Any info on Italian Witchcraft (Stregheria)?

[Lucius]

I follow an Egyptian Tradition (specifically Isian) but recently I've had this interest in learning what Italian Witchcraft is all about. I just want to learn about it and what-not, I'm not like looking to "convert" or anything like that. I've not read any books or anything on the subject. The only thing I've looked at is the following site. Anyone with good info or learning material? It'd be greatly appreciated. THANKS IN ADVANCE~!

http://www.stregheria.com/index.htm

<3 Lucius <3

[Calzaer]

Raven Grimassi wrote a very good book on the subject called (oddly enough) "Italian Witchcraft". I recommend it.

[Lucius]

thanks. :)

[Calyx]

I would HIGHLY recommend sending a PM to Tyrrhenus. He's very knowledgeable about this topic..... :)

[Faeawyn]

I see you've already found www.streghia.com....Here is some other information as well:
Stregheria~

In the fourteenth-century, a Wise Woman who called herself Aradia brought back a revival of the Old Religion, La Vecchia Religione. In central Italy, witches of old worshipped the goddess Diana and her consort, the god Dianus. In Italy, Witches do not use the word Sabbat for their seasonal rites. The Italian word is Trequenda (tray-gwen-da). There are eight Treguendas that make the "Wheel of the Year". They are...

*Shadowfest-October 31st
*Winter Solstice-December 21st/22nd
*Lupercus-February 2nd
*Spring Equinox-March 21st/22nd
*Tana's Day-May 1st
*Summer Solstice-June 21st/22nd
*Cornucopia-August Eve
*Autumn Equinox-September 21st/22nd

The Gifts of Aradia and Tenets of Belief

In the fourteenth century, Aradia taught that the traditional powers of a witch would belong to any who followed in the ways of the Old Religion. Aradia called these powers gifts, because she stressed the point that these powers were benefits of adhering to the Old Ways, and not the reason for becoming a witch. These are the powers:

~To bring succes in love
~To bless and consecrate
~To speak with spirits
~To know of hidden things
~To call forth spirits
~To know the Voice of the Wind
~To possess the knowledge of transformation
~To possess the knowledge of divination
~To know and understand secret signs
~To cure disease
~To bring forth beauty
~To have influence over wild beasts
~To know the secrets of the hands

~~Tenets of Belief~~
~We believe that the Source of All Things(The Great Spirit) is both masculine and feminine in nature.

~We believe that humans bear the Divine Spark of their Creator within themselves(soul/spirit). And that we are actually spiritualBeings who are temporarily encased in physical matter.

~We believe in Reincarnation and view it as a process for Spiritual Liberation from the physical dimension.

~We believe in psychic abilities and the supernatural as normal conditions which have been suppressed by the Judaic/Christian Culture, but can be restored through the practice of the Old Ways.

~We believe in Magic as a manifestation of energy that is directed by the mind through various ancient techniques.

~We believe in Spiritual Worlds and Spiritual Beings.

~We believe in the Law of Action and Reaction, and that what we do affects others, and what others do affects us. Therefore we strive to live in peace with those around us.

~We believe in Karma, meaning that we believe in responsibility and consequences.

~We believe in love, life and harmony as the spiritual foundation of our ways.

~We believe in the expression of religious beliefs through rituals and festivals.

~We believe in Earth Energy, meaning that we acknowledge places of natural power existing upon our planet. We hold that the same is true for natural objects.

~We believe in a positive Afterlife and a successful Spiritual Evolution.

~We believe that everything in Nature is of equal importance. Everything is linked and entwined beyond seperation.


I hope this has helped you gain some insight on Stregheria. Mot of my information came from "Ways of the Strega" by Raven Grimassi. It is an excellent book and I recommend it to any who wish to learn more about this beautiful religion! Bright Blessings!

[kewlhippiechick]

Being half Italian, I am also interested in the Italian traditions...however, I went searching for the book recommended, 'The Ways of the Strega' on Half.com and Barnes and Noble and the cheapest price is $30.00!!!! The list price is $20.00, so if anyone finds it for less, let me know. I'll keep searching Lucius...I'm looking for you as well.

[Faeawyn]

Until I read up on Strega...I didn't know much about either. But I find their beliefs very similar to my own. I'm going to have to do a bit more research myself now :)
I did find this book on Italian Witchcraft on Ebay for $10.95. auction ends in 8 hours :)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2991302130&category=19271

[TYRRHENUS]

Hey Lucius.
Here's what I think:

1) Forget about the word "stregheria." Stregheria is actually an antiquated word of the Toscano dialect and hasn't appeared in common usage for a very long time.
From my studies it seems Charles Leland was trying to do the same thing for the word "stregheria" that Gerald Gardner successfully did for the word "Wicca."
So look for the word stregoneria.

