Old Wives’ Tales ~ Superstitions ~ Myths and Folklore

FOLKLORE ~ SUPERSTITIONS ~ MYTHS

Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.

Three butterflies together mean good luck.

Superstition says if you see a shooting star, someone has died. Some say if it shoots to the right, they went to heaven, but if it shoots to the left, they’ve gone to hell.

If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.

Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered . (i.e. getting out of bed the wrong side).

Dream of fish: someone you know is pregnant.

A ringing in the right ear means that someone is praising you. In the left ear it means that someone is cursing or maligning you.

When a bell rings, a new angel has received his wings.

An itchy right palm means that you will receive money. An itchy left palm means you will have to give money.

If your right eye twitches you will see a friend; if it’s your left eye that twitches you’ll see an enemy.

If you sweep trash out the door after dark, it will bring a stranger to visit.

When dressmaking it’s believed to be bad luck to sew the left-hand sleeve onto a garment before the right sleeve.

The wedding ring is considered sacred and should not be lent to others to try on, this is sure to bring back luck and even the possibility of unfaithfulness. If ever the wedding rings are removed by a bride it must be the groom who returns them to her fingers to continue the good luck.

Dog saliva is antiseptic. Dog saliva was once believed to be antiseptic, and some people still believe it has healing properties. Though it can kill some bacteria, dog saliva contains its own exotic bacteria that can cause serious infections, especially in people whose immune systems are weak.
Cats always land on their feet. This is perhaps one of the more dangerous myths regarding felines, because children unfortunately want to try to prove it. It’s true that cats are very agile and can twist themselves in mid-air to correct their position, but not every time.

Thunder following a funeral means that the dead person’s soul has reached heaven.

An acorn should be carried to bring luck and ensure a long life.

An acorn at the window will keep lightning out.

Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.

Cows lifting their tails is a sure sign that rain is coming.

Cut your hair on Good Friday to prevent headaches in the year to come.

Don’t knit a pair of socks for your boyfriend or he’ll walk away from you

If you knit one of your own hairs into a garment, it will bind the recipient to you.

When a young girl catches a ladybug and then releases it, the direction in which it flies away will be the direction from which her future husband will come.

Lettuce is believed to have magical and healing properties, including the power to arouse love and counteract the effects of wine.

Unless you were born in October, it’s unlucky to wear opals.

If a woman sees a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it means she will marry a sailor. If she sees a sparrow, she will marry a poor man and be very happy. If she sees a goldfinch, she will marry a millionaire.

 

Folklore – Create PROSPERITY with Plants and Herbs

Plants, Herbs, and Roots for Prosperity

By: Sam Stevens

Plants of all kinds (including trees), herbs and roots have been used for centuries to draw money to a person or bring prosperity to a home. There are several ways to use a plant in this manner.

You can even carry some on you… This can be as easy as putting a tiny bit of the herb in a tiny plastic bag and put in your pocket.

Another easy way is to put a pinch of the herb into a locket. Or you can sew or buy a small sachet or pouch (green and yellow are colors associated with prosperity and money). The sachets are then tucked under the bed or concealed somewhere in the home or put in a purse or wallet. Some people simply fill a potpourri jar with the appropriate herbs and place in a prominent place in the house.

Preparing the plants – The simplest “Earth, Water, Air, Fire” steps are to boil the herb for a while in water.

Occasionally stir the herb in the water, strain the plant material from the liquid and sprinkle the strained water around or outside the home. (The Herbs are the earth, the water is in the pot, the air is the steam and the fire element is the stove.)

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Alfalfa – Known traditionally as the “good luck” herb I recommend tucking a sprig of this in your purse or in a locket. When combined with other money drawing herbs in a sachet it is thought to reinforce the other substance’s powers.

Allspice – Can be carried on the person or burned as incense or sprinkled in the four corners of the house. It is thought to attract business luck or success.

Bayberry – Bayberry can be bought commercially as a candle –“A bayberry candle burned to the socket – brings luck to the home and puts money in the pocket.” It can also be bought as incense.

Basil – Soaking basil leaves in water for three days and then sprinkling the water at your business premises is thought to attract financial success. The leaves can also be carried with you.

