The Secret Commonwealth and the Fairy Belief Complex

About the Book

This book is a scholarly examination of fairy beliefs and second sight in the late seventeenth century Scottish Highlands, as portrayed in Reverend Robert Kirk's manuscript 'The Secret Commonwealth'. It begins with a review of the available information on Robert Kirk’s life, followed by a complete copy of the manuscript. This is followed by an in-depth examination of the text itself, with particular attention give to the concept of the ‘body of air’. The conclusion proposes that the beliefs and customs which were the subject of Kirk’s work amount to a fairy belief complex; not quite a ‘fairy faith’, but still a cohesive and internally consistent body of magico-religious beliefs.

About the Author

Brian Walsh received a B.A. in Celtic Studies and Religious Studies from the University of Toronto, and his M.Phil. from the University of Wales, in Llampeter. He is currently living in Toronto, and is an active member of the Celtic Spirituality movement there. In addition to following his own passion for Celtic Studies, Brian assists others to discover and express their own passions, through his practice as a Life Coach. Other interests include cinema, pop culture, horror novels and fitness. He currently lives in Toronto with his partner.