Magic Spells and the Power of Words - Tools of The Trade and Practice

Magical Healing: Folk Healing Techniques from the Old World - Hexe Claire 2018

Magic Spells and the Power of Words
Tools of The Trade and Practice

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Before I begin: I am repeating all spells in the exact form in which I have received them from my sources. I have made no changes.9

Of course, I understand that my readers follow a variety of spiritual paths. That is why I want to make one thing clear: anyone can make changes to the spells and add the spiritual powers to which they feel connected. It does not matter if you prefer to work with Jesus, Mary, the great goddess, Cernunnos, Isis, your spirit animal, or angels. Just do it. The possibilities are endless.

We can approach this the way our ancestors did. They spoke to the powers they considered holy. A change like this will not weaken the spell, but make it more powerful than one involving a force that holds a negative connotation for you. You can come up with your own spells, as well. We will discuss this later on.

The terminology for the use of magic spells and prayers can vary greatly depending on the region. A friend who grew up in Bavaria had never heard of the term böten, yet he was familiar with the concept of praying off from his own childhood. However, even though the terminology may differ from region to region, the overall structure of the spells remains surprisingly similar regardless of their region of origin.

We tend to underestimate the power of the word. We endlessly talk and type and are practically surrounded by clouds of words in our daily routines. It is not always easy to find our way back to the origins of the power of the word from here. Our ancestors considered words to be a central force in the healing process. It was important to use meaningful, symbolic, and magical words instead of small talk from everyday life.

I was originally doubtful when I began dealing with magic spells in böten. I thought about all those people looking for the perfect spell to perform love magic. A spell that can change reality by the simple sequence of its words, regardless of the circumstances. We all know that the bare sequence of words has no effect unless we infuse them with energy. If they are spoken with love, however, the old (or new) healing spells hold great powers.

We can only speculate why that is. Perhaps we dive into an ancient healing current when we apply them.

We have learned to believe in miracles, but in some cases, we need incredibly dramatic examples: the painless operations performed with kitchen silverware by Brazilian trance healers or the operations executed with bare hands we have seen in Asia. When we witness things like this we can put our skepticism aside for a moment and find ourselves in awe of the miracles that can happen when we are not so scientifically minded that we declare them impossible. Is it possible that we are sick with arrogance, with coolness, with our because-nothing-can-be-that-may-not-be attitude? How small our inner world is—yet we believe ourselves to be so incredibly advanced.

The old healing spells have nothing to prove. They are simply there and weave words and healing energies into a powerful combination. The following spell from ancient times leaves a great impression of how strongly our ancestors believed in the power of words:

My word is big,

My spell is powerful.

My word is stronger than water,

Higher than the mountain,

More desirable than gold,

More powerful than a rich man.

My spell cannot be disturbed by water,

Nor by fire,

Nor by the earth,

Nor by the air.

He who drinks all the water from the sea,

Who rips all the grass out of the field,

Even he can’t overwhelm my spell.10

The mention of the four elements and the comparison to nature is reminiscent of old shamanic incantations. The choice of words leaves the impression that the spell holds deep magical powers that transcend mere words alone.

Do we have the self-confidence to speak spells like this today? This is another important point to consider: commitment and determination are important components when it comes to healing with spells. Don’t leave a back door open for contingency plans, but commit to what you are doing wholeheartedly. The magical spells used in praying off, böten, turning, and talking off were often considered blessings in order to differentiate between them and everyday speech.

These spells were all invented at one time or another. Some are very old, some relatively young. In the past as well as today, many healers created their own spells, tailored to their experiences or by spontaneous inspiration.

If you are out to create your own, keep it short. A four-lined stanza or a short symbolic tale is ideal.

Not every healer uses spells. Some simply have an inner dialogue with God, Mother Nature or an angel to achieve the healing. The spell does not necessarily have to be in the strict form of a rhyme.

Perhaps you ask yourself why the mental pictures conjured up in these spells are so important when the healers often murmured them quietly or simply repeated them to themselves.

It is essential that the people who heal have a picture in their mind’s eye that they can project onto the person who is seeking help. The words serve as a path to the mental picture. It is not always about the words themselves, but about what they convey. They always carry a picture or a story, which is supposed to have a symbolic effect on the ailment.

The powers of healing tales appear in all cultures even today. Fundamentally, the magic spells of our ancestors were no different. Even though the healing tales sometimes only appeared in the form of a four-lined stanza, they always conjured up an image.

The spells were generally repeated three times (in serious cases even three times three times, so nine times; or three spells were used in three sessions). This was then followed by a gesture: blowing three times in the pattern of a cross, for example, or stroking the affected area in the pattern of a cross, sometimes drawing a cross with an index finger or a thumb in the air above the area. Be careful to ensure that the lines of the cross point away from the patient, not toward them.

After people learned to read, spells were traditionally passed along on pieces of paper. It was the job of the designated successor of a healer to record them while the healer dictated.

To make a spell your own, it is helpful to copy it by hand in order to acquire it mentally.

Healers were not of one opinion on whether or not it was allowed to pass on the spells. Some were adamant that the spells needed to remain a secret in order to retain their healing powers, while others passed them along because they felt that there were so many people who were suffering. You have to decide for yourself how you prefer to keep the tradition.

Dear readers, I would like to ask you to use the spells freely, but with respect. They should not be uttered unless there is a reason to do so.

If you would like to learn them by heart, only repeat them to yourself mentally. Don’t turn it into a show when you apply the spells or pose as a great healer or anything of the sort. Ultimately, greater powers than humans are at work in the healing process. Healing work and personal vanity do not mix well.

Have faith in the spells. Do not think to yourself: what if it doesn’t work? It is not up to you whether or not it works, anyway (we are neither God nor the great Goddess, after all). So, do your best, do it with love, and without hesitation.

The old healers stressed over and over that they were not the ones doing the healing, but relied on the powers above. This attitude is psychologically helpful because it prevents us from freezing up from fear of failure and disgrace in the event that it does not work. This sensation of freezing or cramping up is exactly the reason why the whole thing would not work as well as it should.

