#folk healing

[nile-the-empathy-cleric]

Putting my anthropology degree to good use and compiling a bunch of credible sources documenting real life Balkan folk magic traditions in one easy, convenient article!

I know so many sources about witchcraft are inaccessible and or culturally appropriative, so I did a lot of research and wrote this easy to digest article covering some basics of South Eastern European folk belief. I’m thinking of writing more articles about various European folk traditions (when I have time!) so this will be an ongoing project. I hope you learn something new and meaningful to incorporate into your craft 💗

An Introduction to Balkan Folk Magic

Like many old world practices, traditional Balkan magic has historically been carried out by cunning folk, healers and seers who were gifted in communicating with the “other world”. These community healers practiced generational family knowledge, remedies and prayers passed down from elders. It is important to note that most cunning folk did not view themselves as witches, rather they were seen as conduits for god’s miracles. Within a historical context, these practitioners very much considered themselves Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. Elements of paganism lingered in many rural regions, though they were absorbed into the social-religious fabric of the day. Rituals performed by cunning folk were typically protective, either preventative or as a treatment for supernatural maladies. Spells shielded people from harm, physically or spiritually.

Many of these traditional healers and diviners were women. They passed down knowledge to their daughters, granddaughters, and nieces. Men weren’t barred from practicing, it was just rarer for them to perform these rituals. These traditions are often tied to the family, home, or the community. Many magical rituals shared common themes, but were often specific to a singular family. The women who performed these rituals and divined their neighbors’ futures are known as bajalica, bajanje, basmara, bajarica, or bajaluša — or “conjurers that heal with words.” Bajalica and those they helped held the belief that spirits have the power to afflict illness, charms, and hexes. Bajalica are the mediators between the spirit and human worlds.

In Serbian folk belief, each family has their own protective spirit or slava. Families would celebrate them with dedicated rituals in which they made offerings of bread, sacred water, wine, and oil, as well as lighting incense and sacred candles. These spirits or saints are associated with the hearth, the heart of the home, which is considered the most sacred ritual space. During healing rituals bajalica call upon the slava, drawing and channeling their power to strengthen spells. These spells typically involve a verbal component, whispered incantations that call upon saints and spirits for help in casting evil away. These verbal formulas are highly specific to each bajalica, often times mumbling well remembered words to rid patients of their misfortune.

Spiritual afflictions are found through various means of divination, digging for the root cause. Divination has long been used to predict the fates of those who seek out the conjurers. These methods include reading tarot, casting beans and interpreting patterns (also known as favomancy), molybdomancy (casting and reading molten lead), reading tea leaves and coffee grounds, and gazing into copper bowls filled with water beneath the moonlight and interpreting patterns in the reflection. Divination was and is, the main way to discover the root of “spiritual sickness”, who hexed whom, if one was afflicted with the evil eye, the urok. Much of Balkan folk belief centers around protection from the evil eye, with the majority of spells dedicated to banishing or warding.

Various regions and countries have their own means of protecting oneself from the evil eye. In Albania people use dordolec, house dolls, that are elaborately dressed and displayed in gardens or atop homes to protect against the malicious urok. In modern times most dordolec are stylized scarecrows or stuffed animals, but the intent is the same. It is believed that the doll reflects the covetous gaze back on the perpetrator and shields the home’s inhabitants. Other amulets in Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, and various Balkan countries are dried snake heads between two holy medals made of silver, objects made of iron, cloves of garlic, the hand of Fatima or hamsa, and the nazar.

Again, most rituals heavily focus on protection magic — not just from the evil eye, but malevolent spirits as well. Bajalica will employ the ritual use of knives, broom whisks, sickles, and axes in healing and warding spells. Though these are physical implements, they are tokenistic, a form of sympathetic magic. Knives and other sharp implements are used symbolically, cutting away illness and curses from the spiritual self by slashing bowls of water or the air around the afflicted person in increments of 3 or 9. These are considered sacred numbers. After the symbolic cuts are made, the water is spilled at a crossroads away from the home. This leads the evil away from the community.

Healing rituals have many intricate components. Conjurers often employ various herbs in healing and blessing water such as basil, thyme, oregano, Saint John’s-wort, sage, and mugwort. Other healers might cleanse spaces and energies with a smoke bath made of similar herbal blends. Not only do healers use ritual tools, they often perform physical acts, such as performing knot magic and binding spells using colorful yarn. The yarn is typically red, black, or white. White yarn is used in healing rituals, red in binding magic and love spells, and black is used in binding as well — though it is sometimes used for darker, malicious purposes.

