Divine Intervention
BY READING THE SIGNS OF THE FATES YOU MAY DISCOVER YOUR LIFE PARTNER.
At first light on Easter Sunday, visit the well at Cerne Abbas, in Dorset, or another ancient spring, to catch a glimpse of your future wife or husband reflected in the water.
BRUSH YOUR HAIR IN FRONT OF A MIRROR ON ST AGNES’ EVE (JANUARY 19), VALENTINE’S DAY OR HALLOWE’EN, and you will see the face of your future partner mysteriously reflected in the glass.
PLACE A HAZELNUT OR APPLE PIP IN THE EMBERS OF THE FIRE ON HALLOWE’EN OR AT YULE (DECEMBER 21/22) AND SAY THE WORDS:
‘If you love me pop and fly; if not, lie still and die’.
If the lover that you have in mind as you say this is the one for you, the nut will pop in the fire; if not, it will stay mute.
PLACE ALL THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET ON INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF PAPER FACE DOWNWARDS IN A BASIN OF WATER BEFORE YOU GO TO BED ON MIDSUMMER’S EVE.
The letter which turns over during the night will be the initial of your true love/wife/husband.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR HEART, CARVE THEIR INITIALS INTO A LEAF AND PLACE IT IN YOUR SHOE OVERNIGHT.
In the morning, if the initials are clearer they’ll marry you if not, they won’t.
PEEL AN APPLE IN ONE UNBROKEN PIECE AND THROW IT OVER YOUR SHOULDER; it will fall in the shape of the first letter of your intended’s name.
IF THREE UNMARRIED PEOPLE WITH THE SAME NAME SIT AT A TABLE AND ALL SAY ‘White Horses’, one of them will be married within the year.
SEW A PIECE OF YARROW INTO A FLANNEL POUCH AND PLACE IT UNDER YOUR PILLOW.
Say the words: ‘Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree, Thy certain name is yarrow; Now who my lifelong partner be, Pray tell thou me tomorrow’ and your dream will reveal your true love.
IF YOU WISH FOR A LOVE WITH A NUTMEG IN YOUR PALM OR POCKET, he or she will be older than you.
THE FIRST NEW MOON OF THE NEW YEAR, VIEWED THROUGH A HANDKERCHIEF, will reveal the number of years you will have to wait before marriage.
STIR A FIRE WITH A POKER;
if it burns bright on the repetition of your lover’s name, the love affair will grow.
BEFORE BED, ASK:
‘New moon, new moon, hail to thee; this night may I, my true love see, walk backwards to bed, watching the moon all the while, and the name or a picture of your future love will be seen in a dream.’
SCATTER FLOUR OR TALC UNDER A ROSEMARY BUSH ON MAY DAY OR HALLOWE’EN AND LOOK FOR THE INITIALS OF YOUR FUTURE LOVE TRACED IN IT.