Part 9

_THE HAWTHORN OR MAY._--Once upon a time, every porch was decorated with a branch of May to avert the evil eye and prevent witchcraft, but the idea has been departed from, and now it is regarded as a harbinger of ill-luck, and is rarely brought inside a house.

_THE MISTLETOE._--From very ancient times, this plant has been regarded with curious veneration. Probably it gained special fame, in the first instance, owing to the peculiar manner in which it grew. The Druids looked upon it as a plant possessing marvelous properties, and they esteemed nothing in the world more sacred than it. They gathered it when the moon was just six days old because the moon was then thought to be at its greatest power. This done, they sacrificed two young bullocks which were milk-white. After that, the mistletoe was cut into small pieces with the aid of a golden hook or bill and distributed among the people present. These took it home and suspended it in a prominent place to ward off evil spirits. From these associations, the mistletoe has become an emblem under which young people may kiss, without any evil coming to them through their act.

_HOLLY_ is used as a Christmas decoration because the Romans chose it to hang in their houses on the fast in honor of Saturn. Friends gave bunches of it to those whom they wished to endow with luck and happiness, probably because the prickly leaves symbolized the crown of thorns worn by Christ and the red berries the blood of the cross.

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS

Just as there are birth stones, so there are flowers which stand for each month of the year. By wearing the blossom named for your month, you may count on good fortune as the result.

_JANUARY._--The Snowdrop which is the emblem of purity, hope and gentleness.

_FEBRUARY._--The Violet, the emblem of modesty, kindness and faith.

_MARCH._--The Daffodil, the emblem of daintiness, sincerity and graciousness.

_APRIL._--The Primrose, the emblem of lovers.

_MAY._--The White Lily, the emblem of purity and sweetness.

_JUNE._--The Wild Rose, the emblem of love and loyalty.

_JULY._--The Carnation, the emblem of kindly thoughts.

_AUGUST._--The White Heather, the emblem of luck and the best of good fortune.

_SEPTEMBER._--The Michaelmas Daisy, the emblem of riches and happiness.

_OCTOBER._--The Rosemary, the emblem of remembrance and kind thoughts.

_NOVEMBER._--The Chrysanthemum, the emblem of faith and truth.

_DECEMBER._--The Ivy, the emblem of loyalty, fidelity and faithfulness.

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

For many generations, certain flowers have been accepted as having definite meanings. Thus, a gift of any of the examples listed below, may be taken to infer whatever description is appended.

_CAMELLIA._--Beauty, loveliness. _CANDYTUFT._--Indifference, lack of affection. _CARNATION_ (Red).--Alas for my poor heart! _CARNATION_ (White).--Disregard, disdain. _CLOVER_ (Four-leaved).--Be mine. _COLUMBINE._--Foolishness. _DAISY._--Innocence, purity. _DEADLY NIGHTSHADE._--Falsehood, untrue. _FERN._--You fascinate me. _FORGET-ME-NOT._--The same as the name. _FOXGLOVE._--I bow down to you. _GERANIUM._--To console you. _GOLDEN ROD._--Be on your guard. _HELIOTROPE._--I am devoted to you. _HYACINTH_ (White).--Your beauty is recognized. _IVY._--Faithfulness. I cling to you. _LILY_ (White).--Sweetness. _LILY_ (Yellow).--Gay, happy, joyful. _LILY OF THE VALLEY._--Happiness will return. _MIGNONETTE._--Your qualities are even greater than your charms. _MYRTLE._--Love. _ORANGE BLOSSOM._--Chastity. _PANSY._--Thoughts. _PASSION FLOWER._--Willing to suffer hardships for you. _PEACH BLOSSOM._--I am captivated by you. _PRIMROSE._--A token of love. _ROSE._--A token of love, also. _ROSE_ (Red).--Bashful, shy. _ROSE_ (White).--I will be worthy of you. _ROSE_ (Yellow).--Jealousy. _ROSEBUDS._--A confession of great love. _SWEET PEA._--Leave me and depart, or I leave you. _VERBENA._--Pray for me.

