When I was a little girl in elementary school, I developed a ringworm on my right hand. We all remember how mean kids could be in school, so I'm sure it comes as no surprise that the kids teased me and said I had "cooties"! My grandmother first tried an over-the-counter remedy to remove the ringworm, but no luck, it was still there. After me begging her to do something about it, she took me to a doctor. The doctor tried freezing it off and burning it off, neither worked! I had decided that I was going to have to live with it because it wasn't going anywhere.
My Grandfather was very different from most. He had a "little place" down by the creek he would spend time at, especially during the full moons and no one talked about it. It was "his thing" and as crazy as some people thought him to be, we didn't dare talk about it, nor were we allowed to be in his "special place".
After another unsuccessful doctor visit, I was in terrible despair. At 8 years old, you think your life is over with something that the kids could tease you about. I had been out wandering in the woods and somehow got turned around and ended up at grandpa's place. He wasn't there, and I was curious so I looked around. Funny, it didn't seem that "special" to me, what was the big deal? There was a pile of stones beside the creek, some jars in the trees with herbs or flowers in them, different flowers growing.. but nothing out of the ordinary. I was just turning to go back home when grandpa walked up behind me!
He told me to sit down by the creek, which I did. He had a potato in his hand and he sit down beside me, cross-legged on the dirt. I'd never seen my grandfather sit like that and was a little taken back that he wasn't mad for me being there. He told me he was going to help me. He took the potato and cut it in half. He then asked me to hold my hand out to him. He rubbed the potato on my ringworm while he was whispering something to himself. He then took the potato and turned beside of him and dug a small hole in the ground, put the potato in it and covered it back up. He looked at me and said: "It is done."
Of course, I didn't know what that meant and must have had a puzzled look on my face. He looked at me and said to me something I will never ever forget. He said:
You are one of the "special ones". I know you don't know what this means but someday, when the time is right, you will. If you learn to listen with your mind and not your ears, it will save you a lot of grief in your life.
That was it. I kind of looked at him funny and said "Ok Grandpa." and got up. He told me that I must not talk about what he done with the potato or it wouldn't work and told me to run along home.
By the next week, I had forgotten about the potato and was on the playground at school. One of the kids walked by and said they were going to get "cooties" from me and then I reached to cover the ringworm up and it was gone! Totally and completely gone from my hand, not a trace of it left! It had worked! I think I laughed out loud for a few minutes I was so happy. I started to say something then heard my Grandpa's voice telling me I mustn't talk about it so I took my turn on the swings and said nothing.
When I got home from school that day, I ran up to my Grandpa and told him it had worked! He looked at me and smiled and said, "I knew it would. Don't forget what I told you.. Listen with your mind." and walked away. That was the last intelligent conversation I think I ever had with him.
For the next 10 years, my grandfather started drinking a lot. I don't know what happened to cause this or why he changed like he did, but he was a different person. There were times when I thought I had imagined the whole potato thing. He died when I was 18.
A few days after his funeral, I woke up knowing I had to have a book about Witches. I'd read a few things here and there but at that time, there wasn't a lot of material about witches but I found a copy of Earth Power by Scott Cunningham. I opened the book while standing in the bookstore and the first thing I turned to was a page that had a spell on how to Heal and low and behold, there was the Potato Spell! I probably turned white as a sheet because the lady walking by me asked if I was ok. I just smiled and said, "yes, now I am."
Over the next few weeks, my dreams were unbelievable. Every morning I awoke with knowledge of things that I had no idea where it came from. I suddenly "knew" things and then would find a book and read and there would be the information verified. It was like my grandfather was transferring his powers to me through my dreams! I felt closer to him at that time than ever before.
Did my grandfather really transfer his "power" to me or was it just my time to pick up my Craft? I guess that is a question I can't answer... yet :-)
Here is the spell I found that my grandfather done.
Healing Spell from Scott Cunningham
Healing with the Earth works through the process of transference. The wound or
disease is transferred magically to another substance, usually an organic one,
which is then buried. As it rots it releases the wound or disease.
To remove disease or heal a wound, rub the afflicted part with an apple or potato. Then, as quickly as possible, dig a hole in the ground, put it in, and cover it over with earth. It is done.
One note here might be wise: Healing magick should always be used in addition to conventional medicine and never as a replacement.
(Copyright © 1983 by Scott Cunningham)
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