#british magic

This is the book of Oberon, a working sorcerers grimoire from Elizabethan England.

A main part of my practice relies on old English folk magic, Bible magic and grimoire practices that were available here. This book represents a Cunning Man’s collection of excerpts from several different grimoires that had been compiled over time and used in a kind of modular fashion, depending on what was needed that day. It is packed full of amulets, charms, conjurations and rituals which reflect a lot of what the English tradition of magic was like at the time.

Hmm. What makes an implement peculiar is pretty subjective, but one thing sprang to mind immediately, so I will just go with that.

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‘Unt’s Feet’

In traditional British folklore, it was once widely believed that the paws of a Mole, or “Unt,” would protect the possessor against toothache and muscle cramps. This magical remedy was particularly prevailing in East Anglia, where many would wear a mole paw amulet in the hopes of warding off dental maladies. This could be employed in the form of a singular, mummified paw, fashioned into a pendant, or a pair of them, which was kept in a bag above the mantle—to be taken down and worn when a member of the household was struck with relevant pain.

In Chrystis name I coniure ye,

In coniure ye baith mair and les,

With all the vertewis of the mes,

Any rycht sa be the naillis sa,

That naillith Jesus and no ma;

And rycht sa be the samin blude,

That raikit owir the ruithfull rude,

Furth of the flesch and of the bane,

And in the urd and in the stane.

I coniure ye in Godis name.

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All kinds of ills that ever may be,

In Christ's name I conjure ye,

I conjure you both more and less,

With all the virtues of the mass,

And right so by the nails so,

That naileth Jesus and no more;

And right so by the same blood,

Than ran over the rueful cross,

Forth of [from] the flesh and of the bone,

And in the earth and in the stone,

I conjure you in God's name.”

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A Healing Prayer of Agnes Sampson, tried for witchcraft in North Berwick, 1590

The British Book of Spells & Charms:

A Compilation of Traditional Folk Magic

The British Book of Spells & Charms

Say over the patient:

Three or four fair maidens came from divers lands crying for burn-gout aching, smarting, and all kinds of burn-gout they went to the burrow town there they had brethren three they went to the salt seas and they never more returned again her or she shall have their health again in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. So be it."

The British Book of Spells & Charms