The folk practices of South Eastern Europe are heavily entrenched in doing acts of good. Healers serve their communities, curing ailments and casting protective spells. Many of these traditions still exist in some capacity and are practiced equally among Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Balkans. Though many of the rituals have a religious faith based element, they can be adapted to secular, agnostic, or polytheistic belief systems. These practices date back hundreds of years and by choosing to incorporate them into your craft, you are helping keep rich and beautiful traditions alive.

(sources available at the end of linked article)

#folk magic #folk healing #witchblr #witchcraft #balkan folk magic #balkan culture #my writing #eclectic witch #wicca #pagan #divination #tarot #tasseomancy #tasseography #sympathetic magic #book of shadows #grimoire #knot magic #anthropology #beginner witch #baby witch #witchcraft basics #evil eye

[lailoken]

I have been Casting the Wrested Thread to help with my injured finger for a week now, and while healing still takes time, I have already begun to notice a decrease in swelling, and so has my doctor. My range of motion also finally seems to be getting a bit better. Thank goodness for magic.

#traditional withcraft #folk magic #folk healing #wresting the thread #casting the wrested thread #healing #healing magic #wending way

[brightgnosis]

My brain's rambling around in my head today (because someone went through my Mormon Folk Healing tag and left a bunch of notifications last night); thinking about how you can't really be a Folk Healer without a community of people to heal to begin with, and how certain people are so right about the "Folk" element of so much of Folk Religion and Folk Magic really referring not only to the fact these practices are deviating from the standard of the culture, but also to the presence of a collective community to service with these skills in the first place- rather than that pseudo-spiritual nonsense about it referring to "its connection to the Earth", or "the fact it's low magic", and the nonsense about "living on the edge, alone and an othered outcast".

#Personal #2024 #Religion & Magic #Folk Healing #Folk Religion #Folk Magic

[tonechkag]

"A Ukrainian ceremony in which an egg was used to cure fever has been documented. A Babka rolled an egg over a patients body and then broke it into water. The cure was said to be guaranteed if the healer was able to discern the cause of a fear by interpreting the egg-white formations (Podolinskii 1879, 186). In other descriptions, an egg was rolled over an inflicted person and thrown to dogs to eat (Chubinskii 1872, 42, 131)."

The Word And Wax: A Medical Folk Ritual Among Ukrainians in Alberta by Rena Jeanne Hanchuk

#sadly this book is out of print but if you can track down a copy it's definitely worth it #Ukrainian Canadian #folk magic #folk healing #slavic folk magic #slavic witchcraft #oomancy #egg cleansing #transference of spirits #holy queue #from my previous blog #The Word and Wax by Rena Jeanne Hanchuk

[filipinfodump]

I was able to get the story from the woman who works for us who I will call Ka-J. and I had some interesting things come up from similar aswang stories I had read before. Here's some of the highlights of the story while I try to work on the transcript maybe for the next few days:

Aswangs could possess people and would often do so for selfish and even petty reasons. The possessed person was possessed for such a petty and miniscule reason that I'm honestly so perplexed. She possessed the woman because she... smelled good???? Like girl WHAT???? Just ask for her perfume brand or her laundry detergent brand holy shit

They fear holy items like crosses and rosaries. The possessed person from the story was cutting up rosaries and that's what primarily gave the aswang away.

The aswang could make the person's voice change. The possessed person was speaking at a strange tone extremely unfamiliar to her children.

The aswang may speak different languages, maybe unintelligible to the average person. I asked if it was in Latin or whatever stereotypical thing, but Ka-J said she could not determine that.

When the aswang was asked "Where did you come from? Above or below?", the aswang answered that she was "From below." implying that aswang do come from hell at least from this one incident.

The aswang exorcism didn't fully work the first time around so they had to do it twice. After the first instance, she was apparently worse.

They dislike calamansi which is something I've seen in some sources. This was done as an emergency way to freak out the aswang.

Folk healers could exorcise the aswang out of the person. Sometimes they may need the assistance of multiple healers. Ka-J. had told me that there were up to 7 to 8 healers during the final exorcism.

Some other interesting bits from the story that was told to me after or are things that seem just a little interesting to not add in but didn't fit the rest of the list:

The folk healers used an item she called "saway" (Note that Ka-J. is Bisaya but considering this takes place locally here, they probably call it a different name in the Tagalog region). She describes it as a brown (stick?) thing with a thorn attached. She says that there's a bit of gold on the item and when it pricks the aswang, the wound doesn't heal. I don't know what this item is, but it's similar to some stories I read where they would use certain tree branches or the buntot pagi (stingray tail) to injure the aswang.

