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The Black Toad explores potent examples of the folk-ceremonial magical practices and witchcraft of the south-west of England; dealing especially with Devon and the author’s homeland of Cornwall. Within the West Country, the popular belief in witchcraft and its attendant charms, magical practices and traditions continued to be observed and survived long after such ways had faded in most other parts of the British Isles.

Described within The Black Toad is a collection of some of the fascinating magical practices and lore of the West Country’s cunning folk and early modern witches; ways that have survived and evolved within the rarefied Craft of the area’s modern day witchcraft practitioners of the old persuasion.

As this book affirms, these ways of the Old Craft and Cunning Arte include a belief in and working relationship with the spirit forces of the land, the Faerie, animal and plant lore, as well as the magical use of Psalms to cure or curse, the invocation of Christ and the power of the Holy Trinity.

“For all those who are interested in learning about the Old Path as it is taught and practiced today by West Country witches this book of practical magic and sorcery will be a revelation. As the late Cecil Williamson, founder of the witchcraft museum in Boscastle, North Cornwall and a modern cunning man himself, said and Gemma Gary’s excellent book proves – “It still goes on today.”
Michael Howard

Paperback Edition; gloss laminate cover, 80gsm white paper stock.

Gemma is an artist and writer based in the South-West of England. Her work primarily focuses upon the rites and verbal, inscribed and physical charms of operative folk magic and witchcraft. Gemma is currently working on a number of other book projects relating to operative magic, traditional witchcraft, folklore and ancient sacred loci.

‘As Gemma Gary says in her new preface, there is no ‘set in stone’ organised witch tradition in Cornwall and folk magic practices have always been unique to their individual practitioners. However in this excellent book she has managed to expertly draw together a workable new tradition from historical sources and the surviving rites, charms and folk customs of Cornwall and the West Country.’ Michael Howard – The Cauldron

Websites:
www.cornishwitchcraft.co.uk
www.gemmagary.co.uk

Content

Foreword

Introduction

Power and Preparation

Old Mother Red-Cap
Protections and defences
Cure-Charms and Protections against Ailment
Desires and Good Fortune
Vision

Old Mother Green-Cap
Virtues of Trees
Infusions of Virtue
Curative Plant-Charms
Protective Plant-Charms
Plant-Charms for Love
Blackthorn Blessing-Ash
Plant-Charms for Animals

Old Mother Black-Cap
Curse-Magic and Blasting
Retaliation Magic and Counter-Blasting
Weather Witchcraft
Circles of Power

In League with the Devil