Transference

Holy Well at Carrickmines Castle, South County Dublin

Holy Wells are traditionally a place of pilgrimage and a source of healing for a variety of ailments.

Copyright of The Irish Times

Holy Well at Carrickmines Castle, South County Dublin
Copyright of The Irish Times

Holy Well at Carrickmines Castle, South County Dublin

Holy Wells are traditionally a place of pilgrimage and a source of healing for a variety of ailments.

Copyright of The Irish Times

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Another key idea in folk medicine is the idea of “transference” of disease to an inanimate object (such as an animal, a plant, a stone, or water). Related to this is the notion that a disease can be “left behind.” Although belief in this concept is fading, it has not died: witness counties Louth and Monaghan, as well as other parts of the country, where cures for shingles and warts are still offered by traditional healers, and the efficacy of the cures is sworn by the people who use them.

Wart remedies, in particular, are a rich and living source of ideas about transference. One man explains:

"I had a lot of warts on my hands when I was around 20. Over the two hands I had approximately 18 with one large one running the length of my nail on my right index finger. They had developed over the course of a few months and I had them for over a year. I went to see a doctor regarding them and she told me that they could try and burn most of them off but the big one on my finger might require some sort of surgery and it could result in nerve damage.

My mother knew of someone in the local area back home who was said to have the cure so I went to see him. He is a relatively young man who had a young family when I went to him. I was told not to give him anything or the cure wouldn't work but I brought some treats for the kids. He looked at my hands and just told me not to worry about them any more. Within a month they had all died and cleared from my hands, even the larger one. Over 10 years on and they have not re-emerged. Did it work for me? Yes. Do I know why? Not a clue. Last I heard this guy still offers people the cure."

Today, other forms of alternative, magic-based healing are entering folklore. These include healing based on crystals, and belief that guardian angels can provide assistance with physical, mental, or emotional problems.

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