It is possible to apply the spells in self-help situations, although not all healers do this. It used to be common sense; who would sit around and wait with painful burns if they know a spell against burns, for example?

Spells for Afflictions

The following spells are classic böten blessings. They can be found in countless traditions with subtle variations depending on the vernacular and the personal interpretations that people added.

I can’t cite the source of the well-known spells because they are considered common property among healers. I am citing spells that I found in single sources or received from individual healers, of course.

Many blessings are still popular today. Some were even turned into folk songs like the famous “Heal, heal, little goose.” Mothers still hum it over wounds of their children today:

Heal, heal, little goose;

Everything will be all right soon.

The kitten has a little tail;

Everything will be alright soon.

Heal, heal, bacon from a mouse;

In a hundred years it will all be gone.

Interestingly enough, bacon plays an important role in several magical instructions. It is supposed to be applied to the affected area and later buried at a crossroads, under a tree, or in a cemetery to banish the illness.

We can only guess that the use of bacon was originally part of the spell. It is not unlikely, since the spells often referred to an ingredient that was applied during the recitation.

This spell works in a similar fashion:

Healing, healing blessing

Three days of rain

Three days of snow

Nothing hurts anymore!

We still blow on a wound if a child falls down or has any kind of injury today. As soon as they are familiar with this ritual, the little ones let us know unambiguously: “You have to blow on it!”

That’s what I call an ancient healing practice transported into today’s times with no problem.

Atrophy

Atrophy in folk medicine refers to all illnesses in which people experience significant weight loss or a general weakness. The following spell serves to strengthen a person and can be combined with other spells.

Gain in the limbs

Gain in the flesh!

Gain in the veins and the blood

As certain as the moon shines in the sky!

This spell was preferably spoken during a waxing moon. It only makes sense then, because the moon functions as a visible symbol for the desired increase (in strength, vigor, weight, etc.).

Bladder Infections

Mother Nature knows quite a few remedies for bladder infections. Tea made from stinging nettles can effectively treat the first signs of an infection in most cases before it gets a chance to truly nest. Healing methods involving spells were familiar with this problem as well. The following Northern German spell proves it:

Cutting water and travelling water each turns off with the other.11

The term “cutting water” refers to the ailment. Travelling most likely refers to a flowing body of water.

Our ancestors often included their natural environment into the healing magic. As a result, it is more than likely that this spell was spoken next to a flowing stream while the affected person relieved themselves.

Blood Blessing

(to stop bleeding and heal wounds)

Naturally we go to our doctor when we bleed or have large wounds in order to get them wrapped. I note these spells primarily for traditional reasons. They can be useful on your way to the doctor or (in case of larger injuries) while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Some traditional healers can stop the flow of blood in the blink of an eye and heal wounds without leaving the trace of a scar. Don’t forget, they have a lot of experience with this. Therefore, do not perform experiments in serious situations! Common sense is always the best counsel, especially when it comes to healing work.

Lord Jesus walked through the alley

Where blood and water flowed.

He let the water flow;

He stanched the bleeding.12

Another saying is:

Moses walked through the Red Sea.

He struck the flood with his staff,

And still it stood,

And so shall you stand, blood.

The motif of Moses splitting the Red Sea can be found in many old blood blessings. It is a pious image that served our ancestors well in the treatment of bleedings. The “Red Sea” was not meant to be parted, but assuaged.

Three oak trees stand in the green forest.

Under the oak trees sit three spinners.

One runs,

The other licks,

The third stands still.13

This blessing is reminiscent of the three Norns as spinners of fate. It is unusual because it cannot be traced to Christian roots but seems to originate directly from a much older time.

Three blissful hours have come upon this world. In the first hour the Lord was born, in the second hour the Lord died, in the third hour the Lord was resurrected. I now call these three blissful hours and quiet you, N.N.14, and so still the blood and the fluid in your limbs. I thus heal the injuries and wounds to them.

Many variations and embellishments exist for this Christian spell. Its core serves to transmit the resurrection of the sacrificed Son of God into healing the patient.

Those who follow the Christian path can keep the motif of the crucified God. You are free to change it to similar mythological figures like Wode (Odin, known under this name especially in northern German healing spells), Dionysus, Persephone, Inanna, Veles, Ishtar, Xango, Shiva, or Osiris, depending on your personal beliefs. In ancient mythology both Gods and Goddesses undertake quests to the underworld. It is not restricted to male deities.

Among blood blessings we can’t forget the tried-and-true Longinus blessing; it dates back to the time between 945 and 1000 CE:

The knight Longinus was the man,

who saw the wound in our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

The wounds bleed a lot,

Stanch blood through the holy honor.

Longinus was the legend of a soldier who wounded Jesus on the cross, stabbing him in his side with a lance. The blood he drew supposedly healed his blindness. He was then baptized and preached the Gospel. Be that as it may, the blessing was never lost and is still being used today, a clear sign that it has been proven effective.

Burns

In folk medicine, burns (or “fire”) refer to all infected or inflamed skin conditions, burns, sunburns, erysipelas, and fever. This includes illnesses that naturally have heat associated with them, which can also include allergies. Allergies are generally an “overheating” reaction of the body to often completely harmless stimuli in the environment.

In certain cases, ergotism (St. Anthony’s fire) was also included in the term burns. It posed a serious health threat in the old days. I am including it as a historical annotation.

I will refer back to rashes known as “the rose” later, since it had a special place in healing spells. However, spells against burns can also be applied to the rose. In folk medicine it is considered a subcategory of burns.

Burns, fall into the sand,

Fall into the path of the wheels,

Fall entirely away.

I stanch this burn15 and throw it into the sand.

It is common practice to sweep across the affected area with a cloth (the material does not have to touch the skin) and bury it afterward.

This blessing is my personal favorite. It once saved me an afternoon by the lake, among other things. I had just bought a piece of cake and a freshly brewed cup of coffee at the kiosk when the paper cup slipped out of my hand as I was sitting down. The hot coffee spread so thoroughly across my leg that the thick denim material instantly soaked it up. The pain made me drop the cake from my other hand. My first thought was: my skin will blister from the heat! My second thought was (this happens in a fraction of a second in a situation like this) about the Swabian women who get the spells in their family as a spiritual first aid kit at weddings. They were not highly regarded bringers of healing, but ordinary women, so let’s try this!

