Pow-Wow

[shuvanilu]

Hi there! Just wondering if any of you use the Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-Wow method. I ran across this text years ago and thought it was rather interesting. Plus, if anyone is driving you up the wall telling you that Christian Witchcraft doesn't exist, send them here:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/index.htm

All of these texts are interesting, but click on Pow-Wow/Long Lost Friend. Very interesting Christian flavored folk magick.----shuvanilu

[LacyRoze]

Thank you for sharing this shuvanilu!!!

[CleftOfLight]

Awsome

[DanuMoonrunner]

I often incorporate Pow-Wow magic in my daily life. Coming from a Pennsylvania Dutch background as well as an American Indian background, I observed many healings, cursings and blessings done in both ways. One of the best books I've found on the subject is Silver RavenWolfs Hex Craft Dutch Country Pow-Wow Magic. It's rare and kinda difficult to find, but if you can it's well worth the read.

[shuvanilu]

Not too hard to find, actually. Here it is at Amazon::halohead:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1567187234/sr=8-11/qid=1142986912/ref=pd_bbs_11/104-5635283-0555921?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I've heard mixed reviews on it. Does she stay pretty close to the original Pow-Wow ways in this book, or does she mix it with her own system??

---shuvanilu

[Ben Gruagach]

Are the Pennsylvanian Dutch really Dutch? I had heard that they were really German, but the word Dutch got attached to them by English-speakers who didn't realize that Deutch meant German.

(The same with the Lost Dutchman's Mine in Arizona -- the Dutchman was actually German.)

[DanuMoonrunner]

Of course, as with any author or storyteller, there will always be some amount of personal belief thrown in witht he original. And as it's hard to find original material from the Pow-Wows, it was mostly passed on through the families and not written, it would be hard to stay truly original. However, most of what is in the book is in some form or another, what I learned from my Grandmother. I have several of SRWs books and I can truthfully say, this one unlike most of them is a good read and a good learning tool for anyone interested. Keep in mind, a lot of it is Christian based, but can be adapted to whatever pantheon you use. I would suggest the book quite highly.

Ben, yes the Pennsylvania Dutch are displaced Germans, most from the Black Forrest area.

[Athene]

I would steer clear of Ravenwolf, but that is my opinion.
If you're serious about an interest in pow-wow, I would recommend the collection, 'Pow-wows or long lost friend: a collection of mysterious and invaluable arts and remedies', Hohman.
Also, the excellent, 'Strange Experience', Gandee.
There are many more.

[wolf]

Old thread, but it relates to a current area of interest for me.

Does anyone here use pow wow? I have recently gotten a copy of Long Lost Friend, and am beginning to research this path, but I was hoping that there might be someone who has experience with it in the event that I have questions.

Fer example ... Many of the pow-wow charms and spells are based on Christian belief, practice, Bible passages, etc. Are there ways in which a non-Christian can make use of the workings?

Of course, I also realize that most pow-wow practitioners won't necessarily be computer savvy, but one can hope ...

[aranarose]

I don't practice Pow-Wow, but do practice Hoodoo, and many, many, many of the Hoodoo tricks are based on Bible passages. I've got lists of the various magical uses for the Psalms of the Bible. For instance, if you're dealing with gossip in your environment, Psalm 36 is recommended:

1The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
5Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

To work the trick, I'd gather the various ingredients, herbs, charms, bags, etc. and while putting them together, I'd recite the Psalm.

I'm not Christian, but the words gain their power from me and my personal power, and help to focus my mindset. I prefer to use the King James Version, love the flowery language, but one of the women I learned from preferred the newer translations as they were easier for her to read and recite.

What I'm saying is that while the traditions of Hoodoo and PowWow use Christianity, you don't have to be Christian to make it work. Most tricks don't even require a Psalm, but they help with the focus.

Hoodoo and PowWow are evolving, adapting traditions, so feel free to take what works for you, and leave the rest!