COMBINATIONS OF FLOWERS

In order to convey definite phrases, lovers have long been used to resorting to certain combinations of flowers. A bunch made up of them has the meaning which we print below.

_DAISY AND MIGNONETTE._--Your qualities surpass even your great beauty.

_FERNS AND LILY OF THE VALLEY._--You are sweet and charming, and you fascinate me.

_IVY LEAVES AND YELLOW ROSE._--Your jealousy has put an end to our friendship.

_COLUMBINE, DAISY AND LILY._--You have played false and broken our friendship.

_PINK AND LAUREL LEAVES._--Your high qualities have been noticed by me.

_GOLDEN ROD, SWEET PEA AND FORGET-ME-NOT._--Danger is at hand, be careful. I go away but do not forget me.

SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING ANIMALS

_SERPENTS._--These creatures have been regarded from very different angles, according to the time and the country. The story of the serpent in the Garden of Eden has caused many people to detest them: but numerous are the references in histories which go to show that serpents and snakes have been reverenced. In ancient Rome, the serpent was a household god: at other times, it was regarded as a symbol of life and vitality, and it was frequently used as a medium for healing the sick. In India, this creature is looked upon as a mascot for time and wisdom. Thus, it is worn by fanatics as a part of their headgear, and people make metal replicas and wear them as rings, bracelets, etc. Clearly, then, serpents have found more favor than disapproval, and they may be counted as mascots, standing for wisdom, long life and good health.

_CATS._--Cats, the most domestic of animals, are regarded with mixed feelings. Generally speaking, they are supposed to be unlucky, though oddly enough a black cat is credited with good qualities when it takes up its abode in a house. This is due to the fact that, during the Middle Ages, black cats were supposed to be associated with witches and in league with the evil one. As a result, people treated them kindly and showered favors on them, not because they liked them, but because they thought that this treatment would avert bad luck.

The person who drowns or kills a cat may look for ill-fortune for nine years. Bad luck attends the vessel or ship on which a cat is found, but on no account may the creature be thrown overboard after the vessel has sailed. This would only make matters worse.

If a cat leaves a house, it is supposed to take the luck with it, and leave nothing but bad fortune behind. If a white cat enters a home, it announces trouble and sickness. A cat licking itself all over signifies fair weather, but if it merely washes its face, it means the approach of rain or storms.

_DOGS._--A dog howling under a window indicates death.

Dogs begin in jest and end in earnest.

A dog, a woman, a walnut tree, The more you beat 'em, the better they be.

If a dog bark, go in: if a bitch, go out.

A dog will bark ere he bite.

_HARES._--If a hare crosses your path, you may look out for a disappointment. If it runs past houses, there will soon be a fire in one of them.

In the Isle of Man, hares are believed to be the spirits of old women, and on that account are shunned as articles of food. In other parts, those who wish to look beautiful for a week make a point of eating hare.

_BIRDS._--Robins are variously regarded in different parts of the country. Some people think them unlucky, possibly because of their association with the tragedy of the Babes in the Wood. But generally they are welcomed to a garden or house, which is supposed to be all the luckier for their coming. Robins that show signs of being friendly are considered to foretell a hard winter.

Woodpeckers and kingfishers are also lucky, and any suggestion of ill-luck is only possible when birds are deliberately killed after having built their nest and claimed the hospitality of a home.

The screech of a peacock is best unheard when luck is particularly wanted. The feathers of this bird, known to everyone by reason of their beautiful coloring, should never be taken indoors, as they are reckoned specially unlucky.

There is an old superstition regarding the cuckoo. Should a maiden, hearing its notes for the first time that season, kiss her hand to it and say:--

Cuckoo, cuckoo, Tell me true, When shall I be married?

she may tell the number of years which will elapse until her wedding by counting the number of times the bird cries "Cuckoo." She must reckon each cry as a year.

