Exorcism

In Search of a Wisewoman

Exorcism from the Ancient Greek word ‘ex’ - out of + ‘horkos’ - oath = exorkismos’ - binding by oath, the ritual to evict malevolent entities such as demons or evil spirits from a person, object or location using authorative commands or holy invocations. This concept predates Christianity and were prevalent in Mesopotamia as far back as the first millenium BCE where healers and scholars performed intricate rites to drive away demons believed to cause illness or misfortune.

Like many of my era, girls received gender based courses in Home Economics where nutrition, cooking and sewing were taught and for which I remain grateful well into my dotage for my acquired skillset. Coming from a clan of “foodies” I excell at cooking and even though I know how to sew, I have never either enjoyed nor been good at it. Economics has been the redline throughout my history where I have been compelled to haul out the sewing machine for all and sundry projects, Recently, I made drapes and decorative pillows for my renovation that are best not carefully inspected. I honestly believe the moment I lift the sewing machine from its lair, it begins to chortle along the lines of “ Let’s see what she says when we do this!” It occured to me an exorcism in the mode of a servicing might expunge the mean spiritedness I had cause to believe dwelt therein.

Nothing is cheap these days in any service one requires but I paid the related piper and fetched my sewing machine back from having its innards cleaned and inspected. I have chosen to sneak up on it by waiting another day before I tackle my next project. It’s beastly hot and my tendency to utter oaths are exacerbated, but I live in hope that the resident mischief has tired of me and was lubricated out of its nest. To be continued.