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The Cunning Folk's Book of Cottage Witchcraft: Spells, Charms & Traditions of Wild Folk Magic
Connect with the Spirits of Your Land Through 100+ Spells and Recipes
Whether you live in a bustling city or a rural cottage, this book has a multitude of ways to embrace the power of your surroundings. Celtic wisewoman Danu Forest guides you on a journey of self-discovery and connection to the natural world. Sharing the wisdom of past and present cunning folk—practitioners like her whose power comes from the land and its spirits—Danu shows how to easily weave magic into your everyday life.
Acting as both a historical record and modern grimoire, this book features detailed information on household spirits, herb craft, trance-work, and wildlife magic. It also provides over a hundred spells, charms, and recipes for healing, love, protection, and much more.
• Candle Scrying
• Tea Leaf Reading
• Ritual House Cleansing
• Dream Charm Bag
• Healing Witch's Ladder
• Banishing Powder
• Comfort and Blessing Spray
• Ancestral Honoring Oil
• Prosperity Simmer Pot
• Valerian Love Sachet
Whether you live in a bustling city or a rural cottage, this book has a multitude of ways to embrace the power of your surroundings. Celtic wisewoman Danu Forest guides you on a journey of self-discovery and connection to the natural world. Sharing the wisdom of past and present cunning folk—practitioners like her whose power comes from the land and its spirits—Danu shows how to easily weave magic into your everyday life.
Acting as both a historical record and modern grimoire, this book features detailed information on household spirits, herb craft, trance-work, and wildlife magic. It also provides over a hundred spells, charms, and recipes for healing, love, protection, and much more.
• Candle Scrying
• Tea Leaf Reading
• Ritual House Cleansing
• Dream Charm Bag
• Healing Witch's Ladder
• Banishing Powder
• Comfort and Blessing Spray
• Ancestral Honoring Oil
• Prosperity Simmer Pot
• Valerian Love Sachet
- GenresWitchcraft
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2025
13 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 24, 2026
There's some hard-to-find, advanced technique in here (like how to create a thought-form), mixed in with witchcraft 101. Forest emphasizes historical sources but also occasionally ignores their context (like citing information given during witchcraft inquests as evidence for more widespread practice). So I'm really split on how to rate this! I'll split my qualms down the middle with 3 stars.
November 10, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! It's packed full of great information and spells to get your hands dirty. Perfect for seasoned practioners and beginners. Just read it you won't be disappointed! 😁
March 12, 2026
The book is well-loved, and I understand why! But there are important notes to be made.
TLDR: a perfect cosy read if you lower your expectations just a little!
Incorrect use of Terms
- The author has a confusing definition of certain topics, like spirit flight, astral travel, etc. She blends them, while she seems to just refer to visualisation. This is simply incorrect usage of the terms (for example, see Practicum: Cord-Cutting to Sever Spirit Attachment on page 88).
- In the chapter 'Familiars and Other Spirits,' she doesn't mention fetch once, instead, she refers to it as 'familiar.' She also includes living pets as familiars, which isn't my personal preference.
Especially for beginners, this is highly confusing (per the back of the book, it's said to be ''inspirational for beginner and seasoned practitioners'').
Ceremonial ?
- For some of the practicums, she instructs to prepare yourself by washing/cleaning to get the best result. Which I'm personally not a fan of, and isn't usual in Folk witchcraft.
Love and Light
- While she doesn't necessarily discourage baneful magic, there isn't any mention of it throughout the book. I have to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume it was cut out per the request of the publishing company (Llewellyn).
Adaptability
- The back of the book states that it 'doesn't matter whether you live in a rural cottage or a bustling city, this book has plenty of ways to embrace your surroundings.' I don't find that to be true. The book is about Celtic Folk magic, where people lived in old houses with fireplaces in rural areas, so their magic fit their lifestyle. If you live in a small apartment in a big city, you'll find plenty of Practicums that you can't do (walking outside around your house, walking a big circle indoors, connecting with the garden, going out into rural areas at night, etc.). I do think this makes perfect sense. I don't want a book explaining how to adapt Celtic Folk magic into city life, I want to know the old ways, but I do think it's something to be mindful of, especially since the book explicitly states it won't be a problem. However, too big a house also requires reading through the lines, as it's unrealistic to have an altar in each room and tend to it daily/regurarly.
The Positives
Originality
- In chapter 4, Divination and the Arte of Finding, she explains many forms of scrying, which usually don't get too much attention. She also explains 'Coscinomancy: Sieve and Shears,' which I've never seen! In chapter 3, Magical Tools, there is a big focus on Staffs and Stangs, which certainly makes this book stand out! In chapter 5 about household protection, she gives many lovely charms!