I said the burn spell quietly to myself and drew three little crosses across the area with my index finger. The pain stopped instantly. Only a short tingling sensation and the leg felt as if nothing happened. When I checked to see what the area looked like under my pants I could not even find a reddening. The leg looked exactly the same as the other.

I am writing this story to encourage all those who believe that only great healers and highly praised masters can have an effect. I am no healer, and was not given mysterious initiations. I am merely an author doing research on the subject to preserve the old knowledge. I acted without worrying about whether or not it would work. I simply had the strong wish that it would. I would have looked for a doctor without hesitation in the event that it did not work and heat blisters had developed. I would like to stress this: it is not about turning off practical thinking, but if the solution can be this easy, we’ll gladly accept it.

The rhyme in German, Brand auf Sand (burns on sand) can be found in many spells against “hot” ailments. Sometimes the burns fall into the sand, sometimes it is tossed into it. It can also sink into it or many other options. Next to the obvious rhyming advantage, this also paints an effective picture because sand absorbs heat well. It soaks it up. Since “burns on sand” doesn’t rhyme in English, you may choose to modify these spells to “burns on earth” for the assonance of the phrase (e.g. “burns, fall into the earth”), as the earth cools and absorbs heat just as well as sand does. Rhyming, alliteration, and other poetic devices were often used in spells to make them sound better when repeated, and thus more powerful when spoken.

Here is another blessing for burns:

Go away from us burn and not into us, whether you are warm or cold, stop the burning. May God protect you, N.N., your flesh, your blood, your marrow, your limbs, and your veins. May they be safe from the cold and warm burn and go unharmed.

This spell calls on God for help (as with all spells you are free to change the deity depending on which powers are best to bring healing for you). At the same time, it invokes healing for the entire body. It is not simply about the affected area, but the body is holistically treated as a complete system. Mentioning the name of the sick person (N.N.) strengthens the magic.

The second part of the spell from “May God protect you …” can be used separately to strengthen someone in convalescence after an illness. Simply replace the words “from the cold and warm burn” with “from illness.” You can also add it to the end of other spells, if the body is supposed to be strengthened overall in addition to the affliction that is addressed.

Spell-based healing was and is a creative art. It is not about copying. Feel free to add your own personalization.

Three holy women are doing the wash.One beats,

One rinses,

The third puts out the fire.

Here we again meet the three holy women who populate so many healing blessings. The picture of washing as it is portrayed in this blessing makes sense and the ending “puts out the fire” makes it clear how this blessing works. It utilizes the magical principal of opposites: water fights fire and takes its power.

St. Lawrence sat on the glowing gridiron.

God came to him with comfort.

With his strong, almighty hand,

He extinguishes the cold and hot burns.

St. Lawrence appears in many burning spells on account of his martyrdom by fire.

In doing this we stay faithful to magical thinking; like heals like. If a holy person has experience with fire, they will also be able to help with burns on the mortal plane. In some spells the holy person is the one who heals, in others—as in the example above—God himself appears as the helper. As God stands by the holy person, he is supposed to stand by the afflicted and take the suffering away.

Mary once traversed the land

And found a red silken band.

She picked up the red silken band,

And so healed the red spread.

Mary and the saints have a lot of wanderlust in these old spells. They enjoy walking the land. This is a promise: they are near; they will come by and help you. The activities that they perform are symbolic of the healing of the illness. As always, our ancestors spoke in pictures, because they knew that healing happens on the basis of mental pictures and a spell isn’t much good unless it evokes an inner picture.

I warn you of ninety-nine types of fire.

One builds the fire,

The other splits the wood,

The third blows on and off.16

The third line in the text is especially significant since it can be assumed that blowing occurs during this spell, meaning that people would blow on the afflicted area three times in the pattern of a cross to banish suffering.

If more than one helper is involved, they always show up in threes:

In the early morning dew,

Three beautiful virgins were walking.

One walked through the green grass,

One searched for the leaf of a lily,

The third took the fire.17

Cool dew and fresh vegetation function as pictorial means of healing to conquer the burn.

The three beautiful women are part of a long tradition. They are anchored in the cult of the three matrons, which is reminiscent of the three Norns. There were many sanctuaries of holy women in Germany and these are documented through findings of altars and hallowed stones. It is assumed that they are of Roman-Celtic-German origin. However, it is likely that these figures can be historically traced back to much older times. (See “Triple Goddesses” in the Healing Beings chapter.)

Spells against burns can be extremely helpful in everyday use against minor burns (grease spray from a pan, an iron, etc.). Therefore, it is good to learn at least one of them by heart.

It usually takes a little bit of time before a spell takes effect. You should simply try it out. Don’t make a big deal about it, but simply murmur the spell three times with calm concentration over the affected area. Next, draw three crosses over it with your index finger or blow three times in the pattern of a cross and see what happens.

Cancer

We are all aware that we should discuss this disease with the utmost care. I do not want to give anyone false hope.

Nevertheless, I have decided to include the following spell because it can instill new courage to accompany medical treatments. Even when it comes to cancer, a person’s spirit plays an important part in recovery (as with any illness).

We do not wish to persuade anyone to neglect medical treatments. However, if this old spell allows just one person to gain new confidence, it will have done a lot of good.

So go into the deep red sea.

There is a table and dish.

On it lays a baked fish.

Eat and forget human flesh and blood,

you don’t do any poor human good.18

The analogy of this spell is simple: it offers a tasty meal to the illness—in this case baked fish—instead of allowing it to devour the person. The illness is supposed to forget its current “favorite meal,” meaning the sick person. This spell can also be used with all other illnesses that threaten to hollow out a human being.

Colds and Fevers

Spells against burns generally work for fevers as well, since it falls into the category of a “hot” illness as mentioned above. Still, there are a few spells that can be applied to fever directly:

Fever, Fever!

I’m telling you: Leave me!

Go, shake gray stones!

Go, shake tree trunks in the forest!

