Our eternal search
for answers has given us superstitions
and wives tales.
One such wives tale concerns a caul which
is a thin intricate
inner fetal membrane that covers the
head of a newborn
at birth. Many believe that a child born
with a caul is
either cursed or singled out for a special
life. Of
course, having a special life could be a curse in
itself!
But why are some babies born with cauls and others
not? The
thin inner fetal membrane usually separates itself
during childbirth
but in some rare cases the membrane
remains intact.
There are full and partial cauls. A full
caul has the
membrane that encases the head from the top to
just along the
chin and jaw line. A partial caul is from
the top of the
head to the top of the cheek bones and tip of
the nose.
Because of how the caul covers the face, it is
as if the child
is wearing a very delicate veil.
The wives tale,
created perhaps to calm a hysterical mother,
tells us that
the baby is singled out for a special life,
will be protected
from drowning, and has special divination
abilities.
Sailors from as far back as Ancient Roman times
sought to purchase
cauls believing that if they wore them in
an amulet bag
around their necks this would be enough to
protect them
from drowning. It was also felt that the caul
should be kept
with the child to insure his/her life is one
full of good
luck and fortune. A child would be cursed if
the caul were
mistreated or lost.
Some believe that
"cauled" children have the ability to see
behind the veil
of life and death and that they can
communicate with
the dead and intuitively know things. With
these psychic
abilities one would hope for a special life.
However, for
some they feel they are cursed. Their knowing
something is
going to happen, hearing voices, or seeing
entities is frightening
to them and their loved ones. Pat
from Bloomington,
Indiana was born with a partial caul and
has fought years
to suppress her special abilities. The
whispers she
hears and what she attributes as coincidental
déjà
vu has driven her to close herself off. Her mother
declines to speak
about anything supernatural including her
daughters abilities.
These abilities, she claims are
doorways for
evil to enter and destroy her daughter. Pat's
children are
aware of their mothers abilities and has stated
that on numerous
occasions they have seen their mother pause
and look off
as if listening to someone, move her head and
resume her tasks
This rare oddity
is still happening today. There are
numerous questions
about cauls and what should mothers do
for their children.
The wives tales are becoming lost with
time and each
generation. One would have to ask if there is
any merit to
the wives tales? Or was they wives tale
created to give
a birthing mother peace of mind? I know how
it is to go and
look at your child and count the toes,
fingers, ears,
and nose. A physical oddity such as a caul
would be terrifying
to any mother. Then I have to think
back to Pat who
can find misplaced keys and be at the phone
before it rings.
Know who is calling before she answers.
No one else in
this family has the ability.
by Charla@theshadowlands.net
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