The Magical Household by Scott Cunningham and David Harrington
Moving in to a Magical Household
The first things brought into the new house are of magical importance. Several items in particular are thought to bring good luck. Some people bring salt and bread before anything else. With the salt representing wealth and the bread food, the new household should never know hunger or lack of money. Anciently, this was an offering to the Lares —the family household spirits of Roman times. Following the same idea, a basket overflowing with edible items—such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, bread and cheese—should be taken into the house first. To maintain stability in the new household, an item that cannot be blown away by the wind, such as a sturdy chair, should be among the first carried in. There is one ancient rule that is rarely argued: Never move a broom from one house to another. It will bring your last residence’s bad luck into your new home. (This doesn’t pertain to decorative brooms or those solely for magical use, only those actually used to sweep floors). If, for some reason, you must move an ordinary broom, put it into the new house through an open window, and the ill luck will be deterred.
about the authors
Scott Cunningham was a true spiritual pioneer whose work lay the foundation for the non-institutional growth of modern Wicca. In addition, Scott also opened up a new understanding of positive, naturebased magics such as herb, gem, and elemental magic. He was very highly regarded. Scott passed from this life on March 28, 1993, after a long illness.
David Harrington is a folklorist and student of the magical arts who is co-author of Whispers of the Moon, the biography of his teacher and friend, Scott Cunningham. He also co-authored Spellcrafts, and The Magical Household and is hard at work on new writing projects. When not writing, David collects tales of ancient folklore and pursues his interests in Mesoamerican archaeology and paranormal phenomena. He lives on the West Coast with his menagerie of rescued animals.
The Magical
House H old
other books by scott cunningham
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews
Cunningham’s Book of Shadows: The Path of An American Traditionalist
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gems & Metal Magic
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen (formerly titled The Magic of Food)
Cunningham’s Guide to Hawaiian Magic & Spirituality
Divination for Beginners
Earth, Air, Fire and Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic
Earth Power
Living Wicca
Magical Aromatherapy: The Power of Scent
Magical Herbalism
The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home (with David Harrington)
Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects (with David Harrington)
The Truth About Witchcraft Today
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner
DVD
Scott Cunningham’s Herb Magic DVD
Biography of Scott Cunningham
Whispers of the Moon (David Harrington and deTraci Regula)
Stock photographs: PhotoDisc and Digital Stock Interior illustrations by Wendy Frogge’t
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cunningham, Scott, 1956–1993
The magical household. (Llewellyn’s practical magick series)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Magic. 2. Households—Miscellanea. I. Harrington, David II. Title. III. Series.
BF1623.H67C86 1987 133.4'3 87-45740
ISBN 13: 978-0-87542-124-7
ISBN 10: 0-87542-124-5
Llewellyn Worldwide does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public.
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Printed in the United States of America
“There have always been magical households. A house was a shrine to the deity of life itself. Its roof and walls served as a shield from the effects of the elements (both physical and magical) and held in the home’s luck, spirit, or energy, while its door guarded against unwanted intrusions. The house sustained life; it was sacred and powerful.”
—From The Magical Household
PRAISE FOR THE MAGICAL HOUSEHOLD
“… a delightful compendium of bits and pieces of folklore gleaned from Europe, China, Hawaii, and other parts of the world. All relate to hearth and home … A more complete covering of ‘a magical household’ would be hard to imagine.”
—Ray Buckland, Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft
“The Magical Household clearly explains how to set up a household altar, the meaning of the hearth fire, and how and why to set up a household for the personal practice of magic … A very fine book.”
—Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
Scott Cunningham wrote more than thirty books, both fiction and nonfiction, including: Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner; Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner; and Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen; and was the coauthor, with David Harrington, of Spell Crafts.
David Harrington is a folklorist and student of the magical arts. He is the coauthor, with deTraci Regula, of the Scott Cunningham biography, Whispers of the Moon.
