Free Republic

A 71-year-old became Britain's first official witch after she was given unique permission to declare the job on her tax forms, including claiming spells and potions on expenses. Cassandra Latham-Jones, 71, was allowed to register as a self-employed 'village witch', using the term when she files tax returns with the inland revenue. It means she can also write off certain expenses as tax deductible, including ingredients for potions.

Kooky, Sexy, Cool – The Rise Of The New Witches [Pics in URL] Forget Kabbalah – paganism is the hot new religion, and thousands of young British women are embracing it By Eimear O'Hagan, 06/09/2009 Witches, covens, dancing around bonfires by the light of the moon and making offerings to goddesses - all the stuff of folklore and fairy tale, right? Wrong. Welcome to the world of paganism. Walk into any high-street bookshop and, alongside the usual chick-lit best-sellers, there's another set of books flying off the shelves, all about how to find your inner witch. Yes, really. Hot on...

“Your son and daughter might be the next Hansel and Gretel,” should have been the warning label on the Guide to Paganism supplied to British prison governors by the Pagan Federation. Michael Spurr, director of operations of the Prison Service, approved the new norms, which allow pagan British inmates possession of incenses and an amulet, the services of pagan “chaplains,” and the practice of rites and chants in their cells, London’s Times reported on October 17th of last year.  Pretence of Antiquity Witchcraft and paganism have been growing worldwide, especially the practice of Wicca, for which courses one can now...