Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Magic of Wales

by Mhara Starling

Overview

"A modern approach to a magical practice that is rooted in the mythology, folklore, and cultural traditions of Wales . . . a gift of a book." —Jhenah Telyndru, MA, author of Avalon Within

Enter a world of sacred lakes, healing herbs, spectral hounds, and the mighty red dragon. Written by a Welsh practitioner, this inspiring book shares the magical traditions of Wales—including fairies, folklore, and charms—with dozens of hands-on activities. Mhara Starling shows you how you can incorporate Welsh and Celtic folk magic into your modern witchcraft practice with exercises for celebrating those who came before, protecting against adversity, changing the weather, and more. You'll also discover methods for honoring the land and ways to connect with Cerridwen, Rhiannon, and other deities. Welsh Witchcraft invites you to explore this country's rich heritage and use it to empower your spirituality.

"A new, fresh, and authentic voice that expresses the timeless magic of her native Wales . . . This book bridges the gap between the ancient and modern and brings authentic, practical Welsh Witchcraft to the table of modern magical traditions. Starling is a powerful new voice that is sure to inspire a generation." ―Kristoffer Hughes, author of The Book of Druidry

 "A delightful introduction to Welsh witchcraft which takes readers on a tour of all of the essentials of belief and practice from the perspective of someone who has lived them. The style is engaging and the author deeply knowledgeable on the subject, giving readers a text that is both entertaining and thorough. Highly recommended." ―Morgan Daimler, author of Pagan Portals

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738771052
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	11/06/2024
Series:	Welsh Witchcraft , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	250
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Mhara Starling was born in North Wales, raised on the Isle of Anglesey, and is a native Welsh speaker. She is the author of Welsh Witchcraft, and her witchcraft videos on TikTok have more than a million views. Mhara is also a celebrant and a coven leader, and she runs moots, gatherings, and open rituals. She was featured in the BBC Wales documentary series Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious. Visit her on TikTok @mhara_starling.

Table of Contents

Contents

List of Exercises xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Finding a Welsh Witchcraft..................................................... 13

Chapter 2 A Brief History of Magic and Witchcraft in Wales................... 31

Chapter 3 The Sacred Landscape.............................................................. 47

Chapter 4 Legends of the Land................................................................. 63

Chapter 5 Beyond Human: Divinities of the Land................................... 79

Chapter 6 Cerridwen: The Archetype of the Welsh Witch...................... 103

Chapter 7 Fairy Tales of Wales............................................................... 117

Chapter 8 Welsh Fairies.......................................................................... 129

Chapter 9 Practical Welsh Witchery....................................................... 145

Chapter 10 The Virtues of the Natural World......................................... 177

Chapter 11 The Ever-Turning Cycle....................................................... 199

Conclusion............................................................................................. 231

Recommended Reading 235

Glossary and Guide to Welsh Pronunciation 237

Bibliography 245

Index 249

Editorial Reviews

"A new, fresh, and authentic voice that expresses the timeless magic of her native Wales. In doing so she gifts the world with a cauldron of wisdom and a profound insight into the magical heritage and landscape of Wales. This is a book created from deep, personal practise and the love of land and culture...This book bridges the gap between the ancient and modern and brings authentic, practical Welsh Witchcraft to the table of modern magical traditions. Starling is a powerful new voice that is sure to inspire a generation."—Kristoffer Hughes, Chief of the Anglesey Druid Order, author of From the Cauldron Born

"I am deeply appreciative of Mhara's Welsh Witchcraft—a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful introduction to the magical traditions, mythology, customs, sacred loci and otherworldly presences of her native landscape. It is a book fully capable of guiding the reader towards developing a workable and personal magical practice drawn from and inspired by the timeless and eldritch landscapes of Wales."—Gemma Gary, author of Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways

"Mhara Starling presents a modern approach to a magical practice that is rooted in the mythology, folklore, and cultural traditions of Wales. This is a gift of a book; both well-researched and magically sound, it is also a love letter to the land, history, and spirit of Wales...With a commitment to well-sourced legends and long-standing tradition, Welsh Witchcraft bridges the gap between static collections of folklore and modern-day seekers hungry for authentic, relevant, and culturally alive magical practices. Highly recommended!"—Jhenah Telyndru, MA, founder of the Sisterhood of Avalon and author of Avalon Within

"Mhara Starling has written a beautiful, authentic guide to Welsh Witchcraft...Written by a Welsh Witch from a first-hand perspective, this is a valuable volume for readers that study both a Celtic or Traditional Witchcraft Path. Mhara has filled this book with a beautiful array of mythology, folklore, plants, spells, and Welsh knowledge."—Annwyn Avalon author of Water Witchcraft

''Welsh Witchcraft offers extensive insight into the rich history of Welsh magical practice. Mhara has a magical way with words that draws the reader in...She takes you on a fantastical journey through the pages; delving into the roots of witchcraft that lay deeply intertwined within Welsh mythology, folklore and culture."—CCJ Ellis, author and illustrator of Welsh Monsters & Mythical Beasts

"Welsh Witchcraft is a delightful introduction to Welsh witchcraft which takes readers on a tour of all of the essentials of belief and practice from the perspective of someone who has lived them. The style is engaging and the author deeply knowledgeable on the subject, giving readers a text that is both entertaining and thorough. Highly recommended."—Morgan Daimler, author of Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk

"Mhara Starling breathes life into the long, magical history of Wales so many of us think we already know. Her writing is tender, clearly cherishing each tale, spell, and exercise. Welsh Witchcraft is utterly overflowing with Starling's passion and personal connection to the material...Mhara Starling is an absolute gift to the community and I'm thrilled future generations will have her as a guide."—Fire Lyte, author of The Dabbler's Guide to Witchcraft and host of the Inciting A Riot podcast

"An intimate yet engaging exploration into the magic and lore of Wales from a homegrown perspective. Mhara brings to the table not only her own personal lived experience and in-depth research, but also welcomes the reader to discover Welsh Witchcraft for themselves."—Laura Tempest Zakroff, author of Anatomy of a Witch

From the Publisher