Aradia Gospel of Witches by Charles G Leland forward By Gemma Gary (paperback)
Aradia
or
The Gospel
of the Witches
Charles Godfrey Leland
Foreword by Gemma Gary
The finale in a series of books exploring Italian magical folklore, charms and sorcery written towards the close of the nineteenth century, Charles G. Leland’s Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches would become one of the primary source-texts for the witchcraft revival. It is not without justification that Leland has been called ‘the grandfather of modern witchcraft’.
Aradia, the ultimate fruit of a working relationship between Leland and the enigmatic ‘Maddalena’ presents a beguiling collection of magical cosmologies; rites for the worship and adoration of Diana, Queen of the witches; evocations of her powers and those of her daughter Aradia; conjurations, spells, and charms of operative magic; and tales featuring Diana, witches and night spirits. All said to have been drawn from the peasants and witches of Romagna and the Tuscan Mountains by Maddalena; Leland’s chief informant.
A controversial book, celebrated by some, questioned by many and scorned or even avoided entirely by others, Aradia is the object of diverse, sometimes vividly opposing theories, such is its mystery.
This new edition of Aradia is accompanied by a foreword by Gemma Gary, balancing a tight-rope path through the various theories and possibilities surrounding this work and its origins, and exploring the impact of Aradia upon the reemergence of witchcraft.
FOREWORD by Gemma Gary
PREFACE…….
CHAPTER I
How Diana Gave Birth to Aradia (Herodias)
Of the sufferings of Mankind, and how Diana sen! Aradia on earth to relieve them by teaching resistance and Sorcery—Poem addressed to Mankind — How lo invoke Diana or Aradia.
CHAPTER II
The Sabbat—Treguenda or Witch-Meeting
How to consecrate the supper—Conjuration of the meal and of Salt — Invocation to Cain — Conjuration of Diana and to Aradia.
CHAPTER III
How Diana Made the Slats and the Rain
CHAPTER IV
The Charm of the Stones Consecrated lo Diana—The Incantation of Perforated Stones—The Spell or Conjuration of I he Round Stone ….
CHAPTER V
The Conjuration of the Lemon and Pins-
Incantation to Diana ……..
CHAPTER VI
A Spell to Win Love………
CHAPTER VII
To Find or Buy Anything, or to Have Good
Fortune Thereby……….
CHAPTER VIII
To Have a Good Vintage and Very Good Wine By
the Aid of Diana………
CHAPTER IX
Tana and Endamone, or Diana and Endymion
CHAPTER X
Madonna Diana……….
A Legend of Celtardo, and how Diana appeared with ten Bridesmaids to give away a Bride Incantation to Diana for a Wedding.
CHAPTER XI
The House of the Wind……..
Showing how Diana rescued a Lady from Death at the House of the Wind in Vol terra.
CHAPTER XII
Tana or Diana, The Moon-Goddess
CHAPTER XIII
Diana and the Children……..
CHAPTER XIV
The Goblin Messengers of Diana and Mercury
CHAPTER XV
Laverna…………
APPENDIX………..