When we ask the fever to enter into gray stones, we are reminded of the burn entering into sand. In this spell, the heat is banished to both stones and tree trunks.

Trees often play the role of a mighty plant in healing spells. In comparison to us relatively small humans, trees can cope with illness better due to their size and strength. We can transmit illnesses to the tree to neutralize them.

Cough, go away!

You, cough of N.N., do not scratch the body of N.N.!

Cough, go away!

You, cough of N.N., do not scratch the bones of N.N.!

You, cough of N.N., do not scratch the heart of N.N.!

Go along the sea,

Scratch the stones of the sea,

Scratch the sand of the sea!

They taste better than the body of N.N.! 19

This spell is another good example of thinking in picture form. This is an integral piece of magical spell healing: The scratch of the cough becomes the center of the spell and the cough is addressed as you would address a person with whom you can negotiate. This is a deeply shamanic way of thinking.

The illness is not aggressively banished in this spell, but rather we appeal to the (personified) rationality of the illness. To the tune of: “Come on, leave. Elsewhere is so much more pleasant than here.” We employ powers of persuasion instead of giving orders in this case.

Persuasion spells present a good alternative for those of you who are having a hard time with spells phrased as commands for your personal taste.

Good evening, Old Woman,

I am bringing you the warm and the cold.

… meaning warm and cold fevers (chills or shivers). Find a tree for this spell. This can be an oak tree, elder tree, apple tree, nut tree, spruce, or willow tree.

A similar spell utilizes a crossroads instead of a tree as a magical space. To perform this kind of magic, go to a crossroads and say:

Good day, crossroads!

I am bringing you my warmth and my cold.

I am leaving the cold with you;

I am keeping my warmth.20

Afterward, walk home in silence without turning back.

It’s interesting how we again reference ancient magical ideas: the crossroads is addressed like a person. We know from ancient times and other cultures that some deities liked to linger at crossroads, especially gods of fate that can open or close paths in life.

Dislocations, Sprains, Joint Problems, etc.

St. Peter sat on a stone

And he had a bad leg.

Flesh and flesh, blood and blood,

In three days it will be good.

This spell is very reminiscent of the Second Merseburg Charm, except it uses St. Peter instead of Wodan, who healed the blood, limb, and joint dislocations in that particular magic spell with the following words:

Bone to bone; blood to blood;

Limb to limb—like they were glued.

These similarities are no coincidence. This is where an age-old form of the magic spell mixes with the more modern view of Christianity (St. Peter).

Spells against dislocations can easily be used for joint problems and even for rheumatism. The limb in this spell stands for all extremities, so the spell will work well on an arm or anywhere else it is needed.

It is not uncommon for healing spells to be applied to ailments for which they were never intended. Ancient healers who used prayers knew a spell or two, yet people came to them with other ailments in their times of need. The known spells were applied to these ailments or new ones were thought up. What else can one do in times of need?

No relatively open exchange existed for topics like these. There was always the fear of being accused of practicing witchcraft. It has been suggested that the two World Wars were primarily responsible for the distribution of spells in recent history. Healers who entered the army often recognized each other when one of them stopped a bleeding or lessened pain, more or less in secret, for their comrades. They would then trade healing knowledge. This also happened often among refugees and displaced people during those wars.

Dizziness

I talk off your dizziness.

You will wind

From skin and hair,

From flesh and blood,

From marrow and limb,

You shall not be dizzy

Even as little as the stone.21

During this sympathetic cure a stone with healing powers is held above the forehead and then returned to its proper place at the end.

Dizziness, dizziness, dizziness, you torture me,

Dizziness, dizziness, dizziness, I hunt you,

Dizziness, dizziness, dizziness, you shall disappear.22

The magic moment in this spell is the triple address; the rest is clearly a call to battle.

Flesh and blood

Skin and limb

Stand like stone.

Spells against dizziness were not exclusively used for healing treatments, but would also be spoken to ensure a good head for heights when traveling in the mountains or higher altitudes.

Eczema

The eczema category includes psoriasis, neurodermatitis, and all other skin conditions that result in scales. Dandruff can also be considered one of them.

If a skin problem appears in the form of redness or heat, use a spell against burns. As soon as scales form on the skin, however, use a spell against eczema, even if the skin shows redness. Traditional healing medicine suggests salt water as an additional compress to heal eczema. Today many people resort to seawater applications or to creating their own “sea” water—by mixing sea salt and water.

Eczema, eczema, go away!

My hands chase you.

They chase you day and night,

So, eczema, eczema, eczema,

Go away from me! 23

This spell delivers a clear statement and chases off the eczema. The mental image in this spell is clear. It is easy to imagine two hands chasing after the eczema to drive it away.

Eczema, step down from the backside,

From the backside to the heel,

From the heel to the ground.24

This spell serves as a kind of lightning rod spell. The eczema is sent down the body and finally grounded in the Earth, which takes it on and neutralizes it. This spell can be easily changed to work for other illnesses.

Two other relatively well-known spells work with the motif of no return:

The moon and eczema

Walk across the water;

The moon returns home,

Eczema stays away.

Fly ash and eczema

Flew across the sea;

Fly ash returns home,

Eczema is never seen again.

Fly ash—in other variations of this spell also defined as flake ash or potash—is ash that is fine enough to be airborne. In the old days it was used directly and was symbolically blown away or applied to the affected area. Some sources 25 also list fly ash as ash from beech wood.

It was easy to work this way back when people had wood-burning ovens in their homes. Today it is often easier to take dried herbs such as rosemary, stinging nettle, or ragweed, burn them on a fireproof surface, then use the resultant ash and repeat this either three or nine times:

Evil eczema, go back home.

Spells can be just that simple! This is a clear statement without any embellishment used to banish eczema.

The Evil Eye, Jinxing

(today: Mobbing, Workplace Bullying)

In the old days, people often assumed that envy, sinister thinking, and sometimes even excessive admiration could cause an illness. These ailments were often treated with spells.

