32 Superstitions About Cats

1. When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp it in the palm of your hand, and make a wish. The wish will come true.
2. A kitten born in May is a witches cat.
3. A black cat seen from behind - a bad omen
4. A black cat crossing your path - good luck.
5. A black cat crossing one's path by moonlight means death in an epidemic. (Irish superstition)
6. A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. (Scottish superstition)
7. English schoolchildren believe seeing a white cat on the way to school is sure to bring trouble. To avert bad luck, they must either spit, or turn around completely and make the sign of the cross.
8. In the USA, Spain and Belgium a white cat crossing your path was considered to be good luck.
9. To see a white cat on the road is lucky.
10. It is bad luck to see a white cat at night.Dreaming of white cat means good luck.
11. Stray tortoise shell cat - bad omen
12. In Normandy, seeing a tortoiseshell foretells death by accident.
13. Cats bought with money will never be good mousers
14. It is bad luck to cross a stream carrying a cat. (French superstition)
15. Cat sneezing once means rain
16. Cat sneezing three times - the family will catch a cold
17. A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. (Italian superstition)
18. In the early 16th century, a visitor to an English home would always kiss the family cat.
19. A cat washing on the doorstep means the clergy will visit
20. If a cat washes behind its ears, it will rain. (English superstition).
21. When the pupil of a cat's eye broadens, there will be rain. (Welsh superstition)
22. A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather ahead. (English superstition)
23.  In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on. The Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread gossips around the town.
24. If cats desert a house, illness will always reign there. (English superstition)
25. In 16th century Italy, it was believed that if a black cat lay on the bed of a sick man, he would die. But there's also a belief that a cat will not remain in the house where someone is about to die. Therefore, if the family cat refuses to stay indoors, it was an omen of death in the family.
26. When moving to a new home, always put the cat through the window instead of the door, so that it will not leave.
27. A cat on top of a tombstone meant certainly that the soul of the departed buried was possessed by the devil.
28. Two cats seen fighting near a dying person, or on the grave shortly after a funeral, are really the Devil and an Angel fighting for possession of that person's soul.
29. If you kick a cat you will get Rheumatism.
30. To kill a cat brings seventeen years of bad luck. (Irish superstition)
31. Killing a cat is an absolute guarantee that you have sacrificed your soul to the Devil.

Collected from various sources

Cat In The Cradle Spell

In a ritual similar to the Thai Marital Fertility Spell, this time from Switzerland, approximately one month after the wedding, visiting friends should bring a tomcat (not neutered) and a cradle to the new couple's home. The cat is rocked in the cradle before the newlyweds.

From: Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells

Thai Marital Fertility Spell

In this Thai ritual, during the actual ceremony, an older couple ritually prepares the bedroom so that it will be ready for use by the bride and groom. The room must be spiritually cleansed, protection set up and talismans left behind to radiate good fortune.

Talismans include bags of rice, sesame seeds, coins, and a tomcat (for happiness and fertility). The cat doesn't have to be a gift, it can be someone's pet that just hangs out in the room for a little while, emanating energy. The one caveat is that the cat may not be neutered. It defeats the purpost of the spell.

Note: This may be a good opportunity to adopt a stray from a shelter and let it participate in the ceremony prior to neutering.

From: Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells

The Cat as a Magickal Ingredient

• Ruler: Bastet and/or Freya
• Type: animal
• Magickal Form: alive, whiskers, hair

This animal is the most common of the witches' familiars. They are very sensitive to occult workings and wise in the ways of the goddess. In order to make the cat a familiar, it must taste the blood of the witch. The correct way to do this is to let the cat become your familiar in his or her own time. You will know when this occurs, as he or she will take a good hard bite out of your hand, cheek, or leg and draw blood. Voila! You are now bonded for eternal life.

When a cat drops a whisker, place it on the altar for good luck. It is very bad luck to cut or pluck a whisker from a cat. Cat hair may be obtained by rubbing the back against the grain. Add the hairs to gamblers' luck potions to increase your chances of winning.

• Black cats are very lucky indeed and you will be blessed when one crosses your path.
• Red cats and calico cats bring money.
• A Gray cat will protect you.
• A Siamese cat will bring laughter into your life.

