Irish Cursing and the Art of Magic: 1750-2018. Delighted to share my latest article, about Irish history's artful curse throwers. Contains: magic, folklore, religion, social history, & lots of curses. Just published, open-access, by @PastPresentSoc.

RT @SnedAndrew: Was a pleasure to edit Volume four of Cultural History of Magic in the enlightenment for @BloomsburyAcad, which has a stell…

@BoggartStones I don’t believe so, but I haven’t looked into it much. It’s great though, and I’m sure magical practitioners and scholars would appreciate it. Notable for its breadth, and for blending folky charms with more high-style magic.

@BoggartStones It should be published really. ‘The only book of magic you’ll ever need. Small enough to fit in your pocket. But with enough spells to smite any enemy, and face any malady …’

@GroomB Industrial-led development ultimately led to improved living standards for the majority, as you say. Do you think property-led development is improving living standards anything like as widely? I fear not.

RT @SnedAndrew: And it’s out in the world, the new edition of Possessed by the Devil. Signed some copies for the @Thesecretbooks1 today in…

@LadyLiminal1 Yes, absolutely - would recommend!

Just in time for Halloween. A free copy of my book about the modern history of witchcraft, Cursed Britain! It can be found, in the Derbyshire village of Edale, courtesy of the fairies. @the_bookfairies, that is. Let us know if you pick it up, please 🧙‍♀️🧙

Halloween marriage divination. Pictured in early 1800s engravings. Inspired by Robert Burns. Blindfolded, select 1 of 3 dishes or pails to reveal clues about your future spouse. Clean water = young. Dirty water = old. No water = none! From the British Museum's collections.

RT @SnedAndrew: That’s the proofs done then! The new expanded second edition of Possessed by the devil about the #islandmageewitches trial…

1680s effigy magic. From a Massachusetts witch trial 'Puppets ... of Raggs, and stufft with Goats-hair ... her way to torment the Objects of her malice, was by wetting her Finger with her Spittle, and stroaking of those little Images’ C Mather, Late Memorable Providences (1691)

1660s cures for demonic possession: 'Some are cast out by Prayers, some by Necromancy; one Daemon commands another; there be several Charms and Rites ... as the conjuring down those that walk into such a ground, or Sea, for such a term of years’. From: Daimonomageia (1665)

'Pigs and Hens when bewitched, often leap and dance' 'I question whether any Evil Spirit can enter any man, without command from some men' 'All Diseases that are caused by Nature, may be caused by Witchcraft' A few observations from: Daimonomageia. A Small Treatise ... (1665)

@jenka2592 Thank you, Jennifer. I’m also looking forward to getting starting, and have been pondering what new material to include this year 🪄

@biancacartin Thanks Bianca - see you in mid October, but I’ll send out some optional material before then.

@BardCumberland Thank you, Stephen.

@stsresident They’ve not featured so far, though we’ve considered various forms of magical music, in Spellbound’s previous four years.

The published Magus (1801) made 'Mansions of the Moon' a later section. But perhaps its opening prominence, in the manuscript, reflects its importance in Barrett's private magical practice & teaching? The manuscript is now in the excellent Wellcome Collection.