Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

leftover food as magical link to the eater

leftover_food_as_magical_link_to_the_eater

A motif of the Sacred Law and Social Order family, within the sub-family Apotropaic Protection and Sympathetic Magic. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


comparative

  • The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2) CHAPTER I. THE KING OF THE WOOD. / MACAULAY. / CHAPTER II. THE PERILS OF THE SOUL. / HEINE.; lines 4039-4102 confidence: high

    The passage introduces the idea that magical mischief can be wrought through remains of food or dishes from which a person has eaten.

    Narrinyeri and Tana examples describe enemies or disease-makers using remains of eaten food to cause harm, prompting concealment, destruction, burial, or sea disposal.

    read in the book