Skeleton Keys: Folklore and Magic in the Thresholds We Keep
Why do I always sell keys at the booth?
Keys are not just objects and unique decor, but thresholds rooted in folklore history.
Across cultures, keys have long been symbols of mystery, power, and transformation. A key can open or close, protect or release; it is a portal object that connects us to what’s hidden, what’s possible, and what’s sacred.
In ancient Greek myth, Hecate, goddess of liminal space and sorcery, holds the key to what’s hidden: crossroads, underworlds, psychic knowing. A key placed on her altar honors her role as the guardian of doors and veils, the one who can grant access to hidden truths or bar the path to what must remain secret.
In Eastern European folk magic, keys were powerful tools of both protection and binding. Some traditions buried keys to tether or banish restless spirits, tucked them beneath thresholds to guard homes against harmful forces, or used them in divination to reveal secrets otherwise concealed from view. Linda Ivanits’ Russian Folk Belief, Alexander Afanasyev’s folklore collections, and Polish folk tales speak more to this.
In Hoodoo, a key dressed with condition oil becomes a working tool of opening and was/is employed in spellwork or carried as a charm to unlock new opportunities, remove obstacles, or secure protection for the person holding it. The key becomes a literal and symbolic way to open the roads ahead. Catherine Yronwode (Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic) and Jim Haskins (Voodoo & Hoodoo) make for great reads.
In several cultures, keys were buried with the dead or placed near coffins, serving as symbols of safe passage into the afterlife, granting access to otherworldly realms, or releasing the soul from earthly ties. This ancient practice speaks to the key’s profound association with transitions: life to death, one world to the next.
Keys as Eternal Symbols of Transformation
Across traditions, keys endure as portal objects, symbols that grant access to inner realms, ancestral memory, spirit, and personal transformation. They invite us to consider what doors we wish to open, what patterns we want to break, and what truths we are ready to face. Skeleton keys, in particular, with their universal design, remind us that there is always another way through and that flexibility, courage, and intention can unlock even the most stubborn of doors.
How to Use Keys
-Place on your altar/shelf to mark a desire for clarity or access
-Keep on your mantel or near entryways for protection
-Give as a special gift for them who holds your heart ❤️
