Lemuria

Esoteric and historical meaning

Domestic exorcism of the lemures, the restless and unburied dead. An archaic and apotropaic night ritual performed by the pater familias.

Operative mechanics — ritual acts

• ·At midnight, barefoot, nine black beans are thrown over the shoulder without looking back.
• ·One recites nine times: «with these beans I redeem myself and mine».
• ·Bronze is struck to dismiss the shadows.