Robert's Corner
The collected writings of Robert Phoenix on Pennsylvania German Powwow — charms and cures, history, herb-lore, and folk wisdom, gathered from 2011 to 2023.
Welcome to Robert’s Corner — the gathered writings of Robert Phoenix on Pennsylvania German Powwow, spanning 2011 to 2023. Charms and cures, history and herb-lore, faith and folk wisdom: a lifetime’s study, preserved here just as he wrote it.
New here? Start with Who is Robert? — his story in his own words.
A Blessing for your Adversaries
Because Powwow is a Christian tradition, there are a number of charms that are designed to send your adversary away from you in the spirit of peace and…
The almanac and its place in PA German culture
The almanac in Pennsylvania German life — planting by the signs, the Man of Signs, and why the Alte Bauernkalender mattered.
Gifts and favors - the sign of a true witch
Here in Pennsylvania we have no shortage of stories of farmers and house maids having unfortunate run-ins with the local witch. Many of the stories begin…
The magical boundary
As a Powwow, the protection of my home and my property are paramount to my successful healing work. Should something unwanted cross the boundary into my…
The real power in a blood-stopping charm
Decoding the three roses of the blood-stopping charm: what ‘God’s acre’ really means, and why the unnamed third rose is the true word of power.
Magical oddities in Powwow
The Powwow tradition is no stranger to odd and unusual charms. Indeed, we Powwows are often judged harshly when a non-practitioner (ie. someone who doesn't…
Powwow in the garden
Bill and I have many flower gardens on our property. I also have a large vegetable garden and I grow herbs in pots on one of the patios. This year, I added…
The Roadside Apothecary
Yesterday I wrote a blog post about finding Stickyweed (Sticky Willy) on the side of the road near my house. This morning I walked back up to that hillside…
Sticky Willy: a super healer and cocktail mixer
I love plants and their medicinal and folklore uses. Today as I was walking my dog near my house, I noticed an entire lovely hillside along the road that…
A means of binding one who has wronged you
In folk magic, to "bind" someone is to cause them to be unable to cause harm or mischief until they are brought to justice. It is a means of bringing down…
The Farmer and the Hex Man
This story is taken from Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Spirituality by Richard E. Wentz, 1993 published by the Pennsylvania German Society. I highly recommend…
Mustard Seed…faith and folklore
Mustard grows wild along the roadside — and beyond the condiment, its seed carries a long history of folk medicine and faith healing, from scorpion bites to a Powwow chest plaster.
Healthy Citrus Water
Water is so crucial to our health and well-being, and we don't seem to drink enough of it! Part of the reason might be that water is, well, boring. So I…
Homemade berry jam!
For an extra Easter treat this year, I decided to make jam. My son found this recipe on his favorite You Tube channel The Green…
Elderberry syrup
My son and I were feeling extra kitcheny today, so after I finished making jam, he made Elderberry syrup! My son is 10 years old and fancies himself…
April Fool's Day, the day of Eileschpiggel!
April Fool's Day is a day of trickery, traditionally devoted to "trickster spirits" like Loki in Scandinavian folklore, for example. An entire day filled…
Charming at the crossroads
When one thinks of working charms at a crossroads, one likely thinks of hoodoo or other "conjure" traditions of the southern United States. And this would…
Asthma prevention syrup
Last year I had COVID and it led to numerous bouts of pneumonia, which also led to some permanent lung issues. So now I have asthma and a rescue inhaler.…
My crow protectors
I've always had a love of crows. Growing up in the coal region of Pennsylvania, crows were the most common bird. Now that I live in South Central…
Happy Spring!!!
For some reason, the older I get, the happier I feel when Spring arrives. It might be in part due to the pain I feel in my spine and my knees during the…