M.Ted,

I remember hearing about "Bloody Mary", but not really believing it. My wife, from a similar background as mine but 5 years younger, tried it. I realize now that Ouija boards have more in common with Monopoly than with magic but, 40 years ago, I didn't. I thought I was quite the explorer of the paranormal.

The only time I was ever taught anything that a folklorist would consider a serious attempt at magic was in 1974. My Sunday School teacher, who was also my great-aunt by marriage, had invited the Sunday School class to spend the weekend at her cabin. Our ages ranged from 13 to about 10. We had a weinie roast and one boy burned his hand. My aunt then "talked out" the burn. There was no blistering and the boy said the pain stopped. Of course, we bugged my aunt into telling us how she did it. She was reluctant, but finally agreed to tell the boys individually. She said a female could only tell a male and a male could only tell a female. She repeated a short chant three times. I no longer remember just how it was worded, but it was short, one or two sentences I believe, and sounded Biblical but, I suspect, was not. My aunt did not consider this a form of magic or witchcraft, but I suppose was aware that it could be seen as such. She was VERY reluctant to tell us how she did it. Here are a couple of links related to the practice: http://www.farmersalmanac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=349 and http://www.nchealthandhealing.com/topic/1/. My aunt would have probably been in her 50s then. I think she learned it from an older relative, perhaps her father. She was from Southern West Virginia.

Kent