Requesting help on research: Protection from the supernatural in folklore
I’m doing a little creative writing project and I was wondering if anyone could help me research a little something.
I’m trying to find a list of superstitions and folklore about protection from the supernatural. The Wolfsbane plant being used to ward off Werewolves is an example of the kind of thing I’m interested in.
I’m doing a little creative writing project and I was wondering if anyone could help me research a little something.
I’m trying to find a list of superstitions and folklore about protection from the supernatural. The Wolfsbane plant being used to ward off Werewolves is an example of the kind of thing I’m interested in.
The more examples the better, I don’t need much though. Just an item, how it was used, and what it was believed to do.
Thank you to all.
Re: Requesting help on research: Protection from the …
Hi welcome to the site. I’m on holiday at the moment but wil get back to this post soon:).
Re: Requesting help on research: Protection from the …
Hi, good luck with your research. A few which instantly come to mind are;
The Rowan tree; planted near a house to repel evil spirits, a branch nailed over the door of the cowshed to prevent cattle from being overlooked, carters used to carry a Rowan-wood whip to protect their horses from bewitchment, berries carried in the pocket are a good-luck charm.
Rosemary or Holly were also planted near houses for the same reason as Rowan.
Leaves of Vervain and Rue, especially together, can be carried in a pocket or charm bag for personal protection; this one is still current.
In Devon, if anyone felt themselves to be threatened or led astray by the pixies, the cure was to take off an item of clothing and put it back on inside out.
Re: Requesting help on research: Protection from the …
Thanks Liliana, the research went quite well.
One surprising thing is that I could not find any authoritative source in favour of salt circles / salt on the threshold. Plenty of examples from modern day wiccia or similar but nothing authoritive saying this was folklore. Given how important and expensive salt used to be perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised.
Until I actually started research that would have been the first thing I’d have imagined finding.
Re: Requesting help on research: Protection from the …
Witch jars, hex signs, sprinkling seeds around a grave, knotted strings, a block of wood to keep out the hopping ghosts….
Summum Nec Metuam Diem Nec Optima