The aswang was apprently a 50-year-old aswang woman. Very specific thing to have come from the exorcism. Besides that, she also gave her name and her "earth address" but Ka-J has forgotten what these were but it's probably pretty local.

One of the folk healers have a YouTube channel where he uploads the cases he handles. I had the displeasure of finding one of the videos and it is genuinely disturbing. It was just a woman crying but there was something eerie about it. I may not investigate further and I'm not going to link it here not only because of its disturbing nature, but this would essentially probably doxx me and I don't want these poor people's faces floating around because of my post.

I will try to get to actually transcribing + translating the short interview from the recording in maybe a couple of days. I think I may need to take a short break though since I feel a little uneasy after hearing and watching all that.

#filipinfodump #philippines #filipino #aswang #filipino folklore #filipino folk monsters #filipino monsters #filipino witchcraft #filipino aswang #folk healers #folk healing #folk monsters #witchcraft #exorcism #albularyo #possession tw #demon tw #mod maya

[thecorpselight]

The Nine Herbs Charm Remember, Mugwort, what you made known, What you arranged at the Great Proclamation. You were called Una, the oldest of herbs, You have power against three and against thirty, You have power against poison and against infection, You have power against the loathsome foe roving through the land. And you, Plantain, mother of herbs, Open from the east, mighty inside. Over you chariots creaked, over you queens rode, Over you brides cried out, over you bulls snorted. You withstood all of them, you dashed against them. May you likewise withstand poison and infection, And the loathsome foe roving through the land. 'Stune' is the name of this herb, it grew on a stone, It stands up against poison, it dashes against pain. Unyielding it is called, it dashes against poison, It drives out the hostile one, it casts out poison. This is the herb that fought against the snake, It has power against poison, it has power against infection, It has power against the loathsome foe roving through the land. Put to flight now, Venom-loather, the greater poisons, Though you are the lesser, you the mightier, Conquer the lesser poisons, until he is cured of both. Remember, Camomile, what you made known, What you accomplished at Alorford, That never a man should lose his life from infection, After Camomile was prepared for his food. This is the herb that is called 'Wergulu'. A seal sent it across the sea-ridge, A vexation to poison, a help to others. It stands against pain, it dashes against poison, It has power against three and against thirty, Against the hand of a fiend and against mighty devices, Against the spell of mean creatures. There the Apple accomplished it against poison That she (the loathsome serpent) would never dwell in the house. Chervil and Fennel, two very mighty ones. They were created by the wise Lord, Holy in heaven as He hung [on the cross]; He set and sent them to the seven worlds, To the wretched and the fortunate, as a help to all. These nine have power against nine poisons. A worm came crawling. It killed nothing. For Woden took nine glory-twigs, He smote then the adder that it flew apart into nine parts. Now these nine herbs have power against nine evil spirits, Against nine poisons and against nine infections: Against the red poison, against the foul poison, Against the white poison, against the purple poison, Against the brown poison, against the green poison, Against the black poison, against the blue poison, Against the brown poison, against the crimson poison. Against worm-blister, against water-blister, Against thorn-blister, against thistle-blister, Against ice-blister, against poison-blister. If any poison comes flying from the east, Or any from the north, [or any from the south], Or any from the west among the people. Christ stood over diseases of every kind. I alone know a running stream, And the nine adders beware of it. May all the weeds spring up from their roots, The seas slip apart, all salt water, When I blow this poison from you. Mugwort, plantain open from the east, lamb's cress, venom-loather, camomile, nettle, crab-apple, chervil and fennel, old soap; pound the herbs to a powder, mix them with the soap and the juice of the apple. Then prepare a paste of water and of ashes, take fennel, boil it with the paste and wash it with a beaten egg when you apply the salve, both before and after. Sing this charm three times on each of the herbs before you prepare them, and likewise on the apple. And sing the same charm into the mouth of the man and into both his ears, and on the wound, before you apply the salve. Anglo Saxon Magic. G. Storms.

