The Hidden Powers of the Silver Vial

Throughout history men and women have had to find ways to hide various objects on their bodies in order to escape detection. This could encompass anything from a secret messages during wartime to secret potions guaranteed to make a man or a woman fall in love. Within these files could be hidden crystals for protection or the ingredients for a card. The vial has lost neither its appeal nor its mystery in today’s society, and is now making a comeback as a sober accessory item.

Vials today are worn more for aesthetic purposes than practicality. Vials come in all shapes and sizes, from crystals to empty containers, and there is a vial to suit every taste. A vial worn at the throat will immediately garner interest and curiosity, as in the grand spirit of not being able to mind their own business everyone will want to know what is hidden within the vial. This is an excellent way to get a date!

A vial may serve a practical purpose as well, for those who find it necessary. It may hold epinephrine pills for those who are allergic or special memoirs for those who have had to say goodbye. (Remember the infamous lock of hair given by women of the court to their champions (and vice versa) throughout history? A vial hung at the throat is an infamous location for hiding the lock of hair of a loved one.) Aside from a lock of hair a vial will hold a scroll, a small piece of jewelry, a photo or any other small piece of memorabilia. Since they can be purchased or created in almost any size it is simply a matter of matching the vial with the object you wish for it to hold.

Vials may be worn for metaphysical purposes as well. Vials were particular favorites of witches and powerful sorcerers in the fairy tales for hiding powerful poisons and other ingredients for their charms and spells. A cailleach may give a woman who was having difficultly conceiving a child a vial containing a potion to wear around her neck to ward off the evil spirits of infertility. A man going off to war may carry a crystal vial containing turquoise or obsidian for courage and protection made by his wife. Those who were more superstitious would often wear vials filled with holy water or garlic to ward off the vampires that lurked in the shadows, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims.
Modern day witches will use vials for these same purposes; to keep within them charms for protection for the wearer, or a spell to help them achieve their heart’s desire.

Doubtless the more skeptical would laugh at the possibility of a vail containing magical spells, calling it the nonsense of an old woman (regardless of the age of the giver.) Whether it is believed that the vial special powers or not it is still highly in vogue in the fashion world. They can be gothic or classic, crystal or metal. Whatever the case their appeal is as widespread now as it was in the days of King Arthur.