#English folk magic

[cunning-frog]

Holed Stones in English Folk Magic

Sources at the end

Stones with naturally occurring holes in them have many uses in magic all over the world. In England they have been used for protection and luck as well as in medicine. Holed stones are known by many different names, In England they have been and are known by numerous names such as Hag stones, Witch stones, Serpents'/Snakes' eggs, Adder stones, and Lucky stones. For the sake of clarity, I will be referring to them as ‘holed stones’.

Luck and Protection

Holed stones are used as amulets for protection against Hags, witches, faeries, and other spirits, when they are used in this way they are referred to as hag or witch stones. People would hang a holed stone above the door of their home or barn, and sometimes passageways within the home. People would also keep a small holed stone in a pocket for luck and protection.

Holed stones have also been known for being lucky, being worn around the neck for luck or tossed over the shoulder after spitting through the stone's hole to grant a wish. It was also said that is a person tied a holed stone to their house keys, those who resided in the home would be prosperous.

In communities where fishing and/or sailing was common the use of holed stones for protection was common, tying them to the bows of boats or inside of smaller rowing boats for protection while at sea. Holed stones were also used to protect against drowning, Christopher Duffin (2011) writes, “The coxswain of the Ramsay lifeboat [during 1929], also a fisherman by trade, always wore a small discoidal [holed] stone around his neck, threaded with copper wire. The amulet, passed down through three generations of fishermen, was credited with preserving the life of the wearer through terrible maritime circumstances.”

Medicine

As these holed stones protected against hags, witches, faeries, and other spirits they would often be used in medicine, as magic was often thought to be the cause of illness.

One of the illnesses holed stones were used to treat is ‘hag-riding’, in the book A Dictionary of English Folklore it is defined as  “a frightening sensation of being held immobile in bed, often by a heavy weight pressing on one’s stomach or chest […] In folklore, it was thought of as a magical attack, though whether by demonic incubus, ghost, harmful fairy, or witch varied according to place and period.” (Simpson & Roud, 2003) Today hag-riding is understood to be sleep paralysis. To treat hag-riding a holed stone would be hung above the bed of the sufferer or, if the sufferer is an animal, placed in a stable.

This belief applied to both humans as well as other animals; hag stones were often used in the treatment of ill livestock. In Lancashire holed stones would be tied to the back of cows to protect them from all forms of harm, “self-holed stones, termed ‘lucky-stones,’ are still suspended over the backs of cows in order that they may be protected from every diabolical influence.” (Harland and Wilkinson 1873).

Sources:

 Thwaite, A.-S. (2020). Magic and the material culture of healing in early modern England [Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository]. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.63593

Jacqueline Simpson & Steve Roud (2003). A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095941856

Vicky, King (2021, November 11). Hag Stones and Lucky Charms. https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/hag-stones-and-lucky-charms/

Pitt Rivers Museum, Accession Number: 1985.51.987.1 https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-239947 (c) Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, Date Accessed: 21 January 2024

Adams, Thomas, fl. 1612-1653., 2013, A commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas Adams, Oxford Text Archive, http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12024/A00665

Christopher J. Duffin (2011) Herbert Toms (1874–1940), Witch Stones, and Porosphaera Beads, Folklore, 122:1, 84-101, DOI: 10.1080/0015587X.2011.537134

Photo source:

Harland, J., & Wilkinson, T. T. (1873). Lancashire Legends: Traditions, Pagents, Sports, & C. With an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract on the Lancashire Witches, & C., &c. G. Routledge. https://archive.org/details/cu31924028040057

File:Hag Stones (8020251781).jpg. (2023, February 2). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 04:11, January 26, 2024 from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hag_Stones_(8020251781).jpg&oldid=729610598.

#folk magic #witch #witchcraft #English folk magic #folklore #folk medicine #hagstone #hag stone #pagan #witchblr #green witch #magika #magic #witches #occult #folk witchcraft #folk witch #cunning folk #image description in alt #charms #traditional magic #traditional witch #traditional witchcraft #i hope this isn't absolute crap #grimoire

[ocean-not-found]

I love you Virgin Mary i love you folk catholicism i love you gnosticism i love you archons i love you cosmology i love you occultism i love you druidry i love you english folk magic.

Muah mwah mwah

#marian devotion #marian worship #goddess religion #great mother #folk catholicism #gnosticism #archons #cosmology #english folk magic #oceannotfound posts

[wortcunningwitch]

made a marigold garland at the request of my mom, and put one of the leftover buds under my pillow 🌼!

marigolds are used in english folk magic for protection against the evil eye. garlands of the flowers strung over the front door also help to deflect curses and negativity. for personal protection, you can carry a flower with you or place it under your pillow.

