You probably have heard the following saying, once or twice in your life. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. Cooking food for a man (or anyone) is a good way to win his (their) affections. And in the past seven years, that has certainly proven to have a deep truth to it. When you’ll find yourself in a position of frequent cooking, for someone, or your family, you will start to experience the ease of with your food can sooth arguments, stir up an evening, or make grown men weep.
Seriously, a heavenly tarte tatin, a full Sunday roast, home-baked bread, a sweet-and-slightly-sour cherry pie and a wicked tomato chutney, all have the power to make someone weep. Werther said weeping is through joy or horror of being forced to eat it, is up to you.
To start off, there is probably something your parents, or you grandmother, haven’t told you about cooking. Magic. Good food, great food, takes magic to get it done. How? Well, first of all, you wash your hands before anything, and you pray over the ingredients. You pray to Mary, and whatever saint you think you need, to bless the food. Blessings will season any food to the max. So be sure to use them well and ample. But don’t forget the physical seasoning! The second thing is; tell your fruit/vegetables/butter/whatever, how darn good and tasty they look. And how much better it will be when you’ve combined them. It may sound silly, but just do it. No ‘but’s‘, just crack on with it.
When you are cooking be sure to repeat a prayer or two. Or combine actions. With adding salt, hold the salt, while you quickly whisper a prayer to Mary. Or any saint. Then add it. Also, when you add fresh herbs from your own garden, thank the plant for it’s aroma/flavor. Make cooking a living thing, the magic will follow.
This also goes into cooking family dishes. Making something you remember your grandmother used to make, but don’t have her recipe? Pray and ask her to be with you, to guide your spoon and hand. Sing songs when you can, especially the one in your mother tongue. This will go into the food, especially when you stir them in. Usually go clock-wise, for good luck, and especially when adding seasoning/herbs/blessings. Because you want your food to ‘grow’ in flavor.
Last of all; keep your kitchenclean and well organised! Or at least clean. When you clean your kitchen, light a candle afterwards or during. And pray, sprinkle any scented water around, or wash with it. Pay special attention to the door into the kitchen, and the backdoor, if that is also in the kitchen. Clean them frequently, even if it is a quick wipe down with a damn cloth. Here is were the energy comes and goes. And god know’s what people drag into your kitchen on a daily basis. Keeping a cross, or a Rosary there would be a good idea. A statue of Mary would be even better.
That was all for now. You can find the previous tip *here*
“Five knots will I tie for every unfriendly and unfaithful shooter - on the guns, on the bows, on every weapon of war. O knots, shut against the shooter all highways and byways, close up the guns, put all the bows out of order, string together all the weapons of war; in my knots let there be almighty virtue.”
— –Russian folk magic spell against enemy weapons, quoted in W.F. Ryan, The Bathhouse at Midnight: Magic in Russia
I will do a 1 card reading from my Starman Tarot deck for any celebrity you want to know something about. I read through Spirit, which might be different from other readers.
I will tell you not only what I see in the card, but any words or phrases I hear, whatever vision is conjured, what emotions are evoked and what they tell me about the situation and person(s) in it.
Send me an ask about the celebrity you want to know about! Anyone past or present!
Photos taken by folklorist Gustav Henningsen of the folk magic performed in rural Galicia, Spain, in the 60s.
1) Amulet worn by a cow to make her give milk again 2) Ritual to cure jaundice 3) Ritual to remove the evil eye from a kid 4) Cattle going over the remains of a bonfire lit in St. John’s night 5) Divination method by wise women 6) Funeral
hereditary witchcraft has become a huge topic of discussion on this site - what’s so interesting about tumblr to me is to see hot-blooded arguments raging on questions i never considered needed fighting. While I understand that that term is used falsely by many who are trying to make themselves seem a little more important than the rest of us, it’s wrapped all the way back around now, where it’s assumed that ANYONE using that term is lying! Fascinating!
