I collect information the way crows collect shiny things! Historically, this impulse to collect the weird and wonderful found expression in cabinets of curiosities: precursors of modern museums assembled by aristocrats, explorers, and early scientists. While I acknowledge the devastating context of colonialism* in which these cabinets were assembled, I share the deep sense of awe and wonder that motivated their creators. And so:

Welcome to my own cabinet of curiosities—facts, quotes, and oddments about pretty much everything!

I’m in Newfoundland right now, spotting wildlife and soaking up the justifiably-famous scenery. But did you know that Newfoundland’s Memorial University also has the best folklore department in Canada? It’s true – and here’s a snippet from Dr. Barbara Reiti’s fascinating book on Newfoundland’s witch lore:

And ‘wishing’ is, after all, not so different from praying, especially when intensity is related to outcome. All the religions taught the efficacy of prayer, and that is perhaps their greatest collective contribution to witch lore. For if a person can pray hard enough to ‘get an answer’ – that is, a result – then maybe he or she could will other things to happen as well; at least it must have occurred to some people to try a secular version of moving whatever invisible powers that might be.

* For more info on historical cabinets of curiosities, check out these articles:

Smithsonian Mag: How Cabinets of Curiosities Laid the Foundation for Modern Museums

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-cabinets-of-curiosities-laid-the-foundation-for-modern-museums-180983265/

Sotheby’s Institute of Art: Cabinets of Curiosities and the Origin of Collecting

https://www.sothebysinstitute.com/news-and-events/news/cabinets-of-curiosities-and-the-origin-of-collecting

Art & Object: The Cabinet of Curiosities & Colonialism

https://www.artandobject.com/news/cabinet-curiosities-colonialism