Folk Ways For An Acadian Or French Canadian Folk Practitioner -The Heavens

My Current Inventory of Magic Tools

Here's a list of tools I use in my spiritual practice that can inspire others that are on this path! While some are heritage pieces that cost a lot of money up-front due to craftsmanship, the every-day tools are pretty inexpensive. For example, most candles can be found at the dollar store, and incense can be personalized to your taste. For my practice, I use cedar incense, since it is known as a cleansing plant in the Christian tradition, and many Acadian and Québécois households used cedar on Palm Sunday before palms became widely available.

Most of the heritage pieces, for anyone wanting to participate, I strongly encourage investing a few extra dollars to get good quality items! It will last you years of magical practice, and you can use them with pride.

La ceinture fléchée - the woven sash

A symbol of identity to the Métis living on the Canadian plains, the historical Huron-Wendat people, and historically worn by French voyageurs and fur traders and their indigenous partners in trade, these sashes were strapped around the waist. These were mostly useful in keeping the woollen coats closed, store belted tools, help with the strain of carrying heavy pelts, and prevent hernias and back strain on long canoe expeditions. The long strands on the end could also be used as impromptu sewing thread. These sashes would reach about 15cm to 25cm and its length easily passes 2 metres. These sashes were traded among indigenous groups for furs, and later, by the Hudson's Bay Company in the 19th century. It became a part of the traditional Québecois peasant clothing at least since 1776. As the sash travelled upriver to the plains and beyond, Métis groups adopted the sashes, elaborated on its craftsmanship, and truly made it one of their most recognized symbols. Depending on where the sash is woven, the colours can change. For example, for Québec, they preferred a blue colour scheme, for Montréal, red, and for those woven in between Ottawa and the Red River, black was more prominent. Hand-woven sashes can take up to 500 hours to complete. (1)

The one pictured above I bought from Etchiboy, a Métis artisan. The sash I bought was inspired from the Assomption sash motif, one of the oldest known woven patterns from the 18th century. I wear it on my woodland wanderings, for rituals, and cultural days. I especially wear it in winter to keep my coat closed. I chose to adopt the sash into my practice after lots of research. It is an item of rich history between the French and their indigenous allies, and a consequence of the fur trade in our country. I encourage anyone who's interested to buy from artisans who hand-weave them! There are machine-woven ones nowadays that might be less expensive, but nothing beats the quality of good wool and good weaving. With the richness of variety in the weaving patterns depending on the region they're from, why not have a sash that harkens back to the history of your region?

The walking stick or 'le gourdin'

In Québécois folktales, the stick, known as 'the gourdin', was most seen as a gift from a woodland fairy (like a guardian of all trees, or a mistress of the birds) to the intrepid hero Ti-Jean. This magical stick could thwack all his adversaries with the simple command of "tappe, gourdin!" (slap, stick!), among other fabulous deeds (2) This stick was a tool of protection on long journeys fraught with peril. So, what better companion to the Canadien witch than a walking stick? I use mine for every excursion, and have added to it some talismans of a wolf, owl and skull to keep evil spirits at bay. There's also a portable rosary around the stick, and the Ste. Anne of Beaupré religious medal. Historically, she was often a saint prayed to by voyageurs before they undertook the long and perilous journey to the fur trading posts, usually near present-day Montreal. (3)

The pocket knife

The pocket knife is a multi-talented tool of our trade! It can carve folksy figurines, cut wooden branches for weaving, harvest plants, cut curses, and keep les feux-follets (willow-the-wisps) at bay. Folklore has it that if you're out camping in the woods, fold you knife so that it creates a 90-degree angle, and stick it into the bark of a tree bordering your campsite. In the morning, if the blade is bloody, chances are it was the feux follet being intrigued by the space between the blade and the tree, and cutting its throat, thereby being free from its doomed roaming. (4) It is also a well-known tool in case you need to free a loup-garou (werewolf) from its curse by cutting it on its white spot on the forehead where he previously received communion as a kid. (5) By extension, it is a vital tool to break curses. Of course, don't make anyone bleed with the knife. That goes without saying. Treat the knife well, keep it sharp.

