Icy Sedgwick's Blog, page 47
October 27, 2016
Why are these 3 plants essential in a witch’s toolkit?
We’ve looked at the folklore of toxic plants before. But given it’s almost Halloween, we’re focusing on 3 essential plants that you might find in a witch’s pantry. I give you henbane, wolfsbane and mandrake! Henbane Sometimes also known as black nightshade or devil’s eye, henbane is highly toxic. It’s so poisonous that even the smell of its...
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October 24, 2016
Are Ouija boards really evil doorways to hell?
Ouija boards hold a particularly sinister reputation, even among people who might otherwise consider themselves rational or scientific. They’ll happily use an EMF meter, or bust out the cameras and voice recorders, on a ghost hunt. But show them a Ouija board and you can’t see them for dust. If you believe horror movies, the boards are...
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October 20, 2016
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...
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October 17, 2016
Did the Hand of Glory really work or is it a myth?
The Hand of Glory is a peculiar artefact. It appears in the folk tales of northern England, and examples even exist in museums around the country. Given the fact we looked at candles in folklore last Thursday, I decided the Hand of Glory would make a fabulous addition to my Halloween blog bonanza! This was not simply a folk tale, they...
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October 13, 2016
How can candles protect your home and grant your wish?
Candles are a common item around the modern home. Burned to create an atmosphere, release pleasant smells or to cope with power cuts, they’re also common throughout folklore. Today we’re going to explore their use within rituals, how you can repel evil spirits with candles, and what superstitions feature these ancient household items! Bear in mind...
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October 10, 2016
Is Victorian death photography creepy or just sad?
After I talked about spirit photography last week, Sarah Brentyn asked if I’d be writing about death photography too. As she asked so nicely, I couldn’t resist! Plus it fits in well with my Halloween Festival of Spookiness that is running throughout this month. So come, let me lead you through the bizarre, creepy, and often...
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October 6, 2016
Churches, death and resurrection: The Yew in Folklore
Yew (taxus baccata) is a very poisonous tree, appearing in both English legend and folklore. Source of the wood for our famous longbows, it also stands guard over churchyards and sacred sites. But is its deathly reputation entirely deserved? Or has it earned its place in our national folklore? Historical Connections The toxicity of the trees...
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October 3, 2016
Is spirit photography even possible or is it just fraud?
Welcome to the first in my month-long festival of all things spooky in honour of Halloween! We’re looking at spirit photography, that bizarre Victorian brainchild that predates Photoshop shenanigans by a good century and a half. Is it really all just a huge con, or is there any chance that spirit photography might actually capture the supernatural?...
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September 29, 2016
Why are riddles and wordplay so important to folklore?
Riddles and wordplay feature strongly in a lot of the English folklore I’ve read. So I’ve handed over the reins of my blog to Charlotte Bond, who’ll explain the fascination with riddles, and just why they appear so often in folklore! Riddles in folklore I’ve been fascinated by riddles and word games in stories ever since...
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September 26, 2016
Have you ever taken yourself on writing dates?
Since August 23rd, you might have noticed more writing posts from me. 12, to be exact. All of them have been inspired by Claire Wingfield’s 52 Dates for Writers. 52 Dates for Writers The book is arranged into 52 activities that writers can do to enhance their writing. After all, writing is a curious endeavour,...
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