The Tradition of Household Spirits: Ancestral Lore and Practices by Lecouteux

US $13.00
ApproximatelyS$ 16.77
Condition:
Good
Please see pictures. Book has some minor wear.
Breathe easy. Free returns.
Shipping:
US $4.47 (approx S$ 5.77) USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: Dearborn, Michigan, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Fri, 3 Oct and Wed, 8 Oct to 94104
Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's shipping history, and other factors. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.
Returns:
30 days return. Seller pays for return shipping.
Coverage:
Read item description or contact seller for details. See all detailsSee all details on coverage
(Not eligible for eBay purchase protection programmes)
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:226725991617
Last updated on Aug 09, 2025 02:53:40 SGTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including scuff marks, but no holes or tears. The dust jacket for hard covers may not be included. Binding has minimal wear. The majority of pages are undamaged with minimal creasing or tearing, minimal pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text, no writing in margins. No missing pages. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
Seller Notes
“Please see pictures. Book has some minor wear.”
ISBN
9781620551059
Category

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Inner Traditions International, The Limited
ISBN-10
1620551055
ISBN-13
9781620551059
eBay Product ID (ePID)
164708447

Product Key Features

Book Title
Tradition of Household Spirits : Ancestral Lore and Practices
Number of Pages
248 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2013
Topic
Witchcraft (See Also Religion / Wicca), Folklore & Mythology, Supernatural
Genre
Body, Mind & Spirit, Social Science
Author
Claude Lecouteux
Format
Trade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height
0.6 in
Item Weight
10.9 Oz
Item Length
9 in
Item Width
6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
TitleLeading
The
Dewey Edition
23
Reviews
There is so much lore and information in this book that reading it is like entering another world. It is a world rooted in the past, but relevant to our time., ...it is a serious study of the tradition of spirit life within a household. In the end Lecouteux makes the point that as modern families give up their attachment to place, they are also losing powerful ethereal presences that energize not only buildings but also generations of people. It's a very interesting read., The chapters are well laid out, well written, and have both clear conclusions and bridges that bring the reader from one chapter to the next. The author seems to be very thorough in his exploration of household spirits as understood in the Middle Ages in France, Germany, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe., Lecouteux provides plenty of historical accounts and stories that exemplify the various beliefs discussed, and his detailed and thoroughly researched writing remains accessible despite the academic tone evident in this translation. Readers with an interest in folklore, superstitions, or fairy tales will find it enlightening, especially regarding the traces of these beliefs that still exist in modern consciousness, either in lingering cultural traditions or from the folk and fairy tales we continue to pass down over generations., Lecouteux provides plenty of historical accounts and stories that exemplify the various beliefs discussed, and his detailed and thoroughly researched writing remains accessible despite the academic tone evident in this translation. Readers with an interest in folklore, superstitions, or fairy tales will find it enlightening, especially regarding the traces of these beliefs that still exist in modern consciousness, either in lingering cultural traditions of from the folk and fairy tales we continue to pass down over generations.
Dewey Decimal
133.122
Table Of Content
Foreword by Ronald Grambo Acknowledgments Introduction: More Than a Simple Building Part One The House and Its Grounds 1 The House and Its Construction 2 The Building 3 The Openings of the House 4 The House Interior Part Two The House Spirits 5 Domestic Spirits in Antiquity and the Middle Ages 6 The Origin of House Spirits 7 The Manifestations of Household Spirits 8 The Purveyor Spirits 9 Haunted Houses Once Upon a Time . . . Appendix 1 Sayings and Beliefs Appendix 2 The Alf Appendix 3 A Brief Summa Notes Bibliography Index
Synopsis
