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On Witchcraft: Being the Wonders of the Invisible World 1692 — Witchcraft Wicca

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On Witchcraft: Being the Wonders of the Invisible World 1692

Name: On Witchcraft: Being the Wonders of the Invisible World 1692
Price: 27.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781497970403

✍️ Mather, Cotton

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$27.95 ~~$42.00~~ Save $14.05 (33%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 174-page reprint of Cotton Mather's 1692 account of colonial witchcraft events.

This volume provides direct access to Cotton Mather's observations on the invisible world during the late seventeenth century. The text focuses on the specific historical period of colonial America, particularly the years leading up to and including 1692. It addresses themes of mind, body, spirit, and magick studies as understood by the author. The work is categorized under occultism and general literary collections. It offers no commentary from modern scholars but presents the original narrative. The physical book contains 174 pages. It weighs 0.24 kilograms. The dimensions are 0.94 cm by 22.91 cm by 15.19 cm. This edition is published by Literary Licensing, LLC. It targets readers interested in the history of witchcraft and wicca within the United States colonial period. It does not provide contemporary spiritual advice or modern magical theory.

Key Themes

colonial witchcraft invisible world magick studies

Literary Context

This text originates from the United States colonial period between 1600 and 1775. It reflects the spiritual and social climate of the late seventeenth century, specifically focusing on the year 1692. The work documents the intersection of religious belief and perceived supernatural events during that era.

Mather, Cotton

📚 all books by this author (3) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Historical accounts of the Salem witch trials · Colonial American theological treatises · Studies on early modern European witchcraft hysteria

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Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Literary Licensing, LLC 📅 2014 📖 174 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781497970403

Fun Fact

This unvarnished reprint of Mather's 1692 treatise is essential for scholars and serious students of American colonial history and religious thought. While it offers unparalleled insight into the Puritan mindset during the Salem witch trials, readers seeking a balanced or sympathetic view of the accused will find it frustratingly biased. It stands as a chilling testament to the power of fear and dogma, a crucial, if uncomfortable, piece in American spiritual history.

📝 Description: On Witchcraft: Being the Wonders of the Invisible World 1692

Cotton Mather’s On Witchcraft presents a historical account of the events in the invisible world during the year 1692. This paperback edition, published by Literary Licensing, LLC, offers readers access to the original text without alteration. The work falls under the subjects of mind, body, spirit, and magick studies, providing a window into colonial American history between 1600 and 1775. Mather qualifies as an author who documented these specific mystical occurrences during that turbulent period. The book covers traditions related to witchcraft and wicca within the context of United States colonial life. It draws on sources from the late seventeenth century to explain the wonders observed at that time. The physical volume contains 174 pages, bound in a format measuring approximately 0.94 centimeters in height, 22.91 centimeters in length, and 15.19 centimeters in width. It weighs 0.24 kilograms. This edition is suitable for those interested in occultism and general literary collections from the colonial era. It may not suit readers seeking modern interpretations of witchcraft or contemporary spiritual practices. The text remains a primary source for understanding the mindset of the time. It does not offer new theories but records existing beliefs. The ISBN 9781497970403 identifies this specific release. Readers looking for academic analysis might find this volume too direct. Those seeking raw historical documentation of colonial spiritual fears will find it useful. The book stands as a record of the past rather than a guide for the present.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

While this faithful reproduction provides an invaluable primary source for understanding the ideological drivers behind the Salem witch trials, it is not for casual readers seeking entertainment or modern spiritual practice. The text’s dense theological justifications and historical context may alienate those uninterested in colonial religious history or uncomfortable with its supportive role in persecution. It is a rigorous academic resource rather than a readable narrative. Those looking for contemporary Wiccan guidance or sympathetic portrayals of accused witches will find this work cold, controversial, and potentially distressing due to its endorsement of the very fears it documents.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This volume is essential for those seeking to understand the dark side of societal fabric in early America. Readers interested in the intersection of theology, law, and mass hysteria will find profound value in Mather’s meticulous cataloging of accusations and justifications. It offers a direct window into the fervent anxieties that gripped colonial society, making it indispensable for scholars of religious history and those exploring the tragic judicial errors of the past. By examining these chilling arguments, one gains insight into how intellectual frameworks can fuel persecution, providing a critical perspective on fear-based societal structures.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you are fascinated by the darker currents of history, the origins of American religious fervor, or the legacy of the Salem witch trials, this book is indispensable. It offers a raw, unfiltered look, challenging readers to confront the roots of mass hysteria and persecution.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

While this faithful reproduction provides an invaluable primary source for understanding the ideological drivers behind the Salem witch trials, it is not for casual readers seeking entertainment or modern spiritual practice. The text’s dense theological justifications and historical context may alienate those uninterested in colonial religious history or uncomfortable with its supportive role in persecution. It is a rigorous academic resource rather than a readable narrative. Those looking for contemporary Wiccan guidance or sympathetic portrayals of accused witches will find this work cold, controversial, and potentially distressing due to its endorsement of the very fears it documents.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this is a faithful reprint of Cotton Mather's original 1692 text. It presents an authentic, historical perspective on witchcraft as understood and feared in Puritan New England, not a contemporary or neo-pagan view.

Absolutely not. Mather's work is a polemic against witchcraft, detailing what he believed to be its dangers and how to combat it from a strict Puritanical standpoint. It is a text of condemnation, not promotion.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Witchcraft in Colonial America

Explore the deeply ingrained Puritanical interpretations of spiritual warfare and diabolical influence that permeated early American society. Mather’s work illuminates how these beliefs shaped public perception, legal proceedings, and the collective fear of the unseen, providing insight into the cultural anxieties of the period.

Theological Justifications for Persecution

This text dissects the intricate theological arguments Mather employed to validate the existence of witchcraft and the necessity of its eradication. It reveals how scripture and contemporary religious doctrines were manipulated to support the accusations and subsequent trials, offering a stark look at religious authority's power.

Primary Historical Account

As a direct reprint of the 1692 original, this book serves as an unparalleled primary source for understanding the Salem witch trials. It provides unvarnished insight into the mindset of a key figure who influenced the tragic events, making it indispensable for historians and scholars of American colonial history.

📜 Historical context

Published amidst the Salem witch hysteria, Mather's work is deeply rooted in Puritan theology and the pervasive belief in direct satanic intervention. It stands as a significant document within the tradition of demonological treatises, influencing public opinion and judicial actions when supernatural beliefs held immense sway over colonial life.

📚 Glossary

Puritanism
Demonology
Spectral Evidence

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do Mather's arguments reflect the societal anxieties and religious doctrines of his time, and what parallels, if any, can be drawn to modern forms of mass hysteria or persecution?
Considering the historical context, how might Mather's work have been perceived by different segments of colonial society (e.g., accusers, accused, authorities, common folk)?
In what ways does this primary source challenge or confirm your understanding of the Salem witch trials and the broader history of witchcraft beliefs?