Tabitha Stanmore, an author specializing in medieval magic, discusses the fascinating lives of cunning folk in Tudor England. She delves into how these practitioners provided spells for love and justice, emphasizing their powerful community roles. The conversation uncovers the contrast between cunning folk and witches, revealing societal pressures driving people to seek magical aid. Unique rituals, including the intriguing use of personal items in sympathy magic, highlight a blend of creativity and tradition. The podcast also connects historical practices to modern beliefs in manifestation.
Cunning folk in medieval England performed practical magic for community needs, ranging from love spells to healing rituals, reflecting their significant societal roles.
Despite facing legal scrutiny that criminalized harmful magic, cunning folk were generally seen as helpful community members rather than witches, highlighting a key distinction in societal perceptions of magic.
Deep dives
Role and Characteristics of Cunning Folk
Cunning folk were practitioners of everyday magic in medieval and Tudor England, known for their practical skills in using spells and charms to effect change in their communities. They ranged in expertise from simple spells for finding lost goods to complex healing rituals, and they were not limited to a particular social status or gender, with both men and women participating as cunning practitioners. Cunning folk were often embedded in their communities, serving as tailors, farmers, or even physicians, while moonlighting as magical service providers. Their popularity stemmed from their ability to offer valuable solutions to common problems faced by individuals, enhancing their visibility and reputation within their local areas.
The Distinction Between Cunning Folk and Witches
Cunning folk are distinctly different from witches, despite common misconceptions connecting the two groups through the use of magic. Where witches were often associated with harmful practices and malevolent intentions, cunning folk typically engaged in benevolent magic aimed at healing and practical problem-solving. This differentiation is significant in understanding the societal perceptions of magic during this period, as cunning folk were generally regarded as helpful community members rather than marginalized figures. The mislabeling of cunning practitioners as witches likely contributed to the historical conflation of the two, obscuring the reality of their roles and capabilities.
Love Spells and Social Context
Cunning folk offered a wide array of love spells during the time, addressing common relationship issues and societal pressures surrounding marriage. With divorce not being a socially acceptable option, many individuals turned to magic for solutions to enhance or salvage their relationships; some spells even aimed at undesirable outcomes like 'murdering' a spouse, reflecting the desperate situations faced by many. The practices of cunning folk in the realm of love magic reveal the balancing act of affection and economy that characterized marital relationships in the era, where companionship was as much about survival and social expectation as it was about love. One peculiar example included a spell involving kneading bread dough with one's buttocks to imbue it with spiritual essence, aiming to attract a lover.
Social Status and Legal Challenges of Cunning Folk
Cunning folk faced a complex social landscape, as their activities were not illegal until the 16th century; however, they operated within a fluctuating framework of legal and ecclesiastical scrutiny. While their services were generally accepted when beneficial, engaging in harmful practices could lead to severe consequences, as illustrated by a case where a cunning man's false accusations resulted in severe punishment for the innocent. Many cunning folk lived in fear of the legal repercussions of their work, especially after the introduction of witchcraft acts that began to criminalize certain practices. Moreover, their knowledge and magical skills granted them a powerful role in society, positioning them as both needed advisors in crises and potential targets for legal action when spells went awry.
From love spells to enthral the object of your desires, to charms to influence the outcome of a trial, people turned to cunning folk for all kinds of practical magic in medieval and Tudor England. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, historian Tabitha Stanmore reveals the amount of power these magical people could have within their communities, and explores some of their methods for altering the world around them by supernatural means.