Sunday, August 12, 2012

Witchcraft

Hey All,   I know that this story is a bit strange..........but none the less....... it's also true. As children, all three of us, accepted witchcraft as normal......a recognized fact and part of our lives..  Our Grandmother had schooled some of her daughters in the complexities of many rituals.........as well as how to protect yourself and your family from the power of this evil force.  No mistakes.................it was never presented as a good thing.  My mother had continuously cautioned her sons about witches and warlocks in our neighborhood......not that I ever knew if I'd met one.   I will always have a healthy respect for what I had learned as a kid with a curious mind..............and fear, always the fear from within our family borders.
       We sat under the Norway maple tree, in front of her house, across the street from ours.  She was my age and had asked why my Mom was watering the curb, sidewalk and the fence line around our house  I  was embarrassed and answered quickly, that she was killing weeds.  No........there was salt and water in that watering can and it was used for keeping evil spells from affecting anyone within the marked boundaries.............along with the stated prayer when the water was applied.................that's why she was mumbling to herself.
      She was baking on this particular summer day.  She made loaves of bread, coffee cake and blueberry buckle.  I was a guest at their house for my 8th grade year..................it turned out to be part of my continuing and unforgettable education.  I sat on the concrete steps of the back porch......staring into space.  She had called out to me......asked me if my mind was in the gutter...............I,  being the naive 13 year old........ said yes.   She chuckled about that, so I went inside and asked what "in the gutter" meant.  I turned all shades of red when she told me............I was real naive.   As she mixed the ingredients for her breads, she talked freely about spells and witchcraft.  She recited several different spells and even mentioned  whom they were cast upon.................as well as the expectations or results from them. I being curious, asked "You sure know a lot about spells.  Where did you learn it?"   She changed the subject quickly without answering.  One spell that was the most memorable.......that was cast to cause harm in that very home.  It was meant for my Uncle, but the spell was interrupted before bearing fruit.
          A feather was taken from the pillow of the the intended and a spell was cast..........and when the spell was complete..........the life of the owner of the pillow belonged to Satan and the life was his to control.  As she  related the  spell to me...........................a small chicken would form from the feathers inside the pillow, while the owner was sleeping.  My Uncle  had discovered it in his pillow and had grabbed hold and brought it to his Mom.  An exorcism had followed.  As I understand it...................when they cut the pillow open................a chick in the form of feathers was in hand.   I took this story at face value..........I mean, come on.......really? 
       I had awakened with movement  near my head.   I could feel that there was something moving, but, I was confused as to what exactly was happening.  I grabbed at it ....... and it was squirming in my grip.  I concluded that I had a mouse in my hand and let it go.......then tried find how it got in there.  There were no holes in the pillow................and when I searched the pillow end to end................it was empty, except for soft feathers.  I immediately felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.....................couldn't be.........I must have been dreaming.   I said nothing about it and went about getting ready for school.
      It was a Saturday morning and I was allowed to sleep in until 8 am.   I was half asleep when I felt movement by my head............I opened my eyes and laid there as the wiggling continued.  I grabbed hold, sat up and put my feet on the floor, as whatever it was,  squirmed in my hand.  I was amazed and confused at the same time..............what was going on?   Then, I looked down the hall through my open door........as .my Grandmother took the last step into the hallway from the stairway.  She silently stared at me and the hair on  the back of my neck and arms were standing at attention.............then asked me what I had.  My mind was racing so fast a I didn't know what to say.   How did she know I had anything?  How did she climb those bare wooden steps, in heels, without me hearing her? How would anyone outside the house............... get a feather from my pillow, or my uncles' pillow.......years before?   She was the one that told me witchcraft and spells in the first place.  I was scared to answer her............it seemed like she was looking right through me.  .I tossed the pillow onto the bed, releasing the struggling mystery and answered  as calmly as I could "nothing".  She didn't pursue it and went back downstairs.............I  thought about it it just long enough and then I snuck down the hallway as quiet as I could and swapped the demon pillow with the one from the spare bedroom.
    This episode had left me with more questions than I can or could possibly try to answer.  Grandmom was........in all of our eyes ..............a devout Catholic.   How could any of this be? Yet my questions will always remain.  I realize that this sounds..................way.to the far left of center.....and yes, I'm taking my meds.  I guess if we believe in a loving God................ then we have no choice but to believe in evil and Satan.  Witchcraft was a common subject for us growing up........my Dad used to poke fun at my mother when she would talk about it or perform some "counter-spell" of some kind.  Drunk or sober.....my mother believed without question the lessons taught her by her mother.   For me...........I  will always  shake my head with wonder as I remember that long year of my life.
                                      Until next time................................... God Bless.