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  • Waking the Witch

  • Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power
  • By: Pam Grossman
  • Narrated by: Pam Grossman
  • Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (72 ratings)
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Waking the Witch cover art

Waking the Witch

By: Pam Grossman
Narrated by: Pam Grossman
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Summary

From the podcast host of The Witch Wave and practicing witch Pam Grossman - who Vulture has dubbed the “Terry Gross of witches” - comes an exploration of the world’s fascination with witches, why they have intrigued us for centuries and why they’re more relevant now than ever.

When you think of a witch, what do you picture? Pointy black hat, maybe a broomstick. But witches in various guises have been with us for millennia. In Waking the Witch, Pam Grossman explores the impact of the world’s most magical icon. From the idea of the femme fatale in league with the devil to the bewitching pop culture archetypes in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Harry Potter; from the spooky ladies in fairy tales to the rise of contemporary witchcraft, witches reflect the power and potential of women. Part cultural analysis, part memoir, Waking the Witch traces the author’s own journey on the path to witchcraft and how this has helped her find self-empowerment and purpose. It celebrates witches past, present, and future and reveals the critical role they have played - and will continue to play - in the world as we know it.

“Deftly illuminating the past while beckoning us towards the future, Waking the Witch has all the makings of a feminist classic. Wise, relatable, and real, Pam Grossman is the witch we need for our times.” (Ami McKay, author of The Witches of New York)

©2019 Pam Grossman (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Set to soar the heights

A totemic book. Waking the Witch is rich in wisdom, erudition and compassion - and boldly visionary. It combines the personal with the general in conveying the myriad manifestations of the witch in history and culture, tracking her shape-shifting transformations in places both recognised and unexpected.

As the book's journey reaches its conclusion, it dawns on your that Grossman has perhaps crafted her most powerful spell of all in its writing: the setting out of a path - one that can be personal, private, public, radically political, and creative in ways ordinary and divine - for the harnessing of female power for the greater good of humankind.

In its thoughtful and nuanced inclusiveness, here we find a truly egalitarian space, transcending hierarchy and gender, in its honouring of womankind - a sisterhood whose magic has been thwarted, warped, denounced and demonized; whose scars may more often be hidden in a fug of shame, but whose seat of power can not be obliterated despite the best attempts of patriarchy.

This spell-binding account speaks to this moment in time and its message is clear: We have always been here, even when we have been silenced and oppressed. Denial, brutality and pain have made us stronger, have honed our wisdom and determination. We walk among you, your mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, friends, lovers, colleagues. And this is our time to magic-make, trouble-make and rise up in power as never before.

Thank you Pam Grossman for articulating so beautifully and with such lightness - and sureness - of touch the story of the woman's secret heart, her most guarded treasure, and for resurrecting its honoured place in divinity. Solstice blessings to you and yours.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best. Book. Ever.

Pam Grossman draws bridges between so many fragments that I’ve thought about and links them all into one complete bundle. Mind blowing. I was always curious about witchcraft, but had my reservations, but Pan Grossman has opened me up to the fact that the rationally inclined can indeed invite magick into their lives. This book is also an empowering read for me as a woman.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant!

Full of history, well researched, thorough, succinct. Definitely listen if you have an interest in witchcraft!!

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2 people found this helpful

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  • TH
  • 21-01-20

Really enjoyable book

I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as i did. Really informative and well read. Keeps the listener engaged at all times. Such an interesting take on our Witchly emergence and its effect on history and society. Highly recommend.

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2 people found this helpful

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Empowering for the feminist, the activist and the witch

The combination of Pams own personal story with reflections on history, pop culture and art makes this book a treasure trove of information and empowerment. She touches on politics, feminist struggles, lgbtqia issues, colour discrimination, cultural appropriation all tactfully and with insight.

I enjoyed the book alot. As a mother of weirdly wonderful teenage girls who have entered a world of witch craft that i didn’t have any previous understanding of, i feel a sense of calm about their new world. Pams understanding of the struggles of teenage girls in a world which treats them with disparity really touched my heart.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not informative. Pop culture witches.

I feel like I learnt nothing from this book.
Skipped through a lot of chat about tv show and movie witches. Expected more from this book judging from the previous reviews. Shame.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely fantastic

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Gave me such a cultural overview. As an artist and a witch myself I smiled, laughed and cried so much during the reading, like the author was telling my own story at times.

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possibly the best book ever?

this is THE go to book for learning all about western witchcraft and witches taking into account history, iconography, mythology, popular culture, sociology, politics, philosophy and even ethics. this is not just a book for people interested in he practice but for all people who want as much accurately researched data as possible on the subject. having the writer read it to you is a real treat as she is also a podcaster and really knows how to keep you interested.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant historical, sociological and cultural

This is a brilliant historical, sociological, personal and cultural look at the Witch. Fascinating, interesting and entertaining in equal measure.

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brilliant

i really enjoyed this book and read buy the author was brilliant and informative

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