# botd mythologymonday fairytaletuesday wyrdwednesday folklorethursday faustianfriday swampsunday ireland folklore myths legends witches japanesefolklore yokai gothicspring owlishmonday ukiyoe preraphaelite caturday beltane dragon easter springequinox

Your weekly Wunderkammer safety advice - under-the-weather edition

“Ring around the moon, it’s meant to rain soon”

Thank you. Spit thrice, touch cold iron and be safe.

🖼️ Alphonse Mucha (#BOTD 1860) "The Moon" (1902)

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2021-07-24

🌿🐜🌿Ants in Cornwall - known as Meryons or Muryans - were believed to be diminishing Faeries living out the last and smallest stage of their earthly existence before disappearing from this world - therefore misfortune would befall anyone who harmed an ant.

24 96
2021-06-26

It is unlucky to kill a blue dragonfly. A little awkward because it will bring you luck if you place the wings of a blue dragonfly between the pages of a religious book. (Evans, 1845. Shaw, C18th)

9 56
2021-06-26

We’ve always loved ladybugs. Historically, they meant luck, plus they dressed in style. Their noble title wasn’t from the peerage, though, but from religion, ie “Our Lady.” The British call them Ladybirds (ie “Bird of Our Lady”), but it seems poor taxonomy. 😉💕#SuperstitionSat

9 60
2021-06-26

The East Slavs have many superstitions about the summer solstice, one of them is that for three days after the Day of St. Dorotheus the souls of the dead can walk the earth and communicate with the living for the veil between our worlds becomes thin 🕯💀🦇

55 210
2021-06-19

The fern flower can be found once a year, on Kupala’s night. This glowing bloom carried under shirt, can provide knowledge of people’s thoughts, of the future, ability to understand the speech of all living beings, see the trees walk in the forest, and more.. 🐍

4 19
2021-06-13

In Galicia, white is characteristic of supernatural animals that announce an imminent ☠️
E.g., the CADELA PEREGRINA is a huge, white female 🐕 that drags her teats on the ground and puts 🔥 through her mouth. The person who meets her at night will die shortly.

5 21
2021-06-06

it was once believed that placing crossed objects in front of a door would deter from the household. Below are two 19thc. homemade steel blades that were found crossed in the roof of a cottage (pic & description from Spellbound catalogue)

1 12
2021-05-22

In Japan, the shade cast from cherry blossoms in spring was observed to predict the weather of following seasons. The darker the shade, the shorter the next winter would be, but lighter shade indicated a longer winter.

🎨Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950)

7 36
2021-05-16

Here are some Cicely Mary Barker (1895-1973) works for you from her beloved flower fairy books. For many, her work, a blend of British floral & fairy lore, is a portal back to childhood. 🌸

4 27
2021-05-09

🌿Honeysuckle🌿

It was once believed that if this plant grew around a home’s entrance or garden, it would bring good luck and protection from evil. It was also regarded as a symbol of fidelity and affection 😊.

🎨Illustration by Cicely Mary Barker/Walter Crane

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2021-05-08

🌿🌞🌿It's said that if you wash your face in the May Day morning dew it will give you a healthy and beautiful complexion.

20 84
2021-05-01

May Day ~ Beltane 🔥🌿Fom the Winter to the Summer season

The collection of flowers as an important custom: flowers picked before dawn on May Day (or before dusk on May Eve) were believed to bring good luck and protection.

🎨 Windflowers 1903 by J.W. Waterhouse

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2021-05-01

Medieval romances say the lance with which George slew the was called Ascalon, after the city of Ashkelon, today in Israel. That name was used by Winston Churchill for his personal aircraft during World War II, according to records at Bletchley Park. 🛩️#SuperstitionSat

5 18
2021-04-24

In folklore, we are sternly admonished never to take food from the Fairies- for eating it will trap us in fairyland.
Of course, us witches & occultists know better- that if we are offered a Fairy banquet, we must, without question, WOLF IT DOWN AT ONCE!

7 41
2021-04-10

In Chinese lore, after death the soul would travel in an egg-shell boat....

4 21
2021-04-03

In Devon and Cornwall, it was said it wasn't truly Spring unless you could stand on 12 daisies with one foot...

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2021-03-21


IRISH SUPERSTITIONS
A fisherman that meets a woman with red hair will have a bad catch that day.

🎨Maybe this haircolor is auburn..in which case the catch will be promising....yes?

3 11
2021-03-14