BOSNIAN RITUAL WITH THE LEAD
The magical ritual of melting lead (fear pouring) is an ancient form of shamanistic practice of exorcism known in a large geographical area - literally from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria (sakbeh or rakwi), Algeria, Morocco (khfif), Turkey (kurşun dökme), the Balkans to Germany, Great Britain (melting lead, lead casting) and Scandinavian countries. In our region, as it is usually presumed, this ritual appears by the arrival of the Ottoman Empire, with a whole set of other magic beliefs, practices and myths. But however, there are indications which tells that this ritual was originally Illyrian and that our ancestors as Roman Empire soldiers expanded it throughout the Middle East, and through Celts it also reached northern Europe.
The magical ritual of melting lead (fear pouring) is an ancient form of shamanistic practice of exorcism known in a large geographical area - literally from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria (sakbeh or rakwi), Algeria, Morocco (khfif), Turkey (kurşun dökme), the Balkans to Germany, Great Britain (melting lead, lead casting) and Scandinavian countries.
In our region, as it is usually presumed, this ritual appears by the arrival of the Ottoman Empire, with a whole set of other magic beliefs, practices and myths. But however, there are indications which tells that this ritual was originally Illyrian and that our ancestors as Roman Empire soldiers expanded it throughout the Middle East, and through Celts it also reached northern Europe.
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water forms a heart shape. If it does<br />
not show through three spills of lead,<br />
which is a sure sign of a great shock<br />
(fear) or black magic, then the lead<br />
must continue to melt six more times,<br />
to reach the magic number nine.<br />
In order to achieve a certain<br />
immunity to the devastating effect of<br />
fear on the human psyche, there are<br />
certain prophylactic beliefs. Thus, for<br />
example, in Velika Kladuša there is a<br />
belief that it is most ideal for a<br />
birthday “saliti strahu”, that is, that<br />
everyone should undergo a ritual with<br />
lead at least once a year, although it<br />
is usually recommended every three<br />
months.<br />
It is in folklore opinion that it is by no<br />
means desirable to allow fear in a<br />
person to be present for a long time,<br />
since it is more difficult to neutralize,<br />
since it is supposedly spread through<br />
the blood within the body. Likewise, if<br />
a person experiences a great<br />
psychological shock, which does not<br />
cure at a certain time, it is considered<br />
that the condition with him can be<br />
seriously complicated and result in<br />
the bonding the fear with death, thus,<br />
resulting with death by shock or fear.<br />
For this condition stravarke think that<br />
is incureable.<br />
Lead at the bottom of the bowl forms<br />
similar or different forms each time,<br />
and among the most commonly<br />
present are: snakes, nails, grave,<br />
airplane, dog, rifle, button, shape,<br />
circle, pins ... Experienced stravarke<br />
among all these symbols can easily<br />
detect the presence of signs of black<br />
magic and the ways in which it was<br />
made.<br />
For example, if the lead appears<br />
elongated letter U stravarka thinks<br />
that the black magic hides on the<br />
front doors to the house or on the<br />
path wich a bewitched person walks<br />
the most. If, however, she sees a lead<br />
of green in the form of a triangle,<br />
then the stravarka considers that the<br />
patient is a victim of talismanic magic.<br />
If it turns red, it literally get piping<br />
hot in the fire, during the melting of<br />
lead it is considered that the patient<br />
was given blood magic, usually with<br />
menstrual blood.<br />
If the symbol of the cross appears,<br />
then it is interpreted as a sign of the<br />
evil spirit attacks, and they are the<br />
main culprits for the poor health<br />
condition of the patient.<br />
Raif Esmerovic 21
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