Another superstition relating to the cuckoo is that what you are doing when you hear its cries for the first time in any season is what you will spend most time at during the remainder of the year. Folk in the Channel Islands claim that they are sure to be fortunate if they jingle their purses and run a short distance when hearing the cuckoo for the first time in the year.

Owls, crows and magpies do not presage any good: in fact, many people would rather not meet them when anxiety is at hand. An old jingle says of magpies:--

One for anger, Two for mirth; Three for a wedding Four for a birth.

Ravens are supposed to bring luck to the house where they build their nests, so it is unlucky to kill one.

It is unlucky to touch a yellowhammer in May, since there is the devil's blood in it then.

For a white pigeon to single out a house and hover round it is a sure sign of an early marriage or engagement in that house.

A cock crowing during the night-time means a bad illness for someone close at hand: if it crows during the afternoon, a visitor will arrive.

Sailors are not over-fond of seagulls, believing them to be the spirits of their dead mates, yet they are most indignant if anyone tries to shoot or kill one of them.

_OTHER ANIMALS._--A cricket singing within a house ensures good luck for all the household.

Kill a spider and it will surely rain.

See a moth on your clothes and you will get new ones.

A death's head moth indicates bereavement.

Pigs are unlucky creatures when seen singly.

To see a white horse and then, shortly after, a red-haired person, tells of approaching good fortune.

Moles are unlucky to find alive.

Of bees, the following rhyme is prophetic:--

A swarm of bees in May Is worth a load of hay. A swarm of bees in June Is worth a silver spoon. A swarm of bees in July Is not worth a fly.

Country people are still given to treating bees as if they belonged to the family. For instance, not a few folk tell the bees of the betrothal, marriage and other outstanding events happening in the home.

PROPHECIES REGARDING ANIMALS

(a) When black snails cross your path Black clouds much moisture hath.

(b) When the peacock loudly bawls, Soon we'll have both rain and squalls.

(c) When rooks fly sporting high in air, It shows that windy storms are near.

(d) Bees will not swarm before a near storm.

(e) When the cuckoo comes to the bare thorn, Sell your cow and buy your corn. But when she comes to the full bit, Sell your corn and buy some sheep.

(f) Little bantams are great at crowing.

(g) Good luck for a grey horse.

(h) Let a horse drink what he will, not when he will.

(i) Trust not a horse's heel, nor a dog's tooth.

(j) Plenty of ladybirds, plenty of hops.

(k) Never offer your hen for sale on a rainy day.

(l) When the glow-worm lights her lamp, The air is always damp.

(m) Unlucky to hear the cuckoo sing sitting. Or to sit and see the first swallow flitting.

CRYSTAL GAZING

Before we start this chapter, will you just take a look at the following short list of terms used in crystal gazing and spiritualism? You will find that they will make what follows quite clear, and that they will be useful to refer to.

_SPIRITUALISTIC._--Belonging to the spirit world.

_SECOND SIGHT._--The power which all have (but few develop). The power to see the future and other things with the spirit eye.

_AURA._--The circle of thought which each one of us is unconsciously sending out by our characters and personalities.

_THE CRYSTAL._--Any object which helps to fix our attention; i.e., a crystal, a bowl of water, shining metal. There is nothing about the crystal that is magical by itself.

_PSYCHIC PERSONS._--Persons possessing second sight.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

It is believed that this portion of the book will be found particularly interesting because it is here that we touch upon spiritualism, perhaps one of the most talked-of subjects of today.

In crystal gazing we actually see many things happen which maybe have not happened as yet. In palmistry and astrology we see the signs but not the actual events. Another distinct difference is that in crystal gazing it is impossible to give definite instructions as to how to receive these messages or visions because there is no "how."

What we hope to do in this chapter is to show you that perhaps you possess powers of which you know nothing. Without making the foolish mistake of taking this subject too seriously, you will be able to interest and amuse your friends.

