The Ford family curse refers to a supposed curse that is said to haunt the descendants of Henry Ford, the American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. The curse is believed to have started with Henry Ford's only son, Edsel Ford, who took over the company after his father's death but died at a young age due to stomach cancer. Some people believe that this tragedy set off a series of unfortunate events that have plagued the Ford family ever since. According to the legend, the curse has caused a string of accidents, illnesses, and premature deaths among the Ford family members. Many of these incidents are seen as mysterious and inexplicable, further fueling the belief in the curse. Some notable examples include the deaths of Edsel Ford's two grandsons, Peter Ford and William Ford Jr.
Moonflower was intentionally planted in gardens. It grows from both seeds and stem fragments which can be spread by water or dumped garden waste.
The name means Beautiful Woman, and in the Victorian era, when the look of death was popular young women would use small bits of the plant to create dark circles around the eyes and to achieve pale skin. Datura, Belladonna, Henbane and mandrake contain Atropine, Scopolamine, and Hyoscyamine which has been used in modern medicine for several different reasons.
Some notable examples include the deaths of Edsel Ford's two grandsons, Peter Ford and William Ford Jr., who both died in auto accidents. In addition, Edsel Ford II, another grandson of Henry Ford, has faced numerous personal and professional challenges throughout his life.
Moon
Since ancient times, the moon has been associated with woman and her fertility, monthly cycle, powers of nurturing and powers of darkness. The moon, ruler of the night and the mysteries of the dark, represents wetness, moisture, intuition, emotion, tides, the psychic, moods and madness. It embodies time, for its phases provided humankind with the first calendar. In contemporary Witchcraft, the moon is the source of Witches’ power, drawn down from the sky; it is the worker of Magic. The Great Goddess, the mother Goddess, the AllDewy-One, is at her most formidable and potent as lunar deity.
In the earliest primitive times, the moon was viewed as the source of fertility of all things. Its light was considered indispensable for abundant harvests, large flocks and herds and human fecundity. It was believed that women were made pregnant by moonbeams. Women who desired children slept under the light of the moon; those who did not resorted to crude charms, such as rubbing their bellies with spittle to avoid swelling like the waxing of the moon.
Since antiquity, lunar phases have governed all facets of life. The waxing moon is auspicious for crop planting and new endeavors, for luck and increasing; the waning moon is a time of diminishing and destruction. Lunar phases have governed magical rituals for the creation and consecration of magical tools, the summoning of spirits, the preparations of remedies and charms and the castings of spells. One cut one’s Hair and Nails, entered into marriages and business arrangements, let blood and traveled according to the phases of the moon. The moon was believed to govern the humors, the moisture in the body and brain. In 1660 one English astrologer declared that children born at the full moon would never be healthy but ran the risk of moonstruck madness, or lunacy. Folklore beliefs about the moon persist to the present day. The moon still influences magic rites.
The cycle of woman’s menstruation is tied to the lunar phases. In many cultures, the words for “moon” and “menstruation” are the same or very similar (see blood).
The Moon as person and deity.
The moon was primarily a power and a force until about 2600 b.C.e., when it became personified in middle Eastern civilizations as the man in the moon or the Great man. During his waning, the man in the moon was eaten by a dragon and went down into the underworld. He rose anew as his son. The moon also was believed to incarnate on Earth as a king; some lines of kings claimed to be the representatives of the moon and wore horned headdresses. Eventually, the man in the moon was replaced by the deity of the moon, who was first a god, then a goddess. The lunar goddess was the Great Goddess, the giver of all things in her waxing phase and the destroyer of all things in her waning phase. She took on the fertilizing power of the moon and was the protector of women. As destroyer, she could bring storms, particularly heavy rains, and floods.
The lunar gods and goddesses were portrayed with crescent moons, the auspicious symbol of the waxing and lucky moon. The Great Goddess was associated with the Cow, goat and bull, whose horns represented the crescent or horned moon.
To the Greeks, the goddess Selene once was the sole lunar goddess. Selene was replaced by Artemis (Diana) and Hecate. The true power of the moon resided in Hecate, who ruled the waning and dark moon, the time when the moon slipped into the underworld and ghosts and spirits walked the earth. Hecate became known as the Three-Headed Hecate, whose triple aspects combined Selene, Artemis and Hecate. The witches of Thessaly were said to be able to draw down the power of the moon from the sky. In myth, Aphrodite taught her son, Jason, “how to draw down the dark moon” whenever he needed magic.