Found in: The Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients

Witches and Cats

"All cats are grey at night."

~Old French Proverb

No other animal is more frequently linked with Witches and the Craft than the cat, and in particular the black cat.

This is not just part of the mythology of the Craft, as many Witches live with cats. Notice I say "live with" not "own." No one who knows cats will ever consider that you can have possession of one! Having said that, there is no reason why you have to live with a cat to be a Witch.

There is an enormous body of folklore surrounding the cat. A cat washing behind it's ears is said to forcast rain; stroking an affected eye with a cat's tail was thought to cure a stye, and so forth. Whatever you feel about such sayings there is no doubt that the cat is a very magical animal. One of mine, now sadly dead, could tell the difference between a true Witch and a pretender. Certainly both my current cats pay great attention whenever I am practising the Craft, and can distinguish between a candle lit for magic and one lit for ambience.

Another way in which cats and Witches are linked is that cats are probably the best domestic animal for borrowing. That is when you transfer a part of your mind into the body of the animal so that you can travel in it's shape and experience the things it sees and does. Indeed; it is thought that the saying that a cat has nine lives is an indication of the number of times a Witch can ride with a cat in this way.

From: The Real Witches' Year

Petition to Freya Cat Spell

Freya, "She Who Shines Over the Sea," has associations with cats as powerful as Bastet. The old Norse tradition of paying tribute to Freya and seeking her aid or guidance involved feeding milk to cats.

1. Put out milk for stray cats. If you don't live in an area with stray cats, bring contributions to a shelter or adopt a gray stray cat.
2. Feeding isn't done by rote but as a conscious offering. Speak with Freya simultaneously, explain your needs, desires, and broken heart and request assistance.
3. Pay attention; her response may come through the cats themselves.

Found in: Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells

Sign of the Cypress

Birth dates:

• Jan 25 to Feb 03
• Jul 26 to Aug 04

Key word: Faithfulness.

Persons born under the sign of the Cypress tend to be strong, muscular, and adaptable. They  take what life has to give, are content, and optimistic. Often they crave money and acknowledgment. A person born under this sign tends to hate loneliness, and is a passionate lover which cannot be satisfied. They can also be faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.

Source: Wicca Chat
Art by: Kris Carlson
 

Rowan Tree Lore

Each month of the Celtic Lunar calendar bears the name of a tree. Rowan is the 2nd Moon of the Celtic Year - (Jan 22 - Feb 18).

• Latin name: Rowan/American Mountain Ash - sorbus americana; Rowan/European Mountain Ash - sorbus aucuparia
• Celtic name: Luis (pronounced: loush)
• Folk or Common names: Mountain Ash, Ran Tree, Witchwood Tree, Quickbeam, The Witch or Witch Wand Tree, Whispering Tree, Sorb-Apple, Service Tree
• Parts Used: Wood, berries.
• CAUTION: do not eat the seeds

Herbal usage:
Rowan bark has astringent qualities and can be used as a decoction for helping cure irritable bowels. Rowan berries can be made into a juice which can be used as a laxative. The berries are also an important food for grouse, cedar waxwings, grosbeaks and other hungry birds.

Magical History and Associations:

The bird associated with the month of Rowan is the duck. The Druid Dhubh (Blackbird) also has an association with the Rowan tree since Blackbirds are fond of Rowan berries. Since each Rowan berry carries a minute pentagram, eating these berries is said to give the blackbird the ability to connect us with his healing song to the balancing and regenerative powers of the Otherworld and the Unconscious.

The Celtic symbol of the month of Rowan is the Green Dragon. The color is red, and the gemstone is yellow chrysolite or the ruby. The Rowan is a Masculine herb that is associated with the element of fire, and is a tree of the sun and the planet Uranus.

The tree is sacred to the deities of Rowan, Thor and Brighid (triple goddess of inspiration, healing and smithcraft). Rowan is also sacred to Oeagrus (father of Orpheus, who belonged to the sorb-apple cult) and to the White Goddess Aphrodite; Akka/Mader-Akka/Rauni (Finnish goddess of the harvest and of female sexuality); and the river goddess Halys/Alys/Elis (Queen of the Eleusine Islands). Irish Druids held Rowan trees sacred like Oaks and sometimes called it the 'Tree of Life'.