2) Read this article (http://www.lastregoneria.com/archives/LaStregoneria_040101035758.htm) by Sabrina Magliocco. It took me 40 minutes to read it, but it was worth every second.

3) Forget everything you've read from Raven Grimassi & Leo Martello. A friend has aptly called their system "half-baked Wicca in marinara sauce." The point is their reconstructions have nothing to do with stregoneria.

Here's some resources for you:

ENGLISH
Italian-American Folklore, by Frances M. Malpezzi and William M. Clements
Folklore and Medicine in an Italian Village, by Leonard W. Moss & Stephen C. Cappannari (Journal of American Folklore (73))
The Night Battles, by Carlo Ginzburg (Keep in mind this is a belief in witchcraft, NOT documentation of actual practises.)
The Two Madonnas, by Sabrina Magliocco
First stregoneria forum site in English (http://www.lastregoneria.com/)
UCLA Folk Medicine Database (http://www.folkmed.ucla.edu/advanced.html) (Advanced Search). Under Informant Ethnicity type "Italian."
A rant some have found helpful (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=36060)
Rue's Kitchen (http://rueskitchen.spiritualitea.net/about_me.htm) is also worthy.

ITALIAN
I guaritori di campagna. Tra magia e medicina, by Paola Giovetti
Formule di guarigione in uso in Valle d'Aosta, by Fiorenza Cout
Adiantum La Strega Contadina, by Maria Teresa Zanetti Berni
Mai dire masche. Il mistero delle streghe. Racconti e storie tra immaginario e mito, by Donato Bosca
Le maschere italiane, by Nicola Fano
Leggende e racconti popolari della Lombardia, by Lidia Beduschi
Leggende e racconti popolari di Napoli, by Angela Matassa
Leggende e tradizioni di Sardegna, by Gino Bottiglioni
il Sussurro delle Streghe (http://www.stregoneria.cc/)
Luce di Strega (http://www.lucedistrega.net/)

[rain_fallen_tears]

Aradia: Gosspel of Witches
full of italian craft lore and chants...highly recommended. just came out in print again, so finding a copy shouldn't be to difficult....blessed be.:)

[Lucius]

Hey Lucius.
Here's what I think:
.............................................

Thanks a lot. I also thought that the things I read (specifically from Raven Grimassi) sounded a little too Wiccanish. Like I said...I'm not trying to convert or anything but just mostly trying to learn about it. It is intriguing to me. I stated that I am of an Egyptian Trad but I'm sure you noticed my name (Lucius) as it is the same as your Roman name. I got my name from Lucius Apuleius b/c of his devotion to Isis (etc) but I've lately felt that I should also research and understand his original culture, despite Isis' loving embrace and all-encompassing energy. Seeing as he himself was Roman and my past experience in childhood dealt with the Greek deities, I feel I could maybe get a better understanding of things. Anyway, it's really early in the morning and I feel like this doesn't make sense and I'm ranting...so I will stop here for now. lol. Once again, thank you bunches~!

[Mau]

If you are interested in Stregoneria, don't fill your head with the fabricated ramblings of RAven Grimmasi. It will only make you knowledgeable in bullshit. Follow Tyrrhenus' lead..he'll point you in the right direction.

[argento_occhi]

i agree, though i have italian witchcraft by grimassi, more because i bought it on impulse. i'm not a folower of italian witchraft of any kind. i'm egyptian trad, like lucius. i bought it becuase i am an author and one of my characters just happenes to be strega, so i googled a bit and searched out stuff. grimassi's is definitely too wicca-ish, though he does mention in the book that the rituals represent modern american-italian rites and not those from italy. i'm rambling again. hope that makes sense. maybe i could use grimassi for firewood...?

bright blessings,
argento_occhi

p.s. lucius, i'll be able to show you some pics of my altar and shine box in a couple of days. i'll let you know when, assuming the photos get picked up tomorrow.

[Lucius]

p.s. lucius, i'll be able to show you some pics of my altar and shine box in a couple of days. i'll let you know when, assuming the photos get picked up tomorrow.
Awesome, Yeah...sounds good. I can't wait. *gets excited* Thanks to everyone. I think I gave everyone here Karma. :huddle:

[Mau]

Sorry if I seemed bitter and rude in my initial post :lol:
But when I first ventured toward outright paganism, I was very happy to come across Italian witchcraft info and sites. My great gramma was from Italy and very witchy ;) I was very ready to follow my family's path..but was really disappointed and confused with the crap I read that stems from Grimassi. None of it added up or made sense to me. T Pm'd me and helped a lot. Now, I jsut do what comes naturally to me, an being Italian..settle for that as enough to be a 'strega' LOL