We still know the feeling when an illness first comes on: something’s got a hold of me. Envy has a powerful energy. It does not necessarily have to have evil intention, even if the expression evil eye sounds like it. It often happens unknowingly and without intent. In general, we shouldn’t expect an attack behind everything, so just discreetly and quietly resolve the problem without any drama or accusations.

Friend, if you are cursed in your leg,

And in your lungs,

And in your liver,

If an evil woman has done it to you,

Or if a young girl has done it to you,

Or if an evil man has done it to you,

Or if a young boy has done it to you,

So bring it home to them

In their lung and their liver,

Let it stick there forever.

Most spells against the evil eye show this typical list of questions, in which all potential candidates that could have caused it are being considered. Since the source of the energy can only be directly traced back in the rarest of cases, it was a safety measure to ensure that no possible instigator was left out of consideration.

This spell can be used today to bring clarity to cases of defamation, bullying, etc. The sorrow that results from such problems almost always has a physical effect, such as sleep troubles or stomach aches. When we look at it from this perspective, we can understand what it means when we say that the charm of certain people can do bodily damage. If you consider the last two lines of the spell too extreme, you may leave it off and end the spell with “so bring it home to them.” It is simply the language from another time.

Who cursed you?

Their own kidneys will feel it.

Who cursed you, man or woman?

They will feel it themselves.

Who has cursed you, lass or lad?

They will feel sick themselves.

This spell is a classic: the bad intentions will be returned to sender. Let them cope with their own bitterness instead of afflicting their acquaintances! Less personal banishments also existed that were not phrased quite so harshly. For instance:

Evil eye, evil eye,

Go to the lonely mountain,

Where the birds do not sing,

Where no man can go.26

The culprit is not named directly with this banishment, but the evil eye itself is banished without involving the sender. The previous spell was in the form of mirrored intent (meaning that negativity is returned to the sender). Here, the evil eye is personified and sent away without targeting a specific person.

Two evil eyes cursed you;

Two good eyes call you back.

This fairly well-known spell comes right to the point and sets things straight. The old folk beliefs contained not only the evil eye, but a good eye as well. It had healing properties and could return things to balance.

Female Troubles

In the old days people believed that the uterus had a life of its own. It was viewed as an animal (usually a toad) that was believed to have the ability to wander around inside the body, which caused considerable discomfort.

Today we are aware that this is not true and view these analogies in a different light. In order to feel healthy, the magical cauldron of a woman’s belly has to be in good shape! These old spells can also be successfully applied to menstrual pain and PMS.

Once again, we shouldn’t fall victim to mindless, ideological thinking here. It is often believed, especially in spiritual circles, that menstrual pain indicates that a woman is not on the best terms with her femininity. Let’s not be ridiculous. Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining in the body, and the body naturally feels this when it happens. Of course, we can and should lessen the pain this causes, but to add feelings of guilt to the process is absolutely … questionable, to put it mildly. In the old days women were considered unclean when they had their period. Today we assume they are not sufficiently enlightened when they are in pain. It’s enough to drive anyone mad.

Old woman—old cat

Drink a little glass of schnapps!

Womb, stop toying with me like a cat.27

This spell is obviously a drinking spell that was aimed at soothing the uterus with a little drink of schnapps. It will also work with tea or another helpful remedy instead of the alcohol.

Many women prefer to suffer in silence during their period instead of taking “evil” pharmaceutical medications. To each her own, but why play the martyr when you could be having a nice day?

Naturally, medications should be used responsibly and sparingly. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about best practices. When you see no other way, this is by no means an option that would turn you into an unspiritual person.

The spells were not always as peaceful as the previous one. Sometimes they took a different tone:

Uterus, rest now!

If you move,

I’ll kill you.

We can clearly imagine the uterus as an animal within the body in this spell. It is supposed to keep to a certain area. This is accomplished through an obvious threat. Any woman who has ever suffered from strong menstruation pains can understand this drastic language. The following spell is even clearer:

Mother I dam you.

Mother I clamp you.

Mother go to your place

Where the Lord has destined you.28

The traveling uterus is supposed to return to her designated place to restore inner order.

Woe-mother, bear-mother,

You want to lick blood,

To repel the heart,

To strain the limbs,

To stretch the skin,

You mustn’t do it;

You must rest.

This blessing travels through the entire body; the restless uterus is being soothed and put into its place. This is not done with threats, but in a soothing manner. This is a useful spell even from today’s perspective. After all, menstruation can put an unpleasant strain on many parts of the body when we consider side effects such as headaches, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and a funky feeling in general.

Growths

Growth, you paw of a dog,

You grew big as an apple,

From apple to nut,

From nut to bean,

From bean to pea,

From pea to poppy seed,

From poppy seed to nothing.

So the growth shall also vanish,

As does

Foam on the sea,

Dew on the grass,

Wax on the fire.29

This spell has a special form that relies on invoking a step-by-step reduction, which eventually leads to the elimination of the problem. This form can be very inspiring if you are thinking about inventing your own spells.

Our ancestors’ spells were never complicated. They are always phrased in clear language that is hard to misunderstand. There is no beating around the bush, like “Maybe I would like to experience a little healing, but only if I remain in balance with my karmic duties and responsibilities and do not go against my guru’s master plan.” Healing spells have to make a clear statement if they are to be effective. Every restriction and “but,” “maybe,” or “if,” no matter how small, disrupts, and scatters the power.

As I mentioned above, faith includes the belief that we have a right to be healed. Those who doubt this and who are of the opinion that they have forfeited the right to healing based on personal badness, guilt, karma, sin, or similar things, must deal with this mental construction zone before they can work with healing spells. Spells can only unfold their full effect when they are spoken fully, with trust and confidence.

Gout, Rheumatism, and Similar Pain

Good evening, Spruce,

Take away my gout.

Rheumatism and rupture

Shall yield from my body .30

This spell originated in Brandenburg; its motif, however, can be found in all regions, in which illnesses are addressed: folks go to a so-called “storing” tree with their illness and turn over the illness to the tree.

Elders also fall into the storing tree category:

Elder shrub, I shake you,

Elder shrub, I quake you,

I, N.N., quake and shake to you

My seventy-seven forms of gout.

