Witches are among us, and far more of them than you think. Today, when people talk about "witches" in this country, they are often talking about members of the "Pagan" movement, a group of perhaps as many as 1 million Americans whose practices draw from a combination of pre-Christian European religions, Western occult and Masonic societies, and forms of witchcraft. I spent much of the last five years immersed in the American Pagan community — first at arm's length, as a journalist; then as someone personally curious about the rituals I'd observed; and finally, for a couple of years, as an active student and participant. The result is Witches of America, both a snapshot of present-day witchcraft across the United States and a memoir of my own searching and questioning. Now that we're in the thick of Halloween season, here are some facts about witches that may surprise you.