Concerning Crossroads

Concerning Crossroads

The crossroads are places of power in many cultures (Willow, 2019). It can be a place of spirit communication (Pamita, 2022). It is also a site where power can be invoked for spellwork (Willow, 2019). I hope this essay will give you more information about crossroads and the role they continue to play in European history.

Crossroads have appeared in many cultures for a very long time (Willow, 2019). In ancient Greek civilization, the crossroads were under the protection of Hekate and Hermes (Guiley & Taylor, 2007). It was sometimes maintained that Hermes managed the four-way crossroads and Hekate held dominion over the three-way crossroads (B., 2016)

The Lares were also spirits who guarded the crossroads (Willow, 2019). Shrines were often built at crossroads to honor them (Willow, 2019). They were revered at a yearly festival called Compitalia (Willow, 2019) Hermes possessed stone images that were markers and contained direction to aid travelers (Slaven, 2023). Hecate was a Greek titanide who held dominion over witchcraft and the crossroads (Slaven, 2023). Sacrifices of animal at crossroads were done to honor her (Guiley & Taylor, 2007).

England (Slaven, 2023), Ireland (Slaven, 2023), and Scotland (Slaven, 2023) have their own history surrounding crossroads and their power (Slaven, 2023). In Ireland it was considered useful to sit at the crossroads on Halloween and listen to the wind prophesize (Guiley & Taylor, 2007).

In the British Isles, standing stones are often placed at crossroads (Willow, 2019). The stones are believed to block entrances to Faerie (Slaven, 2023 There is also a creature known as the Black Shuck that appears at the crossroads as a Black Dog (Slaven, 2023). In England, crossroads were also a place where suicides were buried (Kathryn, 2020).

Alice Kyetler, an accused witch in 1324, was accused of sacrificing birds for her familiar while at the crossroads (Guiley & Taylor, 2007). The bodies of those who died under unconsecrated circumstances in Ireland were often interred at the crossroads (Slaven, 2023). There was belief that leaving the unholy dead at the crossroads would prevent them from harming the living (Slaven, 2023).

There were also believed to be magickal black cats who would produce silver coins (Slaven, 2023). It was also believed possible to catch these cats at a crossroads, a process for which there was an elaborate procedure (Slaven, 203). The Celtic goddess Epona would also appear at the crossroads from time to time, appearing as a shadowy woman on a pale horse (Slaven, 2023). In England, Scotland, and Ireland, crossroads were locations between worlds (Kathryn, 2020)

Crossroads also appear in Slavic tradition as a powerful (Pamita, 2022) In Ukranian practice, in particular, spirits like to be present at crossroads and rozdorizhzhya (Pamita, 2022). It is possible to meet spirits at midnight by a crossroads, possibly even Baba Yara who likes to change shape (Pamita, 2022). In Romania, it is believed that witches and vampires met at the crossroads (Slaven, 2023). The Ieles, as well as other supernatural beings, are associated with the crossroads in Romania (Slaven, 2023). For performing magick using the crossroads, a three-way crossroad is allegedly powerful than a four-way crossroads (Pamita, 2022).

There are many customs and beliefs surrounding crossroads in Germanic countries (Slaven, 2023). There is a legend in Germany that you can have your heart’s desire granted if you agree to become Der Teufel’s (the Devil’s) servant at a crossroads (Slaven, 2023). German witches would also interact at a crossroads (Slaven, 2023). There is also the legend of the Ghostly Horseman who will try to stop you from crossing the crossroads intersection (Occult World).

Crossroads are place of immense power and have been revered as sites of spiritual force for a millenia. They have been locations were deities like Hecate and Hermes have been worshipped (Willow, 2019) (Slaven, 2023). They have also been a place to receive supernatural guidance (Pamita, 2002) or enter into contracts for enhanced power, fame, or ability (B., 2016). I hope this short essay has left you with more information on, and interest in, the role of crossroads in magick.

References

B., S. (2016, November 19.). Crossroads Magick. Tarot Pugs. https://tarotpugs.com/2016/11/19/crossroads-magick/

Guiley, R., & Taylor, T. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Ghost and Spirits. Checkmark Books.

Kathryn, E. (2020, January 24). Imbolc Musings – Folklore of the Crossroads. Imbolc Musings. https://abeautifulresistance.org/site/2020/1/23/imbolc-musings-folklore-of-the-crossroads

Occult World. (n.d.). Crossroads in Ghost Lore. https://occult-world.com/crossroads-ghost-lore/

Pamita, M. (2022). Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft: Slavic Magic from the Witch of the Woods. Llewellyn Publications.

Slaven, J. (2023, November 17). The Crossroads; A Liminal Setting for Occult and Supernatural Activities. Owlcation. https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Crossroads-a-liminal-setting-for-occult-and-supernatural-activities

Willow, A. (2019, October 7). Flying the Hedge: Magic of the Crossroads. Flying the Hedge. https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2019/10/magic-of-crossroads.html