I am not one myself, and I am not from the Appalachian area i’m a little too far north, but consider that they are most likely telling you the truth. Appalachian communities are incredibly close-knit and clannish, and most people there benefit from deep family ties and folk remedies and oral history being passed through those lines. They have a generations old distrust of outsiders, and for a long time were more likely to rely on folk cures over medical help. While their grandparents may have never called themselves witches (and may have been teaching magic to ward off witches, a common mindset carried over from the Irish and Scots), they certainly taught their children and grandchildren the way, however they might have called it to themselves.
I find this take interesting (as someone who currently lives and whose family is from a Pennsylvanian part of Appalachia) because your reasoning for why some people might claim the title of hereditary witch is exactly why I wouldn’t.
The folk remedies and superstitions taught to me by my family members are explicitly not witchcraft. Like you said, many are even anti-witch. I tie them into my local, folk based craft but I personally feel like calling the lessons from my family “witchcraft” would be an insult to them.
My rosary praying every day, bible reading, God-fearing, Scots-Irish grandmother would beat me black and blue if she caught me calling what she does witchcraft. Folk healing is one thing. Witchcraft is another. Both might be types of magical practice but they’re different at their core. So while there might be overlap from the folk traditions of my family and my workings with the craft, to claim that I came from a family of witches would be a lie. Therefore, I am not a hereditary witch.
At the end of the day, what people decide to call themselves is none of my business. Everyone’s practice is their own and if someone feels the need to lie on the internet to get praise from strangers they have bigger issues going on.
My only point was that when this post came up as I was scrolling I found it interesting how people can look at the same information and come to two vastly different conclusions. It just goes to show that the craft is a highly unique experience for everyone and discussions about it must have the parameters made clear or miscommunication is bound to happen.
I’ve been seeing a lot of posts recently of people complaining that their spells aren’t working or aren’t strong enough because they don’t have the right tec and it really just blows my mind.
I mean, I know everyone needs to find a system that works for them and every system has varying degrees of difficult tools/ingredients. However, you don’t need anything fancy to still be able to do a boatload of magic!
A well annoited candle and a whisper into the flame. A blackthorn staff. A wet rag on a stone. So much can be done from so little if you understand the reasoning and process behind those ingredients and tools.
It isn’t a process learned overnight. I’ll be the first to admit to needing to study more and not get stuck in a rut in my practice. But get out there an experiment! Take notes! Fail and fail again and fail better until you succeed.
Anyone have any book reccommendations for southern folk witchcraft thats not focused as much on bible-centric beliefs? Im having trouble trying to find resources that arent super full of bible references
Is there a particular reason you want to specifically practice folk magic but also avoid the Christian bible?
I don’t want to come off as flippant with that question. It’s sincerely asked because resources will be much more difficult to find if they are both hills you’re willing to die on. It won’t be impossible but everyone has different boundaries so you might be able to get away with more if your limits are looser.
For example, I’m not southern but my craft is based in the folklore of my area. It’s an area which is heavily Christian. I’m not, but I also acknowledge the power that a tool like the bible has in certain workings. It’s also worth noting that just because something might come from a “Christian” source doesn’t mean there aren’t roots that dig even deeper.
If you truly want it to be southern, andfolklore based, and not Christian I would research stories and folklore of the area. Distill them down to their bones. Experiment with what works. Journal your findings. Get to know the local flora and fauna and the energy that resides in them and the land itself. Though to be fair, this is always my advice when it comes to locally based witchcraft.
Best of luck!
My reason for wanting to take the southern folk route without the christianity is because my family has lived in the deep south for a very long time, so i want to get closer to my roots, but Christianity has always rubbed me the wrong way. Depending on how reliable/apaptable the source its not really a deal breaker if it includes Christian themes because i recognize that Christianity is deeply intertwined with southern folklore and i want to respect that part of history. Also, im 100% planning on getting to know my area more and educating myself on the local stories! Thanks for the advice i appreciate it so much!!