Spells that incorporate trees as healing entities are relatively well known and easy to find. This suggests a significant prevalence among the population. It appears that they were not only used by healers, but were considered public property and as such used to help people when needed.

Ultimately, all spells in which an illness is chased off into the woods are tied to the faith that considers trees to have helping powers:

Gout, I command you

Out of the head and out of the throat,

Out of the flesh and out of the limb,

Out of the blood and out of the marrow,

Into a desolate and wild wood,

Where neither sun nor moon shine anymore.31

This spell can be used for more than gout. The first word “gout” can be exchanged for any illness, since the spell works its way through the entire body. It is not tailored to a specific ailment.

Headaches

Headache, go away,

Fling yourself onto a dead body

And leave the living alone.

This spell involves those who have passed away, which may seem to lack reverence for the dead at first glance. These spells are not meant to disturb the deceased or overwhelm them with illnesses, however, but to state a simple analogy: as the dead fade away, so the illness shall fade. “It doesn’t hurt the dead. They’re already dead,” a healer once remarked.

In Wehlau (Saxony Anhalt) headaches were referred to as “little people.” They were believed to be a kind of sickness spirit akin to goblins or worms. Ash was supposed to be good medicine against them, especially if it was collected during the Twelve Nights (the magical nights between Christmas and Epiphany). The following spell also brought relief:

You little people,

You dear people,

All of you!

Go out of the head,

Go out of body and limb,

Go to the water, where you will find a broad stone,

There you will find food and drink.32

This spell was performed at the water. Afterward one would make three banishing crosses in the water with a knife, and walk away. A modern variation is to fill a sink with water and let the water drain out of the sink after drawing the three crosses. This works wonderfully well.

The little people were elsewhere known as “white” or “cold” people because they turned the affected person white, meaning pale and cold as they made them sick and weak. This banishing formula is suitable for all circumstances in which people are unwell in general and may look a little pale around the gills. Of course, it also reminds us that white is traditionally the color of spirits, and “dear people” represent the spirit of an illness. At the very least they are spirits occupying the wrong place and need to be banished. We often find shamanic views on illnesses which survived in these spells to the current day.

An old Romany spell against headaches goes like this:

Pain, oh pain in my head!

The father of all evil

Will find you, cursed pain.

Travel on, be smart;

You have tortured me enough!

There is neither seat nor bed for you here,

I want to chase you from my head!

Where you once were nursed

Travel back there, you evil thing!

Whoever steps in my shadow

Possess his head instead.33

The line “where you once were nursed” represents a clear order: Go home to Mommy.

This spell makes use of yet another healing technique: transference. This is most likely a later addition, and actually weakens the spell. The headache is now unsure whether it is supposed to go home to Mommy or torture another through magical transference (via the shadow).

While the technique of transference is not exactly the way of the proper English gentleman, it was often practiced in the olden days. An illness was often transferred via a coin, for instance, because unattended money is quickly picked up.

It is a handy spell to have, although we can omit the last two lines. They do not agree with the modern understanding of magic and they make the spell somewhat ambiguous. This isn’t helpful in healing practices.

Muscle Tension, Muscle Hardening, Knots

Muscle knot from the head,

The best horse to the manger!

If it won’t help,

It won’t harm either. 34

Afterward one would blow three times across the tense body part, like a shoulder (the shoulders are indicated with “from the head” in this spell).

Another spell from regions of Northern Germany:

A stag without lung,

A stork without tongue,

A turtle dove without gall,

Muscle knots, fall (off).

These two spells leave many mysteries and as modern thinking people we tend to want to analyze what could be behind it. From my own experience, do yourself a favor and accept what might work for you, but don’t analyze it to death. The old spells have a completely different force field, and it fades away when we try to dissect it with our minds.

I found a very similar spell against fever with a slight change:

Frogs without lung,

Storks without tongue,

Fish without gall,

Take my seventy-seven fevers all! 35

The first variation finds its origin on the island of Rügen, the second originated in Werder near Berlin. As you can see they were used for entirely different ailments. The second spell in particular can be applied to any other illness without a problem.

Nightmares

God protect me from the nightmare!

With all your might.

Wade through all the waters,

Leaf through all the trees,

Cross all boundaries,

Cut through the grease,

Count all the little stars in the sky,

Count all the little grains of sand in the seas,

Count all planks and fences,

Count all shingles on the roof.

In the meantime, the dear day will come around;

The nightmare can’t squeeze me.36

This spell is typical for a preoccupation formula, in which one keeps the evil spirit that causes the nightmare busy, so it will not disturb you. (The German word for nightmare, Alptraum, is derived from the word alp, a spirit being that would press or squeeze a person at night. Also known as a pressure ghost or incubus.)

Any kind of fringe on clothing serves as similar protection to preoccupation spells because ghosts have to count all of them, which affords the person peace and quiet for a little while. In the African American magic tradition people used to glue newspapers to the walls because spirits have to read all of it before they can do anything else. Similar ideas exist in countless cultures. Our ancestors were familiar with them as well.

Rash

The term rash covers a variety of skin conditions. The following spell covers all bases:

I will bless off the bothersome rash of the so baptized N.N, three times nine pimples, three times nine pustules, and three times nine exanthems. The mother of God walked along a green bridge and found three herbs. She picked one with her right hand; she wrapped the second around her right foot, and lost the third. No one knows where it went. Let these exanthems of the so baptized N.N. disappear in the same way, without known destination. Not through mine, mine, mine, but through the help of Lord Jesus and all the Saints.37

Stressing the act of baptism in this spell no doubt serves to activate the healing powers in these terms: “Mary and Jesus take notice … you are obligated to help this person.” Of course, you can leave out the word baptism and add your own spiritual helpers to the spell. All of these spells were invented at one time or another and we have the same right to do so as our ancestors.

We often have a funny relationship with things we invent because we feel that it does not hold the validity in some way—it’s just not real.

That is such nonsense. (Other cultures are a lot more relaxed and invent more as a result.) The ability to invent something is a gift and we would be misguided not to use it. Not a single healing blessing would have been created if no one had thought of it at some point. Our heads do not exist just for haircuts.

