University of Colorado Boulder

Taking its name from the lost ‘black book’ of a famed Cambridgeshire witch

and other parts of northern Europe

There are four for Saturn alone

and much more

Witches and Pagans: Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1100 spirit University of Colorado BoulderIn this compelling exploration of language, archaeology, and early medieval literature, Max Dashu illuminates hidden cultural heritages. She shows that the old ethnic names for "witch" signify 'wisewoman, ' 'prophetess, ' 'diviner, ' 'chanter, ' 'herbalist, ' and 'healer.' She fleshes out the oracular ceremonies of the Norse vlur ("staff women"), their incantations and "sitting out" on the land seeking vision. Archaeological finds of their ritual