I’m glad to hear that you’re already planning on learning more about your local area! I feel like that gets overlooked more often than anything else when it comes to folk magic. As for book recommendations, I don’t have a ton because most of my practice came locally but I have a few. As always, take everything with a heaping dose of salt and always try to check against multiple sources.
Okay! Onto the books:
If you want Southern folk magic and don’t mind Christian influences and bible talk, Jake Richards’s Backwoods Witchcraft is nice. I’ve also always loved The Silver Bullet, and Other American Witch Stories by Hubert Davis and Aaron Oberon’s Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft In The American South makes a nice addition to the Silver Bullet.
Forfolk magic in general, some people like Gemma Gary’s work. Her book The Devil’s Dozen: Thirteen Craft Rites of the Old One is nice but I have mixed feelings on her writing style. A friend of mine has all her books though and loves her.
A Grimoire for Modern Cunning Folk: A Practical Guide to Witchcraft on the Crooked Path by Peter Paddon is nice for “beginner” trad craft work. And while I’ve never read it, I’ve heard Nigel G. Pearson’s Treading the Mill: Practical Craft Working in Modern Traditional Witchcraft is worth checking out and is in the same traditional vein.
Like I said before, good luck with everything! Building a folk magic tradition isn’t the easiest but I wouldn’t trade my practice for anything.
I’ve created a discord server for those who walk a more traditional path in the craft. This includes tradcraft, cultural/folk magic, ceremonial magic, druidry, etc. If you think this fits you and you’re interested in joining, please set me a DM.
My spiritual practice is not Scandinavian-based, but I have been enjoying watching this series on Nordic witchcraft. This video in particular, highlighting the importance of maintaining a good relationship between spirits of the place and nature spirits. Anything that promotes hospitality and reciprocity, I am all for.
Today marks exactly one month before I fly off to my pilgrimage to Ireland. In anticipation for this I had created an advent candle of sorts, to be burnt starting nine weeks prior to when I leave. Each week is marked with a different layer, each separated by botanicals that I felt were relevant to what I was wishing to bring in.
At the start of each new week offerings are made, prayers are said {I have been using an altered version of Charm of Graceas one of those prayers}, along with divination and meditation. Each week is dedicated to researching and trying to connect with one of the sacred sites we are to be visiting, along with other work that might need to be done, mundane or spiritual. While doing anything in regards to the pilgrimage, I make sure to light the candle each time. If nothing else, it is a good way for me to stay focused.
Creating a candle like this is super easy. I just used an old jar that once belonged to a seven day candle, but one could easily do a pillar candle, or even a votive candle for smaller advents, or if less time can be dedicated to keeping vigil. And an advent candle like this could easily be used to observe a season, a particular working, or whatever else your imagination can come up with.
Thanks to the lovely fellow Brighidine flamekeeper for the original inspiration, you know who you are. <3
Not too long ago I had gotten some more artwork by Sean Fitzgerald {you can see previous ones that I had gotten here}. If you are into the history, folklore and myths of Ireland, or love really great Celtic knotwork, go check out his online store. He is easily one of my favourite artists, and the photos I took of the prints sent to me do them no justice.
Currently Sean is working with Amanda Healy on an Irish mythology tarot deck and is also working on a Celtic knotwork book. Go check out his Instagram account to stay up to date on those projects and see what else he is working on.
It has been quite a while since I have added a proper post here. I’ve found myself in a place where I’m feeling more private with all areas of my life the last couple of years, more so than I have in the past, including my spiritual practice. This hasn’t really changed all whole lot, but I am hoping the periods of silences this year will become smaller here. Thanks for those who have stuck around to take a peek at what I do post. Hope 2019 will treat you all well!
This year I am taking a pilgrimage to Ireland, which is being hosted by Land Sea Sky Travel and the Coru Cathubodua Priesthood. No surprise, I am really looking forward to going, not only to take a pilgrimage to the land of my own heart, but also to be able to meet fellow polytheists as we take this journey together. Being a pilgrimage, there has been, and will be a lot of preparation, both of the mundane kind and the spiritual. For most Gaelic polytheists, I think that line is blurred anyways. As I make these preparations, I am hoping to share some of my thoughts, practices, and so on. First up is the idea of daily purification.
