conjure-magic
The use of graveyard dirt, herbs, and symbolic objects as ingredients and tools in African American folk magic practices, which Tansy secretly collects and uses.
2 chapters across 1 book
Conjure Wife (1953)Fritz Leiber
Norman Saylor, a sociology instructor at Hempnell College, reflects on his seemingly secure and successful life, largely shaped by his wife Tansy's subtle influence and their adaptation to the conservative academic environment. However, his playful curiosity leads him to discover Tansy's secret collection of items used in conjure magic, revealing a hidden dimension to her character and challenging the trust and rationality underpinning their marriage.
In Chapter 2, Norman Saylor confronts his wife Tansy about her secret use of conjure magic, which she has employed to protect him and his career amidst social hostility. Despite Norman's rational skepticism and urging to abandon these superstitions as neurotic rituals, Tansy resists due to her deep psychological dependence on the charms for safety, ultimately agreeing to destroy them, symbolizing a painful but necessary break from her magical protections and a fragile truce in their marital conflict.