Exotic and Mundane

Folk magic is like a cup a tea. Leaves, exotic and mundane, get mixed around. Time and pressure are involved. In the end, a satisfying infusion takes place. And like tea, it's part of everyday life.

I have been a student of Wicca. I have, as a child, called myself a Christian, too. I've tried to be a Neo Pagan and I've gotten to experience the world of Vodou. In the end I've found that magic isn't dependent or exclusive to a religion, because like tea it can be infused everywhere, in any saucer or pot. It was truly folk magic, whether Hoodoo or Stregonaria or Brujeria, that resembled the earthy, alluring, poetic style captured by the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen, the magic of folklore and fairytales.

Eggs rolled over the body and cracked in a tub; Pennies and candy arranged at the four corners of a crossroads; Candles and amulets dressed in oil; Blue beads and silver worn to repel the Evil Eye-- In my mind this is all much more primal and effective than "invoking the God and Great Goddess," attributing magic solely to the word of fertility when it serves a wider, all engrossing drive.

By February 24th, Streghe Pages will be revised as The Crucibile: A Folk Magic Journal. The Crucible will serve an ecclectic brew steeped in many leaves. Hoodoo, Rootwork and Conjure will be explored as well as Stregonaria, Italian faith healing, and Gnosis based Christianity. Pagan religious structures will also be explored from an animistic perspective.

Details on the nature of this shift can be found in the previous entry or by contacting me below.

On Lilith

The devil is in the details.

Lilth has no canon.  She has no official iconography, mythology, back story or religion.  Over analyze her and the details fall apart.  Lilith has associations, scattershots of a legacy reaching as far back as the Sumerians.  She is similar to Tiamat, Nammu, Lammashtu and Bellit-Illi, local spirits of child birth, sex and murder.  She is supposedly the wind spirit Lilitu or a handmaiden of Innana.  She is also the ex-wife of Adam in Judeo-Christian mythology, the Queen of Demons.  In Islam she is related to several Djiin.  She is viewed as a goddess by Women's Liberation movements, Wicca and Neo-Paganism.  Psychologists say she is a neglected part of the Dark Feminine.  She is also known as the Queen of Witches, Sheba and the Black Madonna.  Try to unravel the sequence and you're back at zero.

In the past, I've experienced Lilith. She was the first spirit I've worked with who produced physical manifestations of her presence. It inspired a kind devotion throughout my teens and early twenties. Being open in my interest, I received many questions from Wiccans and Neo Pagans. Many of them wondered how I could work with her as the energy from the Garden of Eden and believe in spirits like Hera and Isis.  They wanted to know why I couldn't pray to Lilith as a goddess. The answer is simple: she isn't. She simply isn't a Christian, Jewish or Pagan energy. She belongs to no one.

As such, I've discovered Lilith is not the most approachable entity on a long term basis. She will not accept altars or daily devotions for very long. She needs to be free to approach you when she chooses, flitting in and out of your life when it's appropriate.

If you are working with Lilith and absolutely need an altar, I suggest keeping it in a room separate from any other saints or spirits. She accepts, in my own experience, jewelry, incense and gifts or wine, rum or whiskey. She responds to red as a candle color and her totem animals are jackals, black cats, panthers and the owl.

I Work With:Saint Jospeh



San Giuseppe, the patron of carpenters, the
unemployed and people providing for their families has a long history with folk magic. As related in a previous entry, the benevolent saint entered my orbit during a time of unemployment.  Since then, he has become my patron saint.

Saint Joseph is petitioned for a variety of needs and reasons in magico-religious traditions. As Saint Jospeh the Worker he helps the unemployed secure employment and the employed stay at work. As a builder of homes and provider he is traditionally invoked to sell houses. Traditionally, his statue is buried in the yard or, in apartments or buildings where a lawn is lacking, a flowerpot. He is also invoked for a peaceful death, as he was surrounded by Jesus and Mary at his end.

Renowned for his compassion, Saint Joseph may ask you to exercise charity in your own life. He is often depicted with lilies, the death flower and yellow or purple robes. Yellow is the color of his novena candles and purple relates to his place in Heaven. With his special place in God's court, he can relate our petitions to the highest levels. For this reason (and to demonstrate his familiar compassion) he is shown carrying the infant Jesus. His special day is Sunday. Remember as you are praying or working with Saint Jospeh, that you are forming a relationship with this generous, gifted man, a humble but energetic saint.

The Evil Eye: What It Is, What It Isn't and How to Avert It

You can not study folk magic without discussing the phenomenon the Italians call Malacchio, the Evil Eye. And while much has been said about this subversive spell online, I find it's been over generalized into a "look of envy." In my time as a student of traditional Stregheria, I've experienced this hex and tossed over a few rocks to discover Malacchio's wormy history. What I've taken away from this search is that the English, Wikipedia rehashing of the curse loses a few key notes in translation.

