Often an entry in the "Pagan Portals" series from Moon Books gets to have a very laser-like focus on a topic; indeed, that's the attraction of these books - concise introductions to pagan topics. Well, Morgan Daimler was thrown a curve ball (or probably chose to swing at one, honestly) by taking on The Wild Hunt, an entity or group of entities that seems to have sprung up in cultures all over the world. As per usual, Daimler takes a measured and well-researched approach to bring some clarity to what has always seemed, to me at least, to be a mish-mash amalgamation of barely related stories.
At the end of her introduction, Daimler warns us that "it may be best to try not to limit your understanding of the Wild Hunt by thinking of them specifically as any type of spirit or emphasize any one origin theory, but rather to appreciate the diversity." This guidance served this reader well, as she immediately expands at the beginning of Chapter 1 that "[t]he Wild Hunt is found in Germany, France, Denmark, Normandy, Sweden, Norway, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the United States, from the 12th century through the modern era." Right off the bat we know that we're going to be led on an interpolation as much as an explanation. There are, she explains, common elements such as the flying, but who or what is in the Hunt can vary. Often the dead, but sometimes just spiritual entities. Sometimes the dead are slain warriors, sometimes not. The hunters are mounted and accompanied by hounds, but sometimes these are common animals and sometimes they are fire-breathing beasts. The leader of the Hunt has a lot to do with where we are talking about, ranging from Odin or his cultural equivalents to fertility and death goddesses of the region. So, with all of these differences what exactly is the point? Why do we even assume that these concepts are related?
Chapters 4 and 6 do a lot of the heavy lifting in answering these questions. Chapter 4 goes into the associations that different cultures have with the Wild Hunt; the Dead, and Witches, but also a lot of livestock imagery. Medieval witchery was associated with processing dead and while this isn't a 1-to-1 with the Wild Hunt, the gradual shift of ideas over time may indicate some crossover. In general, the dead feature prominently either as hunters or prey (sometimes both), and now we harken back to most cultures' struggle with understanding death. Chapter 6 veers into practical territory - you've read 50+ pages about the Wild Hunt at this point, now what are you supposed to do with that information? Daimler is quick to caution that you don't want to just add "Wild Hunt Veneration" as a generic category in your practice; you should have a very clear reason why you're even bringing them up and then do so with much caution. After all, as she reminds us, "running makes you prey." Personally, if most of the advice someone gives you about working with an entity involves how not to get run to ground by it/them, that's warning enough to be judicious. So why ever do it? Honestly, Daimler's attitude mostly seems to be "don't." But if you're going to, she suggests it would be appropriate for the reconciliation of death of transformation in your life. I'd suggest starting with the guided meditation that she offers as a gentler on ramp to this discussion, and only proceeding with her other advice if you feel you received positive feedback during the meditation.
As per usual with Morgan Daimler, two things in conclusion. One, there is a robust bibliography at the end to continue your research if her introduction to the Wild Hunt whets your appetite for more. The mission of Pagan Portals is to give you entre into a pagan topic, not to master it. If you're not interested, you haven't invested serious time or money and, well, now you know. Whereas if you *are* interested, Daimler points you in the right direction for greater depth. And two, I can whole-heartedly recommend this latest offering from Daimler as another example of her diligence and expertise. If you have even the slightest interest in the Wild Hunt this is an excellent starting point.
~review by Wanderer
Author: Morgan Daimler
Moon Books, 2026
pp. 112, $12.95 USD