The rosary

Yes, my path has Catholic tools in it. Of course! Quebecois and Acadians of my ancestry were Catholic people primarily. It is a versatile tool in my practice, used for spellwork as well as meditative prayer. For those who are interested in praying the Rosary traditionally, I'll create a separate post. For spellwork purposes, I usually say a round of "Hail Mary" ten times before starting a spell for the ultimate protective shield. There is also known folk uses for the rosary in Acadian and Québécois communities. For example, to fidget with the rosary without intent or purpose brings about the Devil. (6) The rosary can also be used as a tool to find lost items. Simply toss the rosary over your shoulder, and the crucifix will point in the direction of the lost item. If you want good weather on your wedding day, hang up your rosary on your laundry cord the day before. (7). Rosaries nowadays even come in decade forms as portable rings for your pocket, and some are actual rings you can wear on your finger. I got a few rosaries myself. One for special rituals (I never toss that one over my shoulder!), and cheaper, more portable options for the tossing spell.

Holy medals

I amassed quite a collection of holy medals for individual saints. Other notable ones are those for the souls in Purgatory (worn on All Souls Day), the Holy Spirit at (worn on Pentecost or when I do divination), Jesus the Shepherd (it's comforting), Stella Maris (patron saint of Acadians). I have a few of the same for more frequented purposes, for example, I keep a Saint Luke medal on my artist's pencil case, since he is the patron saint of artists. Traditionally in Acadian communities, it was known that when your day was going awfully, and your bread dough just wouldn't rise, you just needed to boil some holy medals in water to turn your luck around (8). They are quite inexpensive, so it's fast and easy to grow a collection in a short period of time. Many catholic retailers sell them.

Divination tools : the playing cards, dice and coin

My divination tools can be found in anyone's cupboard and drawers. The trusty playing cards deck nowadays comes in such amazing variety of art, the one I picked for myself was the Bicycle Aviary Playing Cards. It has such a lovely folk art vibe to them! The way to divine them comes from sources of card-playing and superstitions from history and folktales from folklorist Marius Barbeau, and people over centuries carrying around the cards for entertainment and perhaps a glimpse into their futures. One guide on reading the cards: Fifty-Four Devils: The Art & Folklore of Fortune-Telling with Playing Cards by Cory Thomas Hutcheson. Dice can also be used in the same manner if you're doing a numerology-based divination. The coin can be used as a simple yes or no divination by playing 'heads or tails'. The coin can be a beautiful commemorative coin like mine, or a simple 'cenne noire' (blackened penny), or whatever currency you have on hand.

The sewing kit and fibre arts

I wanted to add this iconic cookie tin into the folk witch's repertoire, because we all had grandmothers who had this tin lying around with their tools to mend and sew anything. In my practice, and in my hobbies, I make clothing and I embroider. I can use this tin to house my relevant supplies to have some sacred time darning old socks, creating spiritual garments by hand, or embroidering pretty things. You can also draw sigils on the rim's inner side for blessing your items inside! There's also other uses for some of these tools in your home! For example, my great-great grandmother used to use her thimble to create the holes in her croxignoles, these woven doughnut style rings from the Magdalen Islands.

Musical spoons

Musical spoons, sometimes made of wood to be used for musical purposes, as shown here, or made from every-day metal spoons held together for the same effect, are an iconic instrument in French-Canadian folk music. I would recommend learning how to play them rhythmically and to use that as a grounding tool. I just find these way more authentic than a drum. Not to mention rhythmic foot tapping and step dances are frequently used in our folk music to set up a beat.

Woven Cloths

These beautiful cloths or 'serviettes' were woven by my mother on a giant hand-loom, often employed by local farmer's guilds in Québec. Les Cercles des Fermières du Québec sometimes has craft fairs where they sell these among other hand-crafted items. In folklore, the cloth was present when Ti-Jean needed to create a magical feast on the fly, create a magical tent for shelter, or carry around all his tools for his journey. These cloths however were almost always given by a fay creature, so best be cautious in eating food from it. Nowadays, it can be used as altar cloths, protective shields for your tools, or to apply healing energy to an ailment you carry. (9) I use mine to do my card readings, wrap special items. If you are lucky enough to find a 'catalogne', which is a heavy blanket woven on those big looms from scraps of old t-shirts, cottons and the like, that's like, a massive cloth you can have over your bed and its folkloric properties can be used for protection and good dreams. It is also the best weighted blanket for anxiety, tried and tested by me! Mine was woven by my grandmother.

