"Cunning-folk was just one of several terms used in England to
describe multi-faceted practitioners of magic who healed the sick and
the bewitched, who told fotunes, identified thieves, induced love, and
much else besides."
-Owen Davies, Cunning-Folk
Cunning-folk was a term used to describe both men and women that acted as professional healers, magicians, spell casters and fortune tellers. They often lived in the countryside and were most often literate unlike the illiterate peasants that made up the majority of their trade.
Cunning-folk were healers that were known for their use of medicinal herbs and who may also have dealt in love magic, thief detection and fortune telling. In the modern-day these people would be referred to as charmers, fortune tellers or witches.
In 2003 Owen Davies published his book Cunning-Folk; Popular Magic in English History. Mr. Davies maintains the website www.cunningfolk.com which portrays a few of the more interesting cunning men and women of history.
Take care,
The Backyard Diva
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