News
Beware ... it's Friday the 13th, a day commonly known for misfortune and bad luck. However, many Incline residents prove not to be afraid of the infamous date, and new-age pagans even embrace Friday the 13th.
"I grew up afraid of Friday the 13th, but I'm not anymore, it's just a number," said Gwen Gilliam-Hincks, an Incline resident and metaphysic.
She said her husband's lucky number is 13, which helped her get over her fear.
"We love 13, we just jump at it." Gilliam said that 13 is a number of transformation - it's a number of death in a Tarot deck, but represents death in a positive light, such as the death of a part of your life or attitude that's no longer working for you, she said.
S. Rune Emerson, founder of the Rising Tradition of American Witchcraft, offered a short history on the subject.
"(In pagan tradition)13 represents the number of full moons in the year, and Friday is the day of freya, or the day of Venus, which is the day of love magic," Emerson said. "The connection between the two is because religious orders were trying to demonize everything pagan.
"We witches love Friday the 13th ... it's a marvelous day for us, we're actually having a party," said Emerson, who will be speaking at the Nevada Ghost and Paranormal Conference put on by Truckee Meadows Community College.
"We do a little party called a triskadecalia, which means 'the day of 13'," Emerson said. "We'll get together and dress in comfy clothing, watch campy movies, listen to pagan music, and maybe brew up some black cat oil,"
But don't worry, black cat oil is not made from animals.
"It is used to 'un-cross' yourself, meaning to rid yourself of bad luck," Emerson said.
The group mixes sage oil, myrhh, steel wool, fine iron shot and adds in some almond oil; the very darkest recipes have maybe one hair from a black cat.
"If you want to use it as a hex, which we don't normally do, you'd put in some castor oil or mineral oil," Emerson said.
Emerson said that the best thing about Friday the 13th is poking fun at people who think it's cursed.
"It's a day when you get to thumb your nose at all those who say: 'whoo-ooo, let's be scared of the boogie-woogie'," he said.
To read more about movie pics, sports superstitions and facts about the number 13, turn to the B-section in today's issue of the Bonanza.
"I grew up afraid of Friday the 13th, but I'm not anymore, it's just a number," said Gwen Gilliam-Hincks, an Incline resident and metaphysic.
She said her husband's lucky number is 13, which helped her get over her fear.
"We love 13, we just jump at it." Gilliam said that 13 is a number of transformation - it's a number of death in a Tarot deck, but represents death in a positive light, such as the death of a part of your life or attitude that's no longer working for you, she said.
S. Rune Emerson, founder of the Rising Tradition of American Witchcraft, offered a short history on the subject.
"(In pagan tradition)13 represents the number of full moons in the year, and Friday is the day of freya, or the day of Venus, which is the day of love magic," Emerson said. "The connection between the two is because religious orders were trying to demonize everything pagan.
"We witches love Friday the 13th ... it's a marvelous day for us, we're actually having a party," said Emerson, who will be speaking at the Nevada Ghost and Paranormal Conference put on by Truckee Meadows Community College.
"We do a little party called a triskadecalia, which means 'the day of 13'," Emerson said. "We'll get together and dress in comfy clothing, watch campy movies, listen to pagan music, and maybe brew up some black cat oil,"
But don't worry, black cat oil is not made from animals.
"It is used to 'un-cross' yourself, meaning to rid yourself of bad luck," Emerson said.
The group mixes sage oil, myrhh, steel wool, fine iron shot and adds in some almond oil; the very darkest recipes have maybe one hair from a black cat.
"If you want to use it as a hex, which we don't normally do, you'd put in some castor oil or mineral oil," Emerson said.
Emerson said that the best thing about Friday the 13th is poking fun at people who think it's cursed.
"It's a day when you get to thumb your nose at all those who say: 'whoo-ooo, let's be scared of the boogie-woogie'," he said.
To read more about movie pics, sports superstitions and facts about the number 13, turn to the B-section in today's issue of the Bonanza.