You may say, "But I haven't got this power--I could never see anything in a crystal."

Don't say that, and don't think it! We all have a little of this power sleeping within us. If we wish to improve it, we must use and practise it, but don't overdo the thing.

To understand crystal gazing even a little, it is quite important to know just a few simple facts about spiritualism (the study of the spirit world.) This second sight, or clairvoyance (call it what you will) is merely in its childhood as yet. A very short while ago we should have thought it a miracle for anyone to speak from New York to London along a wire. Now we think no more of it than we should of crossing a road!

So with the crystal. At present a few of us only are able to see, more or less clearly, those visions of the future. Who knows but that in some future time we shall consider this quite an ordinary and natural thing to do, just like telephoning, for instance.

The first thing to get hold of is this: we have not one body but two. An earthly body and its exact copy in a spirit body. By this I do not mean the soul, but rather our earthly body with all its features just as before, is copied in a spirit of ether body. This may sound difficult, but just try to grasp the idea.

In spiritualism there are two of each one of us; one an earthly you, the other (dwelling usually in your earthly body) a spiritual you. But sometimes this spirit body escapes from its earthly prison, maybe, during sleep, sometimes when we look into the crystal, and sometimes in what is called a trance or artificial sleep. It is then (when the spirit body is free) that visions of future things are seen, and maybe premonitions (or feelings) of the future are felt.

Our spirit body, with its ten thousand times more clear-sighted eyes, sees things which are invisible to the earthly eyes. This body is able to travel swiftly from place to place, although it always keeps a link or connection with its earthly double.

When a person goes off into a trance, this is what has happened. The earthly body sleeps while the spiritual body roams about the future, past and present, or perhaps visits distant places. It is, of course, able to speak with other spirit bodies, and thus get information about other folk who have "passed over," as the spiritualists call death.

Now perhaps you can better appreciate the wonderful stories which you hear about mediums (people who pass into these trances), who have spoken--or are alleged to have spoken, for the verdict of science is "Not proven"--with the voices of folk long dead, and whom they have never seen.

While everyone does not actively possess this power of releasing his spirit body, we all have it. That this is true can be seen in several ways. Have you never had a presentiment or feeling of evil to come, a strong feeling which it took all your determination and common sense to drive away? Anyway, you will have frequently heard other people saying, "I had a feeling that so-and-so would happen."

That feeling is explained by this wandering of the spirit body; for a short time we have had our spirit eyes freely opened, and have gained a glimpse of the unknown. As our spirit eyes are as yet undeveloped it is but a glimpse, then down falls the thick curtain, and the mystery is once more hidden from us!

Just as some children learn to walk more easily than others, so do some people learn to walk with their spirit body and to speak the spirit language more quickly than others.

Which seems very natural, doesn't it?

Let us briefly refresh our minds with the absolutely necessary facts which you must know to understand the first steps in fortunetelling by the crystal. What we are going to say next will then be more readily understood:--

_FIRSTLY._--We have not one body but two, an earthly and a spiritual body.

_SECONDLY._--Though normally contained in the earthly body, it is possible for the spirit to escape from its prison, and pass from place to place at a speed greater than light. This occurs during sleep, the artificial or forced sleep of the trance, and also when one gazes into the crystal.

_THIRDLY._--We have four eyes. Two earthly eyes, and two very much keener spirit eyes. It is with these spirit eyes that we see the future and the past in the crystal.

_FOURTHLY._--Each one of us is sending out thought-waves at this moment. These are known by spiritualists as our aura. It is found in different colors, which depend on our characters or the thoughts leaving us. Certain reds show rage, for instance.

WHAT THE CRYSTAL IS FOR

The first thing to get hold of is that there is nothing magic or in any way wonderful about the crystal itself. It is merely a means of fixing the attention of our earthly eyes, so that we may see the more clearly with our spirit eyes.

Now for a few hints upon actually looking into the crystal.

