Silent as the Trees
Silent as the trees is a book exploring the old witchcraft, magical traditions and folklore nurtured amidst the village communities, hills, moors and ancient woods of Devonshire in South West England.
In this, her sixth book, Gemma Gary introduces Devon’s witches and magical folk, examining their lives and their magic; from historical figures such as the ‘white witch’ Caulks of Exeter, the Devonshire ‘toad witches’ and an examination of the trial of the Bideford Witches, to more modern practitioners such as the ‘cunning man’ and witchcraft collector Cecil Williamson.
Old stories in Devon tell of the often troublesome encounters between ordinary folk and the world of witchery. These encounters give valuable insights not only into the strange and fantastical beliefs surrounding witches, but also the traditional methods of beneficial magic and ‘counter cursing’ via the experiences of those who sought the aid of the ‘white witches’ and conjurors to lift the maleficia of the ‘black witch’.
Devon is a county particularly rich in folklore and mythology, in which we also often find the character of the witch, and the heady presence of Black Dog apparitions, the Wild Hunt and the Devil Himself. Many such tales weave their way around the plentiful strange stones and haunting ancient sites of this most mysterious landscape.
Within this book Gemma Gary also guides us through the fascinating witch belies of the region surrounding ‘skin turning’; the old witch-arte of bestial shape-shifting, as well as the tradition of the familiar spirit and the witches’ methods for gaining spirit companions.
Silent as the Trees is two books in one, for included within its pages is a ‘Black Book of Devonshire Magic’ detailing an extensive collection of genuine Devonshire spells, charms and magical rites.
Within this collection we find magical workings for power, spirit vision, cure charms for all manner of ailments and injuries, curse magic, protections and magical defence, love charms, good fortune, charms for animals, and traditional Devonshire toad magic.
Paperback Edition; N/A (no description)
Original Price - £15.50
Standard Hardback Edition; a Moss green cloth case binding with copper foil blocking to cover & spine, 80gsm white paper stock, light brown endpapers, with black head and tail bands.
Original Price - £28.00
Special Edition; a limited edition of 350 hand-numbered examples, bound in Russet and beautifully grained recycled leather fibres material, with copper foil blocking to the front and spine, 80gsm white paper stock, green endpapers, with black head and tail bands.
Original Price - £35.00
Black Edition; a limited edition of 125 hand-numbered examples, bound in beautifully grained black recycled leather fibers, with black foil blocking to the front and spine, red end papers, with red head and tail bands. 90gsm white paper stock.
Original Price - Unavailable
Fine Edition; a limited edition of 23 hand bound examples bound in rich green goat leather with copper foil blocking to the front and spine with patterned end papers. This edition will be issued within a fully lined green library buckram slip-case, blind embossed to the front.
Original Price - Unavailable
All editions are Royal format 234 x 156mm. 224 pages extensively complimented with black and white photography & illustrations.
