Irish Cures, Irish Cures, Mystic Charms & Superstitio

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

How To Go Invisible

Get a raven’s heart, split it open with a black hafted knife; make three cuts and place a black bean in each cut. Then plant it, and when the bean sprouts put one in your mouth and say –

“By virtue of Satan’s heart,
And by strength of my great art,
I desire to be invisible.”

And so it will be as long as the bean is kept in the mouth.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

For Ague

A few spiders tied up in a bag, and worn round the neck, will keep off fever and ague; but none, save the fairy doctor, must ever open the bag to look at the contents, or the charm will be broken.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

For Safety

Pluck ten blades of yarrow, keep nine and cast the tenth away for tithe to the spirits. Put the nine in your stocking, under the heel of the right foot, when going on a journey, and the Evil One will have no power over you.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

An iron ring worn on the fourth finger was considered effective against rheumatism by the Irish peasantry from ancient times.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

For the Blood

The juice of carrots boiled down is admirable for purifying the blood.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

To Attract Bees

Gather foxglove, raspberry leaves, wild marjoram, mint, chamomile, and valerian; mix them with butter made on May Day, and let the herbs also gathered on May Day. Boil them all together with honey; rub the vessel into which the bees should gather, both inside and out, with the mixture; place it in the middle of a tree, and the bees will soon come. Foxglove or “fairy fingers” is called “the great herb” from its wondrous properties.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

A sick person’s bed must be placed north and south, not crossways.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

For Depression of Heart

When a person becomes low and depressed and careless about everything, as if all vital strength and energy had gone, he is said the have got a fairy blast. And blast water must be poured over him by the hands of a fairy doctor while saying, “In the name of the saint with the sword, who has strength before God and stands at His right hand.” Great care being taken that no portion of the water is profaned. Whatever is left after the operation, must be poured on the fire.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

For Cramps

An eel’s skin tied round the knee alleviates pain.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

For Fever

Take a ribbon and tie it tightly round the head of the sick person saying: “In the name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, let the fever go from thy head, O man, and be thou healed.”

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

To Find Stolen Goods

Place two keys on a sieve, in the form of a cross. Two men hold the sieve, while a third makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the suspected party, and calls out his name loudly, three times over. If innocent, the keys remain stationary; but if guilty, the keys revolve slowly round the sieve, and then there is no doubt as to who is the thief.

[Richard Bercot]

”Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions” by Lady Wilde

To Extract a Thorn

“The briar that spreads, the thorn that grows, the sharp spike that pierced the brow of Christ, give you power to draw this thorn from the flesh, or let it perish inside; in the name of the Trinity. Amen.”

[Richard Bercot]

?Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions? by Lady Wilde

For the Red Rash

The red rash is cured by applying unsalted butter to the part affected, while the Ave Maria is said. Also the blood of a hare is very efficacious if applied to the skin with a red rag, and the rag afterwards buried.

[Richard Bercot]

?Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions? by Lady Wilde

A piece of linen wrap taken from a corpse will cure the swelling of a limb if tied around the part affected.

[Richard Bercot]

?Irish Cures, Mystics Charms & Superstitions? by Lady Wilde

For the Eyes

The most efficacious treatment for diseases of the eye is a pilgrimage to a holy well, for the blessed waters have a healing power for all ophthalmic aliments, and can even give sight to the blind.