Books and Broomsticks by Erin Curley

    It was interesting to see the portrayal of the evil eye portrayed in the various mystical practices of many cultures. I have seen some friends of mine wear an evil eye, often in a religious context, like a hamsa, but it is also becoming stylized as a part of secular culture. I’ve seen phone cases, nail designs, and t-shirts featuring a stylized version of the evil eye. Greek, Roman, Christianity in the Byzantine era, Islam, all portrayed the evil eye to fend off any unsavory spirits.    According to the  BBC , Greek philosophers believed that blue-eyes were the most likely to deliver curses, which could be emitted through “invisible rays of energy” that could harm children and animals. Therefore, the invisible eye symbol came to adorn any person or thing that was thought to need to repel magic. Some of these charms have been found in the tombs of ancient Mesopotamia. Today, we still use the same symbol for the same goal. The article mentioned some painting e...

  This semester, it was interesting to learn about the many practices of witchcraft that ended in the suffix -mancy. I’d never heard that term before, but learned that it has to do with a related type of magic. For example, necromancy means magic of the dead.     Crystallomancy means the practice of looking into a crystal to seek divine knowledge. Below are a list and description of some other types of magic, some of which we’ve learned about through our readings and in class, and others which I found through my own research.     Cleromancy: I remember reading about this one in class. It is a practice of using yarrow stalks that can be arranged into different shapes to answer a question, or ascertain an answer to something. This was also “linked to astrology,” (p. 52), which as I learned throughout the semester played a large role in the magical practices of cultures all over the world. Yarrow stalks, often read and interpreted like tea leaves and palm lines in ...

  Potions     Something I was surprised wasn’t discussed more heavily in our texts was the role of potions in witchcraft. In modern depictions like  Hocus Pocus, Wicked,  and other films it seems that witches are constantly toiling over their latest brew in a cauldron. However, this didn’t as feature heavily in any of our reading as I expected.  A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult  mentioned a few love potions, healing potions, and some Renaissance-era potions featuring snakes and chickens. The book also mentioned that modern Wiccans today continue to make potions as part of their regular practice. So while potions were definitely used in historical witchcraft, it seemed to be different and more targeted than the witch whipping up a quick potion for any ailment or problem, as often depicted in films.    In looking for potions online, I came across a few things that are thought to heal the drinker. A  “healing potion”  I fo...

  Last October, I read a novel called   The Ex Hex,  which tells the story of Vivienne Jones, a witch who puts a spell on an ex of hers, Rhys Penhallow, and has to deal with the many unexpected consequences of her spells, before using magic again in collaboration with her ex to reverse the damage and havoc that she has caused. Though I didn’t recognize them at the time, the book was full of many witchy-archetypes that we’ve learned about through our popular media presentations over the course of the semester. Vivienne has a familiar, a cat named Sir Purrcival.     She lived in a coven of sorts with her best friend Gwyn and Vivienne’s aunt Elaine, who are both practicing witches.     Her aunt went all out for Halloween every year, and they attended the town festival that occurred every October, and was a centerpiece of the town’s social scene. As I read the book, it reminded me of a mix between   Halloweentown , due to both works taking place in to...

Our discussion in class of crystals and gems has reminded me of a forgotten object of my childhood: the mood ring (did anyone else have one?). Though I     doubt that Claire’s and Limited Too were selling all-knowing gemstones, I once believed that the “color” of my mood on the ring corresponded with how I actually felt, and I have come to understand that it was all   based on body temperature ).   Similarly, my friends and I were fascinated with our birthstones growing up. We would buy each other friendship bracelets and birthday gifts based on the other’s birthstone. I haven’t read anything about my birthstone (aquamarine) in our book, but was interested to learn that my best friend’s birthstone, the sapphire, “is linked with the third eye, a sign of enlightenment… early popes wore sapphires in signet rings to signify that they guarded holy secrets,” (p. 106). I was also intrigued to learn that emerald is “said to bring love into people’s life” (p. 106); while I’ve...

  We’re all familiar with the stereotypical appearance of the witch: thin, old woman in a long dress and tall, pointy hat with a couple of warts and her broomstick and cat not far away.     This is how witches of all types are often portrayed in   film ,   books , and of course,   Halloween costumes , as I learned at a young age).       Halloween, 2003: Casting a spell in hopes of receiving lots of candy during Trick-or-Treating.    However, as we’ve learned in the course, this hasn’t always been the case. Like fashion today, a witch’s garb has been highly dependent on her time and place.  For example, the immortal women painted on the vase ( A History of Magic and the Occult , p. 51) shows women in traditional Chinese clothing.  Even the witches at the Salem trials, as shown in film clips in class and on p. 189 of  A History of Magic and the Occult  appear to be wearing typical clothing for the 17 th c...