Over here in the Fabulous Folklore Family, we’re no strangers to severed heads. And we’re old friends with those that make prophecies, like that of Bran the Blessed. Or Orpheus, whose head washed up on the island of Lesbos. But as it’s Magical Month, we’re going to delve into the mysteries of the Brazen Head. […]
magic
Why are these 3 plants essential in a witch’s toolkit?
One of the enduring images of witches is the lone figure, hunched over a bubbling cauldron, a handful of roots in one hand, and a questionable bundle of ingredients in the other. We’ve basically got Shakespeare to thank for that. “Hubble bubble, boil and trouble,”and so on. And such an image nearly always involves plants […]
Candles and Folklore: Bringing Luck and Casting Spells
Candles are a common item around the modern home. We use them for emergency lighting during a power cut. Or we light them to alter the mood during a romantic dinner or a pampering bath. They’re also synonymous with magic – think of wishing on your birthday cake or lighting candles for a spell! Today […]
How to make easy witch bottles to protect your home!
Witch bottles date to at least the 1600s in both England and the US. Despite the name, witches did not make the bottles. Rather, ordinary people made them to repel a witch’s power. If you thought a witch had cast a spell against you, then you’d create one of these to counteract it. In this post, […]
Are magic and fantasy important?
The Great North Museum (formerly the Hancock) is currently running their Magic Worlds exhibition, dedicated to fantasy and illusion. It’s on until 22nd June but I decided to pop along before the school holidays in the hope it would be quiet (aside from a noisy group of schoolchildren, one of whom even questioned whether or […]
