(Seguloth - Goraloth - Chochmath HaYad).

Kabbalistic treatises pertaining to palmistry and craniology, along with various charms, potions and folk remedies. Written by Yoseph Besh”t (Ba’al Shem Tov) of Visoki, Lithuania (see ff. 117b, 139a and 160a). This manual of “practical kabbalah,” is focused on the manipulation of the spherical powers to affect the physical world. Jewish “white” magic was based largely upon the manipulation of the sacred, esoteric names of God and the angels. Those who knew its secrets, were known as “Ba’alei Shem,” as per the scribe of the present manuscript. The content includes folk-treatments against various social, physical and metaphysical maladies, including concerns relating to: infertility, difficulty in childbirth, loveless marriages, depression and despondency; to medical matters concerning toothache, constipation, diarrhea, animal bites and a host of other disorders as enumerated in the final two page index. Also see ff. 103a-114b for an alphabetical list of all afflictions. Other highlights are detailed instructions as to how to chase away an evil spirit from a sick person (ff. 11-12); determining how long a person is expected to live (f. 39b) and much more. R. Eliyahu Ba’al Shem is cited on f. 190a.