Pow-wow (folk magic) 191010 219701371 2008-06-16T14:04:06Z 99.231.201.225 {{otheruses2|Pow wow}} '''Pow-wow''' is a system of American [[folk religion]] and [[magic (paranormal)|magic]] associated with the [[Pennsylvania Dutch]]. Its name comes from the book ''Pow-wows, or, The Long Lost Friend'', written by [[John George Hohman]] and first published in [[German (language)|German]] as ''Der Lange Verborgene Freund'' in [[1820]]. Despite the [[pow-wow|Native name]], taken from an [[Algonquian]] word for a gathering of [[medicine man|medicine men]], the collection is actually a very traditional collection of [[Europe]]an magic spells, recipes, and folk remedies, of a type familiar to students of [[folklore]]. They mix prayers, magic words, and simple rituals to cure simple domestic ailments and rural troubles. The tradition is also called '''hex''' or '''hex work''', or '''''Speilwerk''''' in [[Pennsylvania Dutch]]; its adepts are '''''hexenmeisters'''''. The tradition of [[Hex sign]]s painted on [[Pennsylvania]] [[barn (building)|barn]]s in some areas originally relates to this tradition, as the symbols were [[pentagram]]s thought to have [[Amulet|talisman]]ic properties; though many current hex signs are made simply for decoration. Also important to the pow-wow practitioner were the ''[[Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses]]'', books brought to the United States from [[Germany]], containing [[kabbalah|cabalistic]] magic, claiming to be the magical arts by which Moses obtained his powers and commanded spirits. Actually, the Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses were apparently compiled by Johann Scheible in [[eighteenth century]] Germany. Another characteristic practice of pow-wow magic is the [[Himmelsbrief]] or "heaven's letter" and ''Teufelsbrief'', a "devil's letter," which presumably is meant to bestow a [[curse]]. Significantly, the ''Long Lost Friend'' assures its owner that: :''Whoever carries this book with him, is safe from all his enemies, visible or invisible; and whoever has this book with him cannot die without the holy corpse of Jesus Christ, nor drowned in any water, nor burn up in any fire, nor can any unjust sentence be passed upon him. So help me.'' ==Quotations== <center> ===CURE FOR THE HEADACHE=== </center> :Tame thou flesh and bone, like Christ in Paradise; and you who will assist thee, this I tell thee (''name'') for your repentance sake. + + + This you must say three times, each time lasting for three minutes, and your headache will soon cease. But if your headache is caused by strong drink, or otherwise will not leave you soon, then you must repeat these words every minute. This, however, is not necessary in regard to headache. <center> ===TO REMOVE BRUISES AND PAINS=== </center> :Bruise, thou shalt not heat; :Bruise, thou shalt not sweat; :Bruise, thou shalt not run, :No more than Virgin Mary shall bring forth another son. + + + ==See also== *[[Pow-wow]], a gathering of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]]s ==External links== *E-text of ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/ame/pow/index.htm Pow-wows, or, the Long Lost Friend]'' *E-text of ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/moses6/index.htm The Sixth Book of Moses]'' *E-text of ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/moses7/index.htm The Seventh Book of Moses]'' *A ''[http://www.silcom.com/~barnowl/chain-letter/archive/he1895u_philip.htm Himmelsbrief]'' text *Another ''[http://www.silcom.com/~barnowl/chain-letter/archive/he1895u_charles.htm Himmelsbrief]'' text *''[http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/VolumeIV/Powwow.htm Powwowing: A Persistent American Esoteric Tradition]'' by Dr. David W. Kreibel [[Category:Pennsylvania culture]] [[Category:Folklore]]