Charms, Spells, and Curses. V. J. Banis

the hierarchy of Egyptian gods and goddesses, the fine points of their beliefs, and other relevant facts. We have chosen instead to present the spells and charms themselves, as often as possible in their original forms or in the simplest translations. They come from a variety of sources—English, Scotch, Egyptian, Chaldean, Babylonian, American, French, Greek, Roman. Some are as old as man himself. Others are apparently modern. Some have the ring of fine verse; others have only the clumsiest literary style.

      Likewise, while we have tried to categorize the spells for the reader’s convenience, these categories have necessarily proven arbitrary time and again, and if a spell does not appear in the chapter in which it seems to belong, please read on; it may yet appear in some other section to which it seemed to us better suited.

      A word of caution—no claims are made for the efficacy of any of these writings. They are presented as found and are offered as a matter of interest to students of the occult. If the novice should wish to try them and they should produce results, well, that is his good fortune. If they do not—well, we can only cross our fingers and try again.

      CHAPTER ONE

      HEALING METHODS

      It was in the healing of disease that the witch or practitioner of black magic came closest to being a specialist, and we cannot really afford to take their contributions lightly. Suggestions that men of science once thought laughable have proven to have bases in scientific fact—while much of what was once considered to be scientific fact is now laughable.

      We tend to smile tolerantly when we learn that in many parts of the world people still turn to the local witch, witch doctor, or “peculiar old woman” for strange-sounding medical treatments. But if we are honest, we must admit there is not much difference between the primitive man who believes that the “juices of a turtle” will cure his physical aches and such modern children of science as the author himself, who adheres to a rather pleasant cold-cure, the sipping of hot toddies. Medical science refuses to corroborate what the users know, that these brews do make one feel better.

      We are all aware of the use of suggestion in medicine; we know that doctors may prescribe harmless sugar pills for some patients. Christian Scientists and others rely more or less exclusively upon what is in effect the power of suggestion. Everyone laughs when chicken soup is referred to as “Jewish penicillin”—but we have no reservations about taking this timeless medicine.

      The healing methods of witches in the Middle Ages were, in fact, probably at least as effective as those of the doctors of the time—and quite possibly more so.

      Lignite (a variety of coal), if bound on the forehead, stops bleeding of the nose and restores lost senses.

      Diamond is an effective antidote against the pestilence.

      Chelidonium (an herb), if put in a yellow linen cloth and tied about the neck, will certainly cure fever.

      Heliotrope stops bleeding and averts any danger from poison.

      The following incantation will cure a child of worms:

      Holy Monday

      Holy Tuesday

      Holy Wednesday

      Maundy Thursday

      Good Friday

      Holy Saturday

      Easter Sunday

      Worms on the run day.

      Repeat this incantation backwards, then forward, then backwards over the child.

      The skin disease erysipelas can be cured by the application of silver to the afflicted area.

      The sapphire has an especial property in that it prevents the eye from being affected by smallpox.

      Egg Limpia: A limpia is advised for illness of the soul. The best is the Egg Limpia. A likeness of the patient’s face is drawn on an eggshell. The patient lies flat on the floor. The one conducting the limpia sucks away the evil by sucking certain regions such as the temples, the breast, the crook of the arm, until they redden considerably or until blood specks appear on the skin, indicating that the evil is beginning to emerge. When this soul poison has been brought to the surface, the egg is rolled all over the patient’s body. In this manner the evil is tricked into leaving the body and going into the egg, which it mistakes for the patient. When the egg has had time to absorb all the traces of the evil, cleansing herbs are sprinkled lavishly over the patient. He should then use an inhaling limpia, which is prepared in the following manner: the beard is cut off a billy goat; tie this at one end, pass it over an open flame, and inhale the pungent smoke. Another inhaling limpia is done with laurel leaves steeped in water, and either of these will suffice. If the soul illness is minor, an inhaling limpia alone may suffice to cure the condition. When the patient has inhaled the fumes as prescribed, the doctor may breath all over the patient for purification, and the process will be more effective if prayers have been said constantly throughout. Here a chicken may be used as well; if so, it too is passed over the patient after the sucking. In either form, the egg is broken afterward. The egg matter is smeared over the patient’s face and then washed off with water in which laurel leaves have been steeped. The full limpia is now done and the soul will be well again.

      In case of illness, anoint or bathe the patient with rosemary water while praying over him. To make the water, steep two handfuls of rosemary leaves in two quarts of water overnight, having poured the water over the leaves while boiling.

      Jacinth or hyacinth is a stone which strengthens the heart and is recommended as a soporific. It is ordered in cases of cough, rupture, and melancholy, in any of which cases it is to be drunk with vinegar.

      Cagliostro’s Rejuvenation Course, by which the true sage is able to renew his youth, not once but time and again: A forty-day preparation must be performed every fifteen years. The first full moon in the month of May is chosen for the start of the process, which has to be carried out in the company of only one companion, who must be dedicated. Only dew is drunk, and this must be collected from the shoots of germinating corn upon a cloth made of the purest linen. For food the sage might nibble upon a piece of bread or biscuit. On the seventeenth day of the course, some blood is let. From this date after, Balm of Azoth is taken each morning and night. Six drops are to be taken on the eighteenth day; then the dose can be increased each day by two drops until the thirty-second day. On the dawn of the thirty-third day of the retreat a fresh bloodletting must be performed. Once this is done, the patient will immediately go to bed until the close of the fortieth day. As soon as the patient awakes after the second bleeding, he must take a grain of the Universal Medicine, which can be expected to produce convulsions, excessive perspiration, and purging in most cases. Now the subject may be permitted to take a little broth which has been made from lean meat, together with rice, valerian, vervain, and balm. The next day another grain of Universal Medicine will be taken. This medicine will be known as astral mercury in combination with sulphur of gold. On the thirty-sixth day a glass of Egyptian wine is drunk. On the following day the last grain of the Universal Medicine is taken. At this stage the patient may expect to fall into a deep sleep. During this sleep the hair, the teeth, the nails, and the skin will be renewed. On the thirty-eighth day a warm bath must be taken; herbs must be steeped in the water, and these will be rice, valerian, vervain, and balm. When the thirty-ninth day breaks, the patient must drink ten drops of Acharat Elixir in the medium of a small amount of red wine. On the fortieth day the subject will find that the work of rejuvenation has been completed and youth has been returned.

      Jasper is a stone which prevents fever and dropsy. It is also highly reputed as a preservative against defluxions, the nightmare, and epilepsy.

      Among the objects which possess curative properties are the bones of toads, old coins, and the teeth of wolves.

      To cure most colds, take garlic cloves and chop them and wrap them in a small bundle. The patient must be put to bed under warm covers with the garlic bundle in a position as close as possible to his nose, to insure the constant breathing of the strong fumes.

      Any medicine that contains gold leaf is especially effective in curing.

      To cure drunkenness, ashes of toad mixed with brandy.