Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The subject treated of in the following letter is so extraordinary, that it is to be wished gentlemen who live near mines would enquire into the matter, and inform us whether the idea of these invisible beings is general throughout the kingdom amongst labourers employed underground, or whether this superstitious opinion is confined only to […]

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROPERTIES AND USE OF THE VIRGULA DIVINA. So early as Agricola the divining rod was in much request, and has obtained great credit for its discovering where to dig for metals and springs of water ; for some years past its reputation has been on the decline, but lately it has been […]

In Cornwall there are several wells which bear the name of some Patron Saint, who appears to have had a Chapel consecrated to him or her on the spot. This appears by the name of Chapel Saint attached by tradition to the spot. These Chapels were most probably mere Oratories ; but in the parish […]

The Rev. Mr. Brand, in his ingenious annotations on Bourne’s ” Popular Antiquities,” mentions a well at Benton, similar to the well near the foot of Rosberrye Toppinge, between the towns of Aten and Newton, co. York, and dedicated to St. Oswald. In the opinion of the neighbours St. Oswald’s well has a particular charm, […]

In the village of Tissington in the county of Derby, a place remarkable for fine springs of water, it has been a custom, time immemorial, on every Holy Thursday, to decorate the wells with boughs of trees, garlands of tulips, and other flowers, placed in various fancied devices ; and, after prayers for the day […]

Bred up an Englishman, and under the protection of the English Laws, I have ever been taught to consider them superior to the laws of other nations, as being founded alike in wisdom and lenity, for either of which causes I have considered them entitled to respect and veneration. To persons acquainted with the laws […]

I send you some further notes regarding the superstitions of this county, in continuation of those which you published in your magazine for July. In parts of this county, and of Shropshire, the following occurrences are considered unlucky : To meet a squinting woman, unless you talk to her, which breaks the charm. To go […]

Almost every county in England has some amusement or local custom nearly peculiar to itself; and your deeming many of such not unworthy of being brought out to the public eye, has induced me to transmit to you an account of one or two, which I never saw any where except in Westmorland and Cumberland. […]

There are two old women of my acquaintance they are still living, though for obvious reasons I must not give their names who reside in the same house, the one occupying the front, the other the back room. One of these had retired to rest in the back room, ” In peace,” as she assured […]

It may not be altogether uninstructive to place upon permanent record, in your venerable Miscellany, a few remarks on the popular superstitions which still exist in divers parts of this extensive county. I presume not to think that I have collected all the vulgar errors which prevail among the rustic population here; but my researches […]