Rowan wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane. In folklore the Rowan is regarded as the godmother of milk cows. When a calf is due to be named, the farmer goes to the wood before daybreak to cut a Rowan branch with a piece of copper just as the sun rises. He smacks the calf on the back with it and calls it by its name. After that he tethers it to the cowshed door, decorated with white ribbons and eggshells, and the calf stays safe and well.

The Rowan is a favorite tree of the Otherkin. A Slavic tree spirit known as Musail, the forest tsar, king of the forest spirits, is associated with the Rowan tree. Rowan also has a vampiric association since it is, along with Garlic and Hawthorn, one of the most popular herbal vampire repellents.

Magickal usage:

The month of Rowan is a good time to do initiations, especially during Imbolc. The Rowan has applications in magick done for divination, astral work, strength, protection, initiation, healing, psychic energies, working with spirits of the dead, psychic powers, personal power, and success.

Uses of Rowan in protective magick include carrying Rowan twigs on sea voyages to protect the ship from storms. A Rowan can be planted near a new house to protect it from lightning and evil influences. Walking sticks made of Rowan will protect there user from harm. A charm made of two small twigs of Rowan wood tied together to form a cross using red thread or yarn can be carried to protect against bad spirits. Its branches were used by Norsemen as rune-staves upon which to carve runes of protection. The Celts believed that no witches or evil spirits could cross a door over which a branch of Rowan had been nailed.

In some legends, the Rowan has also been called the whispering tree because it has secrets to tell to those who will listen. Rowans also can be planted on graves to prevent the haunting of the place by the dead. In Ireland, a Rowan stake was sometimes hammered through a corpse to immobilize the spirit. In ancient Ireland, the Druids of opposing forces would kindle a fire of Rowan and say an incantation over it to summon spirits to take part in the battle. Should you happen upon a flourishing Rowan which is most bountifully hung with cluster upon cluster of delicate red berries, then you may be sure that some saintly soul lies buried close by.

Rowan is often called The Wizard Tree or The Witch Tree, partly because Rowan berries have a small pentagram at the point where they are joined to the stalk. Indeed, Rowan berries were often regarded as magickal and were the food of the Tuatha De Danaan. As attractive as Rowan is to the Fey, Rowan wood is often used in butter churns so that the butter would not be overlooked by evil Faeries.

In Scotland, fires made from rowan wood were used to protect the cattle against those same type of evil fairy spirits, and it is said that 'Bewitched' horses may be controlled by a Rowan whip. Witch-wands for divining metal are often made of Rowan wood, and Rowan branches may be used to dowse for water or can be made into wands. The best time to harvest a Rowan branch for a wand or staff is at Beltane. Remember to ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done.

Recommended Reading:

• Year of Moons, Season of Trees
• Tree Medicine Tree Magic
• A Druid's Herbal
• Celtic Astrology
• Glamoury: Magic of the Celtic Green World
• The Book of Druidry

Source: dutchie.org

Sign of the Orchid

"My uniqueness is my effectiveness."

If you were born between January 21 and February 19, you were born under the sign of the orchid. Those with the zodiac flower sign of the orchid are curious and inventive. You can be contradictory but you know exactly where you are coming from. You have a dreamy persona and people are attracted to your unique, sometimes eccentric ways. You have a different way of looking at the world. You are a natural humanitarian, and love to unravel mysteries. You are also very good at organizing or completing tasks that allow you to establish order.

Source: What's Your Sign

Sun in Aquarius

The Sun is in Aquarius from approximately January 20 to February 18, depending on the year.

Symbol: The Water Bearer
Ruler: Uranus
Element: Air
Modality: Fixed
Season: Winter
Zodiac Placement: 11th Sign
Metal: Uranium
Stone: Amethyst
Color: Sky Blue
Flowers: Violet; Carnation; Lily
Anatomy: Ankles, shins, circulation

Keywords: individualistic, assertive, independent, humanitarian, inventive, original, eccentric, opinionated, intellectual, idealistic, cool, friendly, detached

One of the standout characteristics of those born under the Sun Sign of Aquarius is their unwillingness to follow the beaten track. With advancement and progress on their minds, there can be an irreverence to old and outdated ways of thinking and doing things.

