The past holds plenty of old superstitions involving enemies. Some of the superstitions bordered on being spells, cast to get rid of an enemy for good. Some of the superstitions were Christian oriented, but still required the death of an enemy. Still, other superstitions prevented enemies from bothering the victim and offered protection against sworn enemies.
1. Footprints
In the past people were very careful about where they would leave their footprints. This was because all sorts of magic could be performed on a person’s imprint, from love magic to spells of misfortune.
One spell required you to pour poison in the footprint of an enemy to bring about his demise. Stabbing the footprint with a knife produced the same affect, according to yet another spell.
2. Widdershins
According to the Highlanders, walking around a person Widdershins will bring him misfortune.
3. Wax Heart
Form soft wax into the shape of a heart. Say, “This is the heart of [name of enemy].” Stick a pin into the heart and hold it over a flame. As it melts, the life of the enemy will also wane and melt.
4. Hair of the Enemy
To give your enemy a splitting headache that never seems to go away, gather some of his hair. Bore a small hole into a tree and stuff his hair into it. Close up the hole and he will have a headache for as long as his hair is trapped in the tree.
5. Horse Hair
To prevent your enemy from causing you any harm, gather some horse hair and stick it in a small vial. Bury the vial by your enemy’s door and he will be unable to trouble you.
6. Willow Knots
According to one old superstition, if you tie six knots in a willow twig while saying the name of your enemy, he will meet his death.
7. 109th Psalm
Psalms were often used to rid a person of an enemy. According to one Christian superstition, if a person was to recite the 109th psalm every morning and every evening for one year, his enemy would die. However, if the recital was missed a single time, the person reciting the psalm would die instead of his enemy.
8. Corn Cob
Take a cob of corn and wrap it in an article of your enemy’s clothing. Next, bury the wrapped corn cob deep in the earth. As the corn cob rots, your enemy will also begin to rot away until his demise.
9. Salt and Pepper
To make an enemy miserable, take a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper to his home and sprinkle it either on an article of his clothing or in his bedroom while saying:
I put this pepper on you,
And this salt thereto,
That peace and happiness
You may never know.
10. The Wax Doll
The wax doll was used in a similar manner as that of the voodoo doll. A wax image was formed into the shape of a person. It was then named after the enemy and stuck full of pins. Finally, it was placed close to a fire and as it melted, your enemy would also melt away.
