Caul
A caul is the amniotic fetal membrane that occasionally remains partially intact over a newborn’s head or body at birth. Medically rare but naturally occurring, the caul has carried profound symbolic and magical significance in folklore across Europe and maritime cultures, where it was widely regarded as a mark of destiny, protection, or supernatural ability.
Folkloric Significance
In traditional belief, a person born with a caul—often described as being born “veiled”—was thought to possess innate psychic or spiritual gifts. These included the ability to see ghosts, spirits, and other unseen beings, to receive prophetic dreams, and to divine future events. Such individuals were often believed to exist partially between worlds, naturally attuned to liminal realms beyond ordinary perception.
Among seafaring communities, the caul held especially powerful meaning. It was believed that a person born with a caul could never drown, regardless of circumstances. As a result, cauls were highly prized as talismans by sailors. In earlier centuries, preserved cauls were carried aboard ships as charms against shipwreck and sinking. They were frequently traded or sold, sometimes for considerable sums, reflecting both their perceived power and rarity.
Protection, Fear, and Ambivalence
Not all traditions regarded the caul as benevolent. In certain regions of Europe, particularly in Eastern and Southeastern folklore, being born with a caul marked a child as a potential vampire or revenant. To prevent this feared outcome, the caul was immediately destroyed—often torn or burned—while prayers or protective rites were performed. This dual interpretation reflects a broader folkloric pattern in which supernatural birth signs were seen as both blessing and danger.
Conversely, in areas where the caul was viewed as a positive omen, it was carefully preserved. The membrane might be dried and placed in a small flask or pouch, worn around the neck as a lifelong amulet. In some traditions, the caul was mixed into an initiation elixir, consumed when the individual reached a certain age, believed to awaken or stabilise latent magical abilities.
Occult Traditions and the Benandanti
One of the most notable associations between cauls and occult practice appears in northern Italy, among the . Members of this agrarian visionary tradition claimed that those born with cauls possessed the ability to see invisible witches and spirits. During ecstatic or dreamlike states, the benandanti believed they left their bodies to battle malevolent forces threatening crops and communities. In this context, the caul functioned as a spiritual marker, identifying individuals destined for protective supernatural roles.
Symbolism and Interpretation
From an occult perspective, the caul represents liminality, protection, and second sight. As a membrane separating life within the womb from the external world, it symbolises a threshold—suggesting that those born with it retain access to hidden dimensions of existence. This symbolism aligns closely with widespread beliefs in spirit vision, prophetic ability, and immunity from certain dangers.
In modern folklore studies and occult traditions, the caul remains a powerful emblem of inborn magical potential, fate, and otherworldly protection. Whether revered as a talisman, feared as a sign of vampirism, or honoured as a marker of visionary calling, the caul stands as one of the most enduring birth-related symbols in European magical belief.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley – Copyright © 1989, 1999, 2008 by Visionary Living, Inc.