Witchcraft Out Of The Shadows: A Complete History

After writing his PhD sociology thesis on the idea of re-enchantment, Leo Ruickbie decided to re-interpret his research and present it to a popular readership. The book that resulted from this research is a tidy three-in-one text encapsulating historical origins, modern development, and a statistical evaluation of contemporary practice.

The first section summarizes history and provides a context for the reader, as well pointing out the ever-evolving perception of witchcraft. Instead of dwelling on historical examples of witchcraft, this book moves on to a second section that focuses more on the modern formation of witchcraft as a spiritual and magical practice, and how the practice is perceived today. The third section features a very accessible sociological evaluation of modern practicing witches. Much of modern witchcraft has developed at an comparatively quick rate over the past century and a great deal of evolution has occurred in only a short period of time. Throughout this book, Ruickbie looks at the cultural and social impact of such an evolution, as well as the impact upon the movement itself as well.

The true value in this book lies in the second and third sections. "Born of Shadows: The Origins of Modern Witchcraft", focuses on the influential figures within witchcraft and their contributions within the last century, offering concise depictions of the contributions (both positive and negative) each figure has made throughout their involvement with the movement. In this section, Ruickbie clearly illustrates that modern witchcraft is not a revival, but an invention based on traditional symbols and actions, an important distinction. "Empire of Shadows: Witchcraft in the World Today", reports various statistics and compares them to earlier similar studies, then attempts to isolate how today's witches define their practice, their spirituality, and experiences. This third section is particularly thought-provoking for modern practitioners in re-evaluating their perception of what they practice.

Overall, this book is an excellent choice for someone interested in the origins, development, and modern practice of witchcraft without wading through a Wicca 101 book or a heavy academic analysis. It is well-presented, and easily understood. This book is a sound investment and recommended reading for any witch who has not yet thought to examine the historical and sociological effects of this path.

(c) 2005 A. Murphy-Hiscock. Originally published in WynterGreene, Beltane (May) 2005.