The Powwow Guy

Hexerei is, in the mind of the PA Dutch, the practice of negative witchery.  Hexerei is self-serving; satisfying the ego of the caster and placing their own will above the will of God.  Throughout history, people have not only believed in the power of hexerei, but many have claimed to be practitioners...and have used their knowledge to cause harm and discord.  One famous case is the Nelson Rehmeyer murder.  It is said that a local witch is the one who told the murderers that it was Rehmeyer, a local Powwow, who was responsible for their woes and that, in order to lift the curse (which Nelson never cast in the first place), the men must get a lock of his hair and his copy of the Long Lost Friend.  By the end of the adventure, Nelson was dead and the men were in jail.  This is the deception of hexerei, that it's application can somehow be justified, or that the hex has your best interests in mind.  The reality of the Rehmeyer case is that the hex (witch) probably was jealous of Nelson's good reputation, and so she took action against him.

Hexerei is practiced by those who place Ego above God.  It is NOT to be confused with Powwow.  Nor should it be confused with some of the definitions of modern witchery, which include things like Wicca and other forms of neopaganism.  Sometimes Powwow is erroniously called 'hex work', I have been guilty of using this term myself on occasion, but this is incorrect.

The dictionary defines 'hex' as:

n.

1. An evil spell; a curse.

2. One that brings bad luck.

tr.v. hexed, hex·ing, hex·es

1. To put a hex on.

2. To bring or wish bad luck to: "Chilly evening weather and a chain of minor snafus seemed to hex the $5,000-a-seat gala on Governors Island" (Newsweek).

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[Pennsylvania Dutch, from German hexen, to hex, from Hexe, witch, from Middle High German hecse, from Old High German hagzissa.]

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hexer n.

Word History: The word hex is a good example of the sort of borrowing from other languages that occurred in the English-speaking former colonies of Great Britain. German and Swiss immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania in the late 17th and 18th centuries spoke a dialect of German known as Pennsylvania Dutch. In this dialect hexe was the equivalent of the German verb hexen, "to practice sorcery." The English verb hex, first recorded in the sense "to practice witchcraft" in an 1830 work called Annals of Philadelphia, is borrowed from Pennsylvania Dutch, as is the noun.

"Hex" finds it's equivelent in non-PA German language as "witch".  The problem comes with the use of the word 'witch' in it's modern sense versus it's historical sense.  In modern day (post 1950's), the word is used mostly synonamously with the neo religion of Wicca, although other non-Wicca sects (and individuals) are embracing this term for themselves.  However, this should not (in general) be confused with the hexerei, which will always represent those who use their magic for malevolent and/or self-serving purposes without regard to others, and in defiance of God.  This is not the path of the Powwow, nor should it ever be confused as such.

So how does one counteract the workings of the hex?  That's a complex question, with no real definitive answer.  First of all, we can use our faith and the power of God to counteract such work.  Nothing in this world is greater than the power of God.  No individual's ego can match the power of God.  Secondly, we can make sure we do not further empower such individuals with our fears and anxieties.  While the use of hexerei is more prevalent now than it probably has ever been (just search the web for curses and hexes, you'll see), it is pointless to give in to irrational fears and worries over such things.  Thirdly, be sure your own conscience is clear and trust that your faith will protect you.  At the end of the day, a hex only has as much power as you give him or her.  If you surround yourself with your strong faith, you will have nothing to fear.

If you read through this site, especially the Protective Charms page, you'll find some good tips for protecting yourself from negative witchery.  The historical written works of Powwow are filled with tips and charms for protection against witchcraft.   Also, I recommend partaking in the sacred communion at your church.  You can make sure all gifts given to you are safe by making a blessing over them or consecrating them in the name of God.  Have your Pastor bless your home.  If you have further questions, search through this site or contact me and we can talk about it. 

May God bless you and all the good work that you do!

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