Folk Magic and Medicine

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Pennsylvania German Pow Wow

• Folk Magic and Medicine
• Ryan Metzker

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QUESTIONS

• What is Pennsylvania German Pow Wow?
• How does it combine elements of Christianity and
  Folk Magic?

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German settlers migration to Pennsylvania

• From the Oxford English dictionary the phrase
  Pennsylvania Dutch is defined as
• The descendents of the original German settlers
  in Pennsylvania.
• They are in fact of a German speaking heritage
• Reason why it is sometimes referred to as
  Pennsylvania Dutch is because the German word for
  German is Duetsch.
• Arrived in Pennsylvania and other areas of the
  United States in the late 17th and early 18th
  centuries

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Where did the word or phrase Pow Wow come from?

• Powwowing, also called braucha by the
  Pennsylvania Dutch coming from the German Verb
  Brauchen, to use, was brought with them as the
  wave of immigrants settled in Pennsylvania and
  other areas of the Eastern United States and
  Canada.
• The word Powwow is also of Algonquin Indian
  origin but is not derived or influenced by the
  Indian practices and techniques

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Purpose of Powwow

• The people would consult Powwow doctors or
  practitioners to exorcise a hex that had been
  placed upon them by witches
• They also used Powwow to heal physical ailments
  in humans and animals
• Some other uses for powwowing are bringing good
  luck, protection from physical or spiritual harm,
  and revealing hidden information, etc.

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Who becomes a powwow practitioner and how?

• The most skilled practitioners are born into it.
• Seventh son of the seventh son special powers
• Both men and women can be practitioners
• Start training at early age and only taught by
  family member of the opposite sex

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John George Hohman

• John George Holmen's book Pow-Wows or Long Lost
  Friend
• The book was first published in German as Der
  Lange Verborgene Freund (Long Lost Friend) in
  1820.
• This book is a collection of prayers and recipes
  for folk healing
• Most of powwowing is based on his book

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A few Remedies From the Book

• How to obtain things which are desired
• If you call upon another to ask for a favor, take
  care to carry a little of the five-finger grass
  with you, and you shall certainly obtain that you
  desired.
• Remedy for burns
• "Burn, I blow on thee!"--It must be blown on
  three times in the same breath, like the fire by
  the sun.
• To stop bleeding.
• Count backwards from fifty inclusive till you
  come down to three. As soon as you arrive at
  three, you will be done bleeding.

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Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses Black magic?
Hex?

• -The sixth and seventh books of Moses were also
  used as a source for Powwowing.
• -However, it is associated with black magic and
  often considered a hex book.

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Some Other Sources for Powwowing

• -The bible
• -Egyptian Secrets, Albetus Magnus
• -Secrets of Sympathy, William Wilson Beissel

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Alternative beliefs and practices

• Yet, there remains much opposition to it in
  central and southeastern Pennsylvania,
  particularly from the various Mennonite groups.
  Some cite their belief that the Devil works the
  cures, others claim that it conflicts with
  medical science, and still others hold that
  spiritual healing is the exclusive province of
  the church.
• David W. Kriebel, Ph.D.

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Alternative beliefs cont. Powwowing and
Christianity combined

• Four centuries ago at the time of the Protestant
  Reformation, the protestant churches attempted to
  separate religion from superstition which led
  powwowing to be practiced behind the scenes.
• Although powwowing was banned by the Protestant
  church, it still attributes its power to the
  Christian god.
• Some of the charms that powwowers use come from
  the bible or have some Christian reference
  especially to Jesus and Mary.

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Importance of Time, Place, and Culture

• Powwowing has been present since ancient times
  among Germanic tribes from the Palatine Valley
• These tribes relied on the brauchers when
  health problems developed
• Several hundred years ago the brauchers
  immigrated to the new world and mingled with
  Native American Medicine men which allowed them
  to learn more about the herbs and remedies in
  North America .
• Now known as pow powers, they practice within
  Pennsylvania Dutch communities across the country

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QUIZ

• When did the German Settlers, eventually known as
  the Pennsylvania German/Dutch, migrate to
  Pennsylvania?
• What is the German word that the Pennsylvania
  Germans used for powwow?
• Name one thing that powwowing was used for.
• Who was the man that wrote the book, Pow-Wows or
  Long Lost Friends?
• Although both men and women can practice powwow,
  which son was said to have special powers that
  was born into a family of powwow practitioners?

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QUIZ ANSWERS

• Late 17th and early 18th centuries
• Braucha
• Exorcise a hex placed upon someone, cure physical
  ailments in humans and animals, bring good luck,
  protection from physical or spiritual harm,
  revealing hidden information, etc.
• John George Hohman
• The seventh son of the seventh son

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References

• Hohman, J. G. (1820). Pow-Wows or Long Lost
  Friend.,
• Kriebel, D (2002 ).Powwowing A Persistent
  American Esoteric Tradition. Esoterica. IV,
  16-28.
• Yoder, D (1966).Twenty Questions on Powwowing.
  Pennsylvania Folklife. 15.4, 38-40.
• Dugan, Patrick James. (1988)"The Origin and
  Practition of Pow-wow Among the Pennsylvania
  Germans." Historical Review of Berks County
• Knowles, G (2007, March 4). Pow-wow. Retrieved
  November 16, 2008, from Controverscial.Com Web
  site http//www.controverscial.com/Pow-wow.htm
• Turbett, S. A. "Whitebear" (2004-2008). WhiteBear
  Energies - Pow Wowing. Retrieved November 16,
  2008, from WhiteBear Energies Web site
  http//www.whitebearenergies.net/powwow.html