Bay Leaves – Bay leaves increase intuition and are good if you are looking for a promotion or a job. Tuck some under your mattress or boil them and sprinkle the water around your home. Hallucinogenic so I do not recommend you burn these.

Chamomile – Washing your hands in chamomile tea is thought to bring gamblers luck. Drinking the tea is thought to bring luck and prosperity.

Cloves – Cloves can be burned on charcoal, tucked in a sachet or put in your purse to draw money. An ancient money and protection ritual is to stick an orange with the heads of cloves stuck on pins and hang it on a ribbon in the kitchen so your cupboards are never bare.

Cinnamon: A very handy kitchen spice that can be used “in a pinch” to bring quick money, it can be bought as incense or burned on charcoal or sprinkled in a cash register or wallet to bring business.

Citronella: The leaves are thought to be good for attracting business and also smell lovely in a potpourri. Citronella is, however, toxic to birds – so avoid burning it in the house if you have feathered friends in your menagerie.

Five-Finger Grass (also known as Cinquefoil): This lemony grass can be burned, hid in a potpourri or carried on your person. It is the standard ingredient in most money drawing incenses.

Grains of Paradise: These little round seeds are carried in the purse or wallet or tucked in a sachet under the pillow to bring luck and guidance in career or money matters.

Honeysuckle: The live and dried flowers are used to attract luck business and prosperity.

Irish Moss: This is seaweed that can be bought in Caribbean stores. It is traditionally used to make a sweet drink. It is also carried in sachets to bring money to the bearer.

Juniper Berries: Associated with Jupiter, the berries of the juniper tree are said to attract luck, good fortune and business success.

Mint: All the mints (spearmint, peppermint) are used to attract good spirits and speed good fortune to the bearer.

Patchouli: Added to prosperity herb mixes to reinforce the manifestation power of your wishes. Can be bought as an incense, it has a commanding component to it.

Strawberry Leaves: Carried on the person and used to draw fortunate circumstances into a person’s life.

Squill Root: If you can find this, it is said to be one of the most powerful roots used to draw money to the bearer.

Tonka Beans: Tonkas are large dried beans that protect against poverty and that are just considered plain lucky. Place a bean in your purse, near your computer or under your phone – anywhere where you need luck in business.

Photo link – http://www.webgardenguide.com/admin/_files/newsannounce/Chamomile.jpg

Herb link – http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ss_prosperity.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Gallegos

Artist Jesus Gallegos

 Through his paintings,
the artist visually interprets
the myths of his indigenous
Zapotecan culture.

  

This painting is didactic in nature because it serves as a warning to recent mothers in the Zapotecan culture.

A mother has put her children to bed without feeding them. They are hungry, and the snake hears the cries of these children. So it attaches itself to the breast of the neglectful mother.

She’s put into a deep sleep and entirely unaware of what is happening. The snake then gives its tail to the children, and they receive milk from the snake.

Finally, as a punishment, the snake continues to feed on the breast of the unconscious mother until it has sucked out all of her blood, and she dies. An irony of this visual representation of the legend is that the artist has put his ex-wife in the painting.

The turtle is the artist, as he is watching from afar, the events befalling the neglectful mother.

 

 

 

Above, the pregnant Lala is returning to the earth in order to give birth to her child. She has just returned from visiting the departed female and male sages of the zapotecan culture, receiving information about nature and the animals of the fields in order to be a better parent to her child.

The rabbit is going to be her spirit guide (referred to as xkenda in the indigenous language of zapotecan) when she returns to earth. The flower in which the rabbit is awaiting Lala is a Maguey, which denotes the dry land of the earth. The designs on Lala’s figure indicate that she is going to be a mother.

They convey the love that she has for the child within her own body.

Gallegos ART LINK  http://www.mtsu.edu/~cmjohnso/jesus/index.htm

 

 

 

 Zapotec is a Mesoamerican Indian people centered at Monte Albán in southern Mexico, whose civilization reached its height around A.D. 300–900.

 

Zapotec Link – http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/latinamerica/meso/cultures/zapotec.html