Along with various other documented elements of regional magic traditions, the cimaruta is (alleged to be) in borrowed use amongst self-identified
Italian-American witches. Some practitioners of the neopagan "religion of witchcraft"
Stregoneria (or "Streghe") may consider it a remnant of a more ancient Italian magic tradition, such as that detailed by
Charles Leland in his 1899 text
Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches (which—apart from directly influencing the development of Stregheria—claimed the existence of an insular
pagan witch-cult active in Italy). Some modern versions of the cimaruta are
cast in
bronze or
pewter. Author
Raven Grimassi in his book
The Cimaruta: And Other Magical Charms From Old Italy (2012) discusses the charm as a sign of membership in the "Society of Diana" which he refers to as an organization of witches. Grimassi argues that the Cimaruta was originally a witchcraft charm used by witches that was later arrogated by Italian Folk Magic, and that Christian symbols were then added to the original Pagan symbols. == See also ==