Greetings!
>Just to remind you - the first worked iron is not smelted from stone
>but "miraculous" meteoric variety -
>hence thunderbolts, wonders etc in various languages.
>But yes also brings to mind the myths of Tubal Cain etc in traditional
>Craft lineages -
>smithcraft etc - really unclear how this supposed to be a taboo on use
>of iron in magical tools ?
I think iron was considered to have a special power, but I think the
power was ambiguous, rather than straightforwardly good or bad.
There are certainly accounts of faeries disliking iron. Throwing an iron
object could terminate contact with faeries. ( eg Kirk, Secret
Commonweath of Elves and Faeries, another example is given in Various,
Society of the Horseman's Word, S.E.E.). That said, I can think of one
example where it has the opposite significance. There was a turf maze
upon Faery Hill, Asenby, North Yorkshire where it was said that if you
followed the path to the centre and plunged an iron knife into the
ground, you could hear the faeries. I am sure there are written
references to this particular tradition, but I heard it as oral
tradition when I lived nearby.
Nails were used in magic spells, particularly for cursing. They would be
driven into the footprint of the man or animal to be cursed. Examples
can be found in the folk magic spells that appeared as an appendix to
the first edition of the Grimoire of Pope Honorius in France, and which
were reprinted as appendices to other Grimoire texts in the 19th Century
France. They found their way to Britain as evidenced by Singer, An
Exposition of the Miller's and Horseman's Word (several editions in
latter half of 19th Century, reprinted in Society of Horseman's Word).
Coffin nails were sought for this purpose.
I am particularly interested in nails specially made for magical
purposes. I am preparing for publication an 18th Century text concerning
stopping horses which utilises a nail made specially by a smith during
the midnight mass. The practitioner is required to abstain from any
Christian act for a period of 9 days prior to this working, implying
that relied upon Infernal powers.
The tradition that gypsies made the nails that were used in the
Crucifixion, and consequently, like the Wandering Jew, were condemned to
nomadic life, may be related.
There are older traditions of nails specially made for magical purposes.
http://www.e-tarocchi.com/charms/descrip.php?id=15
The informative text and fine chromo-lithographic illustration is from a
cigarette card issued in the 1920s. The web page source image of the set
which have been posted on the Internet in order to be used for
divination. A reminder of how strong and vibrant popular occult culture
can be!
There is some more concerning magic nails in Classical times in
Elsworthy, The Evil Eye:-
http://www.sacred-texts.com/evil/tee/tee13.htm
I am very interested in nail magic. I am actively seeking any
information about other examples.
There was ambiguity concerning ironwork in the Judeo-Christian
tradition. The origin of working with iron was attributed to Tubal Cain,
the origins of other crafts being attributed to other members of the
Cain family. The changed and manipulated God's creation, as the clan's
founder had (he ploughed the earth). In this, he contrasted with his
brother, Abel, who, as a shepherd, accepted and worked within the world
as created by God. The suggestion is that metal working, like all crafts
and the building of cities, have an element of hubris.
My best wishes
Ben
--
Ben Fernee
Caduceus Books
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