Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch [Paperback]

Lora O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005

Irish Witchcraft From an Irish Witch is a delightful mixture of academia and accessibility; a book that explores Witchcraft in Ireland: how it was, is, and will be. It succeeds where many books have failed-fulfilling the longing for real Irish Witchcraft, while crafting the delicate balance between learning from the past and weaving a modern system based on truth and respect. Lora O'Brien is a genuine Irish Witch, making no claims of "fraudulent family traditions"-she is simply a woman who walks her path and shares her experiences, working closely with her heritage and land in a contemporary setting. Irish Witchcraft From an Irish Witch explores the past: * Providing an investigation of the Witches' place in Irish mythology. * Looking at Witchcraft and magic by examining the customs connected with the Sidhe. * Examining historical evidence of the Witch trials that swept across the isle. And the present and beyond by: * Working with Irish deities, landscapes, energies, and antiquities. * Examining the wheel of the year, with its festivals, cycles, and seasons of Irish culture. * Looking at ritual progression through a Witch's life: magical training, physical growth. * Providing alternatives to the traditional stages of a child's life in modern Irish culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...important for Ireland and Witchcraft...destined to be counted alongside groundbreaking books by Gerald Gardner...history in the making." -- Foreword - by Merlyn of 'Children of Artemis'

About the Author

Lora O’Brien is an Irish Witch living and working in County Roscommon - historical home of the Morrigan and Queen Maedbh - with her husband and working partner of many years, Brendan, and their two daughters. She runs Crow Coven: a group of Irish Witches who work closely with land and local deity to blend their history, heritage, and thirst for knowledge. She trained for many years in a traditional Wiccan coven, which included time as the coven’s Maiden and her path through all three Wiccan degrees, leading to the rank and role of High Priestess in her own right. Lora has now moved away from Wicca, and continues to work more directly with her native heritage.

Heavily involved in Irish paganism and witchcraft, she runs a monthly moot, the first one for her own county of Roscommon. She organises Witchfest Ireland, the country's nation-wide yearly Witchcraft event, with her co-organiser Barbara Lee. A professional Tarot reader, Reiki healer, and body piercer, Lora also runs her own web site with interactive courses, keeps her home and a smallholding, and somehow finds time to write. A second book is now in progress.

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564147592
• ISBN-13: 978-1564147592
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #584,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best on the Topic!, December 16, 2004

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch (Paperback)

Who better to hear about Irish Witchcraft than from an Irish witch? This is not pseudo Celtic Wicca or the Fairy Folk magic many of us think we know. This book presents us with the actual practice of Witchcraft by one whose roots and life go deep into the Irish homeland.

Lora O'Brien is a true Irish Witch, yes, in Ireland. Born and raised in the Emerald Isles, she speaks in this book from first hand experiences growing up with the lore, the mystery and the magic that only Ireland can be.

Having said that, and emphasizing Ms. O'Brien's background, we get into the meat and potatoes of the book. Do not be surprised at what you read. Yes, the Irish (Gaeilge) language is taught in schools there, so when Ms. O'Brien gives you the pronouncement of the words that define the culture, be assured it is the correct pronunciation. A big plus to Ms. O'Brien for including this and the definitions of these words, as it makes a world of foreign terms and meanings much more understandable and well defined. I appreciated her addition of this to her book and it makes the book much more user friendly.

Ms. O'Brien will also surprise you when it comes to anyone claiming to be Irish. "If you want to explore your Irish roots, don't just research your family tree, don't just profess a love for anything Irish, don't just wave your tri-color flag about on Paddy's Day. You need to come to Ireland. A connection to this land is just that: the actuality of literally setting foot here, feeling its power rise through your body."

Ask anyone who has been to Ireland, they will tell you the same thing. And coming from Ms. O'Brien who actually lives there, yes, if you are going to do the studies, then you should also immerse yourself in the culture. Ms. O'Brien gives us some wonderful insights into Irish history and mythology, laying out the story of the founding of the isles.

Her entire approach to the topic of Irish Witchcraft in this book is like this: a hands on primer from someone who is truly an expert in her chosen life style. We are graced with many of her "down home" stories, family folk lore and personal experiences. We are treated to myths and legends that are not found in many books, as well as the best known ones. While the usual stories of the better known Gods and Goddesses are told here: Brighid, Manannan MacLir and Morrigan to name a few, there are also lesser known stories like Biddy Early, Cliodhna and Dame Alice Kyteler. While they were not Gods or Goddesses, these names make up parts of Irish history, or are essential to the personal lore of a particular family or town.

