-
Copper Dowsing Rods & Water Witching
So, when I bought my little cottage earlier this summer, I knew one of the first things I needed to do was get a fence put in, so my dog could derp freely around the yard off-leash. Even though it’s a rural area, and not a super busy road, keeping him safe was crucial, so I found a couple of local guys to do the installation. Before they could do that, however, we had to determine where things like the gas line and the water main were (call before you dig!). After these were marked — I wasn’t even home when they did it — I got a call from…
-
Unlocking Key Magic
A while back, I was doing a bit of noodling around for a thing I was working on and it occurred to me I had never written a single thing about using keys in magical workings—which is a bit odd, because I do use them regularly myself. THUS IT WAS TIME. I’ve always been fascinated by keys. Even as a kid, I got excited when I found random ones lying around. I think at one point I had a couple of dozen stashed in a box, just because I thought they were neat. As I got older, and began to discover the transformative power of magic and witchcraft, I realized…
-
The Magic of Hex Signs
I live in a place that has a goodly amount of German-descended folks in the rural population, so occasionally when I’m out cruising along back roads I’ll pass the occasional barn with a hex sign on it. Although hex signs are not associated with modern Wicca, or even ancient Pagan religions, they are certainly worth taking note of, because they’re a really cool and artistic form of folk magic. Found mostly in the Pennsylvania Dutch country, hex signs — also called barn stars — are symbols painted on homes, cradles, and barns for a variety of magical purposes. The tradition originated in Germany and Switzerland. During the waves of emigration…
-
Eggshell Powder for Protection
I wanted to share with you one of my favorite magical ingredients, which I’ve always referred to as shell powder, or at least that’s what I called it when I started making it nigh on thirty years ago, and the habit done stuck. However, since that time I’ve learned that people who practice hoodoo, Santeria, conjure, and a number of other ATR magical systems use something similar, but it’s called cascarilla powder. Since I’m not a practitioner of those traditions and don’t feel entitled to use the word, for me, it’s just plain ol’ shell powder. That said, shell powder is stupid easy to get your hands on. YOU CAN…
-
Review: Byron Ballard’s Staubs & Ditchwater
This is a review which originally appeared on my About Paganism site – the content has recently gone away (because book reviews generally don’t garner a ton of page views) but since I’ve been delving deeper into Appalachian folk magic recently, this is a good time to re-share it. Book Review: Staubs and Ditchwater: A Friendly and Useful Introduction to Hillfolks’ Hoodoo, by Byron Ballard. I first met Byron Ballard in March 2012, when I visited Asheville, North Carolina, to cover the story of the Buncombe County School District and their religious materials policy. She’s one of those people who makes everyone feel comfy and welcomed, with her earth-mother vibe and say-what-you-mean-mean-what-you-say…
