Henna magic from Westermark
Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on November 12, 1999 at 15:18:32:
If you're looking for specific references to henna magic, a great
source is : Westermark, Edward: " Marriage Ceremonies in Morocco"
London, Macmillan, 1914
Here's some bits from it:
"The object of applying henna to the bridegroom is to purify him and
protect him from evil influences; for henna is considered to contain
much baraka, and is therefore used as a means of purification or
protection on occasions when people think they are exposed to
supernatural dangers, as for example at religious feasts. The
bridegroom is supposed to be surrounded by such dangers; he is
regarded as holy, which is emphasisiedby the title of Sultan so
frequently given him, and holiness implies not only that there is
supernatural energy in the holy individual or object, but also that
they are susceptible to all kinds of baleful influences, especially
those of a supernatural kind, like evil spirits, magical tricks, and
the evil eye."
"The custom of painting the bride with henna is extremely prevalent in
the Muhammedan world, even more so that the application of henna to
the bridegroom; and there can be no doubt that it is universal in
Morocco. Its real object is to purify her and protect her from evil
influences; for the bride, who like the bridegroom is regarded as
holy, is likewise held to be very susceptible to harmful supernatural
influences, either magical forces or evil spirits. There is a jinn
called hattaf la-rais, whose specialty is to steal brides. "
"(...in the days after the wedding) Other relatives soon assemble in
the house and are recieved by the young wife with a kiss on the head.
Supper is served, henna is pounded, and the wife and other women,
with the exception of the mother, smear it on both sides of their
hands. In the morning she goes out and sprinkles henna on the cattle,
sheeps, goats and horses, which is supposed to be good for them, as
there is still baraka in the young wife."
"(...when the bride has been fetched to the groom) The bachelor who
lifted her on to the animal sow takes off the saddle with her in it,
and carries her thus to the tend, where he puts his load on he bed
prepared in an enclosure in the middle of the tent. But before they
enter the tent, two or three bachelors fire off their guns so close to
the bride that she is quite enveiled in the smoke; this was said to be
done in order to prervent her evil influences from affecting the
islan. The saddle remains in the tent till the following morning, and
the bridegroom's mother smears on it henna, or some blood of the sheep
or goat slaughtered by her husband , so that it shall cause no harm;
...." (note equivalence of sacrificial blood and henna in this
case....)