Philosophy of Witchcraft

By Steven Leslie Golding

Historians have studied witchcraft for years, and many in medieval times were fascinated by this misunderstood religion and belief system. For author Steven Leslie Golding, it’s one of the most positive, friendly, and nature-based religions that calls to him.

In Philosophy of Witchcraft, he shares his story of his experiences, telling how he turned to Wicca more than six years in his early fifties. He discusses the history of witchcraft and offers a look at what ancient witches faced in medieval Britain. In addition, Golding shares an overview of the elements of the modern pagan witchcraft such as its festivals, weekend courses, rituals, the witch’s tools, telepathy and clairvoyance, the imagery of witchcraft, spells, astral travel, and more.

Drawing on his life as a solitary witch, one not part of a coven, Golding gives keen insight into to the often-misunderstood world of witchcraft and the occult.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665589550

Steven Leslie Golding

My name is STEVEN LESLIE GOLDING and I live in Bristol. I now live on my own since the loss of my dear beloved parents who I miss so much. I was very lucky to have had such a loving Mum and Dad. I like to believe like the Shamans that we will meet our loved ones when we die, that’s what is keeping me going. Sadly I do suffer severe mental health problems and I take medication to help control my mood patterns. It is a living nightmare. I hope this story will give you some inspiration to maybe do some writing yourself. I am aiming this story at people with mental health conditions like myself, but anyone can read it too. My inspiration is the lovely town of Glastonbury. I visit there most weekends, everyone makes me feel so welcome here. It is a lovely friendly spiritual town. Many thanks. Blessed be.

Book preview

© 2021 Steven Leslie Golding. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  06/01/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8956-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8955-0 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1     Festivals

Chapter 2     Being a Solitary Witch

Chapter 3     Weekend Course with the Children of Artemis

Chapter 4     The Book of Shadows

Chapter 5     Coven or Solitary?

Chapter 6     The Fairy Kingdom

Chapter 7     The Witch’s Tools

Chapter 8     Telepathy and Clairvoyance

Chapter 9     The Fire Festivals

Chapter 10   The Magic of the Tarot

Chapter 11   The Imagery of Witchcraft

Chapter 12   Spells

Chapter 13   The Horned God

Chapter 14   Astral Projection

Chapter 15   Spirituality

Chapter 16   The Circle of Protection in a Forest

Chapter 17   The Symbolism of Witchcraft

Chapter 18   Symbolic Rituals

Chapter 19   Connecting to the Five Elements in Witchcraft: The Earth, Air, Fire, Water Spirits

Chapter 20   Glastonbury, My Spiritual Home

Chapter 21   The Wiccan Rede

Chapter 22   Animal Familiars

Chapter 23   A Coven or Solitary?

Chapter 24   Meditation

Chapter 25   Now That You Have Found Your Pagan Path

Chapter 26   Modern Pagan Witchcraft

Chapter 27   In the Woods

Chapter 28   Tarot Card Ritual

Chapter 29   My Ritual

Conclusion

Afterword

Suggested Readings

I dedicate this book to my wonderful parents,

Margaret and Leslie Golding.

Blessed be.

PREFACE

Hello. My name is Steven Leslie Golding, and I live in Bristol. The occult and occult literature truly fascinate me. I only came into Wicca in 2014, when I was in my early fifties, in the lovely town of Glastonbury.

I feel that Glastonbury is my spiritual town. I feel that I am magnetically drawn here. It feels like a kind of pilgrimage to me.

I know that witchcraft is a very misunderstood religion, but I think that it is one of the most positive, friendly, nature-based religions that I am very drawn to.

I would now describe myself as a Wiccan. I always follow the Wiccan rede: Harm no one, and do as thee will.

I hope you enjoy reading this short book on my account of Witchcraft and the occult. So mote it be.

