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The Hazel Tree in Irish Magic, Witchcraft and Folklore
The hazel tree was held in high and mystical regard by the ancient Irish people. In Irish mythology the hazel tree was said to bestow...
Walking Ceremonies, Processional Paths, and The Hidden History of Witchwalking
The history of Witchwalking is as old as movement itself. Like many other examples of occult knowledge, it is a legacy that often...
Moon-Bathing Folklore
As well as a full moon, tonight and tomorrow morning will bring a lunar eclipse. I won’t go into the science of this as there are already...
Spring Equinox & The Fairy Hunt
"And beyond them, almost hidden by the moon shadows, were the Lords of the Ever-Living Ones: the antlered helmets of the Wild Hunt, the...
Witch Bottles and Irish Folk-Magic Protection
I recently read Andrew Michael Hurley's novel, The Loney, which is a tale of folk-magic and superstition, as well as a dark coming of...
An insightful description of the Leprechaun
The Leprechauns are merry, industrious, tricksy little sprites, who do all the shoemaker’s work and the tailor’s and the cobblers for the...
Tale of a Scottish Brownie
There was a Brownie who lived and worked in the house of Maxwell, Laird of Dalswinton. This Brownie was particularly close to the...
Irish Folklore and Traditions of the New Year
Wandering fairies, returning ancestor spirits, and talking animals comprise some of the folklore and old superstitions associated with...
Ancient Irish Star Lore: The Pleiades, Fairies and the Ancestral Dead
When it comes to ancient Ireland, star lore is conspicuous by its absence. There are some theories that the Celtic stories of Gods,...
Mirror Folklore at Samhain: Reflections of The Otherworld
Although the following custom is considered romantic, I must admit that I've always found it slightly eerie and disturbing. There are a...
Fairies: Navigators or Passengers of the Dream?
Writing in Fairies, Demons, and Nature Spirits: 'Small Gods' at the Margins of Christendom, Professor Lisa Bitel draws attention to the...
The Land of Fairies and Giants
There are many places in Ireland said to be the domain of giants, as well as ancient monuments believed to have been built by them....
Taboo Folklore in the Irish Record: Sex, Death, and Dark Magic
Recently, I read posts from two different people arguing for opposing views of how Irish folklore should be treated. The first person was...
Warding Against Evil and Irish Folk-Magic Protection
Andrew Michael Hurley's novel, The Loney, is a tale of folk-magic and superstition, as well as a dark coming of age story. One of the...
A Glimpse Into the Lives of Ireland's Most Notorious Witches
Alice Kyteler First up is Dame Alice Kyteler, who owned the Kyteler Inn, in Kilkenny, where she would lure local businessmen with her...