Recently the Coru Cathubodua Priesthood hosted an online talk covering base practices within Celtic polytheism, and one of the topics covered was spiritual hygiene{cleansing and purification of self and space}. Daily purification was talked about, which inspired me to become less lax in this department. I wanted to create a special saining water that I could use at least once a day when doing my kindling prayers in the morning, and ideally at night as well when doing my smooring prayers.
Botanical Infused Alcohol for Saining Water
Given that plants and trees play a central role in my practice, it only made sense to incorporate them into making this water. To keep things from going rancid, I decided to start off with making an alcoholic base, with nine botanicals associated with blessing, protection, and of course purification.
To 80 proof vodka I added the following {all previously died}:
Rowan
Juniper
Yarrow
Rose
Meadowsweet
Thyme
Birch
Oak
Heather
Stored in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, I let everything steep for nine days, under a thick red fabric to keep the light out {red is associated with protection}, wrapped in a rowan berry and hagstone charm {again for protection}. Shaking once each day, while saying a little prayer for its intended purpose. After the steeping period, I strained the botanicals from the liquid. Now I have a base to work with, which I think should keep alright for at least a year, should I not use it all beforehand. Probably something nice to make again for each Imbolc.
Making Saining Water
I thought that the perfect time to make the saining water would be during a water blessing ritual that we do on the 20th shift of every cycle in a polytheist Brighidine flamekeeping sisterhood that I belong to. I made one bottle, with a back up mason jar just in case I needed more, before it is replenished, which would be every 20 days.
To the blessed water I added 20 drops of the alcoholic base, one for each day, and nine drops of rose essential oil and 18 drops of lavender essential oil. It smells very nice. Stored in an old whiskey bottle, it sits on the hearth shrine, ready for use every day.
Daily Saining Prayer
When doing my daily purification I pour some water into a little vessel, before saying the following prayer. While dipping fingers in water each time…
“May the Three bless my hands {rub water over hands}
May the Three bless my mind {touching brow}
May the Three bless my sight {touching *around* eyes}
May the Three bless my words {touching *around* mouth}
May the Three bless my voice {touching throat}
May the Three bless my heart {touching left side of chest}
May the Three bless my center {touching navel area}
May the Three bless my whole being {sprinkling water over self three times}
May the Three bless this space and any place I may be {sprinkling around shrine}”
***Please feel free to use this prayer, adapt it as needed. This is very much inspired by various prayers that one would find in Carmina Gadelica.***
Afterwards I like to leave the remaining poured water in the vessel on the shrine until the following day, to use as needed throughout the day. Plus it makes the room smell nice. :)
{***Please be sure to do your own research, find out if it is safe for you to use plants such as wormwood, and that you use proper dosages. There are several health conditions and situations where wormwood and related plants are not safe for folks to use. And please, for the love of all that is sacred, dilute before using and use responsibly.***}
This morning I started a brew of wormwood bitters {inspired by absinthe}, which I am looking forward to using to aid in travelling and divination during the upcoming dark half of the year. This is my first time making this, so it is a bit of an experiment. In my own brew I added the following herbs, after giving them a good going over with a stone mortar and pestle:
wormwood
fennel
anise
hyssop
peppermint
lemon balm
coriander seed
dandelion root
I then added in some 80 proof vodka, enough to cover the herbs and then some. Most of the ingredients are traditionally found in absinthe recipes, and many have the delightful associations of what I plan to use it for. I added dandelion root as a extra, for it’s association with seeing, ancestor work and the Otherworlds.
I will brew it for at least a week, shaking it every day, saying a little charm as I do so. While it sits, I will have it covered in black, with a pendant that I wear during some rituals, to inform the brew of its intended use.
It will then be strained and bottled, and use diluted. Below is the video I got inspiration from to make this, which I encourage people to check out.
