Pathwalkers herb gardens - Gypsey Website

PathWalkers.Net Interactive :: Helping you along your path
accomplish. I believe that within alchemical studies this was a common view; even if all
the processes were carried out correctly, you might still not create gold from lead or
whatever, and in fact usually would not. Note also that the ritual might have multiple
functions within the community. The rain-dance both be used for bringing rain and
bringing about group solidarity. These are not mutually exclusive. Again, I have read
something similar with respect to alchemical procedures; that the alchemist "purifying"
metals with his various tools is also going through a process of spiritual purification. And
certainly the animal trial, even if it does not drive out the infestation, makes the
community feel better. The community is "doing something" about its situation, even if
its acts are ineffective.
I also like the animal trial example because it muddies the waters here in interesting
ways. The conversation to date has concerned itself with comparing/contrasting
religious/scientific thought. Yet here we see legal institutions using their procedures in a
way that suggests a religious ritual. Conversations on the distinctions / similarities
between legal and religious thought, and legal and scientific thought, would also be good
to have.
THE ANIMALS OF SALEM
Salem Story: Reading the Witch Trials of 1692 by Bernard Rosenthal Cambridge
University Press 1993
p.18 John Hughes, while testifying about seeing beast transform into Sarah Good, Sarah
Osborne, and Tituba, also mentions that on March 2 "a great white dog followed him and
then disappeared, and then that night in bed he saw a great light and a cat at the foot of
his bed." (from Narratives of the WC Cases 1648-1706 ed. G. LO. Burr)
p.21 Tituba's testimony included many animals...black dog / hog / man / yellow bird told
her to serve him; yellow bird was accompanying Sarah Good (who had already given
accusers legitimacy); also said she saw a cat with Good on other occasions
p.22 T. saw 2 cats, black and red. "What did the cats do? Tituba did not know. Had the
cats hurt or threatened her? They had scratched her. What had they wanted of her? They
had wanted her to hurt the children. They had forced her to pinch the children. Did the
cats suck Tituba? No, she would not let them."
p.82 Bridget Bishop (owner of shuffle-board and cider teenage hangout) was testified
against by Wonn, slave of John Ingerson. He "told a story of frightened horses, the
vanishing shape of B.B.(at the time B. Oliver), the appearance of an unknown cat, and
mysterious pinchings and pain."
p.124 Martha Carrier: 7 yr. old daughter Sarah was induced to confess that "a cat,
identifying itself as M. C., had carried Sarah along to afflict people when her mother was
in prison."
THE ANIMALS OF FINNISH WITCHTRIALS
I have studied over 1200 finish witch trials 1520-1700 (with PD Marko Nenonen) and
there is a certain role of animals. "Para" was a small "cat-like" animal, used to steal milk
and a butter called cow lucky especially in swedish speaking west coast in Finland. The
"Para" was not found out by judges, but it had a long folk tradition. There are many
http://www.pathwalkers.net/interactive/modules....ame=News&file=index&catid=1&topic=&allstories=1 (195 of 236) [12/25/2005 12:17:44 AM]