An evening of Celtic Magic with Brigid Ehrmantraut

A captivating introduction to Celtic magic, revealing its integration into daily life from antiquity to the Middle Ages, inviting readers to explore its mysteries through rituals and practical charms. 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.

Tickets:
£10 without book or £20 with book

Venue:
The Loft at Bookish is located in our flagship store in Crickhowell, accessed from Silver Lane.
Please let us know if you have any accessibility/mobility requirements. This venue does not have a lift, so it is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users.

Refunds:
It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value. Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: aW5mbyB8IGJvb2staXNoICEgY28gISB1aw== for further advice.

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