Resources on Folk Magic, Earth Magic, etc.?

[Aster Breo]

I'm pretty sure this question has come up before, but I'm having a lot of trouble searching using Tapatalk. That, combined with the large number of new posters who have recently joined TC, is encouraging me to go ahead and post this anyway.

I'm looking for good, solid resources on folk magic and its origins, particularly things like charms and other actions/objects/words that might now be considered "superstition", rather than actual spells or rituals. I understand that is a fine and subjective line -- something I might call a "charm" could easily be considered a spell by someone else.

I'm thinking of the simple and fundamental things that get passed down, like pouring out a bit of the first milk to keep certain entities happy, using a rose quartz point to draw love, cleansing a room/building with sage, protecting your home by burying charged objects at the for corners of your property to create a shield, even things like knocking/touching wood to prevent jinxes.

I guess simplicity would be one defining factor in the type of thing I'm interested in. If that makes sense...

And I'm particularly looking for resources that discuss the reasons behind the action and/or the origins of it.

So, any favorite books/sites on folk magic, earth magic, maybe hedge witchcraft, etc.?

Thanks!

~ Aster

[Annie Roonie]

So, any favorite books/sites on folk magic, earth magic, maybe hedge witchcraft, etc.?

Thanks!

~ Aster

Sorry! Most of my resources were people and their cookbooks, sewing and conversation. There is a book I am going to try to find at the library: Mountain Magick.

Monsnoleedra will hopefully come by and have some sites or books for you.

I have mixed feelings about the folk magic I grew up with and have not found any resources that explain it precisely. There are commonalities with granny magick, but there are also commonalities with wicca, and even some eastern thought.

While I may not be able to point you at a book or site, I can, if you like, tap out a bit of what I know of some basics. But that'd be all unverifiable stuff. I won't be hurt if it is not called for. I don't want to waste your time if it isn't the kind of thing your looking for.

[Oaksworn]

So, any favorite books/sites on folk magic, earth magic, maybe hedge witchcraft, etc.?

You may want to look into The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home by Cunningham and Harrington. The book is essentially a number of folk practices, charms and mini-rituals focused on the home. The techniques within are drawn from all over the world. While I recall the authors occasionally mentioning which culture or part of the world a practice was found in I don't recall them going into much detail on how the technique developed.

It's been awhile since I've read the book but I have certain pages bookmarked and have used a few of the techniques. Personally, I like that the techniques are simple and easy. They provide for a wonderful springboard to develop your own practices out of them.

[SatAset]

I guess simplicity would be one defining factor in the type of thing I'm interested in. If that makes sense...

And I'm particularly looking for resources that discuss the reasons behind the action and/or the origins of it.

So, any favorite books/sites on folk magic, earth magic, maybe hedge witchcraft, etc.?

~ Aster

Judilka Illes's book Encylopedia of 5000 Spells is a great resource for the techniques in different areas of folk magic from all around the world. This book does not have an index (This is a pet peeve of mine. For a resource book, I'd like to be able to find something easily, not guess which page number it's on).

[Aster Breo]

Thanks for the book suggestions, everyone! I've found nice, cheap copies on Amazon.



Does anyone have an opinion about Cunningham's _Earth Magic_?

[MadZealot]

Does anyone have an opinion about Cunningham's _Earth Magic_?

I like that one rather well. You'll read through it an about an hour. There are some sample elementary (ahem) spells that are quite easy to do-- mostly with 'found' materials (a leaf, a penny, a pebble....) He did a follow up to Earth Power called Earth, Air, Fire, and Water; pretty much more stuff in the same vein, but also good.
I also add a ditto for Magical Household. Some spells but lots of info on folk traditions which should help spark creativity. He could have done the whole book on folk traditions imho-- hell, a whole encyclopedia even-- that stuff is incredibly fascinating.

[SatAset]

Thanks for the book suggestions, everyone! I've found nice, cheap copies on Amazon.

Does anyone have an opinion about Cunningham's _Earth Magic_?

Just so you know, Judilka Illes's the Element Encyclopeida of 5000 Spells was republished under the title the Element Encyclopedia of 1000 Spells (this is the one I have).

[Tana]

Just so you know, Judilka Illes's the Element Encyclopeida of 5000 Spells was republished under the title the Element Encyclopedia of 1000 Spells (this is the one I have).

Yes, me too. Pretty awesome book btw.

[Aster Breo]

Just so you know, Judilka Illes's the Element Encyclopeida of 5000 Spells was republished under the title the Element Encyclopedia of 1000 Spells (this is the one I have).

What happened to the other 4000 spells?

I looked Illes up on Amazon and see that she has a number of books that sound similar. I understand about the 2 mentioned in the quote above, but does anyone know anything about her other books? Is there a lot of overlap, or are they complementary? Or is it just the same stuff re-packaged over and over?

[earth_dragon]

Thanks for the book suggestions, everyone! I've found nice, cheap copies on Amazon.

Does anyone have an opinion about Cunningham's _Earth Magic_?

I actually just finished this book day before yesterday, and I loved it. Admittedly, it doesn't have as much in-depth information about the cultural influences of spells/charms/etc. as I think you're looking for, but it does have some.

What it does have, in abundance, are spells and techniques and ideas about the everyday things you find in the natural world. And the bibliography is quite useful too. I would definitely recommend it.