HISTORY
Handkerchiefs have been used by folk practitioners for centuries. They were easily accessible and could be hidden in plain sight when necessary. Often embroidered or painted with symbols, flowers, names, and other protections, they were easy to personalize for the practitioner and the type of working for which they were used.
Unlike modern witchcraft, which emphasizes cleansing and sterilizing tools, folk magic practitioners will use their tools time and time again without a cleansing, feeling the power from previous workings building up in their tools.
The difference between a rag and a handkerchief is generally the edges and fabric. Handkerchiefs are made from a more delicate fabric with finished edges, often tatted or embroidered.
FABRICS AND COLORS
Cotton – General use, everyday feelings of bad luck or uneasiness.
Linen – Protection against ghosts and spirits, use when divining, use when connecting to the
dead.
Wool – Protection, specifically children and working men, protects against dangerous
emotions.
Silk – Cleansings after breakups.
Flannel – All colors, but specifically red. Use for protection against witches, fae, malevolent
beings and bad luck.
White – General use, protection, luck
Red – Most powerful protection
Black – Use when divining, conjuring and necromancy
Purple – Divination, relationships
SPIRITUAL CLEANSINGS
Allow your gaze to soften and look over the afflicted person’s body. Do you notice any discoloration or sense anything amiss?
Wipe the person’s body in vertical sweeping motions from head to toe. Never wipe side to side. Pay special attention to the head and heart. Watch the person as you do the cleansing. See if they react as you pass by certain parts of the body – a grimace, a flinch, a sigh, words of irritation. Were these areas of concern in your initial scan of their body? Go back over those spots again. Shake the rag outside and release the crud.
SPIRITUAL PROTECTIONS
When doing readings, connecting with the other side, or doing workings, you should always keep your head covered. This area can be attacked by haints, evil spirits, and other malevolent beings.
Hold the handkerchief in your hands, close your eyes, and speak the following:
As this cloth was woven, so is the protection around my head, my heart, my soul, and my body. In the name of what was, what is, and what will be.
Breathe into the handkerchief then drape it over your head, one corner over the forehead, one over the back of your head, and a corner over each ear.
RAGS
Rags are used in many different types of healings. Generally older rags are used which can be discarded. Rags generally do not have finished edges. They can be cut from old clothes, towels, and random fabrics.
Boil a washrag in dirty water to prevent bad luck. Toss outside with the water to rot.
To remove a curse, pat down the person with a washrag from head to toe. Take the rag out to a tree and tie it around a branch. As the rag rots, the curse will go away.
Bind tobacco, an iron nail, and cornmeal in a bag. Soak in water. Hang this rag above your door to prevent bad luck.
Soak an iron item in water. Dip your rag into the water and wash your door frames to protect against ghosts & malevolent beings.
Speak your wish or desire into a rag. Tie it to the branch of a tree. As the rag rots and the knot comes undone, your desire will come true.
Lay out a rag. Mark one half is. Mark the other half, isn’t. Toss an odd number of beans or seeds onto the rag. Whichever side has the most is your answer.
If your house is cursed or haunted or under attack, wrap a horseshoe in a red rag and hang it points down over your door. After seven days, remove the red rag and turn it points up.
Wash your steps with a rag soaked in your urine and tobacco to keep danger away.
SELECTING THE RIGHT HANDKERCHIEF OR RAG FOR YOUR WORKINGS
I have several different handkerchiefs and rags, each with a different purpose. I have a black one I use when divining or connecting. I have an old red shop rag I use when doing cleansings and protections. I have a fancy embroidered one I dyed with blueberries that I use for emotional and relationship cleansings.
When doing workings that are pulling out evil, jinxes, curses, and spirits, I generally try to pull that into something I can bury or leave to rot. This might be an old rag, an onion, or an apple. When doing general protections and cleansings, I’ll use the same rag over and over again, allowing that power of healing to build up.
Try out different materials and see which works best for you. It needs to be something with which you can connect and trust.