The skull of a white-tailed buck skull waits patiently to be revealed under the full moon tonight, a suitable time, as July’s moon is often referred to as a full buck moon. And this one is going to be a doozy, being the longest blood moon eclipse this century. Also auspicious, as this skull had been reddened before being wrapped to be symbolically reborn and consecrated to his new station.
At some point I intend to do an in depth post on the whole process of reddening, rebirthing, consecration and binding a sacred object to oneself.
{Deer skull was found by another in the forest, after dying a natural death}
Apparently I have hurt somebody’s feelings by not hating the Christian religion with a burning passion and believing that the problem lies in hateful people who will say anything to justify their even more hateful action. Apparently people still think making assumptions about people based on a single post is somehow a great idea, so allow me to make some things clear. I’ve had an influx of new followers lately anyways, so best I get this out of the way.
Trigger Warning. I get personal here. If you don’t like what I have to say, best you unfollow me.
• I grew up in a (mostly) Christian family. I have religious trauma from my mum’s mum telling me that being bisexual is a mental illness, that people who wish to be openly lgbtq+ should have mandated therapy and that lgbtq+ people shouldn’t have the right to marry. Don’t even get me started on the nasty things my mum’s dad has said about lgbtq+ people. Dealing with this as a teenager alongside untreated depression, social anxiety and adhd was traumatic, to say the least.
• That being said, I do not identify as a Christian. I do choose to study the Bible and accept Christian elements of folk practices from my region, simply because I don’t see a reason to totally separate it. If it worked for the older folks then might as well go with it, but other people don’t have to keep the Christian elements. There is no problem with incorporating your own religious views into folk practices.
• Studying the Bible has also left more room for perspective for me, as well as comparing what some Christians say is in the Bible vs what is actually in the Bible. I don’t view myself as an authority on such topics nor do I believe I have the “only right translation”. If I notice that there is absolutely nothing relating to what a person claims is in the text, then I point that out.
• I do not hate Christianity. I hate people who use Christianity or any religion to justify their hateful actions. Why do I not hate Christianity itself? I have put in time and effort into healing my religious trauma; because I know that just sitting with it and not resolving it does not do anything good.
• I believe there are Christians who set a better example of the religion than these hateful people. I believe that it is these people who are openly speaking out against hateful Christians who deserve a platform to speak on the religion. I do not believe it is impossible for Christians to deconstruct what was beaten into them and figure out how to be better people (and better Christians overall).
• How do I know there are Christians who set a better example? My grandparents on the other side of the family are the ones who showed me this. Both had gay uncles, and now my grandparents have multiple lgbtq+ grandchildren (including myself). They have shown us lgbtq+ kids nothing but love, support and acceptance. They have worked to go out of their way to deconstruct what the generation before them would have wanted them to believe on many topics. I have never met people their ages that have gone so far out of their way to understand people my age. Like anybody else, there is room for improvement still. At least they are trying. There are also the Christians and Christopagans outside of the family I have met who have also shown nothing that makes me think they are hateful Christians. If you haven’t gotten to experience something like this… I’m sorry for ya. I hope you can one day.
• No religion, Christian or otherwise, it safe from shitty people. Modern people like to use their religious beliefs to justify hate and people from centuries before us liked to conquer and colonize. Christianity wasn’t the first; it’s just the one that does it the most in recent centuries.
With all of that being said, if this somehow bothers you… I’m not sorry. We all end up having our own experiences that shape our perspectives, and we all choose how to decide what we do and don’t hate. I choose to take my experiences, seek to see if there is something beyond that and go from there.
Highly recommend to all POC witches especially if you practice folk magick. This is written by J Allen Cross a Latino in the LGBT community. The first few pages really touched my soul and i finally felt understood by someone all this magick in this book is what i grew up on! If you are not “hispanic or latino” i still recommend it i found it very similar to hoodoo with a few small differences and also its just good to learn about other cultures and their experiences.
