Emporiblog - Keys

Hello all! Today we're going to look at something I'm surprised we haven't already covered: keys!!!

The History of Keys - Quick Version 

The oldest believed example of a key and it's accompanying lock system was found in the ruins of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (which is now part of modern day Iraq and Syria) and is around 6000 years old. These security systems were made of wood with the keys looking a bit like toothbrushes with a diagonal handle and pegs that corresponded with the lock. Other examples of this ancient type of lock have been found throughout the world such as in the Faroe Islands, Norway and Japan. It was also commonly used in Ancient Egypt.

However, these systems were very flawed. They were easily broken, picked as most keys were almost exactly the same and only opened from one side. It was the Romans that gave us metal locks and keys or Ward Locks. Locks were typically made of iron and keys were usually brass. This made them more durable and also allowed the keys to be shaped individually to correspond with specific projections in the lock. 

Further advancements were made in the Dark and Middle Ages as well as in the Renaissance with the Dark and Middle Ages advancing in smithing more complex locks and keys. The 1700s and 1800s gave us the first double acting tumbler lock courtesy of Robert Barron and Joseph Bramah. Jeremiah Chubb further improved apon the design and Joseph Bramah later stuck out on his own with his own design, which is still used today. 

Now onto the witchcraft....

Keys (and locks) can be used for several things in the Craft, including but not limited to:

- Opening doors/Pathways 

- Locking and Unlocking 

- Releasing and Confining 

- Goal achievement 

- Protection (Iron is best)

- Good luck 

- Deity offerings (e.g Hekate and Hades) 

The number of keys and the material is also said to enhance certain properties. The most common keys used are iron keys and/or skeleton keys. 

Specific keys can also help you focus your Spellwork:

- House keys for workings pertaining to the home 

- Car keys for car specific workings 

- Keys with hearts for love/relationship workings 

If you require a specific key but don't have one, you can make one out clay, carve one out of wood or cut out a paper key, which may be the easier option depending on what your intentions are

Rusted keys can also be used in Spellwork to break things down, weaken things or symbolise things decaying though I would say this dips into baneful territory and be careful with handling rust!

I think we'll leave this here! I really enjoyed this one as I used to collect keys, maybe my younger self was trying to tell me something....

Blessings,

C )0(