't believe the incredible information that the authors provided. The book touches on many topics that are relevant today, such as sage burning, crystal cleansing, and soul healing as well as looking into ancient European and colonial witch-hunts. It also looks further into magic from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and the rise of Christianity. Furthermore, it blends modern beliefs about witchcraft and the occult with Hollywood and Hoodoo side by side. Overall, this book is a fantastic listen for anyone interested in learning more about the mysterious subject of witchcraft and the occult. I would definitely highly recommend this audiobook to anyone with an interest in this magical topic.

Engrossing!

I found this almost mesmerizing with all the interesting facts about the history of witchcraft in all it's different terms and forms form century to century and continent to continent! I loved learning the many variations and beliefs and where they came from. Each culture has their own version -whether it's called magic, witchraft, etc. and their own rituals and practices. And sadly so much persecution and torture followed. I'd love to know more of the legends and folklore.

Magical

This book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the captivating and controversial world of magic, spells, and mysticism. The book explores the historical roots of witchcraft, delving into its transformation over the centuries and the evolving societal attitudes towards this ancient practice.

Learned a lot, intriguing

What a great audiobook about witchcraft beginnings and the occult. I learned so much and loved the narrator's voice. He talks about the modern witches portrayed in movies, like Hocus Pocus, and the old witch movies we all grew up with. If you love stories about the occult and witchcraft, you will love reading about the beginnings. The chapters on crystals and tarots was interesting also. I loved the science and philosophy I learned also from listening. This was a real treat!

Very Informative

I love the historical learning about magic especially as a healing.I love the humour in the book. I appreciate the different lenses in which the author presents magic A great book with lots of learning.

So interesting!

Amazing book with so many details and facts. If you love learning about witchcraft, this is a great book to listen to. The book dives into the enchanting realm of spells, magic, and mystery while it explores the rich history of witchcraft. From its dark past of persecution to its modern-day portrayal in popular culture, this book unveils the true nature of witchcraft beyond fictional depictions. I love listening to these types of books while I work because I don't have to pay incredible attention, and yet I learn so much. The book reviews the allure of crystals which is awesome because it helps me converse with my daughter, who is obsessed with crystals. More and more society is captivated by witchcraft so being able to listen to this book is awesome because I never knew it would be a subject that fascinated me so much.

This author did a great job of organizing the book and putting together the details and the narrator brings the book to life!

I highly recommend it!

This audiobook is a valuable resource that delves into the intriguing world of witchcraft and the occult. It is suitable for both beginners and those seeking to expand their knowledge, as it offers a well-rounded introduction to these ancient practices. The author offers fresh insights that debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding witchcraft and the occult and provides a nuanced understanding of their cultural significance, personal empowerment, and connection to nature. The exploration of different witchcraft traditions from around the world adds depth and diversity to the narrative. The content encourages critical thinking and inspires listeners to explore further on their own. The high-quality production includes clear sound and seamless transitions between chapters, with brief pauses for reflection or to highlight key points that enhance the learning experience.

Bewitching & Magical

This audiobook is well organized to take the listener through the world of witchcraft and the occult, unlike they are prepared for simply because it encompasses much more than most ever knew existed. The topics historically are typically taboo and not one you speak of without reservation. The history and science of witchcraft are part of the fabric of many basic practices that have been around, like astrology, seances, and Quijas boards that some explored for fun and were part of games. The author gives an overview of techniques and practices, their meaning, and how to use them. Overall the content is exciting and intriguing, as well as educational. The narrator does a professional job of keeping the listener engaged throughout the audiobook. I recommend the audiobook to anyone who thought they knew about witchcraft or speculated on the topic. They will get an opportunity to understand how broad it is from a scientific and philosophical perspective.