#my stuff #witchcraft #green witch #green witchcraft #folk magic #english folk magic #british folk magic #folk witch

[victusinveritas]

The Wicker Man, 1973

#the wicker man #1970s #hammer films #christopher lee #britt ekland #edward woodward #movies #english folklore #english folk magic

[that-cunning-witch]

Looking for Witchy Mutuals

Hi!! I really wanna make some witchy friends here on tumblr! Here’s some info about me:

My name’s Emma but you can also call me Zodiac

I’m 20 and I don’t feel comfortable befriending anyone that isn’t an adult, so please, no one under 18

I’m non-binary, so they/them pronouns only please, and I’m bisexual and on the aromantic scale/spectrum

I’m also disabled and mentally ill, having ADHD, social anxiety, and PTSD (I may have autism as well but it’s not an official diagnosis)

I’m a Sag/Libra/Sag and a Water Horse

I’m a folk witch, particularly in English/British folk magic (also called cunning folk magic)

I’m mostly white but I’m part Japanese, so I also am researching Japanese folk magic (I’m more Japanese than Gwen Stefani lmao)

My patron/patroness is Queen Persephone and I’ve been drawn to the Greek pantheon for a long time now, so that’s my main polytheism

However, I’ve also dabbled into the Celtic pantheon (Rhiannon)

I also have a unique connection to angels/archangels so communicating and working with them is also in my practice

I’m interested in working with Kamis but we’ll see where that takes me

I use tarot, herbs, crystals, and candles

Green magic, kitchen magic, folk magic, and astrology are my main magics

I’m currently in animation major in college

If you’re interested in any of these, please feel free to message me and maybe we can be friends!

Decolonizing/de-appropriating your practice and witchcraft in general

Folk magic

Greek pantheon/magic

Angels/archangels

Queer witchcraft

Research into magic/witchcraft

Mixing of herbal/holistic/alternative and modern medicine

However, if any of these apply to you, don’t bother!!

TERF/Radfem

Use the term “pagan” or “wiccan” to describe gods (i.e. “Hecate is a pagan goddess” no she’s not)

Anti-modern medicine (vaccines and modern medicine are a good thing don’t come at me with your abelist shit)

Believer in starseeds or that one thing where you write “magical” numbers on your wrist

A user/believer/practitioner of voodoo/hoodoo, kabbalah, etc. and you’re not of that ethnicity/race (appropriation is not cool my dude)

New Age believer

#witch #witchcraft #witchblr #mutuals #finding mutuals #finding friends #pagan #folk magic #cunning folk #english folk magic #english folk #british folk #british folk magic #greek pantheon #greek gods #greek deities #japanese folk #japanese folk magic #celtic pantheon #celtic gods #celtic deities #angels #archangels #queer #green magic #astrology

[ashandthorns]

Black Annis- Collaboration with Devin Forst 🌲

"Grinding teeth, and iron claw

Skin and bone she’ll tear and gnaw

Born of earthy cavern’s maw

Black Annis roams the night

Huntress, hag, that’s child fed

Skin of blue so cold and dead

Lock the doors and stay in bed

Or face her chilling bite" - Devin Forst

Inspired by old English folklore of the ancient blue-skinned hag Black Annis, who was said to live within an earthen cave in the Dane Hills of Leicestershire. I have joined with artist Devin Forst to bring the chill and dark of Black Annis to you all! There is a dark and wintery quality to this tea blend, appropriate for a long and eerie winter’s night…companioned by the hag brewed up from Devin's imagination for your delight and torment.

Anise seed, mint, and bergamot swirl together for a highly aromatic and appropriately wintry top note that is grounded in rich black tea and the light slightly floral quality of oolong. Butterfly pea flower and cornflower give us her characteristic blue tinge to the blend that fade as they brew, like the light fades on those early winter nights.

#folklore #folk horror #folk witchcraft #folk magic #tea #tea lover #tea time #tea blends #black annis #english folklore #english folk magic

[thehagstone]

The Greenman & The Holly king: 16x16cm patchwork panel, hand sewn.

#english folklore #fae folk #folk art #folk magic #folklore #english folk art #folk aesthetic #green man #the Greenman #faery aesthetic #faecore #wicca art #wicca aesthetic #embroidery #aesthetic #salem stitching #crafts #textiles #art #my art #sewing #paganblr #pagan #celtic #fairy tales #fairy aesthetic #fairy cottage #fairycore #hand embroidery #embrodery

[thefugitivesaint]

Charles Folkard (1878-1963), ''British Fairy and Folk Tales'', 1920 Source

#charles folkard #charles james folkard #english artists #british fairy and folk tales #the magic mackerel #mermaids #children's books #vintage art #vintage illustration

[artschoolglasses]

Yes, nothing screams Christmas like books on witchcraft/occult history.🖤

(This is what I read for fun.)

