Washing Rituals from Bulgaria

In Washing Rituals from Bulgaria Georgi Mishev, PhD explores the power of water and magical plants in traditional washing rituals still used in the Balkans today. In Bulgaria, these rituals combine water from powerful natural sources with the magical properties of herbs - and other objects. Practitioners utilize these rituals to treat 'known' and 'unknown' diseases for their clients. For example, traditional healers use washing rituals to treat fever, infertility, epilepsy and childhood illnesses, as well as to manage fear, calm children, break magic and avert the evil eye. Additionally, problems attributed to the zmey and samodivas, local nature spirits once revered in the region and remembered today in folklore and song, are also treated with washing rituals. Inspired by stories his grandmother told him as a child of these rituals Mishev set about investigating these fascinating rituals in Bulgaria today. In this booklet