In the early modern period and contemporary time, the perception of
witchcraft has changed signifi cantly. A witch became a full member of
society. In modern history, the occult teachings began to exert a great
influence on the formation of a witch’s image: astrology, alchemy,
spiritualism and various fortune-telling. From that moment on, everyone
could join witchcraft. Spiritual enlightenment was considered accessible
to any person. A new milestone for the development of a witch’s image
was the interest in Romanticism. Magic and witchcraft became a source
of inspiration for artists. Francisco de Goya (“Witches`s Sabbath”
between 1819 and 1823, “Witches in the Air”, 1798). Then witchcraft
was rethought as a way of self-development. Recently, a special form of
witchcraft has been increasingly spreading in the West, claiming the role
of a religion. New witchcraft communities are forever appearing. It is
worth noting the change of the role of a coven.
Keywords: witch, ceremonial (ritual) magic, magic, witchcraft, alchemy, astrology,
esotericism, Wicca.
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