Cited sources

Wikipedia "Ceinture Fléchée" consulted on Jan 21 2025/ 2. Barbeau 1st series/ 3. Podruchny / 4. Butler/ 5. Maillet / 6. Dupont 83. / 7. Dupont 122. / 8. Dupont 83. / 9. Barbeau 2nd series

Bibliography

Barbeau, Marius, « Contes populaires canadiens », The Journal of American Folkore, vol. 29, no 111, janvier-mars 1916, 154 p.

Barbeau, C.-Marius. “Contes Populaire Canadiens. Seconde Série.” The journal of American Folklore 30, no. 115 (Jan-Mar., 1917): 27-36. http://www.jstor.org/stable/534454. 

 Butler, Gary R. Histoire et traditions orales des Franco-Acadiens de Terre-Neuve. Québec 1995. p. 156

Dupont, Jean-Claude. Heritage d’Acadie. Collection Connaissance, éditions Lemeac. 1977. 

Maillet, Antonine. Rabelais et les traditions populaires en Acadie. Les presses de l’université Laval, Quebec. 1980. 

Podruchny, Carolyn. Making the Voyageur World: Traveler’s and Traders in the North American Fur Trade. University of Toronto Press. 2006.  

Book of Seasons and Festivities

I wanted to share some images of my work so far in a book of holidays, seasonal religious and cultural celebrations for my own personal path. :)

I decorated a Huckleberry compass this week! The shape is reminiscent of a planchette and it held the perfect opportunity for some stained glass painting.

First big hike in Point Pleasant Park since top surgery three months ago. It feels really good to be in the woods again and see the ocean. I used to spend all day in the woods but I don't think my stamina is quite there yet.

Folk Altar Stained Glass Painted Windows

I finished my stained glass painted windows today, and I'm so proud of them! The window's scene selections were to highlight important parts of my path as a catholic folk practitioner in my Quebec and Acadian culture. The scene on the right is a painting originally by Clarence Gagnon (Harvesting, c.1928-33) portraying some farmers in the fields of Charlevoix. The center window showcases the Star of the Sea, patron saint of the Acadians, keeping a ship safe in an ocean storm. (My own design). And the last window shows a scene from the folk tale "la chasse-galerie" from Honoré Beaugrand, when a group of woodsmen make a deal with the Devil to fly in an airborne magic canoe to visit their families on New Year's Eve. My practice entails researching my family's agricultural lifestyles and crafts, their religious life, and their folk tales.

My next project will be to paint the medallions on the doors of the altar cabinet.

Quinzou 2024

Joyeuse Quinzou aux Acadiens! Happy National Acadian Day! Unfortunately it's a work day for me today, but I had some time to pray to Mary (it's her Assumption day), and read from my great grandma's biography which features my great-aunt's poetry about her life on the Magdalen islands. A lovely little set up with St. Anne (whom my family prayed to on fishing expeditions), and photos of my great grandma and her father. If anyone is in Halifax, festivities for Quinzou are happening at the waterfront on August 16th from noon till 10pm…sigh.. another work day.

Cultural Centres for French Heritage in Canada

Below are the links for French cultural centres and archives around Canada. Whether you're looking into maritime Acadian culture, Quebecois traditions, Franco-Ontarian culture, Franco-Manitoban history and heritage, there's so much out there for you! Many of these centres host events, music concerts, cultural festivals, art galleries, and research centres to help you learn your roots.

Franco-Ontarian Folklore Centre

Centre for Research on French Canadian Culture at University of Ottawa

The Acadian Centre of the Université Sainte-Anne

Historical Society of Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre

Marius Barbeau Centre, Montréal, Québec

Saint Isidore Museum and Cultural Centre, Alberta

Université Sainte-Anne

Centre acadien

Founded in 1972, the Centre acadien has large collections of primary and secondary sources that mainly feature the Acadian and Nova Scotian

https://ccfm.mb.ca/en/

Mighty Peace Tourism

St. Isidore Museum & Cultural Centre - Mighty Peace Tourism

St. Isidore Museum & Cultural Centre – English Situated in the quaint hamlet of St-Isidore, is a museum that depicts the storied heritage of

March 19th was Saint Joseph's Day. While I worked all day, this looks like a beautiful moment to connect with him. Thank you, joanofarcs-stigmata for sharing this rosary prayer!

Rosary Prayers of St. Joseph for the Feast of St. Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus

Usually when we think of rosaries, we think of Mary-- after all, if you were to pray all 20 mysteries, you'd be saying 200 Hail Marys! But while the traditional rosary uses Mary to center our gaze on Christ, another form less often discussed uses the examples left to us by Saint Joseph to better connect with God. The Saint Joseph rosary uses Joseph to help us better understand purity, fidelity, and humility, all while celebrating Joseph's role in the Holy Family, while asking for his intercession to help us imitate his trust in God.

