Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic
(Raymond Buckland)
The title of this book is slightly misleading in that it doesn?t tell the whole story. This is a brief encapsulation of gypsy life and traditions, with magic and witchcraft as its central focus. The author, a posh rat or half blood Romany takes us from the beginnings of the gypsies in modern India and then grounds the reader by describing gypsy religion. This is a hybrid of beliefs; largely based on paganism, disguised by the veneer of whatever religion was prevalent in the regions the gypsy?s happened to be passing through. The idea was not to attract too much attention and the book mentions how in the middle ages, the gypsies used the excuse of Christian pilgrimage as disguise for their wanderings). The author builds on this picture, describing the role of the Shuvani or witch/Wiseman who was responsible for the health, wealth and well-being of the tribe as well dukkerer or fortune teller who peddled the future to non gypsies. In between various spells, talismans and remedies are dispersed anecdotes on gypsy life, from the role of animals, the life of children and the challenges and changes imposed on the Romany?s by modern life. The book is illustrated with photographs of the now bygone age of the traditional gypsy vardo or caravan and rather romantic line drawings. This is a book that can be used not only by those who wish to try their hand at the Romany magical arts but by any interested party who wishes to gain an overview of gypsy life and history. It is furnished with a full bibliography for further reading and a list of common Romany words and phrases.
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