The curse of bloodletting refers to the ancient medical practice of intentionally withdrawing blood from a patient's body. This practice, which dates back to thousands of years ago, was believed to restore balance and improve health. Bloodletting was commonly used in various cultures around the world, including ancient Greece, Egypt, and China. The theory behind bloodletting was based on the belief in the four humors, which were believed to govern a person's health and personality. According to this theory, the body was composed of four fluids – blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile – and any imbalance in these fluids could lead to illness. Bloodletting was thought to remove excess blood and restore the balance of these humors.
Smalley said she has been suprised by The Witching Hour's growth in the past year. The store sometimes has a hard time keeping certain products, such as oracle and tarot cards, in stock with its increasing customer base, she said.
She said she works on maintaining the store and running classes and events, such as Drag Shows, Spells with Tarot on Tarot Tuesdays and Hands On Water Infusions. The Witching Hour not only offers spiritual services but also aims to provide guests with unique opportunities to make their visit to the shop special, Smalley said.
Bloodletting was thought to remove excess blood and restore the balance of these humors. There were different methods of bloodletting employed throughout history. The most common method involved using a sharp instrument, such as a lancet or a knife, to make a small incision on a vein.
Local witchcraft store focuses on teaching magic, self-acceptance
Grayson Edwards | The Daily Gamecock Merchandise is placed against a wall at The Witching Hour on Oct. 4, 2023. The local small business is a spiritual shop, looking to educate people more about witchcraft.
October 9, 2023, 11:36pmPleasant bells, a light fragrant scent and a choice between coffee or tea are the first things that greet customers when they walk into Columbia store The Witching Hour.
The store, located on Rosewood Drive, educates aspiring witches and offers spiritual guidance for customers looking to learn more about magic, according to owner and practicing witch of six years, Kara Smalley.
Smalley uses The Witching Hour as a learning and teaching space. It includes many books and classes on grounding meditation, astrology and more for anyone who is interested in learning more about magic. Smalley said the store allows people to explore their desire to learn.
The store was originally an idea from Smalley, who set out to create a space she needed, to learn about magic and self-acceptance. Smalley said that she, after going through a period of discovery and learning more about witchcraft, decided to create a store that was a place for people to come and learn, while feeling safe and accepted.
Smalley said that while she is the only full-time employee, it has allowed her to develop a closer relationship with her customers. She said she works on maintaining the store and running classes and events, such as Drag Shows, Spells with Tarot on Tarot Tuesdays and Hands On: Water Infusions.
“I built a store based around everything that I believe and just in the aspect of you need a place to come and feel like you're home, and you're cared about and you're loved. And like no matter what comes out of your mouth, like no, we don't think you're crazy,” Smalley said.
Ashley Terry, a volunteer secretary and practicing witch, helps run the growing social media accounts, schedulings and any clerical needs. Terry has worked with The Witching Hour since its opening in April 2022 and said the store has worked to reinforce its belief in its mission.
“The mission of The Witching Hour is to reach out to the community and to educate," Terry said. "Our mission is to love and to accept all walks of life, no matter who you are, what you identify as or where you are in your practice. We welcome everyone and we will, we are willing to teach everyone."
Smalley said she has been suprised by The Witching Hour's growth in the past year. The store sometimes has a hard time keeping certain products, such as oracle and tarot cards, in stock with its increasing customer base, she said.
“The community has built so much over the last year and a half. It's insane. I've had what I guess would be my regulars and then my regulars, we don't even consider them regulars anymore. We just consider them family,” Smalley said. “I know you by your name when you come through the door. We're just like, 'Hey, how's the kids?' And that's exactly how I wanted the store to be, and it makes me so happy.”
Local artist Alicia Stuart is a regular customer at the Witching Hour. The store has done many things for her, including being a quiet and relaxing place to eat lunch, she said. Smalley and Terry have made her feel comfortable while selling her homemade oils and candles at The Witching Hour.
A few crystals hang from a tree at The Witching Hour on Oct. 4, 2023. Customers of the witchcraft store said they have enjoyed its mission to remove the stigma surrounding magic.
“I feel like Ashley and Cara try and actually get to know you on a personal level. That's how I feel about them, and that's what made me return because I've didn't experienced that before,” Stuart said. “And with them, like I said, it just felt like it was so welcoming, and like I could go over there and I can actually just sit down and talk with them.”
Stuart has been working with the store since last year. In the time she has been working with Smalley, Stuart said she has found a community in The Witching Hour unlike any she has had before.
