Browse:Transference (Volume 1, entries 996)
Transference
Volume 1, entries 996. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → FOLK MEDICINE → FOLK MEDICINE (1) PRINCIPLES OF HEALING. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 996
[Everything in witchcraft and hoodoo is spirit - even bad luck (see Hard-luck Spirits, No. 895, p.328; also Spirits in Index). Since you cannot kill spirit, you are unable to cure or to destroy disease, sickness, body disability, or symptom like headache - you get rid of it normally by transfer- ring it to something else. This is very dangerous work for the doctor-yourself addict; it is quite hazardous for the doctor him- self. Heed the words of a Master of Spirits:] ["If de evil spirit (here, your control, the spirit working for you) take yo' misery an' yo' troubles away, well, he goin' want somebody else to put it on (transference) - he turn right round (unless you are careful) an' put it on you (the doctor). Well, if you ain't got sense 'nuff to protect yoreself, why he'll take de misery offa de person yo' (the doctor) cure an' bring it right back to you" (Doctor Yousee speaks on p.ll81, line 43f., parentheses author's).] [There are many kinds of transference; the most usual probably being turning back (reversing) the spell onto the person casting it. Equally common is any type of trouble transferred to a stranger.]