Way back thousands of years ago it only seemed logical that mankind would create explanations for the unexplained. Mythological creatures, lunar eclipses, unusual weather changes, and rising tides must have preempted men and women to come up with their own logical or not so logical reasoning. And years passed which trickled down into what we refer to as superstitions.
I am superstitious. I don't know if it is the DNA of being Irish. Not sure if it is because I live in the south where folklore and superstition tend to weave into the thick humid air. Or maybe it is just passed down naturally from generation to generation along with natural home remedies and tales of past grandparents. Regardless of the reason behind my superstitious nature, I am prone to fall into the habit of tossing salt over my shoulder or making a right turn if a black cat crosses in front of my vehicle. Does this lower my IQ? Maybe.
I was reading a book on the hauntings of the plantation home known as the Myrtles when I came across several pages of superstitions that influenced the design of the home each time it was remodeled in the event to ward off evil spirits. This made me feel a bit less ridiculous when I avoid walking beneath a ladder.
One of the modifications an owner, Ms. Stirling, put in place was to have many of the door keyholes placed upside down to confuse spirits. It was believed spirits lived in the trees outside the home and could enter through the keyhole, but if said hole was upside down, they would become confused.
In the 1800's it was also believed that evil spirits would hover in the corners of the room during the day and come out at nightfall. So, they placed religious icons in each room to prevent this from happening. Another belief at the time had to do with salt. Salt was a rare commodity and believed to have magical powers. It was used as a preservative in medicine, but was also used to bless, purify, and drive away evil. Packets of salt were placed below the windows in the house hoping to keep away spirits who might come through the glass.
And as for black cats. It was thought that if a black cat were walking towards you, it was considered good luck. If the cat were walking away from you, it was believed to be stealing your luck. The wealthy of this time had ornate designs of the Maltese Cross. This was an insignia from the Crusaders and Knights Templar. It represented all that was good and warded off evil.
All this being said, the irony does not escape me that these modifications took place in what is now considered to this day one of the most haunted houses in the United States. And life must have been so unpredictable in this century with lack of modern-day medicine and meteorology, people sought solace in the simplest of beliefs. It is good we no longer must create such imaginative ways to keep safe. But will I continue to knock on wood? You bet.
