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Magical night in the city

Author:PORTSMOUTH ComeFrom:PORTSMOUTH Date:2014/10/27 19:21:39 Hits:2095
Spells were cast and fortunes told Sunday night at Pickwick’s at the Banke.
Magic was definitely in the air and anyone who was interested got some hands-on experience in the ways they can begin leading their own magical life.
The Psychic Parlor and Folk Magick Workshop brought out believers and those who are curious. Proceeds from the event benefit the Portsmouth Halloween Parade.
Pickwick's staff and the parade coordinators were on hand selling magic supplies, books, candles, lotions and potions, along with parade merchandise and raffle tickets. Spooky mood music played throughout the establishment, tunes such as "Black Magic Woman" and the theme music from the Harry Potter movies, and some much older and darker selections.
Andrea Abbott, one of the parade coordinators, said this is the 20th anniversary of the popular Halloween night event.
“We’re selling T-shirts, patches, lapel pins and market tote bags,” Abbott said. "We have generous donations from local businesses that we’ll raffle off."
Even the parade coordinators were dressed to fit the workshop event's dark, Victorian theme.
“We mean the night to be happy, educational and exciting,” said Thistle Jones, director of marketing for Pickwick Mercantile’s three stores, two are on State Street and the third is located at Strawbery Banke.
“We are all Victorian-obsessed here,” Jones said. “This is a night beyond the veil. People and death were more intimate bedfellows in that age. There were not as many tools to fight against disease and death. People more readily believed in the spirits and in trying to contact them.”
Knate Higgins was teaching the folklore magic. By definition, handed out by Higgins, folk magic is the practice of using charms, spells or rituals to attempt to control natural or chance events, or to influence the behavior or emotions of others.
“I am focusing this workshop on old world practices,” Higgins said. “I will talk about the tools people have used for centuries. We’ll learn how to sage your house, how to make a ward of protection incense, and do a small poppet spell. Each person will make their own mojo bag.”
Iron cauldrons are used to grind the herbs for sage and other uses. Higgins explained that iron is the best tool for magic because it wards off evil.
“I even use a railroad spike to grind my herbs,” Higgins said.
Many people might have recognized Roxie Zwicker as the person who leads the Haunted Portsmouth Tours each Halloween season. She is also an expert on divination, including tarot, and the art of reading tea leaves.
“We will talk about the history of tarot, which has been around since the 1300s,” said Zwicker, who has been reading tarot cards since she was a teenager. “We will talk about the spirits of the 19th century and attempts to contact them, with seances and table tipping. There was a huge spiritualist movement then.”
Zwicker held her audience enthralled as she made cups of herbal tea while explaining the art of Tasseomancy, reading tea leaves. She gave readings to those who wanted them.
As her audience sipped their tea, Zwicker explained how tea reading works, and cracked a few jokes.
“If you are worried about the loose tea, don’t as it’s all organic,” Zwicker said. “Just think of it as a salad.”
Loose tea is needed of course, so there will be tea leaves at the bottom of the cup to read.
“What's left in the cup is a picture of what’s around you,” she said. “It shows what is going on in your life.”
Each workshop lasted one hour, then guests switched to the other after a short intermission.
“I hope this becomes something we can do every year,” Zwicker said.

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