The first sentence of alex mars new book witches of america is the very cryptic, witches are gathering. This is a book about the authors experiences, perspectives and opinions, peppered throughout with random and sometimes questionable history. In this literary companion to the 2010 documentary american mystic, which she directed, former rolling stone editor mar dynamically illustrates her adventures journeying across america in search of witches, mystics, and polytheistic pagans. Witches of america is a pastiche of history and biography, cultural anthropology and comparative theology. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Witches of america, by alex mar the new york times.
She explores modern paganismfrom its roots in 1950s england to its presentday american mecca in the san francisco bay area. Its unclear exactly when witches came on the historical scene, but one of the earliest records of a witch is in the bible in the book of 1 samuel, thought be written between 931 b. Oxford american mars book takes something seemingly sinisterin this case, the occultand renders it accessible. Oct 21, 2015 enlightenment proves elusive in witches of america alex mars halfmemoir, halfcultural study of american occultism mixes research with her own search for meaning. Diana bishop, historian and witch, accesses ashmole 782 and knows she must solve its mysteries. I would never have described myself as someone interested in witchcraft alex mars book left me feeling the fault had been mine. Mar extensively interviews, observes, lives among and even befriends men and women who practice paganismthe umbrella and naturefocused religion.
Dont bother if you want to learn about witches in america this isnt a book about witches in america. Witches of america is propelled by mars layered details and her rare and instinctive curiosity as well as her quiet graciousness toward her subjects. Mar is a new york writer and documentary filmmaker whose work has focused on contemporary religious themes. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Through these witches, priests and necromancers, alex mar surveys the history and modern practice of various forms of witchcraft in america, while investigating her own longing to be disturbed, shaken into believing. Documentarian alex mar walks this tricky line in witches of america. In light of the continuing media coverage of journalist alex mars book, witches of america, and the wild hunts editorinchief heather greenes inquiry into our communitys reaction to it, the coru cathubodua priesthood has issued the following statement. Its unclear exactly when witches came on the historical scene, but one of the earliest records of a witch is in the bible in the book of 1 samuel, thought be. Witches of america follows mar on her trip into paganism and the occult, from its roots in 1950s england to its current american mecca in the bay area. Documentarian alex mar walks this tricky line in witches of america, a quasimemoir that blends her research into the history of witchcraft and the occult in america with a personal search for. A few years later, i read historian stacy schiffs book on the salem witch trials and was reminded that one of the central characters was my ancestor samuel sewall.
When most people hear the word witches, they think of horror films and halloween, but to the nearly one million americans who practice paganism today, witchcraft is a. Witches of america by alex mar goodreads share book. Witchcraft is a broad term that varies culturally and societally, and thus can be difficult to define with precision. Oxford american mars book takes something seemingly sinister. Witches of america by alex mar and amanda dolan overview when most people hear the word witches, they think of horror films and halloween, but to the nearly one million americans who practice paganism today, its a natureworshipping, polytheistic, and very real religion. So alex mar discovers when she sets out to film a documentary and finds herself drawn deep into the world of presentday magic. Witches of america by alex mar about the book when the documentary filmmaker alex mar set out to report on the nearly one million americans who practice paganism today, she found herself drawn into a world that defies stereotype. Oct 27, 2017 harkness is wellschooled in history and academia, and her witch trilogy consisting of a discovery of witches, the shadow of night, and the book of life is similarly rooted in historical notions. Oct 28, 2019 despite its title and, for that matter, much of its content, witches of america, by alex mar, is not primarily a book about witches.
In her book, schiff makes 17thcentury puritan new england come alive what a dark and fearful place. But most of us know very little about the practices of actual witchcraft, and alex mar decided to demystify a bit of this incredibly mystic group of people in her new book, witches of america. A brief history of witches in america mental floss. Mar takes a look at the modern witchcraft movement by digging into the history of the witchcraft and exploring places where magic is practiced and the people who practice it. English witchcraft beliefs were firmly planted in america, and punishment, she argues, was more severe in the colonies than in the old country.
Rowling started dabbling in the american history of. Enlightenment proves elusive in witches of america. Alex marss witches of america is the latest book about american witchcraft from a mainstream press with all the attendant hype, and it not only disappoints it exploits. This is a book smart enough to know you cant be dispassionate about a. She is the director of the documentary american mystic. Theres a reason there are so many books about witches. While working on a documentary about fringe religions, alex mar found herself drawn to paganism and witchcraft, and now shes written a book. Witches of america is a memoir of alex mars immersive fiveyear trip into the occult, as both a. The author provides useful analyses of why the spanish were such ardent witch hunters in america but not in spain while the french took a more lenient approach toward alleged indian witches. Heres what its like to be a real witch in america today.