Writingstyle
- This is the perfect example of an amazing writing style! It reads easily but isn't boring and feels incredibly cosy!
TLDR: a perfect cosy read if you lower your expectations just a little!
Incorrect use of Terms
- The author has a confusing definition of certain topics, like spirit flight, astral travel, etc. She blends them, while she seems to just refer to visualisation. This is simply incorrect usage of the terms (for example, see Practicum: Cord-Cutting to Sever Spirit Attachment on page 88).
- In the chapter 'Familiars and Other Spirits,' she doesn't mention fetch once, instead, she refers to it as 'familiar.' She also includes living pets as familiars, which isn't my personal preference.
Especially for beginners, this is highly confusing (per the back of the book, it's said to be ''inspirational for beginner and seasoned practitioners'').
Ceremonial ?
- For some of the practicums, she instructs to prepare yourself by washing/cleaning to get the best result. Which I'm personally not a fan of, and isn't usual in Folk witchcraft.
Love and Light
- While she doesn't necessarily discourage baneful magic, there isn't any mention of it throughout the book. I have to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume it was cut out per the request of the publishing company (Llewellyn).
Adaptability
- The back of the book states that it 'doesn't matter whether you live in a rural cottage or a bustling city, this book has plenty of ways to embrace your surroundings.' I don't find that to be true. The book is about Celtic Folk magic, where people lived in old houses with fireplaces in rural areas, so their magic fit their lifestyle. If you live in a small apartment in a big city, you'll find plenty of Practicums that you can't do (walking outside around your house, walking a big circle indoors, connecting with the garden, going out into rural areas at night, etc.). I do think this makes perfect sense. I don't want a book explaining how to adapt Celtic Folk magic into city life, I want to know the old ways, but I do think it's something to be mindful of, especially since the book explicitly states it won't be a problem. However, too big a house also requires reading through the lines, as it's unrealistic to have an altar in each room and tend to it daily/regurarly.
The Positives
Originality
- In chapter 4, Divination and the Arte of Finding, she explains many forms of scrying, which usually don't get too much attention. She also explains 'Coscinomancy: Sieve and Shears,' which I've never seen! In chapter 3, Magical Tools, there is a big focus on Staffs and Stangs, which certainly makes this book stand out! In chapter 5 about household protection, she gives many lovely charms!
Writingstyle
- This is the perfect example of an amazing writing style! It reads easily but isn't boring and feels incredibly cosy!
January 25, 2026
A good book for those who are taking their first steps in folk magic, especially for those interested in the folk magic of the British Isles in general. That said, it is not limited to that scope, as the author herself makes it clear that the rituals she presents can be adapted or modified to suit personal needs. I found this approach excellent. It is a well-rounded book, with many rituals and short but accessible theoretical explanations.
Perhaps if you have already spent some time practicing traditional/folk witchcraft or folk magic proper, this book may not offer much that is new—which is why I rated it as I did—but it is not a bad book for beginners.
Perhaps if you have already spent some time practicing traditional/folk witchcraft or folk magic proper, this book may not offer much that is new—which is why I rated it as I did—but it is not a bad book for beginners.
December 13, 2025
Danu is wise beyond her years! such a good comprehensive read, definitely will read more of her books
July 22, 2025
I was really drawn to this author when browsing in my regular book store I go to. I later found out in the book that she is deeply connected and works with the goddess Brigid and it all made sense because I love the goddess Brigid even though I don’t actively work with or worship her.
I admire the different point of views this author brings and it’s refreshing to learn from a practitioner who has their own ways and craft and traditions in stead of following the trends. I love how authentic she is to herself and through her knowledge and determination to connect with her Celtic roots to add what she can of genuine Celtic traditions/beliefs and culture to her craft, it also brought me one set closer to connecting with my Celtic roots as well which is very satisfying. Reading this book gave me perspectives and unique information that I haven’t gotten from reading books specifically about Celtic history. I will be reading more of her books 💕
I admire the different point of views this author brings and it’s refreshing to learn from a practitioner who has their own ways and craft and traditions in stead of following the trends. I love how authentic she is to herself and through her knowledge and determination to connect with her Celtic roots to add what she can of genuine Celtic traditions/beliefs and culture to her craft, it also brought me one set closer to connecting with my Celtic roots as well which is very satisfying. Reading this book gave me perspectives and unique information that I haven’t gotten from reading books specifically about Celtic history. I will be reading more of her books 💕
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews