legelés

Legelés refers to a traditional form of folk magic or healing practiced in certain rural communities, particularly in Eastern Europe. It often involves the use of herbs, incantations, and specific rituals to address ailments, ward off evil spirits, or influence events. The practitioners, often elderly women known as "baba" or "vedma," are believed to possess special knowledge passed down through generations.

The practices associated with legelés can vary significantly depending on the region and the specific tradition. Common elements include the preparation of herbal remedies, brewing teas, and applying poultices. Chanting or reciting specific phrases is also a crucial component, intended to imbue the remedy or ritual with power. These incantations are often in local dialects and can be quite intricate.

Legelés is typically concerned with everyday problems such as illness, infertility, relationship issues, or agricultural concerns. It operates within a worldview where the spiritual and physical realms are closely interconnected, and where unseen forces can play a significant role in human life. While viewed with skepticism by modern medicine, legelés continues to hold cultural significance in some areas, offering a sense of continuity and a connection to ancestral beliefs and practices. Its effectiveness is often attributed to a combination of psychosomatic effects, the medicinal properties of the herbs used, and the strong belief of the recipient.