A fire produced by friction of wood against wood or rope on a stake. It was used as a magickal tool against disease. For example, cattle would be driven through it to fight the disease known as murrain. In some Pagan traditions a need fire was used to kindle a bonfire at Beltane.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...