A Walk Around the Symbolic Block

Hidden Spells in America.

This storm drain is adorned with the Fishing Net spell. It is both appropriate and functional.

Our world is awash in symbols and signs. Some of them we are aware of. But most of them pass like rented corn.

After learning about the symbols common to Scandinavia, the Baltics and Eastern Europe, I began to see echoes of them everywhere. Last week I was walking to our shop after lunch and was stopped cold by the cast iron storm drain on 7th Street. I have stepped over this thing 1,000 times without a second glance.

But this time I saw it: the Fishing Net Spell.

It’s a protection spell consisting of diagonal lines that create a net of rhombus shapes. A bit like chain-link fence. The spell is supposed to “catch” evil, disease or other unfortunate events.

Of course, the incised diamond pattern on the drain has a practical purpose. It is supposed to catch ra…