Halloween takes many forms throughout the United States – a night for parties and pranks; a night for trick-or-treating with family and spinning spooky yarns with friends; and, in some areas, a time for divination, superstition, and dealing with haints. The south has a rich well of folk magic and tradition with plenty of Halloween customs to take part in, and the regions of Southern Appalachia are no different.
Read MoreThe origins of Soul Cakes are hotly debated. Some sources say they hail from pre-Christian practices as offerings to the souls of the dead, while other sources cite medieval Christian customs as the true roots. Whatever their origin, the baking of Soul Cakes as an offering or gift to the those of the Otherworld – be they the souls of those passed on, spirits, sìth, or the like – is still practiced in some regions of Europe today and is making a comeback among practitioners of folk magics of Britain and Ireland, those who have ancestral ties to those regions, and among practitioners of folk Christianity, particularly European folk Christian customs, or those who have roots in Christian ways.
These spiced ‘cakes’ or cookies are prepared as gifts for soulers at Allhallowtide (the days of All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day) and as part of the Halloween, Samhain, and Yuletide celebrations and observances of many. In this post, we’ll explore variations of Soul Cakes, sharing recipes and exploring their different purposes. Let’s dig in!
Read MoreExamples of jar and bottle charms have been found across Britain and the United States. They have been mentioned in Black Books and grimoires found around Europe. Their use in the folk customs of Hoodoo and the conjure of the Black & African diaspora survives as part of a living practice. And, despite being most commonly associated with folk practices and traditional magic, these container spells have grown in popularity among practitioners of various modern practices as well.
Read MoreJust as there are many ways in magical practice in general, there are many ways to study and practice folk magic. And there are a number of reasons why the work of one practitioner may look different from the work of the next. There are logical and valid reasons for these differences in practice—so it is safe to say that there is more than one right way to practice folk magic.
Read MoreDespite their small size, the snail shell brings a powerful spirit to magical work due to the nature of the shell itself. Firstly, a snail grows its shell over time. Unlike certain kinds of crabs, snails do not outgrow and trade in their shells during their lives. They grow them, increasing their size as they get older and larger. This means that the snail’s connection to its shell is strong, just as another animal’s would be to their heart or their skull. Secondly, the snail’s shell always bears a connection to death. A snail cannot live without its shell. When we find these shells, it means that the snails that inhabited them have died, usually because they’ve been eaten by birds or insects.
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