A History of Witchcraft

Understand where witchcraft truly comes from — beyond myth, misinformation, and modern fantasy.

Witchcraft did not suddenly appear in the modern era. It emerged gradually, shaped by culture, religion, fear, folklore, and human relationship with the unseen. This course offers a clear, grounded exploration of how witchcraft has been understood, practiced, persecuted, reclaimed, and reimagined across history — and why that history matters for practitioners today.

🎟️ Course Access: £12.00

Fully online • Lifetime access • Tutor support included 

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

• Those new to witchcraft who want a solid, informed foundation

• Practitioners seeking historical clarity beyond modern assumptions

• Students exploring the Craft academically, spiritually, or both

• Anyone wishing to practise with greater awareness, context, and integrity
  
  

No prior knowledge is required, and the course remains valuable for both beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

Course Overview

Witchcraft, in one form or another, has existed since humans first sought relationship with spirits, land, and unseen forces. From prehistoric ritual acts and folk sorcery to the rise of Christian demonology, the witch trials, and the eventual birth of modern witchcraft movements, the meaning of “witch” has never been static.

This course traces the historical development of witchcraft beliefs and practices from earliest roots to the present day. Rather than promoting a single narrative, it invites students to examine how cultural, religious, political, and social forces shaped what witchcraft was believed to be — and how those beliefs still influence contemporary practice.

Understanding this history allows modern practitioners to step out of inherited myths and into informed, conscious relationship with the Craft.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will:

• Understand the original meanings and evolving definitions of witchcraft, witch, wicca, and related terms

• Recognise how beliefs about witchcraft changed across historical periods

• Explore key stages in the development of witchcraft practice and perception

• Identify influential figures and movements that shaped modern witchcraft

• Develop historical awareness that supports ethical, grounded practice today

Course Structure & Modules

The course unfolds chronologically, guiding you through the major eras that shaped witchcraft as we understand it today:

Course Modules

1. The Roots of Witchcraft

2. The Celtic Influence

3. Witchcraft & the Early Christian Period

4. The Early Modern Era

5. The Burning Times

6. The Modern Period

7. The Romantic Age

8. Gerald Gardner — The Father of Modern Witchcraft

9. The Birth of Wicca

10. Growth & Development

11. Nature-Based Spirituality

12. Witchcraft Today
    
    

Each lesson builds upon the last, creating a coherent historical narrative rather than isolated fragments.

Course Tutor

Elder High Priestess Wort Moon
Academy Principal & Founder

Wort Moon brings decades of lived practice, teaching experience, and scholarly engagement to this foundational course, offering historical insight grounded in both study and tradition.

Practical Details

• 🎯 Level: Beginners and beyond

• 🔑 Prerequisites: None

• 🌐 Delivery: Fully online via Canvas

• ✍️ Assessment: Short multiple-choice knowledge checks per module

• ⏳ Coursework Load: Light
  (Approximately 1–2 hours of quizzes and integration, plus reading and reflection time)

• 🏠 House & Credits: Domus Magicae - 0.5