The Rose

As I mentioned earlier, “the rose” (a broad category of rashes or erysipelas) is a subcategory of a burn. However, several spells exist that are specifically tailored to this ailment.

The rose and the willow

Had a quarrel;

The willow won,

The rose disappeared.

The willow as a healing tree, in which people often symbolically hung illnesses, stands as victor over the rose. This spell was also passed down for eczema. In this case simply use the word eczema instead of rose for this spell.

Three virgins wandered the land.

One picks leaves,

The other picks grass,

The third breaks the rose.

Another variation of this spell goes like this:

Three virgins wandered along green paths.

One picks flowers,

Another one picks lilies,

The third drives the rose away.

These poetic spells conjure up a clear mental image. We also run into our three holy women again.

Rose, do not prick,

Rose, do not break,

Rose, do not stay,

Rose, wither away.

This spell is relatively well known and belongs to the most frequently used spells against the rose.

A rock stands in the red sea.

On it stands a made-up bed covered in cotton linens,

There you, rosy perforated ulcer

Have a space to sleep.

Sleep and rest until judgment day.38

We have encountered this persuasive type of spell before, in which we offer the illness another, more beautiful place to be, as opposed to giving it an eviction order. Here we offer the rose a “bed covered in cotton linens” as a comfortable living space. The spell still retains a little bit of an order in its tone. The rose is supposed to sleep there and rest (so, by no means even think about wandering around!). We are dealing with a mixed form here, using gentle force.

The “red sea” can supposedly be interpreted as a psychological interpretation of blood or a symbol for new strength. However, I think it serves as a biblical reference to Moses, who parted the Red Sea. It could also be much simpler than that: Because the Red Sea was far away, the illness is also banished to a faraway place. We will likely never know what was meant exactly, because we would have to be able to ask the inventor of the spell directly.

The rose and the dragon

Wandered across the creek.

The rose vanished,

The dragon drowned.39

A healer from Berlin was the source for this spell. Like many folk healers, she traced the origin of the rose back to a shock or a psychologically stressful situation—hence the dragon. It symbolizes the moment of fright, which is banished as the root of all evil to ensure the rose does not return.

Spells against the rose are also effective against herpes, especially if it persists over a long period of time or keeps reappearing in short periods. Those who suffer from cold sores on or around the mouth know that they often appear during stressful times or can be sparked by a moment of fright (such as a disgusting or seemingly fearsome sight). This is the same cause that folk healers also assume for a break-out of the rose. If this is the case for you, you can use the spells exactly as they are. No need to substitute the word herpes for rose.

We can also use these spells for other dermatological illnesses when we do not have anything else handy. Many traditional suggestions hold true against the rose. Do not let it come in contact with water, but apply warm compresses with dry chamomile buds. These can be wrapped in a thin cotton cloth (like a cotton diaper), warmed in the oven or on a radiator and then gently applied.

Soothing Pain

The wound happened,

Now and in the hour,

May it not bleed,

Not hurt,

Not fester,

Not ulcerate,

Until the mother of God gives birth to a second son.

In short, the last line “until the mother of God gives birth to a second son” means: never. It is a popular ending for blessings that are meant to banish a condition once and for all.

In many blessings we find the word “not,” a negative statement. Many find this strange today, since the latest teachings in spiritual circles preach that you must not say “not.” The reason for this is supposedly the brain cannot process “not,” or just skips over it, which either leaves the undesired condition to remain or possibly even strengthens it. Our ancestors obviously saw this differently and did pretty well with it.

We should be careful not to exaggerate principles like this, but to consider things realistically. We all know the sobering effect of the sentence “You can NOT do that.” I have yet to meet someone who considers this sentence (as the “not-theory” would suggest) as a strengthening statement. The opposite is true: it tends to drag people down and is disheartening. Many fight against statements like this their entire life. This effectively shows how powerful negative comments can be. The little word “not” has a powerful effect. It draws boundaries for good and for ill.

I come to you, flood of water,

I offer you my fury against the hurt.

Take it into the deep sand,

Lead it into a foreign land.

This spell would clearly work best if spoken by a flowing body of water, thereby incorporating the water’s energy.

If such a body of water is not present or the person whom you are trying to support cannot go to one, you can easily speak the spell with a mental image of a flowing body of water that carries the pain away. You can also use a bowl of water and let it run down the drain at the end. A postcard of a river or a waterfall can also be helpful if the person can hardly move or is bedridden. A little creativity is sometimes necessary.

Traditional healers are generally very careful when it comes to soothing pain. They often go to work only after a doctor has examined things and has determined a diagnosis (because it is critical to know the exact kind of pain). It would not be very helpful, for instance, if one tried to soothe the pain of appendicitis, since its cause would not be eliminated this way.

Stress and Similar Conditions

Our ancestors certainly experienced some stress, but their worries primarily centered around physical health and the dangers that threatened life and limb. Nevertheless, spells against fright, terror, and similar conditions exist, like the following spell. These can be used for heightened stress and mental ailments.

Take off, fright!

The mother’s breath

And the father’s strength chase you

Into a grey horse,

Into the straw of rye

Into a moldering tree trunk.40

This spell originated in Bosnia; as is the case with many traditions in folk magic, fright—meaning a specific moment of stress or a traumatizing situation—is seen as the source of the resulting illness.

Our German folk magic also assumes fright, as well as the evil eye, as a catalyst for illness. This is a worldwide motif that also appears in the South American healing tradition, for example. The belief that we should spit after a frightful moment to guard against illness persists even today.

Toothaches

Toothaches take up a large part of the old healing traditions and we count ourselves lucky to be able to have access to modern dental practices.

One of the old stories from the Alps tells of a man who lies screaming and moaning on the ground because he broke his leg. He encounters a dwarf, who asks him why he is screaming so loud and the man points to his leg. The dwarf answers unconcerned: “Oh, is that it? The way you were screaming, I thought you had a toothache.”

Even if no one enjoys a trip to the dentist, this story very clearly demonstrates how things looked in the past. People considered the pain of broken bones harmless in comparison to a toothache.

