Witch's Halloween Spells

People have long been fascinated or terrified by the spells that witches cast especially at Halloween. In his play "Macbeth," William Shakespeare wrote:

The Witches Caldron

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing

"For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and babble

"Double, double, toil and trouble,
Fire burn, and caldron bubble"

There are legends that abound that tell of witches gathering twice a year; once the night before spring began on April 30 (the eve of May Day), and the other on the eve of the beginning of winter on October 31 (All Hallow's Eve).

According to the legends, the witches arrived at the gatherings on magical flying broom sticks. The parties were hosted by none other than the Devil himself. Stories based on superstition have been told about witches casting spells that transformed themselves into different forms and casting spells on unsuspecting humans, using their magical powers, which brought pain and trouble. Legend has it that if you want to meet a witch on Halloween, you must put your clothes on wrong-side-out and walk backwards at midnight.

The belief in witches and the spells that they cast was brought to America with the early settlers. Then the settlers' beliefs kind of blended with the beliefs of the American Indians. Later the beliefs of the African slaves were also added to the mix. That strange mixture is what constitutes the general beliefs about witches that abound today.

There is no scientific proof that witches exist or that they can cast spells good, bad or otherwise. But believers don't need proof! They simply believe. I'm personally not sure, but if a frog spoke up and asked me to kiss him so he could turn back into a prince, I might just do it! I've kissed frogs before, but none of them have ever turned into anything resembling a prince, though — so maybe I'd just pass.

Witchcraft

The term "witchcraft" has different meanings for different people and different cultures. There is no way to "nail down" a specific definition for the term "witchcraft" other than to say is it a craft practiced by witches.

You can't call "witchcraft" a specific religion. Witchcraft has been found in many different cultures and on all continents in some form, both presently and historically. There are common threads that run through all of the various ways in which witchcraft is practiced. For example:

• There are religious elements that include spirits and/or deities.
• There are connotations that deal with the afterlife.
• Magic is a part of all the many forms of witchcraft.

The term "witchcraft" has been used to define any practice that involves magic, and the term "witchcraft" seems to be defined by the culture and values endorsed by each community. Witchcraft is viewed by different groups with varying degrees of respect, suspicion, or indifference. But most cultures define their own version of magic as either "good" or "evil," and there is no middle ground.

Many see witchcraft in any form in the same light that they view satanic ritual abuse (SRA). SRA is seen as physical and sexual abuse associated with satanic rituals or the occult. To these people it means that anything even remotely associated with witchcraft is evil.

The label "witchcraft" has been applied by most to any practice that is used to influence or control another person's mind or body against his or her will and for evil purposes that will undermine the accepted social or religious order.

It is often difficult to distinguish bad magic or "black magic" from good magic or "white magic." White magic is intended to protect humans from black magic spells but white magic also uses "spells" and "connotations."

Wicca and Witches

According to those who practice it, Wicca is simply a misunderstood religion. Wicca is the religion of witches. Those who practice Wicca point out that most or those who practice any religion have been persecuted at one time or another in history. They say that witches, witchcraft and Wicca have been more persecuted and more misunderstood than any other.

Witches who practice Wicca point out that witches do not fly on broomsticks, and neither do they worship the Devil or plot to bring harm upon others. Those who practice Wicca say that they don't always dress in black robes and pointed hats, cast spells over a boiling cauldrons, or own black cats either.

The practice of witchcraft can be traced back to Paleolithic people who worshiped a Fertility Goddess, a Hunter God, and others. The Wicca religion looks to nature to gain insight on which to base their beliefs. The sun, the moon, the stars, trees, birds, animals, and even seasonal cycles and the tides are the basis of many Wicca beliefs. The modern-day practice of Wicca bears little resemblance to the ancient pagan practices of witchcraft.

In Europe as well as in the New England states of America, a kind of "witch hysteria" existed until well into the 19th century. In the 1400s, the Christian Church applauded witch-hunters to stop what Christians believed to be the sorcery and black magic of witches.

In the 1500s, an archbishop in Germany blamed 120 citizens of a village of causing the severe weather. All 120 were burned to death as witches for "interfering with the elements." The most famous, or maybe infamous, witchcraft hysteria was the Salem witch trials in 1692.

Today witches are no longer persecuted (openly) for practicing witchcraft or Wicca, and they have come out of the broom closet, so to speak. But the witch hysteria isn't dead and gone, and witches, witchcraft, and Wicca are still viewed as evil in Christian circles.

Walking Under a Ladder Superstition

Some superstitions are easier to explain to rational people than others. Some could never be rationalized even by the most superstitious among us. The "walking under a ladder" superstition falls into the second category. But the fact is that many people will go to great lengths to avoid walking under a ladder.

How the "walking under a ladder" superstition got started is a little fuzzy. Some say that the belief that bad luck would be caused by walking under a ladder began when someone (no one knows exactly who) noticed that a leaning ladder resembled the gallows and determined that walking under a ladder would bring about your own execution.