#books #booklr #bookblr #christmas #occult #history #nonfiction #witchcraft #cunning folk #popular magic cunning folk in English history #Owen davies #witchcraft and magic in the nordic middle ages #Stephen a mitchell #read #reading

[dianasson]

Full of butter, sweet songs, and firelight.

🌼

Feasts, poetry, dance, pre-dawn rambles, and no small amount of ribbon marked the start of old summer - though you wouldn't know it in Maine!

I feel so warm watching our festival group building every year. These folks are showing up in a big way with flowers, goodies, and stories to boot.

We were rained in, so our bon(e)fire took the form of a big candle, but the atmosphere of it anchored us almost as well.

𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓈 𝒶 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃

𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇'𝓈 𝑔𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎-𝑜!

#Bealtaine #May Day #Beltane #Irish #English #folklore #festival #folk magic #polytheism #tradition #personal #yours truly #me #May Eve

[cunning-frog]

"May the hills lie low,

May the sloughs fill up

In thy way.

May all evil sleep,

May all good awake,

In thy way"

A charm for protection and luck during travel, The British Book of Spells & Charms by Graham King.

#if i use this I'll probably modernis it a bit #folk magic #witch #witchcraft #folk witch #folk witchcraft #witchblr #cunning folk #wise folk #english folk magic #british folklore #British folk magic #english folklore

[ocean-not-found]

Im baptised Anglican. But it wasn't ever about the Church.

It was about me. The Holy Spirit. Sophia. Jesus.

About me finding myself. About learning /attaining Gnosis. About seeing God, the Gods, in my own way. It was about Marian Consecration. About love and peace.

*not* the church.

#christo pagan #christopagan #christopaganism #holy mother #god the mother #great mother #great goddess #folk catholicism #english folklore #folk religion #english folk magic #queer anglican #lgbt anglican #gay anglican #anglican #lgbtq community #lgbt christian #gnostic gospels #gnostic christianity #gnosticism #sophia #holy sophia #oceannotfound posts #oceannotfound blogs

[wortcunningwitch]

how do you find information on English folk magic? I'm really struggling to find information for free.

hey anon! sorry this response is so late. i’ve been quite busy.

you can find a lot of books — especially older ones on folklore — on sites like archive.org and project gutenberg. if they aren’t there, there’s always the option of using libgen (although if you can avoid pirating and just buy it, this helps out smaller authors).

youtube videos, websites (like apotropaios), and academic articles (i use JSTOR to find these) are also great options! a couple youtube channels i really like are the redheaded witch and the oak witch.

i am happy to provide a more in-depth list with links to resources, but that would take me a lot longer. i hope this helps in the meantime!

#my stuff #witchcraft #witchblr #folk magic #english folk magic #british folk magic #folk witch

[catsconflictscopicsandchamomile]

Old English flash cards ready to work on, paintbrushes out to finish customizing my latest rosewood knife, time to catch up on Hazbin before the finale.

.....what....

what AM I....

#I am some kind of Creature(tm) to be very sure #hazbin hotel #old english #anglo-saxon #art #whittling #superstition #folk magic #custom knives

[that-cunning-witch]

Journey Journal #002

Date: 12/28/2022

Focus: Folk Magic, English/Cunning

Short entry today. I’m currently reading two books. One of which I’m taking notes on Google Docs, the other one I will go back and take notes on. I will provide links to PDFs of the book. Both links are Google Drive links that will give you an interface to view/read the book.

The Cunning Man’s Handbook: The Practice of English Folk Magic 1550-1900, by Jim Baker

My notes on this book (not finished, actively working on)

The Book of English Magic, by Phillip Carr-Gomm and Richard Heygate

(Notes coming soon)

#witch #witchcraft #magic #folk magic #english folk magic #cunning folk magic #books #pdf #google drive #notes #book notes #witchblr #journey journal

[dairedara]

Is this the year I finally get into braucherei??

#just dara things #dara’s witchy shit #IMO as a PA Dutch person I don’t think braucherei is a ‘real’ PA Dutch tradition #I’ve done a lot of research on the academic side and everything I’ve seen #points to it being something brought by later German immigrants (late 1800s?) #or the name just invented at that time as a label for various types of German folk magic #bc it seems our PA Dutch superstitions and practices don’t bear a whole lot of resemblance #but nonetheless I find it interesting and it’s more attractive to me than English cunningwork #which also seems cool #but I am just less drawn to it