Embracing the Witch and the Goddess : Feminist Ritual-Makers in New Zealand

Embracing the Witch and the Goddess is a detailed survey of present-day feminist witches in New Zealand. It examines the attraction of witchcraft for its practitioners, and explores witches' rituals, views and beliefs about how magic works. The book provides a detailed portrait of an undocumented section of the growing neo-pagan movement, and compares the special character of New Zealand witchcraft with its counterparts in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia.Kathryn Rountree traces the emergence and history of feminist witchcraft, and links witchcraft with the contemporary Goddess movement. She reviews scholarly approaches on the study of witchcraft and deals with the key debates which have engaged the movement's adherents and their critics, and ultimately presents what Mary Daly declared was missing from most historical and anthropological research on witchcraft: a 'Hag-identified vision'.Based on fieldwork amongst witch practitioners, Embracing the Witch and the Goddess is an important contribution to the emerging profile of present-day witchcraft and paganism. Embracing The Witch And The Goddess Is A Detailed Survey Of Present-day Feminist Witches In New Zealand. It Examines The Attraction Of Witchcraft For Its Practitioners, And Explores Witches' Rituals, Views And Beliefs About How Magic Works. The Book Provides A Detailed Portrait Of This Undocumented Section Of The Growing Neo-pagan Movement And Compares The Special Character Of New Zealand Witchcraft With Its Counterparts In The United States, Great Britain And Australia. Kathryn Rountree Traces The Emergence And History Of Feminist Witchcraft, And Links Witchcraft With The Contemporary Goddess Movement. She Reviews Scholarly Approaches To The Study Of Witchcraft And Deals With The Key Debates Which Have Engaged The Movement's Adherents And Their Critics, And Ultimately Presents What Mary Daly Declared Was Missing From Most Historical And Anthropological Research On Witchcraft: A 'hag-identified Vision'. Based On Fieldwork Among Witch Practitioners, Embracing The Witch And The Goddess Is An Important Contribution To The Emerging Profile Of Present-day Witchcraft And Paganism.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Approaches To Witchcraft -- Feminists And Witches -- Feminists And The Goddess -- Researching Witches: Becoming Enchanted -- Feminist Witchcraft In New Zealand: Origina And Development -- The Attraction Of Witchcraft -- The Attraction Of The Goddess: Witches' Worldviews -- What Witches Do -- Ritual As Artefact -- How Magic Works -- Re-membering The Witch And The Goddess. Kathryn Rountree. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 207-217) And Index. Embracing the Witch and the Goddess is a detailed survey of present-day feminist witches in New Zealand. It examines the attraction of witchcraft for its practitioners, and explores witches' rituals, views and beliefs about how magic works. The book provides a detailed portrait of an undocumented section of the growing neo-pagan movement, and compares the special character of New Zealand witchcraft with its counterparts in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia. Kathryn Rountree traces the emergence and history of feminist witchcraft, and links witchcraft with the contemporary Goddess movement. She reviews scholarly approaches on the study of witchcraft and deals with the key debates which have engaged the movement's adherents and their critics, and ultimately presents what Mary Daly declared was missing from most historical and anthropological research on a 'Hag-identified vision'. Based on fieldwork amongst witch practitioners, Embracing the Witch and the Goddess is an important contribution to the emerging profile of present-day witchcraft and paganism. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 Approaches to witchcraft......Page 26 Feminists and witches......Page 46 Feminists and the Goddess......Page 63 Researching witches: becoming enchanted......Page 84 Feminist witchcraft in New Zealand: origins and development......Page 98 The attraction of witchcraft......Page 114 The attraction of the Goddess: witches' worldviews......Page 134 What witches do......Page 151 Ritual as artefact......Page 172 How magic works......Page 183 Re-membering the witch and the Goddess......Page 198 Notes......Page 208 References......Page 220 Index......Page 232