INTRODUCTION

Historians have studied witchcraft for many years. Many historians in medieval times were fascinated by this very misunderstood religion and belief system. It’s a shame that witchcraft has been the focus of so much negative press throughout history.

The medieval period in Britain was not a good time for witchcraft. It was illegal to be associated with the craft. People were afraid of witches, and a lot of witches lost their lives. I believe a lot of innocent witches were sent to their deaths in medieval times due to sheer ignorance. I believe they were all innocent. Truly tragic.

I don’t want to dwell on this very sad time. Witches have always helped heal the sick and dying. In medieval times, they were often called cunning folk. They worked a lot with herbal remedies to heal the sick and dying. So they were good, honest people. They also did tarot readings and fortune-telling.

Witches were often featured in the plays of William Shakespeare in the 1600s. This was a time when witches were persecuted and blamed for a lot of misfortune.

I have been drawn to witchcraft for several years now, and I feel this is a calling for me. I strongly believe witches are good, peace-loving folk. They are cunning folk who helped heal the sick and dying.

Of course that covers other pagan beliefs besides Wicca, including Druids, heathens, and other spiritual people who have a belief system similar to Witchcraft.

I am now a Wiccan; that’s the path I now follow. It is my belief. So mote it be.

Since coming into Wicca six years ago, I have found it to be the right path for me. It is a journey I did not know I would be taking until 2014 in Glastonbury. I have spoken to several Wiccans since then. I believe it is a kind of pilgrimage.

I know I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go. Who knows where it will take me? I will probably remain a solitary Wiccan as I do tend to have a lot of reclusive traits. But that’s okay. We should all do what we find most comfortable for us.

I cover as much as I can in this book. I will continue doing my research as I progress deeper into my findings. I would really like to visit the Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle in Cornwall. I will go on my bucket list. My goal is to broaden knowledge about modern pagan witchcraft.

CHAPTER 1

FESTIVALS

I would say that I am a solitary Wiccan. I don’t belong to a coven; my practice is solitary. I think it’s okay to do either, whatever feels right for you. I would not rule out joining a coven in the future, maybe as I get older. But at the moment, I will carry on as I am.

I try to go to as many pagan festivals in Glastonbury as I can, starting on the first day of February with Imbolc or Candlemas or first stirrings; you can call it any of these. It is a time of new beginnings, coming up to the newborn lambs and the snowdrops starting to show. It is one of my favourite times of the year. The nights are getting out, and springtime is just around the corner. We will worship the Irish saint and goddess St Brigid, or Bridie, whose emblem is the St Brigid or the Bridie cross. I celebrate this day by going to the White Spring in Glastonbury followed by a meditation at the lovely Chalice Well at midday.

Imbolc is also a fire festival. The other three fire festivals in the eight sabbats are Beltane, Lamas, and Samhain.

Spring equinox comes after Imbolc, then Beltane, another fire festival in May. Beltane is one of the biggest festivals in the pagan calendar. It usually runs over two days. The famous maypole we dance around is made of hawthorn. This is a fairy tree, and you always ask permission of the good fairy folk before you cut one down or take a branch. You leave a gift at the foot of the tree, such as cider, as an offering to the good fairy folk. Then they will love you forever.

According to superstitious folklore, it is bad luck to cut down a fairy tree or even take a branch, so always ask permission first and leave a gift.

Summer solstice in June is a very important symbolic time of year. In folklore and mythology, the Holly King and the Oak King do battle for supremacy in the months ahead. It is probably a fertility rite. They battle it out twice a year. They are known as two brothers.

At the summer solstice, the Holly King wins the mighty mythological battle, while at the winter solstice, or yule, the Oak King wins. I will cover more on the winter solstice later in my book.

Next comes another fire festival, Lammas. The seasons are changing, and the nights are getting in. It will soon be harvest time.

Autumn equinox follows. The leaves are turning brown and falling. The nights grow darker, and it’s getting a lot colder. Blessed be.

The next fire festival is Samhain, or Halloween.