Introduction to Folk Magic by MysticPagan

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

A Brief Introduction.

It seems that when people concealed things like witch-bottles and dried cats, they were hoping to protect themselves and their families from some form of invisible menace. Whether it was the witch or his/her familiar spirit or some other kind of menace like ghosts, imps, or maybe even fairies is not yet fully clear. There is direct evidence that witch-bottles were used for counter-witchcraft and written charms seem to have protected against all manner of supernatural dangers, but the evidence for concealed shoes, horse skulls, dried cats and ritual marks is not quite so clear.

What is known is that all of these things were installed in houses during the period of the witch-trials (broadly the 16th and 17th centuries) and for a significant period afterwards - in some cases until the mid-twentieth century. Witch-bottles in particular show a distinct peak in use during the period of the witch-trials - perhaps not surprisingly. Assessing the little evidence that exists prior to this period is difficult because not as many buildings are still upstanding, and those that are have often been altered and re-altered many times.

Perhaps the most important clue to the nature of these practices comes from the secrecy which accompanied their installation into a building. Secrecy is often a key ingredient in magic practices and it can be inferred by the very existence of these finds that magic of one kind or another was a significant component in the lives of those who concealed these items. There appear to be very few written documents which account for these practices yet there is a very large amount of physical evidence that they occurred. A thorough documentary search in the light of these finds would probably reveal one or two references which, although few in number, would contribute greatly to understanding the nature of these practices.