Lesson 1f: Cunning Folk

[Lolair]

Cunning Folk

Other Names

Cunning Man/Woman, Wise Woman/Man, Cunning Craft, Cunning Art, Pellar, Fairy Doctor, Buidseach (Scots - title for a black witch), Cailleach (Scots - title for a white witch), Mother Red Cap, Conjuror, Sorceror, Wizard, and others.

Definition & History

Who better than to define Cunning Folk than Dr. Owen Davies, a researcher of witchcraft and the role of the Cunning Folk in the British Isles:

"Cunning-folk, who were also known as wise-women, wise-men, conjurors and wizards, were an integral part of English society right up until the early twentieth century. Over the centuries hundreds of thousands of people must have consulted them regarding a wide range of problems, but particularly those concerning affairs of the heart, theft, sickness and most important of all witchcraft. They were multi-skilled, or at least professed to be so. They practised herbalism, treasure-seeking and love magic. They revealed the identity of thieves and divined the whereabouts of lost and stolen property. The more learned cunning-folk also practised astrology, while the less learned pretended to be masters of the art. The most lucrative aspect of their business was the curing of those people and animals who were thought to be bewitched, and also the trade in charms to ward off witches and evil spirits." (Source (http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/home.htm)) A cunning person is essentially a traditional folk-magic practitioner from the United Kingdom. Practices and services varied from region to region. The repertoire of a Cornish Pellar might be completely different when compared to that of their Scottish or Irish counterpart. In Scotland, and possibly other regions, the wise women and men were divided into two categories: those that could practice only harm (buidseach), and those that could practice only good (cailleach/wise woman). Depending on what service a person needed they would go to one or the other for a curse or a cure. However, having said that, both types of cunning crafters were known to perform curses.

Some famous cunning folk, among many others, include Granny Boswell (http://www.cornishwitchcraft.co.uk/cunning-folk.htm), Tamsin Blight (Tammy Blee) (http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/gallery.htm), Biddy Early (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biddy_early), James Murrell (http://www.crookedpath.org/article_read.asp?id=29), and George Pickingill (http://www.timetravel-britain.com/05/fall/cunning.shtml).

Today's Cunning Folk

Cunning folk are no longer an intrinsic part of British Isles society, but their services are still needed and called upon today. People still love and get heartbroken, need healing or divination services, and desire for things to go their way when attempting to get a new job or house. The people who call upon the services of a wise man or woman are usually non-magical folk seeking a little magical help. There is also a wonderful interest in and revival of the old practices being taken up by newer generations. Some good examples of modern wise women include Gemma Gary (http://cornishwitchcraft.co.uk/), a charm-maker and cunning woman in Cornwall, and Cassandra Latham (http://www.villagewisewoman.co.uk/), a self-proclaimed village wisewoman also in Cornwall.

Disambiguation

From the definition, many modern pagans may think of a cunning person as a witch, but in fact they were mainly called upon to protect from or undo spells of witchcraft. Before the witch trials when witchcraft was a constant threat to the peasant mind, a cunning person would have been hired to do workings against evil spirits, the evil eye, and any mischief or harm done by fairies.

The fact that cunning folk have been in existence for over 500 years does not prove the existence of any unbroken withcraft traditions or lines of witches as cunning folk were essentially individual practitioners and as stated above did not consider themselves to be witches. In regards to Liddell's The Pickingill Papers: The Origin of the Gardnerian Craft, it is up to the reader to determine whether they believe Liddell and Eric Maple's claims that Gardner's Wicca originated from the practices of Pickingill's infamous nine covens.

Resources

Books:
Popular Magic: Cunning-folk in English History (http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Magic-Cunning-folk-English-History/dp/184725036X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2980201-8505444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183087828&sr=1-1) (reprint of Davies' Cunning-Folk)
A People Bewitched: Witchcraft and Magic in 19th Century Somerset (http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/bewitched.htm)
Witchcraft, Magic and Culture 1736-1951 (http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/wmc.htm)
Murder, Magic, Madness: The Victorian Trials of Dove and the Wizard (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0582894131?tag=cottingleyglen&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0582894131&adid=1K7MDSNNHRPY9PSNG04H&)

An Joan the Crone: The History and Craft of the Cornish Witch (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1901163938?ie=UTF8&tag=corniswitchc-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1901163938)
Biddy Early: The Wise Woman of Clare (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biddy-Early-Wise-Woman-Clare/dp/1856353168/ref=sr_1_10/202-0808627-0403029?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183144922&sr=8-10) - Meda Ryan
Cunning Folk And Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions In Early Modern British Witchcraft And Magic (http://www.amazon.com/Cunning-Folk-Familiar-Spirits-Shamanistic/dp/1845190785/ref=sr_1_1/103-2980201-8505444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183088255&sr=1-1)
Secrets of East Anglian Magic (http://www.capallbann.co.uk/popup.cfm?p_n=260294&p_i=260294) - Nigel Pennick
Leechcraft: Early English Charms, Plantlore and Healing (http://www.amazon.com/Leechcraft-English-Charms-Plantlore-Healing/dp/1898281238/ref=pd_sim_b_4/103-2980201-8505444?ie=UTF8&qid=1183087828&sr=1-3)
The Gaelic Otherworld (http://www.amazon.com/Gaelic-Otherworld-Gregorson-Superstitions-Witchcraft/dp/1841582077/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2980201-8505444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183089285&sr=1-1)