#folklore #folk magic #healing magic #nine herbs charm #anglo saxon magic #healing charms #folk healing

[reno-matago]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖈𝖍 𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖊 𝖙𝖆𝖐𝖊𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖘

''By its power alone the peach tree cures fevers: in Marseilles, after having waited long enough for the fever to be cut off without danger, the patient must fall asleep in the shade of a peach tree, his back leaning against the trunk; two or three hours are enough; the feverish person wakes up cured, but the peach tree begins to turn yellow, loses its leaves and soon ends up dying. Besides, the peach tree is the cursed tree of sorcerers, these, it seems, can cure their patients only on the condition of bearing their curse on him.''

Gospels of the Devil • Claude Seignolles

#fever #folk magic #witchcraft #peach #folklore #french folklore #french witchcraft #healing magic #french grimoire #french grimoires #french traditional witchcraft #traditional witchcraft #claude seignolles #the devils gospels #folklore marseillais #marseille #folk remedies #folk healing #french folk magic

[plutotrinelilith812]

Swamp ~ Rose 🥀

Clarity~ stillness ~ movement flow ~ breathe ~ prayer

Transitioning to the next seasonal earth 🌎 cycle

#swamp #white rose #new beginnings #spring #folk healing #hoodoo #savannah georgia #inner journey #soul connection #lovers #sacral #solar #energy #soul healing #magical medicine #flower portrait

[mamaangiwine]

Going between Medieval Magic and Hungarian Folk Healing is such a trip, its just like:

"In terms of medicine, make sure that the moon is in the first mansion and that she is not in conjunction with saturn, and make sure that she has risen in a humane sign."

But then-

"If the moon is crescent, young people must take their medicine. If the moon is full, those over thirty must take their medicine. If the moon is..."

#magic #folk magic #ritual magic #spirituality #hungarian magic #ethnomedicine #folk healing #folk practice #research #medieval magic

[nile-the-empathy-cleric]

I’m back with more European folk magic! This time we’re diving into Italian folk magic practices. This isn’t a comprehensive look at Italian magic (though if you’re interested in an overview I’d be happy to write one) rather it’s a close look at a particular protective charm from southern Italy. It’s a simple, yet effective charm with a long history. Everything is thoroughly researched through academic sources in anthropology, folklore, and first hand accounts. You can either click the link or read this post, either way I hope this is meaningful and educational for you🌛🌝🌜

Brevi: an Italian folk magic charm against the evil eye and how to make your own

Like many Mediterraneans, Italians are greatly concerned with the potential to be afflicted with the evil eye. Many of the folk magic practices performed by jana and benedettihealers are intended to divine the cause of the malocchio and rid it from those who come to them. Their craft has been passed down for generations and their services are highly respected. Like with other folk magic healers, most jana and benedetti do not consider themselves witches, instead they see themselves as “having the sign”, people chosen by god to help others. Clients come to them for a variety of needs both physical and spiritual. These healers perform divination rituals, locate lost objects, make love charms, and more — though mostly, they remedy the malocchio.

Remedies range from complex, lengthy multi-step rituals, to simple prayers and gestures. Whatever means a cunning person uses varies from region to region, though in Basilicata/ Lucania where my family comes from, the evil eye is typically cured and prevented with brevi. These are small black cloth pouches filled with various sacred herbs, protective amulets and stones, objects made of iron, images of saints, and Palm Sunday ashes. These bags are worn close to the skin, either around the neck, tucked into a bra, or in a wallet. Contact with the skin is considered to be an important part of this protective charm, depending on the region and advice of the healer. Though brevi are typically prepared and empowered by the prayers of the healer, it is not uncommon for mothers to make them for their children.

What goes into the brevi bag is highly subjective and personal, though there are commonalities in their contents from state to state. Medals of the Madonna, a small cross or charm, and rosemary are common in most places. There are more specific additions such as the cimaruta, the cornicello, the mano cornuta and mano fica, or pieces of coral. The cimaruta is a popular Neopolitan talisman typically worn around the neck or hung above an infant’s bed. Made of silver, the cimaruta is meant to resemble a sprig of rue, one of the most sacred herbs. Each of the 3 rue branches blossom into protective magical symbols. These include, but are not limited to: a crescent moon, the sun, a heart shaped key, a sacred heart, a fish, or a rooster.

Charm available: on Etsy White Peach Cottage.

[Image description: A typical silver cimaruta charm. Made to resemble a sprig of rue, the branches end in protective symbols. This particular pendant features a cross, a crescent moon, a sacred heart, and a rooster.]