Many Aquarians aim to free themselves of personal and social conditioning. Although open to change in theory, Aquarians can be surprisingly stubborn. Their idealism runs strong, but they can be very fixed in their opinions.

Often a bit aloof and even standoffish, Aquarians nonetheless are usually well-liked. They are curious and observant, and tolerant in a broad sense. Prejudice and bias is offensive to the typical Aquarius.

Aquarians are generally very clever, witty, and intellectual. They value progress and frankness. It's difficult to throw Aquarians for a loop—they're generally on top of things.

There is a bit of reformer in Aquarius. They'll try to get you to see through superficiality, and encourage you to be open and forthright. "Be true to yourself" and "Don't follow the crowd" are mottos we easily associate with this sign.

Aquarians need space and value personal freedom. Any attempt to box them in will likely fail. They'll happily return the favor; and they will treat people from all walks of life as equals. Equality and fairness are hallmarks of the sign. If you're quirky and "different", all the better.

Source: Cafe Astrology

Negative Energy Release

We all get a bit of negative energy in us from time to time. Be it stress, or an empath recieving someone else's trouble. This technique will help you rid yourself of these emotions and energy and bring you to a calmer state of mind.

You can do this in private, or anywhere where you can take a moment to breathe in a time of need.

Close your eyes and imagine the negative feelings as a a black ball. See it before you. With each breath out, watch the ball turn white. With each breath out, feel your self get calmer. Continue this until the ball is completely white.

Once it is totally white, watch this ball leave your sight. Feel your negative energy go with it, and breathe in the new calming sensation.

Source: Spells Of Magic

Sign of the Elm

Birth Dates:

• Jan 12 to Jan 24
• Jul 15 to Jul 25

Key word: Noble-mindedness.

Persons born under the sign of the Elm tend to have a pleasant shape, wear tasteful clothes, and make modest demands. They tend not to forgive mistakes, are cheerful, like to lead but not to obey. Is an honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Source: Wicca Chat

Spell For Easy Childbirth

To use the herb Motherwort
for an Easy Travail

When motherwort, undaunted weed,
Has sprung and flowered and gone to seed,
Gather the stalks with heads and leaves,
Tie them tin cords to five strong sheaves;
Batter their tips against a wall
Until the seeds, sharp-spined, shall fall,
And when they are scattered upon the ground,
These words will render the womb unbound:

Seeds that wound,
Husks that bind,
Leave only peace
And joy behind:
Take away pain,
Let strength remain.

Untie the stalks and strip them bare,
Fold their leaves in a velvet square,
Sew up the charm with yellow thread:
As soon as the woman is brought to bed,
See that she hold it in her hand
For ease, as weeds are born from the land.

From: Crone's Book of Magical Words

It's Midwives' Day

The ancients honored their midwives today as the goddess's assistants by giving them gifts. In modern times, this might equate to sending a thank-you note to your physician or pediatrician.

• Patron Goddess: Eleithyia
• Themes: Birth; Children; Creativity; Fertility
• Symbols: A Torch; White Flowers

About Eleithyia:

As the aegean goddess of birth, Eleithyia acts as the midwife to your new year, filling it with creative power. Eleithyia's name translates as "Fluid of Generation," giving her strong fertile aspects, and she also has a hand in personal fate.

According to myth, Eleithyia was the midwife of the gods and even birthed Eos, the creative force behind all things. When Eleithyia's hands were closed, birth was delayed. When Eleithyia opened her body, a child arrived effortlessly.

To bring Eleithyia's fertility to any area of your life, try this spell:

Gather a handful of white flower petals. Work in an area that somehow represents your goal. If you want a fertile garden, for example, cast this spell in your garden; for fertile ideas, perform it in your study. Visualize your goal as you release all but one petal, turning clockwise to the winds, saying:

The wish of my heart, Eleighyia see,
and bring back to me fertility.

Carry the last petal to help the magic manifest.

