Human babies can produce “Witch’s Milk” shortly after their birth. It odd, but true, and not something to be alarmed about.

While a baby develops in the womb he/she is exposed to a lot of estrogen. Estrogen causes the Mother's breasts to swell and get ready to produce milk for the baby. The baby, being directly attached to its Mother, also has estrogen in its body. Sometimes this causes the baby's breasts to swell and after birth they can leak what looks like milk. Its just short term, gone in a couple of weeks as the estrogen leaves the baby.

Of course, in the Middle Ages, people did not understand how or why this happened. It seemed to them witches must cause this. Intending to use the milk as a particular treat for their familiars, demons, or anything else that looked a little suspicious. Some parents created baby sized rag dolls to sleep in the crib with the baby, hoping to trick the Witches.

Which makes me wonder... were these the first rag dolls? It seems possible.

Are you superstitous? Don't deny it too quickly. There are sorts of little things we do without even considering them to be a superstition. Do you read horoscopes? How much credit do you give to them? Would you consider your day not as great if you have a poor horoscope? Kind of superstitious aren't you?

Wicca and Witchcraft are full of superstition though we might deny it. I think, Pagans in general, try to distance themselves from the occult and the superstitions which have all gotten a bad reputation.

It's funny cause the very stuff they deny is partly what their beliefs are based on. Occult was a word long before Wicca. Meanwhile, I expect superstitions have been around right from the first people on the planet.

Most people think about superstitions around weddings, births and deaths, the major life events. I think those are the times when we are most off balance, in need of some extra sign or guidance that everything will be ok. That's really what a superstition is. Just that extra assurance that you're going to be all right.

Of course, some superstitions are safety precautions. You should avoid walking under ladders, breaking mirrors and squishing spiders. Not because you fear having a run of bad luck but because it's less likely ladders will fall on your head, glass will cut your hand and spiders are needed for eating other bugs. It's all logical and reasonable.

So go ahead and avoid stepping on cracks, tossing salt over your shoulder and so on, guilt free. Superstitions might be soffed but they have their own purpose and history. As long as they harm none what's the harm in humouring your own superstitions?

Are superstitions rituals in disguise?

I have a superstition passed on from my Mother. Don't turn the calendar page before the first of the new month. So, I always wait till the first to look at the next page in the calendar. Why, I'm not sure. I don't think I believe I'll jinx the fresh month, but it doesn't hurt to be safe, right?

Could this habit, this superstition be based on a ritual? Yes, of course it is. Isn't it a pretty common ritual to buy a new calendar for each new year and flip the pages once a month? Sure, so that's a ritual. It may not include anything extravagant like being skyclad during the middle of a hailstorm, trying to keep all the pretty green candles from blowing out in the gale force winds... but it's a ritual all the same.

Think of other superstitions, you likely follow a few yourself. Do you avoid stepping on cracks, do you toss salt over your shoulder, do you always pick the inside copies of magazines on the bookstore shelf?

What makes one a ritual and the other a superstition? I think at some point every superstition was someone's ritual, we've just outgrown them. Some of them.

Get a book of superstitions next time you're at the library or bookstore. Take a look at some of the superstitions for every day things. I'm sure they all have a reasonable basis. Take into account that the people were not in the technology age and the church still held everyone caught in fear for their souls. Make note of some superstitions and think about how they could be added to your own magick rituals. Give fresh life to rituals from the past.

Are superstitions rituals in disguise?

I have a superstition passed on from my Mother. Don't turn the calendar page before the first of the new month. So, I always wait till the first to look at the next page in the calendar. Why, I'm not sure. I don't think I believe I'll jinx the fresh month, but it doesn't hurt to be safe, right?

Could this habit, this superstition be based on a ritual? Yes, of course it is. Isn't it a pretty common ritual to buy a new calendar for each new year and flip the pages once a month? Sure, so that's a ritual. It may not include anything extravagant like being skyclad during the middle of a hailstorm, trying to keep all the pretty green candles from blowing out in the gale force winds... but it's a ritual all the same.

Think of other superstitions, you likely follow a few yourself. Do you avoid stepping on cracks, do you toss salt over your shoulder, do you always pick the inside copies of magazines on the bookstore shelf?

What makes one a ritual and the other a superstition? I think at some point every superstition was someone's ritual, we've just outgrown them. Some of them.

Get a book of superstitions next time you're at the library or bookstore. Take a look at some of the superstitions for every day things. I'm sure they all have a reasonable basis. Take into account that the people were not in the technology age and the church still held everyone caught in fear for their souls. Make note of some superstitions and think about how they could be added to your own magick rituals. Give fresh life to rituals from the past.

Originally posted to 'BackWash: Where the Wild Things Are' newsletter, February, 2, 2003.