A book that delves into the realm of magical thoughts and fantastical imaginings is a captivating journey for readers of all ages. These books transport us to worlds where magic is abundant and where anything is possible. They ignite our imaginations, encouraging us to believe in the extraordinary and the mystical. In these books, the power of our thoughts and the belief in magic take center stage. They show how our mindset and perspective can shape our reality, allowing us to dream bigger and reach for the impossible. These stories remind us that our thoughts have the power to transform our lives and the world around us.
A Witch Cake for Early April
Those who are familiar with the established narrative of the Salem Witch Trials will recognize the reference to a “witch cake”, in that case concocted of the urine of the afflicted mixed with rye meal and ashes, baked in cake form and fed to a dog with the hope that the beast would somehow reveal the name of the malevolent witch. In 1692 Tituba assisted Mary Sibley in the preparation of a witch cake in order to identify the person(s) responsible for bewitching the young girls in Samuel Parris’s household, an act that would later be used to condemn her. In Salem the witch cake was clearly used as a form of counter-magical test; while in Britain it was more commonly used as a defensive amulet against the bewitchment of a person or household. There are many surviving examples of anti-witchcraft charms and amulets in British collections, everything from pierced “hag-stones” to very familiar horseshoes, but more perishable cakes are hard to find. But here is one, which doesn’t look very perishable at all!
This witch cake, which dates not from the seventeenth but rather the twentieth century, is part of the large (around 1400 items) collection of charms, amulets and talismans accumulated by British folklorist Edward Lovett (1852-1933), who seems to have been more interested in the magical artifacts and beliefs of his own time than those of the past. Lovett was an amateur folklorist in a time when that pursuit was being professionalized: he worked as a bank cashier by day and walked the streets of London by night, listening to the stories and purchasing the personal charms of street hawkers, sailors, and washerwomen, or whoever came upon his path armed with “protection”. (You can follow his steps here). This research formed the basis of his fascinating book Magic in Modern London (1925), and his collection can now be found chiefly in three institutions: the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University, the Cuming Museum on South London (which has been closed due to a fire, but many of its collections have been preserved and digitized), and the Wellcome Museum. The items below, including a cow’s heart stuck with pins and nails (upper right-hand corner, used by a dairyman as a talisman against a man he believed had put a curse on his cows), and the two anti-witchcraft charms, the ram’s horn with attached key and hag-stone below, all come from the Cuming collection, along with the more familiar charms. Acorns abound, to guard against lightning, and the wishbone wrapped in blue and red ribbon is almost a work of art!
And below are some Lovett amulets purchased from British soldiers who fought in the First World War: hand votives guard against the “evil eye”, geological charms protect the wearer from a host of evils, and black cats were actually lucky in some parts of Britain, unlike the rest of the world.
Back to the Witch Cake, about which I don’t have too much information. There is Lovett’s own description: around about Flamborough Head [in Yorkshire], “witch cakes are to be met with in almost every cottage. These are circular-shaped, with a hole in the middle and with spikes projecting on all sides. If you hang one up in your cottage and once a year burn it and replace it with another [presumably during Holy Week, or the first week of April], you will have good luck. But no recipe!
Witch Cakes
Alternatively: If you do not have a dog at hand, you may also burn the cake, punishing the spirit with the torments of Hell. Burying the cake to trap the demon in the earth is also an acceptable substitution.
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From the History Shapes Cookbook, available now:
Friends, don’t hesitate. If you or your loved ones have been the victim of demonic possession by a witch, warlock, or an evil mage of any kind, then the Witch Cake is the recipe for you.
Witch Cakes come from a time when evil spirits were thought to roam free and possess good, Christian folks all willy-nilly. During that era, this small cake made of rye meal had a very special mission. When combined with the urine of an afflicted person, the Witch Cake acted as both demon alarm and a way to give it the boot.
There's a lot to unpack here. Unfortunately, we don't know a lot more than the basics listed above.
What we do know is that if you found yourself in the unfortunate predicament of being enchanted by the dark forces of Satan, you made a Witch Cake. It was thought that traces of possession would pass through a person's urine, because sure, why not? Combining that malevolent pee-pee with rye or another grain would “trap” the spirit or witch in a physical form.
To rid yourself of the witch, you had to rid yourself of the cake. You could bury it, burn it, or you could feed it to the family dog. Dogs were thought to be the “animal helpers” of witches. Forcing Rover to gulp down your tinkle cake would compel him to speak the name of the witch responsible for your troubles. Didn’t have talking dogs on your Witch Cake bingo card, did you?
Among members of the fringe religious groups that settled in early America, this whole process was a lot more common than you might think. To put another way, the United States was at least partially founded by people who collected each other’s piss and thought dogs could talk. And it gets crazier: Witch Cakes were the entire reason that the infamous Salem witch trials began.
Around 1692, Reverend Samuel Parris' daughter was acting bonkers and no one could figure out why. While he was out of town, his nosy neighbor Mary Sibley told Parris' Native American slaves John Indian and his wife, Tituba, to make a Witch Cake to get to the bottom of it. John and Tituba fed the cake to the Parris family dog and Fido was supposed to eat the cake, trip out, and reveal the name of its evil master.
