Appalachian Folk Magick

[cryptidzx]

Hanging blue bottles on trees was always traditional in appalachia for catching 'haints' and unwanted energies/spirits. What appalachian folk traditions have you seen for protecting and warding against unwanted spirits?

Bells, smoke, and use of voice have always been common as well, just wondering what some other appalachian folk grew up around.

 

[Accipeveldare]

Hanging blue bottles on trees was always traditional in appalachia for catching 'haints' and unwanted energies/spirits. What appalachian folk traditions have you seen for protecting and warding against unwanted spirits?

Bells, smoke, and use of voice have always been common as well, just wondering what some other appalachian folk grew up around.

I am not sure if this would be considered warding, but i remember it always being customary to leave a penny or other item whenever you find something on the ground that you like after you take it. Essentially trading with nature, because nothing is free, and if you leave nothing you now owe a dept.

 

[PatchworkPagan]

U

Hanging blue bottles on trees was always traditional in appalachia for catching 'haints' and unwanted energies/spirits. What appalachian folk traditions have you seen for protecting and warding against unwanted spirits?

Bells, smoke, and use of voice have always been common as well, just wondering what some other appalachian folk grew up around.

Using railroad spikes at the four corners of the property or the house to keep negativity and ill will away is another one.

Post automatically merged: Mar 30, 2026

Also, nailing Indian head nickels with the heads facing the walls beside all doors leading outside is used to keep the law away.

 

[Grayhoss]

I seem to recall that washing floors, windows, sills and doors/doorsills was used to 'wash away trouble' according to older ladies from that part of the country. One said her Mama would stir a little salt into her wash water, maybe a bit of lavender and a silver dime, and say a prayer or recite a verse from the family Bible before she began the sweep-and-wash ritual. She also said that the herbs hung in the home were partly to turn away ills, and that some of them went into the soaps and waxes used in cleaning and polishing. She also said salt and herbs were sprinkled on the floor and porch before 'sweeping trouble off', again with a prayer.