Superstition - A World of Make Believe?Written by Sharon Jacobsen
Continued from page 1 Until plague struck things were very different. Those who sneezed were congratulated on expelling evil from their bodies. 4. Black Cats In ancient Egypt, Goddess Bast was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. The kindly ladies who cared for cats were often destroyed in process, being condemned as witches. A demon black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking entrance to heaven. 5. Spilling Salt During middle ages salt was a very expensive commodity used mainly for medicinal purposes. Spillage was to be avoided at all costs. The idea that it is unlucky to do so probably stems from belief that Judas spilt salt during last supper. Throwing spilt salt over left shoulder is linked to its medicinal use. If it could not be administered, next best thing was to throw it into eye of evil spirits that brought sickness upon us. These spirits were believed to lurk behind a person's shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to strike. 6. Fingers Crossed Probably most widely used superstition these days and used by making sign of Christian faith with our fingers thus preventing evil spirits destroying our chances of good fortune. 7. Knock on Wood This goes back to days before Christianity made its entrance. It was believed that good spirits lived in trees and that by knocking on anything made from wood we could call upon these spirits for protection against misfortune. There are many, many more such superstitions. Every culture has them. Perhaps they have survived in our world of scientific explanations due to our desire to keep child inside us alive. Through superstition, we are able to take part in world of make believe. I couldn't possibly say that I still believe in Father Christmas, but I can say "God Bless You" when anybody sneezes. And just for record, I don't like walking under ladders either. Who knows, a tin of paint may just fall down and hit me!
Sharon grew up in East London but moved to Norway at the age of 19, returning to England in 1998. She now lives in Cheshire with her partner and two of her three children. Besides writing, she is currently studying Social Science with The Open University, runs a web site where women in the UK can meet other women for platonic friendship (www.friendsyourway.co.uk), potters in her garden, reads and generally tries to enjoy life. Sharon can be contacted at s.jacobsen@doodlebugmedia.co.uk
| | Guide to Gambling OnlineWritten by sara
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