The Evil Eye is a harmful look of projection. It results in fatigue, dehydration, skin irritation and general misfortune. In rare cases, the Eye can result in death.  Generally speaking, the Evil Eye is believed to derive from envy, but it can also be transmitted through any feeling projected by its caster.  Often times, the person transmitting the Eye is doing so unconsciously.  It's also believed that the Eye is drawn by excessive pride.  Whether or not this is true, it is unethical to project.  It reminds me of court case defenses you hear now and then that when a woman is dressing provocatively she is somehow "asking" to be raped, or inviting that kind of behavior. In theory, a person casting the Evil Eye is doing so because they feel the overly proud person is eliciting attention.

Is the Evil Eye a result of the person casting it's sensitivity and/or insecurities? It may not honestly matter. Jealousy, insecurity and piety will always be a part of our nature in a, "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone," kind of way. The best thing to do is to shield yourself from the Evil Eye's nature in the traditional ways our ancestors employed.

When it comes to Italians, the following amulets were applied:

The Cornuto or corno is better known as the Italian Horn.  It is a popular charm worn by Italian Americans in coral, silver and gold.  There are a variety of reasons attributed to its presence, each rooted in tradition.  In its coral form it is used to repel the Evil Eye.  The gold and silver forms are (as usual) speculated to date back to pagan times and the veneration of the lunar spirit Luna (the horns signifying those of the moon).  In later times (if you're subscribing to that theory), it them would have been reintegrated into the adoration of Mary who is intimately linked with lunar iconagrapy.  In my experience the gold form is worn by Italian Americans along with the cross.

And then, there is the Chimaruta. What  can I say about the Chimaruta? It is a mystery.  Scholars believe it is a totemic amulet intended to ward off witchcract and it's association, the Evil Eye.  Neo Pagan author Raven Grimassi believes (with what basis I wonder?) that it represents the spirit Diana Triformis.  The name Chimaruta literally means, "Sprig of rue," and the charm itself is cast in silver.  Three branches, bearing totems, have the potential to break into smaller sub-branches.  The truth probably lies closer to the scholarly theory, as the branching charms do seem to generate an external effect.  What this effect is probably depends on the family or practicioner who wore it.  Rue is a protective plant, and is also an herb applied intimately in Italian spells and rituals.  The intended use most likely depends on the assortment of trinkets or totems mentioned earlier.   Without historical basis, furthermore, we can not assume it had anything to do with Diana Triformis. The Chimatuta most likely belongs to the realm of family secrets and folk magic, not a suppressed Pagan cult.

Santa Morte: Holy Death in Eurpoe

 

Growing up in an Italian-American family I saw a lot of death. Most of my aunts and uncles were geriatric so there was a funeral every six months. They died of cancer, of pneumonia, of calculated risks. When that happened everyone came. We had relatives in distance states who would fly in for the occasion. I remember the funeral home most of all, an old Italian place in a rusty part of town. Everything about it depressed me, the carpet, the lights, the eternally overcast sky. Nothing ever changed at Rossi's.

I preferred the churches and cemeteries, high ceilings and open sky, a promise of lunch afterwords. Catholic churches rarely depressed me, not even the older ones with their darker windows and stony floors. Recently I stumbled across some Italian churches built specifically for the dead. Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte is probably the most famous, carved with skull motifs and winged time pieces. Similar shrines appear elsewhere in Italy, built to house friars and corpses of the abandoned or unknown. We could say death was familiar to the people who visited and built these churches. They were used to it, considering the shear number of plague victims throughout Europe.

Consider the following images from Santa Maria Della Concezione where an order of 4,000 dead monks line the walls. Now look a little closer at the photo to the right, depicting a tall skeleton with scythe and scales. Does any of this seem familiar? Could it be an ancestress, a forerunner of Mexico's death saint Santisima Muerte, the arcane spectre we know from botanica windows and head shops?  Shortly after researching this, I began spotting references to Italian death sprites like Dea Mors and the Greek Fate Atropos.  In most stories they were linked to Europe's dark Carnivals and a more obsucre figure from European legend called Santa Morte, or Saint Death. 

　

Most of what we know about Holy Death (Santisima Muerte) comes from Brujeria (Mexican Witchcraft) and Curanderismo. She is a product of syncreticism, believed to be linked to the Aztec spirit Mictecacihuatl. According to tradition, she is the archangel of death. Like the Madonna, she arrives in a variety of forms, each petitioned for different needs. La Blanca (White) has the power to heal and existed before Genesis.  La Roja (Red) is called upon for romantic endeavors, being the form she took when Adam and Eve made love in the Garden. She is also petioned for financial needs. La Negra (Black) is the form she took once Cain killed Abel.  She is petitioned for defense, murder and protection.

More recently, I became the student of a woman raised in an Italian folkloric tradition.  She agreed to teach me her family's blend of Stregheria.  One summer afternoon she mentioned "The Lady of Silence."  As it turns out, this Lady is one and the same with Santa Morte.  My teacher even referred to her as the Angel of Death.  While she isn't featured in every form of Stregheria, we do refer to her in our own, where she sits on my altar as The Lady of Silence.  What can  I tell you about this folk saint as she's petioned by Italian witches?  Very little.  Due to traditional Stregheria's renown security, we take special measures to preserve any symbolism and structure from traditions who might adapt them and misrepresent the stories or rituals in translation.  I can tell you that The Lady entertains her own fresh symbolism and a place in our credo. 

