Cunningham/Harrington Magical Household

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[Waldfrau]

Just started reading Cunningham's & Harrington's Magical Household and have a couple of question on some details.

There's already a thread for general critic of Cunningham, but I'm having newbie question about very specific details of a specific book so it didn't fit in very well:
http://www.ecauldron.net/forum/index.php?topic=851.0


Okay, I'm firing away in the hope of recieving answers:

beds were situated East-to-West

Why and from where did this belief come? I've heard from someone they should be headed towards North.

Though now outlawed in China, Feng Shui is apparently flourishing in Hong Kong

Oh, I knew about Qi Gong being problematic, but Feng Shui? Any further commentaries?

Perhaps the most colorful remnants of home magic in the United States today are the Pennsylvania Dutch hex symbols. [...]
The symbols, or signs, were once known as sechs, wich is German for six. Perhaps they were called this because they often contain six-pointed stars. At one point the word changed from sechs to hex (derived from the German word for Witch).

While 'sechs' really means 'six' I don't see any point calling it 'hex' for being related to witches, 'hex' is Greek for 'six'. The German word 'Hexe' (=witch) is derived from 'hagazussa' meaning 'hedge sitter/rider' and not related to 'sechs'.

[Star]

I don't know the book, but I can take a guess on this one.

While 'sechs' really means 'six' I don't see any point calling it 'hex' for being related to witches, 'hex' is Greek for 'six'. The German word 'Hexe' (=witch) is derived from 'hagazussa' meaning 'hedge sitter/rider' and not related to 'sechs'.

The "Pennsylvania Dutch" are also not Dutch; "Dutch" here is a mispronunciation/misspelling of "Deutsch".  A lot of pronunciations and spellings got...  er, confused...  when making the transition from Europe to the US.  I would not be at all surprised if it turned out that the pronunciation and spelling shifted from "sechs" to "hex" with much the same sort of confusion and disregard for (or ignorance of?) the actual meaning behind the word and its etymology.

All that is just speculation, though.  I don't know if that's what happened for certain.

[Oaksworn]

Just started reading Cunningham's & Harrington's Magical Household and have a couple of question on some details.

Yup, got it.  Fun book   I really liked the section on keys.

Why and from where did this belief come? I've heard from someone they should be headed towards North.

No idea, though when I read it I simply assumed that it had to do with the rising/setting of the sun.  My understanding of the North/South alignment had to do with the recognition of the earths magnetic polarity and sleeping in alignment with it would be beneficial for the bodys magnetic field.

Oh, I knew about Qi Gong being problematic, but Feng Shui? Any further commentaries?

I have no information on this one.

While 'sechs' really means 'six' I don't see any point calling it 'hex' for being related to witches, 'hex' is Greek for 'six'. The German word 'Hexe' (=witch) is derived from 'hagazussa' meaning 'hedge sitter/rider' and not related to 'sechs'.

This one kind of threw me as well.  I'm glad Star clarified the lingustic issue re: mispronunciation/misspelling of Deutsch.  I was of the impression that the Dutch in that area were of a Christian persuasion and hence wouldn't be using such symbology in practice.  Doesn't the book mention something about the symbols being used on barns?

To me I simply equated the statement to mean the use of particular shapes decoratively such as in quilt patterns and the like.  It wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong.

While the book is a treasure of relating "these are the practices we found" it's a little light on "this is why it was done" tending to rely more on "this is what we think it was used for".  At least that's my recollection.  I'd have to go back to the book for anything more definitive.

[Waldfrau]

No idea, though when I read it I simply assumed that it had to do with the rising/setting of the sun.  My understanding of the North/South alignment had to do with the recognition of the earths magnetic polarity and sleeping in alignment with it would be beneficial for the bodys magnetic field.

That could be the explanation, thanks!

This one kind of threw me as well.  I'm glad Star clarified the lingustic issue re: mispronunciation/misspelling of Deutsch.  I was of the impression that the Dutch in that area were of a Christian persuasion and hence wouldn't be using such symbology in practice.  Doesn't the book mention something about the symbols being used on barns?

Maybe I should have mentioned that Cunningham did say that 'Dutch' came from 'Deutsch' and yes the symbols were used on barns. I wasn't sure how many lines I'm allowed to quote, so I cut it down to the pieces too tiny.

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