INFORMATIVE FIGURES
Scholars, Influencers, and more
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ANGELA PUCA
Born in Naples, Italy she studied at the University of Naples ‘L’orientale’ and achieved her BA and MA degrees in Philosophy with a concentration on Eastern Philosophies, leading her to study Latin, Ancient Greek, Sanskrit and Tibetan (Classical and Modern). She then went on to achieve her PhD in Anthropology of Religion from Leeds Trinity University, where she has been a visiting lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies since 2016.
Anthropological Research:
The two main interests here being her papers on Italian Shamanism which can be found under the names of The Tradition of Segnature. Underground Indigenous Practices in Italy (March 2020) and “Witch” and “Shaman”: Discourse Analysis of the Use of Indigenizing Terms in Italy (November 2018)
Youtube Page:
Here she explains in more common terms her research findings.
Notes: This is an academic side of the magical world, so no spells to be had here, but if you are looking for overviews/introductions on various magical practices and components (not just Italian folk magic) this is a helpful place to start. Her Youtube videos are like class lectures on each subject with primary and secondary sources being credited, not just her personal experience, which is great for those who are interested in more historically accurate information.
F. GIANMICHAEL SALVATO
A retired naturopathic physician, and integrative wellness clinician who is also an Anthropologist, Alchemist, Intersectional Feminist, Rootworker, Tribal practitioner of magick, Animist, Italian Stregone Mago (Witch/Shaman), Sorcerer, author, and founder of the Order of the Dark Flame as well as the Inner Alchemy Movement and The Collective. A lifelong hereditary Witch, drawing on more than fifty years of personal study and practice, Gianmichael’s practice draws deeply from the well of Sacred Wisdom of the Ancestors and Spirits beyond the veil, as part of the Sicilian Craft of the Wise.
Notes: Comments on his youtube videos overall seem very encouraging and happy with his work, I personally found it to be like one of those videos where they promise to give you the secrets to everything and go on for an hour about how great it is once you pay a nominal fee. There is a lot of rambling when it comes to this work, and it takes a keen eye to find the actual information that is said to be offered here. Salvato tends to go on tangents about his own dislikes of other practitioners/works rather than focus on the topic at hand. Overall he has a very conversational tone which does make the videos feel more personable and inviting.
GAIL FAITH EDWARDS
Gail Faith Edwards is an internationally recognized Community Herbalist with more than thirty years of experience providing herbal support to people from rural Maine to her remote village in the Apennine Mountains of Southern Italy, where she spends several months each year. She refers to her approach to working with herbs as The Way of the Wild Heart and helping others learn to connect with nature in an intimate, healing, and the reciprocal way is an essential theme of her work
Notes: Beginner-friendly introduction into the world and history of medicinal plants and their uses. Though Edwards does have some resources dealing specifically with Southern Italy the content goes beyond that into different regions as well. She does have a variety of books published as well as a blog page in which she discusses her research.
GINA MIELE
Dr. Gina M. Miele, assistant professor of Italian and former director of the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America at MSU, received her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. She specializes in nineteenth and twentieth century Italian folktales, particularly those of Luigi Capuana and Italo Calvino. Her other research interests include Italian and Italian America folklore, Italian women healers, Italian folk medicine and magic and Italian Women Writers. She is currently working on a project about Italian folk magic, saints and mystics, and folk tales.
Notes: Beginner-friendly introduction into the world and history of medicinal plants and their uses. Though Edwards does have some resources dealing specifically with Southern Italy the content goes beyond that into different regions as well. She does have a variety of books published as well as a blog page in which she discusses her research.
LORI BRUNO
Born from a line of Ancient Dream Prophets out of Sicily, Lori Bruno has shared her gifts with the world as an openly practicing witch. She is the Hereditary High Priestess and Elder of the Sicilian Strega line of the Craft of the Wise, in 1993 she founded the Head Mother of Our Lord and Lady of the Trinacrian Rose Church, Inc. based in Salem, Massachusetts. She consults both practitioners and novices of the craft through her store Magika.
Store Website:
Closed due to COVID-19
Ripley’s Believe it or Not:
Article published in May 2018, where Ripley’s interviewed Lori Bruno about her work and her views of the world. SHe is then again interviewed in August 2019 for the Riplley’s Believe it or Notcasts, “Salem And The Curse Of Giles Corey'' Episode 009 (https://castbox.fm/x/1eQ0d)
Video Interview:
Recorded interview of Lori Bruno where she talks some about her practices and beliefs, no information as to when it was recorded or with whom.
Notes: Lori Bruno seems like a lovely individual with a contagious spirit that has made a mark in the spiritual community. However, though there are many interviews of her and her work she still is somehow elusive when it comes to further online research for practitioners to follow in her footsteps. Meaning that if you’re looking for a how-to-guide on magical practicings (spells, rituals, etc.,) you won’t find it with her. I did actually call her business in February of 2020, I have yet to hear a response. If she were to put out a book I would buy it in a heartbeat!
MARY-GRACE FAHRUN
Mary-Grace Fahrun a.k.a. Rue, was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Italian immigrant parents and grew up in the Italian neighborhoods of Montreal and Connecticut. She is multilingual, primarily fluent in English, Italian, and French; she describes herself as “an avid keeper of customs, traditions, and secrets” and is an authority on Italian folk magic and folk healing traditions.
Notes: Fahrun was my initial introduction to the Italian Folk Magic realm, she is an excellent combination of storytelling, 'how-to' manual on ritual information for any beginner. When I was first starting my journey onto this path she was kind enough to even answer a question of mine over Instagram.
SABINA MAGLIOCCO
An academic with a focus on Sociocultural Anthropology, Dr. Magliocco is the daughter of italian immigrants that lead to her growing up in both the US and Italy. Some of the subjects that she has written on include but not limited to, religion, folklore, foodways, festival and witchcraft in Europe and the United States, as wells as the modern Pagan movement. Her works include three books, “Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in America (2004),” “Neo-Pagan Sacred Art and Altars: Making Things Whole (2001),” and “The Two Madonnas: the Politics of Festival in a Sardinian Community (1993),” as well as a collection of scholarly articles.
Research Article on Italian Folk Magic:
Written in 2020, this article entails a wonderful introduction into the history and persistence of folk magic and practices within southern Italy up till the 21st century and some of its revivals even into the present day. It includes the voices of those whose family still practices the old ways, as well as examples of “spells” and their uses.
Notes: Dr. Magliocco creates a very thorough and descriptive writing style that is palatable even for a novice. I would recommend her work to anyone who is new to the ways of Italian folk magic and even to those looking to learn more in-depth reasons behind the folklore and practice. On her Amazon page, it says that she is also in the works of writing another book, one specifically about “traditional healers in Italy,” one that I await with anticipation.