Living

The Magical Lore of Pennies

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It was once believed that metal was a gift from the gods, thereby endowing it with protection and auspicious power. This was especially true for copper, from which pennies are made. Copper is ruled by Venus, which means pennies can attract good luck to those who know how to use it for such purposes.

Living

Schoolyard Divinations

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“Like a lot of folk love divination, I don’t know where this came from,” writes Lauren Parker. “It’s nonsense, it’s silly, it’s probably not even accurate. And also every time I’m handed a straw I dutifully tie a knot to see if someone somewhere is thinking of me fondly.” 

Arts & Culture

Practical Advice for Discerning “Cunning Folk”

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Ed Simon reviews Tabitha Stanmore’s new book, “Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic.” “Stanmore enumerates the sorts of practical rituals that cunning folk offered in the plying of their trade. A thief might be discovered, for example, by making suspects eat chunks of cheese in which various charms had been carved, whereupon the guilty party would choke on their morsel. (This must be hard cheese, Stanmore emphasizes.)”