'The Rules of Braucherei' by Silver RavenWolf
Braucherei (Pow-Wow) actually has very few rules. If we study the system and its practitioners over the last 300 years, we learn that the practice was often solitary, eclectic, environmentally and culturally driven. There was no single one right way to practice and the methods and procedures used were as varied as the individuals employing them. There are, however, two vital rules to the practice and they are:
1. The practitioner must believe.
2. Everything must be done in sequences of three.
[Above: Family Protection and Happiness Hex Sign designed by Silver RavenWolf]
For example, all chants charms and methods must be done at least three times, times three, multiplied by three. I know it sounds a little confusing. Every charm or chant must be vocalized a total of nine times, on three different occasions, which equals any charm or chant being said a total of twenty-seven times. This can vary, for example, when mixing chants and charms, the numbers can change. Therefore, this is only a general rule. Let’s continue on with just a few more commonalities of the system, each representing a vital piece of the Braucherei puzzle.
The following common practices are not necessarily rules, but can be found in almost every working. They are:
1. The practice of stating the individual’s full name before beginning a session, whether it be for yourself or someone else. It is common, for women, to use both married and maiden surnames.
2. The practice of deep breathing before a session. Three breaths are vital, nine better.
3. The practice of telling the client to concentrate on their religious deity. Often, it is suggested they close their eyes to focus more intently.
4. The practice of whispering all chants or charms when there is any chance of being overheard. This is an absolute must, especially around unbelievers or those who may not feel comfortable with some of the charm derivations.
5. The practice of short breaths after each charm — the blowing of white spirit light or God/dess into the body. Some do it after every stanza, others wait until after all nine repetitions as they are concentrating on building the power and the inserting of breath, especially when learning, can ruin your focus. These short breaths can turn into a magickal sound of your own. If that occurs, do not be surprised. Let the sound flow uninhibited (just don’t scare the heck out of the client — wailing would be unacceptable).
6. The practice of sealing the work by drawing a sigil or equal-armed cross in the air with the right or left thumb (whichever hand is dominant).
7. The practice of washing one’s hands after a working, some insist on doing this under running water, where others will have a bowl of clean water nearby so they don’t have to leave the client, and
8. The practitioner cannot take the credit for the result, either way. That’s why they call it trying. You can only try — the healing is up to the client and their belief.
If we dig deeply, we find the Braucherei system relies on the following foundation:
To Believe
To Think (Visualize)
To Take Action/Feel
To Be Silent
Sound familiar?
An integral part of the Braucherei system is the various chants and charms garnered from non-religious as well as religious sources. Most of the chants and charms used in Pow-Wow system are not lengthy for the ease of remembrance and repetition. Although planning is lovely in magick, Pow-Wow is meant to be a system that can be used any time, anywhere, for anyone. Hence, you will find few tools necessary, and in many cases you are the only tool required.
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'The Deer Hunter' is a 1978 film which revolves around the Vietnam War experiences of three Russian-American steel workers from western Pennsylvania. The plot takes place in Clairton, Pennsylvania along the Monongahela River; very close to the city of Monongahela. I thought that the film--aside from the Monongahela connection--had many eery similarities and symbolism to elements of Camunian culture.
For one thing, the blue collar Russian-American Orthodox culture of the town had traditional elements and a social atmosphere which were similar to the Roman Catholic/Ambrosian culture of smaller working class towns around the Great Lakes area or western Pennsylvania. Traditional attitudes, values, manner, and self-determinism, mixed with the "work hard and play hard" mindset.
The movie takes place in three acts. The first is prior to their war experience, the second is the war portion, and the third is post-war. Act I shows a common healthy small town life, something like the calm before the storm. It includes a lively wedding scene for Steven (played by John Savage), one of the three close friends, and who ended up being the more fragile of the three. Mike (played by Robert DeNiro), proves to be the strongest of the three, and who tries to provide leadership and strength during all three acts. Nick (played by Christopher Walken) seems to be the middle of the three as far as physical and mental toughness. Linda (played by Meryl Streep) is an important supporting character and defining community member.
