Magic, Protection, and Luck: talks at The Portico Library

As the days draw in and the evenings get ever darker, it’s often this time of year where we find ourselves thinking about other worlds, thin veils and events which cannot be explained. Taking inspiration from the intersections between archeology and folklore, Dr Ceri Houlbrook will be exploring our historic relationships with the supernatural, luck, superstition and mysterious items found in old buildings. Join her for a fascinating talk at the Portico on Magic, Protection and Luck.

It can be seen, from archeological investigations and texts from the time, the beliefs people had in placing ‘charms’ or items in and around their house. Concealed shoes nestled within walls, dried cats thatched into roofs, horse skulls buried in the floorboards. All to bring good things and ward away the bad. As well as the relatively normal items, there are also concoctions such as witch bottles, which were burned or buried to protect people from curses put on them by witches or wizards (the oldest account of a witch bottle actually refers to a wizard).

Dr Ceri Houldbrook has a firm academic grounding in folklore. She currently leads the Folklore Studies MA at the University of Hertfordshire and her personal research interests include the material culture of ritual practises and popular beliefs. She’s previously published monographs on ritual “litter”, love-locks, coin-trees and concealed objects.

It is said that during October the veil between our world and another is at its thinnest, so what better time of year to deep dive into spiritual culture than in the middle of this all-important month. And there are plenty more spooky antics to keep you feeling in tune with the season in our Halloween Guide.

This talk is just one of the many fascinating events and workshops held at the Portico. Check out their website to find details of past and future ways to gain a deeper insight into their collection.