Witchcraft in England (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007DP5KU?tag=cottingleyglen&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B0007DP5KU&adid=1EW8RB747GSTWSAPYRDV&) - Christina Hole
The Pickingill Papers: The Origin of the Gardnerian Craft (http://www.amazon.com/Pickingill-Papers-Origin-Gardnerian-Craft/dp/1898307105/ref=sr_1_1/103-2980201-8505444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183087590&sr=8-1)Websites:
CunningFolk.com (http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/home.htm)
Cronnekdhu: Traditional Cornish Witchcraft (http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu/)
Cornish Witchcraft (http://www.cornishwitchcraft.co.uk/)
Cassandra Latham - Village Wisewoman (http://www.villagewisewoman.co.uk/)Articles:
"The Fairy Doctor" (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ali/ali192.htm) - Lady Wilde
"The Cunning Men of Essex" (http://www.timetravel-britain.com/05/fall/cunning.shtml) - by Sue Kendrick
"Cunning Folk of Cornwall" (http://www.cornishwitchcraft.co.uk/cunning-folk.htm) - by Gemma Gary
"Old Mother Red-Cap and the Cunners of Old" (http://www.geocities.com/athens/oracle/5871/cunningfolk.html)
"Cunning Folk" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunning_folk) - Wikipedia
"Biddy Early: Seers and Healers" (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/vbwi/vbwi03.htm) - Lady Gregory
"Cunning Murrell, A Study of a Nineteenth-Century Cunning Man in Hadleigh, Essex" (http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0015-587X%28196003%2971%3A1%3C37%3ACMASOA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-3) - by Eric Maple, Folklore March 1960 (must have access to the JSTOR database to read)Images:

From left to right - Granny Boswell, Tamsin Blight, George Pickingill, Biddy Early's Cottage, and an image of Eric Maple with a chest and holed stone that belonged to James Murrell.

[Nitefalle]

To your wonderful list of famous cunning folk, I would also like to add Biddy Early. She was a famous Irish cunning woman in the nineteenth century and people visited her from miles and miles around. I know you only listed a few among very many, but I just thought she deserved a mention.

[Nitefalle]

The websites of the two modern cunning folk you listed are fascinating!!! Great links Lolair!!! I think I'm going to buy some books off of Gemma's site.

When I first started on this path, the village wise woman was what I wanted to be. It's still a dream of mine, lol. I want to pursue a profession as a pharmacist, but also become a certified herbalist....maybe a midwife or dula, as well.

[Lolair]

Thank you Nitefalle, I can't believe I forgot Biddy Early when there are so many folk ballads about her!! I've added her to the list as well as some links to articles and books about her in the resources.

Here are some rhymes associated with her:

(Arthur Rackham painted a picture based on this nursery rhyme, the witch in my avatar is from this painting)

There was an old woman
Lived under a hill,
And if she's not gone
She lives there still.

The ballad of Biddy Early

"I've an empty stomach,
you've an empty purse.
You feel your fingers freezing?
Outside it's ten times worse,
so listen to my story.
Forget the wind and rain.
It's time for bed," the tinker said,"but pass the cup again.
"I sing of Biddy Early,
the wise woman of Clare.
Many's the man admires her
carrot-colored hair,
and many those that come to her
on horseback or by cart,
for she can heal a broken leg
or a broken heart.
"She keeps a magic bottle
in whose majestic eye
a tiny coffin twinkles
and if it sinks, you die.
It rises, you grow better
and slip out of pain.
It's time for bed," the tinker said,"but pass the cup again.
"She covers the great bottle
and runs to fetch the small,
filled with a bright elixir,
honey and sage and gall.
She'll take no gold or silver
but maybe a speckled hen.
It's time for bed," the tinker said."Let's pass the cup again.
"Follow the stream, she told me.
Go where the salmon goes.
Avoid mischievous bridges
for even water knows
if you should drop this bottle-"
He turned and spoke no more.
Biddy Early's shadow
was listening at the door.

[fay]

Those poems are really cool. Thanks for all the info Lolair, I am learning loads! :)

[Annorah]

Thank you so much for this - it has been really fascinating. I feel a great affinity with cunning folk (I was pretty much cast into a modern version of that sort of role in one of my jobs - at least that was how it felt to me :) )

[Aconite]

This is really cool, i had no idea thats waht Cunning Folk meant! Thanks!