Amulets

Amulets
An amulet is an object with magical powers that protects a
person from harm and malefic witchcraft. Common amulets
include: gems, stones, shells, coral, jewellery, statues, coins,
plants, or even animal parts! The amulet could possess magic
from cunning-folk, or they could already be spiritually powerful
and blessed by the Gods.

Amulets in Motherhood
In the past, motherhood was dangerous. From pregnancy to
birth, numerous amulets that were said to protect mothers and
babies from illness and Witchcraft.
A ‘cramp ring’ was a highly esteemed amulet. It was a ring that
had been placed on the altar of an English King on Good Friday
or been blessed by them. This ring was supposed to hold healing
powers. Other amulets were available to the less fortunate who
couldn’t get their hands on a cramp ring, but they came in the
form of animal parts.
The rabbit’s foot was seen as a protective amulet against
witchcraft, as rabbits were quick enough to dodge danger. Horses
and Donkeys hoofs were also seen as good luck. In Jane Sharp’s
Midwives Book, she suggested wrapping the pregnant women in
sheep’s skin.
Once the babies were born, they were placed in cradles decorated
with amulets to help them grow into healthy children. Oddly
enough, in Wales, fire tongs or pokers were placed in the cradle
to stop fairies stealing the baby. Other less dangerous amulets
included a necklace of coral placed around the cradle.

John Dee
John Dee was a court advisor for Elizabeth I.
Dee’s CV was exemplary; he was a mathematician, astronomer, occultist, alchemist, astronomer, sorcerer and astrologer. In fact, there was not much he couldn’t do. For 30 years he tried to communicate with Angels, to learn a universal language to unite humankind… let’s just say he failed, but we appreciate the dedication! His library was full of magical memorabilia, symbols and spiritual amulets!
Dee published his book Monas Hieroglyphica. The book explains his symbol (right image). This symbol was meant to envision the unity of the cosmos; it symbolises the moon, the sun, the cross and Aries. This symbol he believed was the“Word of God.”

John Dee’s Crystal
John Dee possessed many spiritual artefacts, but one of the most interesting is his purple crystal. Dee’s crystal was an amulet for curing diseases and predicting the future. He believed that it was gifted to him by the Angel Uriel in November 1582. Along with the amulet, Uriel also instructed him how to make the Philosopher’s stone– a stone that made the possessor immortal– this was every alchemist’s dream! In the stone, Dee proclaimed to see the “ghosts of people” and symbols.
However, he never succeeded in making the stone. Once John Dee passed away, his son
Arthur inherited it. Arthur then gave the crystal to Nicholas Culpeper as a gift for curing his liver problems. Culpeper used the crystal until 1651
where he claimed a ghost burst out from it. To find out more about Culpeper’s herbal magic, please read Bewitching Botany!