Another explanation about the origins of the walking under a ladder superstition is thought to have started about somewhere around the time that Christ ascended into Heaven and the Holy Trinity was revealed. The triangular space that is caused when a folding stepladder is opened or when a ladder is leaned against a building or other object is said to represent the Holy Trinity and to walk through a triangle violates and desecrates God and the offender falls prey to Satan.

So what can you do if you inadvertently walk under a ladder? There are some rather creative countermeasures that are advised. We have no idea WHO advises these measures but, just in case, here they are:

• Walk backward to the ladder and spit three times through the ladder's rungs.
•  Cross you fingers and do not uncross them until you see a dog.
•  Spit on your shoe and keep walking, but don't look down at the shoe until the spittle has dried.
• Walk backwards under the ladder the same way you went through forward and make a wish as you back out.

Unlucky Number 13 Superstition

Lots of people think that the number 13 is somehow unlucky. There are those, however, who develop a fear of the number 13 that goes far beyond simple superstition. There is even a name for this fear (phobia). It is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, or friggatriskaidekaphobia. (I'm NOT kidding.) Specifically, these phobias relate to a fear of Friday the 13th but do encompass other fears related to the number 13. These phobias are more common than you might expect.

Some trace the notion that the number 13 is unlucky back to the Last Supper. Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus) was the 13th person to sit down at the table of the Last Supper.

No matter what the origin of the superstition that the number 13 is "unlucky" a great many people accept this as fact and avoid the use of the number 13 as much as possible. Of course, it's a little difficult to completely avoid the number 13 since it is the number that comes between 12 and 14 no matter what you do.

Still, most hotels do not have a 13th floor. Well, actually they DO have a 13th floor, but it is named the 14th floor. The number 13 is simply skipped. The floor directly above the 12th floor is the 14th floor in most hotels around the world. Even if the owners of the hotel are not superstitious, they recognize the fact that a great many people are, and many would refuse to stay in a room on the 13th floor.

There is no 13th floor in most government buildings. Of course, those who see conspiracy everywhere just naturally assume that there really IS a 13th floor, but that the government is using it for nefarious purposes.

Trick or Treating

In the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, it is customary for children to go trick or treating on the evening of October 31. They dress up in costumes, wigs, makeup, or masks and go from door to door (usually in groups of four or five). They knock on the door or ring the doorbell and cry "Trick or Treat"! The homeowner opens the door and drops a treat (usually candy or cookies) into the bag that each child is carrying.

The "trick" part of the trick or treat cry is actually a threat to do harm to the homeowner or his property if a treat isn't forthcoming. Small children, of course, have no intention of hurting the homeowner or his property whether a treat is given or not. It is simply part of the tradition of trick or treating.

Some say that the tradition of trick or treating can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when poor people would go door to door begging for food in exchange for prayers for on All Souls Day. Shakespeare acknowledges the tradition in his comedy "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" that he wrote in 1593. In the play, when Speed accuses his master of "puling like a beggar at Hallowmas," "puling" means whimpering and whining. It is true that the custom of trick or treating does resemble what was called "souling" in medieval times.

There is nothing to indicate that the custom of "souling" was ever practiced in America, and most people say that Halloween as we know it originated in America and spread to other countries as America became more influential in the world.

Whether trick or treating has its roots back in the Middle Ages or originated right here is America doesn't really matter. If you have small children in your neighborhood, it's a good idea to stock up on Halloween candy before October 31!

The Vampire's Ghost of Guadalajara

The story is told of the a vampire who lived in the Mexican town of Guadalajara back in the early 1800s. Strange things began to happen. Small animals, livestock, and even newborn babies were found dead with all of the blood drained from their bodies, night after night. The creature responsible for the deaths was called El Vampiro.

Finally, the town's people set up a watch to try to catch El Vampiro, and a man was seen sneaking back into his house just after another attack. The town's people burst into the man's house and killed him. Then they drove a wooden stake through his heart and buried him without ceremony in the town's cemetery, El Panteon de Belen (The Pantheon of Bethlehem).

Peace returned to Guadalajara, but a tree mysteriously began to grow from the stake that had been driven through the heart of El Vampiro. They say that it was fed by the blood of the vampire, and the tree grew and grew and grew. Branches that were broken off the tree had sap mixed with blood in them.

The roots of the massive tree began to lift the casket of El Vampiro to the surface. It was believed by the locals that once the casket reached the surface,
El Vampiro would live again.

There is a story of a young girl who released El Vampiro and was saved by an exorcism. She was a curious child who had heard the legend of El Vampiro all her life and decided to investigate. Because the metal casket was nearly rusted through, she made a hole in it and El Vampiro escaped.  The tree was then cut down. It hasn't grow back, yet but you can see the stump of the large tree at El Panteon de Belen in Guadalajara today, and there are those who say you can also see and feel the evil spirit of El Vampiro.