The Moon in Witchcraft.
In contemporary Witchcraft, worship of the Goddess is associated with the moon. The consort of the Goddess is the Horned God, the god of the woodlands, whose horns represent both the beasts of nature and the horned moon. The activities and magic workings of a Witch or Coven are timed according to the phases of the moon. most covens meet at the full moon; some also meet at the new moon. The moon is personified by a triple aspect of the Goddess, usually Diana (the roman name is more common than the Greek name, Artemis), the Virgin, who rules the new and waxing moon; Selene, the matron, who rules the full moon; and Hecate, the Crone, who rules the waning and dark moon. magic for healing, gain, luck and increase is done during the waxing moon. magical power is greatest on nights of the full moon, particularly at midnight. magic for binding, banishing and eliminating is done during the waning phase.
The power of the moon also is drawn down for a trance ritual called DrAwIng Down the moon, in which the high priestess invokes the spirit of the Goddess into her so that She may speak to her followers.
Some feminist witches have a ritual of howling at the moon in order to connect with the primitive power of the Goddess within.
The moon is associated with the metal Silver, favoured by Witches for its properties as an amulet (see Amulets) and as an enhancer of psychic powers.
SEE ALSO:
- Witchcraft Glossary
- Witchcraft
FURTHER READING:
- Crowley, Vivianne. Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millennium. revised ed. London: Thorsons/Harper Collins, 1996.
- Guiley, roseMary Ellen. Moonscapes: A Celebration of Lunar Astronomy, Magic, Legend and Lore. New York: PrenticeHall, 1991.
- Green, Marian. A Witch Alone: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic. London: Thorsons/Harper Collins, 1991.
- Starhawk. The Spiral Dance. revised ed. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1989.
Datura comes in many variety of species. Of these I have personally worked with, D. stramonium commonly called Jimsom weed. D. inoxia, which is commonly called Moonflower (see blog about confusing Moonflowers here) D. metele, which have beautiful white and purple blooms, and D. Wrightii which is often called Sacred Datura. Datura contains several alkaloids classified as tropanes. Many Solanaceae plants contain Solanine which is a glycoside. This causes symptoms such as headache, vomiting, and coma if ingested. Datura, Belladonna, Henbane and mandrake contain Atropine, Scopolamine, and Hyoscyamine which has been used in modern medicine for several different reasons. However this does not mean that you can also just use the plant for medicine. It is incredibly more complicated than that. These alkaloids are contained in the seeds and blooms of the Datura plant. Datura is a sacred plant and should be treated as such. Though used in Witches flying ointments they should be prepared with knowledge. Witches such as Sarah Lawless have brought the popularity of Traditional Flying ointments to the world of witchcraft. It has encouraged people like myself to come out of the closet and share their work with poison plants. Datura boasts beautiful purple or white flowers among rich green colored leaves and purple shaded stems. It has been sacred to witches, Mayans, and is still revered in modern day mexico and around the world. Personally I use Datura in my ointments and with magic. She is incredibly powerful, magically speaking and has a strong will, she does what she wants when she wants. However with respect she can be very powerful ally.
Despite the numerous tragedies and misfortunes that have befallen the Ford family, skeptics argue that these incidents can be explained by chance rather than a supernatural curse. They suggest that the Ford family's prominence and wealth make them more likely to experience public scrutiny, accidents, and health problems, similar to other influential families. Nevertheless, the Ford family curse has become an enduring urban legend, captivating the imagination of many people. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the uncertainties that can accompany great success. Whether or not the curse is real, it has undoubtedly contributed to the mystique and intrigue surrounding the Ford family..
Reviews for "The Ford Family Curse: How it Shaped American History"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with Ford Family Curse. The story was predictable, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on for too long while others were rushed. The plot twists were also underwhelming and lacked originality. Overall, I found the book to be lackluster and would not recommend it to others looking for a thrilling read.
2. John - 1 star
Ford Family Curse was a complete waste of time. The writing was poorly executed, with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures throughout. I struggled to connect with any of the characters as their motivations and actions felt forced and unrealistic. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. Additionally, the ending was unsatisfying and left many loose ends. I regret picking up this book and would advise others to steer clear.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for Ford Family Curse, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story felt repetitive and cliché, with nothing new or exciting to offer. The dialogue was stilted and lacked depth, making it difficult to engage with the characters. The pacing was off, with long stretches of inaction followed by sudden bursts of unnecessary action. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre at best and would not recommend it to avid readers in search of a captivating mystery.