Irish Cures, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions by Jane Francesca Wilde

Irish Cures, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions Reviews

• 
  DJ Harris

  This book is full of ancient cures, traditions, incantations, spells, omens, prophecies, folklore, superstitions, secrets, history, herb-o-logy, and proverbs! Even better, it's all connected to the Irish!
  
  Excerpt:
  
  "Reputation is more enduring than life."
  
  This book was written by
  Oscar Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde. Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1854. His novel,
  The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), and social comedies
  Lady Windermere's Fan (1892),
  A Woman of No Importance (1893),
  An Ideal Husband (1895), and
  The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), established his reputation.
  
  Get Your Copy of
  Irish Cures, Mystic Charms & Superstitions by Lady Wilde at Amazon Now!
• 
  Lisa James

  I loved this. Being of partly Irish descent, this resonated with me, & I found it easy to tap into these energies.
• 
  Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit)

  I love the cover and the illustrations but the 'cures' were so ridiculous.
• 
  Kathleen O'Mara

  Lady Wilde, Oscar Wilde's mother, recorded these distinctly Irish Folk Tales before the changing social landscape could sweep them away.
• 
  Nicole

  I found it at the used book store on St. Patrick's Day so I knew I had to get it. It was interesting to learn about some of the quirky things the Irish do. Explains my natural quirkiness.
• 
  Noah Czerny

  This was really cool!
  Just not what I was looking for. It was Irish, but not really Celtic-Irish. Too much Christian influence, but still really cool. Good insight.
• 
  Chronicler of Creepy

  Not impressed honestly. The very first section proclaims that (paraphrasing), "Although language changes with time and with different groups coming into power, traditions are so seeped into daily life that they are unaffected." Then the book is filled with Christianized versions of their superstitions which is ironic and laughable.
  
  Fine if you were looking for that era I guess.
• 
  Sheila

  Ancient cures, superstitions, and proverbs from Ireland. I liked the introductions to the chapters which gave a bit of history. I also enjoyed the proverbs which are so true. The cures would kill you. I'm glad we have modern medicine. I did find the rest boring. I fell asleep reading it.
• 
  Colleen Mertens

  This book collects folklore and tales from Ireland and puts them with herbal information. I think this could be a reference for someone wanting to write fantasy tales with the odd bits of information presented here.
  
• 
  Ayla

  Some scary peasant medicine, I liked the quotes myself
• 
  C. (Comment, never msg).

  “Irish Cures, Mystic Charms & Superstitions” was a peculiar, fortunate find. It is astutely explained: mythology is a more accurate guide to our roots than language because ancient idioms are easily lost. New vocabulary emerges, once strongly-held grammatical principles shirked, correctness of speech wanes. Communication follows a dominant nation or dilutes into both. This is why mysticism opens the best window into how our predecessors lived. With religious faith and belief that spirits are around us: respect for the forces of nature guided daily life.
  
  Remnants survive but the unseen were scoffed at so much in the last 100 years, collecting these folkloric foundations was more valuable than anyone could imagine. If factual history angles so precariously, what of records about spiritual faith? I admit I exclaimed at a great deal of the ideas among these pages: “You have to be kidding”! Some are silly, several are shocking, others grossly macabre and likely illegal. Too many disposed of the lives of animals. The Irish belief in fairies was the most prominent news to me and it’s complicated. They feared them and laid charms against their anger or harm, even though they were said to be beneath humans and not meant to exist indefinitely. At once, fairies are revered and it is considered fortunate to be in their good stead; to appease them hastily if offence were risked.
  
  The seriousness bestowed on luck is also astonishing. Trivial symbols, meanings, and warnings forewarned death everywhere. I don’t know if it was hopefulness or sharp pessimism that placed attention on it but it must have been tiresome. Superstitions about good luck seemed fewer; tougher for women than men. Of notable interest is the original folklorist author of this timeless collection. Jane Francesca Wilde is the Mother of the famous 1890s playwright, Oscar Wilde.
• 
  Kendal

  This book makes me want to touch an ass in Xmass. It's lucky, if you do it right.
• 
  Donnell

  Interesting reference material