I was asked today about Curses and how you can detect if a curse has been put on someone but I don't know what advice or help I can give my friend.

Is there anything I can tell him?

Sorry to be so vague about it but it was asked of me in confidence.

Generally I'd say look at the symptoms of the person. Are they suffering some kind of unexplained illness, especially one that seems to be sapping their strength and vitality? Or perhaps they're suffering a long run of bad luck, or are plagued by constant nightmares.

I've never tried this myself, but I once head that if you leave half an onion in a room you suspect to be hosting a malevolent entity and it turns black, that's a sign there's something nasty around.

It's extreme bad luck which is plaguing him and his wife. I know where they believe it has originated but thats quite harsh in itself because it would be Russia.

Just incase it's necessary, is there anything useful on the net about the gypsies from Russia?

There is a famous Gypsy curse that goes:-

"May you wander over the face of the earth forever, never sleep twice in the same bed,never drink water twice from the same well and never cross the same river twice in the same year".

I think we get the drift of this one.

The problem with Gypsy curses is that they will be differant each time so hard to know how to counter.

If these people who seem afficted know who may of sent it helps. There are many protection/ curse lifting spells out there and this may help.

Heh, I can smell a rat coming my way the instant that nasty thought even enters their head. Of course, by the time they realize this, it's already too late. Take no prisoners.

Choosing the safer option Woozle makes mental note to always agree with Quasi's posts!

About a year ago a close friend of mine (who is an experienced practitioner and has been practising 15 years +) inadvertantly affected/infected herself by trying to lift a curse from another. She successfully removed bad luck, negativity and illness (pleurisy) from the woman in question but it seemed to attatch to her including the pluerasy (putting my friend in hospital) and it took us another two moons to free her from it. Just goes to show even someone who knows what they're doing needs to be really careful.

If the person in question has ability themselves maybe you could teach/help/assist them in removing it themselves. (not as risky for you).
Sometimes also the simplest things can be the most effective. Candle magic Burning through the knots of a thread which has been bound around a candle whilst thinking of the curse it represents over the course of 7 nights (moon waning) can be as powerful as the intention. Banishing oil can lend extra strength to this.

Otherwise if you are looking for a specific way to lift it you're going to need to find out exactly who, what, why etc and decide whether you want to involve yourself in it because i'm sure when we do these things for others we do add our own energy to the equation and that it can have repercussions. i would want to be really certain my friend had done no wrong for that curse to have been put there in the first place before involving myself. I think if it was me i would cast a circle or have some time alone in nature to look for some answers and some guidance before proceeding with anything.

Just my thoughts anyways. all the best with it hope things go favourably for you.
BBs Lantern_Light

I've absolutely no clue how much information you might find on Roma magic; as I understand it, their traditions are quite secretive. However, do remember you don't need to use the same magical sysyem to lift a curse as was used to place it.

Curses! They usually dont work unless the person has been told they are cursed, so its the persons fear that does any actual damage, too busy looking around for bad luck and walk under a car, sort of thing!
But there are things that can be done on a Psychological level, put up mirrors to deflect, cleanse the person Aura by Smudging, have a bath with sea salt in it and some Holy Water if you can get it. Salt across doorways and a protection talisman of some sort, should do it!

A friend of mine is really friendly with a woman from Russia who told her that russian/Estonia etc witches advertise in the papers and they'll do really nasty stuff for money no problems

Oh no, CS! Not the Holy Water - pleeeeese - it BURNS!

Bless/magic limes with purity, banishing and cleansing. Carve symbols in the rind to boost the power. Bathe in the juice and leave on for a bit if possible before washing off.

Did that once when was having difficulties. Was like bathing in hypo, but felt so much better afterwards

I am very lucky. I'm not to talk about it, but the part I can say, is that apparently I am an actively lucky penny for other people.

This doesn't mean I am able to lift curses (I'm not a particularly proficient witch!) as it unintentional, so there is no responsibility attached to this, I am glad to say!

:-)

All you have to do is give me money... No I'm kidding. Apparently it happens naturally through interaction. Oh, and my lucky pennines s doesn't work for me!!! :-I