Spells from the Wise Woman’s Cottage

Spells from the Wise Woman’s Cottage is a slim, introductory volume that encompasses a lot.

The first part of this info-packed book is ‘Old Joan’s Book of Spells’. Old Joan is the resident Wise Woman who inhabits the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle- she’s the representation of the many wise women who lived in the West Country.

In this book, Steve Patterson guides us through these spells and charms of the West Country that have been used by wisewomen, giving us background on their uses, history, and meanings.

Some of the charms include water charms, love, healing and protection spells. There’s also a section on witchcraft- or malefic magic.

Part two introduces us to the life of a wise woman- the cottage of the wise woman, divination and scrying, Familiars, charms amulets and tools of the trade, magical herbs. This section also delves into the display of the Wise Woman found in the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle.

The Final Part of the Book focuses on the history of the wise woman in the west country. How it looked in the past, and how it looks in the present day. What did witch used to mean, and what is the modern witch? Who were some of the wise women of the west country?

The Appendixes look at the Sources behind the Charms mentioned in this book, Documented sources from wayside witches donated to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, as well as a suggested reading list.

Why we love it

Spells from the Wise Woman’s Cottage is an excellent addition to any bookshelf! The in-depth look at each charm and spell is undoubtedly useful for any practitioner wanting to understand how Traditional witchcraft and magic functions. We love it because it’s an excellent book to use as a quick reference, and the source list is fantastic for anybody wanting to take their studies further!

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