Witch's Ladder
From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project
A Witch's Ladder, (also known as rope & feathers,) is a fetish consisting of a length of rope made of three threads, which have feathers braided into them at the time of construction; it normally constitutes a curse. Modern witches often use this term for a cord that has been knotted, with or without feathers.
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The Wellington Witch Ladder
The first recorded witch ladder found was in a home in Wellington, Somerset, and the find was published in the Folklore Journal (Vol 5, No 1 (1887), pp 1-5). Workers found a secret room in the house, a room obviously set up to be a place of practice for witches. In the room was found six broomsticks, an old chair, and a piece of rope, about 5 feet long, and half an inch in thickness, it was composed of three strands and had a loop at one end. Inserted in the rope crossways, were a number of male goose feathers, they had been twisted in at the time the rope was made. Old women, when inquired about the rope, stated that it was common with a candle with pins, or an onion with pins. These items were all used for placing curses. It was later confirmed in the West Country that the rope and feathers had to be new, and that this was considered a dangerous and secret form of witchcraft.
Charles Godfrey Leland
When Charles Godfrey Leland received news of the Wellington find whilst in Italy, he investigated and found that the witches there used a similar form, called a "witches garland"; the item was made of cord, and contained black hen feathers. The malediction was uttered as each knot was tied in and the item was placed under the victim's bed, to cause the ill fortune (see Part 2, Chapter 5 of Roman Etruscan Remains for more details).
Leland's version differs from that found in Somerset in that the feathers were knotted into the cord rather than braided, and the cord was to have hairs of the victim braided into it. The feathers were plucked from a live black hen one by one and inserted into the knots as they are made in the cord. Leland also claimed that intrinsic to the witch garland was the placing of an image of a hen or cock (made of cotton or similar) next to the garland, upon which a cross of black pins is made. The whole is then hidden in the mattress of the one you are bewitiching. Leland says the curse is lifted by finding the hen & wreath (garland), and throwing the whole lot into running water; the bewitched is then taken into a church whilst a baptism is being carried out, where they must repeat a certain spell before bathing in holy water.
Sabine Baring-Gould's "Curgenven"
Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, included an extensive article on the witch's ladder in his novel "Curgenven" published in 1893. In his account the ladder was made of black wool, with white and brown thread, and at every two inches it was tied around cock's feathers. The maker would wove into it aches and pains and other aliments intended for the victim. The ladder was then thrown to the bottom of Dozmary Pond, located on Bodmin Moor. They believed that as the bubbles rose to the top of the pond, the curse was released.
Family Tradition (N Wales)
A cord may be braided out of at least three but possibly more threads, the colour and material to be chosen in accordance with whatever intent is to be put into the cord (not necessarily malefic - could equally well be for good purposes). As the cord is braided, other materials can be added in the form of oils, feathers, other fabric, hair etc. Knots may be made along the length of the cord. The maker should concentrate fully on the intent behind the making, and any faults in the braiding or knotting may represent breaks in concentration (and subsequent weakness in the effect). When the cord is finished it should normally be kept hidden and secret, although there may be circumstances where it may be presented to someone. When it has achieved its purpose it must be given back, to the earth, air, water or fire.
