ABOUT THE BOOK

This book documents the origins, beliefs, rituals and spells of an Italian witchcraft tradition. Based on Italian manuscript, the Vangelo, and Leland's research on Italian folklore and traditions, it describes how the goddess Aradia was born of Goddess Diana, came down to Earth, established witches and witchcraft, taught the practice of witchcraft to peasants in order for them to oppose their feudal oppressors and the Roman Catholic Church, and returned to heaven. It also contains the ceremonies and invocations or incantations to be addressed to Diana and Aradia, the exorcism, of Cain, and the spells of the holy stone, which is to be chanted at witch-meetings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles Godfrey Leland was an American folklorist. He worked as a journalist, travelled extensively, and became interested in folklore and folk linguistics, publishing books and articles on American and European languages and folk traditions. His important books include Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches, Hans Breitmann's Ballads, and The Algonquin Legends of New England.