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40th out of 308 books
—
68 voters
Aradia: Gospel of the Witches
Its accuracy is disputed by some, while others consider it a vital resource for studying and understanding Italian witch folklore of the 19th century. What is certain is that this 1899 classic has become a foundational document of modern Wicca and neopaganism. Leland claimed his "witch informant," a fortune-teller named Maddalena, supplied him with the secret writings that...more
Paperback, 80 pages
Published
April 1st 2007
by Cosimo Classics
(first published 1899)
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It was OK. Too disjointed for my tastes. I get that they are stories passed down from generation to generation, but that doesn't make them good. Some are difficult to find a point to. Of course, it is a must read if you are into Stregarian Witchcraft. But only because the characters in the stories are important in the tradition. I just have a problem with the complete lack of continuity, or even correspondence between even the same god or goddess. It's like, here's a story, here's some more rand...more
Aradia Gospel of the Witches 1899 yılında basılmış. Yazar Charles G. Leland çalışmalarını sürdürürken "Maddalena" isimli bir falcı ile tanışmış ve böylelikle İtalyan büyücülüğünü, eski dini ve Tanrıça Diana kültürünü keşfetmiş. Yazara göre anlatılanlar tamamen gerçek. 1886 yılında cadı sanatına dair gizli belgeler içeren bir el yazması olduğunu öğreniyor ve 1897 yılında Maddalena tarafından kendisine bu el yazması ulaştırılıyor. Herodias (Aradia) Cadılar İncili adı altında.
İnanışa göre Aradia İ...more
İnanışa göre Aradia İ...more
Jul 28, 2011
Steve Cran
added it
In Northern Italy there are vestiges of an ancient faith that maybe still practiced by the common people. It is a vestige left over from the ancient Etruscan religion. The Etruscans lived in Tuscany, Italy. The main Goddess for the practitioners of this faith is the Goddess Diana. She is the Goddess of the moon, queen of the fairies and protector of the down trodden. She is also the goddess of witchcraft.
Charles Godfrey Leland traveled to Italy in the Mid to late 1800's and gather all this mater...more
Jun 12, 2011
Aaron Meyer
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
occult,
folklore-and-myth
I've read alot of folks reviews before reading the book and after reading the work myself it just comes to me that alot of people don't really "read" it with a view to understand it. I have alot of areas to cover so I guess I will just jump into the first thing that comes to mind.
There are alot of people who claim that the witchcraft in Aradia is to mean and evil. They need to remember that this is not modern wicca, this is real witchcraft. The type that has been used throughout history and thro...more
There are alot of people who claim that the witchcraft in Aradia is to mean and evil. They need to remember that this is not modern wicca, this is real witchcraft. The type that has been used throughout history and thro...more
I've read this several times and never seem to read every word. It's one of those strange books that you can pick up repeatedly and always see something new. For that, I think I will continue to re-read "Aradia" again and again.
It's a very small book, but dense in language. The stories are interesting and quite different from what we see in other mythology concerning witchcraft. For clarity (and the option to use invocations in their original language) I very much appreciate Leland giving them i...more
It's a very small book, but dense in language. The stories are interesting and quite different from what we see in other mythology concerning witchcraft. For clarity (and the option to use invocations in their original language) I very much appreciate Leland giving them i...more
An OK book that I found online as a public domain read..the book is a collection of pagan rites etc connected to the Goddess Diana and its of some interest but ultimately didn't thrill...some of the grammar and spelling etc is terrible but it is readable..i'm not sure if this was in transcribing or whether the piece was initially poor in this respect as there is a part of the book whereby the author bemoans corrections to previous works of his passing on error to the original source material.
Perhaps my taste for mythology has dried up over the years or I'm too focused on the practical to enjoy it.
Regardless, Aradia is a good collection of mythology and poetry. In my younger years, I would have loved it. I'd say it's more appropriate to witches without a trad/denomination, practitioners of Stregheria, or Dianic Wiccans than it is to me.
Still, I suppose one of the tests is being able to tackle it and know that at the end.
Regardless, Aradia is a good collection of mythology and poetry. In my younger years, I would have loved it. I'd say it's more appropriate to witches without a trad/denomination, practitioners of Stregheria, or Dianic Wiccans than it is to me.
Still, I suppose one of the tests is being able to tackle it and know that at the end.
This is a book I had been meaning to read for some time. Thankfully, it's very short and I managed to read it in entirety yesterday. This book is considered important to modern Witchcraft from a historical standpoint. I, however, did not like it and consider it to be a fine example of primitive and unsubstantial folklore you could find. The book has very little to do with Aradia, female savior of the Italian Witches, and seems to be a Christianized version of the history of the Streghe. While I...more
May 13, 2011
Joan DeArtemis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
paganism,
wicca-witchcraft
I read this a long time ago, and, I have to admit, I did not understand it. Since then, I have heard some people discount Leland's story... that he got this from an Italian Strega. However, I was doing to some research just recently, and I learned that "Aradia" may be a misspelling of "Herodia", who was the mother of Salome in the New Testament, and who demanded the head of John the Baptist. So, now, my curiosity is peaked, and I want to further research into this.
Not a fan of this one. Pretty poetry and what not but hardly factual. My personal opinion is that Charles Leland was "told" these things because that is what he wanted to believe was true.
I know lots of people rave about this book... but my 2nd time through I still think, "Its ok". Sure the spells and charms are cool, but I feel like it needs more.. Like there should have been more stories and lore. But its still interesting
The claims aren't exactly what you'd call believable, and the message is sort of lacking, but it's kind of interesting. 3 stars.
Kind of hard to have a real "opinion" of one of the classics. Provided source material for many of Gardner's rituals.
I'm not sure if I believe the authenticity of this book , & was surprised to find the rituals quite dark .
Sgt
Sgt
This was intresting.
Meh. Not what I expected.
I loved the book, Really connected with it.. But then again I love most of Leland's books..
There's a problem with 19th century religious studies texts is the blatant "my research is better, and oh by the way, read this other work I've written." Not only that, he admits that he's rewritten a lot of the translated texts, to keep with his "feeling" of what the "intent" of the Italian was. His bias is basically shoveled into the work.
I have to admit that there's some useful stuff in there, but I can't really recommend it.
I have to admit that there's some useful stuff in there, but I can't really recommend it.
1 like · like · see review
it's interesting history of witchcraft I think it staggers a bit too much for me it didn't flow overall think its great background information
Utterly fascinating! I had no idea this was such a small book - very quick read!
Aug 25, 2010
Mónika
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
paganism-and-witchcraft
I'm not the biggest fan of Stregheria but, to be honest, I really enjoyed reading this book.
It gave me more awareness to the other paths out there and it made me understand a bit more about Aradia and Diana as deities and how they are worshipped and such.
I liked this book.
It gave me more awareness to the other paths out there and it made me understand a bit more about Aradia and Diana as deities and how they are worshipped and such.
I liked this book.
Great book....I feel that much of the so called "history" given is at some times suspect, and even hypocritical to modern "witch" groups that acknowledge this work. I did enjoy it, however
Seems scattered. My favorite quote from the book "As appetite comes by eating and craving
Profit results from labour and saving"
Profit results from labour and saving"
This was an interesting read. Not my witchy cup of tea, but interesting. :)
Interesting, and beautifully written, but the premise is hard to believe.
Very insightful and intriguing book.
May 23, 2013
Madeleine Gustavsson
marked it as to-read
May 22, 2013
Nathan
marked it as to-read
May 22, 2013
Emma Keogh
marked it as to-read
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10 gen. 14:01