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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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A YOUNG GIRL OFTEN THREW A PIECE OF DODDER (VINE) OVER HER
SHOULDER AND RETURNED IN A DAY OR SO TO SEE IF IT WAS
ROOTED AND GROWING. THIS WOULD DETERMINE HER SUITOR'S
TRUE LOVE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 07-20-1968

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MANY A LOVE-SICK MAIDEN HAS BENT THE MULLEIN STALK. IF IT
TURNS BACK UPWARD AND GROWS ON, SHE'S SURE HE DESIRES HER
HAND IN MARRIAGE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 07-20-1968

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PUT ST. JOHN'S WORK (WORT?) IN (A) PILLOW TO FORETELL ONE'S
FUTURE IN DREAMS.

Where learned: HOME ; VIRGINIA, ASSUMED ; NORTH GARDEN

Keyword(s): PLANT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Dreams
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 03-29-1969

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MR. PRINGLE HAS A FISHING CAMP WHERE WE GO ON OCCASIONS TO
"GET AWAY FROM IT ALL." ONE DAY WE GOT TO TALKING ABOUT
BUILDING A CABIN ON OUR OWN LAKE ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY.
ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS IS LOCATING WATER NEAR WHERE WE WANT
THE CABIN. "DON'T WORRY," SAYS JACK THORNTON, AN OLD TIME
RESIDENT, "WHEN THE TIME COMES, I'LL FIND YOU ALL THE
WATER YOU WANT." IT TURNED OUT THAT HE WAS A "WATER WITCH."
"AND SO MAY YOU BE," HE SAYS. HE WENT AND CUT A BRANCH FROM AN
APPLE TREE (IT COULD JUST AS WELL HAVE BEEN WILLOW, HE TOLD
US). HE WALKED AROUND WITH THAT FORKED BRANCH, AND SURE
ENOUGH, IT TURNED DOWN. WHEN I TRIED IT, NOTHING HAPPENED,
SO HE WALKED BEHIND ME, WITH HIS HANDS COVERING MINE.
PRETTY SOON, THAT OLD BRANCH STARTED STRAINING AND I COULDN'T
KEEP IT FROM TURNING. I NEVER DID GET VERY GOOD AT IT
MYSELF, BUT MY HUSBAND COULD REALLY MAKE IT TWIST. THE
OLD MAN SAYS HE NOT ONLY CAN FIND THE LOCATION OF WATER, BUT
CAN ESTIMATE VERY CLOSELY HOW FAR DOWN YOU HAVE TO GO TO
GET IT.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; ARDEN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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WATER WITCHING

TAKE FORKED PEACH TREE SWITCH. HOLD ENDS OF FORKS IN HANDS.
HOLD MAIN PART IN FRONT OF YOU. SOME FORCE IN THE GROUND
WILL PULL END TOWARDS GROUND. FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT WILL BOB.
WHERE FORCE IS STRONGEST, DIG A WELL. FOR EVERY TIME
THE SWITCH BOBS, IT WILL BE ONE FOOT TO WATER. I HAVE DONE
THIS. I DON'T SAY YOU'LL ALWAYS GET WATER, BUT THERE IS A
FORCE WHICH ATTRACTS THE SWITCH. (BRANCH, TWIG)

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SHELBYVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

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IF YOU DON'T SWEEP OUT ALL THE CHRISTMAS TREE NEEDLES, YOU'LL
CRY A TEAR FOR EVERY NEEDLE LEFT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer P642.48
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 06-29-1970

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TO DESTROY THE POWER OF A WITCH, TAKE THREE SMALL NECKED STONE
JARS. PLACE IN EACH THE LIVER OF A FROG STUCK FULL OF NEW
PINS AND THE HEART OF A TOAD STUCK FULL OF THORNS FROM THE
THORNE(?) OF JERUSALEM BUSH. CORK AND SEAL EACH JAR. BURY
IN THREE DIFFERENT CHURCHYARD PATHS SEVEN INCHES FROM THE SURFACE
AND SEVEN INCHES FROM THE PORCH. WHILE IN THE ACT OF BURYING
EACH REPEAT THE LORD'S PRAYER BACKWARDS. AS THE HEARTS AND
LIVERS DECAY, SO WILL THE WITCH'S POWER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Witch Shaman
BELIEF -- Prayer
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant
BELIEF -- Use of Object Dress, buttons, jewelry

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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I HEARD MY FATHER SAY IF YOU TAKE A FORKED PLUM BRANCH, IT
WILL LEAD YOU TO WATER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): WATER WITCHING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 07-25-1968

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IF A WOMAN EATS CARROTS, HER BABY WILL HAVE EXCELLENT VISION.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

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