Witches of america by alex mar book club discussion. She is offered help by the enigmatic matthew clairmont, but hes a vampire and witches should never trust vampires. Witches of america paperback mcnally jackson books. Mars book glimpses only a few sects of witchcraft and by no means presents a total picture of the religion itself.
Alex mar was a privileged white american woman on spiritual quest who encountered neopagan witchcraft, became very involved for a while but ultimately. This led to her controversial first book, witches of america, in which she explores different strains of modernday magic. Poltergeist ghosts exorcisms and the supernatural in early american history and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A book and film that were first intended as a snapshot of the pagan religious movement today became, equally, a memoir of my own spiritual. But food and its connection to dead loved ones does play a starring role in the major pagan.
Witches of america is a seekers memoir told through a quilted veil. Oct 20, 2015 alex mar lives in new york city, her hometown. Witches of america hardcover the elliott bay book company. Oct 28, 2017 a brief history of witches in america. She goes on to explain, they are gathering for the season of death, the days. In the mainstream press, she was said to have produced a thoughtful, deeply researched, compassionate. Witchcraft in early north america journal of american. She is the director of the documentary feature american mystic and the author of witches of america.
Chilling reallife accounts of witches, from medieval europe through colonial america, compiled by the new york times bestselling author of the physick book of deliverance dane and the daughters of temperance hobbs. Witches of america follows mar on her immersive fiveyear trip into the occult, charting modern paganism from its roots in 1950s england to its current american mecca in the san francisco bay area. Praise for witches of america witches of america is brave and sharp and tenaciously researched. When most people hear the word witches, they think of horror films and halloween, but to the nearly one million americans who practice paganism today, witchcraft is a natureworshipping, polytheistic, and very real religion. Alex mar witches of america politics and prose bookstore. Witches of america hardcover changing hands bookstore. Witches of america paperback the elliott bay book company. Witches, druids, goddessworshippers, and other pagans in america today is a sociological study of contemporary paganism in the united states written by the american wiccan and journalist margot adler. She is the healer, the medicine woman, the bruja, the mother, the crafty instagrammer. Franklin, france and the birth of america would be met with excitement from readers, but stacy schiffs the witches performs a remarkable magic of an entirely different kind than the historian and biographers prior work. During the six years of immersion that ensued, i made a documentary about modern witchcraft, and eventually dove even deeper to write a book, witches of america. Wicca religion practitioners don lewis, krystal highcorrell, virgina powell, and students ashleigh powell and cathy smith participate in a wiccan lunar ritual at the witch school in illinois.
Alex mar is a writer based in her hometown of new york city. Oct 24, 2019 there is no perfect way of tracking witches in america, but we do know that wicca the religion that has its roots, at least partially, in 1950s england, with a retired civil servant named. Her book witches of america was admired in the mainstream press but people of the faith she discusses, paganism, savaged it online. So alex mar discovers when she sets out to film a documentary and finds herself drawn deep into the world of. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read witches of america. Through these witches, priests and necromancers, alex mar surveys the history and modern practice of various forms. A cynical native new yorker drawn to fringe communities whose esoteric. J elizabeth mills presents a history of witch lore in america, from the salem witch trials to present day popular culture. When most people hear the word witches, they think of horror films and halloween, but to the nearly one million americans who practice paganism today, its a natureworshipping, polytheistic, and very real religion. A selfavowed skeptic investigates the shadowy world of modern witchcraft. Oct 20, 2015 the first sentence of alex mars new book witches of america is the very cryptic, witches are gathering.
If were going to look at a more modern witch, wed want to turn to alex mar, author of witches of america, last octobers cultural history of modern witchcraft and wicca in america. Any new work from the pulitzerwinning author of cleopatra. Witches in todays enlightened society do not have to hide in a forest to follow most of their ritualistic beliefs. Nov 01, 2015 witches of america is a seekers memoir told through a quilted veil. Its also a nice compendium of obscure arcana mars shrewdly articulated hesitation is precisely what makes her a compelling virgil. Witchcraft or witchery is the practice of magical skills and abilities. Alex mar witches of america saturday, october 31, 2015 3. Yule celebrations, books for winter break, tonights podcast duration. Herbs and their uses encompass most of their practices and spells are usually performed to have a positive influence on. Mar is also the director of the documentary feature film american mystic. Witches of america is a memoir of alex mars immersive fiveyear trip into the occult, as both a journalist and someone searching for her own faith. With matthew goode, teresa palmer, valarie pettiford, malin buska.
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