There's that hugely popular new cute and cuddly Sandra Bullock witch movie "Practical Magic," the not quite so popular (or cuddly) Oprah Winfrey witchcraft and slavery movie "Beloved," the television shows "Sabrina" and "Charmed," and the video movie "The Craft."

Certainly it's hard not to believe in witches. When you consider last week's big Democratic election triumph in light of all the trouble Bill Clinton was in at the beginning of the year, you can't help but wonder if he didn't wander into the woods for a Shakespearean chat with three eccentrically dressed ladies whipping up a cauldron recipe for eye of newt and wing of bat.

[Phyllis] Curott has just now written a book about her conversion to witchcraft--"Book of Shadows: A Modern Woman's Journey into the Wisdom of Witchcraft and the Magic of the Goddess"--and has her own Web site, www.bookofshadows.net (you might also try www.witchery.com, where they list such activities as "Pagan Video Night").