I am mentioning the following spells merely for historical reasons. We all know that we should immediately see a doctor when we have a toothache—and even better, before one develops.

Welcome bright light

For the teeth and for the gout.

Take all my little worms

That eat at my limbs.41

Most of the spells that have been found about toothaches welcome the light, meaning the new day. We can therefore assume that these spells were spoken at sunrise.

Greetings, new light

With your two points!

My teeth should not twinge

Until you have three points.42

This spell may have been spoken at the time of the new crescent moon, again welcoming new light. A crescent moon has two points, so the final line— “until you have three points”—means “never,” just as we saw in the spell for soothing pain that said, “until the mother of God gives birth to a second son.”

Universal Banishing and Prevention

Holy Mother Mary moves through the land,

With nine (name the disease) in her hand.

If she does not have nine, she has eight,

If she does not have eight, she has seven,

If she does not have seven, she has six,

If she does not have six, she has five,

If she does not have five, she has four,

If she does not have four, she has three,

If she does not have three, she has two,

If she does not have two, she has one,

If she does not have one, she has none.43

This magic spell was originally spoken to prevent illnesses of the eye; however, it can be applied to any other ailment. Its form is reminiscent of classical magic spells, in which one letter is sequentially omitted for the purpose of banishing, as well known from the “Abracadabra” formula, the meaning of which is still wrapped in secrecy:

Abracadabra

Abracadabr

Abracadab

Abracada

Abracad

Abraca

Abrac

Abra

Abr

Ab

A

In this case the illness is reduced until it has disappeared. This spell is very powerful and easy to remember. One should always keep it in mind because you never know when it will come in handy.

The following spell originates from the folk beliefs of the Hungarian Roma and speaks to the new crescent moon, meaning the phase in which you can see the first fine sliver of a crescent (the new light). Healers spoke to the crescent moon to prevent or relieve illnesses for one phase of the moon (the spell lasts this long and has to be repeated afterward):

New moon, new king!

Give me graciously

Good weeks,

In good weeks

Good days,

In good days

Good hours,

In good hours

Good fortune,

And keep me well

And healthy! 44

We have seen that reduction in spells is meant to banish illnesses; here the method of reduction is used to drill down to the shortest span of time, so as to not leave anything out. This spell serves well when made into a monthly habit, spoken on the second or third day after the astronomical new moon (when the moon is in complete darkness).

The crescent moon (when the new light is visible) was also used to increase money. This is why it is good to have a few coins in your pocket at this time. When you see the new moon for the first time, rattle the coins in your pocket with a wish for more. It may not bring an instant lotto win, but it almost always leads to unexpected gains during the lunar month.

Warts

Let that which I here talk off

Pass;

Let that with which I talk it off

Last.45

Another spell goes like this:

What I see passes,

What I strike yields.

This form of treatment is fairly common: tie as many knots in a string as there are warts and bury it, so it decomposes. Be mindful to use a string made of natural fibers, otherwise it cannot decompose.

Rubbing bacon on the warts and burying it afterward is also a proven method. Occasionally it says to bury the bacon in a graveyard; this again follows the idea of the illness vanishing just as corpses rot away. This is not necessary and certainly not for everyone, but it can’t hurt.

The old household remedies against warts are still popular today. An old friend from school told me to sprinkle urine on a wart when the moon is full to make it disappear. This is not an absurd idea when we consider that many crèmes contain urea as an ingredient. It works well, has no side effects, doesn’t hurt, and it’s free. And you don’t have to tell anyone about it, after all.

Worms

In traditional healing medicine worms are by no means considered simply as the actual parasites within the human body that they are, but are also viewed as sickness spirits as I have already explained. Today we would describe them as energy thieves or bad vibes.

Three kings plow a field.

What do they plow up?

They plow up three little worms;

The first one was white,

The second one was yellow,

The third one was red,

I squeeze them with my five fingers to death.46

Some spells (even when they refer to other illnesses) either work through the entire color palette or they target very specific colors that are connected to the illness. The thought behind this was to be careful not to forget any form of the illness to avoid giving it a loophole that would allow it to stay.

Worm and she-worm,

I forbid you to touch the human.

His flesh and his blood,

His marrow and his limbs,

You shall die and never come alive again.47

The fun ends when dealing with worms. The spells make this very clear. The interesting part about this spell is that it addresses the male and female worm as a pair. That makes sense; both sexes are necessary for procreation. This blessing targets not only the destruction of the worms, but also indirectly addresses their multiplication.

[contents]

9. In this book spells are no longer printed in their original languages but in an English translation. Some of the spells rhyme in German; whenever possible, the translation has been adjusted so that the English will also rhyme, but only when it does not change the literal meaning of the spell.

10. Hampp, 23

11. Schmidt, 103

12. Lommersdorfer Chronik, 193

13. Hampp, 42. Note: the licking here could refer to when women wetted their fingers when spinning to keep their work running smoothly.

14. N.N. indicates the name of the afflicted individual.

15. Or: I take this burn.

16. Frischbier, 49

17. Hampp, 52

18. Hampp, 98

19. Both spells: Hamp, 99

20. Frischbier, 53

21. Atkinson-Scarter, 91

22. Hampp, 78

23. Hampp, 79

24. Hampp, 80

25. Schmidt, 89

26. Hampp, 92

27. Hampp, 60

28. Hampp, 59. Note: in this spell, “mother” is short for “bear-mother” (Gebärmutter), the German word for womb or uterus. (The “bear” in the word refers to bearing children, not the animal.)

29. Hampp, 37

30. Hampp, 87

31. Hampp, 92

32. Frischbier, 75

33. Von Wlislocki: Folk Beliefs and Religious Customs of the Gypsies, 61

34. Schmidt, 87, the following spell: 88

35. Frischbier, 54

36. Hampp, 101

37. Frischbier, 35

38. Hampp, 98

39. Bühring, 96

40. Hampp, 95

41. Schmidt, 105

42. Frischbier, 100

43. See: Fehrle, 60

44. Von Wlislocki: Magic Formulas and Incantations …, 24

45. Bühring, 97

46. Hampp, 67

47. Hampp, 69