Source: 365 Goddess

Prosperity Charm For The New Year

To ensure that money will enter the house all year round, take one silver or golden coin for each external door to the house.

The coins can be gold or silver colored rather than actually made of the metals concerned. Wash the coins carefully under running water for 10 minutes and then dry them in a new cloth or tissue.

Then take the same number of circular pieces of paper. On the papers draw a picture of your family and around it draw pictures to represent all the things you need (not want) money for. Remember to include rent, taxes, light, heat, food, transport, pets, etc.

Wrap each coin in one of the papers, and if you are able, bury one just outside the threshold of each door. While you are burying the coins say,

"I call upon the Old Gods to help us make the most of opportunities to bring money into this house. May those who live here ever have enough for their needs and commitments. Give each of us the true rewards of our work and may our family be happy and secure in this home. Blessed Be."

As you do this, visualize members of the family with coins in their pockets entering the home. If it is not possible to actually bury them, then slip them down a crack at the base of the door, or just under the carpet on the inside. It is important that everyone who enters the house, and all mail, must pass over the coins.

"Never give an empty purse,
lest both giver and taker
be likewise coinless."

Source: The Real Witches' Year

Sign of the Fir Tree

Birth Dates:

• Jan 1 to Jan 11
• Jul 5 to Jul 14

Key word: Mysterious.

Persons born under the sign of the Fir Tree tend to have the following qualities: extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, uncontested lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.

Source: Wicca Chat
Art from: Art Print Collection

Old New Years Customs and Lore

In Madagascar New Year's is celebrated with much feasting and sacrificial killing of oxen takes place.

Chinese custom requires that every boy who calls on his neighbors or relatives on New Year's day, should receive a couple of loose-skinned oranges, or he is considered shamefully treated. The name of orange means luck, fortune, and auspiciousness.

On New Year's eve while the clock is striking twelve, repeat three times: "Good Saint Anne, good Saint Anne, send me a man as fast as you can," and you will become engaged within a year.

At the beginning of the New Year in Natal, a ceremony is performed by the chief by spurting from his mouth a mixture of the New Year's fruits in different directions as if upon his enemies. After this ceremony it is lawful for the people to eat the New Year's fruits. They are only eaten by stealth before.

It was a custom of the Jews to serve up sheep's head on New Year's at their chief entertainment, as a mystical representation of the ram offered in sacrifice for Isaac. When a family or company sat down to this repast, each person took a piece of bread and dipping it in honey, said, "May this year be sweet and fruitful."

In several parts of Belgium it is customary for the people to make waffles on New Year's day. Around Liege the first waffle is crossformed or cut cross-wise, and placed on the chimney-piece as a New Year's gift to the crucifix. It is believed that this waffle or cake is blessed; it does not rot and a small piece given to a sick man or beast makes them recover.

An old New Year's custom which is still observed in some of the northern counties of England, is called "Going about with a vessel cup." Poor women and girls desirous of obtaining charity take two dolls, representing the Virgin Mother and Infant Jesus, and go about from house to house during the week before New Year's singing a quaint old carol and at its conclusion presenting for the receipt of alms a small cup, which is known as a "vessel cup." To turn one of these vessel cup singers unrequited from your door is to forfeit all good health and good fortune for the approaching new year.

In Westmoreland and Cumberland early in the morning of New Year's the "Taex Populi" assemble carrying stangs (long poles) and baskets. Every inhabitant or stranger who falls into the hands of this ruffian band will be sacrificed to their favorite Saint; a man is mounted on a stang, a woman is basketed, and carried shoulder high to the nearest balance and weighed. None are allowed to follow their accustomed occupations on this day.