The book is laid out as follows: You start off with a basic overview of Irish Witchcraft, then you are treated to the myths and mysteries that surround how witchcraft evolved in Ireland and then you are brought into the present practices and beliefs. Ms. O'Brien includes material that would be considered the Irish witches "Book of Shadows"; an outline of traditions and practices that would help you attach yourself to the tradition and traditions of a modern practicing Irish witch. She covers the Sabats as practiced in Ireland, meditations and rituals that will assist in your connecting with the land, the Gods and Goddesses and the fairy folk, and material for personal growth as a witch in this tradition. She even includes photos and drawings that give a little visual flavor to the topics discussed.

There are Rites of Passage as well as discussions of the Sabats and earth cycles. She outlines initiation in her Coven's tradition and lays out how her coven works with the various degrees of commitment from the membership. She also gives you a very wonderful overview of Ireland as a community, as a life style and as a home should you ever consider moving there.

This book is an excellent overview not just of the tradition of the Irish Witch but of Ireland itself as viewed by someone who grew up and lives there. We get the flavor of the Irish witch complete with all the mystery and imagination that we all attribute to it. You come away with a feeling that you need to go there to experience it first hand in order to fully appreciate its nuances. And I believe that was what Ms. O'Brien was looking to do when she wrote this book: to give those who wish to follow this path the ability to taste the true path of Irish Witchcraft and urge you to follow it into Ireland for the personal experience if this is truly the path for you. boudica

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing perspective from an "Irish Witch", January 28, 2005

By 

Todd Hawley (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch (Paperback)

This book does provide a new and fresh perspective for any of us wishing to call ourselves "Celtic (or Irish) Pagans." One of many things I liked about this book is the author's no nonsense approach to the book's topic, as well as her gentle humor. In the book's introductory pages, I found myself nodding in acknowledgement at many of the things she says, including the "fluffies" who take a little of one thing, a little of something else and call themselves "eclectic Pagans," or how Wiccans and witches can be two different types of people. She pokes a little fun at the ones who for whatever reason do not delve deeper into the entire "Celtic experience," or those who try to pass themselves off as knowing much more than they do. We've all met these types from time to time. I found myself agreeing with her that those who wish to know what the "Irish experience is," need to visit the Emerald Isle as well as reading all they can about Ireland and Celtic lore, and also learning the Irish language.

She speaks also of important Irish deities and of the four main Celtic Sabbats, Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine, and Lughnasadh. She spends time describing these Sabbats, the purposes for each, and the various customs for each sabbat. Each Sabbat has significance in the "turning of the year," and the author makes sure to explain each sabbat's importance. She speaks too of the commitment involved in dedicating yourself to an Irish goddess or god. One thing I realized while reading this book was that in spite of the other Celtic related books I've read, I still have much to learn. This is always a good thing.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irish Path Specific, October 27, 2005

By 

W. Martin - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch (Paperback)

I groaned when I first read the title of this book. I thought it was yet another in those series of inane "this is the True Way of witchcraft" books that glut the shelves on the big bookstore chains. You know the ones...real magick books, faery lore books and the White Witch spell books.

I decided to read it with an open mind, however. I was surprised by the second page of the introduction to find that Ms. O'Brien echoes many of my sentiments of walking one's talk. She suggests that witchcraft is one of many paths to Divine enlightenment and if you choose to follow the Irish Witchcraft Path, to do so in earnest and in all seriousness. In this chapter, she discusses the various definitions of Wicca, The Rede, witchcraft, Pagan, magic and what they mean in terms of Irish witchcraft. She is very clear to explain that this is the path she is following and that it may not be for everyone. She also makes the distinction that Irish witchcraft has to do with Ireland and a strong connection to that land, and that part of the world.

Part I of the book was the most difficult for me to follow. Ms. O'Brien has a strong belief that if one is to follow a path strongly connected to a certain area/culture that you learn the language. Failing that she advises learning the proper pronunciations of the various tribes, Gods, Goddesses and holidays. I must admit my head was swimming before I was halfway through this section. I was never much good at names, and the transliterations are not quite the same as having a real Gaelic speaker sitting next to you correcting your woeful mispronunciations.

My favorite part of the book was the second section, entitled "How it Is". In this portion of the book, which the author herself calls the most personal of the book, we follow her journey while she meets the land and its magical and supernatural inhabitants. She goes into her meeting of her chosen Goddess (or rather the Goddess who chose her). Although she maintained a rather general accounting of the actual ceremony, it was intriguing enough in the telling to hold the readers attention. The real meat and potatoes of the book are in this chapter of the book.

The final division of the book was about general Irish community, both Pagan and non-Pagan peoples. There are also numerous listings of resources and an index.

This is an excellent book, but by its very nature, it is not for everyone. However, if you are serious about following an Irish witchcraft path, this is a must for your Pagan library.

W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"