Just What Is Braucherei? (Pow-Wow)

Pow-Wow (Braucherei)  is a Pennsylvania Dutch German Magickal System based on a blend of High German Magick, Southern Country Philosophy, Pre-Christian Pagan practices, Gypsy influence, and Native American herbal cures for the ailments of human and beast, the seen and unseen, medicinal and…otherwise.  Pow-Wow is a unique system that relies on one’s belief and the manipulation of energy by means of what we now understand to be the quantum physics of the mind.

The system of Braucherei (PowWow) works regardless of the practitioners preference in religion because of its simple and powerful foundation — belief.  If you believe, really believe, then powwow works.   If you don’t believe, if you doubt, it doesn’t work.  Likewise, if the client believes what you work for will come to pass, then so it will.  If the client does not believe, success may be long in coming, limited, or never arrive at all.  Therefore, it is vitally important that you, as the PowWow practitioner learn to work within the framework of the religious system of the client.  And, as an aside, we use the word client loosely here, as historically, most workings are done for barter or donation.  Braucherei is a system born of quantum physics.  It requires no religion.  It only demands belief.  Belief is the main foundation of the system — without it, the system fails.

 I have been a Braucher for over twenty years, trained by Preston Zerbe, who was taught by Gertie Guise.  I've also been fortunate enough to learn from a currently living Pow-Wow who was raised in Lancaster County and now resides in Cumberland County.  Including touring the country and speaking about Braucherei at seminars and classes I have also written a book on the subject, and have taught many people how to use the system as I understand it.  There is no initiation into the system — success is derived from a true desire to help family, friends, and the human condition in general.  

What Type of Magick did a Typical Pow-Wow Do?

You name it, they did it.

However, it is important to note that not all Brauchers performed all types of magick (which is where confusion sets in when doing research).  Some Pow-Wow's focused strictly on healing work within a limited scope.  For example, a lady on Elm Street may only have been famous for stopping blood, and the gentleman across town may have been very good at blowing out the fire (treating burns) but practiced nothing else.  On the other hand, the woman in the next county did everything from marriage magick and fertility spells to cursing your cows.  Some practitioners solely concentrated on Bible verses, others on a mixture of Pagan chants and biblical psalms, and then there were those who used a wide varity of techniques from an interesting array of material available to them at the time.  Some heavily used herbal cures, where others wouldn't touch them.  There were Brauchers who practiced Water Witching and Grave Dowsing, and those who talked to the beloved dead.  Practitioners could be gloriously colorful or downright pious.  In essence, just as you are an individual with your own belief system, religion, interests and abilities -- so were they. 

As most Pow-Wow's practiced alone, their techniques were a direct reflection of their personalities, their status within the community, their education, and their own opinions on what divinity was...and wasn't.  This statement stands true today. 

 

 

Although there is some evidence that Brauchers talked to each other about their techniques, if money was involved, practices similar, and proximity close, conflicts did occur, as evidenced in the transcripts of the Hex Murder Trial in York County in the late twenties.  Reading through the trial transcripts housed at the York County Archives gives an incredibly insightful picture of Pow-Wow practices from three sides:  The Practitioner, The Client, and The Outsider.  Newspaper articles (althoughly not expressly reliable because they were mostly about opinions and not actual practices) gives you the flavor of the times and lets you put your mental hand on the heartbeat of the community.  If you are unable to visit the archives, a book written by J. Ross McGinnis entitled Trials of Hex is available through Davis/Trinity Publishing Company.  This book gives an excellent overview of the trial, complete transcripts, and a good one-two punch at the sensationalism of the media.

  

Yes, Braucherei Lives On Today -- Although We Are Few and Far Between

And, just like in yester-years we are still separated -- by opinion, by faith, by practice and sometimes (just like our predessesors) by ego.