And, so we embark upon 2009 with many more changes afoot. It seems Witchcraft never fails to suprise us; astonish us and teach us. When we heard the news about the loss of a key member of Arddhu, we, in the Village, were devastated to say the least. We draw strength from the fact that the Witch within showed us glimpses of the other realm, and her departure was heard much further afield. This only makes us stronger as we contemplate and evaluate the past year and the times we felt it necessary to be together. All of these form a pattern that we can now decipher and understand to a greater degree, why we are what we are and what drives us to undertake certain rituals throughout the year. I am grateful for the last year, spent with members of Arddhu, much of which was centred around Norfolk - it was very special indeed.
___________________________________________________
Four mysteries surround a village in the south of Norfolk. The village name, the origin of a hill fort nearby, the origin of the hillock, Chapel Hill adjacent to the hillfort and the identity of a 'celtic' chieftain buried nearby. About a hundred skeletons were found in the 19th century buried at Chapel Hill. It lies immediately over the boundary of another village facing the River Tas. It has been recorded that skulls were found here in heaps on gravel, together with pottery sherds, worked flints, traces of burning and an ornamental bronze brooch. Is this knoll by the marshes a natural hill or is it a long barrow?
For us there is no mystery - this is just one small piece in the jigsaw that proves witchcraft is alive and kicking in Norfolk - and always has been.
Come walk with me in soft enchantment See the Moon in changeling guise Silver now to blood red turning Cloaked, she waits ‘neath darkening skies. Come dance with me in dark enchantment In wild abandon hear the Song Lust, desire and dreams are stirring Steadfast now we move as one Come sing with me of wild enchantment ‘Neath moonless sky within the green Call Her now before the firelight Magic holds you, soft, unseen. Come sit with me in sweet enchantment Till we hear Her call us home Cursed yet blessed, we live forever In His name Her will be done
(Copyright 2007 - all rights reserved)
Witch Cakes
In Roberts' 'Treatise on Witchcraft', there is a description of Norfolk Witches and a rather unappetising Witch Cake. It was prescribed by a cunning man in Great Yarmouth to Elizabeth Hancock to cure her of bewitchment. Here is the recipe and how it was used:-
Make a cake with flour from the baker's and mix with some of the patient's body fluid instead of other liquor. Bake the cake on the hearth. One half of the cake is laid on the patient near the area of the heart. The other half should be applied to the back directly opposite.
In addition a 'treacle like' ointment was recommended, spread upon the cake along with some powder prescribed by the cunning man. Whilst this was done special words, written on paper should be 'laid on with the cake'. Silence should be kept at all times.
It is said that Elizabeth was cured from the 'torments she had endured for 6 weeks'.
Norfolk witches are also said to responsible for the ingredients of another special type of cake used for love divination. The 'dumb cake' is a type of 'dreaming bread' prepared in silence by unmarried females. The ingredients traditionally suggested in "witches' doggerel" are as follows;-
An egg shell full of salt
An egg shell full of wheatmeal
An egg shell full of barleymeal
The cake should be baked before the fire a little before midnight. The cake maker must be quite alone, must be fasting and silent throughout. By some girls it was believed that at exactly midnight the sweetheart would come and turn the cake, but the more general lore is to cut the 'mystic viand' when baked into 3 divisions - a part of each to be eaten and the remainder to be put under the pillow.
When the clock strikes twelve the damsel must go upstairs backwards and jump into bed to see visions of their future husbands hurrying after them. Those who are to live and die as old maids will see nothing at all.
Disclaimer: Any graphics used on this website...as far as we know have no copyright..but if someone claims copyright then please let us know and we will remove immediately..unless you are happy for them to remain