Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Magic of Wales

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Lewis, Thomas, Ymddangosiad ysprydion drwg: sef sylwedd araeth a draddodwyd mewn dadl gyhoeddus yn nghyfarfod blynyddol Cymdeithas Cymreigyddol Bangor, nos Wyl Dewi Sant, Mawrth 1af, 1844, (Llanrwst, 1844). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG5.3.L & WG37(1844). Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Debra DeAngelo, author of The Elements of Horse Spirit, Pagan Curious, and the new Sacred Massage. As nobody would relish the idea of that role, it was often the case that a dog would be buried there instead for that purpose. The guardian of the graves, therefore, is often sighted as a ghostly spectre of a snarling and fearsome dog prowling churchyards at night. 6. Giants and Bedd y Gŵr Hir (“The Long Man’s Grave”) In 1563, under Elizabeth I, the Witchcraft Act of 1541 was restored as the Witchcraft Act of 1563, but the death penalty was only sought when harm was caused by witchcraft. [5] Hafgan is the rival of Arawn, and he too is a king of the Welsh Celtic Otherworld. When Arawn switches places with Pwyll, he asks Pwyll to kill Hafgan. And of course, Pwyll is able to defeat Hafgan and then Arawn takes over…uniting both kingdoms into one in the Otherworld. Mabon: Welsh God of the Autumn Equinox

Welsh Witchcraft, by Mhara Starling - Issuu Welsh Witchcraft, by Mhara Starling - Issuu

Davies, J. H., Rhai o hen ddewiniaid Cymru, (Llundain, 1901). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG30(1901). Tanglwst was then forced to flee to Bristol but was pursued by the bishop, who survived the attempts to destroy him, and was later charged with heresy. The maiden bewitched by evil spirits in an apple Gigantic apparitions such as this were also being noted elsewhere. A Thomas Miles Harry (Wirt Sikes) on his way home to Aberystruth from Abergavenny when his horse spooked and he saw the figure of a huge woman standing in the path before him. So, tall was she that he described her as being half as high as the tall beech trees on the other side of the road. 7. The Gwrach y RhibynIn 1655, in Llanasa, Flintshire, Wales, another trial took place. Dorothy Griffith was accused of bewitching a traveling seaman, William Griffith. William claimed to have seen Dorothy in front of him with lights around her, and having led him to an ale house. He claimed to have looked out over the sea and saw that it on fire and became frightened by the experience. He further was believed to have fallen into a trance or lost consciousness but recovered. Dorothy was detained for 7 weeks but was able to gather signatures from other locals, in which they stated they had never had reason to believe there was any relationship between Dorothy and witchcraft. It was rumored that the relationship between the two families was tense and that William had been ill. Although Dorothy appeared at trial, it is believed that the case was eventually dismissed, and she was never sentenced. [3] The case of Dorothy Griffith is one of 32 cases that were acquitted. Parry, John, Anti-Christ in prophecy, and Anti-Christ in fact, (London, 1845). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG37(1845).

Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Mag… Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Mag…

Although witchcraft in Wales was in some ways distinct from the rest of Britain, documents from the time do reveal a glimpse into life hundreds of years ago and reveal a part of Welsh history that still fascinates people today.

Suspected witches were often called ugly and sometimes old, the 'gwrach' or 'hag' from folktales. Read More Related Articles Pennant, Thomas, A tour in Wales, MDCCLXXIII, (Dublin, 1779). Special Collections: Salisbury, WG30(1779). * Other editions available.