The 'Hail Joseph':

The Saint Joseph rosary begins like most rosaries, with the sign of the Cross and Apostles Creed, but instead of a 'Hail Mary', we pray the 'Hail Joseph':

Hail Joseph, Son of David, spouse of Mary. Blessed art thou among patriarchs, and blessed is thy Holy Family. Holy Joseph, Guardian of Jesus, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Mysteries:

The Betrothal to Mary: Let us contemplate now how the Blessed Virgin Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, beginning a loving partnership, not of a union of bodies but a communion of souls; through this mystery may we better come to understand Godly relationships, friendships, and devotions, should one experience them.

The Annunciation to Joseph: Let us contemplate now how Joseph, being a righteous man, decided to divorce Our Lady quietly when she was found with child, and how the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and declared unto him that the child had been conceived through the power of Holy Spirit. Through this mystery, may we better come ot understand faith in our fellow man and faith in God's will.

The Nativity and Naming of Jesus: Let us contemplate now how Joseph went up to Bethlehem with Mary, and while they were there, in the city of David, she gave birth to the Savior, Christ the Lord. And when eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus. Through dwelling on this mystery, may we obtain the greater reverence for the Name above all names, Jesus Christ the Lord.

The Flight into Egypt: Let us contemplate now how Joseph, being a devoted spouse and guardian of the Holy Family, took Jesus and Mary to Egypt. Through meditating on this mystery, may we come to have a fiery love of the displaced and oppressed.

The Hidden Life in Nazareth: Let us contemplate how Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Nazareth and there lived a quiet life working as a carpenter with Jesus and Mary at his side, through the joys and sorrows of everyday life, until the end. May we all have the gift of a peaceful death with Jesus at our side.

Closing Prayers:

Pray for us O Blessed Joseph that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Almighty and eternal God, grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary of Saint Joseph, we may imitate his prayerful trust, and faithfully carry out your holy will, despite difficulties, uncertainties, and fears. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hail, holy Joseph, Hail, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Hail! Pure as the lily flower In Eden’s peaceful vale. Hail, holy Joseph, hail, Prince of the house of God. May His best graces be By thy sweet hands bestowed.

Hail, holy Joseph, hail, Comrade of angels, hail! Cheer thou the hearts that faint, And guide the steps that fail. Hail, holy Joseph, hail! God’s choice were thou alone. To thee the Word made flesh Was subject as a son.

Every action we take is fundamental to a better world that is kinder. I also recognize he had his mistakes and issues but he learned and he strove to do better. And for a Pope, that’s monumental. Rest in peace Pope Francis 🕊️

Pope Francis has died.

I know to a lot of people on the left and in the LGBTQ+ community, he wasn’t exactly seen as a holy herald of progressive values. That said I think he was more helpful to our community than we have ever really given credit.

The Catholic Church is hugely entrenched in the past. They may not ever accept gay marriage within our lifetime. But if you compare Pope Francis to any other Pope that came before him, he did more to progress the Catholic Church than anyone else ever has. He constantly spoke out saying that the church needed to accept LGBTQ+ members. He has denounced laws that criminalise homosexuality. He supported same sex civil unions—which I was literally taught was evil and dangerous when I was in Catholic high school. Transgender people can be baptized and same sex couples can be blessed because of him.

He was never enough, of course. He has affirmed the teaching that gay marriage is not spiritually possible and prior to becoming pope he opposed the legalization of same sex marriage. He has said gay children should seek psychiatric care. He has also been even less accepting of transgender people than same sex couples.

But at the same time he was the most empathetic Pope to have existed in the past several hundred years. I have left the church because I no longer believe in God, but I do recognize that the Catholic Church has power over huge swaths of the world. My mother still believes in her Catholic faith and has always stood by this idea: it’s impossible to move a behemoth organisation like the Church overnight. She stays in the community because she wants it to become better. She pushes, in her own small way, a little bit every day towards what she thinks is right. In this conversation, that is the acceptance of LGBTQ+ youths. Pope Francis was helpful in moving the Church away from a stance of hate. Now I hope that whoever the cardinals choose next for pope is someone who joins her in pushing that ball forward.