Ill-Wishing
Ill-wishing is a form of folk curse believed to arise from strong negative emotions such as envy, resentment, anger, or revenge. In traditional European and British folk belief, misfortune was often attributed not to chance but to the hostile intent of others, consciously or unconsciously projected. Ill-wishing occupied a grey area between deliberate witchcraft and involuntary malefic influence, closely related to concepts such as the Evil Eye.
Belief and Social Context
In earlier times, communities frequently interpreted sudden illness, accidents, loss of livestock, or financial setbacks as the result of another person’s ill-wishing. If two individuals quarrelled and one later suffered misfortune, the other party was commonly suspected of having willed harm upon them. Even casual or emotionally charged remarks—such as “You’ll be sorry”—were taken seriously, believed to carry magical force when spoken in anger.
Ill-wishing was also thought to target those who enjoyed exceptional good fortune or prosperity. A sudden reversal of luck was often explained as the result of secret envy, particularly from neighbours or acquaintances who resented success. In tightly knit rural communities, where social balance was valued, standing out too much was considered dangerous, as it invited ill-will.
Nature of the Curse
Unlike formal spellcasting, ill-wishing did not always require ritual action. It could be intentional or unconscious, operating through focused emotion rather than ceremony. This made it especially feared, as anyone—whether trained in magic or not—might cause harm simply by harbouring strong negative feelings.
From a folkloric perspective, ill-wishing reflects the belief that thought and emotion possess real, external power, capable of influencing health, fate, and circumstance.
Remedies and Counter-Magic
Those who believed themselves afflicted by ill-wishing typically sought help from a folk practitioner, such as a Cunning Man or Cunning Woman, a witch, or in some regions a pellar. Remedies usually involved charms, spoken counter-spells, protective amulets, or ritual cleansings designed to neutralise the hostile influence.
If the identity of the ill-wisher was unknown, divination—using methods such as scrying, card reading, or symbolic signs—might be performed to reveal the source. Once identified, additional measures could be taken, including protective bindings or return-to-sender charms, though overt retaliation was often discouraged in favour of neutralisation.
Occult Interpretation
In occult study, ill-wishing is understood as a form of intent-based magic, rooted in emotional energy rather than formal ritual. It illustrates how communities historically interpreted psychological stress, social conflict, and random adversity through a magical framework. The concept also underscores the enduring belief that words, thoughts, and intentions are not neutral, but carry the potential to shape reality.
Though largely dismissed in modern rational discourse, ill-wishing remains an important concept in the study of folk magic, witchcraft belief, and the social dynamics of fear, envy, and moral responsibility.
See also : blAstIng; hex; spell.
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SOURCE:
The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca – written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley – Copyright © 1989, 1999, 2008 by Visionary Living, Inc.