Alpine Witchery: Austrian Folk Magic, Lore & Spellcraft

by Christian Brunner, Danu Forest (foreword)

Embark on a captivating journey into the mystical world of Alpine witches through this collection of authentic spells from the Austrian witch trials. With this spellbook you can explore dozens of translated incantations from the 15th through 19th centuries alongside details captured in court records and suggestions for adapting the workings for modern practice.

Author Christian Brunner brings European folk witchcraft to life through accounts documented in the case files. By letting the voices of the defendants and witnesses speak for themselves, he creates a vivid portrayal of the accused and their unique magic. Brunner also provides relevant context, detailing the circumstances surrounding these trials including the pressures, tensions, and influences of the eras. With this book you can deepen your understanding of traditional Alpine witchery and try some historical spells for yourself.

Genres: Witchcraft, Historical, Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2024

Reviews

[Bathsheba · Rating 1 out of 5]

The sequence of events that led to me discovering this book began on YouTube. The audiobook is there in full… read by a male voice with a North American accent. I listened to the introduction with a positive frame of mind… after all I am a witch living in Austria. By the end of the introduction I was so livid I had to clear the air with burning bay leaf and pour a cup of Krauter Tee. I then calmly did my research. And then I decided to come here to see if per chance I may have detected misogyny where there was none. Giving the author the benefit of the doubt… until I read the f#@$king blurb which cheerfully suggested I might want to try some of the spells contained in this blatant attempt at capitalising on the carefully crafted, largely feminine work, that cost thousands of lives just so some man could make a tidy profit under the guise of recording history! I mean, in some ways to have to hand it to him… he’s bloody brave I’ll give him that much. But judge fir yourself. Pop onto YouTube, listen to the introduction and note his portrayal of the feminine. Note how he puts men into front and centre using words like shaman and sorcerer and linking the German word for witch, Hexe, with baneful practices. Oh for goodness sake I’ve had enough of this already. I will no doubt, because I am a fair minded witch, return to the audiobook and play another segment at random and allow Spirit to present another clue as to the true energy behind this work. So watch this space, who knows, I might have a change of heart. Until then, Blessed Be fair minded folk. ✨

[Csenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

You really don't have to be a witch, or even believe in witchcraft, to enjoy this book. The concept is quite interesting on its own: the author combed through hundreds of records of Austrian witch trials between the 15th and 18h centuries, and picked out more than 70 spells mentioned in them. Each spell comes with historical and sociological information: who the accused were, what happened during the trial, what the verdict was (if known), and in what context the spells were described. The author also adds notes on folklore and linguistics when applicable. Then, each spell is followed by an "In today's world" section, where the author muses about how the spell might be replicated in modern times, where the ingredients might be found or what they could be replaced with. This latter part is important, because a lot of the spells include ingredients and practices that made my eyebrows rise. I was amused by the proposed substitutions, and kind of fascinated by the whole concept of transporting medieval folk magic into modern times. Sometimes it was clearly a thought experiment (there have to be better ways to open a lock than a several-week-long ritual), but it was still fascinating to read. I also appreciated the introduction, which gave a very realistic look on witch trials as sources of magic practices, and the notes the author added regarding the ethics of magic throughout the book. All in all, this was a well organized, fun read.

[Herenya Wilkey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading the confessions of “witches” under torture was sad but interesting. The author including statistics from less than fifty trials *hand picked by him* to prove that women were’t signaled out because of their gender as nauseating.