Along with medals of saints, the cornicello, mano cornuta and mano fica can be added to brevi bags. The corno is a popular Southern Italian amulet, symbolic of a ram or bull’s horn. It signifies virility and strength, projecting a masculine energy. These charms are typically made of silver, gold, or coral, all are considered significant sacred materials. The red coral is reminiscent of blood and vitality, bringing luck to the wearer and silver has long been used as a protective measure against evil spirits. The cornicello is typically worn by men. Mano charms have ancient origins — dating back to the Etruscans. Mano fica, the fig hand, is associated with femininity and is thought to have the power to oppose the evil eye. The mano cornuta, the horned hand, has similar roots and meanings to the cornicello, and if done as a physical gesture, it can reflect the malocchio back to whoever cast it. 

In addition to the medals, several sacred herbs are utilized. Many of the herbs are associated with Saint John or the Virgin Mary, though if you are a secular witch like me or worship pagan pantheons, you can forgo the Catholic aspects of this charm. Many of the herbs have ancient associations dating back to the classical Roman period, making their meanings highly adaptable. The Romans associated various herbs with Diana (Artemis), Juno (Hera), and Phoebus (Apollo). So it is not difficult to transcribe the correspondences.

The primary herb used in brevi bags is rue. Rue is sometimes referred to as “the herb of grace” and has long been used in blessing water and exorcisms. Rosemary protects against negativity and is used in cleansing rituals. Roses symbolize the divine love of the Madonna and evoke healing energies. Lavender has a long history in Italy of being a prophylactic against evil, with evidence dating back to ancient Rome. Mugwort is associated with witchcraft and magic, mostly in connection with Artemis/ Diana and the moon. Some brevi contain chili pepper seeds — the fruit itself resembles the cornicello, carrying a similar meaning. The seeds are associated with protecting and warding.

Once the charms and herbs are chosen and brevi are assembled, cunning folk recite prayers and bless the charm. They recite common Catholic prayers 3 times and typically perform these blessings on holy days and Saint feasts such as notte di san Giovanni — St. John’s eve, and Christmas eve. St. John’s eve takes place around the same time as the summer solstice and the celebrations across Europe still have elements that resemble pagan celebrations such as the Roman Vestalia festival. Some healers do not pray over the bag, rather they recite poetry that evokes their intent. The process of making brevi is highly personalized to each healer and region.

[Image description: author’s personal brevi elements. They include a black sachet, rosemary, mugwort, rose petals, lavender, red clover, obsidian and a white gold cornicello.]

I have adopted and adapted making and carrying a brevi bag into my own practice. It gives me a sense of deeper connection with my ancestors, especially since brevi are a popular folk remedy in the region we come from. In my own brevi rituals I include herbs that are personally meaningful to me with magical correspondences that resonate with my intent. I typically use rosemary, mugwort, rose petals, lavender, and local red clover. Harvesting and foraging some of the herbs brings me closer to nature and makes the bag that much more meaningful. I also include a shard of obsidian which is a powerful warding stone. I like to think its reflective nature is aiming the evil eye back to whoever or whatever is aiming negative intent towards me. I put a family heirloom in my bag as well —  my great grandfather’s cornicello, passed down from my father to me. It gives me a sense that my ancestors are protecting me. I write my own personal incantations for my brevi, typically poems or prayers to nature spirits. Finally, I charge it every full moon, imbuing it with magical energy and replace the herbs every so often to keep its power.

Crafting charms and spells can be highly personal and meaningful. Creating your own brevi bag can invite in positive energies, bolster spiritual defenses, and connect you to a long history of spiritual healing. Brevi bags are a low effort, simple way of practicing magic, making them highly accessible. I hope you found this interesting and perhaps you’ll choose to incorporate brevi bags into your magical workings.

(sources available at the end of linked article)

#italian folk magic #italian witchcraft #folk magic #folk healing #witchblr #witchcraft #witch #eclectic witch #witches of tumblr #beginner witch #protection spell #grimoire #book of shadows #baby witch #malocchio #evil eye #warding spell #protection magic #pagan #paganism #wicca #eclectic wicca #italian culture #stregoneria #streghe #stregheria #benedicaria

[hallowedresonance]

Consistent with her position as a midwife, Joana Baptista's illicit healing practices focused on the maladies of childhood. Among the superstitious curing rituals she was said to perform was the following, meant to extract sickness from patients who were, of necessity, quite small and therefore very young: Joana Baptista cured children by passing them through a special circular loaf of bread, called a rosca. The loaf was formed by twisting and braiding together three long strings of dough. This particular bread dough was to be made from flour provided from the households of three different woman, each named Maria. Once the dough had been baked into a big wreath or hoop, Joana Baptista would pass the ill child through this "rosca de três Marias" three times in an unbroken sequence, all the while reciting a special incantation which addressed the sickness or disorder in question.

