Nihtern

Perchta mask, Austria, early 20th century

The modern sense of weird developed from the use of “The Weird Sisters”, the goddesses who controlled human destiny. They were odd in appearance, as in “Macbeth,” which led to the meaning “odd-looking”. Source: etymonline.com

There is also supporting material. An ’Introduction to Scottish witchcraft’ explains some of the findings from the database and puts them in context. The ’Further Reading’ section is also important; the database won’t tell you everything on its own. However, it will tell you some things that you could find out in no other way. We hope you find it a useful tool. All this should help you think about the history of witchcraft and what it means to us today.

New hand forged steel Thor’s hammer pendant I made today!  Available at my Etsy shop just click the photo.

12th C. MS. Ashmole 1462

The hag of the mist originates in Celtic folklore as a sort of banshee-like creature. Her wails can foretell anything from a minor misfortune to death. If the hag finds the person with whom the misfortune will fall, she may try warning him. By trying to warn him, she might even smother him to death. She cannot speak, she can only wail. So when her point fails to come across as anything other than madness, she’ll resort to physical signs of letting the unfortunate-in-question know what’s to happen.

fountofknowledge: The Death of Siegfried, taken by RasMarley http://www.flickr.com/photos/32357038@N08/4260268776

Source: tatteredbanners

(via Passifloraceae - Passiflora Impératrice Eugénie.)