Birth Order and Healing Powers

Folk healers, unlike our modern medical physicians, believe they have been led to the work of healing by a divine call. The powers of these folk healers were often considered much more important than the education of our doctors today. The belief that birth order contributes to the healing powers of an individual is still held by many today.

Birth Order and Healing Powers - The Seventh Son (Or Daughter)

Can circumstances of birth really determine healing powers? There is no proof but many people believe this is true. Probably the most popular birth indication of healing is being the seventh son of a seventh son. These sons were often nicknamed "Doc" in the not so distant past. Women are also included in this belief. Gypsy's believe that the seventh daughters are especially gifted in the art of fortune telling.

Healing powers that have been attributed to seventh children include the ability to stop bleeding and cure severe coughs such as whooping cough or thrush. These were once common medical problems and as such, seventh children were revered for their supposed healing powers.

The powers of the seventh children were not limited to healing powers. In France, it was often believed that a seventh child has the gift of clairvoyance or other psychic powers. And talents of music have been attributed to these seventh children as well.

Birth Order and Healing Powers - Post-Humous Children

Being born after the death of your father would make you a post-humous child. This birth order is also said to give healing powers. In some places, the same healing powers are attributed to post-humous children and those children who have never seen their fathers for any other reason.

There is also a folk belief that thrush can be healed by seven sips of water from the shoe of a post-humous child. This is an interesting link between post-humous children and the power of seven.

Birth Order and Healing Powers - The Caul

Being born with a caul is said to convey the most powerful healing powers upon the child. A caul is a piece of the membrane that covers the fetus in the womb. A baby born with this caul on its head has long been believed to have special, even magical, healing powers.

Strangely enough, it was also thought that the caul itself had the power to protect the owner from evil spirits. Cauls were bought and sold through the nineteenth century for this very purpose.