"The Role and Practices of the Female Folk Healer (Curandeira, Saludadora and Parteira) in the Early Modern Portuguese Atlantic World." — Timothy Walker

#folk healing #Curandeirismo #portugalia

[oaresearchpaper]

#Folk healing #Folkloric modalities #Traditional healers #Northwestern Cagayan

[tonechkag]

"There are many descriptions of the use of wax in fortune telling in Ukrainian and other Slavic folklore. One tradition consisted of mixing a baby's hair with melted wax. If this nugget of wax and hair floated the container of water, the child would have a long life. If it sank, the opposite was foretold. (Afanas'ev [1865-9] 1970, 192-4)"

The Word And Wax: A Medical Folk Ritual Among Ukrainians in Alberta By Rena Jeanne Hanchuk

#sadly this book is out of print but if you can track down a copy it's definitely worth it #Ukrainian Canadian #folk magic #folk healing #divination #slavic folk magic #slavic witchcraft #holy queue #ceromancy #wax divination #wax reading #from my previous blog

[drprofwitchlady]

The pioneer era in Texas, spanning from 1840 to 1890, was a time of rapid settlement and development in the region. The practices of witchcraft and herbal medicine played a significant role in the healthcare and belief systems of the people during this period.

During the pioneer era, communities in Texas relied heavily on folk healing practices, which often incorporated elements of witchcraft and herbal medicine. Settlers brought with them their traditional knowledge of healing and combined it with local botanical resources.

Herbal medicine was a prevalent form of healthcare during this time. People gathered plants and herbs from the surrounding environment and used them to treat various ailments. Remedies were often passed down through generations or shared within communities.

The pioneer era required settlers to become familiar with the local flora and fauna. They learned to identify medicinal plants, their uses, and how to prepare them for healing purposes. Knowledge of botanical medicine was typically transmitted orally or through personal experience.

Witchcraft and folk healing were intertwined in the pioneer era. Some individuals were known as "witches" or "wise women," who possessed specialized knowledge and skills in magical healing. They utilized rituals, charms, and spells alongside herbal remedies to treat physical and spiritual ailments.

In pioneer communities, there were widespread beliefs in supernatural powers, witches, and curses. These beliefs influenced healthcare practices, as people sought the help of witches to diagnose and treat illnesses believed to be caused by supernatural forces.

During this period, access to formal medical practitioners or healthcare facilities was often limited, particularly in remote or rural areas. As a result, individuals relied heavily on home remedies, folk healers, and community support for their healthcare needs.

Texas in the pioneer era was a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, each bringing their own healing traditions and beliefs. Native American practices, Mexican curanderismo, and European folk medicine all contributed to the healthcare landscape of the time.

As the pioneer era progressed, attitudes towards witchcraft and herbal medicine began to shift. Increased scientific understanding and the rise of formalized medical institutions led to a decline in folk healing practices and an emphasis on more "modern" healthcare approaches.

if you would like to learn more, studying the history of witchcraft and herbal medicine during Texas' pioneer era would involve examining historical records, personal accounts, diaries, and folklore to understand the practices, beliefs, and challenges faced by settlers during that time. It would also require investigating the cultural, social, and environmental factors that influenced healthcare choices and the role of folk healers within their communities.

If there's anything else specific you'd like let me know

#ethnomedicine #witch community #witchdoctorintraining #healingarts #witchcraft #pioneer era #texas #healers #wise woman #folk medicine #curanderismo #folk healing

[thecorpselight]

A purely magical verse which makes no claim to religious inspiration was used for burns in 1920 by a herbalist in the East End of London. His method was to breathe three times on the burnt place and say: “Here come I to cure a burnt sore. If the dead knew what the living endure, The burnt sore would burn no more.” The man's many patients in East London asserted that he always stopped the pain immediately and that no scar afterwards remained, however bad the original injury.

#folk magic #folk healing #folk cures #magic

[monotheisticpagan]

I have had two spirits come to me today regarding medical issues. I think they may have been ancestral. I am currently engaged in remote healing practice, and we have spoken to this person about going to a doctor, and this seems a reminder not to forget to take care of myself. The general message was to cut down on things not serving me, and to inquire perhaps about my eyes.

#spirit work #hedge witch #folk healing #remote healing