Celtic Magic

A Practitioner's Guide

£14.99
£14.99
Free UK delivery on orders above £40

A captivating introduction to Celtic magic, revealing its integration into daily life from antiquity to the Middle Ages, inviting readers to explore its mysteries through rituals and practical charms

Also available from:

Disclosure: If you use the buttons above to buy products, we may earn a commission from the retailers.
Druids and divination, curses and charms: the Celtic world was filled with magic and intrigue - but how did people practise magic and what did they use it for? Brigid Ehrmantraut takes us on a journey through the Celtic-speaking world to explore the different ways people interacted with magic. Some sought aid through deities and dedications, while others wanted to punish their enemies with spells and curse tablets.

Our voyage through the Celtic world sweeps into medieval Wales and Ireland, touching on Scotland and Brittany in the process. Protective prayers, such as St Patrick’s loricae, and miraculous tales from saints’ lives reveal the interplay of magic and religion. While the power of star signs and medicinal charms connect Celtic practices to broader medieval traditions. Finally, the book celebrates the legacy of Celtic magic, linking ancient magic to modern Celtic-inspired spirituality.

Throughout the book, the reader will find tips and tricks for practising their own magic, including creating curses, dedicating ex votos to the gods, and a medieval Welsh cure for a hangover.
Extent: 208 pp
Format: Hardback
Illustrations: 106
Publication date: 2026-02-26
Size: 19.5 x 12.9 cm
ISBN: 9780500029732
Introduction • Part I: Ancient Magic: 1: Deities and Dedications • 2: Curse Tablets • 3: Greek and Roman Ideas about Celtic Magic • Part II: Medieval Magic: 4: Protective Prayers and Saintly Aid • 5: Medical Magic and Astrology • 6: Magicians in Medieval Literature • Afterlives
  • Free UK delivery on orders above £40
  • £4.00 standard shipping for orders under £39.99
  • Delivery typically within 2-4 business days
  • See our Shipping & Delivery policy for more info

Press Reviews

A lively account
Financial Times




About the Author

Brigid Ehrmantraut is an expert in Celtic languages and literature and is Associate Lecturer in Latin and in the History of the British Isles at the University of St Andrews. She studied Classics at Princeton University and received her PhD in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic from the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining the School of History at St Andrews, she held a Research Fellowship at St John’s College, Cambridge. She is also the author of Classical Myth in Medieval Ireland (Boydell and Brewer, 2025).

You May Also Like

View more