Witchcraft. The Library of Esotericism

A fascinating journey through the global history of witchcraft, the third volume of The Library of Esoterica follows this magical tradition from its ancient roots to its modern incarnations. Through more than 400 works of art, revealing essays and interviews with modern practitioners, Witchcraft chronicles a cathartic evolution, from the art's emergence in the ancient cult of the goddess to its adoption by today's diverse community of witches.

The Season of the Witch

The fascinating story of a magical practice

Initiating readers into the fascinating and complex history of witchcraft, from the goddess mythologies of ancient cultures to the contemporary adoption of the art by modern artists and activists, this sprawling tome offers an impressive overview of a millennia-old tradition. Rooted in legend, folklore and myth, the archetype of the witch has evolved from the stories of Odysseus and Circe, the Celtic seductress Cerridwen and the myth of Hecate, fierce ruler of the moonlit night. In Witchcraft we review her many incarnations since then, as she changes form over the centuries, alternately transforming herself into mother, nymph and crone, seductress and destroyer.

This gripping visual chronicle, edited by Jessica Hundley and co-edited by author, scholar and practitioner Pam Grossman, is the first of its kind, a deep dive into the complex symbologies underlying the traditions of witchcraft, explored through the history of art itself. The witch has been the muse of great artists throughout the ages, from the dark seductions of Francisco José de Goya and Albrecht Dürer to the elegant chant of feminine magic reinterpreted by the surrealist circle of Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington and Leonor Fini. The witch has also bewitched through folk tales and dramatic literature, from the Brothers Grimm's poisoned apples to the Strange Sisters gathered in their black cauldron in Shakespeare's Macbeth, to L. Frank Baum's iconic Wicked Witch of the West, who cackles over Dorothy's fate.

Throughout this fascinating visual journey, we also witness how the witch endures persecution and evolves into empowerment, a contemporary symbol of bold defiance and potent non-conformity. Featuring enlightening essays by modern practitioners such as Kristen J. Sollée and Judika Illes, as well as interviews with authors and scholars such as Madeline Miller and Juliet Diaz, Witchcraft includes a wide range of cultural traditions that embrace magic as spiritual exploration and creative catharsis.

The designer

Thunderwing is a multidisciplinary Los Angeles studio co-founded in 2007 by Nic and J. B. Taylor. Thunderwing collaborates on a wide range of projects and creates brands and designs for film, editorial, fashion, food, music and interior design.

The editors

Jessica Hundley is an author, filmmaker and journalist. She has written for Vogue, Rolling Stone and The New York Times, and is the author of books on artists such as Dennis Hopper, David Lynch and Gram Parsons. Hundley often explores the counterculture in her work, focusing on metaphysics, psychedelia and magic.

Pam Grossman is a writer, curator and teacher of magical history and practice. She hosts The Witch Wave podcast and is the author of Waking the Witch. Reflections on Women, Magic and Power. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic and Artforum.

Witchcraft. Library of Esotericism

-Hardcover, quarto bound, 17 x 24 cm, 1.77 kg, 520 pages, 520 pages

-ISBN 978-3-8365-8563-7

-Edition: English