The Stob

La Cheville -The Peg (Stob) was considered to be one of the tools of Norman (Norman- Northern French Shepherds).  Les Bergers (Shepherds) were viewed as magicians, apparently based on folklore.  Different wood stakes carried certain natural potencies and were said to be used by some Bergers (Jesus was a figurative Shepherd and carpenter). 

If it rains before and during a funeral, the deceased has ascended to heaven.  (Anglo-Irish American belief).  If it is sunny during a funeral, the deceased has ascended to heaven. (African-American belief).  I point out that both are Folk-Christianity, as the Bible speaks of 'sleep' before the Resurrection.  I surmise, the opposite African-American belief has it's roots in antinomian ("outlaw", being correct in my opinion) beliefs formed during slavery.  Opposition has it's power.

Today, I was surprised by some old lore I hadn't heard since the 1980's.  I was in the convenience store and we were discussing the weather.  The woman, next in line said, "it's sunny and raining, so the Devil is beating his old lady."  A bit of old East Tennessee, English (or German or Irish?) misogynistic 19th century folklore, which I never expected to hear again in the 21st. Surprising.  Once the Devil, was thought of as the power of air (Biblical).  In the old South, and England, the Devil and Giants were said to have 'Castles' in the air (i.e. Jack the Giant Killer).  Lightning, was considered a force of God or the Devil, equally, since the Medieval Period.  Therefore, a lightning struck tree was the special repository of 'magia/mantic power', in the South the burned/blackened portion was considered a charm to scare away thieves.  A lightning struck tree could be a special meeting place for Witches ( American Ch...

My neighbor, who is Welsh-American (Evans), has told me that older family members (1890's to 1950's?) once used Carbide, from a miner's headlamp (C2H2) for tooth abscess.  Obviously, the pain and danger were extreme, but it seemed to work for people who had no access to dentistry or funds to pay for dentistry.  The nerves were literally, burned out (over-excited and deadened) from the "cure".  People were made of stronger 'stuff' back then, apparently!  

In the next few weeks to two months, I'm releasing a book on Amazon kindle and print. Their contract stipulates that you can not have a 'press release' after you sign their contract (so this is beforehand, so not a breach). I do not know what their legal definition of 'press release' is, but other than that, the contract is favorable to a self publisher (screeeeech).  The tentative title is "Trollkarl's Svartkonstbok, Historic Witchery, Sorcery and Folk Magic in Denmark, Sweden and Germany." I've done the translations, sort of like the Galdrabok, with notations, sources, etc.  One can look at the sources, if they do not agree with my translations or notes.  It is an traditional look at Trolldom and Hekserei/Hexerei and is not representive of modern practice (and there is a modern resurgence/continuance).  So look for it and buy, if you like. 

"...A Squirrel's tooth conferred power to divine the future, and to interpret SINISTER or SERENE circumstances..."  Reminiscences of Newcastle Iowa, 1848, Harriet M. Bonebright Closz, Sarah Brewer Bonebright. 

    The Dragon-Doll was a 'spiritually imbued' figurine carved occasionally from a tree , which was said to bring money and perform 'miracles'.  People will go aha! a Mandrake...usually it wasn't, as it would have been difficult to grow and obtain that root in the far north by people that lacked the wealth to travel to Italy, the Medieval and consecutive centuries source of the plant.  The Dragedukker (Danish) was said to be able to build houses from stones that even a horse and cart couldn't carry because of the immense weight.  Sometimes, the poppet was called the Drejedok/Drejedukke (Turning Sprite/Spirit - Danish).  It was housed in a wooden coffin or box, like a Mandragora, which was turned to summon the spirit of the doll to bring shillings (coins),  Daler (a larger sum) or the 'Vekseldaler' (Money that returned to the owner once it was spent).      In folklore, everyday people said that it could...