The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

METHOD OF CURE

FOR A FRIGHT OR A NIGHTMARE THAT FRIGHTENED SOMEONE - I WAS ABOUT 3
OR 4 YEARS OLD WHEN I FIRST SAW MY GRANDPARENTS DO THIS. THEY DUG A
SMALL HOLE IN THE GROUND (ABOUT 6 INCHES DEEP) TO BE FILLED WITH
FRESH WATER. THEY PUT A CROSS OF PALM LEAVES, GOTTEN ON PALM SUNDAY,
AT ONE SIDE OF THE HOLE. THE FRIGHTENED PERSON STOOD NEAR THE SIDE
OF THE HOLE (1) THEN CROSSED THE HOLE TO THE OTHER SIDE (2) AND THE
MEDICINE MAN (OR WOMAN) WHISPERS IN HIS EAR, "DO YOU BELIEVE IN ME?
WILL YOU COME?(APPROXIMATELY)". THEN THE FRIGHTENED PERSON WOULD STEP
A QUARTER OF THE WAY AROUND THE HOLE (3) AND THE MEDICINE MAN OR
WOMAN WOULD AGAIN WHISPER THAT IN HIS EAR. THE PERSON WOULD CROSS
THE HOLE TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE AGAIN (4) AND THAT WOULD BE 3 MOVES.
THE MEDICINE MAN/WOMAN WOULD REPEAT THE WHISPER. (THIRD TIME) THE
MEDICINE MAN/WOMAN WOULD CLEAR THE TOP OF THE WATER OF SCUM AND
WOULD TAKE A CUP OF CLEAR WATER FROM THE HOLE. THE FRIGHTENED PERSON
WOULD TAKE 3 SIPS OF THE WATER. THEY WOULD TAKE THE PERSON AND LAY
THEM IN BED. THEN THEY WOULD TAKE LONG BAY LEAVES (AS MANY AS THEY
COULD HOLD IN THEIR HAND-4 OR 6) AND SWEEP THEM IN A CROSS OVER THE
FRIGHTENED PERSON 3 TIMES. THE MEDICINE MAN/WOMAN WOULD PUT THE
LEAVES UNDER THE BED FOR THE NIGHT. THEN THEY'D TAKE THE LEAVES AND
SWEEP THE DIRT BACK INTO THE HOLE THEN THEY'D THROW THE LEAVES AS IF
GETTING RID OF THE EVIL OR FRIGHT THE PERSON HAD EXPERIENCED. THEY
DID THIS TO ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE, SO I KNOW IT WORKS.

Submitter comment: THIS ITEM WAS ORIGINALLY LEARNED BY THE INFORMANT FROM HER
GRANDPARENTS WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN TEXAS. SHE BELIEVES THIS
METHOD WORKS, BECAUSE IT WAS USED ON HER. SHE GAVE IT TO ME IN MUCH
THE SAME MANNER AS A RECIPE. SHE KEPT SAYING THAT SHE KNOWS IT MIGHT
BE ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL, BUT SHE IS VERY SURE IT WORKS. SINCE THIS WAS
A RATHER LONG ITEM, SHE KEPT GOING OVER THE DETAILS TO MAKE SURE I
WAS GETTING THEM ALL. THE ITEM WAS INTERESTING IN ITSELF, BUT IT WAS
MADE EVEN MORE SO BY HER ATTITUDE OF COMPLETE TRUST IN ITS WORKING
POWERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANTS

Date learned: 01-10-1973