A Gathering of Witches

In this new collection, ninety-two folktales and historical accounts of age-old witchery are reinvigorated with fresh, vivid language and accessible storytelling. The witches here come in many forms, not only the legendary malevolent practitioner of dark intent, but also the village healer, the seer, the wise man, and the conjuror of spirits.

Among these treasures of antiquity, we find the woodland witch who roams the land as a hare, a cat, a bird, or even a deer. We find sea-witches and wind-witches who can conjure gentle gales or dire tempests at will. We find charmers, cunning folk, and white witches who can return curses back on those who cast them. We find accounts of old charms, spells, and talismans that were once the stuff of legend.

A Gathering of Witches breathes fresh life into these folktales of ages past, many from Scotland and the New World, reflecting the author’s own heritage, but also tales from Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and England-including several tales from the distinct witch lore of Cornwall. These stories of various witching folk, considered together, illustrate the ways the lore of witchcraft has spread its branches over time, being both similar and unique across cultures.

A work of love dedicated to the beauty of old witch-lore, A Gathering of Witches is a treasury of tales that capture the long-held beliefs, customs, and superstitions that shaped for previous ages the magic conjured by the word witch.