In Guria in Asiatic Russia, the New Year is prepared for a month before the time comes; the people pen up poultry, turkeys, ducks and geese; but the chief animal for food is the pig which is fatted up a month before and killed two or three days before New Year's. The New Year in Guria might almost be called the feast of St. Yicelie the Great, because it is believed by them that the prophet Mahomet had an argument with that saint as to who could work the greater miracle. The saint said that he would strike with an iron rod a rock and out of it water should flow. Mahomet said he would stick his staff into the ground and wine should flow from it. On New Year's day the miracles were performed. The saint struck the rock, and a spring came out and flowed. When he saw the miracle, Mahomet took the saint to a place where he had put some wine skins under the earth. But when they reached the place where Mahomet intended to stick his staff into the hidden wine-skins, they found some pigs had rooted them up and they were to be seen scattered over the ground. In this way was Mahomet defeated by pigs, and thus the pig is the animal for the New Year's feast. Mahomet cursed the pigs and ever since his followers will not eat Dig's meat; but the saint blessed them, and with his foot pressed tneir tails into the ground and they are killed in his honor in Guria.

The old Romans did not give up New Year's day wholly to feasting or idleness, as is done in most countries, but everyone wrought a little at his trade for the sake of luck throughout the year.

In England it was customary to give and receive gifts on New Year's day with the superstitious design of securing good fortune for the year, as well as for affection and to promote good neighborhood. Even the kings of England accepted presents from their courtiers on this morning.

In France New Year's day is still distinguished by a universal system of present-giving.

The Romish Church as well as the Church of England celebrated the first of January in honor of the circumcision of Christ.

Yorn Kippur, the day of atonement, is the concluding ceremonial in the observances of the Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah, which falls in either September or October. While Rosh Hashanah, the day on which the fate of the pious is inscribed in the great book, is given to rejoicing and merry making, Yorn Kippur, the day on which the book is sealed, is observed by fasting, praying, repentance, and reconciliation.

A cock is taken by its legs by the eldest male of the family and swung nine times over the others' heads, praying God to transfer their sins into the body of the fowl. The bird is then either killed as a sacrifice or given to the poor.

In the basement of the synagogue are placed long boxes with sand. Each worshipper brings with him a candle, sticks it in the sand, lights it, and beseeches God to let the light of his mercy shine upon him and as a sign thereof make the candle burn long and clear, to indicate a long and happy life for the supplicant.

We find that the Walloons (Belgians) have many observances and beliefs in common with their Gaulish neighbors, while the descendants of the Franks by whom the ancient Gauls were dispossessed of the fertile plains and driven into the mountains, have preserved more pagan usages.

The Christian era was not generally used in Flanders until the reign of Charlemagne. The year began on various days according to the different departments of life; but as soon as the Frankish supremacy was established in the southern region, now known by their name, and that had adopted the first of January as the beginning of their civil year its adoption in Belgium followed as a matter of course.

In the Teutonic provinces it is especially honored and surprise greetings are used, when the person first saluted has to give the other a present.

On twelfth night, festivity is universal in Belgium and a cake with a bean in it is cut for the kingly place. These solemnities are thought to have come down from Roman civilization and to have been introduced by Gaulish ancestors.

At Mechlin the Sawyer's Guild have taken the "Three Kings" as patron saints on a punning interpretation of the text, "They saw the Star."

The Chinese, in this country as well as at home, bid good-bye, annually, to the god of the kitchen, giving him thanks for his protection of the family during the year, after which he is supposed to make his annual journey to heaven to report to the "pearly emperor" the condition of the family and how it has behaved during the year. To avoid unpleasant disclosures, the god is regaled with quantities of candy so sticky that his lips are too full for utterance, being glued too tight to speak. The night before the Chinese New Year, the dusky little god is supposed to return, and gets another supply of sugar and delicacies which he is supposed to like.

In the small hours of New Year's morning take place the interesting ceremonies of sacrifice to "father heaven" and "mother earth" by the head of the family, who offers fruit, rice, vegetables, and tea to both these divinities, asking blessings on the hour and the New Year. A quantity of gilt paper-money is burnt, which passes in smoke to the heavens above and in ashes to the earth below.

Prostrations and reverence before the household gods, the shrines of the ancestors, and the older living representatives of the family, are all gone through with for luck.

The presents chosen by the Chinese at their New Year are of a significant nature. A kind of orange, called "kat," is handed around on the supposition that it is a good omen for the year, from the fact that the name has the same sound as the word which means "lucky." For the same reason, thin-shelled bivalves, called "hien," are eaten, this word being identical in sound with the word for intelligence. A kind of carp is also in much demand, as its name is the same as "profit."

Source: Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World