All entries
2,261 entries so far, best known first. 3,022 more are on the list to be written. Narrow by region, kind, purpose, practitioner, belief world, occasion or how alive it is.
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
馃嚪馃嚭 RussiaVolkhovnik袙芯谢褏芯胁薪懈泻
A lost Old Russian divination book of omens and signsText 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Healing Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomThe Cheltenham Ghost
A late nineteenth century English haunting investigated by the Society for Psychical ResearchBelief Historical
馃嚠馃嚬 ItalyTredesin de Mars
A Milanese spring celebration marked by a flower fair and a legendary stoneTradition 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Wonder and entertainment Historical
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainGeomantic figures
Sixteen four-line symbols used in geomancy to interpret questions through elemental and astrological correspondences.Oracle 路 Seeing and foretelling Historical
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainHuman sacrifice in the ancient Iberian Peninsula
Ancient ritual killings by Lusitanian and Vetton peoples for divination and warRite 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Cursing and harm Historical
馃嚞馃嚪 GreeceTrophonius韦蟻慰蠁蠋谓喂慰蟼
A Greek hero turned subterranean oracle god at LebadeaFigure 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
馃嚞馃嚪 GreeceAmulet MS 5236
A stamped gold amulet from ancient Greece invoking ApolloCharm 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Historical
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainLamialamiak
River and sea spirits of Basque folklore, known for their beauty and magical labour.Being 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden脕lfabl贸t
A late autumn homestead ritual to elves and ancestors in pagan ScandinaviaRite 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Healing Historical
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceHoules fairyGwenn fado霉
Immortal coastal fairies of Brittany who live in sea caves and aid humansBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Historical
馃嚛馃嚜 GermanyBieresel
A German house spirit taking the shape of a donkey, linked to beer cellars and taverns.Being 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomDunnie
A border spirit that mimics horses and sings of lost treasureBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Wonder and entertainment Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomTeinddeachamh
A Scottish tithe for clergy and a fairy tribute to the devilTradition 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomBauchan
A Scottish domestic spirit known for its contradictory helpfulness and mischief.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚠馃嚬 ItalyTredesin de Mars
A Milanese spring celebration marked by a flower fair and a legendary stoneTradition 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Wonder and entertainment Historical
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainGeomantic figures
Sixteen four-line symbols used in geomancy to interpret questions through elemental and astrological correspondences.Oracle 路 Seeing and foretelling Historical
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainHuman sacrifice in the ancient Iberian Peninsula
Ancient ritual killings by Lusitanian and Vetton peoples for divination and warRite 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Cursing and harm Historical
馃嚞馃嚪 GreeceTrophonius韦蟻慰蠁蠋谓喂慰蟼
A Greek hero turned subterranean oracle god at LebadeaFigure 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Historical
馃嚞馃嚪 GreeceAmulet MS 5236
A stamped gold amulet from ancient Greece invoking ApolloCharm 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Historical
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainLamialamiak
River and sea spirits of Basque folklore, known for their beauty and magical labour.Being 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden脕lfabl贸t
A late autumn homestead ritual to elves and ancestors in pagan ScandinaviaRite 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead 路 Healing Historical
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceHoules fairyGwenn fado霉
Immortal coastal fairies of Brittany who live in sea caves and aid humansBeing 路 Protection 路 Healing Historical
馃嚛馃嚜 GermanyBieresel
A German house spirit taking the shape of a donkey, linked to beer cellars and taverns.Being 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomDunnie
A border spirit that mimics horses and sings of lost treasureBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Wonder and entertainment Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomTeinddeachamh
A Scottish tithe for clergy and a fairy tribute to the devilTradition 路 Power and authority Historical
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomBauchan
A Scottish domestic spirit known for its contradictory helpfulness and mischief.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Historical
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Tredesin de Mars: A ntv, Public domain, source
- Human sacrifice in the ancient Iberian Peninsula: Manuel Parada L贸pez de Corselas User:Manuel de Corselas ARS SUMMUM, Ce, Public domain, source
- Amulet MS 5236: Martin Sch酶yen, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lamia: Josu Go帽i Etxabe, Public domain, source
- Houles fairy: Minseong Kim, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bieresel: Neulich im Roxy Kino, CC BY 3.0, source
- Teind: Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0, source