Another common feature was the frequent use of the "stag symbol." Sometimes during various searches for "Val Camonica"--for example zazzle.com--I find results that show Cernunnos imagery. The connection between Camunic culture and Cernic spirituality is strong. During two deer hunting scenes in the movie--which were filmed in the northern Cascade Mountains of Washington state--it reminded me of the Alps. During one of those scenes, Mike--the expert deer hunter--has a clear shot at a perfect male stag, and while looking at it, he decides to let it go. The young, full antlered buck then majestically scampers off into the trees with an ominous valley in the background. The powerful music is noteworthy during that scene. Clearly the "stag symbol" is shown in it's historical-allegorical context... as a symbol of masculinity and virility. A shot of a wall mounting of a deer head is even shown during a bedroom scene.
Act II takes place in Vietnam, where the three eventually all hook up together. There's a lot of violence and challenges to their sanity, courage, and nerves. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't go any further. One curious non-contrived scene showed Nick in an army facility recovering one day, when an officer of some rank came to speak with him--to evaluate him I think--as he sat on what seemed to be a second story balcony. After questioning him with not much response, the officer said his name and asked something like "is that Russian?" Nick nonchalantly responded "No. It's American." Personally, I took that as more of a reflection of the individual character and his experiences, rather than something objectively nationalistic.
The film flows along fairly easily, aside from the violent scenes. It's not the type of movie where you really have to worry a lot about missing some important dialogue. The characters were just who they were, and were just dealing with their circumstances the best that they could. There was nothing pretentious about them. They weren't trying to save the world or trying to make some kind of statement, and I think that's why it became so popular against what was initially expected of it.
On a lighter note, during the wedding scene--which was filmed inside of a Cleveland Russian Orthodox Church--I couldn't help but notice a woman who I think was only featured briefly. She appeared as a beautiful, gregarious, red-blooded, central/east-European-looking girl-next-door type, bridesmaid. Sometimes just a face, whether in reality or in art, can be a strong symbol of a time or place. She was someone they grew up with, went to school with, and was part of this sacred day... and shortly afterward they were in a strange far-away place fighting for their lives. I think that's what part of the subconscious message was. The Clairton scenes were filmed in Ohio; and the Vietnam scenes in Thailand.
'The Deer Hunter'
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 British-American war drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino about a trio of Russian American steelworkers and their infantry service in the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, Meryl Streep, and George Dzundza. The story takes place in Clairton, a small working class town on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh and then in Vietnam, somewhere in the woodland and in Saigon, during the Vietnam War.
The film was based in part on an unproduced screenplay called The Man Who Came to Play by Louis Garfinkle and Quinn K. Redeker about Las Vegas and Russian Roulette. Producer Michael Deeley, who bought the script, hired writer/director Michael Cimino who, with Deric Washburn, rewrote the script, taking the Russian Roulette element and placing it in the Vietnam War. The film went over-budget and over-schedule and ended up costing $15 million. The scenes of Russian roulette were highly controversial on release.
The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and was named by the American Film Institute as the 53rd Greatest Movie of All Time on the 10th Anniversary Edition of the AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list.
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This is just our first look at something which is a large area of study for us. That being the migration of immigrants from the Valle Camonica to Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Many men were employed in the mining industry, something that Camunians had much experience with.
The arms and weapons manufacturing industry was very big in Brescia for many centuries. They armed the Venetian Empire, which they were a part of, and don't forget Beretta firearms (founded in 1526).
I mainly just wanted to give our friend in Italy, Pier Luigi, a chance to put a feeler out there for his genealogical research.
I suspect it's possible that this Western Pennsylvania city's most famous native, football great Joe Montana, is of Camunian descent. His father's original surname spelling is something like "Montagna" or Italian for "mountain," further suggesting Camonica heritage. I think Pier Luigi was trying to say that there are descendants living there that he and his genealogy group (Circolo Culturale Ghislandi) would like to communicate with.
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Looking for my ancestors
I'm a grandson of an Italian immigrant in Monongahela, Pennsylvania in the 19th century. I am looking for Italian people that now live in Monongahela because I and my cultural circle are interested in searching for our grandfathers who immigrated there. Can anyone help me? My name is Pier Luigi Milani and I live in a little town of Malegno, in Valley Camonica, Brescia (country), Lombardia, near to Milano in Italy. My Grandpa was Luigi Milani, dead in Monongahela or Pittsburg in 1914 and buried in Pittsburg. Also many other immigrants from Malegno are living in Monongahela. If anyone has information, please e-mail me.
My E-mail is milanipl@tin.it
Thank you, Pier Luigi Milani
Monongahela, Pennsylvania Community News
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We also want to know much more about this unfolding history. Once again, the link to Pier Luigi's genealogy circle:
Circola Culturale Ghislandi
