Work for remembering the dead

by Lora O'Brien

Oct 14, 2026

Share to…

October 2026

'[B]elief in witchcraft, ghosts, divination, prophecies, and astrology, along with the regular intervention in earthly affairs by spiritual essences such as God and the Devil, Angels and Demons, formed a core part of both Catholic and Protestant popular religion in Ireland.' - Andrew Sneddon, 'Witchcraft and Magic in Ireland'

October runs toward Hallowe'en at its end, and this working sits earlier in the month, well ahead of the night itself.

Sneddon is writing about early modern Ireland, where belief in ghosts sat inside the ordinary popular religion of Catholic and Protestant people alike, alongside God and the Devil, angels and demons.

Note: Free Tier Spells Sent at the Beginning of Each Month, and Available in the Archive!

This post is for paying subscribers only

Upgrade

Already have an account? Log in

A chair pulled up to the fire

7th October 2026 'Hallowe'en was preeminently a commemoration of the dead, a time when ghosts and fairies were unusually active, the whole of the world of the supernatural astir and the dead returned to their earthly homes.' - E. Estyn Evans, 'Irish Folk Ways' This particular folklorist puts Hallowe'en along side the return of the livestock from their summer grazing, when the herders came home ...

A Spell for Sharing

26th September 2026 "every family... at least of the ordinary sort of people, kill a sheep, and bestow the greatest part of it upon relieving the poor." - Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland, summarised in the Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society The twenty ninth of September falls three days after this one lands, and the harvest is in by then in most places that do that sort of thin...

What the shell is for

September 2026 "The nine hazels of Crimall the wise Drop their fruits where the wellspring lies Through the power of magic they stay, Under a dark druidic spray." - from Sinann II in the Metrical Dindshenchas Mid September has the hazels still at work on their nuts, since the crop doesn't come ripe until well into the autumn here in Ireland at least, and anyone who has ever cracked one open ear...

Simple Irish Spells

Simple Irish Spells is a paid, bi‑weekly email newsletter written and sent to you directly from Irish Witch Lora O’Brien, giving you exclusive lessons, simple spell walkthroughs, and grounded native Irish Witchcraft and Folk Magic insights you won’t see on YouTube or socials. Subscribe monthly or annually (1 month free!) to get practical, step by step spells and guidance for working real Irish magic in your everyday life, rooted in native perspective, lived experience, living tradition, and clear simple actions you can take straight away without overwhelm or rigmarole.