Rattlesnake rattle powder
catherine yronwode
Matt Schibler wrote:
>
> I have been asked by a friend in Chile to obtain capsules of powdered
> rattlesnake rattles (capsulas serpiente de cacsabel en polvo) as a
> folk medicine for a friend of his. His friend seems to think they are
> only available in California.
>
> I am posting to this group because it is the only one which comes
> close to having any information about rattlesnake rattles (Herbs they
> are not!)
>
> Can anyone give me any leads?
>
> msc...@ix.netcom.com
Rattlesnake rattles are used in numerous folk-magic charms anmd medical
recipes. One of my favourites (undoubtedly not what your Chilean friend
has in mind) is the use of whole rattles to win fiddle contests. One
simply places a rattlesnake rattle in one's fiddle and that's that.
I have encountered the use of powdered rattlesnake parts in Latin
American folk-medicine involving skin diseases (because the rattlesnake
sheds its skin), to prolong life, and to cure mental illness.
To cure eczema and boils: dry and powder the entire rattlesnake (some
say just the skin, others say just the rattles) and sprinkle the powder
on food; alternatively, use the powder to make a poultice and apply
directly to the skin. (cf. John O. West, Mexican-American Folklore,
August House, 1988)
To prolong life: the rattlesnake (rattles and all) is chopped up and
salted. After six months this "rattlesnake salt" is sprinkled on food.
(ibid.)
The use of rattlesnake salt appears in a two-part Mexican-made "budu"
(voodoo/hoodoo) powder labelled -- in English on the box front --
"Alleged Rattle Viper Sperm Incense" which i happen to own. The other
box panels and inserted paper of instructions are entirely in Spanish,
but the English-language front label seems to be a pick-up from an
African-American hoodoo product: it depicts the Helping Hand labelled
"Power Hand", a pair of dice rolling 7, an open book labelled "Bible
Prayer," a four-leaf clover labelled "Good Luck," two bags of money
marked with $ signs and labelled "Success Happy Living," a hand holding
a horsehoe magnet attracting stacks of dollar bills and coins labelled
"Business Finances," two running red devils labelled "Run Devil Run
Disturbs Run Enemy,' and a nest of cockroaches labelled "Jinx Removing."
In the center of this wealth of imagery is a long-heaired bearded man
naked to the waist who is making what could best be described as
"hypnotic gestures" toward a giant rattlesnake.
Despite the name of the product, "Incienso Marca-Brand Esperma de Vibora
de Cascobel" is not incense per se, it is "rattlesanke salt" -- and the
Spanish name ("Incense *Brand* Rattlesnake Sperm") indicates that the
manufacturer was aware of the fact that the appropriated English label
did not accurately describe the contents.
The two parts, consist of packages of coloured rattlesnake salt, one
off-white and the other coral-pink, which is to be used in (forgive my
rusty Spanish translation) "rituals of Santeria, budu (voodoo), magical
healing both black and white, spiritual healing," and something called
"limpias y despojos."
The text on the box explains that rattlesnake salt cures "hysteria,
excessive wrath, mental illness, symptoms of insanity, uncontrollable
tremors, phobias, delusions of grandeur, feelings of worthlessness,
fantasies of persecution, and diabolical possession." The instructions
call for the practioner to lay the material out in the doorway in a sort
of "sand painting" depicting two S-shaped rattlesnakes and then to burn
a black and a white candle on their heads, recite a lengthy prayer to
"The Adorable Tetragramaton," extinguish the candles, sweep up the salt,
and discard it at a crossroads. Another panel of the box label adds that
rattlesnake salt will also protect one from envy and will prevent fights
breaking out in one's place of business or work.
Where can one procure actual rattlesnake rattles rather than mere
rattlesnake salt? Well, i suggest contacting Ancient Ways, 4075
Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California, 94609, (510) 653-3244. They may
not have this item in stock, but the proprietor, Glenn Turner, is very
knowledgeable and may have a lead on a source.
catherine yronwode ------------------------- mailto:yron...@sonic.net
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Matthew J. Schibler
In <32179C...@sonic.net> catherine yronwode <yron...@sonic.net>
writes:
Thanks very much for this reply. This is just the information which my
friend needs. It is much appreciated.
Matt Schibler