Druids and divination, curses and charms: the Celtic world was filled with magic and intrigue, but how did people practise magic and what did they use it for? Brigid Ehrmantraut takes us on a journey through the Celtic-speaking world to explore the different ways people interacted with magic. Some sought aid through deities and dedications, while others wanted to punish their enemies with spells and curse tablets.
By the start of the medieval period, we see magic collide with popular religion, saints overtake the old gods, and witches, shapeshifting and spirit battles make their way into medieval literature. Ehrmantraut introduces us to the gods and practices that shaped the lives of the Celtic people in antiquity. She brings to life forgotten gods like Cernunnos and Esus, immortalized on the Pillar of the Boatmen, and explores the sanctuary of Sequana, goddess of healing at the Seine’s source. But magic wasn’t always benevolent; curses (defixiones) like those etched on the Larzac tablet expose a darker side to magic practitioners. While Classical accounts of magic offer tantalizing glimpses into lurid rituals and wild druids, their accounts blurring fact and fiction.
Our voyage through the Celtic world sweeps into medieval Wales and Ireland, touching on Scotland and Brittany in the process. Protective prayers, such as St Patrick’s loricae, and miraculous tales from saints’ lives reveal the interplay of magic and religion. While the power of star signs and medicinal charms connect Celtic practices to broader medieval traditions. Finally, the book celebrates the legacy of Celtic magic, linking ancient magic to modern Celtic-inspired spirituality.
Throughout the book, the reader will find tips and tricks for practising their own magic, including creating curses, dedicating ex votos to the gods, and a medieval Welsh cure for a hangover.