Uses: Reduces anxiety, Boosts the immune system, Yeast and Fungal infections, Skin problems, Cancer, Heart health, Weight loss, Chest infections, Stomach disorders, throat and mouth problems, Culinary (Works best with Chilli, garlic, tomato or onions)
Try It : Spell to help people overcome the loss of a loved one. Mourning is important but sometimes we need a little spell help to move on. It also settles the stomach and helps with a headache.
Method 1 - Spell tea;
1 tsp Dried Oregano (although you can buy is from a store it is more potent if your grown and dry your own).
½ tsp Lemon and ½ tsp Honey (or substitute sweeten)
Place the herb in a small pot and add 1 cup or hot water (Not a full boil)
Allow to steep for 4 mins and sieve into a cup.
Stir in the Lemon and Honey stirring windshins to banish the negative emotions.
Method 2 - Fresh Herb;
Simply pinch fresh Oregano between your fingers breath in deeply think of the person and them let it drop, releasing your breath and the person.
Warnings: Always mix with a carrier oil, neat it will irritate the skin. Do not ingest the oil. Do not take when pregnant.
Parts used: Aerial parts and essential oil
Magic: A strong magical herb. Used in love spells to build the bond, Tranquillity spells, Courage building, It was traditionally grown in the cottage gardens to protect from black magic and hexes.
Planet : Mercury and Venus
Element : Air and Earth
Deities : Venus
Folklore and History: The earliest use recorded is the Assyrians over 5000 years ago. The best variety is the Greek where the name comes from Oros Ganos “Joy of the mountains”. If you see Oregano growing on a grave it was believed to indicate that the person was enjoying the afterlife. Both the Ancient Greeks and Pagans used Oregano in their wedding ceremonies (Greek as a wreath on the head, Pagans in the hand tying). The famous Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic and for stomach conditions. Oregano is one of the rare herbs that tastes better dried than it does fresh.
Plant Tips : It grows will in the shade. Rich soils and recent flowering will reduce the potency. It like a Ph of 6.8. Replace the plants every four years to prevent them getting too straggly. Warning : Like all Marjoram’s it likes to hybridise with other species, if you purchase seeds and the results seem bland and flavourless then it’s likely to not be true Origanum vulgare.
“The charm put by Bride the beneficient, On her goats, on her sheep, on her kine, On her horses, on her chargers, on her herds, Early and late going home, and from home.
To keep them from rocks and ridges, From the heels and the horns of one another, From the birds of the Red Rock, And from Luath of the Feinne.
From the blue peregrine hawk of Creag Duilion, From the bridled eagle of Ben-Ard, From the swift hawk of Tordun, From the surly raven of Bard’s Creag.
From the fox of the wiles, From the wolf of the Mam, From the foul-smelling fumart, And from the restless great-hipped bear.
From every hoofed of four feet, And from every hatched of two wings.”
-Carmina Gadelica, Volume II. Edited by Alexander Carmichael. Attributed by Carmichael to Mary MacVuirich of S. Lochboisdale.
Someone just explained “intent is all you need” as being anti-capitalist and meant you didn’t need tools. I had never heard that before and had never thought of it like that.
I guess I focus so much on the practice building and using free shit that it hadn’t occurred to me.
I feel like more people need to understand that “tools” can consist of a stick you picked up off the ground and a paring knife, or a hundred other things. Not everyone is called to use tools in their practice, but for those who are: you absolutely do not need to go buy a pure silver knife with runes carved into it or whatever.
Personally most of the tools I use for magic are things I use and handle all the time, sewing scissors and needles and bone folders etc. They work for me because I have a connection to them already, and it’s just one way that I build my practice into my daily life.
I mean, I literally collect acorn, metal washers I find in the street, and and have an unnecessarily large collection of reused jars.
I’m still baffled by this person’s comments.
I still thing “it’s all about intent” is foolish.
I always took intent to be more of a differentiator than “everything” or “nothing”. Like, I guess because my tradition is pretty folk-y, most of my magical tools are just my regular tools. Intent is what differentiates between practical use and magical use, but like… I still have to *use* them for something.
