Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch

The back cover copy describes this book as "a delightful mixture of lore and laughter, academia and accessibility, earnestness and ease." Lora O'Brien is a an Irish woman who honours her heritage and works closely with the land and Irish tradition.

The book briefly examines various aspects of Irish mythology such as deities and the Sidhe, and talks about the importance of landscape in Irish practice. It also looks at festivals and holidays from a very Irish point of view, and how they have evolved through the years.

Unlike some other books on Irish witchcraft, this book makes no pretense at encoding any sort of established tradition; instead, it is an honest portrayal of a modern Irish witch's life. It is thin in places, but unapologetic. The sincerity and validity of the author's experience are evident on every page.

Straight away, O'Brien differentiates Irish Witchcraft from the practice of Wicca. This path is not "Wicca with shamrocks," as she puts it. "Throwing the names Lugh and Brighid into the mix - instead of the more usual Cernunnos and Aradia - in an otherwise Wiccan circle, does not an Irish witch nor Irish Witchcraft make" (O'Brien, p. 14). For O'Brien, the most crucial aspect of practicing Irish Witchcraft is immersing yourself in the culture, and the energy of both the physical and the spiritual reality of Ireland. "I really can't stress the following enough," she writes. "It is the basis of any true understanding of Irish Witchcraft that you are likely to gain. If you want to explore your Irish roots, don't just research your family tree, don't just profess a love for anything Irish, don't just wave your tri-color flag about on Paddy's Day. You need to come to Ireland. A connection to this land is just that: the actuality of literally setting foot here, feeling its power rise through your body." (O'Brien, p. 28) For O'Brien, physically being in Ireland (whether on vacation or permanently) allows you connect to both your spiritual and/or cultural roots, but also to the land itself. The heart of practicing Irish Witchcraft lies in the personal connection and identification with the earth.

Irish Witchcraft From An Irish Witch is not a handbook; those looking for step-by-step instruction will be disappointed. It does, however, set out the basic guidelines for exploring Irish witchcraft through daily living in that land, by Lora O'Brien's example.

(c) 2005 A. Murphy-Hiscock. Originally published in WynterGreene, Imbolc (February) 2005.