When you gaze into whatever object you have chosen, your earthly body and earthly eyes pass into a more or less sleepy state, thus enabling your spirit body to escape. That gives us our first point to remember.

Here it is: When you look into the crystal, whatever you do don't worry about whether or not you will see anything! Try to think steadily of what you wish to see; this will at first seem hard, but practice will help you, and practice makes perfect.

Then remember to keep any glare of light from the eyes; it is wise to sit with one's back towards the light. Let your surroundings be quiet and peaceful; there must be absolutely nothing which may catch your attention and so take it off the crystal. If, for instance, a noisy bus or other vehicle were to pass during the time in which you were making your attempt, it would probably disturb things very much.

One should never be discouraged if nothing whatever is seen at the first few attempts. A puppy cannot at first see out of its eyes, and it is the same with a beginner in crystal gazing; his spirit eyes may take some little time to open, while others, more fortunate, may find theirs open almost at once. Never strain the eyes in an unwinking stare. Let them wink and blink quite naturally. To do anything else would be sure to take your attention from the picture which you wish to see.

HOW TO BEGIN

The best thing to do is to try these various methods, and then see for yourself which is the most successful in your own individual case.

Here are a few means you might try, in order to test this for yourself.

Use either a (1) crystal, (2) a polished object, (3) a bright coin, (4) a sparkling gem, or (5) ordinary glass in the shape of a sphere or ball. There are others, but they are not important.

In conclusion, it will be of interest to know just what you may expect to see when, and if, your spirit eyes open. Probably a misty, fogged appearance will first be seen in the crystal. This will remain for some little time, until finally the scene or person (whatever it may be) will appear. The latter may be faint and dim, or it may be clear-cut like a good photograph.

The clearness or otherwise will depend among other things upon the keenness of sight of the spirit eye. It will also be influenced by the degree of quiet, and upon the absence of anything likely to disturb the searcher in the realms of the future.

THE MOON AND THE LUCK IT BRINGS

People of all ages have looked upon the moon as a provider of good and bad luck, and most of us have probably noticed that it has influenced our actions, at times. Here are some of the beliefs that are centuries old.

If you see a new moon over your right shoulder, it means that you will experience good luck all the month.

If you have money in your pocket and you meet the new moon face to face, turn the money over and you will not run short of money that month.

It is unlucky to see the new moon through glass. If you do, go out of doors, curtsey three times to the moon and turn some silver in your hand. This will break the spell which will be cast over you if you do not do as directed. There is one little point, connected with this superstition, which has set us thinking. What of all those individuals who wear glasses? We do not know the answer.

There is a strongly prevalent idea that everything falling to the lot of man when the moon is waxing will increase or prosper; but things decrease and do not prosper when the moon is on the wane.

Irish colleens were wont to drop on their knees when they first caught sight of the new moon, and say, "Oh, moon, leave us as well as you have found us." And, long ago, Yorkshire maidens "did worship the new moon on their bent knees, kneeling upon the earth-cast stone."

If the full moon known as the Harvest Moon appears watery, it is an ill sign for the harvest. (The Harvest Moon is due about the middle of September.)

If the moon shows a silver shield, be not afraid to reap your field: but if she rises haloed round, soon we'll tread on deluged ground.

If the moon changes on a Sunday there will be a flood before the month is out.

A Saturday moon, if it comes once in seven years, comes too soon.

A fog and a small moon bring an easterly wind soon.

In the waning of the moon, Cloudy morning: fair afternoon. Pale moon doth rain; red moon doth blow, White moon doth neither rain nor snow. When the moon's halo is far, the storm is n'ar (near). When the moon's halo is n'ar, the storm is far.

It has long been a custom for girls to go to the nearest stile, to turn their back on the first new moon after Midsummer and to chant these verses:

All hail, new moon, all hail to thee. I prithee, good moon, reveal to me, This night, who shall my true love be. Who he is and what he wears, And what he does all months and years.

If she were to be married in the course of the next twelve months, the moon answered her questions during her sleep of the same evening.