Examines how the ancient customs of constructing and keeping a house formed a sacred bond between homes and their inhabitants * Shares many tales of house spirits, from cajoling the local land spirit into becoming one's house spirit to the good and bad luck bestowed by mischievous house elves * Explains the meaning behind door and window placement, house orientation, horsehead gables, the fireplace or hearth, and the threshold * Reveals the charms, chants, prayers, and building practices used by our ancestors to bestow happiness and prosperity upon their homes and their occupants Why do we hang horseshoes for good luck or place wreaths on our doors? Why does the groom carry his new bride over the threshold? These customs represent the last vestiges from a long, rich history of honoring the spirits of our homes. They show that a house is more than a building: it is a living being with a body and soul. Examining the extensive traditions surrounding houses from medieval times to the present, Claude Lecouteux reveals that, before we entered the current era of frequent moves and modular housing, moving largely from the countryside into cities, humanity had an extremely sacred relationship with their homes and all the spirits who lived there alongside them--from the spirit of the house itself to the mischievous elves, fairies, and imps who visited, invited or not. He shows how every aspect of constructing and keeping a house involved rites, ceremony, customs, and taboos to appease the spirits, including the choice of a building lot and the very materials with which it was built. Uncovering the lost meaning behind door and window placement, the hearth, and the threshold, Lecouteux shares many tales of house spirits, from the offerings used to cajole the local land spirit into becoming the domestic house spirit to the good and bad luck bestowed upon those who seek the help of the "Little Money Man." He draws on studies and classic literature from old Europe--from Celtic lands and Scandinavia to France and Germany to the far eastern borders of Europe and into Russia--to explain the pagan roots behind many of these traditions. Revealing our ancestors' charms, prayers, and practices to bestow happiness and prosperity upon their homes, Lecouteux shows that we can invite the spirits back into our houses, old or new, and restore the sacred bond between home and inhabitant., Examines how the ancient customs of constructing and keeping a house formed a sacred bond between homes and their inhabitants., Examines how the ancient customs of constructing and keeping a house formed a sacred bond between homes and their inhabitants - Shares many tales of house spirits, from cajoling the local land spirit into becoming one's house spirit to the good and bad luck bestowed by mischievous house elves - Explains the meaning behind door and window placement, house orientation, horsehead gables, the fireplace or hearth, and the threshold - Reveals the charms, chants, prayers, and building practices used by our ancestors to bestow happiness and prosperity upon their homes and their occupants Why do we hang horseshoes for good luck or place wreaths on our doors? Why does the groom carry his new bride over the threshold? These customs represent the last vestiges from a long, rich history of honoring the spirits of our homes. They show that a house is more than a building: it is a living being with a body and soul. Examining the extensive traditions surrounding houses from medieval times to the present, Claude Lecouteux reveals that, before we entered the current era of frequent moves and modular housing, moving largely from the countryside into cities, humanity had an extremely sacred relationship with their homes and all the spirits who lived there alongside them--from the spirit of the house itself to the mischievous elves, fairies, and imps who visited, invited or not. He shows how every aspect of constructing and keeping a house involved rites, ceremony, customs, and taboos to appease the spirits, including the choice of a building lot and the very materials with which it was built. Uncovering the lost meaning behind door and window placement, the hearth, and the threshold, Lecouteux shares many tales of house spirits, from the offerings used to cajole the local land spirit into becoming the domestic house spirit to the good and bad luck bestowed upon those who seek the help of the "Little Money Man." He draws on studies and classic literature from old Europe--from Celtic lands and Scandinavia to France and Germany to the far eastern borders of Europe and into Russia--to explain the pagan roots behind many of these traditions. Revealing our ancestors' charms, prayers, and practices to bestow happiness and prosperity upon their homes, Lecouteux shows that we can invite the spirits back into our houses, old or new, and restore the sacred bond between home and inhabitant.
LC Classification Number
GR549.L4313 2013

Item description from the seller

About this seller

MacDuff s Cool Stuff

99.6% positive feedback5.3K items sold

Joined Dec 1999
Usually responds within 24 hours
Welcome to MacDuff's Cool Stuff! I'm always searching for interesting, unique finds to feature in my eBay store and add items weekly so be sure to check back to see what's new.

Detailed Seller Ratings

Average for the last 12 months
Accurate description
4.9
Reasonable shipping cost
5.0
Shipping speed
5.0
Communication
5.0

Seller feedback (1,750)

All ratings
Positive
Neutral
Negative