Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling: Incantations, Specimens of Medical Magic, Anecdotes, Tales (Forgotten Books) - Softcover

Leland, Charles Godfrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1606200321 ISBN 13: 9781606200322

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2008

Synopsis

The Gypsies, who call themselves Rom or Romany, are a nomadic culture which originated in India during the Middle Ages. They migrated widely, particularly to Europe, where they worked as farm laborers, metalworkers, scrapdealers, and horsetraders. They also made a living as entertainers, fortune tellers, and grifters. Persecuted by the Nazis, and discriminated against to this day, the Rom have a long tradition of magic and shamanism. As Leland points out, these practices have parallels with those of other traditional pagan cultures around the world.

This book discusses spells, incantations and talismans used within Rom culture, as well as the more practical magic they use in their interaction with the Gorgios--the non-Gypsies. It is this latter topic which provides some of the most interesting and instructional reading. Leland gives some generalized methods of fortune-telling which any prospective psychic would do well to study; as well as the details of the 'Great Secret', a magic trick in which all of your money disappears...

Gypsy life has a romantic appeal, and Leland, who popularized Gypsy lore in this and other books played no small part in this image-making. However, Leland makes it abudantly clear that life on the road was hard. The Rom people are to be admired for their survival skills in a hostile world, and for the longevity and persistance of their culture. (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

About the Author

Charles Godfrey Leland (1824 - 1903)
Charles Godfrey Leland (August 15, 1824 - March 20, 1903) was an American humorist and folklorist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated at Princeton University, and in Europe. Leland worked in journalism, travelled extensively, and became interested in folklore and folk linguistics, publis

About this title

From the Back Cover

"Illustrated by numerous incantations, specimens of medical magic, anecdotes and tales," this classic 19th-century treatise on the secret wisdom of the enigmatic European Gypsies is essential reading for all students of comparative mythology.

The author, a renowned folklorist and president of the Gypsy-Lore Society, explores Gypsy belief and practices and places them in the context of global shamanistic tradition, discussing:

* the origins of witchcraft * vindictive and mischievous magic * charms and conjurations * Hungarian gypsy spells * pregnancy charms and folklore * love potions * Romanian and Transylvania gypsy lore * fortune telling * gypsy amulets * and much more.

This replica of the original 1891 edition is complete with Leland's beautifully evocative drawings and diagrams.

About the Author

Charles Godfrey Leland was an American humorist and folklorist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated at Princeton University, and in Europe. Leland worked in journalism, travelled extensively, and became interested in folklore and folk linguistics, publishing books and articles on American and European languages and folk traditions. By the end of his life shortly after the turn of the century, Leland had worked in a wide variety of trades, achieved recognition as an author of the comedic Hans Breitmann Ballads, fought in two conflicts, and had written what was to become a primary source text for Neopaganism half a century later, Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches.

About this edition

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1606200321
• ISBN 13: 9781606200322
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 262