A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult

I have studied the occult and metaphysics for over 30 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a comprehensive look at the history of magic and the occult. While, of course, this is not a deep dive into any particular topic, the breadth of this work is quite stunning. It is divided into 5 time periods, from prehistory to the modern age. It looks at the beliefs and practices of different cultures and religions (including early paganism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc.) over time, occasionally spotlighting a particular person or group of people or some other big moment in the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult, like the Salem witch trials and or pervasive occultism that hides in plain view, like the spirit of Christmas. While the book is mostly Eurocentric after the prehistory section, it does look at the various practices from the Middle and Far East, the Americas, and Africa to a lesser extent. Some topics cannot be simply proscribed to a religion or particular country, and these are explored as well, like the idea of cunning folk.

The roots of practices we still see today are explored, like the various branches of astrology, tarot, and runes. Movements are explored as well, like spiritualism. Of course, there are several spreads just about the persecution of witches in different time periods. Hidden societies are also touched upon, like Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. As with most DK books, this book is full of images, many of which I’ve seen before but others that were completely new to me. We see ancient sculpture, medieval and Renaissance paintings, and photographs from the modern age. Honestly, I found this a fascinating read. I had picked up bits and pieces of magical history over time, of course, but it was nice to see so many things in one book and so wonderfully illustrated. The book also has a four-page glossary and an extensive index to help you find just the piece of information that you want to find. However, most of the topics in this book are so fascinating that I suggest just jumping in and starting to read! Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

At first,I thought this was going to be a boring history book.I was surprised and delighted.Many great paintings,wood-cuts and pictures.More about European witchcraft history,yet does present other global cultural witchcraft societies.Always read history books with a grain a salt.Sometimes the passage of time warps the truth.Yet,this beautiful book presents all the main aspects of witchcraft history quite well.If people have dissenting opinions,they should write their own book.-Peace & Blessings. -Merlin the Psychic Soothsayer.

Very well illustrated. As to the accuracy I’m not versed in the absolute historical truth of every detail and I doubt few people are capable of commenting on that aspect with 100 percent certainty. It’s a great looking book otherwise….

I was spellbound by this book! It is so well done – from the Introduction by Professor Lipscomb to The End, I could not put this book done. It is visually appealing, intriguing to read and an excellent educational reference.

If anyone is interested in magic, sorcery, and occult, this book is a must have. Lots of information in regards to different magical objects, as well as learning variety of witches, demons, and spirits

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