Browse:Name Folded Three Ways (Volume 1, entries 2831)
Name Folded Three Ways
Volume 1, entries 2831. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 2831
Well, dey [hoodoos] take dese candles see, and dey would write chure name on 'em, or let chew write yore name on a piece of paper, or either let de one whut dislike yo' or something like dat, let dem write chure name on a piece of paper. Well, dey take dis paper and fold it three different ways [see 2812, p.806]. (Roll it?) No, dey fold it like - see [demonstrates], yo' fold it dat way but yo' be folding it from you all de time. Fold it dat way and yo' fold it this way. Then yo turn it ovah and fold it agin, and put it together and set de candle on top of it. [See comment later.] Well, den yo' light dat candle. Well, after de nine days is over - dey burns it nine days for nine mawnin's - after de nine mawnin's ovah, den yo'll die.
(What kind of candles do they burn?)
Well, some of 'em dey tell me is a black candle.
(When do you light that candle in the morning?)
Dey tell me dey have certain times of de morning tuh light it.
(Do you know what time?)
No, ah don't know. [The preceding folding means: (1) fold one piece of paper from you, making two folds with name inside them; (2) turn once-folded paper clockwise, away from you, and again fold from you, obtaining four folds; and (3) turn clockwise this twice-folded paper, producing eight folds. These folds are now pressed together. Symbolically, the name is completely enclosed, boxed in or squared in, its spirit unable to escape. Symbolical also are the eight folds or squares and name, which equal number nine; while candle standing above name repeats the nine - a double nine. The third symbol is the folded, actually crossed and crossed name centered among four paper corners, thus creating a quincunx (see 2799, p.802; p.710, and elsewhere). Since candle above name also creates a quincunx, we have a double quincunx or one quincunx superimposed over the other.]