This is a great mix to help boost your plants and get them ready for a good season. I generally just use it when transplanting and then again a few weeks before harvest. It’s for special occasion watering, not every day. :)
Recipe below the cut!
Take
-water from making hard boiled eggs
-½ tsp kelp powder (or like an inch of kelp leaf, some un-seasoned nori, dulse, etc). If you can’t use any seaweed, use green (preferably) or black tea.
-1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
-Enough water to make it one gallon.
If you’re using tap water, mix that all together and let it sit overnight. If you’re using filtered, distilled, well, or any other water that doesn’t have chlorine, you can skip the wait.
Mix in:
-½ cup worm castings
Let it sit for a day. You’ll probably see some bubbles, and it’ll turn dark. That’s good!
I dump it in to my watering can and fill with regular water, but you can use it straight and then just water a bit over it.
While it has a pretty small NPK number, the real magic is all the trace nutrients it has (calcium, iron, etc) as well as lots of good microbes to help release other nutrients in the soil for the plants.
I embroidered patches! These are the first things I’ve ever embroidered, except some awful teeth on a skirt I made also from this fabric and found a delight to work with.
The fabric is from a 50+ year old curtain, requisitioned from my friend’s friend’s dead friend Albert’s house last year. He was a fun man with a rich and varied life - he designed a city (which was in fact built), drove buses, kept journals, ran every day at the same running track in the 60s, was an LGBT rights activist in the 90s… all sorts. He had many and wonderful items in his house which I have rehomed and enjoy every day, and this curtain is one of these. It was absolutely massive, and had never ever been washed. Any time I have made things from it and washed it, hours and hours of hand washing have yielded bathtubs full of black water until I have run out of stamina. Albert, why! Just once, Albert! Just once!!!
Anyway, I made patches with the intention of putting them in my shop, but when I did my customary first-access release on Patreon, every single one was bought in under ten minutes. So I suppose I shall have to make more next time!
While researching the Salem Witch Trials, early English folk magic, and modern psychic practices for my upcoming dark fantasy series, my world has become a lot more… magical. Despite my best efforts, I can’t bring myself to believe wholly in magic (though I envy those of you who can!), but I’ve started to notice how these practices I’m studying survive in our modern, logical, technology-centered…
Bealtaine (bee-YAL-tin-eh) is the ancient Irish fire festival that starts the night of April 30th- Oíche Bealtaine- and is celebrated May 1- Lá Bealtaine (though festivities can last longer). Bealtaine marks the beginning of summer. In modern Irish Catholic tradition, May is celebrated as the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
These quatations are all pulled from the dúchas.ie folklore collection. To learn more, go to https://duchas.ie
Significance of Fire
The ashes was never put out on May Day long ago.
-Mrs. French, Co. Mayo
A central theme of Bealtaine is fire, as it is with all the Irish fire festivals. On the eve of the holiday, all fires were put out. A central fire was lit at the heart of the island, which spread throughout:
On May Eve the Druids lit the great sacred fire at Tara and as the signal flames rose up high in the air and then a fire is to kindled on every hill in Erin; till the whole island is on fire with fires.
-Patrick Healy Co. Galway
A similar tradition has been revived at the Hill of Uisneach.
Having a bonfire and spreading the light from that central point would be a great way to honor the sacredness of fire and celebrate Bealtaine.
Back then, people would also guide their cattle through two bonfires at Bealtaine, to cleanse and bless them for good health and abundance. Speaking of cattle…
Protecting Cattle
The people also tie a piece of red cloth on each cows’ tail. This they tie on in the morning before letting them out. They do this to prevent the fairies from taking the cow’s milk. Sometimes they tie a horse-shoe-nail or “táirgne crúth” in the cow’s tails
-Mrs. Nora Maloney, Co. Mayo
On May Eve now people sprinkle Easter water on all the crops, cattle etc. and on the boundary fence. Perhaps this is apart from it’s religious aspect a survival of the old dread of ‘pishogues’ when people dreaded harm to their crops and cattle.
