Faith, Superstition, and Folk Magic

Disclaimer about the writing style of this post. I have been consuming an unhealthy amount of Hungarian Folk Tales, and it's currently overpowering how I write. Please read for content and I hope the style gives you a giggle. 

Actual Post.

Faith plays a significant role in the world of the Seven of Swords. I don’t mean faith tied to any particular religion that comes with dogma and theology and very complicated rules. I mean the type of faith that corresponds to wishing on stars or manifesting that the local bookstore will have a big sale or even praying that you and your loved one will get home safe in a storm. The moments when you push out a powerful emotional thought. You may or may not give a name to who you are asking for help, but you believe with everything you have that you will be heard and answered. This “Faith” and the practice of pushing for something and wanting something to change is recognized by most religions and classified as prayer. This is usually accompanied by being told how and who to direct that energy towards. Or if you don’t like to be a joiner or told what to do you may continue this practice independently (and effectively) saying you are calling on the universe. Others may not give a name to it at all.

Faith also tends to come along with little rituals. We believe that repeated actions will bring about the same result, whether it's a thought or a thought combined with a gesture. Maybe you were hoping to get that acceptance letter to Theater Arts School, and you happened to be rubbing that medallion from your great aunt who told you it was lucky and you got the good news! After that when you need something good to happen you may find yourself repeating the gesture combined with the thought of what you need.

Perhaps you walked under a certain tree and a dead bird fell out of the tree right on top of you and then your friend got a flat tire and you lost your job the next day. You may decide to cross the street after that, just in case. Or perhaps you go to a house of worship, they may teach you certain rituals and gestures as a way to help your faith and bring about the results that you want. 

As always, with any kind of Faith, depending on who is looking on, there will always be a critic who calls it superstition and says that you’re doing it the wrong way. But in the world of the Seven of Swords, none of that really matters. That emotional thought that gives a little push into the world can have powerful results, even if you don’t see them right away. There are still critics who claim to know the “right way,” but what really counts is the actual faith, push, or intention that you put into it. This is what powers Folk Magic.

In this world, Faith and Folk Magic are the only type of magic that humans have available to them. It is not the most powerful form of magic but it certainly can impact outcomes and interfere with the plans of other creatures. Especially if you can get a bunch of humans truly believing in the same thing at the same time. An excellent example of this is Halloween Night in North America. (You may have thought that the example would be organized religion but that’s feeling a little overdone.) On Halloween Night and actually for the whole month of October, most of the population is looking forward to the night and celebrating it in different ways. From going to frightening or fun spooky events to watching horror films, most people have their rituals and traditions. This combined with their anticipation for the Big Night is a form of Faith. Deep in their psyche, there is a little “what if.” What if we saw something truly other worldly? A terrible monster comes to life or a wicked witch tries to steal your soul and eat your flesh! It would certainly make the night more interesting. 

Unsurprisingly, everyone else despises Halloween Night! It is not a good time to venture out as a vampire or werewolf. A real witch could find themselves imprisoned or worse and if you are a god…well, you may get more followers temporarily, but they will be more trouble than they are worth. Basically, all of the humans really wanting to see something supernatural or extraordinary, makes it all too possible. On any other day of the year, humans don’t perceive magic (unless they are really trying through psychedelics or they are experienced in witchcraft but those are different blog posts) which is why other beings are able to go through their lives fairly comfortably and interact with humans on the daily.    

Anyway, you have gathered that yes, the gods are real. There are vampires, witches, and werewolves, and other assorted creators. I hope you enjoyed the post and that you stick around to read my books. I also highly recommend Hungarian Folk Tales, but they may impact your ability to communicate.

And that is how I end my blog post. Which is a good thing too, or I might be still writing it to this very day. 

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