We don't know what the cake fed to the Parris family dog looked like. The only two surviving Witch Cakes are from the 1850s and they look like "spiky bagels" according to Scarborough Museums Trust.
Yeah, it didn't work.
When Parris returned home and found out what his slaves had done, he got just as pissed as the cake and went bonkers himself trying to find witches in his community. At least 25 people would die over the nearly year-and-a-half-long Salem witch trials.
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In the 1600s, baked goods made with flour and urine were believed to ward off evil
Atlas Obscura has a weirdly fun piece about "witch cakes," a popular baked good from the 1600s. As it turns out, the Salem Witch Trials were not, uhhh, taking the piss:
The origins of the tragic trials lay within Reverend Samuel Parris's own home. In January 1692, his daughter, Betty, and his niece, Abigail Williams, claimed to be suffering from fits and feelings of being attacked by an invisible force. Thinking it the work of witchcraft, a local woman named Mary Sibley proposed countering the dark magic by baking a cake using flour and the girls' urine, then feeding it to a dog. While the reverend and his wife were away, Sibley had the Parris's enslaved servants, Tituba and John, make the cake and give it to the family pet.
[…]
When Parris found out, he was incensed. Not only did the cake fail to change the girls' symptoms, more people came forward with claims of being bewitched. Also, some of the girls now accused Tituba, who merely carried out Mary Sibley's orders, of witchcraft (Sibley was never accused). To Parris, it was the cake, more so than the girls' symptoms, that unleashed evil upon Salem.
I can't imagine why Arthur Miller left this detail out of The Crucible. But these pee-based witch cakes were hardly unique to the denizens of modern-day Danvers:
They exist alongside other charms, such as hag stones and witch bottles. The latter were similar to the cakes, in that they also used a bewitched person's urine, along with materials such as hair, iron nails, and bent pins.
The term "witch cakes" is more of a modern rebranding. They were mostly known as "urine cakes" or, if the writer was feeling fancy, a cake made with a person's "water." While a far cry from a delicious cake ingredient, urine was the crucial element in warding off witches. The belief in the cake's efficacy was rooted in sympathetic magic: the best way to break that connection was to take a physical representation of the bewitched (i.e., their urine) and manipulate it in some way.
It's a weirdly fascinating article, if you have the stomach for it.
These stories remind us that our thoughts have the power to transform our lives and the world around us. Whether it's a young wizard attending a magical school, a young girl discovering her latent magic powers, or a group of friends embarking on an enchanted quest, these books captivate us with their whimsical and awe-inspiring tales. They invite us to suspend our disbelief and embrace the enchantment that lies within each of us.
The cutest cake on the internet
A woodland rabbit cake deserves an award for being the cutest cake on the internet. I love the Calico Critters standing on it- I've never seen them used as cake… READ THE REST
The magic in these books is not just about casting spells and performing tricks; it is a metaphor for the power of our thoughts, our dreams, and our beliefs. It reminds us that we have the ability to create our own magic in the world, to manifest our desires and bring them to life. These books encourage us to tap into our imagination and embrace our inner child. They remind us of the wonder and possibilities that exist in the world, even when the mundane may try to dampen our spirits. They teach us that there is magic in everyday life, if we only take the time to look for it. In a world that can often be harsh and disheartening, these books provide an escape, a refuge where our imaginations can run wild and our dreams can soar. They remind us that magic is not just for children, but for anyone who dares to dream and believes in the power of their thoughts. So, whether you're seeking a break from reality, a dose of inspiration, or simply a fun and magical adventure, pick up a book that explores magical thoughts and get ready to be transported to a world where anything is possible. Embrace the magic and let your imagination take flight..
Reviews for "Spellbound by Words: A Journey into Magical Thoughts in Books"
1. Emily - 2 stars
This book exploring magical thoughts fell short of my expectations. The concept of magical thoughts sounded intriguing, but the execution was lackluster. The writing was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along with the author's ideas. The book also lacked a clear structure, and it felt like a jumble of disconnected thoughts rather than a cohesive exploration. Overall, I was left disappointed and wishing for more clarity and coherence in the author's approach.
2. John - 2 stars
I was excited to delve into the world of magical thoughts with this book, but unfortunately, it was a letdown. The writing style was overly flowery and indulgent, making it difficult to grasp the author's intended message. The ideas presented were abstract and not well-grounded, which made it hard for me to connect with the content. Additionally, the book lacked practical examples or real-life applications of the magical thoughts concept, leaving me feeling disconnected and uninterested. Overall, I found it to be a tedious and unsatisfying read.
3. Sarah - 1 star
I found this book exploring magical thoughts to be a complete waste of time. The author indulges in vague and abstract concepts without ever providing any concrete explanations or practical guidance. It felt like reading a series of nonsensical ramblings rather than a thought-provoking exploration. The lack of structure and organization made it even more challenging to follow along. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful and coherent exploration of magical thoughts. Save your money and find a more substantial read.