The Witching Hour aims to create a safe space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, according to Smalley. Stuart said she has seen this reflected in the store as she said members from a variety of communities come to the store wanting to learn.
For her, The Witching Hour has been able to embed "self-love" into its store by throwing away any stigmatism surrounding witchcraft.
The Witching Hour not only offers spiritual services but also aims to provide guests with unique opportunities to make their visit to the shop special, Smalley said. One way they do this is by hiding ceramic frogs for customers to find, creating a competition between guests.
“We hide little 3D-printed wizard frogs around the shop. We have three of them: Melvin, Maven and Morticia. And if you find a frog while you're out on the floor, you get a discount off an item if you decide to buy something, but you also get to re-hide the frogs and it has gotten so competitive,” Smalley said.
The Witching Hour hopes to continue expanding and growing its customer base by making its services and products available online, Smalley said. The store will debut a website later in October.
Smalley said it will be beneficial to the store in making its products more accessible to customers, as well as growing people's knowledge.
“There's general things for your practice, there's going to be like really cool incense burners, herbs that you can order," Smalley said. "The biggest thing is my tarot and oracle decks because they never stay in stock … But the books, the oracle and the tarot will always be available online now and that makes me really happy.”
The Witching Hour offers Tarot Tuesdays, drag shows and tea parties. The store has two upcoming events, Hands On: Water Infusions on Oct. 24. and Tarot Tuesday: Tarot Curses on Oct. 17, that is open to anyone in the community. More information can be found on The Witching Hour's website.
The Witching Hour is located on 2763 Rosewood Drive and is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, as well as 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“The community has built so much over the last year and a half. It's insane. I've had what I guess would be my regulars and then my regulars, we don't even consider them regulars anymore. We just consider them family,” Smalley said. “I know you by your name when you come through the door. We're just like, 'Hey, how's the kids?' And that's exactly how I wanted the store to be, and it makes me so happy.”
Sometimes, leeches were used to suck blood from the patient's body. Bloodletting could also be performed by cupping, which involved creating a vacuum seal on the skin using glass cups or animal horns to draw blood to the surface. For centuries, bloodletting was widely practiced by physicians, even though it often caused more harm than good. The procedure itself could cause excessive bleeding, infections, and other complications. Many patients died as a result of bloodletting, as their bodies were weakened by the loss of blood and open wounds. Despite the risks, bloodletting remained a commonly accepted medical practice until the 19th century. It was during this time that scientific advancements and the discovery of germs challenged the validity of bloodletting. The practice gradually fell out of favor as more effective medical treatments emerged. Today, the curse of bloodletting is seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of medical practices that are based on superstition rather than scientific evidence. It serves as a reminder of how easily misguided beliefs can lead to harm and suffering. Fortunately, modern medicine has made tremendous progress in understanding the human body and developing evidence-based treatments that improve health outcomes..
Reviews for "Breaking the Cycle of Vlodletting: Hope for the Cursed"
1. John - 1 star
Curse of Vlodletting was an absolute disaster. The plot was convoluted and made no sense whatsoever. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, as they were poorly developed and lacked depth. The acting was horrible, with stiff performances that felt forced. The special effects were laughable and felt like something out of a low-budget 90s film. I found myself constantly checking the time, hoping for this movie to be over. Save your money and skip this one.
2. Samantha - 2 stars
I had high hopes for Curse of Vlodletting, but it fell flat in so many ways. The pacing was off, with slow moments that dragged on for what felt like eternity, followed by rushed and confusing scenes. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, filled with clichés and cheesy one-liners. The jump scares were predictable and lacked any real impact. The filmmakers seemed to rely on gore and shock value rather than creating a gripping and suspenseful atmosphere. Overall, Curse of Vlodletting was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a quality horror film.
3. Mark - 1 star
Curse of Vlodletting was a complete waste of time. The story was unoriginal and offered nothing new to the horror genre. The acting was subpar, with wooden performances that failed to evoke any emotions. The scares were cheap and relied heavily on loud sound effects and sudden movements. The film lacked any real substance or depth, leaving me uninterested and uninvested in what was happening on the screen. I was bored throughout the entire movie and couldn't wait for it to be over. Do yourself a favor and avoid Curse of Vlodletting at all costs.
4. Emily - 2 stars
While Curse of Vlodletting had some potential, it ultimately fell short. The concept was intriguing, but the execution left much to be desired. The film was filled with horror movie clichés and predictable plot twists. The characters made questionable decisions that were frustrating to watch. The editing was choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the narrative. I was hoping for a thrilling and atmospheric horror movie, but instead, I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. I wish I had spent my time and money on a better film.