Long ago the people went out on May morning and blessed the cow with a lighting candle.
-Patrick Lally, Co. Galway
And while we’re talking about protection…
Yellow Flowers- Festive Protection
In years gone by the people used to throw a primrose in the byre door so that the fairies would not take away the milk from the cows for the year. It was at May eve that they threw this primrose in the byre door.
-William J Mc Laughlin
It is the custom for children to pick May flowers or Marsh marigolds on the last evening in April. These they throw on the doorstep or on the windowsill.
-Mrs. Norah Maloney, Co. Mayo
The first of May is called May Day or (Lá Bealtaine). On the eve of this feast the children gather may-flowers and place them on the window sills of the houses.
-P. Mc Closkey
“Cow-slips were hung on the door that day to bring good luck for the year.”
-Martin Costello, Co. Mayo
Try hanging up yellow flowers at your doors and windowsills for protection and good luck! If don’t have any flowers, don’t worry. There’s another way to welcome in good luck…
May Day Dew
It is also said that if you get up early on that morning and wash your face with the dew on the grass you will be healthy during the year.
-Collected by Anthony Clark
They washed their faces in the dew on May morning before the sun rose and and they would not get sunburned again for the year.
- Mrs. French, Co. Mayo
If a person wanted to preserve their beauty , they would have to get up one hour before sun-rise and wash their face in dew off the grass on May morning.
-Collected by Amy Gilligan, Co. Mayo
That’s all well and good, but there is something more sinister that May morning dew is useful for…
Baneful Butter Stealing
Long ago, on May morning, lots of old woman went out in the morning before the sun arose and swept the dew of the grass by pulling a long rope after them and calling, “Come all to me, come all to me.” This was a kind of witchcraft, taking away butter of other people’s milk.
-Collected by Rudy Stronge, Co. Donegal
It is also believed if one goes out early and milks the neighbour’s cow, they will be able to get all the butter from that cow’s milk so they will have double the supply while their neighbour will not get any.
Long ago on May morning some people used pull three ribs from the cow’s tail and take clay from her hoofs and bring it home. Then that person would have butter from the cows she did this to and the person to whom the cows belonged would have none after churning.
-Michael Costello, Co. Mayo
Some women used get a twig of mountain ash and put it under the churn on May Day and so get all the butter from her neighbours churn, on condition that she said she wanted the butter from her neighbours churn while making her own.
-Mrs. Butler, Co. Mayo
While I don’t condone butter theft, Bealtaine seems to be the right time to do it. Let’s look at another way to celebrate!
The May Bush
On May day morning, children get a small haw-thorn bush or at least a branch of one on which there is haw-thorn in bloom. On this bush they tie all kinds of coloured ribbons, papers, tinsel or other decorations left after the Xmas decorations till it is a gorgeous sight.
-Collected by Joan Martin
While hawthorn is the traditional tree chosen for the May bush, it’s important to remember that the Irish tradition states to never ever bring hawthorn indoors.
This quote’s sort of a miscellaneous one, but I thought it was interesting.
On May Night long ago the people used to leave a cake and a jug of milk on the table because they thought the Irish who were buried in America and other countries used come home on that night and visit their own home. Another old custom was to leave the doors unlocked that night. They considered it unlucky to give butter or milk way to any person on May Day as they would be giving away their luck. No stables were to be cleaned out on that day. The first person to go to the well in the morning was supposed to have luck for the rest of the year. It is not right to give money to anyone on that day. But if you get money on that day you will be getting it for the year.”
-Mrs. Joyce, Co. Mayo
Ah, can’t forget the ancestors. Or the diaspora! ;)
Anincredibly common tradition I saw while scrolling through dúchas (I really recommend you do it yourself! They have everything!) was that milk, coals, salt, money, or really anything isn’t to be given away at Bealtaine, or you’ll lose something for yourself. Something supernatural about Bealtaine surpasses the Irish tradition of hospitality. This to me really highlights a theme of abundance. Welp, that’s all I have for now!