Concerning her influence over Santisima Muerte and Latin America, consider Spain's invasion of Mexico. Could it be possible that The Lady of Silence, a relic of Europe's Carnivals, influenced Brujeria and our modern understanding of Santisima Muerte? I think it's very likely, and find myself viewing her--and my family's customs--in a fuller, brighter light. Furthermore, if anyone works with this saint or has any additional texts, I'd love to hear from you. Please contact me or leave a note below.

Saint Joseph the Worker

"O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests in desires..."

The preceding prayer has helped me immensely of late.  And it can help you.  Creating a relationship with St. Joseph, the beloved foster father of Christ, is a personal journey I undertook three months when my unemployment looked grim.  Being a transsexual has it's own set of challenges, one of which happens to be finding a job.  Little by little I lost hope and little by little San Giuseppe, the carpenter saint of my Catholic heritage appealed to me.  I began to worry for my own safety and that of my boyfriend and our pets, who depended on my finding a new source of income in the near future.

"O Saint Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you or Jesus asleep in your arms... "

   It occurred to me, as it has to so many others, that Saint Joseph shares our concern for family being a craftsman who supported Jesus and Mary.  For that reason he has been petitioned by countless Italians who integrated him into folk magic.  A relationship with Saint Joseph can help you maintain stability and homeostasis within your work and home life.  

   As Saint Joseph the Worker he is honored on May 1 and his special day is Sunday. He is often seen in the his spouse and child as the Holy Family.  He is also at home with his work bench on Catholic Holy Cards, ready to help you resume control of your life.

Jesus as Magician

(Originally published December 10, 2011)

For two thousand years Jesus has been invoked to protect the home, the family and the individual. He has been nailed to your wall and worn about your neck.  He is a living spell, a Word of Power and--according to some--a magician.

     For twenty four years I avoided him.  The trouble was everyone had an opinion I was supposed to subscribe to.  Jesus is lord, Jesus is King, Jesus runs the show, etc.  I never had room to interpret him myself.  I never made time to examine the kind eyes, the liberal agenda and the obvious metaphysics of his life. He was born of a virgin, cured the blind, raised the dead and drove off spirits.  Jesus also performs the highest goal of ceremonial magicians, unleashing his divinity.

     There were also ancient claims to Jesus's mystical life.  If we're to believe an Egyptian bowl from Alexandria (evidently conceived between the 2nd century BCE  and 1AD), the first written reference to Jesus describes a magician.  Interestingly enough, an enemy of Christianity named Celsus wrote an account between the 2nd and 3rd Centuries describing Jesus as a magician who learned his skills in Egypt, where the bowl was found.

     Modern evidence suggests that Jesus is a synchronized deity based on "god men" like Horus, Mythras and Heracles.  I couldn't agree more.  Jesus has many roles.  He can help you understand the mystic's life better than most modern magicians.  He can teach you tolerance.  He can help make you aware of spirit and acknowledge your inner-divinity.   Jesus's associations are diverse: he is associated with the sun, the color white, blood, the cross and the color 3.  In Santeria, Jesus is synchronized with Obatala, the creator of human form.

Frequently Asked Questions

(Originally published November 11, 2011)

"Are you Wiccan?  Is that how I say that?"  Many times people are surprised when I say no.  I'm also not a Pagan in the modern sense.  I'm an animist.  What's the difference?  For one, Neo-Pagans work within a pantheon of gods while animists work with spirits and energy.  As an animist I make no classifications between deities like Zeus and Catholic saints.  Spirit is spirit.  There are spirits and elemental energies presiding over your favorite plant and gemstone.  Tools and pendants can be charged as independent allies.  I'm not about to box myself in and work with only one group of energies.  I'm not the kind of girl who likes putting the universe in boxes: the Goddess, the God, etc, etc,  It doesn't work for me.  Animism feels more organic to me; it feels real.  At this point it's more of a nature than a religion as it fits into mundane life.

    "What is Stregheria?"  If you've been reading this blog at all you'll know that Stregheria is the Italian word for witchcraft.  It is not (as some people claim) the Italian version of Wicca.  But while witchcraft is not a religion it can be taught, practiced or celebrated as a tradition.

     "Is Stregheria hereditary?"  Some people will tell you they learned their craft from a grandmother or parent.  I don't doubt this is often true.  In my case, I grew up with very religious, conservative parents.  Witchcraft was always an interest whose origin I couldn't pinpoint.  As I grew older I learned to open myself to the knowledge of my ancestors, whose memories and experiences with things like herb lore, folk magic and mysticism have always been apart of me.

  "Are you Catholic?"   I enjoy Catholic imagery.  It appeals to me.  I love rosaries and religious pendants.  My working room is decked with images of saints. None of this is because I'm Catholic but because it keeps me closer to my ancestors.  My ancestors were involved with the same saints.  They pulled them from several sources.  I can't help but feel they helped instill this in me.